Wednesday 3.9.11

Wake Up:
6:00 am

Daily Reading:

Devotion:
Streams in the Desert
Descend from the crest. (Song of Songs 4:8)

Bearing the burden of crushing weight actually gives Christians wings. This may sound like a contradiction in terms, but it is a blessed truth. While enduring a severe trial, David cried, "Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest" (Ps 55:6) Yet before he finished his meditation, he seems to have realized that his wish for wings was attainable, for then he said, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you." (Ps. 55:22)

The word "burden" is described in a Bible commentary as being "what Jehovah has given you." The saints burdens are God-given, leading us to wait upon Him. And once we have done so, the burden is transformed into a pair of wings through the  miracle of trust, and the one who was weighted down "will soar on wings like eagles." (Is. 40:31)

One day when walking down the street,
On business bent, while thinking hard
About the "hundred cares" which seemed
Like thunder clouds about to break
In torrents, Self-pity said to me:
"You poor, poor thing, you have too much
To do. Your life is far too hard.
This heavy load will crush you soon."
A swift response of sympathy
Welled up within. The burning sun
Seemed more intense. The dust and noise
Of puffing motors flying past
With rasping blast of blowing horn
Incensed still more the whining nerves,
The fabled last back-breaking straw
To weary, troubled, fretting mind.

"Ah, yes, 'twill break and crush my life;
I cannot bear this constant strain
Of endless, aggravating cares;
They are too great for such as I."
So thus my heart condoled itself,
"Enjoying misery," when lo!
A "still small voice" distinctly said,
"Twas sent to lift you--not to crush."
I saw at once my great mistake.
My place was not beneath the load
But on the top! God meant it not
That I should carry it. He sent
It here to carry me. Full well
He knew my incapacity
Before the plan was made. He saw
A child of His in need of grace
And power to serve; a puny twig
Requiring sun and rain to grow;
An undeveloped chrysalis;
A weak soul lacking faith in God.
He could not help but see all this
And more. And then, with tender thought
He placed it where it had to grow--
Or die. To lie and cringe beneath
One's load means death, but life and power
Await all those who dare to rise above.
Our burdens are our wings; on them
We soar to higher realms of grace;
Without them we must roam for aye
On planes of undeveloped faith,
(For faith grows but by exercise in circumstance impossible).

Oh, paradox of Heaven. The load We think will crush was sent to lift us Up to God! Then, soul of mine, Climb up! for naught can e'er be crushed Save what is underneath the weight. How may we climb! By what ascent Shall we surmount the carping cares Of life! Within His word is found The key which opes His secret stairs; Alone with Christ, secluded there, We mount our loads, and rest in Him. --Miss Mary Butterfield

Workout:

AM: Skill

• Pushup: 75 consecutive

PM: Sealfit

Rock Portage

Warm Up: 

• 3 rounds for quality
• Frog Complex (squat clean to thruster to squat to thruster = 1 rep. 1 complex = 6 reps)

Work Capacity:

• 3 rounds for time of (21-15-9): 29:37
• Burpee
• Thruster (using 2 35lb db's)
• SDHP (using 2 35lb db's)

Stamina:

• 50 Deadlift (using 2 35lb db's)
• 2 rounds for quality:
• 100 Mtn climbers
• 100 Jump Rope

Durability:

• 550 Jump rope
• 20 min active stretch/yoga

Notes:

• Body: well rested
• Warm up was fun, frog complex is a great way to get shoulders and legs warmed up. Easy to get into a flow and rythem.
• Work capacity was rough. The thrusters were the toughest part by far. Never thought I would look forward to the burpees. This never felt like it was going to end andI was lightheaded toward the end. I did all thrusters unbroken and with full ROM which I was very happy with. I found out a lot about myself during this portion. I wanted to quit after each round but would not let myself. This is a testament to the mental toughness that Sealfit has helped forge through daily adversity and suffering.