Start with prayer

"Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. " Psalm 143:8 CEV

As we prepared to head to the start line of Saturday's 36 Hours of Jack race, my friends and I joined hands to pray. "Lord," we prayed. "Thank You for your many blessings. We ask that You be with us today and that You guide our steps and keep us safe. May we bring you glory in all we say and do." And you know what? God was faithful. Each one of the runners in that prayer circle crossed the finish line safely - some dropping down to a shorter distance mid-race to do so as they heeded the guidance and prompting of the Lord. 

And shouldn't prayer be the way we start every day? A prayer acknowledging our love for and trust in God? Along with a request for Him to direct our steps? Of course. In fact, the psalmist understood how important it was to connect with the Lord before the day began that he wrote, "Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you." The psalmist then asked the Lord for guidance - guidance that would lead him to make good and right decisions, decisions that might go against what he wanted to do in exchange for what God wanted him to do. 

And you can be sure that there will be times in every Christian's life when God will prompt us to go in a direction different from the one we had planned. And while we might find it disappointing, we can be sure that God's plans are better than ours and praise Him for the redirection. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that Your ways are not our ways. You see the whole picture while we only see a piece. Help us to trust you so much that we would look at every redirection in a new light - looking forward with anticipation to what You are leading us to rather than looking back in disappointment at what You are leading us from. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Trust in You - Lauren Daigle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-SXz_exKE&list=RDqv-SXz_exKE&start_radio=1

Children are a gift

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3 NASB

After completing the third and final 25k loop of the 80k race Saturday, I headed into the aid station where my friends and daughter were waiting to grab a bite to eat. Feeling rejuvenated, I quickly decided to run the remaining 5k lap as quickly as I could. That was until my 13-year-old daughter said, "Mom, I'm going to do it with you." And you know what? It was the best ending I could have ever envisioned for a race. As we settled into a slow and easy pace, we talked, laughed, hugged and even sang praise songs out loud - and I was ever so grateful for the "gift" of this precious child. 

But you know, all children are a blessing. They are filled with joy and laughter and remind us to live more in the moment. They help us remember that PR’s (personal records) don't matter, people do. Children are beautiful, trusting, loving, full of happiness, and a light in this dark world. It's no wonder then that the psalmist reminded us to "behold,"or slow down to see for ourselves, that children are a "gift of the Lord." A gift to us that should be treasured. 

So by our actions, may our children know they are loved, cherished and adored. May we take the time each day to truly see just how amazing these little ones are. In doing so, we will be mutually blessed and encouraged. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for my children. Thank You for all children. Help us to be your hands and feet in caring for them and to love them as much as You do. And help us to slow down and take advantage of each moment Lord as we remember how quickly they grow up. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Cinderella - Steven Curtis Chapman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP2YvCphHW0

Use your voice

“Shout it out loud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1 NIV

Nearly one year after Emma Bates considered no longer running professionally, she crossed the finish line of the California International Marathon Sunday in 2:28:18 - to not only win the 26.2 mile race but become the 2018 USATF Marathon champion. Competing without a sponsor, the 26-year-old’s sole intention, she said, was to raise awareness and funds for the victims of the California wildfire that recently destroyed the town of Paradise. “My goal in running is to be good enough to have a voice for people who need it. I wanted to run for more than just myself today.”

You know, Isaiah was also a person with a sole intention. A sole intention to use the position God had placed him in to raise his “voice like a trumpet” to people who needed to hear the message of repentance - people who would perish in their sin if they didn’t turn from their rebellion. He was told to “shout it loud” and to “not hold back” so that the message might be heard and heeded. And it’s that same message you and I should be boldly sharing today as well. 

So in a world that needs to hear the Truth, will you be silent? Or will you, like Isaiah, "raise your voice" to warn a rebellious generation of the consequences of turning away from God? As followers of Jesus Christ, let me remind you that remaining silent is not an option my friend - our sole intention must be leading others to the foot of the Cross. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that there are people that desperately need to hear the message of salvation. Help us to be bold yet loving as we sound the alarm that the time of redemption is near. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

Shout it out - Phil Wickham

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

A new song

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." Psalm 40:2,3 NIV

Could being obese actually cause you to be depressed? For years, studies have shown that the two conditions were related but which condition came first remained unclear. But a new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology revealed that for every 4.7-point increase in BMI above the normal range, the risk of depression increased by 18 percent overall, and by 23 percent in women. But take heart. Researchers concluded by saying, "Just because you might have a genetic predisposition to obesity, that doesn’t mean depressive symptoms can’t be alleviated through lowering your BMI. So keeping up with your exercise program is definitely recommended."

Unfortunately, there are thousands of other reasons people can get depressed - life trials, genetics, low self esteem or situations that can't be alleviated by simply lowering a BMI or keeping up with an exercise program. David was a man who certainly understood what it was like to experience extreme periods of deep sadness. In fact, David had many episodes of intense depression where he would cry out to the Lord. And when he did, not only did God hear David's cries but He lifted him "out of the slimy pit," restored his joy, and gave him a new song to sing. 

Perhaps you're experiencing a time of deep sadness today too? Maybe because of the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a divorce or an unexpected illness? Whatever the cause my friend, God knows your hurt and He feels your pain. And, like He did for David, wants to give you a "new song... a hymn of praise" if you'll simply cry out to Him?

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are more than able to restore the joy we have lost and are waiting for us to cry out to be rescued. Help us to be patient and hopeful as wait for that restoration. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Psalm 40 - Newsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUtJ2VsJWWw

Slow down

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." Psalm 1:1,2 NIV

Runner's World Magazine recently published an article titled, "How Slowing Down Can Help You Speed Up" that detailed how running at a slower pace on most days could actually make us better runners. Why? Because, according to the experts, "As your body becomes more adapted to aerobic, slow runs, it’s going to use fat more efficiently. This process is known as the fat adaptation effect. Faster anaerobic runs mainly deplete stored muscle glycogen from carbohydrates. Slower aerobic runs, on the other hand, use approximately 80 percent fat for energy while the remaining 20 percent is a combination of glucose and protein for energy. Easy runs also train the cardio, respiratory, and muscular systems to work more efficiently. This will allow you to run with less effort on your faster running days."

And while slowing down a bit in our running can have huge benefits, taking the time to thoroughly study the Word has even more. You see, if we're honest most of us would say that our daily Bible study is done at a fast pace. We might even have a set number of chapters that we rush to read through each day. But to truly understand what God is saying, we need to be like the psalmist "who meditates on his law day and night" - taking the time to study the Word and then ponder it, dwell on it, and meditate on it for a period of time before moving forward to the next verse or chapter. 

So remember this my friend... the Lord is interested in the quality of our study, not the quantity. Slow down and take your time. I promise you'll be better for it. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that to truly understand the Word, we need to read it and then meditate on it day and night. Help us to be disciplined and passionate about our Bible study that we might grow in our knowledge of You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Your Word - Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9NEYy71lcU

Do not follow the crowd

"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

A half marathon in China made international news last week when, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, 237 entrants were caught on video by a traffic camera running through bushes to cut 2 to 3K from the full half marathon distance. Twenty-one other runners in the race were disqualified as well for cheating in other ways. Race organizers later told Xinhua in a statement, "We deeply regret the violations that occurred during the event. Marathon running is not simply exercise, it is a metaphor for life, and every runner is responsible for him or herself."

And you know, while many of the runners who cut the course might say they were simply, "following the crowd," their excuse won't relieve them from the consequences of their actions (a two-year ban from the event). Just as the same excuse won't relieve us from the consequences of our sin. The Bible clearly tells us that "we must all stand before Christ to be judged." - not as part of a crowd but as individuals and therefore individually accountable for our actions.

So if you find yourself making excuses for your sin today by saying, "Everybody is doing it," remember that each one of us "will receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." And no excuse for engaging in deception or immorality, whether done alone or as part of "the crowd," will be minimize the consequences.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there are eternal consequences for our actions and that just because we may not see them in our lifetime, we will be judged for our sin no matter how we try to excuse it. Knowing that, may each one of us make the choice to be set apart and live for You today. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Living for Jesus - Third Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfT26MvusbE

On pace

"Then he called together his twelve apostles and sent them out two by two with power over evil spirits." Mark 6:7 CEV

As a member of the 2018 St. Jude Marathon Pace Team, I had one job Saturday - get to the finish line on time. And throughout the course of this very special 26.2 mile race, I couldn't help but be grateful that I was not embarking on this journey alone. You see, recognizing the importance of having a helper, the race organizers send their pacers out in pairs. And was I ever glad! With the mercury rising well into the 70's, my co-pacer and I not only encouraged those runners around us who were feeling the effects of the heat, we encouraged one another to stay on pace and finish the race as we also became tired - and it made all the difference. 

And when it comes to the importance of having a helper or co-worker, Jesus clearly understood that we are stronger in pairs. An intent that he modeled when he sent the twelve apostles out "two by two." Sure, they might have been able to cover more ground alone but Jesus knew they would need one another. Just like you and I need one another. After all, our Christian brothers and sisters serve to not only encourage, comfort and strengthen us when we are weak, they hold us accountable, spur us on to do greater things than we could ever do alone and make sure we stay on pace each step of the way.  

So if you're not walking "two by two" with another Christian, I strongly encourage you to seek out a fellow believer to help you in your journey. Having a helper will make all the difference my friend. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that we are not to run the race of life alone but with a body of believers. Help us to recognize the importance of forming friendships with our Christian brothers and sisters that we might help one another and be stronger altogether. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!

Cheer you on - Jordan Feliz

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