Day 8

Before and After

I even calibrated it to 3.5 so I don't know why Nike doesn't like to agree with me...

My time: 37:10

I finally got to change routes today! It was nice to have a change of scenery. Going around in circles forever gets somewhat mundane. (Ooh, I can make an comparison here!) That applies to our everyday lives as well though. We get caught up in doing the same routine over and over and over. Sometimes that can be comforting, but after a while things might not have as much meaning to them. When we start going through the motions of our faith, we lose the spark and just do it because we feel like we have to. But Jesus didn't die for you and me just so we could routinely read our bible for maybe 10 minutes at night and a quick prayer before bed. That's not something worth dying over. Especially when the actions aren't done out of love, but instead out of necessity. Personally, if I were to die for someone else-the most torturous death ever-and they just gave me a quick thanks every once in a while, I'd be a little upset and feel unappreciated. But isn't that what we're doing?

Routine cam be comfortable, but we weren't called to be comfortable. We were called to live outside of our comfort zone, to do exciting things for the purpose of expanding the Kingdom of God. And sharing your faith is exciting! It can be nervous or awkward at first, and sometime the process is long, but I cannot express the joy I feel in words when someone who I share my faith with decides to accept Christ. (But remember its not you that changed their heart, God works through you so He can change their heart) Sometimes the uncomfortable is a feeling-as in sharing your faith one-on-one, other times it is completely physical. I can tell you sleeping on floors and campsite showers aren't comfortable, but when you're helping expand a church, it's worth it. I can also tell you running 3.5 miles every day isn't comfortable (and it's barely been a week since I started), but if it means I can make someone else happy and better-off, it's worth it. God doesn't want us to have a mundane, routine faith. Will you let Him spice it up a little? Pray that your relationship with Him will have meaning again, and put in the effort to make it have meaning. He may have something crazy for you in store, and you don't want to miss it because you weren't listening.

Please pray for me as I continue to run that I will have strength to keep doing it; that I am protected from sickness and injury; and that God will bless the project.

Day 8 challenge! Donate if you can, but my challenge is for you to text or email 8 people about the project and give them the link to this website. Preferably people that don't already know about it :)

~Haley