3:1

I've heard runners say that while running, they have very deep thoughts about life and how life is just like a run or a race. Even Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 says "I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." It's true. Life is like a long run. Sometimes you get tired. Sometimes you want to quit. Other times you feel like you could conquer any hill.

As I've mentioned before, I've set a goal for myself of a 5K per month. So far I've done three. June, July and September (Couldn't find one in August that would work with my schedule). To train for these monthly races, I've been trying a 3:1 system. I'll run for three minutes and walk for one. I do that for about 32 minutes and cover about 2.7 miles. Yeah, I know. A 5K is 3.1 miles. For that leftover .4 of a mile, I'm just relying on God to move me towards the finish line. So I was run/walking last night and I was thinking about how much I love the one minute of walking and how much I hurt during the three minutes of running. That one minute flies by, while the three minutes of running seem to never end. This led me to think of several metaphors.

The one that made the most sense in my head though, is that life is often dealt out in threes and ones. Sometimes I feel like I only have one minute of good to breathe in before that watch timer beeps and I have to start back into the three minutes of discomfort. For you, maybe the one minute is the time you have in the evening with your family, sitting around the dinner table. Or maybe it's church on Sunday.

Here's what I'm thinking though: Amidst the pain and discomfort of the three minutes of running I can still find the good. Even though I was tired while I was running, I was thinking of how blessed I am to be able to go out and use my legs. I thought of how the walking might be easier, but the running is making my muscles and lungs stronger.

So next time the timer beeps and you have to start running again, try to focus on the good. I know it can be tough. You're never running alone though. Jesus is with you. The communion of saints is with you. We'll run the race together and reach our ultimate and beautiful goal.

-Abby

I Am Broken

Yet Made Whole

It's so amazing to me...this LOVE we get from an awesome God. How it never ends. Never fails. So pure and so true. Incomprehensible, unimaginable, unwavering....love. No matter what.

I will fail : He will make a way
I will disappoint : He will forget it
I will letdown : He will love me anyway
I will stumble : He will right me
I will fall : He will catch me
I will run : He will chase after me
I will hide : He will wait for me
I will doubt : He will never waiver
I will sin : He will forgive me
I will hate : He will show me love
I will lose : He will win
I will need: He will supply
I will _______ : He will always be WHATEVER I NEED HIM TO BE.

I will always need Him. He is Jesus. The savior of the world. The Hero. My Hero. I admit this blog was birthed from the music from a group called Abandon. A really great indie Christian rock group. They penned the lyrics: I’m captured by the love and I have become Your own. Surrounded by my God I’m rising above the shadows. You want me to know. I’m not alone. You want me to come to Your throne. I know. It’s in Your atmosphere. Your spirit is here. I can’t explain this moment. In Your atmosphere.

We are all broken and its only in Jesus we are made completely and entirely whole. My hope is that you spend a few moments basking in the flow, in the atmosphere of Jesus. Savior. Hero of us all. He loves you.

Be Blessed.

Carlos

The Pedestal

Life

Its funny how often when people find out what I do, they think I am this deep theologian who never sins and is constantly on his hands and knees worshipping at the feet of God. The funny thing is that I do it too! To others who are Pastors, Priests or even my favorite Christian artists. We pedestal them. We expect more from them because they are "up there" on the stage, in the lime light, working for the kingdom of God. In truth, if you've heard my radio show then you already know, I am just like you. I never went to bible college, I don't hold degrees in theology and while I do my daily devotionals and really enjoy my quiet time with God, I don't spent 20 hours a day at His feet. Although if I did, image how radically different I would be! Hmmm...

The truth is, I ride motorcycles, I have tattoos, I listen to really heavy hard rock and rap music that aren't always from "Christian" artists, I struggle with things in my life, I sin, I am a human being! I am just like you, just like Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, TobyMac and the rest. In God's eyes we are all the same. His children. We all struggle, we all fall, we all need a savior. We all need JESUS.

From time to time I get down on myself and I say, "Why cant I be more like so and so" and in truth I don't know why. God wants me to be, me. He created a Carlos, not a Carlos in a Billy Graham body. We all have a specific purpose in life. Mine right now is Spirit FM. Billy Graham's was his crusades. Toby has his music. All for the glory of God.

It is nice to have role models, people we can look up to. But we shouldn't pedestal them. Hold them to this untouchable standard because then we lose sight of how great we can be too. Maybe you won't grace the stage in concert for thousands or maybe you won't have a radio show heard all over the bay. But maybe, just maybe, you reach the one God called you to reach. Today, during my thought for the day I mentioned how one youth pastor took me out to a Christian dance club called Tidal Wave and that is where God birthed in me the desire to start DJing. Well a listener who heard me was from that club. She called up and told me how she had been struggling lately with that time in her life, asking God what good came from that place and if anybody was touched. Well, if not for that building, that Christian Club, that youth pastor all doing what God had called them to do, if they all chose to do their thing and not Gods things, maybe I am not where I am today. More in love with God than ever before, in the air at Spirit FM, doing Gods work.

No matter how big or how small the calling, in Gods eyes we are all crucial, all special, all loved and all needed. There is a big picture that only God can see. We are all role players. Some of us mouth pieces, some hands, some feet, some eyes, some ears, ALL apart of the same body of Christ. Remember we are all human, we all fall short and thankfully God loves us and is a savior to us all. We all have a calling and God is ready to get you in the game.

Be Blessed.

Carlos

Embracing Uncertainty

I don't remember when or where I first came across the popular excerpt from Thomas Merton's "Thoughts in Solitude," but it was one of those things that spoke right to me and I immediately became attached to it. In high school I posted it on my bulletin board in my bedroom and it traveled with me to my college dorm room. A few years ago it came up in conversation around my family and my dad told me he carries it around in his wallet. When that happened, I smiled and thanked God for being so awesome.

Lately it's been popping up all over the place. I saw it on a blog a few days ago. It was brought up at a staff retreat last week... (I get it Holy Spirit! Loud & clear!), so I think it's worth sharing. I've admitted that as a person who likes to make plans for everything and be in control, I struggle with worry and trust. But it can be liberating to embrace uncertainty through the practice of trust. I think it's called having faith!This is a great reminder of how important it is to trust in God's plan for you.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

-Abby

An Open Prayer to God

Heavenly Father...

Won't you take this life from me. For fear from this has stolen so much time from it.

If my life's clock stops tonight, save a few souls with the legacy I leave.

In my hours of weakness give me strength to persevere.

In my doubts and unbelief give me light to see you with me.

When I fall away down a crooked path, send me a life line and rescue me.

Let my life song sing praise to you.

Let the words I say bring you joy.

Let actions speak of what I have inside.

Let my heart always be after you.

Let my heart always be after you.

Carlos