Do Your Part in Making Heaven Full

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:12-13 ESV

In a story titled “London plans two-day mega 100,000-runner marathon” published Wednesday, it was reported that the London marathon could be split across two days next year to reportedly allow up to 100,000 runners to participate and raise millions more for charity.

A world record 1.1 million people applied via a ballot to take part in the 2026 London marathon, taking place on April 26, nearly doubling the number of applications from two years ago.

The 2025 event set a world record for number of finishers in a single marathon at 56,640 and raised £87.3 million ($117 million) for a diverse range of charities.

"The TCS London Marathon is the world's most popular marathon, and we are continually exploring innovative ways to enable more people to take part, while delivering positive benefits for London," organisers said in a statement to AFP.

"Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are looking at the intention for the 2027 TCS London Marathon to take place across two days.

"No approval has been given at this stage."

And, you know, while the London Marathon has participation limits and qualification criteria that must be met to gain entry, the Bible tells us that “everyone who calls upon the name will be saved.” Truly believing in Jesus Christ as Savior is the only criteria for eternal life. 

That means no one is turned away “for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” Is that amazing or what? The "riches" bestowed by the Lord upon all who call on him, regardless of background, represent the immense, universal blessings of salvation, grace, and mercy. This includes forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the peace that surpasses all understanding, and the promise of eternal life. Amazing, right? 

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Romans 10:14-15

But here’s the deal. While God welcomes all who believe in Him and "call upon the name... how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" And of course, the answer to both questions is... they can't.

"And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

Which is the very reason, each and every believer is called to have the beautiful feet that come from going out "to the highways and hedges" and preaching the Message in such a way that people are compelled to call upon the ONLY name that has the power to save "everyone who believes." 

So, don't be ashamed of the Gospel my friend and don't buy into the lie that sharing the Good News is the job of your pastor or of a few select people. We are all called to do our part in making heaven full. And that means you and I have a job to do. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are the ONLY way to eternal life and that all who call upon your name can be saved. Lord, help us to understand that we all are commissioned to share the Good News so that we can reach everyone. Father, please fill us with a sense of urgency so great that it would compel us to get out and get busy, knowing that time is short. Its' in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

God Goes After the One

“‘Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’” Luke 15:8-10 NKJV

In a story titled “WOMAN DESPERATE TO FIND MISSING ENGAGEMENT RING LOST WHILE RUNNING NYC HALF MARATHON” published earlier this week, it was reported that a woman who set a personal record running the NYC United Airlines Half Marathon is looking for her engagement ring she lost along the way.

Isabel Lahn-Schroeder, a social worker at Lenox Hill hospital, said she lost her engagement ring along the route, likely somewhere around Central Park South.

She described the ring as having multiple stones in the shape of a flower.

The pride and joy she felt after completing the NYC Half quickly turned to horror when she realized the engagement ring she received on Halloween was missing.

Schroder says she retraced her steps. She went to lost and found and even to the police precinct, but to no avail.

The ring is a family heirloom that had been passed down in her fiancé's family for generations.

The soon-to-be bride said she has a pretty good idea of where she may have lost the ring.

Now she's hoping that by putting her story out there, perhaps a good Samaritan will help reconnect her with the precious ring.

And, you know, in the same way Isabel was desperate to find her ring (even imploring strangers to aid in the search to reconnect her with the lost item), the Bible gives us the parable of the lost coin in which a woman lost one of her ten silver coins and went on an exhaustive search to find it. Although she had nine left, we can see by her lighting a lamp and carefully sweeping the house, that the woman was desperate to find the one coin she had lost. It was that precious to her.

And her diligent search paid off. Because when she finally found the one coin she had lost, she was so overwhelmed with happiness at her hard-fought-for discovery that she called “her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’” 

"for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry." Luke 15:24

This story illustrates God's intense, personal love for individuals and His joy over the repentance of one sinner... of one person who "was lost and is found."  It emphasizes the fact that every person is priceless to God no matter where they are. Unlike the lost sheep that wandered, the coin was lost in the house, perhaps neglected even. 

You see, a person can be "lost" even within the church or a good environment, yet God continues to search for that one person. And when that one person is found, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." God is the Seeker and Saver of the one who has gone astray. Does that fill your heart with joy or what? 

So, while God is the seeker of the lost, let us never forget that He uses believers to aid in the search and recovery mission. Which means we must always be ready and willing to do our part in "reconnecting" the lost with the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who never gives up searching for and saving the one who is lost. Lord, help us to aid in this search and recovery mission that we might rejoice alongside You over the one who is found. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

.

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - BENEFITS OF THE 10-MILE RUN

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let’s get started by talking about an exciting event coming up in June… the 2026 Run Finley. What’s even more exciting is that they have added a 9.63 distance to this event!!! That’s almost double digit miles!!!!

Why do I find that exciting? Because incorporating a weekly ten mile run has great benefits. Even for those who stick to the 5k and 10k distances.

In an article I found published by Runner’s World way back in 2007, Benji Durden of Colorado, who made the 1980 Olympic team in the marathon, detailed how the 10-miler helped him come back from an injury. For several months he said that he could only do leisurely-paced runs around Boulder, where he lived. As he waited for the chance to do more intense work, Durden decided to perform an experiment on himself. He wanted to determine if he could get faster by continuing long, slow runs a couple of days a week. No tempo runs. No hills. No track work. Just Long Slow Distance.

"I started out with the ability to run 22 minutes for a 5-K," Durden recalled. "I was doing one-hour runs. Two months later, I was down below 21 minutes. Then I upped the run to 90 minutes. And a few months later, I was under 20 minutes."

Durden, 54, eventually improved his time to 18 minutes and change, more than a 3-minute improvement overall. All of his progress came from running long and slow.

A former world-class runner, Durden re-learned one of the most important principles of running-that long runs, even at a slow pace, count for a lot.

Durden's rediscovery has valuable implications for short distance runners, who oftentimes neglect long, easy runs in favor of more intense work. Sure, do your intense work, but don't think LSD is for the novice. A weekly 10-miler can work wonders. Wouldn't you like to improve your 5-k time this fall by 3 minutes, too?

With that being said, check out these 10 reasons to complete a 10-miler each week according to the experts *with my two cents thrown in of course:

10 

It fine tunes your form: Running a 10-miler takes more than an hour to complete, putting you into fatigue when flaws in running form become obvious. You must try to correct those flaws (like slouching) and hold form to the end. Durden believes that a 10-miler makes you a more efficient runner-"by getting all your body parts, while fatigued, to agree on the direction you need to go: forward." You smooth away rough edges like a stream smoothes out a rough stone caught on its bottom.
9 

It's not a marathon: "People think a 10-miler is like running a marathon, but it's not," said Robert Smith, boys track and cross-country coach at Michigan's Novi High, one of the state's best teams. Ten miles is not 26. You don't need four months to "build up" to the distance. Many high school runners, accustomed to running 5-milers and 6-milers, are fit enough to tackle a 10-miler right away. Others may need just a couple of weeks to reach that level. Some freshmen, Smith cautioned, should top out at 7 or 8 miles.
8

It caps off a great week: Speed on Tuesday. Hills on Thursday. Race on Saturday. That's a good week. Want to make it great. You guessed it: The Sunday 10. "It's the last accomplishment to a great week of training," said Katie McGregor, a professional who trains with Team USA Minnesota and is a former NCAA cross-country champion.
7 

It's like weight lifting for your legs and heart: Ten-milers will not only do wonders for your leg muscle strength, but for your heart, another crucial muscle, as well. A strong heart means you have larger "stroke volume." That is, the amount of blood sent from the heart to the working muscles increases. More blood going from the heart to the leg muscles means your heart will need to beat less when you're running the same pace.
6 

It gives you a king-sized bed: "When you spend more time on your feet doing 10-milers, you build more capillary beds," said Bob Williams, director of running at the Sports Lab Training Center in Beaverton, Oregon. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in your legs, and during 10-milers, you literally grow them like tree branches. More capillaries means that your heart (which we already know is pumping more blood, see #7) can deliver more energy-producing oxygen directly to the leg muscles during a run.

5 

It fosters camaraderie: Because of its duration and conversational pace, the 10-miler fosters a sense of esprit de corps (French for camaraderie) among teammates. But one caution: "You can't expect all runners to stay together," said coach Smith. "Runners will naturally divide into same-pace groups-7 minutes a mile, 8 minutes a mile-early in the run."

*and, of course we know that most runners will divide into same-pace groups from the 9 minute mile on up to the 15 minute mile. So don't kill yourself when running with a group. Find that pack that fits your pace and join them. 
4 

It makes you an aerobic tourist: Your 10-miler can take you far, and be your ticket to some nifty sightseeing. Every runner knows the importance of variety in keeping a training program fresh. You can venture to new trails, pass the homes of friends along your route, circle through town, hit that big hill that no longer seems far away-go almost anywhere your legs desire in the course of 10 miles. And the many new scenes will make the run go by that much faster. Enjoy!
3

It boosts confidence: Who doesn't feel 10 feet tall after running 10 miles? Okay, you feel good after 5, 6, 8 miles... But 10, you feel unstoppable. Suddenly, hard track workouts may seem more manageable and you'll feel more eager and less anxious about training. "I know I'm ready for a great race when I've done a great long run," said McGregor, who adds that recognition of your long run get you out of a bad patch in a race. If you get that sinking feeling in the second half of a 5-k cross-country race, recalling your 10-miler will remind you how tough you've been on hour-plus runs. "Soon," says McGregor, "the race could go your way."
2

It gets out the tightness: "A muscle remains tight because it isn't getting enough blood," contends Durden. "The tissues in the muscle haven't gotten enough nutrition to repair themselves." In this respect, a 10-miler a couple of days after a hard race will supply the muscles with ample blood flow for repair and recovery. Long runs therefore can function as recovery. Think of a 10-miler as a massage for your tight calves and hamstring muscles.
1

It enables you to switch on your kick: Can Bob Kennedy, the American recordholder in the 5,000 meters, outkick Tim Montgomery, the world recordholder in the 100 meters, on the home straight of a 5-k? Sure he can. But not because Kennedy is faster. He's not. But Kennedy has endurance that Montgomery, a sprinter, does not. And Kennedy got that endurance from countless long runs like 10-milers enabling him to turn on his speed as he approaches the finish. Coaches like to say that "speed comes from strength." The stronger you are, says Durden, the better you'll kick in the last 200 of a race.

Now that we've talked about the benefits, let's look at "How to Run 10."

Start Slow: Aim for a "conversational" pace, about a minute and a half to 2 minutes slower than 5-k race pace.

Stay Slow: Don't get hooked into "picking it up" if you’re running with a group. 

Break It Up: Instead of focusing on the whole 10 miles at once, mentally break up the distance into segments, like circling the lake or reaching the next intersection. This way, you'll avoid the moment, around 3 miles, when you realize you still have 7 miles to go.

Be Fluid: Drink 8 to 12 ounces of water or a sports drink leading up to the 10-miler to prevent dehydration. On hot days, you might want to "plant" a water bottle midway or stop for a drink along the route.

Finish Fuel: Try to snack on something solid within 20 minutes after the run to aid in recovery. Fruit or a bagel will help replace energy. A carbo-protein mixture, like half a tuna fish sandwich on rye, is ideal.

And there you have it friends. By incorporating a weekly 10 mile run into your routine, you'll not only be ready to race the Finley 9.63 or 4.17 but you'll see improvements in your 5k and 10k times. And who doesn't want that? So, don't be afraid to add some Long Slow Distance runs. You'll be glad you did! Happy Running!

God Knows our Starting and Ending Points

“Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’” Isaiah 46:8-10 NKJV

In a story titled “Oops! A Military Officer Logged His Run on Strava—and Revealed the Secret Location of His Ship” published by Runner’s World last week, it was reported that an officer in the French military made headlines after revealing the location of a naval aircraft carrier by … logging a run from the ship deck on Strava.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde, which first reported the news, an officer ran 4.5 miles around the deck of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The GPS file, however, showed the vessel’s location in the Mediterranean Sea, about 62 miles off the coast of Turkey. The officer, who is referred to by the pseudonym “Arthur,” ran for just under 36 minutes and averaged 7:59 mile pace, according to a screenshot published by Le Monde.
The French armed forces told AFP that the incident did “not comply with the current instructions” and the ship was deployed to “protect French nationals, defend France's interests in the region, and support its partners and allies…”

Strava activities have revealed sensitive government data in the past. Emmanuel Macron’s bodyguards have exposed his location on numerous occasions, and four of Joe Biden’s Secret Service agents posted a photo in France on the app, which compromised their location in 2024.

For runners, this story is a reminder of the risks of posting location data on Strava. Even if you want to keep your profile public, there are options to hide the starting and ending points of your activities.

And while it’s alarming that complete strangers might be able to determine our location based on our posting data, it’s comforting to know that God not only knows our location at all times but also knows our starting and our ending points.

In fact, the Bible tells us that God declares “the end from the beginning.”

That means that you and I can gain the courage of men by remembering the things God tells us to remember. Think about how much defeat we could avoid in the Christian life by simply remembering that there is no God like our God! Forgetting leads to fear but recalling leads to courage!

Furthermore, when we remember that God knows the end of every matter, and of every course of circumstances, just as clearly as anyone else can see the beginning of it, we can rest assured that God is much more than a passive observer of events. His counsel shall stand. His works and plans never fail, because He will do all His pleasure. In this way, God isn’t just watching the entire parade of history go by, He is directing the parade.

Is that amazing or what?

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:1-10

So, no matter what you’re facing today, take heart and have courage my friend. God knows the end from the beginning and is in control over all things, which means there’s nowhere we can go that He won’t be and nothing we can go through that He won’t see.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us your Word that reminds us that You determined the end before the beginning. You not only rule over time but over all things Lord. Help us to understand this that we would have the courage of men no matter what test or trial we might be facing, and inspire other believers to have the same courage. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

God Goes to Great Lengths to Deliver His Message

"And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us." Acts 16:13-15 NKJV

As I surveyed the forecasted weekend weather earlier last week (that called for record highs), I knew I had a choice to make. Not having had the time to acclimate (it takes three weeks) for high heat and humidity this early in the season (after all, it was the first week of spring), I knew that completing 110 miles at the first annual American Bottoms 100 race I had signed up for months ago would probably not be possible, so I dropped down to the 55 mile distance and wondered what God had planned.

As someone who's been walking with the Lord for quite a while, I've come to learn that nearly every "redirect" in a believer's life has a purpose--hence the reason I was anxious to see what God had planned for this "redirect." Thankfully it didn't take long to find out.

Not wanting to waste all the training I had put in, I was first prompted to find another race (100 miles) for the following weekend where the Race Director would allow my husband, aka sweet Larry, to preach a short message before the start of the event. And I found one! That meant we would have another opportunity to share the Gospel, one we had not planned for. Yay, right?

But the best part was yet to come. When I messaged the Race Director at American Bottoms to drop down in distance, he confirmed that Larry would still be preaching a message at the start line but offered me the option of also sharing a message before the race at the 55-mile start, since they were at different times and at different locations. And of course I said "Yes!"

And then I prayed and began preparing a message I became confident was meant for someone at the race---a message that God was going to great lengths to deliver. But isn't that just like our God?

Speaking of great lengths, Acts 16 gives us the story of a time when God, through a series of events, "redirected” Paul, Timothy, and Silas to Troas. It was there that Paul had a vision that prompted them to go to Macedonia "concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them." After they had been there for a few days, their mission became apparent. God had gone to great lengths to lead them to a fellow believer named Lydia "She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us." Do you just love that or what? 

But the story gets better! The chapter goes on to tell us that this "redirection" eventually led to Silas and Paul's imprisonment for healing a certain slave girl "who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling." And that imprisonment then led to the conversion and baptism of the jailer and his family! Does God go to great lengths for us or what?

So, if you're experiencing a "redirect" of your own today, rejoice and look around my friend! God goes to great lengths to deliver His messages and you don't want to miss out on the blessing of being the person to deliver it if God is calling you to do it. So be ready!

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that Your ways are not our ways and that Your ways are ALWAYS better than ours. Lord, when our plans don't go as expected, help us to be filled with anticipation rather than anxiety so that we would, like Paul, be ready and willing to go wherever You call us, when You call us, and to do whatever it is You have called us to do. Lord, help us to always trust You that we might never miss out on the blessings of serving You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

And in case you're wondering what the Holy Spirit prompted me to share on Saturday, here it is. I learned later that day that it was indeed a message that at least one of the runners said they needed to hear, and it might be one for you today as well. 

Ok… show of hands… whose day is not going as expected? I mean could anyone have expected this 3-day heat wave in the first few days of spring?

I will tell you this was certainly not the day I was “expecting,” hoping and praying for several months ago when I signed up for this race. In fact, when I began packing last week (before looking at the extended forecast) I packed cold weather gear and wind pants, because that’s what we need in March right?

And that’s another thing that didn’t go “as planned” or “expected.” My plan was to complete the 110 mile race but, although ultrarunners are considered crazy and maybe even stupid to the outside world who don’t understand them, I made the wise decision to drop down. I know, crazy right? I mean, what could go wrong by attempting to run 110 miles with no time to acclimate? When the temperature of my last long run included a wind chill factor and today’s temperatures include a heat index.

Which puts me here this morning talking about the hope we have in Jesus if our lives didn’t turn out the way we expected or planned. Or if we are living with shame or sorrow over something we did or didn’t do.

If we're honest though, I would bet that each and every one of us here would admit to having at least one regret or feeling of sadness or disappointment, caused by something that has happened in our lives… whether it was something we did or something that was done to us. I mean it’s no secret that many people, including myself, use running to cope with trauma, addiction, abuse, or depression.

Which means, the majority of us here have a whole list of regrets; something that can cause deep heartache. I know I do… Or shall I say I DID… I “lost” a lot of years running away from God and a lot of years living in a way that didn’t honor Him or even myself.

BUT…. this is where it gets good and the message I want to leave with you today…

Joel 2:25 tells us that God can restore "the years that the swarming locust has eaten."

Now if you know anything about locusts, you know that they cause complete devastation. In fact, a single locust consumes its own body weight in fresh vegetation each day. That amount may seem small for a single insect, but the impact becomes enormous when they form massive swarms…. A single swarm can consume tens of thousands of tons of vegetation in a day and can strip landscapes bare within minutes, resulting in severe agricultural losses that cause famine and economic damage.

Obviously this devastation would have lasting effects on the land and on the people it affected, leaving behind broken homes, broken lives, and broken dreams.

But this is the deal, if you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, there is hope if your life didn’t turn out as expected. There is hope if you’re looking back and seeing nothing but a landscape of your life that has been stripped bare and looks seemingly void of any goodness.

There is restoration with God…. and only with God….

What does that mean exactly?

Well Charles Spurgeon explains it like this, "You cannot have back your time; but there is a strange and wonderful way in which God can give back to you the wasted blessings, the unripened fruits of years over which you mourned. The fruits of wasted years may yet be yours."

That means that no matter how you might have messed up or wasted your beginning years, that's not the end of your story! It wasn’t the end of mine!!!

I didn’t get back the years I wasted but when I fully surrendered to Jesus Christ, I got back more! In a way that I can’t fully explain, God has blessed me beyond measure, given me a new purpose, filled my heart with joy, and set me on a path that I could never have dreamed of.

And if He did it for me, He can do it for You!!

In fact, in Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” This rest includes restoration!!!

To end then… you and I can’t get back the years we lost but, with God, we can make our remaining years count! With God, there can be a bounty of fruit and blessings beyond what can be measured.

Now let’s go run!!

All Glory to God

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 BSB

In a refreshing story titled “East Texas runner prepares for 100-mile faith run through Tyler,” the following was reported:

An East Texas man is preparing to push his physical and spiritual limits this weekend, running 100 miles across Tyler in what he calls an act of worship.

Joey Brewer plans to begin his “All Glory to God 100 Miler” at midnight Saturday, inviting the community to join him along the route — not just to run, but to pray, worship and reflect.

“I never thought in my life I would ever run more than a few miles,” Brewer said.

Brewer originally planned to complete a 100-mile race before turning 30, but postponed those plans when his wife became pregnant.

“She had a miscarriage the week of Thanksgiving, and after that, I decided I still wanted to do 100 miles,” Brewer said. “But why not do it here in Tyler, bring the community in and make it something everyone can be a part of?”

The run will follow a loop through Tyler, starting at Brewer’s home and passing through downtown, South Broadway and the Legacy Trails. He plans to complete the route over a 24-hour period…

Throughout the run, Brewer plans to pray for others, including dozens of people who have already reached out with prayer requests.

He said the response from the community has been overwhelming.

“I was just hoping a few people might show up,” Brewer said. “But I’ve had more than 70 people reach out — people I don’t even know — asking how they can be part of it.”

For Brewer, each mile represents more than progress on the course — it’s a step closer to something greater.

“Everything before now seemed impossible,” he said. “And then you do it, and you just strive for a little bit more. I think it would be a dishonor to God not to see what my body can do.”

Do you just love that or what? 

And, you know, the Bible is clear that our bodies, indeed, are not our own. As such, it would be a dishonor to use them for anything other than bringing God glory through our words and through our actions. Which means giving less than our best in service to Him would be failing to adequately honor the One who paid such a great price for our salvation.

 
You see, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, our bodies belong to God and not to ourselves. This means that we not only have NO right to pollute or abuse God’s property (that’s us), we also have NO right to be idle with, or wasteful of, what belongs to Him... which is our time, our talents, and our treasures. Our bodies should be put to use glorifying God with all our strength.

 

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Ephesians 2:10

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36 

Furthermore, the Bible is very clear that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” As individuals, then, formed by God, with different talents and abilities, we are commanded to use our God-given unique skills and gifts to their fullest… thereby giving God a return on His investment and turning our pursuits into acts of worship. 

Think about it this way. Everything that we have and everything that we are and everything that we are able to do is “from Him and through Him and to Him.” And for that He should get all the glory!

So, look for ways to glorify God by using your times, talents and treasures in such a way that brings Him honor my friend. Doing anything less would be to waste what God has given you. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are not our own and that we aren't to use them in ways that dishonor You. Help us to look for ways and opportunities to shine your light into a dark world that we might inspire the lost to seek You, knowing that everything You have given to us is to be used in service back to You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Make Sure Your Name is in the Book

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Philippians 4:1-3 NKJV

In a story published by Canadian Running yesterday, it was reported that:

It’s been nearly 72 years since Roger Bannister became the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile at his university track in Oxford. Since Bannister showed the way, 2,349 athletes have followed in his footsteps, making it harder to keep track of—until now.

A British distance runner and a few of his friends have created a new online encyclopedia for sub-four-minute milers called sub4milers.com. The website compiles all runners who have broken the barrier, along with when/where they did it, plus how many times.

The creator, Josh Elston-Carr—a sub-four-minute miler himself, noticed there was no comprehensive online database of sub-four performances. His idea was to build a website that includes analytics on every athlete who has run a sub-four-mile, along with sortable lists by chronology, fastest performances, most recent results and total sub-four efforts. Visitors can also filter by country or continent and track how the barrier has progressed over time.

Elston-Carr said one data point that stood out to him was how quickly the level of competition has accelerated over the last decade. He points to improved pacing, fast indoor tracks (like the one at Boston University), advances in spike technology and nutrition.

And, you know, while it would be awesome to have my name listed in an online encyclopedia, I know that it's more awesome to have my name listed in the “Book of Life” alongside faithful laborers of Jesus Christ like Euodia, Syntyche, Clement, and the rest of Paul's fellow workers, who did something much harder than running a four-minute mile. They stood “fast in the Lord" and ran with endurance until the end. 

"For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'" Romans 10:13

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'" John 6:40

And while only a small number of people will ever be able to run a sub-four minute mile, everyone who "calls on the name of the Lord" can and "shall be saved." That means "that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him" will have everlasting life and can know with certainty that their name is listed in the most important place it could ever be listed... in the Book of Life. 

"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15

So, if you have not made the decision to accept Jesus as your Savior, don't wait another minute to do it my friend. The Bible is very clear that "anyone not found written in the Book of Life" will be cast into the fire for eternity. But those who choose to trust in Jesus, thereby choosing to have their names written in the “Book of Life,” will be raised up at the last day. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible that shows us that the only way to eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ. Lord, help us to understand that life is short and that there will be no second chance to accept Jesus after death. Knowing the fate that awaits all those who die and whose names are not in the Book of Life, give us boldness to preach the Good News and to implore the lost to be reconciled back to God before it’s too late. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!