We have all missed the mark

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Romans 3:23-24 ESV

In an article posted by Runner's World Tuesday titled, "Symptoms of Low Protein-and how to get more into Your Diet," the need for runners to take in more of this valuable nutrient than the average person was explained by sports nutritionist Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., owner of Active Eating Advice. Regarded as one of the building blocks of life, protein makes everything. Each and every cell contains the essential amino acids that make up this macronutrient. You need it for muscle repair, immune system function, healthy blood, strong bones, and more. According to the Dietary Reference Intake report, sedentary adults should get 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, or about 0.4 grams per pound. “But that number is not based on an active person—certainly not a runner. The ideal range for runners can be twice that amount.” Indeed, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends 1.2 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight a day for athletes, depending on training, with the protein spaced throughout the day and after workouts. Research shows that regularly getting about 1.6 grams per kilogram per day “promotes favorable muscle adaptations to exercise training.” Bonci went on to describe the negative effects of not consuming enough protein and gave this advice, "If you’re having trouble hitting the mark, or you don’t feel like eating a plate of beans after a long run, especially during heavy training weeks, protein powders can help."

And you know, when it comes to hitting the mark or achieving perfection in our Christian walk, the Bible tells us clearly that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That means (unlike in horseshoes and hand grenades where merely getting close to the target is counted as success) you and I must perfectly hit the bullseye to meet the requirement to be saved—something we all fall short of doing. Thankfully though, the Bible is also clear that we "are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Do you understand what that means? Because of God's unmerited (meaning we don't deserve it and could do nothing to earn it) favor, you and I were given a gift (again something we don't deserve and could never earn)... the gift of redemption or salvation from our sins. Is that amazing or what? You and I totally missed the mark but God loves us anyway. 

So I urge you my friend, in light of what you have been given, to tell everyone you know about this amazing gift that they too can receive by simply choosing to accept Jesus Christ (the one who redeemed "all" by His death on the cross) as their Lord and Savior today. I promise that they will be eternally grateful to you for having shared the Good News with them. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us in spite of our sins so much that You would send your Son to die for us so that we could have eternal life. Cause us to understand what a true and unmerited gift this is Lord that we might be compelled to live our lives in such a way that would honor You, the Giver of the gift. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Continually renew your mind

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV

In an article posted in Runners World subtitled, “Here’s another reason to go for a run in the fresh air when you can,” the author wrote: As runners, we all enjoy the sun on our face and wind in our hair. Now, according to recent research published in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, we can add an increase in grey matter to the benefits of a run outside, because logging your miles in the fresh air literally remodels your brain. The researchers found that, regardless of all the other factors, time outdoors—even small amounts—was linked to greater grey matter volume in the DLPFC part of the brain. The more time outdoors, the higher the grey matter. “Our results show that our brain structure and mood improve when we spend time outdoors. This most likely also affects concentration, working memory, and the psyche as a whole,” Simone Kühn, Ph.D., head of the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and lead author of the study, said in a press release. Wow! Improved brain structure and mood? Is that a great reason to get outside or what?

And you know, when it comes to the structure of our brains and the patterns of our thoughts, the Bible clearly tells us that you and I are not to “conform to the pattern of this world” but to be “transformed by the renewing of” our minds. That means that we are NOT to think or behave according to the world's socially acceptable conventions or standards, but to think and behave according to God’s perfect and acceptable standards set forth in the Word—standards that we must study and meditate on daily so that we will “be able to test and approve what God’s will is" and follow it. Doing so will not only improve our mood (living for Christ always does) but will set us apart as believers; something this world needs to see now more than ever.

So resign yourself to be set apart my friend... in your thoughts, in your actions, and in your speech. Spend time in prayer, Bible study and meditation daily so that your mind will be continually renewed and you will be further and further transformed into the image of Christ... an image others will see and be drawn to.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are not to be like the world in any way, shape or form. Give us such a yearning for your Word each and every day that training in it would be our first priority, training that would set us apart. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - The power of Encouragement

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

From left to right: Shelly, Jill, Ed, Gretchen, Larry, Melissa, Rebecca, Sumiko

Now let's get started by talking about the power of encouragement. But first, let's look at what encouragement really is. As defined, when you help someone by offering positive words of hope, support and approval, that's encouragement. Within the word encouragement we see the word "courage," which means the ability to face danger and deal with it or the ability to find the inner means to press on to overcome an obstacle. To encourage, then, is to help develop those abilities in someone, while the "ment" at the end makes that development into a noun, the act of giving hope, help, courage or support to another. 

So now that you understand that encouragement is simply giving courage, hope, approval or support to another person, let's look at how something that is free, easy to give but priceless to its’ receiver can quite literally make all the difference in a person's decision to give up or go on. And what better way to illustrate that than by eliciting the input from some of the greatest runners and encouragers I've ever been blessed to know... people that inspired me to cross the finish line at an ultra marathon on Saturday and who I, in turn, inspired to do the same. That's the great thing about encouragement though, it's almost always a two-way street. And you know the other great thing about it? When you encourage someone else, you can't help but be encouraged yourself. So here we go with a few stories from some amazing runners at the Katy Trail 50M/50K....

I had the pleasure to be running next to Nathan and Joe, two runners I've never met before but became like brothers. Most of the time during race I start with people and then I am alone on the journey to the finish line talking to myself, rocks, and squirrels. It's mentally exhausting, very easy to listen to pain stop running and begin walking. They didn’t let me stop. I don’t think I would have finished without them or the people I ran into along the way. I remember I saw Ed and wanted to cry because my foot was killing me and (he can read me pretty well) he told me to keep going so I did. And as soon as I saw Rebecca, I got in turbo mode because I would not have been at this race if it wasn’t for her—winning was for her. The aid stations are my saviors, especially when I needed ibuprofen so bad that one of the runners husband's provided. They were just my biggest blessing that day. - Jenni Sherman

In the beginning I had a very strong 18 miles. Knowing that my friend Shelley was going to go ahead and kick butt all day…I went ahead and fell back into some misery of stomach issues and dehydration. I honestly believe if I would not have caught up with Ed and Melissa and then later Gretchen and Ashley that I would still have been walking on that trail 24 hours later. I know i would’ve taken my first DNF (Did Not Finish) if it wasn’t for them. Running with positive people can really change your day no matter how bad it is. Just listening to their encouragement of other runners and their singing and their stupid hilarious antics... it could have made anyone feel better. Seeing the way peoples’ eyes lit up when they saw Melissa and her Ginormous American flag helped a lot as well! I definitely owe this 50 mile finish to my friends and their kind words and conversation. - Jill Brockman

Encouraging and helping others is not only good for them but makes us happier too. Sometimes, I feel, that a person can't see their greatness and potential the way I see them…. So I just let them know in my own non-filtered way with loving support and encouraging words and actions that they have what it takes! - Ashley Moniz (who came out to encourage, crew and pace)

If it wasn’t for all of my friends I knew before I started that race and all the ones I ended up with during and after, it would have been a completely different experience for me. It was so wonderful seeing so many familiar faces out there and I remember thinking as I was heading toward the Klondike aid station “I should start seeing people coming back from the turnaround soon that will be good." Sure enough, I soon saw Jenni’s beautiful smiling face and she gave me a big ol’ high five and told me how great I was doing. I came upon Larry later and we exchanged a huge mid-trail hug and told each other how awesome we were! Then Taryn came down the trail with her beautiful smile and I was so happy to see her too! At the turnaround I ran into Jill, Ed and Melissa. It meant so much to me to have these people who I respect and admire so much tell me I was doing a great job. When you are out there on the trail alone for hours and miles at a time you begin to wonder lol. Every aid station had amazing people who told you how great you were doing too, and laughed and joked and you left feeling like you could go for a little bit longer. Rebecca did an amazing job of supporting everyone and making sure we all got what we needed In a nutshell, if it had not been for all of the amazing people and their kind positive words the race could have turned out much differently for me. I am so blessed to have all of you guys, and I am still smiling and savoring every moment of it four days later - Gretchen Pewett

It’s hard to put into words why you’d ever want to manage a far-running event. It feels like planning a wedding for a hundred people you don’t actually know. You guess the demands, field the questions, try to add in surprises all while attempting to control the three biggest pieces to the puzzle — no one can get lost, timing has to be perfect and volunteers have to be selfless. It’s stress inducing and you doubt you’ve done enough multiple times throughout the process. But, just like training, the hard work will pay off every time. In the end, as people cross the finish line…one that you planned…and you place a medal over their heads…one that you designed…and you ask how their experience was…one you’ve sweated for 8 months out of your year…the answer is there. It’s not tangible, it’s not exactly explainable, and it’s not really about you at all. Leading up to every event, we swear it will be the last…but then, the finish line. It’s the cake you’ve been baking, it’s Christmas morning, it’s the reason. It’s why we started considering the 2022 Katy 50/50 today. - Meghan McCarrick, Race Director (who I thanked for directing this event where so many memories were made)

I signed up for Katy 50/50 50 miles distance the day after I ran 40 miles around Springfield with a group of awesome women. Jill reached out and said "you should come do Katy with Ed and I. I know you can do it." With adrenaline still coursing through my veins from the day before and that little push of confidence I said "heck yeah!" and signed up. As the date approached, self-doubt started to set in. This would be my longest distance ran EVER. But then I got out of my own way and thought "you can do this, you can do hard things!" So Saturday morning I checked my sanity at the start line and took off. Rain set in around mile 4 and didn't stop until around mile 45. Jill and I ran together for the first 18 miles. I started to get into a groove and Jill looked at me and said "go run your race, you've got this." And that was all I needed. I loved the format of this race, out and back. Every time I would pass Jill, Ed, Melissa, and Gretchen there were so many high fives, hugs, and "you've got this!" yells to each other. The camaraderie by all the participants was palpable, all of us pushing and driving each other to keep going and not give up. To top it off, the volunteers were TOP NOTCH! By the last 2 aid stations they were literally running toward me yelling "what do you need?!?" so that it would be ready when I got there. I can't wait to see my ugly crying finish line pics. - Shelly Skeins-Stout

Larry (in blue) waiting to start

For running my first 50K it was a great experience!!! There were several things that kept me going as I started to have bad hip pain. One of things that definitely kept me going was God. He gave me the strength to continue to press on by seeing the joy in everyone! There were smiles and people giving each other encouragement. I remember on my way back I saw Ed. I yelled Ed!!! Ed smiled and encouraged me. Then shortly after that, I saw Gretchen and we hugged each other and gave each other encouragement. Then I saw Melissa, and she smiled and asked me how I was doing. She told me that I was doing really good and then called to check on me throughout the race because she knew I added a lot miles in a short time and was dealing with my hip pain. Seeing Rebecca and Ashley cheering me on helped too. You see, we all impacted each other out there in some way or another, which kept us going. Our actions spoke louder then words. After the race, a guy that ran the 50k as well told me that I had kept him going. He told me that after I passed him and told him he was doing good and to just keep moving, he kept his eye on me and told himself that he just needed to keep continue keeping his sight on me! I thought to myself WOW! I think we all did that for someone out there running that race and as well as in life. I will tell you that I’m definitely hooked on Ultra Running!!! Going to do 50 miles in November!! - Larry Sharp

As a long-time runner, I have learned that the more joyful a person's heart and the more positive their mind is, the better they are able to overcome the pain and adversity that must be conquered to cover long-distances. And quite honestly both the heart and the mind are fed by constant encouragement... either from inner encouragement, which is a learned practice where a person keeps a cheerful and happy mindset by the thoughts they allow themselves to think, or from outward encouragement where the heart and mind are fed by the words and actions of others. And while both have power, outward encouragement can fan the flames of hope when a person's inner encouragement wanes... something that inevitably happened to me and so many of my other friends at Saturday's 50-mile race. I can't add much to what my friends already said about it except for this... the encouragement I received from them inspired me to give it right back and inspired all of us to make to the finish line. Like ping-pong (Forrest Gump's favorite game remember?), the cheering and rallying went on all day (back and forth back and forth), and was most definitely the key (as everyone attested) to the group's success. - Melissa Martinez

So there you have it friends, encouragement indeed has the power to cause someone to go on rather than give up. So knowing that that someone could very well be you, give it and spread it as often as you can confident that encouraging words and actions are like ping-pong balls that you hit to your friends... they will hit them back to you which is a win-win for everyone.

Happy Running!!!

Share your struggles

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

After viewing many of the finish line photos from Saturday's 50 mile race (a race I was blessed to complete) on the Katy trail in Washington, MO, I felt the need to be transparent with an online fitness group that I'm blessed to coach about a few of the struggles I faced along the way. "Happy Monday friends!! Wanted to share something with you about the rewards of being uncomfortable and doing hard things. The picture on the right shows a bunch of smiling runners that completed 50 miles Saturday. But they don’t show the struggles we had!! This was my feet Sunday morning. I didn’t realize my socks had nylon in them until about 20 miles into the 50 mile race when my feet were on fire from an allergic reaction to the fabric (I’ll check the description better next time!). The point is this.... to get that smiling finish line photo, you have to endure a lot of hard things!! But you have to press on through every hard thing!!! Today is the beginning of a new week and a new chance to make it to day 45 and get that picture of a person who was victorious. You can do it!!! You just have to make the decision to do it and never ever ever give up!!! It’s worth it!!" And why did I feel the need to post this? Because when others know and understand the struggle behind the smiles they see, they find hope in their own struggle and are encouraged to press on to the finish line themselves. 

And you know, Paul completely understood the importance of not only sharing our struggles with other Christians but sharing the Source of the strength we used to overcome those struggles as well saying, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses...." He went on to say that he was actually in a state of peaceful happiness when he had to endure "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" because it was through these struggles that the power of Christ was shown the greatest. You see, without life's struggles, how could Paul say with confidence, "For when I am weak, then I am strong?" Words that have undoubtedly encouraged millions of believers, myself included, to press on in His strength and not their own--pursuits that have in turn encouraged those around them. Are you seeing the pattern here? 

So don't be afraid to share your weaknesses and struggles with others my friend. They are the very thing that allows you to tell them about the true Source of your strength and the very thing that has the power to lead others to the foot of the Cross. After all, there's a story behind every believer's smile... a story that needs to be told. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being strong when we are weak. Thank You also for the trials, tests, and hardships in our lives that allow others to see Your strength manifested in us. Cause us to be content when we face these tests and trials knowing that they will not only strengthen our faith when we allow You to work through us to overcome them but have the power to inspire others to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Not a pretty picture but one of the struggles I was able to overcome Saturday nonetheless... by His strength. 

Fight to the finish line

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

While the majority of Americans I know choosing to celebrate Labor Day weekend relaxing by a poolside or attending a barbecue, I, along with many of my running friends, chose to spend at least one full day of it running a 50-mile ultra-marathon. And while this is something I would normally be super-excited about, I stepped up to the start line of the Katy 50/50 Saturday morning a bit anxious and unsure of what the day would hold, silently praying that the Lord would allow me to run at least a portion of it. You see, three days prior to the race I was struck with left ankle and heel pain so severe that I had to limp to even walk. It literally came out of nowhere. Not one to give up though, I prayed fervently for healing (or at least the ability to bear the pain) and then waited in faith. By God's grace, I'm happy to say that I was able to finish the race; but not without a fight from step one to step 117,530 (the amount of steps my Garmin said it took to complete the half-century race). My legs were dead weight from the get-go, my gait was totally off, and each and every one of those 117,530 foot-strikes brought discomfort of varying degrees. To say it was frustrating, painful, and extremely hard would be an understatement. But knowing I was there for a reason, I pressed on with a smile on my face and joy in my heart—continually, tenaciously and immovably waging war against the many thoughts I had of giving up, ever so grateful for having done so when I finally reached the finish line and claimed my reward.

And you know, when it comes to completing the Christian race (one you can be sure is a marathon and not a sprint), the apostle Paul made it very clear that it wasn't easy for him to reach the finish line and it wouldn't be easy for us either when he said, "I have fought the good fight..." You see, the definition of fight is to take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of a weapon. And you can be sure that our fight, just as Paul's was, is not a violent struggle against flesh and blood but against an adversary that would like nothing more than to keep us from fulfilling our mission to share the Good News with others--a foe that will do everything within his power to cause us to surrender the battle, give up our faith and forego the reward every good and faithful runner will receive. 

So if you think the Christian life will be easy, think again my friend. It will be anything but. In fact, the closer you walk with Christ, the more battles you’ll face. It's just a fact. Thankfully though, the Lord promises to fight our battles if we would simply keep the faith, be still, and trust Him to do so. I know that's not always easy to do but will be so worth it when you, like Paul, can cross that final finish line and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that nothing is impossible for You. The same mighty hand that fought and won the battle for the Israelites in Moses' day is still fighting and winning our battles today. Cause us to remember this Lord that we would stand confident when we are in the battle and courageously press on to the finish line, ready to the good fight every step of the way. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

The OneSolePurpose Project

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:20-21 NIV

Nearly three years ago, I was blessed (as part of my job as the Wellness Coordinator at our county Health Department) to see one of the greatest desires of my heart (to plant seeds in the lives of little ones) come to pass when I was offered the opportunity to teach a running program to the elementary students in one of the Title I schools in our county. To say that I loved this job would be a total understatement! But what I loved even more was how the Lord used that position to fulfill a dream He soon placed on my heart just weeks after starting the program. "Lord, I prayed," one night after leaving the school. "Some of these kids can't run as well as they should because they don't have the proper footwear they need. Their shoes are either too big, too small, too worn-out, or totally inappropriate for running. Please show me the way to give them all a new pair." And to make a long story short, God very quickly led me to an organization called OneSolePurpose that agreed to partner with the Health Department to make the dream a reality; a reality that should have happened two years ago. But as we know, COVID delayed a lot of dreams... including this one. And while many people simply gave up during that time, we refused to let it go. Through every trial, obstacle and setback, we kept our eyes focused on God "fully persuaded" that He would cause the dream to become reality. And guess what? Yesterday, we passed out 370 pairs of shoes to lots of smiling children... completing the OneSolePurpose project to provide every child in the Dixon Elementary School with a free pair of shoes. How's that for an answered prayer?

And you know, just as Abraham came to understand, what God promises will happen won't always happen quickly. It may take weeks, months, years or even decades to see the thing He promised come to pass. Which is the reason that we, like Abraham, must "not waver through unbelief" regarding those promises but remain "fully persuaded" that God has the power to do what He said— keeping in mind that His timing is always perfect. God is never early and He is never late... ever. Which means we can trust Him while we wait, knowing that the wait will not only grow our faith (and the faith of those watching) but will allow us to see and understand fully that it was only by God's hand that the promise came to pass. Is that a reason to give Him all the glory or what??

So remember this my friend... if God has placed a dream on your heart, don't ever give up on it... ever. Stay "fully persuaded" that God can and will do what He has promised; then wait on His timing. It took 25 years for Abraham to see God's promise to give him more descendants than could ever be counted come to pass but you can bet Abraham was glad he didn't give up; and you will be too if you stay the course. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me, once again, that your timing is perfect as are all your ways. Lord, please remind that person on the brink of giving up on a dream that they know You have placed on their hearts to trust You and continue waiting and working. Please remind them that You have the power to do whatever You have promised and will do so when the time is right. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Good vibes are powerless

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him." Acts 12:5 BSB

On August 19, Runner's World Magazine published an article titled, "Can We Spread Good Vibes on Our Trails?" The writer went on to describe how COVID caused outdoor activities to spike which in turn caused the once-quiet trail systems to be overwhelmed with new and experienced users who descended on the trailheads by the droves. As one example of increased trail use, 8.1 million more Americans hiked in 2020 versus 2019, according to a report commissioned by the Outdoor Industry Association. Habitual trail users also ventured into the woods with greater frequency. While a more active population is fantastic, conflict became inevitable. In February of this year, advocacy groups and industry leaders recognized this and began collaborating; thus, Trails are Common Ground came to life. It’s a national campaign that recognizes how increasingly crowded trails, rising user conflicts, and compounding pressures on the environment threaten land access and negatively impact off-road pursuits. The mission of Trails are Common Ground (they say) is to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment every time anyone steps, rides, or rolls onto the trail; a mission they feel will be successful by spreading good vibes. 

And you know, when it comes to spreading those good vibes, I have seen a very dangerous trend emerging. Many people, even those who claim to be followers of Christ, truly believe that sending good vibes or positive energy has the power to heal or change a situation. I see evidence of those beliefs all the time on social media with posts like,"sending you good vibes for healing" or "sending good vibes that your situation will turn out for the best." The problem with that is this... only prayer to God can heal a person or change a situation. Consider Peter. When he was locked up in prison for preaching the Gospel, "the church was fervently praying to God for him." And do you know what happened? An angel appeared in Peter's cell, struck him on the side and said, "Quick get up!" The chains then fell off Peter's wrists and he followed the angel right past the guards and out the front gates of the prison (gates that opened by themselves, by the way). Do you you think good vibes or positive energy could have made that happen? Of course not!

So don't spread good vibes to anyone or expect them to change your life for the better my friend. Sending positive energy simply doesn't work. Only prayer has the power to make chains fall off and prison doors open. So pray fervently for those in need and over situations that need changed instead. And then trust the God who rescued Peter and who is still doing miracles today to move. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the fervent prayer of the church has moved many mountains throughout history. Lord, let us be bold in praying for others so that they might come to know just how powerful You are. May we boldly proclaim to someone in need, "I will pray to my God for you," and then let us do it, knowing that prayer is our most powerful weapon. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!