Thinking about Team United 2013…
What’s in store?
Did you know that Team United changes lives?
Thinking about Team United 2013…
What’s in store?
Did you know that Team United changes lives?
I want to say that life isn’t supposed to be stressful. Is that true? It isn’t supposed to be? Maybe it is.
The past 2 months of my life have been fairly calm and unstressful. Most things have been pretty gravy with the exception of my injuries. Sometimes I wonder if God puts people into situations where they’ll seek Him because otherwise, they might not. It’s pretty easy to put God aside when you don’t desperately need something. At least I find myself doing that sometimes. Prior to the last 2 months, I was in one of the worst shapes (emotionally) in my life. Day in and day out, I dreaded each day. I felt like I was sinking into a depression. I seeked God with a desperation that I haven’t experienced before – asking Him, pleading for Him to save me. Seeking him constantly. Constantly. And save me He did. And as I find myself in a situation that is so far opposite from what I was experiencing before, I also know that I haven’t been seeking God as desperately, with such fervor, with such frequency as before. Sounds bad, but it’s true.
And as I find myself dealing with this stupid knee and ankle injury that has been lingering, I find myself wondering if this is part of God’s plan to make me come back and seek Him more. I know, I know. Blaming God for my problems, right? But maybe He does do things like that. He puts you in situations to learn, to bring you closer to Him, to rely on Him. Because it’s weird. It’s been nearly 2 months since I’ve been pretty off my legs. Why isn’t it getting better? The ankle is especially weird. Normal ankle injuries hurt for a few weeks but then they’re fine after. How can it still be messed up after 2 months?!?! That is a little odd. The knee, the knee has actually been feeling worse this week. I’m a little skeptical of this physical therapy business. I find myself wallowing in self-pity because I can’t participate in things. I know, people are worse off. At least I can walk, at least I have legs – you can go on and on. But, I will still wallow in my self-pity. I used to be able to just run and play football, basketball, volleyball, softball, run, frisbee – anything – jump down stairs, bootcamp, anything with quick movement. Now I can just walk and even walking sometimes hurts. Sleeping hurts my leg when I toss and turn. Walking down the stairs hurts. Seems far from getting better. I’ve prayed about it some but I guess I haven’t gotten to the point where I am desperately asking God to heal me. However, as I’m thinking more and more about my lack of progress – I’m getting there and maybe that’s where He wants me.
But then it worries me, what if my legs get better, then what? What else is going to happen where God is going to want me to desperately seek Him even though I should do it all the time – in good times and bad? This is where fearing God comes to life. Although, I’m not sure it should be this way. I’m not sure of much.
And talk about added on stress that hadn’t been on my mind for awhile. I feel a little abandoned. And it kind of sucks. But I think I need to spend some time thinking about this new situation before writing more about it.
I guess life can only be stress-free for so long. Until God wants your attention.
I was pretty productive today considering it was a weekday.
I got an oil change.
I went to physical therapy.
I got a flu shot.
I watched almost a full basketball game + returned my jersey.
I went to the market.
I made dinner.
Oh, and somewhere along the line, I also went to work.
Cheers to productivity. Prayers for healing legs.
Boo. I thought my ankle was actually feeling a little better. It did yesterday. Not today.
Today would have also been a great day for a run. Still craving the run which is a bit surprising. Maybe I’m just craving movement all together. Craving the run. Blech. It’ll be more difficult to actually do than imagine when I get back to it.
I gave blood the other day and I had full intentions of not giving them my phone number. In the past they have been relentless about calling me and asking me to keep donating. It’s not like I even have the blood that can be received by all. They called everyday and at horrible hours – super late and super early. So freaking annoying. So, I was going to give them my phone # but change one of the numbers so they couldn’t reach me. BUT, they already had my number! Crap man, they better not start calling me after 56 days or whenever I can donate again.
—
Had my 2nd PT sesh the other day. He basically pressed and pressed this tendon near my ankle and up my leg. It’s still tender. He also pulled and pushed my ankle around. Then he kept pressing this area on my knee that hurt – I didn’t even know that part hurt. He was also massaging my IT band. I asked him how many sessions he thought I would need – he said it really depended how the first few treatments were. I’m curious as to how what he is doing is going to fix me when I stop going to see him. I’m going again on Monday. The ankle does feel a little better. Knee about the same. Feels fine walking but sometimes when I sleep, go down stairs, or when my knee is in a certain position – it still hurts. =
Color run is in about a month – at this rate, I’m a little doubtful about my condition.
—-
There was this family at CBC main a few years ago. I think the family ended up moving back to China for missions. They had 2 young twin boys (maybe about 5), 2 older sisters (maybe around high school age), and an older brother that is now 19. The seemed to be a close, healthy, Christian family. They had lived in China for a few years, they were also home schooled when they were younger. I guess something happened with the older brother – had some troubles and alot of angst. He left his family at age 17. He got into cocaine, alcohol, and street life. He got in trouble with the law and almost took his own life. But he met a rapper that saved his life and so he now raps. I just discovered his music. The lyrics are so raw, so filled with pain. Check it out here: The Underdawg His story – http://simplifiedrecords.yolasite.com/the-under-dawg.php
I shot around after work for about 45 minutes and then decided I would go to the gym to try and bike or elliptical some and maybe do some push ups and situps. Someone left the radio on in the gym so I just turned it up a bit and hopped on the elliptical. I was the only one in the gym so it was actually kind of nice to have the place to myself. Good news is that the elliptical didn’t hurt my knee! Bad news is that my knee was kind of popping. I was going to do 20 minutes but decided that I probably shouldn’t be over eager so I cut it down to 10 minutes. Anyway…about a few minutes in, this guy comes into the gym and he changes the radio station. That’s weird.
It’s weird to change the radio station when one other person is in the gym. You would assume, or I would assume that the one person there must have selected the station and is listening to it. I didn’t have headphones or anything so it’s not like I was listening to something else. He changes the station to KLOVE. That’s even more weird! This guy just changed it to a Christian radio station while one other person is in the gym. That’s pretty bold. Really bold. You changed my radio station and you changed it to a Christian radio station, what if I’m not Christian?
So I thought, oh, maybe this is his way of evangelizing or maybe he’s going to evangelize to me. That’d be cool, meeting another Christian equals instant connection (generally). Making friends would be nice too. Anyway, so I said, God, if this guy is a Christian, make him talk to me. Hahahaha. I was thinking, oh, he put on KLOVE, if he’s a Christian, we’ll have something to talk about. In the meantime, I’m just doing my push ups and situps and he’s using weights. Then this other guy comes into the gym to do some free weights. This was one of the guys that was also shooting around on the other end of the court earlier. Anyway, as I’m in between sets, the guy that changed the station says, “Excuse me, do you know if they have any more towels in the women’s locker room?” I was like, I’m not sure, but I can go check. He’s like, oh yeah, just whenever you’re done, no rush. But as I looked at him, I thought, wow he’s really like dripping sweat. I should check now. Haha. So I’m like, oh, it’s okay, I can go look now. So I went and grabbed a towel for him. When I came back, the radio station had changed.
I went back to my workout and thought, ok, well, he talked to me but it wasn’t what I expected, but maybe that’s because someone else was in here. And I thought, well maybe I should ask him about the radio station now that he broke the ice. But, I was chicken. Back to working out.
Then he goes, you shoot around a lot? (He must have been watching me shoot around earlier). I was like yeah, sometimes. He asked if I played in a league. I said yeah, but not now, I’m injured, yada yada yada. He mentioned that he got injured too and it took him like a year to get back to normal. I figured it was enough conversation to break the ice so I said, did you pick the station earlier? KLOVE? He’s like, yeah. I was like, are you a Christian? He’s like no. I thought, well, that just crushed everything hahahahhaa. He’s like, yeah I just heard some music. Did you want to listen to it? I was like, no, just wondering. Then I asked if he worked at the offices here and he does work for the same company. In fact, there’s a high chance that I’d actually be working with him. Lol. So, I guess I sort of got to know someone, barely. Anyway, he finished up his workout and left, so I was like, see you around.
Hmm, I think God was like, you should be evangelizing to him! Haha. Also, I guess people really do stumble upon KLOVE.
See, this would have almost been a good story, but I guess it didn’t make for a bad one. Maybe, I can make a new friend.
I feel so left out now that I can’t go run and exercise with everyone.
Man, tossing a football around is fun even though my leg is broken. So fun!
Bought some insoles today – maybe they’ll help my feet, knee, ankle stop hurting. About 3-4 people asked me if I needed help while I was looking at them. I asked if they got commission. The chick said they get like 50 cents for insoles. 50 cents??! Are you kidding me?? lol
I caught the bouquet at G&E’s wedding! LOL.
Loitered in the parking lot for 3 hours tonight! Wow, haven’t done that in awhile. It was kind of fun.
Hope this week isn’t as boring. Haha.
Man, my right wrist is hurting again. I wonder if it’s from the push ups this time.
Today, I feel lonely. =/
I feel mopey today. Mopey, is that how you spell it? Actually, not today, just tonight – not sure why.
The day went well. I was super productive and got to do all kinds of interesting things at school. I got to meet up with a friend from the old school. I got to mini workout with push ups, sit ups, and various PT exercises. The knee was kind of hurting today and yesterday. I think it was because I walked down 6 flights of stairs yesterday because the elevator wasn’t functioning so well. If it still hurts to walk, it probably means it’s not getting any better. I still can’t get in the gym. Some of the PT exercises make me wonder if I should do them because I think they might be strengthening more of the outer quad than the VMO and if that’s the case then that is bad because the strength or muscle of the outer quad is what is making the patella go out of alignment. Wow that was a long sentence. Anyway, it felt good to sweat.
On another note, I did enjoy tonight’s bible study. Admittedly, I think most of the other parts of Romans have been difficult for me to follow either because I was stressed, so tired, or it was a bit stale. Yeah, it’s hard for me to follow things where you have to pay attention to history. I was never good at history.
Anyway, after going over Romans 12, it just made me think of how difficult it was to do all these things. Parts that stood out are in blue below. Renewing the mind. I think renewing the mind takes acknowledgement. It takes desire, intention, and focus.
Test and approve God’s will. I’ve never thought about testing or even approving God’s will. I, like many others have just thought that whatever happens is God’s will – at least in a general sense. I know sometimes decisions are made are a whim and then you might realize that God wasn’t calling you in that direction. But to be able to test and approve – now that’s something new.
We have different gifts. Gifts. I’m still not sure what my gifts are. Maybe these are it or maybe these are just things that happen to me. I think sometimes people are drawn to me. I attract people and I find that I often attract strange people!! Haha. My friends tell me I’m approachable which is weird because I don’t think I’m that approachable, then again, I got all the randoms that like to approach me. I don’t know what else. I like to care for people and make sure people are happy though that hardly seems like a gift.
Be devoted to one another in love. DEVOTED. Dang that is hard. People are hard to love. I’m sure I’m hard to love too but some people are really hard for me to love. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood. Other times, I remind myself to make a conscious effort.
Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor. Dang, another area where I definitely lack in zeal. Sometimes I’ll be very passionate and other times not. Need to work on that.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. I think I have the most difficult time with being patient in affliction because it sucks the dear life out of me. But in patience, I should be joyful in hope, and I should pray faithfully. In affliction, oh yeah, I pray faithfully, am I joyful in hope? Nope. I hope, but I am not joyful in it. I think I used to be a pretty patient person but am less patient now. But when it comes to being patient in affliction, that’s hard. You just want it to be over with. That may be one of the most trying times – trying to be patient in affliction.
Bless those who persecute you. Bless them. Do not curse. This goes along with not paying evil for evil. Curse people. I feel like I’ve cursed a lot of people recently (in the past year). It’s hard. But at the same time, I feel like I have also tried to bless them to a small degree. Do not pay evil with evil. I feel like my previous circumstance was just being stuck in a very evil place with evil thoughts, actions, and people. It was evil all around. I really feel like the place was evil and that satan was trying to put a stronghold on me. Trying to break me down and crush me. I think I was being succumbed but I didn’t try to fight evil with evil. I knew that in the end, God would prevail. In the end, despite all the evil, all the persecution (if you will), I will hold strong, I will not play their games, I would let God help me rise above and be strong. What happened? Well, God prevailed. And I didn’t battle evil with evil. I battled evil with good.
Live at peace with everyone. I don’t think this only applies to actual living situations though it can be applicable. This was obviously a very trying experience last year – can’t believe all that crazy. But I think this is includes just being. Relationships with people, friends, coworkers, strangers. It’s a tough one when you don’t agree with other people or when you have trouble respecting people.
Well, looks like I’ve got a long way to go…
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord.20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.