Brighter days

"This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:23-24

The sound of the rain Saturday morning woke me long before the alarm was scheduled to go off to attend my son's track meet. As I rose to look outside, the clouds were very dark and threatening. Oh boy, I thought, this day may not go well for the runners. Praying that it would clear up, we started the 90 minute journey, rejoicing as the rain stopped and the clouds slowly began to make way to a hint of a brighter day. The remaining overcast skies made for absolutely perfect running weather. Contrary to my first thought, this day was going to go very well for these runners.

What a reminder to not judge the whole day by the beginning. Too often we can destine our day to fail by the way it starts out. You can't find anything to wear or you spill coffee on your favorite shirt as you head out the door late for work. The kids remind us that we owe money for lunches that must be paid today or you remember that you have a presentation you failed to prepare for... all as you head out the door late for work. Life can be stressful, that is true. But God reminds us that "This is the day the Lord has made." Yes! This very day that might have already started off stressful is the day he created that we might "rejoice and be glad in it."

So take a deep breath and look around. Contrary to your first thought, this day will be amazing. God told us so when He gave this promise, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). So no matter the clouds that may loom over or around us this morning, let us rejoice for the brighter day ahead!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercies that never end and that are new every morning. No matter what we face today Lord, help us to remember that when you are with us, there is always a reason to be joyful. Oh praise you for giving us this day. Whether filled with rain or sunshine, it is the day that you have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Move - Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OH5FgOICAA

Let's do good

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

Eleven Members of the sousaphone section of the University of Illinois’ marching band, the Marching Illini, recently used their local celebrity for good when they ran the Illinois Marathon 5K while carrying their 35 pound instruments. When asked why, the organizer of the group action that raised $2475 for notes4cancer, Alex Kirkeeng, said “A big part of being in a highly visible group such as the Marching Illini is that you have the power to give back to the community in big ways.” Notes4cancer is a nonprofit ministry that helps children undergoing treatment for cancer through music.

This is a story about people helping people where they are with what they have. These men had no special skills. In fact, only two of the 11 men had ever even run a 5k before but they saw a chance to help. The bible tells us that when we have the opportunity to do good, we should do it.... to all people, especially our fellow Christians. And that's just what they did, they did "good". Alex went on to say that the group is already discussing similar ventures for the future. 

You and I needn't look far for a chance to help someone ourselves. There are opportunities within our own neighborhoods, and within our own families, to do good. Psalm 37:3 reminds us to, "Trust in the LORD and do good." What good will you do today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing us with so many blessings. Thank you for giving us each special gifts and talents to help others. You have been so good to us Lord so I pray that we would all search for opportunities to do good to others wherever we may be with whatever we may have. Give us the strength and the wisdom Lord to accomplish your will. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Brother - Needtobreathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlxrjo6CmNQ

http://www.notes4cancer.org

http://www.runnersworld.com/fun/sousaphonists-get-down-to-brass-tracks-run-5k-carrying-their-instruments

At the table

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend? The man was speechless." Matthew 22:11-12

At the end of every marathon, there is a table set up with food and beverages, a feast of sorts, for those runners that participated in and finished the race. To gain access, a person would need to be properly dressed so they could be identified as a runner. A tech shirt, running shorts and a bib would do the trick. Anyone not wearing the telltale attire would not be granted access and anyone found inside who didn't belong there would be asked to leave. Matthew 22:1-14 tells the parable of the Wedding Banquet where a feast was also awaiting those wearing the right clothes.  Many were invited to attend but few were "chosen" to gain entrance.

The story goes that the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king arrived, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. Because of this, "the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (v.13). You see, this man was not appropriately dressed to attend the banquet or eat at the table. Galatians 3:27 describes it this way, "And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes." The wedding clothes picture the righteousness needed to enter God's kingdom. Just like us, the man had received his invitation stating the requirements. He wanted to attend but did not want to "change" to do it. By not accepting Christ, he had no "new clothes" to wear and so was thrown outside into the darkness.

How about you? Have you accepted the invitation? Have you clothed yourself with Christ so that you might gain entrance into the King's banquet (eternal life)? If not, the offer is open to all who will only believe, change and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Won't you do that today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for preparing such an elaborate banquet for us. How wonderful it will be to celebrate that day when we will attend it. Lord, I pray, that those who have not accepted the invitation would do so before it is too late. Before there is no time left and they are denied entrance. Help us to be clothed in Christ every day that we might draw others to you. And, if there is anyone ready to accept the invitation today, I pray that they would believe in You, accept you as their King, repent of their sins and put on their "new clothes."  It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

At the table - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peeqJ1bmT_w

Have you forgotten?

"They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt," Psalm 106:21

In a recent study published in the Journal Memory, it was found that the reason marathon runners might be able to continue to race, time and again, is because they actually forget the pain of the last experience. Of the 62 marathon finishers surveyed immediately after crossing the finish line, the runners described their pain level as 5.5 on a 7-point scale. However, just three months later, when asked to recall the pain of running the race, the runners described their level at an average of only 3.2. The study concluded that, by failing to fully recall the negative effects, runners can continue to run marathons. Talk about a forgetful group. 

The bible tells us of another group of people who would also forget the pain their actions caused and continually return to their old ways... the Israelites. Time and again, the Israelites would be unfaithful in keeping the commandments, be punished for their unfaithfulness, repent of their sins and then do it all over again. They just kept forgetting the pain! Psalm 78:10-11 tells us that, "they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them." But aren't we much the same way? When confronted with our sins, we repent for a while and then, like the Israelites, return to our old ways. We feel the pain of our actions, vow to never repeat them, but soon forget as time goes by.

Perhaps, like the Israelites, you have returned to a sin you once repented of too? Praise God, 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us this promise offered to the Israelites and also to us, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving us of our sins. Let us not be like the Israelites who, time and again, after repenting and being forgiven, continued to return to their old ways. Let us, once and for all, repent of the sin we are struggling with, turn completely from it and have our sin forgiven. Lord we pray that time will never erase the memory of the pain sin causes so that we may always remember and stay faithful to you. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Give us clean hands - Kutless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDAfRJ7CuFw

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marathon-runners-forget-the-pain-of-the-last-race/

Words have power

"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." Proverbs 12:25

Many times during a race I have struggled to keep going. There probably isn't a runner anywhere that wouldn't say the same thing. And many times, I have been encouraged by a kind word either spoken by a bystander or written on a sign that uplifted me enough to take a few more steps. Words are powerful. They have the power to tear down and destroy or build up and motivate. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, "words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

If simple words can inspire someone to finish a race, can you imagine the influence they can have on others to simply make it through their day? The bible tells us that anxiety weighs down the heart but a kind word cheers it up. In a world filled with worry, concern and uncertainty, the odds are very good that, whether you know it or not, you will come into contact with a person experiencing that today. A kind word has the power to release some of that burden and bring a bit of happiness. Like those people along the racecourse, we might never know the effects of our words but let's speak them anyway... every chance we get.

Are you looking for ways to be an encourager today? It may be as simple as complimenting the gas station cashier on her smile, telling the cart pusher what a great job he is doing or remarking to a coworker that they are doing a fabulous job. Wherever we might be today, let us be ready to give a kind word.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the kind words you have spoken to us. Thank you for telling us, in your Word, that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that we are loved and that we are forgiven. Thank you for calling us your child when the world says we are worthless. Thank you for speaking to us throughout each day through your Holy Spirit motivating us to go on. Help us Lord to be an encourager like this to others today. Give us kind words to say to cheer up an anxious heart. It's in your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Save my life - Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66ZFTltap8

What is "good"?

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12

If you have ever run a race or participated in a competition of any kind, you may have been good enough to receive a trophy. By God's grace, I have received a few myself... but the thing is, every time I have qualified to receive one, it depended not on how fast or "good" I was but by how fast my competition wasn't. When you compete, your finish is dependent on who you race against. In other words, you are measured against the best runner there not a perfect one. The 9 minute mile that got you first place one day might not even qualify you for second place the next week. The trophy and acknowledgment from others can then give us a false sense of how "good" we really are. 

The same is true in our spiritual lives. We don't have to be the best to be first in the eyes of others or ourselves, we simply have to be better than those around us. You might think you are doing really well when you compare yourself to Sally Jones who is in an adulterous relationship or better than Tom Smith who has a problem with pornography. But how good are we really? And by whose standard are we measuring ourselves? Matthew 5:48 says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." God demands perfection, not simply being better than others. Setting the standard by any other measure then is "not wise".

By whose standard are you measuring yourself today? Is it by the level the world has set or God's? As followers of Christ, the standard is not reached by simply being "good", we are measured against Him who "is perfect". Let us run the race focused on Christ, imitating his every step, and the ultimate trophy of eternal life.

Heavenly Father, thank you for setting a standard that will never change. How the world views someone as "good" changes constantly. Thank you for being the same yesterday, today and forever. Lord, we know that we will never be perfect this side of Heaven but give us strength to pursue being imitators of you and the goal of perfection all the days of our life. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Ready, Set, Go - Capital Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toCKscre-qE

The right thing

"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17

Good intentions and thoughts are worthless without action, wouldn't you agree? For instance, you can lay in bed all morning thinking about running or exercising but it will never get done unless you get up, put on your shoes and head out the door. And that healthy eating plan you've been thinking about? It certainly won't start itself. Its only when we put our thoughts into motion that we will see changes. It seems we know what we should do but we have a hard time doing it.... even though it is "the right thing to do". By not doing what we should for our physical bodies, we can reap a host of negative side effects like diabetes, depression and cancer. 

But did you know that when we neglect to do the things God has called us to, we are actually sinning? Sure we know that doing wrong is sin but what about not doing what is right? The bible clearly tells us that "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him is sin." For instance, we know it is a sin to lie but it is also a sin to know the truth and not tell it. It is a sin to wish harm to someone but it is also a sin to fail to help a person in need. Quite simply, it's a sin to not do what He has called us to do.

Is God calling you to do something today? Maybe it's visiting someone to offer forgiveness or help, or speaking to someone you have been avoiding to offer a kind word? Whatever it is, in the motto of Nike, Just do it! Let's not let another moment pass when we know what the "right thing to do" is and not do it. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many things you have blessed us with today... from the flowers blooming to the warmer days of spring. You have created such a masterpiece for us to see with every new sunrise. With every fresh start of the day, help us to do those things that you have asked of us that we might be healthy both spiritually and physically. May we be a blessing to someone by doing "the right thing." It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Do the right thing - Mandisa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt_NL0Eiw3w