Melissa and I started doing the new workout craze INSANITY. And the name definitely fits the description of the workout.

It's day DAY 7 and I have only done 2 days worth of it... It is difficult! I was doing the Cardio Blast video - where the ridiculous moves keep your heart rate near close to heart attack status - and I was ready to give up after the intense WARM UP... yes... INTENSE WARM UP. Within the first ten minutes of the video, I was sweating, my heart was ready to jump out of my chest and my muscles were sore. Now, as an ex-basketball player, I have always prided myself in my amazing will power and perseverance to push to the end. However, this was one race I felt like I just couldn't finish - which got me thinking... if maintaining my "bangin' body" is already so physically exhausting, how much harder is this spiritual race towards the cross that I am running? Following this narrow path of the cross is not easy - IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW JESUS!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. HEBREWS 12:1-2
After the SVCA retreat this past Labor Day weekend, I felt really refreshed and rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit. Before that, I was really apathetic about my faith, not caring whether or not I was growing. In my mind, I had justified that my relationship with God was great because of I was a leader at Kairos and I served in His house every Sunday. I equated my involvement in church to my relationship with God. Since coming back, I've been on a steady diet of God's Word every morning - training my mind and body for this life race. It really has made all the difference. Even my response to certain things has been different. I've been filled with so much joy! I hope that it doesn't stop here but that it keeps going.
One of the craziest things that happened these last couple of weeks is moving up to norcal. For a long time, I was really unsure of where God wanted to take me in this upcoming year, whether or not I was meant to stay in SD or if I was meant to be here in Norcal. Leading up to my big move, God was confirming a lot of things in my life to move up here. I spent the month of August living with my parents and it definitely had its ups and downs. God has brought me a long way from the girl I was in high school. I have learned to love my family and appreciate every single member. God increased my capacity to love as well as my patience towards my parents. This made leaving so much harder but I left on GREAT terms with my parents. I never thought that I could miss them this much. I also knew that I had to be an independent woman and the only way I could do that was to leave. Not only would it force me to be independent, it would be a huge change for my mom to rely on herself to do certain things because I am no longer around as a crutch. Norcal is a healthy distance from my family. Secondly, I knew I wanted to move up here by September and it's crazy cause I got an offer for a job on August 27th and I had to move up by September 1st! And then God kicked off my time in norcal with a retreat where I was able to meet Him and me refreshed by Him!
Even though running this race is difficult, I know that it's worth it and necessary. I just need to focus on the greater eternal glory that it waiting ahead. Jesus fixed his eyes upon the joy set before him, and it brings great hope to know that I am running towards Him!