What a love, what a wonder you are.

Let every rock cry out
Let every knee bow down
You opened up my eyes to wonder
What a love, what a wonder you are.
Newsboys, In Wonder

It's always good to keep notes on the things you remember and hear of. Always. I don't think it will ever be a bad idea to take notes. I know this may seem surprising, but I take notes on everything: from what I am listening to, to what that makes me think of, and the sermons and songs therein. I usually record specific verbiage, but if I can't get it down, I'll record words and then paraphrase it.


I had that Newsboys song written at the top of one of my notes pages. I think we did it at camp (which, consequently, is where my note taking skills were started).


----


So, I just finished today's workout for INSANITY. I've not been able to keep up with every single day due to a pretty hectic schedule and general exhaustion and other priorities in the mornings, but I've managed to make it through all of the workouts prescribed for the past two weeks, except for the Cardio Recovery. I've now done one of the circuits twice, and man the second time around was interesting. I am a little stronger, but it was no longer new, so I was pushing against the part of me that wanted to hold back a little (because it's hard!). 


Matt signed me up for the Rock and Roll half marathon coming up here in November. It'll be interesting to train for that and do Insanity. I did the crazy hard and truly insane "pure cardio" yesterday, and while I felt like cursing the whole time, it hurt so good. I went for a brief run later in the evening, and that also felt really good. INSANITY seems like a great workout for the former high school athletes. I really enjoyed the workout that I got from playing sports in school. I could jump, squat, lift, lunge, and sprint and still play the game. I feel like there's a lot of the same kind of drills in the INSANITY series, just a lot faster and more intense for one sitting. One thing I can do better now than I could in high school, though, is push ups. Around March 2011, I decided that I wanted to be better at push ups, so I started. It hurts, but I can pump out about 30 perfect push-ups in a minute now! What I can't do for a full minute is continual reps of 4-push ups, 8 mountain climbers, and a burpee. Yes, all that is one rep at the end of one of the INSANITY workouts. THEN you go straight into (what I'll call) plank ski jumps, and some horrible plank hold while pulling your knees in and jumping back out repeatedly for a minute. Oh. em. gee. 


If you haven't noticed, I'm debriefing here. It takes a moment to process everything so I'll know exactly what's causing me pain later on! Those dang warm up butt kicks are what make my calves hurt. Who'da thunk?


I guess the scripture lesson from my quiet time today was preparing me: Rejoice always, pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances... (JOKE! But really...)


1 Thessalonians 5, as well as the verses 1-11 have been a theme for me the past week or two. First it was 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11,

 ¹ Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Then 2 Peter 1:1-11,

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,   To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: ² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
 ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

So now you know. It's a lot of instruction to take in, process, and apply. I understand more and more what I was taught when I was younger that a strong Spirit and relationship with God does not just happen... it's got to be intentional. But thankfully, there is forever forgiveness, and the grace to walk in the Lord's way (see my blog on grace for somewhat of an understanding of that word).

Anywho... pressing on. Hope you are having a beautiful day.

Lindsay