NOLA Run by jdphotog at Garmin Connect - Details

NOLA Run by jdphotog at Garmin Connect - Details

March 19, 2014 -Journal

Today, we woke up and went for my first run in New Orleans.  We departed to the River Walk, over to Jefferson Square, and back up the River Walk to the hotel.  We logged around two and half miles.  We later went to the Westin's workout facility and lifted weights and I ended up getting another two and half miles on the treadmill to complete my five miles for the day.  

        Around 11 a.m., I went to registration and picked up my conference material and reviewed many of the community college marketing artwork material entered for awards.  I was thrilled to see so many creative views and ideas all in one location.  I met another public relations director from a community college in Dallas.  It was also her first time at the conference.  

        At 1 p.m., the conference kicked off the opening session with political analyst James Carville.  He was a great speaker to open a conference on communicating a message to your marketed public!  Carville said the key to effective communication is to keep your message simple, relevant, and repetitive.  His words reenforced my education in the Department of Communication at Pitt State.  

        After the sessions were over for the day, Jeff and I walked down to Jefferson Square, the French Quarter, and ate at Mother's for dinner.  I orded the New Orleans' red beans and rice with smoked saugage.  Jeff ordered the New Orleans poboy sandwhich with butter and grits. The streets were full of artist, musicians, tarot readers, and dancers.  After a nice evening together, we stopped at the Red Apple.  It was a candy store full of homemade treat covered fruit, cookies, cereal, and pretzels.  I ordered S'more bark and Jeff ordered creole covered pralines.  

My red beans and rice dinner at Mother's.

Jeff's poboy sandwhich and grits dinner at Mother's.

March 18, 2014 - Journal

We departed approximately at 6 a.m. for the NCMPR conference in New Orleans.  We stopped a few times for restroom stops, lunch, and to gas up the vehicle.  Somewhere along the way, we missed our original turn and ended up going on a scenic route through Mississippi.  Therefore, our 11 hour drive ended up over 12 hours.  

        This situation, reminds me of how Christians have a path mapped out by God. Sometimes we find ourselves off the path God tell us to follow, for whatever reason. It could be because we have tried to guide ourselves without God's direction or help. However, it could be we have stopped focusing on God and got side tracked. No matter the reason, God is ALWAYS ready to guide us back to the path he intended or reroute us to our final destination. What an awesome God he is to give us that much grace!  

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11 NKJV)

        Later when we arrived at the Westin, we asked directions to the Red Fish Grill on the famous Bourbon Street.  We were only four to five blocks away so we walked.  The streets were full of people of all kinds.  You could the jazz music playing all around at different street corners.  Musicians would play for tips.  The Red Fish Grill was packed.  However, we decided to eat at the bar so we could be served faster.  We ate red fish, mashed potatoes, some indigidious vegetables, and some delicious pudding bread topped with ice cream, chocolate, and white chocolate.  Wow!  It was amazing.  

This is my hotel room view! 

Work Diligently at the Skills God Gives Us

Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. (Proverbs 22:29 NIV)

I was reading a passage from Jim Ryun's book The Courage to Run. He discussed his training for the Olympic trials back in the summer of 1964.  He said he would run early in the morning to avoid the Kansas summer heat in Lawrence, but many of his track workouts involved him and his coach late at night on the KU track.  Ryun could remember one night when his coach had him run  40 quarter mile laps in one night.  When he thought he was finished and was ready to go to bed, his coach told him to run up Campanile Hill which was approximately another 250 yards one way.  He ran several sets until his coach said, "Enough."

Ryun said his training helped him gain the last spot on the Olympic team that year and had many more achienements to come because of his skill God granted him with.  Although running the hill was the last thing he wanted to do after completing a 10 mile track workout, mastering the hill several times helped him gain such big accomplishments later.  God blessed him for all his hard work and dedication.  

I think God can bless us in everything we do, if we honor him and work diligently with the gifts he has given us for his kingdom.  Although we may receive many blessings, it is important do give the glory to God so that we may be examples to others who need to have a closer relationship with him.  

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23 NIV)

IGNITE MISSIONS PROMO

Oceans

http://youtu.be/iilc92XVd00 Ocean by Hillsong

This powerful song talks about our oceans in our life.  Our ocean can stand for our fears and/or mission in life.  It reminds me of the story in Matthew when Peter tried to walk to Jesus on the water:

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

(Matthew 14:22-33 NIV)

Here is a video that illustates the story:

http://youtu.be/zFBMwZ2QnJY

What happened to Peter after he left the boat?  Then, what happened after he saw the wind in the storm? 

If Peter ignored the wind and stayed focus on Jesus, do you think he would have sunk?  Jesus asked him, Why did you doubt?"

This illustration has really hit home for me.  At work the past few weeks, I have been so busy with a varitey of different responsibilities and deadlines.  There is pressure coming in from all different departments that depend on me.  It has stressed me out to the point it has messed with my health.  Although there are sick days I can take to get well, rest up, and get stronger, I fear the amount of work that will pile up while I'm gone.  However, much like the song, story in the bible, and video, instead of staying focused on Jesus and keeping faith in Him to give me the impossible strength to endure the job pressures, I have watched the wind and the waves raising above me...just like Peter.  

Do you have a similar story?  Have you focused on Jesus or the wind?  

Faith

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. (Matthew 8:5-13 NIV)

The centurion had such great faith and is a prime example how we should be.  He knew Jesus could just heal with words if he believed and it was done.  It wasn't necessary for Jesus to go and lay hands on the sick servant.  

I pray that my faith can be like the centurion and my family will be healed of any and all strongholds, sickness, and financial burdens.