This Marathon Called Life!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the long break! I have so many thoughts that sometimes it's hard to get them into a cohesive post!

So about a month ago I was lying in bed (I do some of my best thinking there) and I was thinking about running. 

Now if any of you know me, you know I am in no way a runner at heart! At all! I hate hate hate it. So you might be wondering why I was thinking about it. 

Well, I was thinking about it because I was thinking about my family's vacation last year. We went to Gull Lake Ministries out in Hickory Conner Michigan. It's a family camp and amazing and y'all should go! Anywho, I was thinking about the teen group (called High Tide) and the lesson for the week. It was called Tough Faith and basically it paralleled the Christian faith to that of a Tough Mudder. 

For those of you who don't know, a Tough Mudder is a crazy obstacles/marathon race. They have lasers, mud pits and all sorts of other crazy stuff. To learn more about Tough Mudders click here!

Anyways, I was thinking about that and just kinda expounded.

Picture if you will, a long, rocky road. Black trees line your path and you're running. You strain your eyes, hoping to see the end of the road, but all you see is a glistening something on the horizon. "Is that the goal?" you pant, growing weary. 

Now I'm going to explain a bit. In my head, the road is our life. The goal, ultimately what we're striving for is to be more like God and what we're heading for is heaven. Philippians 3:14 says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We should keep our eyes on God. He is what will keep us from stumbling. But...

You here voices calling out on either side, enticing you off of the path. You're eyes flick to the side. A beautiful man stands there. His eyes glow like diamonds and he wags his finger at you too come closer. You slow your pace...

The enemy. The one who tries to wave us off the path. The one who knows this race is harder than what you can endure.

But you can.

The enemy is full of crap. Because you have a help mate in this race ... your Coach and He's not going to fail you. Not ever.

You slow your pace, but you don't stop. A gentle hand falls on your shoulder and you turn to see your Coach. He smiles at you and shakes his head. "You need to say on the track, my love." You nod and head back onto the path. 

The ground gets rough under your weary feet. You're eyes drift down and you sigh. The ground is full of sink holes and obstacles. Why not just give up? you think dejectedly. If this is what the rest of the race looks like than it sure stinks. 

Yeah. Life. It throws some crap at you. Trust me, I know. I've had friends betray me, I've had crushing words thrown at me, I've had Crap with a capitol C in my eighteen years.

But this I know. When I want to yell and scream, my Coach, my Jesus, has never left my side. and when I get to weak to take another step, he steps in and picks me up and carries me.   

You sigh and drop to your knees. You ball your fists and let the tears of frustration and rage flow. "You didn't tell me that it would be this hard! Where are you when I need you, Coach!?" 

"I am right here, my child." 

Strong arms lift you and you feel the steady throb of a man running. Running with you tight in His arms. 

Soon you're strong enough to run again. But yet again your eyes stray. This time, you see a bunch of your friends in a mud pit. They're struggling to emerge. But some of them are laughing and having a great time. 

"I should try to help them!" You think. So in you go. You struggle less then most and you pull and tug them out. But oh! That mud is fun! Before you know it, you're sucked into! Suddenly you're among the others that are struggling to break free of the mud's tight grip. You call out and suddenly you feel your Coach's hand in yours. He yanks you out, wipes you off and looks you in the eye. 

"Stay on the path!" he admonishes and off you go again. 

Ah. The mud pit. This is where the Tough Mudder comes in! The mud is sin. Hebrews 12:1 says,
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," (emphases added) It's so easy to get sucked into sin. Even when we go into it to help someone else out. The best way to enter into a situatian where we're trying to help someone else out of sin, is by praying long before hand. Otherwise, if we don't have the help of our Coach, we'll be just like the poor souls floundering in the mud of sin.

Finally, my last point is once again on looking toward Jesus.

Hebrews 12 continues with this verse:

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

You hear a noise behind you. You turn and see the mud pit again. Shame and guilt swarm into your heart. 

You feel a hand turn your head forward. "That's the past my dearest. Don't dwell on that. Strain for what's ahead."

And that's that. Look forward. Not behind. Run with Jesus, the founder of the race. 

In Jesus Christ, as a fellow runner of the faith, I want to encourage you! I am running next to you! If you ever need me, I'm here to pray for you as you run this run! It's though sometimes, it sucks sometimes (pardon the expression), sometimes you want to pass out and give up. But I'm here to tell you something ... it all happens to strengthen you!  There is a reason for everything. 

Crap happened to my family and me. Yeah. But I'll tell you something. That crap put us where we are, put us on what I'm calling the Augustine Adventure. Without that crap, this blog wouldn't be here. I wouldn't have meet many of the wonderful people I have. I might not have been on Crew of Hello Dolly or grown in many of the ways I have. 

This race and all the obstacles and struggles that go with it are for a reason. 

And honestly, if I'm running on the path marked out for me, in the race my Coach has prepared and trained me for, if I'm running with him ...

Than I'm right where I'm meant to be.  

And then there is really no better place to be.

For His glory,

Anna 

Whatever I Do, Wherever I Am

So I am so excited to been stage crew for HPA’s Performance of Hello Dolly. I never expected to be on Crew and I certainly never expected to be Assistant Stage Manager! To be honest, I'm super nervous. Stage managers have huge responsibilities and even if I'm not the head stage manager, I am still responsible for the cast on the side of stage I'm on.

But I as I was thinking about it I realized God has put me where I am for a reason. It says in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God knew that at this point in time I was ready for the responsibility of being a stage manager. He knew it was time and that ultimately it would prepare me for what lies ahead in my life.

The key verse of this whole blog is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a future and hope.” (NIV) I simply need to trust God! He gave me this job to prosper me and not to harm me. No matter what happens in the next three weeks, He put me there in Michigan for a reason.

I think my biggest fear is failing in this role. I am by no means a perfectionist. Just one look at my bed or desk will tell you that. But I still panic that something will happen and I will screw the whole show.

Colossians 3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” THAT! That is my goal for Dolly. To do my behind the scenes work for Jesus not anyone else. To work my hardest to get it right, but not panic if something goes wrong. Because I'm not doing it for me and the praise I'd receive for acing it. I'm doing it for Jesus.


And in the grand scheme of things, His praise is all that really matters.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

(P.S. I know this is really short, but it's just where I am right now and I wanted to share it with you all!) 

Beautiful You

Dear child,

You look in the mirror. The person staring back seems so unattractive. Too big of nose, too plain of eyes, lips are too thin. The freckles, the hair, the body. It's ugly.

But beautiful child, know that that's not what I see. I made you in my image. I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) and I watch over you. (Psalms 146:5-9)

I know every hair on you head (Matthew 10:30) and the plans I have for you? Oh child, they are going to bring you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

When you look in the mirror and wish away the things I made for you, it hurts me. I created you in my image (Genesis 1:27). You look in that mirror and wonder, “Am I truly beautiful? Does anyone love me?”

Child - made by me, for the work I have planned for you - know this … YOU ARE LOVED! (Isaiah 43:4) You are so loved, you are so beautiful. I have your hand in mine (Isaiah 41:13) and I'll never let you go. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

My love, you are altogether beautiful. There is no fault in you. (Song of Solomon 4:7)

Your Heavenly Father,
God Almighty

Copyright Anna Augustine 2016

All rights reserved

I was thinking the other day about my looks. Like, I was obsessing over them! And I started thinking, how crazy it that? I mean, the God who created galaxies looked at ME and thought, "The world needs her. I have plans for her and I'm going to us her in ways she'll never imagine." 

Can you imagine that!? He knew you could better the world just by being born! 

I don't want to say much more, guys. I think the "letter" above says it better than I can. And guess what? There is a longer, more in depth love letter from the King of Kings! 

It's called the Bible and it's the perfect place to go to if you're feeling depressed, anxious, unloved or anything of the like. God loves you guys! He loves me and I want to share that love with you all because it's a strong, unchanging love.  

Say to those with anxious hearts, "Be strong; fear not!..." Isaiah 35:4a 

Speaking So They May See Him

So two weeks ago at church, one part of the sermon really jumped out at me. But of course, I didn't bother sharing it because I thought, who is going to listen to me?

Well, last week, one of the main topics was to share what God has been teaching us through church, our private devotions, just in life! 

And that's really why I created this blog, to share my Adventure that God is taking me on. 

So please, pull up a chair, tune in and bear with me for a couple minutes. 

If I tread on toes, I'm sorry but I'm not! Because this is something I think this is an issue we need to address as Christians. 

Our words! 

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths but only such as is good for building others up, as is fits the occasions, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Okay, so the other day some of my friends and I were talking and the topic of swearing came up. One of my friends said, "If the swear word is needed, then I'm going to use it."

I honestly didn't know what to say! I mean, swearing bothers me. I don't want to fill my head with this crap. And I don't think we ever need to use cuss words. They degrade us and others. 

But like I said, I didn't now what to say, so I said nothing.

These thoughts were in my head Sunday as I went to church. The pastor (who also happens to be my dad!) was talking and to be honest, I don't even remember what the main topic was. But this popped out at me, because I had been struggling with what to tell my friends. 

This is what he said: "Our speech should draw people TO Christ NOT away from him. 

So this even goes beyond cussing! 

What about ...

* Gossip?

*Hate talk?

*Joking that hurts? 

*Prideful words?

Our words are powerful! 

James 3:4-5a  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things...

Our tongues are small parts of  our bodies, yet they are so, so powerful! 

Please, please, please know that I'm in no way judging you! I deal and struggle with these things to!

James 3:7-8 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

So you may be asking, Big deal! I don't do that! 

Let's switch gears people!

I, like many people I know, have Facebook. You probably clicked this link from my Facebook share. I love how it allows me to connect with my friends and family who are all over the USA. 

 Facebook can also show the double-sidedness of some people! 

For example:

Bob's talking about Dave to a friend who doesn't know him- 

I absolutely cannot stand that man! He is so arrogant and acts like he knows everything! Ugh!

Bob's Facebook post to Dave - 

Oh Dave! You're my best friend! Thanks for the wonderful night watching the game ... 

Wait ... I thought you couldn't stand the guy? Isn't that a bit double-sided?

YES!   

I know some people see no problem with it. But the truth is, it reflects who we are! 

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

When we say and do these things, specifically as Christians, we are reflecting Jesus! 

I went to Winter Jam last Sunday and the man who gave the gospel message talked about seeing a special type of photo. It was supposed to pop a 3-D image. But he couldn't see it. He had to take a little white card, hold in front of his face, pull it away then the image popped out. 

He explained this is the way a lot of nonbelievers view God. Their picture of him is like the pre 3-D photo - distorted and ugly.  

If Christians treat others like that, then their God must treat others like that. 

NO! NO! NO! Let this NEVER BE! Our lives should so easily pop the love of our God! Because God is love!

Another reason I don't like Facebook (and for that matter any social media site) is the amount of posts with swearing! It shocks me just how many Christians post, share and like stuff with cuss words!

Like the passage above says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So what we like, share, post, tweet, etc. is showing what's in our hearts! 

Now, I know a lot of us (myself included) sometimes miss the swear word. And if that's the case, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Then I can message you when a post does have a cuss word! 

But I've seen some comments, (which means they write it themselves!) from friends who claim to be followers of Jesus, that have cuss words. Now that really bothers me! Because one moment we're posting a Bible verse and the next we're commenting with cuss words? Again, double-sided. 

So how do we avoid being like that? Well, I think Philippians stated it best:

Philippians 4:8 Finally brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. if anything is excellent or praise worthy think about these things. 

What our minds dwell on is what we fill our hearts with. What we fill our hearts with is what comes out of our mouths. 

I think we need to watch what we say and do online as Christians. It reflects on what others view Jesus as. And we need to watch the things that come out of our mouth! 

I want to challenge you today. Here it is:

Make your words and actions draw people to Jesus.

How do you do that?

 Pray: Ask the Lord for help.

Fill your mind with Philippians 4:8 things: This may mean some of the things you watch, read, and listen to may need to be cut. I know, I know! Bite your tongue, Anna! But seriously! If it isn't honoring to God, is it really worth holding on too?

Read your Bible: Again, it's a Church answer. But honestly, this is the stuff that is Philippians 4:8 material people! 

If you need help finding what I'm going to call 4:8 Material to center your mind on God, please comment! I'm willing to help! And if you comment, I'll pray for you! It's rough, I know, to watch your tongue. But I also know that God will help! Let's pray for our words to be honoring to him!

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Lord, help my words to reflect your love for people. Let me NEVER be double sided. Let my heart please you in everything and let the overflow from my mouth be for your glory and to draw people to you and not away.  Amen 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words ...

So ... to finish up my love tag, I want to share some wonderful picture/quotes about love. I am a Pinterest freak, so feel free to find and follow me there! :) 

Serious first

#1 

This is the reason we can love. Because God bothered to love us first! 

#2

This is what I've been saying guys! Agape love is a protective love that seeks the best for the one loved!

#3

Again! What I've been a sayin'! Think this one speaks for itself! ;)

Now for the fun! 

#4

This made me chuckle! This is me and my future boyfriend for sure! 

#5

Pooh Bear was my childhood, so a quote from him is always acceptable! :) 

Now, VIDEOS! 

Fun One!

Serious One!

(Songs owned by Anthem Lights)

So, that's all guys! I hope my love rants have helped you! Remember, wait for that Agape Love! It'll be so stinkin' worth it! 

True Love Waits

So my last post was on what love does. How it acts.

This post is no different! :) 

Honestly, this is something that I've been thinking about a lot. When will the man God has for me show up? How will I know when he does? What if *gasp* he is already there and I'm friends with him?!

Isn't that a weird thought? I mean, I know quite a few guys (maybe you're even reading this!) and they're amazing, amazing people. 

I think one of the most profound posts I've ever read about guys and romantic relationships is this one here: 

I think this is so relevant! We girls (I don't know about guys!) fall for a Prince Charming. If we think you're cute, we fall and usually fall pretty hard. 

But that's not love! 

We say "Oh, he's my Prince Charming!" and that's fine and dandy! But I think Knight in Shining Armor is better. And even then we should scratch the shining! 

Knights had a pretty awful job. They fought, they worked, and they always had to be on guard. In short, they had to deal with the nitty gritty crap in the castle life. They got messy. They didn't always have perfect hair and clothes. Their armor got dirty and they had to clean it.

I think as girls, we have this unrealistic expectation of what guys are going to do for us. I know I do sometimes.   

I want to tell you girls something. (Sorry to all my guy readers! This one's for the girls!)

 The man you marry is not going to be perfect.

Let me repeat that:

The man you marry is not going to be perfect! 

Shocking, I know. I mean, he's human. He's going to do things that annoy you. He's going to squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle, he's going to leave his shoes out in the middle of the hallway, he's not going to always understand you. He's going to have bad days, days he's not going to be there for you because he has his own problems.

He's going to be a lot like you.

You , too, are going to do things that are going to drive him nutty! Habits that are so normal are going to be pet peeves you didn't know existed. That's life! 

But I think that's what makes love so very important. (Guys you can tune back in now!)  Love is looking past the flaws and the things they do that drive us crazy. Love is taking the baggage we both have and carrying it together. Love is listening when they've had an awful day and pushing our own problems back. Not to say our problems aren't important. They are. But love is dealing with it as a team. Never giving up, no matter the struggles, the tears, the hurt. 

That is the love we find in 1 Corinthians 13. That, my friends is Agape Love.

This is the goal, guys and gals. Not to find Mr Perfect or Miss Wonderful. No! It's to find the person God has for you. The one who is perfect. not in they have no flaws, but perfect in that God has made them for you. They're going to have flaws and problems. We all do. 

But love past that.

Better yet.

Love thru that. 

That's true love my friends!

If you're with someone right now who doesn't love you like that, with a love that knows no bounds, them please end it! You are so special! You're so worth a person who loves you for you, flaws and all! 

And if  you're not in a relationship ... wait! 

Wait for the person who will love you with an Agape Love. Someone who is so stinkin' worth it that no matter the struggle, no matter the pain, no matter what the heck life throws at you, the two of you will face it hand in hand. 

Trust me guys! 

I think it's going to be worth the wait for that kind of love. 

Love: Perfect When In Christ

Love. 

Such a little word for such a completely confusing, wonderful emotion! 

We use it rather flippantly though, don't we? I think we've forgotten what love truly is! 

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

So I want to talk about love. 

I've "been in love" many, many times. I've though I met Mr Perfect. That he could do no wrong, that he walked on water. I've made excuses, I've ignored my friends counsel. 

And it wasn't love. 

He ended up hurting me. Breaking my heart. 

I guess that's why they're called "crushes".

But ... love. 

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13 is commonly called the Love Chapter of the Bible. I love it! 

One thing I've heard, is that if you're crushing on someone put their name in for love.

"______ is patient. _______ is kind..."

This shows you what kind of person you're falling for. 

But I think what's more important is this. 

1 John 4:16 b

"...God is love..."

So, if God is love, He is the highest standard of love. 

I mean, for real! God let His son die for our sin! If that isn't love, what is?! 

If God's love is the standard of love, than how are we to compete? 

We can't.

God's love is perfect. God's love never leaves. God's love never fails! 

But on to the fact of love between two people. 

A man and a woman. 

I haven't met my man yet. Or if I have I don't know it yet! :) 

But I am...

1) Praying for him.

2) Keeping a journal  to give to him on our wedding day

3) Saving my heart for him

And while it's hard to wait, I know I'm being molded into the woman I am supposed to be for him. 

God's timing is perfect and I know when I meet him, I will fall head over heels for him. And I will seek to have a 1 Corinthians love. 

Love ...

Hard yet simple...

Wonderful and awful...

Perfect when in Christ.