Wow! Running was almost...well...enjoyable this morning. I have never had that experience with distance running. Sprinting was almost always fun...except when I had to run "long" distances like more than a quarter of a mile. Or jump hurdles while running. But I digress...I did the run to the cross and back (I think it's more than 2.5 but probably not 3 miles). On the way back down the hill, I spied a beautiful expanse of grass in our church's side yard that almost never gets used for anything and decided to take a little "field trip" and sprint to the far fence and back. More fun! Woo hoo! I think I now can do that horrible little trip around Centennial Lake for the Iron Girl relay in a few weeks. Hills and all! Maybe if I repeat that enough I really will believe it!!
I listened to lots of music this morning. That really seems to be key to my being able to run longer (and faster). So my theory is if I train enough with music I'll be in good enough shape to run the race without it (very strict guidelines...I think the rules stipulate that body guards will yank anyone off the course who they see with plugs in their ears). Hopefully no waterboarding involved...
Grace Like Rain
todd agnew
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly
Chorus:
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sunWe've no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun
Chorus
There are MANY versions of Amazing Grace out there! From the Eagles' "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" to the tune of "Theme from Gilligan's Island" (yes, really). But my very favorite of all time Amazing Grace MOMENT was actually a challenge of the Amazing Graces that happened pretty spontaneously at the LOGOS Youth Conference East this summer....
Setting: Evening Vespers Building (Men in one auditorium, women in the one next door)
Timing: Last night of Vespers
Background: Men ALWAYS sing Amazing Grace to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" and they sound incredible...the only song that they will really belt out and they raise the roof with it! Women decided they would close vespers singing Amazing Grace too...but the more traditional version.
What happened: Men started singing Amazing Grace apparently unaware that the women were singing it too (we could hear them, they could not hear us...yet). As they continued to sing, we got louder and stronger. It sounded so..well...ROOF RAISING! As soon as they ended and started filing out of their auditorium past our room, they could hear us singing. We got louder. They started singing "their" version again. Back and forth...the challenge of the Amazing Graces. Who could sing about God's grace louder and stronger? QUITE a moment!!
Have you sung loud and strong about God's grace recently? Have you even whispered it? It's really something to raise the roof about!
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Liz,
ReplyDeleteJust coming off a time of prayer, I always discover that when I pause to really focus on God's love and care for us and the details of all that he does for us, I am always amazed and in awe. I get so wrapped up in day to day that I forget to see this Amazing Grace that surrounds us.
The hair stands up on my neck everytime I hear the men sing Amazing Grace to "House of the Rising Son". You can watch it on The LOGOS Conference East group facebook page.