Empty is the canvas...

Yesterday I signed up to do a 21km marathon to raise money for women in Africa who have had their lips, eyes, noses and other body parts severed off because they have aids.  The money goes towards them receiving reconstructive surgery so they no longer have to be ostracized from their communities, along with that they will receive teaching on important life skills.  When I first got the invite I said "yeah right" and clicked No, little did I know that that would rock my world. 

Yesterday I began to think about how much I put myself into a box saying "This is what I am capable of, and this is what I am not capable of". This usually leads to me becoming frustrated because the things I want to do usually fall into the "incapable box".   I began to think "What if I just went for it? What if I jumped without looking down? What if I risked it all? What if I actually believed in myself? What if I believed even more in the power of Christ within me?". In that moment I decided I would pursue the things God has laid on my heart with everything that is within me, not caring what others will or won't think, just keeping my eyes focused on the eyes of the one beckoning me closer. 

I went for a jog later that night, trying to will myself into shape, and the whole time I couldn't stop thinking about the marathon I had turned down, and so began the wrestle.  After dismissing the thousand excuses of why I shouldn't do this, I jumped. I signed up, and today I had my first training session. I have already learn't so much, and what I want to emphasize with this blog tonight is that we should never let life pass us by. I am so used to sitting around waiting for life to happen, when there are crazy, amazing opportunities passing me by. The adventure and life I pray for doesn't always look the way I think it should, but God knows what is best and thats why it is important to listen to the small voice, the pounding of your heart, and the nudges of the Holy Spirit.

I don't want to be someone who sits back waiting for exciting, life changing opportunities to fall into my lap. I want to be someone who realizes that through Christ my capabilities are endless and I can achieve great feats that are far beyond my own strength and  so can you.

"God's new things do not happen within our control, nor is it within our control that we meet the power of God. The power of God always operates at the margins. It is when we run out of our capacity that we run into His. " Tom Marshall