Praise is a Weapon

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

In a story titled “Josh Kerr Broke the World Record in the Mile. His Custom Shoes Were Designed to Be a ‘Weapon’” it was reported that the Brooks spike was designed to make Kerr feel like he’s running downhill.

When Josh Kerr announced his intention to break the iconic 27-year-old world record in the mile earlier this year, he wasn’t going it alone.

The 28-year-old Scottish middle distance runner approached the challenge with the full support of his sponsor, Brooks Running, and its product innovation team in an effort to shave more than two seconds from his personal best to break the 3:43.13 standard set by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1999. They went one better, as Kerr improved his best mark from 3:45.34 to an astounding 3:42.66 to capture the record and win the London Diamond League meeting by more than three seconds over rival Yared Nuguse of the United States.

In an interview with Popular Science, Brooks senior director of product development Danny Orr described how the custom spike, the Hyperion 222, was engineered for a fast, sustained race at world-record pace with no gear changes or kick at the end—the opposite of how 1500-meter races typically play out in major races” The notion of running slowly, or the notion of changing gears or speeding up, they’re going to feel awful in this shoe,” he says. “It’s just not designed to do that. It really is a weapon for him to run four laps at a really high speed and a really high cadence.”

And, you know, while the "custom spike" might be a weapon in the world of running, praising God is a powerful weapon in the world of spiritual warfare.

You see, when (not if) trials and troubles come our way, it's easy for us to fall into despair. The problem with that is the devil gets a foothold over our hearts and our minds and we can begin to lament over our situation rather than looking to God who is sovereign over our situation.

Consider the story of Paul and Silas that's found in Acts 16. After casting a demon out of a fortune-telling slave girl in Philippi, Paul and Silas were stripped, severely beaten, and imprisoned. At midnight, while praying and singing hymns, a violent earthquake shook the prison, opening all doors and freeing the chains

Did you get that? Despite being locked in the inner prison with their feet in stocks, Paul and Silas chose to pray and sing praises to God, thereby turning worship into the weapon that defeated the enemy's attempt to make them think their situation was hopeless.

Their praise not only kept up their own spirits but caused the prisoners listening to them to remain in their cells after the earthquake shook the foundations and broke their chains! Can you believe that? That's the power of praise!

And get this... when the terrified jailer drew his sword to commit suicide, believing his prisoners had escaped (a failure punishable by death) , Paul stopped him, calling out that everyone was still there. Moved by their compassion and the miraculous event, the jailer fell trembling before them and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” The jailer then took them to his home, washed their wounds, and provided them food. 

Amazing right? But it gets even better… That same night, he and his entire family was baptized in celebration of their newfound faith. That's the power of praise my friend! 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

So, no matter what situation you might be facing today, choose to pray and sing praises as you remember that God is not only sovereign over all of it, but works "all things together" for your good and for His glory. That's what He does for all those love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are sovereign over all situations. Help us to praise You in the good times and even more in our trials and troubles that those watching might seek You by the faith that we exhibit--the faith that says, "My situation might appear hopeless, but God has a plan and I will praise Him for it." Thank You for working all things for our good and for Your glory Lord. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

You’re Not Just a Number

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV

One of the things I love most about going out of town is trading in my familiar running routes for new ones. And while the path I chose to run yesterday morning in Columbia, MO wasn’t technically "new"—as I serve as the Race Director for the Show-Me State Games triathlon/duathlon every July—it was still out of the ordinary. Because of this, I paid extra special attention to the sites and sounds around me.

 
Which is the very reason that I heard the noise of a large symphony of birds nestled within the limbs and leaves of a small tree as I passed by before the sun fully came up. Their song was so loud and joyful that I instinctively knew they were praising the Creator. I don’t know how many there were but I knew there had to be a great number of them based on the volume of their praises.

 
As I stopped to take in the scene, I looked down to see a dead sparrow lying on the ground. “Awwww, poor thing,” I thought to myself. And then I smiled, knowing that even the death of this tiny, seemingly insignificant bird did not happen outside of the "Father’s will."

 
Speaking of insignificance, have you ever stopped to consider that there are approximately 1.6 billion sparrows worldwide (Globally, there are at least 141 recognized species in the sparrow family, meaning the total number of all sparrow species combined is significantly higher) and yet the Lord knows the status of each and every one of them? So much so that not even one of them falls to the ground without God knowing it. 

 
This not only shows the enormity of God the Creator, but the compassion of God the Father.

This was a fact that was driven home later in the morning before the start of the triathlon/duathlon, upon which I repeatedly issued the instruction to the registering participants to be sure that both arms or both calves were marked with their bib number so they could be identified. This was important since the typical race bib runners wear can not be worn in the water or on the bike. As each one of them came into the transition areas or
across the finish line or, I announced their positions by their numbers rather than their names. 

 
By the middle of the morning, I found myself thinking about how grateful I was that I wasn't "just a number" to God. None of the people out on the course were either. I may not have known their names but God did. 

And, you know, with 8.3 billion people in our world today, isn't it comforting to know that you aren’t just another number to God either? In fact, the Bible tells us that the very hairs of your head are all numbered and that you are of more value than many sparrows.

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

In fact, you and I are so valued by the Lord that He gave us His one and only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Because of that, every single person who has placed their trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Is that amazing or what?

So if you have not chosen to accept Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to do it today my friend. It will be the best decision that you ever make. I promise you that! It will not only ensure that Jesus walks with you through this life, but will ensure that you walk with Him in the next life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. Thank You for the gift of salvation that we did not deserve, but that You so freely gave. Cause us to understand how deeply You love us Lord that we might spend our days loving others in the same way that we might bring them into the family of God. Help us to see others as You do, so valuable that their very hairs are numbered. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!


 

Christians Should be the Fittest People

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

In an interesting story published by dcnewsnow, it was reported that Arlington, Virginia, has been named the fittest city in America for the ninth year in a row, according to the 2026 American Fitness Index.

Washington, D.C., received the second spot in the fitness rankings of America’s 100 largest cities.

Arlington, Virginia continues its long-standing position as the nation’s fittest city, reflecting strong performance across multiple indicators including physical activity levels, access to parks and recreational facilities, and supportive transportation infrastructure. Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Seattle, and Denver round out the top five cities in this year’s rankings,” Shantanu Agrawal, MD, Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health, shared in a statement.

The survey measured cities based on 33 different criteria, including the quantity of parks and recreation, biking and running trails and swimming pools.

According to the index, lower-ranked cities show a presence of chronic disease indicators, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

And, you know, while you and I can’t control how fit the city we live in is overall, we can control how fit we are. In fact, this should be one of our top priorities.

You see, the Bible clearly tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us, whom we have from God, and we are not our own.

The Bible goes on to tell us that we were bought at a price and therefore we are to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits which belong to God. Do you get that? You and I were created by God, we belong to God, we were redeemed by the death of God’s Son, and we were made to glorify God.

This means that we are to only put in things that build up the temple and maintain it. And if you’re thinking, I’m just talking about food, you’re wrong. It matters what we put into our eyes and our ears, as well as our mouths because all these things have the power to build up the temple or to tear it down. 

Think about it this way, if a person were to come in and spray paint your church, would you call that a crime? Of course you would! They would be defacing the house of God regardless of what “door” they entered in to do it! But we are doing the very same thing to our temples when we take in ultra processed foods, when we don’t get enough rest, when we listen to things that don’t glorify God, and when we set our eyes on things that are wicked.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

This is why the Bible is very clear that we are to be set apart from the world in the way that we think and in the way we act. We are not to be conformed to the patterns or the ways of this world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we might not only know God’s will but live it out. In this way, we are to continually offer our bodies up as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord.

We are to remain spiritually fit by not thinking like the world, by not eating like the world, by not viewing things as the world does, by not listening to the world’s music or perverse speech, and by not giving in to the temptation to skip workouts (aka perform maintenance and upkeep on the temple).

So, knowing that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, live in a way that shows it my friend. This will set you apart in such a way that other people will take notice. And when they do, you can point them to the One who lives inside you.

Heavenly Father, thank You the gift of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Lord, help us to truly understand what that means that we might honor You with the way we treat our bodies and cause others to seek You because of it. Help us also to remember that the more fit we are, the better we feel and perform which allows us to serve You better and longer. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Pursue Servanthood over Status

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In a story published by Marathon Handbook titled “Keely Hodgkinson Just Got Something Almost No Track Runner Gets: Her Own Nike Collection,” it was reported that the Olympic 800m champion's signature pack spans four Nike shoes and a run of apparel in black and metallic gold.

Signature collections are one of sport’s clearest status symbols, and in running they are vanishingly rare, historically reserved for a handful of the biggest sprint names. So it says something that Nike has just handed one to an 800m runner. The brand is launching the Keely Hodgkinson Collection, the Olympic champion’s first signature athlete pack, spanning footwear and apparel, available globally from July 16…

Hodgkinson kept her own framing simple and pointed it at the next generation. “Having my own Nike collection is a dream come true,” she said. “I hope every young girl who sees it knows that big dreams are worth chasing, because with hard work and belief, anything is possible.”

And, you know, while Keely might consider having her own “collection” the pinnacle of success and a status to be admired and imitated by the next generation, she will one day find out that her worldly status was short-lived and that, in the end, those who imitated her example ended up being as disappointed as she was.

Why? Because Kingdom status and success isn’t defined in the same way worldly success is--and following any example other than the one Jesus modeled when He walked the earth might fill a person for a while but will eventually leave that person empty. 

You see, the world says that only those with money, power, and status are “great.” But Jesus said to the disciples “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In speaking to the disciples in this way, Jesus completely flipped the human definition of power and success upside down. True greatness in God's kingdom, He made clear, is not achieved by gaining status, authority, or control over others, but by choosing the exact opposite path: a life of humility and active service.

Furthermore, when Jesus said, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," He directly contradicted worldly leadership, which relies on pulling rank and exercising authority over subordinates. 

When He said, "Whoever wants to be first must be your slave," Jesus, amidst a culture where a slave had no rights or social standing, showed that true greatness requires a total surrender of pride and status. 

And when Jesus said, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many," He made it clear that we are to live our lives with a focus on what we can give, not by what we can gain. Jesus' example further shows us that true greatness is not measured by the status we obtain in this world but by the surrender we exhibit. 

So, don’t chase worldly status my friend. It’s short-lived and has no eternal value. Instead, seek to serve like Jesus. You might be counted among the least here, but you will be counted among the “great” in the life to come. And, truly, that’s all that matters.

Heavenly Father, thank You for measuring success in a way that goes contrary to the world. Help us to follow the example Jesus set in such a way that others would be inspired to seek Him themselves because of it. Lord, strip us of our pride and help us to see that nothing in this world will fully satisfy us apart from doing Your will. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Appreciate What You Have

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let's get started by talking about what a runner "needs" to complete a run. To do that, though, we need to understand that a need is defined as a necessity. Which means “need,” in this case, indicates something that we can't run without... period. Why is this important? Because, if you began running recently or within the last 10-15 years, you most likely don't know how good you have it. You've always had music and GPS tracking available and you've never needed to guess your pace or distance, much less sing to yourself to stay entertained. 

So, I'm not going to go all out and give you a story about how "back in my day" I walked to school with no shoes five miles all uphill in the snow and so you don't know how good you've got it. But I will tell you that "back in my day," when I began running as a young lass, there were no GPS watches and no way to bring music on a run except by carrying a transistor radio. Get this... when looking to qualify for my first Boston Marathon, I had to actually do the math (calculating splits) in my head using mile markers and a Timex watch! Crazy right? 

And when the first GPS watches came out, they looked like something out of Star Trek (I had all the ones pictured above) and required actual batteries (can you believe that???)--batteries that seemed to go dead at the worst possible time. I thought I had won the lottery when I purchased my first rechargeable Garmin! To help you understand how good you have it now, I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that these early GPS watches were only for running. That's right. You would have to take the Garmin off after your workout and then put your daily watch back on to tell the time. 

Now why am I telling you this? Well... so you can not only appreciate what you have, but to consider how different your running would be if you chose not to run with any music or your GPS watch. 

This was something I was thinking about after reading the answers to the polled question on the BPFS Facebook page yesterday. "Would you rather run without music or GPS?" And while there were many comments, the majority of runners said they would go without music. Which means neither is a necessity, but both are very nice added bonuses. 

That being said, let's look at the pros and cons of both for comparisons sake. And then, let me know in the comment section what your answer would be.... "Would you rather run without music or without GPS?" 

Running with music boosts motivation and distracts from fatigue, helping you maintain a steady cadence and run longer or faster. However, it reduces environmental awareness, which can be dangerous near traffic. Some races and trails also ban headphones, making it risky to become completely dependent on them.

Insights from the Running Community

Some runners swear by their playlists to get them through a grueling workout, while others prefer the peace of running completely unplugged. 

Key Advantages

Increased Endurance: Fast-paced, high-tempo songs can elevate your heart rate and adrenaline, making tough workouts feel less taxing.

Pain Dissociation: Music provides a mental escape, helping to distract your brain from the physical sensations of fatigue and soreness.

Mood Booster: A favorite playlist triggers the release of dopamine, keeping you upbeat and motivated to finish your miles. 

Main Drawbacks

Safety Risks: Blocking out the ambient sounds of nature, passing cyclists, or approaching traffic can lead to accidents.

Pacing Issues: You might accidentally run too fast or off-tempo if you sync your steps to a high-energy track rather than listening to your body.

Event Rules: Many official races and track events strictly prohibit headphones for safety and fairness. 

Running with a GPS watch provides highly accurate pacing, real-time metric tracking, and the freedom to leave your phone at home, but it can also foster an unhealthy obsession with data and cost hundreds of dollars. Finding the right balance between tech-driven insights and listening to your body is essential for maximizing performance without burning out.

The Pros

Real-time pacing data: Instantly see your exact speed to hit specific race targets.

Phone-free running: Tracks and maps your exact route without a bulky smartphone.

Physical tactical buttons: Easy to tap with sweaty hands, gloves, or in heavy rain.

Rugged hardware durability: Built with sapphire crystals or titanium to handle tough trails.

Structured training programs: Pre-load complex interval workouts that beep when to switch paces.

Biometric tracking metrics: Monitors continuous heart rate, sleep quality, and elevation changes.

Seamless platform syncing: Automatically uploads workouts directly to tracking apps like Strava.

The Cons

High financial cost: Premium models or dedicated smartwatches require a major upfront investment.

Data-driven anxiety: Fixating heavily on numbers can cause performance stress or fear of public judgment.

Ignoring bodily cues: Runners often over-rely on screens rather than listening to physical exhaustion.

Signal connection errors: Tall buildings, dense trees, and bad weather can disrupt tracking accuracy.

Battery maintenance chores: Demands regular recharging, which can fail mid-marathon if unmanaged.

Physical skin discomfort: Watch bands can cause painful wrist chafing on hot, sweaty days.

And there you have it friends. While having GPS navigation and music are great things and can definitely enhance your running, going "naked," or without any tech devices, from time to time eliminates digital distractions, maximizes safety, and forces a runner to build an intuitive, self-sufficient connection with their body. Ditching the data and the playlist shifts your workout from a performance-tracked chore to a mindful, liberating experience. So, give it a try sometime (at least ditching one or the other instead of both) and let me know what you think. Happy Running!

The Bible is a Must Read

"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17

In an interesting article published by LETSRUN.com over the weekend, the writer said:

Every runner is constantly asking the same question: How can I get faster?

More miles. Better sleep. Harder workouts.

These are all tried-and-true methods, and they get the job done. But what if I told you there was a way to become a better runner without taking a single extra step? All it takes is picking up a book and starting to read.

For the rest of the summer, I’m going to take you through my running bookshelf, the books that have helped me become a student of the sport and fall even more in love with it. The more you appreciate the sport, the easier it is to get out the door, even on the days you have the hardest workouts. This week, I’m starting with narrative nonfiction: books that show you firsthand what life is like for the absolute best in the sport. They are similar to the “Day in the Life” style of YouTube videos that are very popular today. These aren’t training manuals. They’re stories.

The writer then listed four books that he said were absolute must-reads for cross-country runners.

And while there might be a lot of  “books” that might make you a better runner, there is only one “Book” that’s tried-and-true to make you a better, with "better" being defined as "improved in health or mental attitude," person. That Book, of course, is the Bible which is commonly referred to as the book containing the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

You see, the Scriptures not only make us wise for salvation, but they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness so that the man or woman of God might be complete and thoroughly equipped for good works. In other words, the Bible is a must-read book because it tells us everything we need to know about life. 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

The Bible tells us what our purpose is, how we are supposed to think, the kinds of foods we should be eating, how to handle our finances, what type of person we should marry and when, what type of friends we should choose, and a million other things that we need to know to achieve and maintain overall health and to avoid diseases and other downfalls. 

This is the very reason that Jesus said that we are to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added do you." In this passage, He was referring to what we eat or wear but the concept is universal. 

When we seek God first in all things through the pages of the Bible, we equip ourselves to make right decisions, to behave in ways that are good for us and for all those around us, to run with perseverance until the very end, and to serve God with all that He has given us. 

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The Bible truly is a must-read! But not just a once-read but an every-single-day-read. Why? Because the Bible is the living, breathing and powerful word of God. It's "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Which means the Bible provides daily counsel and wisdom for whatever you and I might be going through, and for whatever we might face. 

So, vow to read your Bible each and every day my friend, knowing that you will come out better for it in more ways than one.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Word to guide us and to better us. Inspire us to read it daily and to commit it to memory Lord that we might serve You with all that You have given us and influence others to do the same. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!

We Win by His Mighty Power

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV

In an astonishing story published by Runner's World over the weekend, it was reported that Courtney Dauwalter turned in another dominant victory in the Hardrock 100 early on Saturday morning in Silverton, Colorado, breaking the previous clockwise course record. But she admitted that the last 30 miles were an enormous struggle for her.

The Hardrock 100-miler is considered the most difficult ultradistance trail-running race in North America and one of the toughest in the world. It sends runners on a massive loop through the San Juan Mountains with about 33,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. That includes a huge climb up and over 14,048-foot Handies Peak, one of the 58 peaks in Colorado that rise above 14,000 feet.

Dauwalter won the women’s race for the fourth time in five tries, finishing in fifth place overall in 26 hours, 3 minutes, 10 seconds. Her time surpassed the women’s clockwise course record (26:11:49) she set in 2024…

“I felt good early in the race and was climbing well,” Dauwalter said. “But it was a struggle through the night. All three times I have run (Hardrock) in the clockwise direction, my stomach always goes and I wind up puking before I get to the Sherman aid station. I have planned for it and trained for it and changed my nutrition, but it still happens every time. So I don’t know. There were times I thought I was just going to lay down on the trail and stay there forever."

And, you know, as this story illustrates and every long-distance runner has come to know, struggles are just a part of running the race that no one can opt out of if they want to finish and claim the prize. Which is the reason successful runners learn to anticipate the various struggles, especially the ones that happen every time, and purposefully train to overcome them. 

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Yet the struggle we, as believers, face is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” These are battles you can be sure that can't be fought with physical weapons but with spiritual ones. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11

You see, our spiritual struggles will be enormous, they will be constant, they will come in many ways, shapes, and forms, and they will come from an enemy that is unseen. This is the very reason Paul said that we must be strong and fight in God’s mighty power, rather than our own.

We must put on the FULL armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devils schemes. And let me tell you, the enemy has a lot of schemes… aka plots, ploys, diversions, designs, and strategies! Which means we must not only have the armor on but we must know how to use it! 

So, knowing that we will daily struggle against an invisible and relentless enemy, let us train in the Word continuously my friend. And let us, then, vow to pray at all times and refuse to "lay down" when (not if) the powers of this dark world come to fiercely grapple (that means to wrestle until death) with us to keep us from finishing the race. Let us instead press on to the finish line in "his mighty power." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the race to the end will be filled with deep pain, doubt, discouragement, delays, and despair. Help us to be ready for these battles Lord by training in the Word so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Be Intentional about Sharing the Good News

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV

Before I set out on my morning run yesterday in a busy city where I was attending a work conference, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would lead me to a nice trail where I could spend some alone time with the Lord. And I was not disappointed. 

After meandering through a couple different neighborhoods, I saw a sign that read Malcolm Terrace Park with an arrow pointing me in the direction to where I just knew I was supposed to be. My first thought on arriving there and seeing a trailhead just past the park entrance was “Oh Lord, thank You so much for the answered prayer.” 

I smiled as I stepped onto the trail, and continued smiling as I traveled further down the gravel path and became surrounded by nature. Enveloped by the noises of the birds and the forest creatures, I was overcome with emotion that the Lord loved me so much that He would personally arrange to have some quiet time with me. This time and setting was so precious, in fact, that I didn’t want to keep it to myself. So when I got back to the hotel, I told the front desk so they could tell others. 

The staff thanked me and revealed they had no idea that a walking path (that was something I discovered on the way back), a park, and a trail were that close to the hotel. When I checked in the day before, the only suggestion they had for me was to drive to a local lake—a round trip that would substantially cut into my run time. 
So you can imagine how happy I was after they vowed to pass that information on to other runners who were looking for a place to get away while staying at the hotel.

And you know, while it’s one thing to be intentional in sharing new exercise routes and options with someone, many believers are not intentional about sharing Jesus Christ. 

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

But here’s the deal. Each and every believer is commanded to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This is of utmost importance, especially in the day and age we live where many people are told that there are many trails or roads to eternal life.

But Jesus made it very clear that this was not true when He said, "I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that Jesus is the ONLY route to salvation. 

So don’t be afraid to share the message of the gospel, my friend. Because while discovering a new path is good news, discovering the ONLY path to eternal life is the best news that anyone could ever receive! But how can they discover it if we aren’t intentional in talking about it?

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would not only provide a way to salvation but, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but a way for us to have unhindered fellowship with You. Lord, give us a boldness to share the Gospel at every opportunity that we might do our part in making heaven full. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

There Will Never be Ideal Conditions

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 NKJV

In a story published by Runner's World earlier this week, organizers of the Twin Cities Marathon announced that starting in 2027, they plan to move the race to mid October from its traditional date the first weekend in the month, citing “heat-related risks” and their hope to improve “the likelihood of ideal race day conditions.”

The 2027 race will be held on October 17, assuming organizers are able to secure permits for that date.

Throughout the marathon’s 45-year history, the race has been held the first Sunday in October. The 2026 race will be held on October 4 and had the schedule remained the same, the 2027 race would have been October 3…

Climate scientists say eventually most marathons could be affected by rising temperatures, and in a 2026 report, they projected that by the year 2045, the Chicago Marathon, also held in October, has less than a 25 percent chance of having ideal weather on race day. The New York City Marathon, with its early November race date, will have less than a 30 percent chance of ideal weather by 2045.

And, you know, Race Directors and runners aren’t the only people who pine for ideal conditions. Millions of people around the world today are waiting for the time to be ideal before making the choice to follow Jesus Christ.

But this is the deal... there will never be an ideal or perfect time to follow Jesus. Why? Because there will never be an easy time to follow Him. Jesus made this very clear when “he said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

You see, we live in a world that wants things effortless. We want our meals easy so we eat ultra processed ready to eat food. We want weight loss to be easy so we skip the workouts and go for medicine in the same way that we don’t discipline the flesh to eat what’s good for us, but will take medicine to make up for it. Let’s face it... we live in a world that, for the most part, rejects and despises discipline.

This is the reason that many people wait before denying themselves. Following Jesus takes extreme discipline—the same discipline Jesus showed in fulfilling the mission of walking among us, and then dying on the cross.

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" Matthew 16:21-23

To understand this more, consider the context of Matthew 16. Jesus had just finished telling His disciples that He was heading to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be resurrected. Peter immediately pulled Jesus aside to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Peter wanted a crown without a cross. He wanted the kingdom under ideal, comfortable conditions.

Jesus’ response was blistering. He called Peter "Satan" because Peter was focusing on human comfort rather than divine purpose. Immediately after that confrontation, Jesus turned to the crowd and delivered verse 24.

The lesson is clear: Following Jesus is inherently inconvenient. It demands self-denial in a world that worships self-gratification. It demands carrying an instrument of death (the cross) in a culture obsessed with comfort. It demands immediate action, not delayed negotiation.

If you wait until it's easy, safe, or socially acceptable to fully surrender your life to Christ, you'll wait forever. The world will always provide an excuse to delay obedience.

To truly understand the urgency of "just doing it," we have to look at the very next verses where Jesus explains exactly what is at stake:

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26

This is the ultimate cost-benefit analysis. Jesus removes all gray areas and made it clear that a person cannot sit on the fence forever.

Furthermore, choosing to wait for "better conditions" is actually a choice to reject Him. And the outcome of not following Jesus is catastrophic. You might succeed in preserving your current comfort. You might build a flawless career, protect your social reputation, and accumulate wealth under "ideal" earthly conditions. But in the end, you will have gained a temporary world and forfeited an eternal soul.

So remember this my friend... Losing your soul doesn't just happen in a dramatic moment of rebellion. It happens slowly, through a lifetime of saying, "Not yet, Lord. I'll follow You when things settle down."

So, choose to take up your cross and follow Jesus today, if you haven’t already. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

 
Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that choosing to accept Jesus as our Savior is the ONLY way to salvation. In a world that wants the eternal reward without the earthly restraint, help us to model what it means to follow Jesus with joy so that others would come to understand that trading comfort for the cross brings eternal rewards. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Plan a Running Adventure

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let’s get started by talking about running adventures. Now if that has you reflecting back on what you did over the 4th of July weekend, that’s awesome. This is a great chance to remember the feeling of doing something new and building on it by looking for new opportunities to experience more running adventures.

This was something I was thinking about yesterday while out running in a new place due to attendance at a work conference. My original plan, on the advice of the young lady who checked me into my hotel, was to drive to a nearby lake and run around the trail. But when I got into my car early in the morning and put the address into the GPS, I realized that the time it would take to get to that lake (which was longer than what I was told) and the time it would take to get back would not allow me to get in a sufficient run. So I smiled, put by key in my pocket, and headed out to see what I could find.

Initially, I found myself running along a sidewalk adjacent to a busy roadway, which was disconcerting to my peace to say the least. So I threw up a flare prayer and headed in a direction where I was certain there would be a housing district or two. And I was not disappointed. I ran by a golf course which led me to a plethora of connecting neighborhoods with sprawling yards, mature trees, a few small ponds, singing birds, and even a few deer that I caught munching on the shrubbery. The best part? It was quiet!

It was a great running adventure to say the least because everything was new and everything was fresh. I found that it put a pep in my step, literally. So much so that I'm actually looking forward to my run today and the remaining days I'll be staying at the hotel. Running somewhere new sure takes the monotony out of running in the same place day after day. 

And this is exactly why it’s a great idea to plan new adventures. 

Think about it this way…

Every runner knows the feeling. You tie your shoes, step out your front door, and turn down the exact same sidewalk you’ve run hundreds of times before. You know every crack in the pavement, every tree, and exactly when the hill starts to burn. Routine builds consistency, but it can also breed monotony.

As a running coach, I often see athletes (including myself) hit a mental plateau. When running starts to feel like a chore rather than a release, the best remedy isn’t necessarily running less—it’s changing where you run.

So, the next time you travel out of town for work, family visits, or a vacation, you shouldn't leave your running shoes at home. View being in a new area not as a disruption to your training schedule, but as a blank canvas. Exploring new paths is one of the most exciting ways to break up running monotony and inject fresh joy into your miles. For real!

On that note consider this....

Why You Should Explore New Paths

Destroys Mental Fatigue: New sights, sounds, and terrains stimulate your brain, making long miles fly by much faster.

Builds Physical Resilience: Running on unfamiliar trails, rolling hills, or different surfaces forces your stabilizer muscles to adapt, making you a stronger runner.

Offers Authentic Sightseeing: You can see more of a city in a 45-minute morning run than you ever could staring out a tour bus window.

How to Find the Best Paths in a New Town

You don't have to wander aimlessly like I like doing to find a great route. Use these tools to plan ahead:

Heatmaps: Use apps like Strava or Garmin Connect to view "heatmaps." These show you exactly where the local runners actually run.

Segment Explorers: Look up popular running segments online to find well-maintained bike paths, local parks, or pedestrian-friendly bridges.

Local Run Shops: Drop into a local running store or check their website. The staff can point you to the hidden gems and regular community routes.

Smart Safety Tips for Unfamiliar Territory

Exploring is exciting, but safety is always the top priority. Keep these rules in mind before you head out:

Share Your Live Location: Use your phone or running watch to share your live location with a family member or friend back home before you start.

Know the Turf: Ask hotel staff or your host about areas to avoid, wildlife hazards, or tricky terrain before you head out. This is how I found out about the lake and that the area I was in was a safe place to venture out into.

Stay Aware: Leave the noise-canceling headphones in your bag. Keep one ear open or use bone-conduction headphones so you can hear traffic, cyclists, and your surroundings. I use an external clip on speaker that's also a great option.

Run Early: Exploring in daylight is always safer and makes navigation much easier than running through an unfamiliar town in the dark.

Go Explore

Running is a gift, and it is a unique way to experience the world. The next time you pack your bags, look forward to the new paths waiting for you. You might just return home with a completely renewed passion for your daily miles.

And there you have it friends! Life is an adventure made even more exciting by the paths running will take you. So, make it your goal to get out and run in new places. You can start by participating in the BPFS Recycle Run taking place this Saturday. It's free, fun, and a great jumpstart to adventure! 

Happy Running!

The Devil is a Liar

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." John 8:44 NKJV

"I woke up this morning, and really just reflected on the past 2 days. I realized that yes, it wasn't just physically taxing, but also mind changing. I expected sore muscles but I was not expecting what God had planned to really work on. This was like a retreat weekend. Every time I hit the track the Lord showed me lies that I had hidden away but was allowing myself to believe. Lies that have held me back from doing things because I was just too afraid to fail. Lies that I believed, that had me hating my body because it wasn't as athletic as I wanted it to be. I walked away from this grateful for the journey, grateful for the trials, grateful for this body that the Lord uses as His temple. I walked away realizing that I have an obligation to this body. To keep it healthy, to keep it moving, and what I put into it matters. Both what I feed it physically and mentally. I am so grateful for the tribe of people who are in my life. People that stand by me, pray for me, challenge me and discipline me. People that see in me things that I couldn't see. When they call Melissa Sharp a wellness coach, don’t take that title lightly. Our whole being is so much more than just a physical shell. Heal your mind, heal your soul, heal your heart. That is what this weekend did for me."

Those were the words written and posted by my dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Tina Zamora (pictured above in front with the black tank top), yesterday upon taking the time to look back on all that had happened over the holiday weekend. To understand her words, consider that Tina took part in the 5th annual 4x4x48 for the Fourth event that took place at our local high school football stadium. The challenge consisted of running (or walking) four miles every four hours for forty eight hours (which equaled 12 rounds). However, she and my husband modified the challenge to two miles every four hours for forty eight hours. And if you think that's easy, think again. One of the biggest challenges she faced was sleep deprivation. On top of that, she battled the July heat and humidity, made worse by the track that made the feel-like temp even hotter. 

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

Throughout the years that I have directed and participated in this event, I will tell you that we have only had about a handful of people every year (this year there were four) who stick it out for the entire time, although we had close to 100 people come by for a portion of it. The challenge is just that hard! But Tina trudged on and not only learned that she was physically capable of more than she thought possible, but came to understand the importance of treating her body like "the temple of the Holy Spirit" that it is. 

You see, because God permanently indwells Christians and purchased them from the slavery of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our bodies are not our own. Hence the reason, God commanded, through the words of Paul that (since we were bought at a price) we are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which are God's. In other words, believers are to completely yield their personal autonomy to God, viewing themselves as His servants--something that goes directly contrary to the world's view that says "do whatever feels good and makes you happy." 

But here's the deal, the devil is a liar. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." He's been lying since the garden of Eden. He lied to Tina, he lies to me, and he lies to every single person made in the image of God in an attempt to turn them from their Creator. 

"'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'" Romans 12:1-2

But here's the deal. As Tina and I discussed throughout the 48 hours we spent together, we weren't created to honor God with certain parts of our lives but with our whole lives. This is the very reason Paul said, "'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." 

That means everything that we do with our bodies matters! Think about it this way... would you arrest the person who went in and spray painted the Church house that you belong to? Of course you would because it's destruction of property! But this is the very thing that we do when we eat processed foods, when we pollute our minds by what we take in with our eyes and with our ears, and when we don't exercise as we should. We destroy our bodies one step at a time. 

Furthermore, this honoring God isn't only about what we do but about how we think. Which is the very reason Paul continued by saying, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Paul was saying, "Don't believe the lies of the world! And definitely do NOT think like the world does by buying the lies of the enemy, but align your thoughts with what the Bible declares to be true, godly, healthy, and holy.”

This means that we are to read God's Word, commit His commands to memory, and then live it out for the world to see. Will we face opposition? Of course! Following the Lord is not easy! Just as it took discipline for Tina to fight her body's desire to sleep and choose to get up and walk instead, it takes discipline to say, "I will not eat, say, think, or do anything that damages the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is me. I will not believe the lies of the enemy but will choose to see myself as God sees me and will choose to use this body to bring Him glory, even if it's hard!" 

"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17

Last but not least, honoring God with our bodies means choosing our friends wisely and making time to fellowship with them often—encouraging them to honor God with their own bodies and to hold us accountable to do the same. This is what’s called spiritual sharpening, just as "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." This mutual sharpening is one of the greatest weapons against the lies of the enemy that we could ever take advantage of. 

So, treat your body like the temple that it is my friend, that you might show yourself set apart from the world, set on glorifying the Lord, and ready and able to tear down the lies of the enemy. It won't be easy, I can promise you that. But it will be worth it! Just ask Tina. The devil told her that she couldn't do it, but her God said, "Oh yes you can." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are not our own and that we have no right to treat them as we please. Father, give us the desire to read the Word every day, to commit it to memory, and to allow it to transforms our minds, hearts, habits, and lives. Lord, remind us that the devil is a liar so that we won’t fall prey to his tactics but will press on until the end. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Jesus Makes us Clean

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NKJV

As my husband and I have done for the past several years, we showed up at our local high school track Friday afternoon to get set up for the 4x4x48 on the Fourth event that I direct and personally participate in. This is an endurance event where a person runs (or walks) 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours to not only test their limits but to help support local charities.

While unpacking supplies, I remarked to my husband that this was going to be another hot extended weekend. And I was not wrong. It was typical July weather in Missouri… very hot and very humid. 

As you can imagine then, after 48 hours and 48 miles of running around a steamy track and camping onsite with no access to showers, I was more than ready to get home and to get “clean.” “I feel so gross,” I said to my husband more than once. “And I know I probably stink,” to which he replied, “We all stink at this point honey.”

Which was the very reason that, upon finally stepping out of the shower late Sunday afternoon, I smiled and thanked the Lord over and over for the blessing of being clean. The knowledge of that God-given blessing then caused me to say, “Lord, thank You for making me more than just clean on the outside. Thank you for making me clean on the inside as well, by forgiving my sins and cleansing me from all unrighteousness."

But, you know, if I'm honest, I'd have to admit that I haven’t always felt this way. In fact, for most of my life, I carried around guilt and shame for the many things I had done wrong and for all the mistakes I had made—guilt and shame that made me feel so dirty that I felt I could never be made clean. Even though I believed in Jesus, I still couldn’t let it go. And let me tell you, the weight of that guilt was wearing me down. 

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” - Psalm 103:12

“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah” Psalm 32:5 BSB

Thankfully though, I finally came to understand that the guilt I was carrying around was preventing me from truly believing that “as far as the east is from the west” so far were my transgressions removed from me. It was only then that I asked the Lord to remove the guilt of my sin.

And let me tell you, knowing that God forgave the guilt of my sin changed everything! I began to finally see myself in a different way—a way that Natalie Grant explains perfectly in the song "Clean.” 

I see shattered
You see whole
I see broken
But You see beautiful
And You're helping me to believe
You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
What was dead now lives again
My heart's beating, beating inside my chest
Oh I'm coming alive with joy and destiny
'Cause You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I'm clean, I'm clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I'm clean
I am clean
I'm clean
Oh You made me
You wash me
Clean
Oh You made me clean

So, if you’re carrying around guilt today, let it go my friend. It has no place in the life of the believer who has turned from their sin and placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Let the reality of your confessed sin, instead, cause you to remember that God is faithful and just to forgive your sins as far as the east is from the west.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who forgives and restores all those who come to You with repentant hearts. Lord, help us to truly understand that our sins are wiped clean so that we would not live with the guilt that will keep us from moving forward and declaring Your power to save and restore to others. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!