The Moment Looks Good, but Eternity is Better

Follow @makenzie_jones

Instagram

Not meaning to quote R-Swift, That Girl, which I heard this morning then used it for the title not even meaning to...wow, the little ways God brings things to you!

I don't know how else to put it except that life has been so wonderful lately. It is only two weeks into the year, and it has already been one of the best years of my life. There hasn't been anything big happen, just lots of small, yet meaningful and enjoyable things. I'm just daily in awe of the little blessings God is giving me. I keep a Word document of the things that stand out to me as messages from God, and it is awesome to keep note of. I might write a book one day, kind of like Chicken Soup and The Little Cabin on the Trail. 

I've been wanting to blog so many things for a while now, but honestly didn't know where to start I'm so behind, but today I just told myself to do this one. To begin, yes I am a communications major and full of words as it is, but there are times I get frustrated with this because there are just not words accurate enough to describe things God puts in my heart, but that's part of the mystery and beauty of who He is.

In these past couple weeks I have really come to see how great the past few years have come to be. No, they were not at all great in themselves, but where I am now is great, and I am made by everything that has happened to me. Both Pastor Dean's sermon and the video from Passion we watched in Sunday School today were right in line with all of this. I am amazed at how much more and more God connects things throughout daily life. (Is He doing more, or am I more open to seeing them?) 

In Pastor Dean's sermon he referenced a passage that I had just done a couple days ago in my daily devotion, Philippians 3:13-14. I have a hard time sometimes thinking about my past and all the heartache and the mistakes I made, but I do not have to be bound by that. This passage and the words of our pastor encourage us to not be held back by the things in our past but to move forward, trusting God with our future. 

The message we watched from Passion was spoken by Levi Lusko, a guy that I had heard brief clips of on KLove but never longer sermons or seen him. He is an awesome guy and probably now one of my favorite speakers ever. God has given him a way of holding attention and spreading the good news. This message he titled "Kicking the Bucket List." Well that stood out to me right off the bat because I am the kind of person who makes lists everywhere of everything I need and want to do. Not that we should not set goals, but we shouldn't be so caught up in them, making life about always striving to do bigger and better things. 

The focus passage he used was 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (see bottom of page for verses), one that I have used a lot in the past going through hard times, but this brought me to look at it from the other side, too. Then I would use it to help me through trouble knowing that there were better things ahead. Now, as things are going well, it helps me to stay humble and not get caught up in things, remembering that there are even greater things ahead. "The more you look forward to the next life, the less you will need from this world" was his summary of the message. Knowing the greatness of heaven awaits allows us to live now in service, perseverance, and enjoyment of each day where God has us. Instead of always striving for more, we can enjoy the simple blessings He has given us right here. This has been one of the biggest things of my life that I have been overflowing with joy and contentment in. I thank God everyday for the little things I am currently able to enjoy. My life is nothing special, but at the same time, it is because God has made it so.

A question he asked that was a challenge to me, and likely almost everyone in this day and time was, "Would you still do it if you couldn't brag or post about it?" Hm. I love to share the things I do, but I need to watch my heart that I am sharing things to show the good that God is doing, not to make myself look good or feel better. We are called to be good at what God has called us individually to do, not in comparison to others. Colossians 3:17 says to do whatever we do to the glory of God. 

I also struggle from FOMO, fear of missing out, and multitasking, another part of my nature to do, do, do, but focusing on what God has for me helps me be content with less. Levi continued on these things (and my life) with living simply, quality over quantity, and being content. These are times I giggle to myself because God told me that, too, and now here He is, telling me again through another person. I have this renewed desire to simplify my life. I get stressed out when there are too many things, whether it be my schedule, my to-do list, or stuff on my desk or laying in the floor, and I have found much more peace when I clean things out. I don't need so many different things going on but just enough things that are meaningful. As Christmas break is ending, I am finally getting to the things that I had saved for when I got slowed down. Sometimes I have to get rid of distractions so I can focus on better things. For me, this has been everything from going through a stack of comics on the table, finishing a bottle of body wash, letting Mom do more of my grocery shopping, going slower on Bible studies when they are good and not doing a certain amount each day, to finishing a bag of cookies, among more. 

I now have a job, am about to start second semester classes and an internship and possibly another job, and I babysit. All these are new within the past month-ish. So many new things, and a new fire in my heart to serve God with it all. I have lots of goals and dreams, but I am not set on them anymore. I don't expect things to happen. The past has taught me that. Only God is certain. I thought it was awesome when Levi closed up the message with a reference to Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I had just told myself this a few days ago because I am simply joyful in daily life, which is a gift from God. That's all I really want in life, to enjoy wherever I am. He said, "Don't follow your dreams; follow God, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I have been through a lot of good and bad, but the best comes when I let go and let God take control. In the car after a slightly stressful night at work last night, the song Control by Tenth Avenue North on the radio brought me to tears.

God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me

Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me

To take my hands off of my life and the way it should go

God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me

Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me

To open my hands up and give You control

I've had plans shattered and broken

Things I have hoped in, fall through my hands

You have plans to redeem and restore me

You're behind and before me

Oh, help me believe

You want me

The King of Heaven wants me

So this world has lost its grip on me 

****

Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Savoring Summer

Instagram

Tumblr

 The last week of summer break approached faster than I could imagine.  It hardly even seems like we had a summer.  I spent every moment I could outside, soaking up the sun.  I love summer weather so much, I don't know how I get through the rest of the year.  This summer was one of the best, but there's still fun left to be had, always things left that I want to do.  Here are some things that I squeezed into that last little bit.

I had this little event planned for at Panther Creek one morning to invite people to do a little devotion and bring items to donate to Food on Foot as they have a rush of needs at the beginning of the school year.  They are always open for donations and volunteers, and I believe that this is a great way for anyone in Morristown to help the people right here where we are.  This world is a pretty dark place, but God is the light that overcomes it all.  When we are filled with Him, we are also a light that He uses to reach out to others.  I am really motivated this year to live differently, do new things, make my life a better gift to the Lord!

This is the view of the lake from where we met.

I have a friend who graduated from Tennessee High a couple years ago and now runs cross country and track for ETSU named Macy Carrier.  She is such an example to this world of how to be a light!  I see her heart for others at work all the time, and it makes me smile and want to do more myself.  Living life like that really is contagious.  You don't have to boast in all you do; people notice.  "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  2 Corinthians 10:17  She has gone on mission trips, babysits, and is just a positive example in general.  The past two years, she and some friends have even put together very successful 5k races to raise money to build a well of clean water and to raise money for a children's home.  I came upon this article about her from her town's newspaper that tells a lot about how great a girl she is and learned some things even I didn't know!  I just wanted to take a moment to share a little about her!

 There for a while, it rained at some point, usually multiple times, every day for a couple weeks.  That obviously frustrates me!  I redecorated my dry erase board with this verse and picture to try to keep my perspective right.  I am blessed, and I shouldn't let a little rain ruin that!  (Although that is one of my most difficult times to be positive.)

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures of every kind on the earth."  Genesis 9:16

I couldn't believe it; after our team's cross country camp, I made RunnerSpace again!  This was two weeks in a row!  (Jessica and I were flying high-bottom right)

I don't watch a lot of tv, but when I do, it's usually with my mom and dad at dinner.  We always watch sports if there's a good one on or Big Bang Theory.  That show just cracks us all up!  However, my dad laughing so hard, or as mom says, "getting tickled," is funnier to me than the actual show.  Sheldon is my favorite.  Here he is with all his cats. 

This summer the weekends just did not work out for the lake, which makes me sad!  I am used to spending all Saturday and Sunday out at the lake, as well as the long weekend Mondays!  This year, I have only been out 3 or 4 times total!  Mom and Dad went a few more times, but between house projects, family events, vacations, camps, and bad weather, this was the least we have ever been out to the lake.  We took a couple weeknights to go get some skiing water while we had the chance.  It's so nice at night; there are few people and calmer water.  It's quite peaceful!

We had to take a picture together to prove that I really did get to hang out at the lake some!  Erika and I have literally grown up together on the lake.

When you have a long day at the lake, dinner to go is convenient.  By that time, we're usually pretty hungry, too!  We often stop by Taco John's.  They have room for us to park the boat, too, so that helps!

I actually found this verse a while back, but couldn't find a time to work it in, but I gotta share what I learn!  I hate feeling like I'm wasting time, so this verse goes right along with that.  If you waste the time God gives you, you're not going to have anything good come out of it, or you may find that your free time is taken away!  When you put your mind to doing good, God will help you succeed.

As a little kid, I would daily sleep in until around 10:30 when Mom would come drag me out of bed.  There's no time for that anymore!   Sleeping in is considered 7:30-8:30, sometimes 9:00, but I do cherish a good night's sleep!

I really like this quote.  Every day is a new one.  Take it on as a challenge!

Another positive quote I came across was from Aristotle:  "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."

New phone wallpapers!

"...See how the flowers of the field grow...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field...will He not much more clothe you?...So do not worry...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:28-31, 33

I got paid a couple times during this last week of summer!  I dog sat for my neighbor's grandkids and bathed my own dog for mom and dad.

Even more money!  I find change almost every day.  I am a professional runner.  I get paid.  Kinda...

After losing my beach tan during the weeks of rain when we got home from the beach, I have finally gotten it back!  This weather has been pretty great lately, hot, humid, sunny.

I feel like this is how my parents look at me all the time.

And speaking of food...

The Florida State coach came over for dinner and dessert one night to talk about me and their running program, which was really cool!  We fixed grilled chicken salad because that is something just about every single person, especially athletes, likes, and it is simple to make!  I had to snap a picture because it was the prettiest salad I've ever made.

The meal on the right is a new thing I've decided that I like together.  It is also one of the best post-workout meals I could make, too!  It's sweet potato with it's cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg topping; fish with some seasonings; and chia seed on top of it all!  I added some turkey sausage to this one, too, for an extra umph.

More new goodies I've found at the store for heading into school

I am stocked up on protein bars for like months, but there are just so many varieties of flavors that I love!  Kind is also a great brand with tons of good-for-you ingredients.

 

On our way back from a visit to Alabama, we stopped in the Target to look around, nothing special in mind, but you just can't pass up a Target!  I ended up getting these two gelatos and a yogurt to have for my road trip dessert!  I also got a new granola to have on hand, which is a variety available exclusively at Target!  These were all new products to me, and they were all a success!

These are two new protein bars I found at Walmart.  They're pretty good, but not my type.  After I finish them, probably not getting anymore!  They are very chewy!

We have a new race this year at a new location, so we had practice there one afternoon to try it out.  It is in a mowed hayfield, so it's pretty hard to breathe!  Along with the recent weather and no shade to be found, it was a tough afternoon.  But there were some really pretty sunflowers!  You can find good anywhere if you just think about it. 

"For all people are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever."  1 Peter 1:24-25

My main goal (going along with using it for the Lord):  Enjoy Life.

"So I commend the enjoyment of life because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him."  Ecclesiastes 11:8

 Simple, yet so wonderful!  Here I was participating in "enjoyment of life...under the sun,"eating a dark chocolate chip waffle, drinking coffee, and followed the rest of the day with even more joy in what I did!

Last thing before school started on Monday:  sub deb pledge tea at the country club.

We all got dressed up and had a dessert buffet while we got to introduce ourselves to the freshmen and their moms and talk about some things we're going to do this year!

 

God's Beautiful Power

Follow @makenzie_jones

Instagram

Tumblr

 

While we were gone to the beach, we had fantastic weather!  It only rained once, and it didn't even mess up our plans.  That is a huge blessing to get to enjoy over 2 weeks of perfect beach weather.  We had all the sunshine, heat, and humidity we could handle.  One night there was a lightning storm.  All lightning.  No thunder.  It was amazing!  It was constant lightning with no noise!  We stood out on the balcony and watched it for a really long time.  I thought this was an awesome demonstration of God's power.  He is the one who controls the weather, something powerful, and so unpredictable to us. I believe that is one thing He uses to show us that we are not in control; He is.  We can't know what will happen or how it will happen.  He is in total control, and His plan is amazing.

The golf night was a late night, and I was exhausted. I cherish my sleep, but I got in bed after midnight!  It was worth it though. If Dad had not wanted to stay longer and practice putting, I wouldn't have gotten to experience this amazing lightning storm.  It was truly amazing and made me watch in awe of how powerful our God is. He makes beautiful things happen that we can't understand so that He can demonstrate that awesome power.


This also led me to look up some verses about lightning and brought to mind a song by the Newsboys!  Here's some of what I found.

"The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning."  Psalm 29:7

Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky
To show me You are with me
I I I can't deny
No I can't deny that You are right here with me
You've opened my eyes
So I can see You all around me
Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me
That You are with me

"See how He scatters His lightning about Him, bathing the depths of the seas.  This is the way He governs the nations and provides food in abundance.  He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike tis mark.  His thunder announces the coming storm..."  Job 36:30-32

"When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses."  Jeremiah 51:16

The Final Countdown--Junior Year Addition

Follow @makenzie_jones

Instagram

Tumblr

 

After Spring Break, mom always makes a countdown calendar to mark off the days left until we are out for summer.  This year, I don't know who was ready for summer more, mom or me.  I've always heard that junior year is the worst, but at first I didn't believe it.  Then second semester came.  Changed my mind.  It was true for me, too.

 

Looking back, yeah it was really rough, but there's always diamonds in the rough.  If not diamonds, maybe a shiny rock or two.

You gotta take the best of what life gives you.

It's always good when a day starts with poop, right?

 

These are some great pictures that I found from a race we ran at Dobyns-Bennett!  The first couple days after a race, I always look forward to going online and looking at all the pictures people have posted.

On my way to a 3200 victory...with an untied shoe.
Chantal, Cherie, and I have come together to create some epic pictures this year in xc and track.

Chemistry got tough at times, but my teacher was what kept me going!  I was so thankful to have Mrs. Heflin to keep us entertained while teaching us what we needed to know, too.  This lab wasn't really that educational, but the rest of them were.  We roasted smores on bunson burners, so that's still a chemical reaction!

 

Timehop makes me happy.
So does my doggie.

This is kinda my usual pumpkin oatmeal stuff, but no pumpkin.  I woke up to find that the pumpkin was moldy. But it was race day, so I had to improvise!  Carrots were close enough.  Not bad either.

Selfie with a fish on shopping trip after a track meet.

Yes, I asked a stranger in the bathroom at Bass Pro Shops if I could take a picture of her shirt.

 

 

It makes me happy to see people I know (and people that I don't know) out running while I'm driving around town.  Here's Michael on the left and Mrs. Bowen on the right.  These were a few days apart, but at the same place!
Have no fear; I was stopped at a red light.

Track buses are too much.

Friday night lights
Late night 3200 at Dobyns-Bennet was worth it.  It was past my bedtime before we even started, but under those lights, running feels like flying.
Getting to do things like this may be stressful, take my sleep, make me sore, and so much more, but moments like this, looking out at an almost empty track because it is so late make me think about how much of a blessing it is to get to do this thing that so few people get to do.  For most, running (especially fast) is a "have to."  For me, it's a "want to" and a "get to."

Between D-B and Morristown, especially at 11:30 at night, there is not much to pick from.  Sonic came to the rescue being open until 2am, so we grabbed sandwiches and me a blast on the way home.  It was late, but I also had an early morning ahead...see below...

After getting in bed after 1:00am, I had to wake up extra early to go to school to take the ACT.  It made it not so bad, though, since I got to see one of my friends from church in my testing room!

Some fancy flapjacks
caramel banana

Sub-deb meeting:  to dress up or nah?
When meetings are in the middle of Sunday afternoons, the few people who come come wearing whatever is convienient.

Excuse my selfie, but I was excited about my hair and stuff.

Munk Packs are an awesome, tasty, healthy, portable snack that I found on The Feed and have tried a couple flavors!  It's like fruit and oatmeal in a squeeze pack.  It may sound weird, but it is delicious!  One of their main things they focus on these products is that they can be taken on any adventure the day may lead you to!

With Chemistry and AP tests studying overload, I was sick of it.  My toenails also hadn't been painted since Christmas, so since it had gotten to be flip flop wearing time, my toenails kinda ruined it.  Mom came to the rescue one night and painted them for me!
Just like the good ole days when I was a little tot.  Only now, my feet are the definition of runner's feet.

Being on the yearbook staff saved my life sometimes this year.  It was a fun addition to each day because I love pictures, and it also gave me time to do other things at the beginning of the year and after the book was submitted.  One day I had a doctor's appointment right after school, so I got to go out to the track and do it during 4th block!  The speed workout actually went by pretty fast out there by myself.  Accept for the construction crew building the freshman academy.  Shoutout to them for letting me use their porta potty. 

20x200.  I had to wear two watches to have a rolling time to know every 2 minutes and the other for a stop and start on the 200 each I ran.

An even bigger blessing came from this opportunity.  The longer I was out there, the windier it got and the darker the sky looked.  On the last few reps, sprinkles began to fall.  By the time I finished my cool down, it had turned into a drizzle.  The team was just coming out to stretch.  Leaving the school parking lot, it started pouring.  Down the road, lightning and thunder.  A few minutes later, sunshine and hail, big hail!  And yes, sunshine and hail are in the same sentence because they occured at the same time.  This crazy weather pattern continued for about an hour.  The team ended up not even getting to do any of the workout!  Not only was I thankful to have gotten the whole thing done--in dry weather--I got done early, too!

One of my friend/teammates Emily took this picture as the sun was setting at one of our home track meets.  Pink skies are just another peaceful picture from the Lord.

 

Hey look, it's another Lord!
One Sunday, Jessica and I did a run from my house to Ingles, just about 3 miles, to give us a chance to recover our legs a bit and our minds.  We had a fun time just talking while we ran!  I'm thankful to have fun friends who are there to just hear me out and I can listen to them, too!  Her sister Emily met us there, and we got some fruit off the salad bar and drinks from Starbucks!

Being common white girls.
Whenever I post something cliche, it's usually mocking it.

I wanted to do a little something to put a bright spot in some other people's day (hopefully), so we decorated some sticky notes with Bible verses and such and stuck them around places in the store!  We also shared stuff and prayed with each other.

Jessica wrote this one, and it was perfect!  There were 3 of us!

The social club I am in, Sub Debs, has a hell week for the pledges (freshmen) each year.  Now as an upperclassman, I look forward to it because one of the parts of hell week is gifts!  Every day, each pledge has a couple upperclassmen girls to call and ask them for something they want.  I got free snacks or a drink every day!  This is Emily in her outfit for the week and the cookies and drink she got me.  She was a real trooper!

The past two years, the cross country team has been invited to the Citizen Tribune Hall of Fame banquet where we get to eat some delicious food, socialize, dress up, and get recognized.  This year, there was a different part of the night that made it so great.  The guest speaker was Nick Reviez who played football at UT and professionally.  His testimony was amazing.  I can't explain how much it related to my life.  God knew that I really needed to hear that from someone else other than just His Word.

During the earlier parts of his football life, he had a thought that filled his mind quite often, "What if I fail?"  He put a lot of pressure on himself.  I did and thought the exact same things.
There were all these things he worried about--college, scholarships, etc--just as I was stressed over, too.  But he said, "I need to stop worrying about all these things that I wasn't created to worry about.  I was made to be faithful with today, to trust Him."  It was like he was telling me to stop worrying about all my worries!  I was given my gifts as a runner to bring Him glory, not to stress over.  I don't need to fear failing or losing running; it's just a race.  When I make it more than that to bring myself glory, God disciples me to get my focus back.
Another thing he hit on was control.  He said, "I've got no control at the end of the day.  God's in control of everything."  I like to make things happen my way, but that's not a good mindset to have.  It's always God's way.
Finally, he ended with how using what we've been given to bring God glory brings us pure joy.  Joy joy joy!  I feel like we were the same person, just two different ages, sports, and genders.  I just hope to be able to share how God has worked in my heart like Nick did.
I was so excited down in my heart that I had to go talk to him and take a picture with him afterwards.
A couple verses he referenced:  Isaiah 40:6-8 and Matthew 6:33
I'm sure you can find all kinds of information on him if you just pop his name in that Google search box, but here is a video of his testimony.

Another pancake:  dark chocolate

The pastel M&Ms were a nice change up to see

 This comic is true in a couple different ways.  Many kids see school as a prison, myself included at times.  The location of my school makes it basically like prison, too, because we are smack-dab in the middle of the projects.  It is a sketchy area.  Morristown West keeps us on our toes.

 

 

So there's what I had saved from spring break to May!
Basically lots of footsteps, faith, food, and school with a little bit of friends and fun in there, too!