We have reason to rejoice

"The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last." Luke 23:45, 46

After yet another dark, dreary and wet morning run yesterday, I headed out to check some errands off my to do list, starting with exchanging the loaner car I was driving for mine. "This weather is really starting to depress me," said the lady at the service desk as we exchanged keys. "Tell me about it," I replied. "I can't recall a longer period when I haven't seen the sun." In fact, it has been steadily raining for so long now that all of the rivers are flowing out of their banks and 'cloudy with a high chance of rain' has become the normal forecast. Thankfully though, the sun is predicted to finally come out today. And for that, I, and many others, will be rejoicing.

Speaking of rejoicing, do you realize that today is Good Friday? And while that day more than 2,000 years ago might have appeared to be the darkest and most depressing day the world had ever known, history shows that the Son eventually came out... out of the grave that is. You see, after the "sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn... Jesus called out.. and then breathed His last." And with that, all hope for the world was lost. That is, until three days later when it was discovered that the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive. 

Did you get that? Jesus is alive! Our Lord and Savior rose from the grave to conquer death forever. That means, regardless of the weather, you and I have a reason to rejoice.  So let us do that very thing today... let us rejoice!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of your Son. It's hard to fathom a love so great, especially towards people who were so unworthy to receive it. May we grasp the enormity of the reason we celebrate Easter and rejoice in the day that You have made! It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Hallelujah for the Cross - Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7NJc1_t6q0

The signs are everywhere

"He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." Matthew 12:39 NIV

Sure. The calendar says it's spring. But it certainly doesn't feel that way yet, does it? Take heart that you're not alone in your thinking though. Heather Cass, of Erie Michigan, recently wrote this, "Oh, my running friends, I know. It’s been one long, hard, cold, miserable winter. And, it seems like it will never end. But, I’ve been encouraged lately by a few special signs that summer is surely on it’s way." Of the signs we can rejoice in, she mentioned that trees are budding, bulbs are pushing their way up, winter running gear is on clearance, and there are long lines at every car wash. In light of the obvious then, do we really need any more signs? 

And you know, when it comes to signs, the Bible tells us the story of a group of people, the Pharisees, who had seen Jesus perform countless signs and wonders - more than enough of them to make it obvious that Christ was the Messiah. Yet, because they would not open their hearts, they still did not believe in Him. And knowing that no amount of miracles would change that, Jesus, upon their request for more signs said, "But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." In other words, Jesus' resurrection after three days in the grave would prove, and be the ultimate sign, that He was indeed the Son of God. 

Sadly enough, even though the signs are everywhere, many people still don't believe today. "If I could just see a miracle, then I would believe," they say. But I say, do we really need any more signs? Look around. The trees are blooming without any help. The grass is growing unassisted and the sun continues to rise and set every day. And very soon, my friend, you and I will celebrate Easter, when the greatest miracle and sign ever occurred... the day our Savior rose from the dead. 

Heavenly Father, how can we ever thank You for the sacrifice of your Son? May we be so grateful that we would live our lives telling others about the true meaning of Easter and the reason we celebrate. Thank you Lord that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only sign we need to know that You are God and we are saved because of it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

My Redeemer lives - Nicole C. Mullen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRW-jr_PnbQ

Beware of trends

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

According to Shape Magazine, there is a new cardio trend guaranteed to make treadmill running way less boring... high-tech treadmills. Thanks to companies like Peloton and Flywheel, they say, there are now treadmills available that grant indoor runners access to a wide variety of live and on-demand classes right in their home. Consider the Peloton Tread that was introduced earlier this year. It comes with shock-absorbing slats and a 32-inch HD touchscreen monitor that allows a runner to plug into a virtual community and join other runners from around the world. But before you get too excited and jump on the trend bandwagon, know that you will pay a high price for doing so. The treadmill costs $3,995 and the monthly subscription fee is $39. Yikes! That's certainly one trend I won't be following. 

And you know, when it comes to following a trend or, the general direction in which something is developing or changing, the Bible is very clear that not every trend should be followed. You see, while the world over time has changed its' views of what is wrong and right, the Truth has never changed. In fact, the Bible tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." That means that the same commandments that were given to Moses and the Israelites to follow are the same commandments that we are to follow today, regardless of how the world's view of what's right and wrong has developed or changed.

So while I would highly encourage you to follow any fitness trend that is safe and inspires you to move more, I would highly discourage you from following any trend of thinking that influences you to act in a way contrary to the Word - because, if you do, you will most certainly pay a high price for it my friend. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word that clearly tells us that the Truth never changes no matter how the worlds' thinking does. Help us to recognize those trends that would lead us astray and steer clear of them. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!

Socially acceptable - DC Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynroVfEoeQI

Look directly forward

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." Proverbs 4:25

Since the Boston Marathon is known for hosting the fastest runners in the world, it's only appropriate that Loren Zitomersky, known on social media as "Backwards Guy”, would attempt to break a speed record there. At next month's iconic race, Loren, who is raising money for awareness and a cure for epilepsy, will attempt to break the world record for running the fastest marathon backwards. And as you can imagine, running backwards for 26.2 miles has many hazards. Zitomersky says that he has slammed straight into trees he didn't see and has taken plenty of nasty falls. I guess there are definite advantages to keeping your gaze “straight before you.”

And when it comes to avoiding nasty falls and slamming into objects, habits, or situations that might hurt us, Solomon advised you and me to focus our eyes "directly forward," that we might not fall into any of it. You see, when you and I look backward to our past, we can be tempted to return to our old transgressions and way of living. And when you and I look to the side, taking our eyes off Jesus (even for a moment), we can be tempted to take detours that lead straight to sin and the suffering that accompanies it. 

So let us remember that, to run the race set before us and avoid any distractions or temptations that might cause us to do otherwise, we must keep our eyes looking “directly forward.” And we would be wise to also remember the simple and elementary words of Rudyard Kipling, "Never look backwards or you'll fall down the stairs."

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that, to run the race well, we must keep our eyes fixed on You at all times. Help us to train in the Word daily that we might know the correct path and avoid any desires to steer from it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

No turning back - Brandon Heath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_TGh9-iabM

Keep fighting

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12

When my dear running buddy, Jim, and I signed up for the All-In distance of the Bridge and Dam Race, which consisted of running their half marathon, 10k and 5k races back-to-back, we knew it would be a fight. Not only was the distance long, but the course was lined with the steep, rolling and mountainous hills the Missouri Ozarks are famous for. So to come in under the three and-a-half hour time limit, we vowed to run our best no matter what obstacles or difficulties we encountered. Jim's commitment to that vow was severely tested though when, two miles from the finish line, he rounded a sloped corner at race-pace speed, hit a patch of gravel and fell hard on his left side. Within seconds though, with blood running down his shoulder and arm, he looked at his Garmin, got back up and said, "Come on! We have to keep moving." And because of that unwillingness to give up, he and I crossed the finish line with a few seconds to spare. 

You know, Paul, when writing to Timothy, talked about another type of fight.. "the good fight of the faith." And he told the young man that, in order to finish the race, Timothy would have to "fight." In other words, when Timothy encountered the many obstacles or difficulties that would surely come his way to tempt him to abandon his vow to serve the Lord, he would have to, as Google Dictionary defines fight, take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons (in this case, spiritual blows and weapons). Paul was warning Timothy that this "fight" would not be easy nor would it be quick - but it would be worth it when he took hold of the prize of "eternal life." 

And since every Christian who vows to serve the Lord will also be faced with difficulties, trials and obstacles, we would all do well to heed the words of Paul - and be prepared and ready to put forth the determined, all out effort it will take to claim victory over the enemy... no matter how hard it gets. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that the battle the enemy is waging against us is not a new one. Satan has been brawling with believers, in an attempt to get them to them abandon their faith, since the beginning of time. Help us to be strong in the battle, recognize our enemies' tactics and press on in spite of any trouble or struggles that come our way. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Hard love - Need to breathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClBToJfO9xo

Before the race and ready to go

After the race and grateful for God's blessing of finishing well (with a few bandages after visiting the med tent)

The heart transplant

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

In 2012, Emily and Jacques Rancourt came across a Facebook post of a little girl from Mongolia with pigtails and a major heart heart defect and decided to adopt her. Lily Grace, as she was named, was born with a heart half the size it should be, upside down, and on the wrong side of her body (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) and was in desperate need of a new one. While awaiting a transplant and enduring numerous open heart surgeries, Lily said, "I thought about running all the time because I couldn’t get out of my hospital bed. I could see people run and play but never got to do it myself. I wanted to be able to run with my sisters, not just watch them run and have fun.” Thanks to her new heart though, Lily completed her first 5k on her own saying, "I want to run longer. Maybe like a half marathon." Talk about the life-changing effects of a new heart!

You know, many people today have a major heart defect and are in need of a transplant too. Because of disobedience, habitual sin and a refusal to follow God, their hearts have become calloused and stubborn. Google Dictionary actually defines the condition as a stern or cruel nature. But you see, God didn't design us to have a stern or cruel nature or a stony heart. He designed us to have a tender, kind and responsive heart, just like His. And that's why He wants to take every "heart of stone" and replace it with a "heart of flesh" and "put a new spirit", or a new nature, in all those willing to accept it. He wants to change peoples’ lives!

So if you're honest and did a heart check today, would you say your heart is healthy? How about those of the people around you? Is there someone you need to pray for? Someone in need of a heart transplant? If you answered yes, I would urge you to pray for them my friend. It could very well change their lives. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would promise to personally perform the sanctifying surgery that many that have let their hearts grow hard so desperately need. May they see their need for a new heart today and cry out to you to receive it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Give us clean hands - Chris Tomlin

https://youtu.be/fT4Rt04In4w

The answer

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

After watching the morning news report on the aftermath of yet another school shooting, I began yesterday's run with a very heavy heart. "When will it stop Lord? Why? What would cause a person, especially someone so young with their whole life ahead of them, to do such a heinous thing?" And then I remembered an often repeated saying, "Hurt people Hurt people." You see, people who have experienced physical or emotional pain, abandonment, neglect or abuse tend to inflict that same pain onto others in an attempt to rid themselves of it. But as we all know, that just adds more pain and repeats the cycle. But what if the opposite was also true? That Loved people Love people? Then the answer would simply be to ensure that everyone knew they were loved, right? 

The truth is, every one of us is loved. Some of us know it and some of us don't. Some of us have (or had) an earthly father that expresses his deep feelings of affection towards us and some of us don’t. Either way, there is a Father in Heaven that "so loved" each and every one of us that "He gave His one and only Son," to die on a cross while were still sinners. In fact, Jesus loves us so much that, if there had only been one of us on this earth, He would still have suffered and died that same death - so that every individual "who believed in Him" would "not perish but have eternal life." And this is the love that the world needs to hear about! Only Jesus has the power to heal the heart of every hurting person - opening their eyes to see themselves as He does... adored, valued and worth dying for. 

So to answer the question of when it will stop? Senseless acts of violence will only stop when every person experiences the love of Jesus Christ. And this will be done only when every Christian heeds the command to tell others about the Lord. So let us today, in the words of Jeremy Camp declare, "I know the answer to every question... Jesus. He is the answer." 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the knowledge that we are dearly loved. Help us to truly grasp how hopeless millions of people are that don't have that same knowledge. I pray that we have a renewed sense of urgency today to share the Good News at every opportunity and to look for ways to reach out and love the lost and the hurting. May we truly be your hands and feet. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

The Answer - Jeremy Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XphG_8j2gM8

Live Life

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him," Colossians 2:6

Over the weekend, 100-year-old Orville Rogers of Dallas, Texas, won big at the USATF Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Landover, Maryland. In the 100 to 104 age category, this centenarian set new records in the 60-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and 1500-meter events. Amazingly enough, this World War II veteran who was a bomber pilot and then commercial pilot, says he didn't start running until the age of 50 and didn't compete in any track meets until he turned 90. Of his many accomplishments and the way he approaches living, Orville said, "I live life with a capital 'L.'" 

And if living life with a capital 'L' means living it to the fullest, the Bible is very clear that we, as Christians, can only do so when we surrender our old ways and live our lives "in Him." You see, receiving "Christ Jesus as Lord" is only the beginning of a new life. It's when we "continue to live" for Him, and steadily and persistently walk by faith, that our actions and our speech will reflect that we have complete trust in God and his plan for us. So much trust that, when He says move, we move - and when He says stay, we stay. Can you just imagine how exciting and fulfilling our lives would be if we allowed God to direct our every step? And how many people we would boldly and unabashedly share the Gospel with if we did? It’s then that we could all boast to be living life with a capital 'L'!

So just as you accepted Jesus and trusted Him to be your Savior, won't you trust Him to guide you through each day of your life? So that you, like Billy Graham, can one day say, "About one thing I have absolutely no regrets, however, and that is my commitment many years ago to accept God’s calling to serve Him as an evangelist of the Gospel of Christ.”?

Heavenly Father, thank You for caring for us so much that You would personally guide us that we might fully live out our calling, with absolutely no reservations or regrets. Help us to surrender our will to you each and every day, to go where you tell us to go, say what you tell us to say, do what you tell us to do, and serve who you tell us to serve. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

I will follow - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODe4sGCKxc

Defies the odds

"Samson glanced around and spotted the jawbone of a donkey. The jawbone had not yet dried out, so it was still hard and heavy. Samson grabbed it and started hitting Philistines--he killed 1,000 of them!" Judges 15:15 CEV

ABC Action News out of Fresno, California posted this headline yesterday, "Visalia teen with rare illness defying all odds by running NYC half marathon." And if defying all odds means accomplishing something that appears to be completely impossible, Ciera Sesock, 13, did that very thing. You see, this eighth-grader at Ridgeview Middle School in Visalia, who was diagnosed last July with allergic Broncho-Pulmonary Apergillosis, which clogs her lungs with fungus and mold, finished the 13.1 mile race in two hours and 36-minutes going against what everyone believed to be possible. 

And when it comes to defying the odds, the Bible is full of stories of men and women who, by God's mighty power, did things that seemed totally impossible too. Consider the story of Samson who single-handedly killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. I mean what are the odds of that? And what are the odds of glancing around and spotting the jawbone of a donkey in the middle of nowhere anyway? One that had not yet dried out and was still hard and heavy? The odds were slim-to-none of course. But God has been defying the odds since the beginning of time, constantly making a way where there seems to be no way. 

So if you're in a situation, or facing a problem today that seems impossible to get out of, consider the words of Mark Batterson, "Impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles." And remember that God is still in the business of performing miracles... especially in the face of insurmountable odds. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many examples in the Bible of people who, by your strength, overcame impossible odds to find victory. Help us to believe that You - the God who was the same yesterday, today and forever - are still performing miracles and equipping believers to defy even the slimmest of odds today. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Miracles - Hawk Nelson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNNbulojWcw

Let it shine

"No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." Matthew 5:15

As I headed out the door early yesterday morning to get in a run before church, I flipped on my headlamp. Within several minutes though, the sky was illuminated enough for my eyes to adjust to the partial darkness and maneuver without it. But as I reached up to turn it off, I hesitated since I was still on a main highway. Would a motorist be able to see me if I put the lamp out? Especially from a distance? "Of course not," I thought. So I turned it on a little brighter as I smiled and started singing a song from my youth, "This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine... let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." 

And you know, while the Bible is very clear that you and I are to let our light, or good deeds, shine, many of us aren't. You see, when we live lives sold-out for Christ, we are like lamps that are "placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." In other words, we can't help but release light whereby others can see Jesus. But we hide that light, or put "it under a basket", when we conform to the ways of the world, fail to love others the way we are called, or do things to bring ourselves recognition and glory rather than God. 

And if you think just one of us letting our light shine won't make a difference in this world, consider this, "If Earth were flat, or if you were standing atop a mountain surveying a larger-than-usual patch of the planet, you could perceive bright lights hundreds of miles distant. On a dark night, you could even see a candle flame flickering up to 30 miles away." So may you and I vow to let nothing put out our light so we can... let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Heavenly Father, help us to live for You in a way that the world will see our lamp from miles away. Help us to shine so bright that there would be doubt that it is the light of Jesus shining from within us. May our hearts' desire be to bring you glory as we work to lead others to the foot of the Cross. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Let your light shine - P.J. Anderson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1lJnGPq6-o

Consistency is the secret

"My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Have you ever wondered why some runners are more successful than others? Always running well, staying injury free and managing to find the time to train? Well, according to Competitor Magazine, it's because successful runners are creatures of habit and follow a consistent routine. And after interviewing dozens of successful runners, the magazine reported that they all shared five principles that they practiced daily - the most important one being consistency. Successful runners know that it’s not one long run, fast workout, or high-mileage week of training that helps them succeed. The real key is the total value of that work, month after month, that really matters. Consistency is the “secret sauce” to successful running -it’s consistency over time that’s truly important.

And if consistency is the "secret sauce" to successful running, it is most definitely the "secret sauce" to successful servanthood as well. You see, to serve the Lord as we are called to do requires us to be consistent, or unchanging in nature and acting in the same way over time. It requires that we unfailingly stand firm and resolutely remain unshaken. Does that mean that our faith won't be rattled from time to time? Or that we will never be tempted to give up? Of course not. What it does mean though, is day after day, month after month and year after year, that we remain constant and devoted in spite of any setbacks, and "keep busy working for the Lord." 

So just remember my friend... success isn't judged by one day or one action but by what you and I do over a lifetime. Knowing that, may you and I vow to consistently and ardently continue to do good knowing that everything we "do for him is worthwhile", whether we see the results of our labors this side of Heaven or not. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that we need to be consistent in our service to You. Help us to not get discouraged when we don't see the fruits of our labor or we are met with opposition. Mostly, give us the strength and determination to keep busy and work hard in helping and serving others and leading them to You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I will - CeCe Winans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJomkOSPHIw

Never stop praying

"Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

John Liepa, 73, of Iowa, has gone for a run every single day since January 2, 1977. That's 15,042 days of running, as of last Friday, which earns him the recognition of having the 10th-longest running streak in the nation according to the United States Running Streak Association. But it all started with a bit of advice John received in 1974 from Joe Henderson, then an editor at Runner's World Magazine, who had been invited to speak to the runners in the Iowa Prairie Track Club that Liepa had helped organize. Henderson told the group to think of a run as a daily routine as normal as sleeping, eating or breathing. “It’s never a question of if you run, but only how good it’ll be that day,” Henderson told them. Liepa took his advice saying, "You don't question if you are going to eat today. You just do it." He started to run every single day since then and has no intentions of stopping.

You know, Leipa's changed attitude towards running, concluding that it was no longer an option but a necessity, most undoubtedly led to his success as a streaker. And it's that same attitude toward prayer, that it is no longer an option but a necessity, that you and I need to adopt to be successful in our Christian walk. You see, it's this settled way of thinking about it - seeing prayer as a continuous conversation with God, something we do naturally and something that’s as vital to our health as sleeping, eating or breathing - that you and I need to have to obtain and maintain a close and intimate relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg Warren says it this way, "You will never grow a close relationship with God by just attending church once a week or even having a daily quiet time. Friendship with God is built by sharing all your life experiences with him." And sharing all our life experiences with Him is the very thing you and I do when we "never stop praying."

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit that lives inside each believer. It's amazing that a God as wonderful and awesome as You would care to know every detail of our lives. Thank you for loving us that much! Help us to crave our time with You so much that prayer might become as effortless, necessary and as natural as breathing. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen

Happy Running!!! 

Lifer - Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDbgcKDMYyQ

Lose the weight

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1

When it comes to running and speed, there is a universal truth - excess weight carried significantly affects race times. In fact, in a new study by Runner's World, it was determined that even the weight of your shoes could impact your speed. And losing a few pounds they say could gain you a better time by as much as one percent for each pound lost. Practically speaking, that means if a 200-pound man loses 10 pounds (five percent), he should be able to race five percent faster. A half marathon in 2:00 becomes a 1:54. Wow! Shedding the weight is really smart then. Wouldn't you agree?

And when it comes to running our best spiritual race, the Bible also agrees that we should shed the excess when it tells us to, "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up." And how do we do that? By ridding our lives of those things that continually drag us down-the addictions, habits, thoughts and actions that we know need to go yet we have kept hold of. Those 'things' are the weight that keep us from running "with endurance the race God has set before us."

A memorable Gatorade ad reads, "There is a moment in every race. A moment where you can either quit, fold, or say to yourself, 'I can do this." What will you decide today? To quit or fold because it's just too hard? Or will you press on, determined to strip off the weight of sin holding you down, and run to the finish line?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that clearly tells us how we can reach the finish line. Help us Lord to identify those weights in our life that are keeping us from running our best race and to strip them off. And remind us that we are not alone in doing this. All the strength we need comes from You. Help us to run with endurance the race you have set before us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. 

Happy Running!!!

Toby Mac - Lose myself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o113pk2cC9I

Share the comfort

"He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians HCSB

On June 2, 2012, Marissa Ierna was hours away from walking across the stage to receive her high school diploma when she got the news - she had a rare cancerous tumor in her right leg and the chances of survival were only 30%. But for this avid runner who had just completed a half marathon, the worst news the doctors delivered was that, even if she miraculously recovered, she would never run again. By God's grace though, and after 54 grueling weeks of chemotherapy at a local children's hospital, she not only survived cancer but went on to run the 2017 Boston Marathon, graduate from college and begin working with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, which helps families with children battling the disease saying, "I always say that cancer was hopefully the worst thing I'll ever go through, but it's also been the best." And no doubt she will be the "best" at her job because she knows what it feels like. 

You know, the Bible tells us that "He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction through the comfort we ourselves receive from God." And so Marissa's affliction, as bad as it was, actually prepared her to fulfill God’s plan to help and console others going through the very same thing. You see, God never wastes our pain. He will use every trying experience that you and I go through to bring Him glory and to be a blessing to others. Think about it this way... how much better are we able to console someone else than when we have been through it ourselves?

So if you find yourself experiencing pain or suffering today, whether it be from illness, depression, addiction, disease, or anything else, take heart my friend. Because from the "comfort” you "receive from God" through this, you will be able to show empathy and compassion to others. And if like Marissa said, and it’s the worst thing you and I will ever go through, you can trust that God will use it for the best. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would personally comfort us in our suffering. Help us to remember that none of us were ever promised a life free from pain but that you would always use our trials for the good of those who love You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!! 

Your hands - JJ Heller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3CEMWCxSk

There is freedom

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

In a study published on April 27, PLOS Genetics researchers reported that when people inherited a particular gene variant known as FTO, they had a heightened risk of obesity. However, they said that the gene's effects are small and the effects of the DNA could most certainly be countered by exercise proving, once again, that genes don't have to be our destiny. Lead researcher Mariaelisa Graff, of the University of North Carolina said, “You still have a lot of choice over your behavior.” The bottom line they agreed on was this... "You need to exercise, no excuses."

And while science is inconclusive as to whether our genetic makeup or the way we are raised plays a bigger part (the nature-versus-nurture debate) in what we weigh, who we are, how we act and what we do, the Bible clearly tells us that you and I have a choice over our behavior regardless of our DNA or upbringing. You see, no matter what habits, addictions or lifestyles we feel we might have inherited or been exposed to, we can be set free from all of them because "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Thankfully,  this means that for every person in whose heart Jesus resides, deliverance can be had!

And so the bottom line is this... if you are living in bondage, there is no excuse for staying there. You have the power to change your situation and your life with just one choice. You can choose to follow Christ and claim freedom or allow your genes to determine your destiny. The choice is yours. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that promises us freedom from all those things that hold us back from being the person you intended us to be. For anyone who hasn't made the decision to follow you, I pray today would be the day they would choose to find the healing, strength and freedom only you can provide. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Where the Spirit is - Hillsong Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbpdXzhlunc

Cast your cares

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Last May, Kate Landau, now 40, made her debut in the marathon shattering the course record at Tacoma City by more than four minutes with a time of 2:43:51. Would you believe, though, that just a few years ago she was fighting to overcome her battle with anorexia? Unable to run at all during that time, she said, "I was majorly depressed and majorly anxious." That was until Landau says she put herself in the care of a physician and psychologist where she shared, "I gave up control. I told them 'tell me what to do. I have no idea how to make myself better.'" Getting help was exactly what Kate needed as she is now healthy and set to compete in her first race as a masters runner in the Portland Marathon on October 9 where she is aiming for a 2:40 finish.

When it comes to disorders like this, Lisa Geraud, senior clinical director at The Moore Center in Bellevue, says that "sometimes it’s about wanting to feel in control." Feeling in control-isn't that what we all want?  But ironically, that ambition is the exact thing that makes our lives spiral out of control. You see, most times we have no power over the things that happen to us or around us-and trying to control these things only brings anxiety and a sense of helplessness that can lead to unhealthy behavior. Jesus knew that when he invited you and me to cast all our cares on him, surrendering control, that we would not have to bear them.

So today, no matter what you're struggling with or what addiction you might be harboring that makes you feel as if you have control, just stop. Put yourself in the care of the Great Physician, give up control, and once and for all cast those cares on the One who "cares for you."

Heavenly Father, thank you for the invitation to cast all our cares on you that we might find peace. Help us to give control of our lives to you that we might have a future free from these addictions and disorders that come with trying to control our lives on our own. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Cast my cares - Finding Favour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuAMmTqUbs

This is who I am

"And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins." Romans 5:16 NLT

Michael Murtaugh, 52, admitted that meth, cocaine and alcohol addiction nearly ruined his life and credits running and a renewed relationship with Jesus for saving it saying, "Running is the greatest feeling in the world-that runner’s high you get after you break the first wall, it’s like shedding away your skin and gaining strength." Of trading his old life for a new one he said, "When you look at my gravestone, it’s going to be a story that brought hope to the world. It will say, ‘this is who I was, this is what I did, and this is the result. I’m a good husband. I’m a good father to my son. A good employee. Good to my dogs.”

Do you realize that each one of us was a slave to our sin before we accepted Jesus as our Savior and traded our old life for a new one too? And that means we all have a story of hope to bring to the world. A story of how one man's sin "led to condemnation" but one Man's sacrifice on the Cross led "to our being made right with God." And because of that "free gift" of redemption, each one of us can now proclaim, "This is who I was, this is what I did. But this is who I am NOW, because of what Christ did. I'm forgiven and free!"

And knowing that we are forgiven and set free is truly the greatest feeling in the world, isn't it? So won't you share your story that you might inspire someone else to trade their old life for a new one today? After all, it's never too late for anyone, no matter what they've done, to do that very thing. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of forgiveness and freedom that is a free gift to everyone who calls you Lord. May each one of us be bold in sharing our story of redemption with others so they might have hope and come to know you as their Savior. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Born again - Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7fBV9mtcA

Avoid it

"Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Proverbs 4:14,15

On January 14, the Washington Post published a story titled, "High school runner shovels entire track lane after snowstorm just to avoid the treadmill." That runner, Quinn Schneider, an 18-year-old who won his second straight North Carolina Independent Schools 1A state title last year, said he follows a strict training regimen and, when the thought of taking the day off from running came to mind, he decided to pick up his shovel instead-working over an hour to clear the path at his school's track so he could complete his 10-mile training run. When asked if all this work just to avoid running indoors was worth it, he said it was "well worth it."

You know, this type of tenacity is the same thing you and I need to avoid something that we should hate much more than the treadmill... sin. The Bible tells us that to keep away from it, we shouldn't associate closely with people that might persuade or influence us to do things contrary to God's commands and to not even, "set foot on the path of the wicked." And God's clear warning to "avoid it," means doing whatever it takes, even clearing our own path when necessary, to steer clear of anything or anyone that would tempt us to fall away or compromise. 

For his efforts, Quinn said, "All that work was so much better than having to run on a treadmill." And for each one of our vigilant efforts in avoiding sin, we can look back and say that all that work was so much better than having to repair those things and relationships that sin would most assuredly have destroyed. After all, you never have to fix what you don’t break right? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that clearly tells us that the effects of sin in our lives leads to nothing but guilt, pain, divorce, addiction and regret. Help us then to do all we can to avoid sin altogether, even if that means changing our friends or our job, that we might stay focused on spiritual training and running the good race. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Run devil run - Crowder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US1-R-R9lYQ

Your choice

"When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." Genesis 26:7

Second to following Jesus Christ, passing on a love of running to my children has always been my desire. So you can imagine my joy when my son chose to do his first half marathon with me last June and then how even happier I became when he chose to join me again for another one in November. Knowing that watching my behavior inspired his choice made me smile. It's certainly nice when our kiddos emulate our good qualities isn't it? But what about when they copy our bad ones? 

Which is exactly what Isaac did when he told the Philistines that Rebekah was his sister, "because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife.". Fearing that he would be killed because she was so beautiful, Isaac lied. In fact, he told the same exact lie that his father, Abraham, had told the people of Gerar years earlier when he said Sarah was his sister. And you know what? They both experienced disastrous results for doing it. You see Isaac had a choice, he could either learn from his parents' mistake or he could repeat it. 

Sadly today, there are many people doing the same thing. They see the bad choices their mom or dad made and still choose to follow them expecting that they will have a different outcome. But, as the story illustrates, the consequences for sin don't change. So, no matter what things our parents or caregivers did, we all have a choice... learn from their mistakes or repeat them. The choice is yours. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the God of second chances. Help us to reach out to the lost and hurting people Lord and to boldly remind them that they don't have to repeat the sins of their parents. And that, by choosing to follow Jesus Christ, they can be released from the cycle of addiction, divorce or any other bad behavior that they have witnessed. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I choose - Becka Shae
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG-Nh8zGkSA

Danger ahead

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." Proverbs 22:3

While runners have never been known as the brightest bulbs in the box, what many people do every year at the San Fermin Festival in Spain goes beyond what would be classified as 'bright'. At the second running of the bulls Saturday, hundreds of thrill-seekers lined up to outrun the angry oxen in a 930-yard dash through the narrow cobbled streets of Pamplona leaving two Americans gored and several other people injured.  And since it's widely reported that 50 to 100 people are injured every year during this celebration, ignorance of the dangers of doing so is no excuse.

But whatever the reason people continue to participate in this 'run' that has been taking place for more than a century, the Bible is pretty clear that to "keep going" when we "see danger" is simply foolish. And while you and I may not be running with the bulls, we might be guilty of other unwise activities that are just as dangerous spiritually. It could be looking at things we know we shouldn't, harboring habits that could lead to addiction, flirting with someone other than our spouses, isolating ourselves from other believers, or doing any number of other hazardous things-all the while believing we will never have to "pay the penalty." But the Bible is very clear that if we "keep going" in any direction away from God, there will be a price to pay. 

So today, if you've not been as cautious, wise or as "prudent" as you should have been and are seeing warning signs of danger ahead, immediately take shelter in the only One who can provide it. It's not too late to look to Jesus and just turn around. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that reminds us that there is safety when we are in your will. If we have strayed Lord, help us to find our way back that we might turn from danger and take refuge in you once again. Remind us that we can always turn around and come back home. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Turn around - Matt Maher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCi8P7W_tAw

The lifeboat

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." 2 Samuel 22:17

Friday, April 15th was the anniversary of two very horrific events in the history of the United States, the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. As I prepare to, by God's grace and only by His grace, run the Boston Marathon today, I will be meditating on the lessons these two events taught me. Boston was a stark and brutal reminder that life is short and can forever change in an instant-and you and I should never put off for tomorrow what needs to be done today (like saying sorry and I love you). As for the Titanic, did you know that 1,503 people needlessly died in that accident? Because the builders of the ship were more concerned with how the deck would look than saving lives, the already too few number of lifeboats she carried was reduced from 32 to 20.

In 2 Samuel 22:17, David sang, "He reached down on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." You see David had been delivered from his enemies and from Saul and, most importantly, he had been declared righteous and forgiven of his sins. But what if David had never been told about God? What then? Like too many people in this world, he would have drowned in his transgressions, condemnation and despair. Which begs the question. Are we a lifeboat to others? Are you and I willing to be more concerned with saving others than with how we look or what others think about us?

Jesus reached down from Heaven and took hold of you and me to save us from drowning in our sin, guilt, addictions, depression and shame. Shouldn't we be doing the same for others? Rumi, an ancient Poet, once wrote "Be a lamp, or a lifeboat or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd." So, yes, let us be the ones to tell someone about the Lord today! Whether it be on a race course, our work place or where we shop, let's be a lifeboat to a drowning world because life is too short to put it off until tomorrow.

Heavenly Father, I simply can't thank you enough for the privilege of sharing your Word with others and for the opportunity to be the lifeboat to a drowning world. Oh Lord, may we all feel the urgency to search the waters each day for those people that need to know that there is hope, a hope only found through Jesus Christ. Help us to be bold today and reach out a hand to someone in need. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Until the whole world hears - Casting Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7qi2KlUffs

In His ability

"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:22-24

Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, "When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus." Corrie was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II by hiding them in an upstairs hidden room in her home. Although she was eventually discovered and sent to a concentration camp, she was released several months later and continued helping others until she died at the age of 91.

If you and I are honest, we would have to admit that many times we feel powerless to do things too. Whether it's completing a marathon, healing a broken marriage, overcoming addiction, raising godly children or simply getting through each day, we lack power because we forget this one thing... whoever says to this mountain move "and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." Corrie's faith allowed her to do things many of us would never dare or think possible and ours can too. 

So if you're feeling powerless to do something today like finishing your education, helping a lost loved one or moving on from a past hurt, "Have faith in God..." Inside His ability, mountains can be moved, lives can be changed and miracles can happen. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for filling us with power when we have none. Remind us that we are nothing apart from you but, by faith, we can do the things you have called us to. Help us to live each day knowing that everything we need is in you. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Only a Mountain - Jason Castro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWayfx3p2s

our daily bread

"Give us each day our daily bread." Luke 11:3

On April 20, Henry Ward, a recovering addict-turned-ultra-runner, completed his goal of running for a full 24 hours around the Belmont High School track in Massachusetts. Logging nearly 85 miles in the process, he did it to raise money for scholarships for programs to fight addiction. Of his own battle to overcome addiction and stay clean for nearly nine years, Henry said this, "You just take one day at a time, one step at a time. Can’t worry about a month down the road, really, just worry about today. Do the best you can for today."

You know not worrying about tomorrow, taking one day at a time and doing the best we can is great advice for all of us. The Bible tells us so when Jesus instructed us on how to pray saying, "Give us each day our daily bread." But you can bet that Jesus wasn't just talking about food. Oh no. He was talking about asking God to give us everything we need, spiritually and physically, for the current day. You see it's only by this day to day petition through prayer that we learn to come to God in a spirit of humble dependence regularly. And it's because God's provisions are provided daily, rather than given all at once, that you and I will have cause to pray and seek him each morning thus strengthening our faith and relationship with him.

So today and every day, let us ask God for our daily bread as we acknowledge him as the Sole Giver of all we need. And then as we take one day at a time or even one step at a time, let us simply trust that he will provide just what we need, when we need it – for every area of our lives.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for providing us with just what we need for today. Help us to look forward to our daily time with you as we thank you for your many blessings and then beseech you to once again give us what we will need for the day ahead. Help us to then trust you to provide it that we might be anxious for nothing. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Tis so sweet - Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DdgkvnsHjMc

He's a chain breaker

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains." Psalm 107:13,14

Ever feel like your workout routine isn't 'working' for you anymore? If you've been doing the same thing the same way for as long as you can remember and not seeing any improvement, it's most definitely time to do something different. Famed running coach Jeff Galloway writes, "If your routine has become so routine that you dread lacing up, it's time to make a change. Even minor ones can help you head out the door with a smile on your face." He suggests simple changes like rather than running the same loops, running them in reverse or instead of running the same easy pace, throwing in some speed-work. In other words, change up your routine if you want to see changes.

In our personal lives, we can get into the same old routines too can't we? Many of which just aren't 'working' anymore. It could be that perpetual anger, bitterness or unforgiveness we have towards someone or ourselves? Or maybe that habit or addiction that we've held onto for too long? Whatever it is, whatever is keeping you captive to the routine of sin, it's time to change it. Psalm 107:13,14 tells us that when the prisoners cried out for mercy, "He brought them out of darkness... and broke away their chains." 

Do you realize that God still has the power to break the chains that bind us? To rid us of the habits and sins that have become so routine that we don't even notice them anymore? With one cry out to the Lord, our lives can be changed and our chains broken-but, as Gary Renard wrote, "You will not break loose until you realize that you yourself forge the chains that bind you." 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would free us from the things that hold us prisoner. Help us to realize what those things are that we might cry out to you and allow you to break those chains. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Chain breaker - Zach Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYjKR69M6U&list=RDJGYjKR69M6U#t=0

Change your title

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

After 13 months of treatment, Joe Zayas graduated from a Christian drug-treatment facility in July 2015 with a goal in mind... complete a marathon. And that's just what he did on October 9 when he crossed the finish line of the Twin Cities Marathon and earned the new title, 'Marathon Finisher.' Once a man who rarely finished anything he started, Zayas said, "I'm not who I used to be anymore. I used to have a needle in my arm, and now I'm running marathons." And not only has running earned him a new title and medal, Joe says the sport is instrumental in maintaining his sobriety by providing "a positive, but equally effective alternative." 

Wow, that's quite a transformation from the drug addicted man he once was isn't it? And while the transformation into a marathon runner took time, Joe became a new person the moment he accepted Christ as his Savior. He was no longer 'Joe, the lost drug addict', but, 'Joe, child of God, found, transformed, forgiven and free'. And the best part is that this transformation can take place for anyone. The Bible tells us that, "anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun." Did you get that anyone part? That means that any person, even you, can be transformed. 

So today, if you don't know Jesus Christ, won't you make the decision to become a new person? To allow Him to change you from the inside out and give you a new life free from addiction and the pain that accompanies it? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that anyone, no matter what they've done, can become a new person by trusting you as their Lord and Savior. I pray that if there's anyone who has not done so will today say, "Lord, I admit that I'm a sinner in need of salvation. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I ask that you come into my heart today and change me from the inside out." Oh Father, thank you for this promise of salvation that is open for anyone to receive. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I am new - Jason Gray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6YG2NZguc

Uniquely designed

"Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

In addition to the momentous blessing of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior this weekend, I had the great pleasure of helping a friend complete her first half marathon Saturday. And by God's grace the first few miles we did a run/walk ratio to complete went by quickly but, as we prepared to tackle the second half, it was apparent that we would need to take more walking breaks, thus doing less running. So as the pace slowed, my now discouraged friend said, "This was one of the reasons I didn't want to do this. I'm so slow." "Oh honey," I replied. "That's exactly the reason you should be doing this! You should embrace the way God made you-slow or fast, this is the speed God gave you. We will make it to the finish line. After all", I also reminded her, "God knew exactly what he was doing when he made you the way he did."

In fact, the Bible tells us that, "we are the clay" and the Lord is "the potter" and we are all the works of his hand. Do you realize then that means that God created each one of us the way he wants us? Specifically and uniquely designed and hand-crafted by him to fulfill the purpose he has given us? So rather than live with disappointment or dissatisfaction with the way we are made, shouldn't we be embracing those qualities that make us different and looking for ways to glorify the Lord with them instead? I sure think so. 

So today let us celebrate and be grateful for our individuality, for the fact that not one of us is the same. That would be boring anyway, wouldn't it? And then let us always remain workable and flexible that the Lord can continue to mold us--knowing that just as the clay finds its highest purpose when it remains pliable in the hands of the potter, our lives fulfill their highest purpose when we let our Potter shape us the way he sees fit.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would personally mold each one of us with the same hands that formed the earth. Oh Lord, knowing that you have hand-crafted us. let us see ourselves the way you do and use our unique qualities to bring you glory. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Britt Nicole - Through your eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJzaQP1GmEc

Celebrate kindness

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10

Did you know that yesterday was National Good Samaritan's Day? It’s true. The day was set aside as a day to display unselfish actions to help those in need and to celebrate kindness. The term “good Samaritan” comes from the Bible parable where a Samaritan helped a stranger who had been robbed and beaten and left to die by the side of the road. The Samaritan not only cleaned the man’s wounds and clothed him, but took him to an inn where he paid for the man’s care. And in celebration of that day, Runner's World Magazine suggested taking time out to help a fellow runner in need by sharing gloves on a chilly run or paying for a stranger's morning latte, saying that the small act of kindness just might make their day a little brighter. 

And while I would certainly agree that small acts of kindness have the power to make a persons' day a little brighter, I don't think we should wait for a special day to do them. In fact, the Bible says that "as we have opportunity" that we are to "do good to all people." And you can bet that, in a fallen world full of pain and poverty, there are opportunities (or chances, occasions and windows) around us to “do good” all the time.

So may we pray today, and everyday, that God would give us those opportunities to show kindness to strangers and believers alike and would use us, in big ways and small, to show the love of Christ. Doing so might do more than make a persons' day a little brighter my friend, it might just lead them to Jesus. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there are so many hurting people in our world who would benefit from an act of kindness. Help us to be open and obedient to the Spirit's prompting that we would not miss even one opportunity to show love and kindness to someone in need. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Hold on tight - Greg Holden

https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0CB0CCNU

Beware of safety threats

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

With the Boston Marathon quickly approaching, the FBI and local police are looking for potential safety threats as they plan security for next month's 26.2 mile race. And while Boston FBI chief Harold "Hank" Shaw didn't divulge whether any threats had been detected at this point, he did say that security officials don't plan on being caught with their guard down. "We’re consistently looking at how that threat is morphing, whether it be the threat of the potential active shooter, whether it be vehicles used as a device for terrorism and all those things are factored into the greater plan of how we’re going to protect. The biggest thing is the need for good intelligence.”

You know, while it's certainly important to be looking out for people and things that can harm us physically, it's even more important that you and I don't let our "guard down" spiritually. We do that by gaining good intelligence on how the enemy, Satan, strikes and how we can best defend ourselves against those assaults. And you can be sure that the devil attacks by using “arguments," or fake philosophies, false reasoning and the schemes of the world, along with “every pretension,” or any thing he can find to cause us to be prideful, self-centered or take our eyes off our need for God. Thankfully, when it comes to fighting back though, you and I don't have to rely on the world's weapons which have no power to "demolish" them, but God's mighty ones - the Word, prayer, faith, hope and the Holy Spirit - that have unlimited power. 

So when exposed to a spiritual threat, or an idea or feeling that might lead us to sin, you and I must protect ourselves by immediately taking that thought captive “to make it obedient to Christ." In other words, when impure thoughts or intentions come to mind (and they will), we must immediately confess them to the Lord and allow Him to redirect our thinking. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the weapons we need to fight off spiritual attacks. Help us to remember that listening to arguments led to the first sin, as Eve listened to the devil and gave in to the lies and temptation that followed. Give us discernment Lord to recognize the devil's schemes and the strength and knowledge to fight them. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Get behind me - Relentless Flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Bt_OkaQwg

All glory to You

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:17

Over the weekend, I had the blessing of participating in, and helping organize, an eight-hour ultra endurance event. And as you can imagine at a gathering such as this, everyone had their own unique reasons for attempting to press on and keep moving for such a long period of time. Some used the race to see how far they could push themselves, some to just have fun, others for a training run to prepare for a longer race and, for one group, as a means to spread suicide awareness and deal with grief after a young girl in their community took her own life. 

And you know, when it comes to the ultimate reason that you and I, as followers of Christ, do anything, the Bible is very clear that it should be for God's glory saying, "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.." Knowing that full well, my dear friend, upon saying the prayer before the race began (with all the participants joined in hands around a big, beautiful prayer circle) said this, "Lord I just ask that as people see us out there on the course whether walking, riding or biking that they understand that we do things for a higher purpose Lord - that we do it to bring glory and honor to You - because it's through you that all blessings flow." 

So no matter what you and I are doing today, whether we are working, running, or at home with our families, may our ultimate goal be to glorify Jesus in all we do and say - loving and humbly serving those around us while "giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the many blessings that you choose to bestow upon us each and every day. May we, in thankfulness of all You have given us, especially the free gift of Salvation, serve to bring You glory in all we say and do that we might lead others to the foot of the Cross through our actions. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

All glory to God - Matt Maher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcdKSgJzVqw

Everyone had different reasons and stories for participating in this race. 

This fun group completed 30+ miles to promote suicide awareness and process some of the grief they were feeling. 

The final survivors of the 8-hour event. What a night it was! God was surely good to us.