On The Run

Dear sisters,

   2 days ago we released our brand new record, On The Run! 

You can still preview a few of the songs online, but if you'd like your own copy it's available on Itunes, Amazon, children183.com or at a show! We're heading out on tour tomorrow so whoever is reading this- I hope we see you out on the road!

  

  Our album came out on Tues. and that morning I was reading in 1 Cor. and this verse came up:

9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Isn't it interesting that the apostle Paul likened out faith to a race? I mean, we're not supposed to try to earn anything, right? Why do we need to try so hard to beat everyone else?

  

Well, it's like this, in a race like a marathon or a 5K or whatever, there are usually 2 types of runners- there are the ones who just want to finish (and that is a noble goal for many, myself included- haha!). They don't necessarily want to place or make a good time, they are just running for the experience, maybe for some bragging rights. Then there are the racers, they are running for one thing- 1st place. They are experienced. They've tasted victory and defeat. They want to win.

In this verse, Paul likens the christian walk to a race and urges us to be racers. Run to win. I'm sure it can be tempting when those around you aren't quite as fast, maybe you can pass them up with ease and even slow down a bit, just so you stay one step ahead. Sometimes I compare my life to others, you know what I mean! Well, I sure am more spiritual then her! I got so much bible-reading in today, I'll be good for awhile! ect. ect.

  The problem with that is, in this great race of faith, you're not racing against the people next to you.

It's the mystery of the christian life. Beating someone else doesn't make you a winner. The only thing that guarantees first place victory is giving it your all. Racing to win. Going as hard as you can, every day. Falling and getting up. Beating your own time (reading more of the word, praying longer, serving more often, smiling more, being kinder, avoiding that temptation, biting back those stinging words...)

  

It really doesn't matter how you race compared to anyone else (thank God!). It's simply you. Run the race of your life to the best of your ability.

 Don't give in to the "just a runner" mindset, I just want to finish. I just want to get through life without messing up too bad. I just want to make it into Heaven. Don't give up because you think you can't win. Victory is within your grasp! If you will run as hard as you can, nothing else will hold you back.

  

The longer we live in our pursuit of Jesus, the more lessons He will teach us. With each new lessong come the responsibility to walk it out, put it into practice. You only have to worry about what you know right now, what you know to do- from church, from the bible, from other books or friends- do that to the best of your ability. The rest of it doesn't matter.

  It doesn't matter how fast you're running. It doesn't matter how much you're doing. It doesn't matter what goals you've not met, or how many times you've fallen short. It only matters that you're going as fast as you can, even if it's just one step at a time... keep running. And that's it- you're on the fast-track to victory.

High fives!

LM

"I Tried to do the Right Thing"

Hey ladies! 

   Tooth and Nail records released a lyric video of our song "I Tried to do the Right Thing" last week- check it out!

So last night I was watching this competition show called Chopped. Right before they announced the winner one of the contestants said to the camera, "I've learned that it's not so much the destination as the journey, and this has been a really great journey." 

  I am almost always so focused on the result that I totally disregard the importance of the journey. Then David wrote this little song with this one-liner that gets sung over and over and over and over (we practice a lot!)... and what started off as such a little phrase got more and more profound with each repetition.

   

    "I tried"

God looks at our sincere efforts to follow Him. Our weak attempts to live righteously. In fact, He records them. He keeps track of every time we try. 

  Why do I get up extra early in the morning? So I can read the bible. What if I get distracted while checking my email and end up blogging instead? I tried.

  Why do I read the bible? So I can know more of Jesus and live righteously. So what if I read a verse about loving my neighbor and pray, Lord-help me love people like You do!! and then I go out and say something sharp to one of my family members (oh nuts.)- I am trying. I will keep trying. And God just keeps makin' check-marks on the clipboard of my life. I like to imagine Him up there watching me with a little grin goin', "Look at that girl, she tries so hard! She can't do anything right in her own strength but every time she messes up she keeps coming back to Me. I love that!"

  "to do"

Someone has to do it. I see so many things that frustrate me. I wish someone would do something about it. Someone who knows the answers. Someone who is strong and smart and pretty and kind and loving and confident. Yeah... okay, I should just do it. Even if you're not perfect for the job, grab the bat and start swingin'. You'll be surprised at how many people will back you up (even if you think- I don't know what I'm doing!), people who just didn't want to be the first one to take action and do something. Doesn't even have to be important or big. Usually isn't in my case, my life is chock-full of small, mundane little tasks. Who better to clean up the kitchen than me? I'm lookin' at the mess! Who better to send a little note of encouragement to that person who's struggling, I struggle all the time- I understand exactly how she feels! Who better to volunteer for the job, or to pray, or help someone out... than me? When it comes to the mundane jobs that no one wants to do... think like Nike: just do it.

  "the right thing"

Conscience. We all have one. And it makes us feel terrible, right? But only when we aren't doing the right thing. Wasn't it kind of God to give us an inner gauge that pokes and drives the nail in deep when we're trying to get away with something? And amazingly, everybody is born with this inner "right thing gauge". It's not something you receive when you become a christian or lose when you fall into sin- non-christians have it too. Ever noticed a non-believer making a ton of excuses for a wrong behavior (they usually start with, "I had to" and then place the blame on someone else), it's like, why do you care? You're not even trying to live righteously anyways! It's because we were created to do the right thing. And no excuse can ever make the wrong thing right.

  However, we must be careful with our "right thing gauge". It we consistently ignore it and make excuses to numb the driving nail, we develop a hard shell around our heart until we cannont feel it anymore. That's when we stop trying. We stop repenting. That is a very dangerous place to be. We need that annoying poker, that painful nail driving at our soul (which usually makes us feel sick to our stomachs).

  We won't always do the right thing. But we can always repent and be forgiven. And we can always ALWAYS keep trying.

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1

Keep running!

LM