Starting the day right

I love to run especially early in the morning just as the little town is starting to wake up and no one is around quite yet. When I run I get lost in my thoughts and prayers.
At the end of July last year I made an on a whim decision to move to Maine. I got a job and was staying with my aunt and uncle. They have a house that's not a run from the beach.
Every morning I would wake up at 6 in the morning and throw on my running shoes and head out.
I'd play some of my favorite worship songs and just run and pray.
I'd get down to the beach and it'd be just beautiful. So breathe taking. I'd walk a ways to a secluded spot and sit and take in the sights and just pray. I'd pray for God's blessing on the day and that he'd help me have the right attitude for work. I prayed that He'd give me a love I sometimes didn't feel and to be a blessing to people even if it was just one person, That'd He would help me to shine His light so that others can see Him. I'd sit and listen to my music that sang out praise to him.
I can honestly say that doing this at the start of everyday really set the mood for the rest of the day. I was so happy to be alive. Witnessing His amazing works every morning is one of the most amazing feelings I've ever felt. 
On the run back we had a killer hill and that was my first obstacle of the day. huffing and puffing my way up that hill I prayed the whole time that God would give me the strength to continue up. Climbing that hill every morning I thought "If I can make it up this hill with God then I can make it through the day with Him"
It's so easy to lose sight of what is important and to have a negative attitude verses a good one.
Taking that time every morning is very special to me. It's me getting my heart right with God and setting my sights on his glory.
I encourage you to start taking time every morning, before you start your busy day, to get you mind and heart straight. once you start you'll wonder why you never did before(:


-Madi

Waiting

Yesterday I happened upon a sermon by Charles Stanley called Waiting on God's timing. I felt like I was supposed to hear this message because I have definitely been lacking in this department lately! I got so much out of it. It was exactly what I needed yesterday(:

Here is the link (http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/this-week-on-tv/content.aspx?topic=Waiting_on_God_s_Timing_Part_1_video).
Take a peek and make sure to take some notes. I promise it's worth it(:


-Madi

Leaves

Have you ever noticed how on a crisp fall day a strong gust of wind will come and blow through the trees and leaves will just flutter through the air and come to rest softly on the ground? Then when another gust of wind comes they scatter farther and farther away until you can’t see them anymore. Today I sat and watched as a leaf with its bright orange and red colors came to rest on the road after being blown off of its tree. A few other leaves had fallen with this one but the thing that made this certain leaf different was that every time a gust of wind blew or a car drove past it, it didn’t move like all of the other ones. Only when a large truck or bus passed would the leaf move and then it would come to rest a few feet away only to stand its ground until the next big thing came. Observing this leaf made me, in an odd way, think of people and life. Some people are like that. I like to think that I’m like that in a way.

I’ve always wondered where these leaves end up. Where their final destination is and how many places they stop along the way.

I’m at the beginning of my life. I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life. I think and I pray all the time but nothing comes to mind. Right now I’m content to just wait for God to show me what he has in mind. It’s not always easy. I have days where I just want to do things my way and give up. However like the leaf I stand my ground until something big comes along and scatters me for a little bit and my faith gets shaken. I have had quite a few of those moments this year. I can honestly say that these things have made me a better person and have even changed my life.  At the beginning of the year I said that this was going to be a good year and although I can’t say that this was a good year so far I can say that in a way it has been. I have learned a lot this year ,good and bad things. One of those things is that God is really in charge.

I feel strongly now that what is meant to be, will be. No matter how much you fight for or against something. If its meant to be it will happen at the right time and right place in your life. As much as we’d like to believe, we can’t control the universe. It’s just not humanly possible. I guess when it comes down to it  all we can do is dream and believe and hope and have faith that in the end everything will be okay.

 

You can’t know. You can only believe or not-C.S.Lewis

 

-Madi

 

 

About me!(:

Hello, welcome to my blog.

My name is Madison. I'm an 18 year old girl that is no where near perfect. However I am okay with that because I have a perfect God that forgives me <3
I come from a large Christian, homeschooling family of 8 kids. I am the second oldest and the oldest girl!
My favorite animals are wolves and elephants, I love lots of coffee, the color blue, history, Ireland, reading, fall time, running, and photography.
The name of my blog comes from the verse 1 Corinthians 15:10-- But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. NIV.
The purpose of this blog is to share a little bit of my life and the Lord with you guys through writing and my photography. I hope you enjoy what you read here and come back to visit often!


-Madi