one foot in front of the other.

Last week my Thursday Women's Bible Study wound up our study by Lisa Harper on Hebrews.

it was a great study.  

i thoroughly enjoyed it.

my favorite moments were the small group discussion and prayer times at the end of each day.

however Lisa Harper is a great speaker.  

i anticipated the videos.  

her life stories and jokes mixed in with Biblical truths were so enjoyable.

last week we watched a special video where Mandisa was the guest speaker.

*Madisa was on the only season of American Idol that i ever watched from start to finish.*  

she shared from Hebrews 12.

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, 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.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

she focused mainly on the running and fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Mandisa spoke about how when accepting Christ into your life it's like gaining a running partner.  

but one that is beside, in front and behind.  

surrounding you, supporting you as you run the race of life and faith.

as she spoke about the difference a running partner makes i could relate. 

the difference of running alone and having someone there with me is huge.

the encouragement just having them there.

Mandisa then spoke about Jesus, our running partner, encouraging us.

since He's Jesus he doesn't have to just run beside us.

He can run ahead and turn around to face us.

he runs backward so that he can encourage us.

"c'mon Michelle.  one foot in front of the other.  keep going.  look at me.  keep coming.  
one foot in front of the other."

that picture hit home with me.

i know exactly how that feels.

a couple years ago i ran my first Terry Fox run.

here's what i wrote:

Throughout the run when I was slowing and struggling Dan would run ahead of me and run backward so the kids were facing me.  They would cheer and laugh, it was so great having them help me find it in myself to do something Dan believed I could do.  I finally believed it too.

*read the whole post here: Terry Fox Run

Having them looking at me as i was wanting to give up.

fixing my eyes on them.

to picture Jesus doing that as i go day by day, moment by moment.

Mandisa gave me a word picture that i can relate to.

Jesus is my running partner as i run this race.

my strength gets weak.  

but he's there running ahead of me - facing me - locking his eyes on mine.

"you can do it Michelle. i'm right here.  focus on me.  look at me.  not at the stumbling blocks.  
look at me.  keep going.  one foot in front of the other.  we'll do it together."