Screaming like a girl!

I have two boys. Both are boys boys if you know what I mean. They are the rough and tumble kind of guys. They are ferocious on the basketball court and are not afraid to shed blood. However, as I was crawling into bed last night I was startled by the sound of what sounded like a girl screaming from my son's bedroom. All of a sudden my 14 year old son comes running into our room screaming like a girl. I immediately started laughing."What is this kids problem?"

It was a SPIDER!! He had been trying to get rid of the spider with his shoe and it jumped on him. WELL..... I have never seen a display quite like it. I, of course continued laughing as I told my husband to accompany the little girl back to his room and make sure there were no more spiders. I myself am not afraid of spiders. I figure I can easily step on it or take care of it any numbers of ways.

As I tried once again to crawl into bed I chuckled to myself as I remembered that my older son will scream like a girl when a bee circles his head. Hilarious!!!

My daughter on the other hand is fearless. No screaming like a girl from her. She is a warrior. She can give you a look that puts you in your place pretty darn fast. (I wonder where she got that?)

Now snakes are another issue altogether. Taylar and I are deathly afraid of snakes.....

In the summer of 1990 we moved to Bolivar, Missouri to attend university. We rented a small house just outside of town on 3 acres. I am not a country girl but I thought I would give it a try so I planted a small flower garden in front of the house. As I placed the last plant in the ground I decided to run across the yard to the well house to grab the hose. So barefoot, in cut off shorts I made my way to get the hose feeling like I was pretty smart. Then it happened..... I stepped on a snake. Did I mention that I was barefoot? So the snake jumped up between my knees and was flapping back and forth and I was jumping up and down and no matter what either of us did we could not get away from each other. Garry came around the house at a run and somehow separated the snake and I. All I remember to this day is jumping for about an hour and screaming. Garry was chasing the snake with the lawn mower around the yard and then the snake slithered under the house. I took one look at Garry with the famous look and said, "We are moving to town." And we did that very week.

So I guess maybe I can understand the screaming like a girl thing...Sorta

The Finish line of 2007

As December neared its end I became more and more reflective. I started to see the finish line of 2007 ahead. At first, it was just a speck but as the month progressed it became larger and I saw the words "Finish Line". It became my focus, my goal. My spiritual muscles were burning and my heart was pounding from the course of this year. I found myself saying over and over again. "I am going to make it"! I heard the feet of Jesus running beside me. I saw the pleasure of His excited grin as I turned to Him and heard the clapping of His hands of encouragement as I grimaced and tried to catch my breath.

I was in a large crowd on New Year's Eve and as the clock struck midnight It occured to me that Jesus and I had crossed the finish line of not just 2007 but the finish line of the last 10 years. 1997-2007 has proved to be the biggest challenge of my life. Countless trials have come our way. At times my faith has been shook to the core. The enemy has launched some of his most heinous attacks and while I bear some of the scares of those attacks I know now more then ever before that God is faithful. He is absolutely for me and has been running with me when I have had the courage to run and has set down with me when I felt like I couldn't go any farther. He wrapped my ankles when I turned them and bandaged the scrapes when I tripped myself up. He has never left me. Not once. When I ran the gauntlet and felt the blows He ran it with me.

Today I feel like Jesus and I are walking it off. Panting!!!!! I feeling the elation of having made the long trek. I have learned endurance. I have learned persistence. I have learned the art of spiritual warfare. I have available to me and have put on the full armour of God and I have learned how to use it. Mainly from trying to function without it and failing. I have learned to continue when everyone else's race went a different direction. I am not afraid to be alone. I am not afraid of the future. I am not afraid of people's opinion, only God's. I am more determined to make knowing Him my purpose. I have experienced His mercy. I have felt the overwhelming power of His forgiveness and grace. I have felt His approval. He is my everything. My all in all. I am thankful for all that I have learned this past 10 years and rest in knowing that He will waste nothing that has happened in it. That He is using it all to conform me to the image of His Son. Whoa!!!!!!! Victory!!!!

I know that the race is continuing and Jesus and I are at the starting line of the continued course. There will be trials ahead but we will be victorious in the treachery of the enemy ahead. I rest in the confidence that I will never run alone. The sound of His feet pounding beside me will comfort me. I will hear his Word in my ear and feel his mighty arm of protection upon me. I will praise him with my running. I will do all I can to gather more runners as I go and make them into runners (disciples).

The excitement of a new beginning is on me and the staring pistol has been raised. Jesus and I are ready for the shot. I can't stop smiling and I hear him laughing. Our heads are down and BANG we have started. The pace is slow today as we find our rhythm but as 2008 progresses I have a feeling the the spiritual muscles developed on the previous portion of my race has prepared me for this present portion. I don't know exactly what is around the next bend but I am not afraid. In fact, I am very excited.