How much is it going to cost you?

That was the question of my daily devotional this morning (http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/).

Asking us to consider the cost of our actions. For instance, wouldn't it be nice if consequences had a price tag on them like clothes on the rack of our favorite boutique. Just as easy as "Dress at Amelia's: $139, man... that is going to cost me almost 1/4 my rent,maybe I shouldn't buy it."

Don't you wish before our mistakes and 'lessons learned' there was a tag that said, "Cough cough, yea you. You know pregnancy is a result of sex,and sex before marriage... may result in you being a single mother."

This is just an example, of the MANY mistakes WE (me, included) young women make, and we are all well aware of the consequences... but wouldn't it be nice if a tag were hanging from the guys neck as a reminder? Or a tag on that wine glass? Or piece of cake?

Just a thought.


After I read my devotion I thought... oh, no. This is a sign. I need to be very aware of my actions... because what I do could REALLY cost me.... spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically...

You know what I am saying. Run 3 miles... and the only cost you have to worry about is sore legs...

Have one too many glasses of wine at dinner and think you are ok to drive? Cost... could be HIGH!

Overeating... this one is especially a HIGH cost... because it affects us WOMEN in many ways...by mentally beating ourselves up, physically, our waiste line isn't getting any smaller.... emotionally, we think we aren't good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough.

Having sex before you are married/with someone who doesn't care about you/with someone who does care about... still the cost could be high. Physically, pregnancy... mentally, could get all caught up in the person because you shared the most intimate thing in the world with them, YOURSELF... and emotionally, thinking about them all the time, worry, anxiety... and finally, Spiritually, because when you let things get between you and your safe place, whether that is your well being, your security, your confidence, your God, your whatever... it costs you.

Ya want to know the funny thing about this post? My intention was only to write about how I read my devotion and then got in my car and it wouldn't crank (this is a true story, happened THIS morning!) and I just had to pay $100 for a new battery, and I was going to ask ironically, "What were my actions for having the cost of a new battery and NOT being able to get my hair colored tomorrow like I have scheduled? I cannot afford two $100 payments in one week!"

But it seems something else was being put on my heart, and in a completely different way.

Interesting.

SO now, I want to ask you! Is there anything in your life that is putting a HIGH cost on your physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual well being?

Search your heart and find out. Then try to remedy that part of you that needs healing... maybe even eliminating whatever it is that is costing a part of you a little too much. :) As The Bible says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)

Just a thought.

Ok, so that's all the deep stuff I have for today. I hope it meant something to you; touched you. Because it was definitely not premeditated, it just came out as I was typing... but I DO NEED A FAVOR FROM

All of you runners out there... I decided as of YESTERDAY I wanted to start running 5k's every weekend. Ya know, stop doing the stuff I've been doing for years that has gotten me NO WHERE, and start doing positive things for myself, my community, my world.

For myself I decided on Saturdays/Sundays I would run 5ks. 3.1 miles twice a week, no biggie. I figured if I could run 3 miles without stopping, my first day trying, it would be no sweat.

Also, I wanted to run an 8 minute mile, because I hadn't done this since, gasp, MIDDLE SCHOOL... don't get me wrong, I have RUN... just you know... 12, 11, 10 minute miles. I haven't pushed myself to just RUN. So I went to the gym yesterday morning and ran an 8 minute mile, ran half a mile at 10 minute mile pace and stopped... yes, at a mile and a half... not as easy as ya thought, huh, Whiney?!

Last night I went back, ran a 9 minute mile and then walked another mile at a 4.5 mph speed (13 min mile).

So basically what I need to know from you runners out there is this: First, I have proven to myself I CAN in fact run an 8 minute mile. BUT to run a 5k, which I know is nothing to you half/marathon runners, is this... Should I set a pace to run the entire 3 miles in? Like a 10 minute mile pace? And PLEASE remember, I have NEVER in this lifetime been a runner. I have actually HATED the thought until about a year ago (Thank you,Aunt Ginny for the encouragement and start!)I mean my nickname is softball was SPEEDY
, and you don't get that kind of nickname from being a fast runner... if you know what I mean... so answer me that, please!

Also, for myself, I have decided to start cooking more. Check out that dinner below. Blackened salmon (no, it is NOT burnt, just heavily blackened; super spicy, actually very raw on the inside.) And that big pile of orange? A small sweet potato sliced, baked, and sprinkled with blue cheese crumbles. Are you jealous yet? I'm such a visionary! Ha. Ha. Ha. That is what a single lady's dinner looks like, I'm here to tell ya. And of course my ONE, yes, just ONE glass of wine. Good for the heart. And yummy, too.

I will fill ya in on what I'm doing for my community and world next time... I'm feeling guilty for keeping you for an eternity reading the longest post in blog history... IF you are still reading... I wouldn't blame you if you were stopped long ago! :)


I hope you all have a wonderful day! It looks like the sun is trying to make an appearance! Stay warm and dry! Always know how much Jesus loves you. And I do, too!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11