He meets all our needs

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Nearing the start line of the El Paso Marathon early yesterday morning, it became apparent that my husband would be stuck in traffic unless I got out quickly and walked the rest of the way, allowing him to exit onto the freeway. Unfortunately, in my haste to exit though, I forgot to grab my GU Energy gels. And while facing a 26.2 mile race without any nutrition might strike fear in the average runner, I was unusually calm. Calm because I knew that God, who has always been faithful, would provide exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it. And provide He did - a gel at mile 6, bananas and oranges at nearly every water station, and my favorite Peanut M&M's were better than anything I could have packed myself. 

And you know, the apostle Paul knew a great deal about God's faithfulness too. Time and again, the Lord had provided exactly what he needed, exactly when he needed it - making him so confident of God's ability to provide for him and other believers that he wrote to the Christians at Philippi, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” It’s this firm trust that all his needs would be met that allowed Paul to be calm and trusting no matter what situation he found himself in. 

And isn’t it great to know that’s God's promise is still true today? You too can have peace my friend in any situation you might be facing knowing that God was, is and always will be the Great Provider. And since He has unlimited resources, you can be sure that there's nothing in this world that you could ever need (not want) that He cannot supply. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would promise to meet all our needs... not just some but all. What a comforting thought that is for all who place their trust in You. Help us to believe wholeheartedly in that promise that we might live our lives free from the worry of being left in want. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Don Moen - Jehovah Jireh

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

At the finish line with my son and niece. God truly does provide. 

There can be assurance

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24

Most days, my morning runs are spent in praise and worship. But yesterday was so different. Even while in constant prayer and with joyful Christian music in my ears, I went into my workout with a heavy heart and ended it with a heavy heart. I just couldn't make sense of it... 17 people senselessly killed in one of the deadliest school shootings in modern history. And I couldn't get the words out of my head that Sarah Crescitelli, a freshman who was in the school when the shots rang out, texted to her mother for what she thought might be the last time, "If I don't make it, I love you and appreciate everything you did for me." 

As a mother, my heart truly aches for those parents who lost their children on February 14. But it grieves even more for those who may not have that blessed assurance that they will see them again one day. And while we can't always protect our children from evil or sudden death, we can, by inspiring them to hear the word and believe “him who sent me,” guarantee that they will have "eternal life." You see, the best thing that you and I can ever do for our kids is to love the Lord with all our hearts and to teach them to do the same. 

So if you don't have that blessed assurance today, won't you sit down with your chuldren and talk to them about Jesus? I promise that it will be the most important conversation you will ever have and could, one day, inspire them to say, "I love you and appreciate everything you did for me." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise that this world is not all there is and that there is eternal life for all those who believe. Lord, I pray that this world would see a revival and that it would start with us today and spread out like a wildfire. And Lord, I pray peace and comfort for those people in Florida struggling to make sense of the tragedy. May they turn to you. It's in your precious name pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

If we ever needed You - Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC131P22CZA

In any circumstance

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Demssew Tsega Abebe was an elite professional marathon runner in Ethiopia with a promising future (expected to be on the Olympic team) until attending, what he thought was, a peaceful protest in December, 2015. In a crowd of thousands, Abebe was singled out and tortured - his heels and feet so severely lashed he couldn't run. Shortly after the beating, he was scheduled to run in the Houston Marathon. Barely able to walk, he boarded the plane to Texas anyway with his team. But instead of running the marathon, he stayed and applied for asylum in the United States and waited for the day his family could join him. That day finally came yesterday when they were reunited, with Demssew saying, "I am so happy. I thank God."

And when it comes to being thankful, the Bible is very clear that it is "God's will" for believers to “be thankful in all circumstances." But that doesn't mean we are to be thankful for all circumstances my friend. You see, since evil doesn’t come from God, we shouldn't thank Him for it. But... since God promised to be with us through all circumstances and to bring good from all circumstances, you and I can and should be thankful in all circumstances.

And you know, because Abebe stayed faithful through the toughest of “circumstances”, good did come from his situation. He now runs without any pain, has continued to protest in support for the Oromo people and was described by the D.C. Mayor as, "a wonderful role model for people around the world." All because he remained thankful.

Heavenly Father, help us to see how easy our lives actually are in comparison to those who don't have the same freedoms we have. Help us to always be appreciative and to say "Thank you God" in any circumstance that we might be in, knowing that your promises are true and we have so much to be thankful for. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Thank You - 33 Miles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD1H29Ps8l8

El Paso Marathon 2016

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

I was blessed to run the 9th annual El Paso Marathon yesterday in El Paso, TX. What a great race this was with it's near perfect temperatures and some of the friendliest runners I've ever encountered! Due to road construction though, the course was changed sparking talk of whether the new route would be enjoyable. I was overjoyed to find the new course to be even better than the previous years proving that change can indeed be a good thing.

Most of us don't like change though do we? And those of us that might want or need to change might not know where to begin. Thankfully the bible tells us the most perfect route to changing for the better though when it instructs you and me to not "copy the behavior and customs of this world." But to instead, "let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." When you and I allow the Holy Spirit to change the way we think, we are 'transformed'-no longer living for the things of this world but living to honor and obey Christ in all we do.... starting with our thoughts. 

You see, it's when we have a renewed mind that we will "learn to know God's will" for our lives "which is good and pleasing and perfect." Now that type of change is indeed a very good thing. Wouldn't you agree?

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would care about every part of us. Help us to transform our thoughts and thus our lives that we might be new creations focused on your will which is good, pleasing and perfect. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Shonlock - Transformed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgCYD-yR8L8 

El Paso Marathon 2015

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."" Matthew 19:26

What a beautiful day for a run. Yesterday was the 2015 El Paso Marathon and Half. The day began early to catch the buses at 5:00 a.m. that would take the marathoners to the top of Trans Mountain for a 7:00 a.m. race start. The beginning temps were in the low 50's with only a high of 61 predicted, absolutely fabulous temps for a 26.2 mile run. As the runners descended down the mountain for the initial 1,584 elevation drop (about four miles down), the rain began to fall cooling it down even further serving as a simple reminder that God had blessed this day. I knew that good things were in store for the rest of the race. 

As expected, the aid stations and volunteers were amazing as was the post-race nutrition. I absolutely love the people of El Paso, the culture and especially the food! Running this race gives you the opportunity to experience all three. The medals and awards were surely worthy of the effort it took to earn them. But the absolute best part of the race was finishing at the Southwest University Park, the home of the El Paso Chihuahuas minor league baseball team. Although the half and full started at different places, we finished together and as the runners made their victory lap into the stadium, they were greeted with hundreds of spectators in the stands. Talk about making a runner feel like a winner regardless of the finishing time. Way to go El Paso Marathon!! They couldn't have made TEAM413 feel any more welcome. I truly believe that God was working today. Especially on one runner...

Chris Martinez Jr. and Chris Martinez (two of my most favorite men)

Christopher Martinez was running his first half marathon. Despite extreme knee pain beginning at mile one, he finished the race and learned something about himself in the process. The greatest lesson was that he realized that, "with God everything is possible." Like hundreds of other racers yesterday, when he had nothing left, he relied on God's strength to get him through. And, in doing so, he realized that God was all he needed all along... yesterday, today and every day. 

If you will allow Him, God can and will do amazing things in your life today, tomorrow and every day too. You need not wait until He is your last resort, when you have no power of your own. Simply let Go and let God. Surrender your will and let Him work. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many lessons you teach us through the simple act of placing one foot in front of the other. It's only through your strength that we can truly be winners - on the race course and off. Help us to surrender to you each and every day and to instead rely on your strength and power rather than our own. The true victory is a life in pursuit of the ultimate medal, eternal life with You. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Running - Cornerstone Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTl3rv6ZTNo

About to enter the stadium with only .2 left getting a high five from my sister in law 

Spread the love

""Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."" Matthew 5:16 WBT

 

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, many couples will be exchanging chocolate hearts and boxes of assorted treats to express their love for one another. Megan Murphy and her partner, Kevin Minnick, who are marking this Valentine’s Day having lost a combined 120 pounds after Murphy joined Weight Watchers in 2016 (inspiring Minnick to follow), will not be one of them though. They have found what a study, published this month in the research journal Obesity, revealed... weight loss is contagious. When one partner commits to losing weight, the other partner is likely to lose weight too.

And if the actions and lifestyle of one person can be contagious enough to spur another person into following their example, consider how our actions could do the same. You see, by letting our "light so shine before men that they may see" our "good works"- or those acts of kindness, love and service to others inspired solely by our love for the Father and bringing Him glory - our actions can spur others to seek His love for themselves. Bill Hybels says it like this, "God wants us to become contagious [believers] … who will first catch his love and then urgently and infectiously offer it to all who are willing to consider it. This is his primary plan, the one Jesus modeled powerfully: to spread God’s grace and truth person to person until there’s an epidemic of changed lives around the world”

So if being contagious, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means exciting similar emotions or conduct in others, let us be so full of love and light that we can't help but spread it everywhere we go. And by doing so, may we inspire others to love and glorify the "Father who is in heaven." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the ultimate example of true love. Help us to love You with our whole being that we might "shine" bright in a dark world and inspire others to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Proof of your love - King and Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgqYYk-0wDs

Depression is real

"How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?" Psalm 13:2 NLT

From the outside, 29-year-old Jonathan Grey, a professional runner for Adidas who found his greatest success in cross country but had recently competed in the USATF Marathon Championships (running 2:20:08), seemed to have it all. He was young, talented and loved by many. So what his brother, Matt, posted on Facebook Friday evening didn't seem to make sense, "Today will be the hardest day of my life... My brother Jon Grey ended his life today and lost his battle with depression." Sadly though, this story is not uncommon. Many people that we know, love and come into contact with on a daily basis are suffering from depression - with suicide being the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15-44. 

 

And if you think depression doesn't affect Christians, think again. The Bible gives us many examples of believers who suffered from bouts of sorrow and deep despair. In fact, David, a mighty warrior and a man after God's own heart, poured his feelings out to the Lord on many occasions expressing his hopelessness. In Psalm 13, he cried, "How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?" You can be sure that David was hurting inside - you can just hear it in his words. But by opening up, honestly confessing and expressing his pain and feelings to the Lord, David was able to experience God’s comfort, reclaim his lost joy and once again sing His praises. 

Perhaps you, or someone you know, is experiencing prolonged feelings of severe despondency and dejection today? Perhaps you've even prayed over the situation and the sorrow remains or even gets deeper? If that's you my friend, won't you reach out and talk to someone today? Sharing your feelings is often the first step to recovery. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for understanding our struggles and our pain. Help us to realize that our feelings of sorrow don't make you think less of us or indicate that we are failing in our Christian walk. Help us to know that sadness is a normal part of life but, if it doesn't go away or gets worse, could indicate something much deeper. Give us the discernment to know when we need to seek outside help and the strength to pursue it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Storm inside of you - Veronica Ballestrini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQkSkBgX5cc

Note - If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts and tendencies, please get help. Don’t try to face this on your own. There is hope and healing, and there are many who will journey through this trial with you. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) at any time day or night 24/7, to talk to someone who understands. Or go online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org for more information and help.