The Law Keeps us Safe

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7 NIV

In an interesting article posted by Runner’s World yesterday, it was reported that orthopaedic surgeon Alister Hart, who ran his first marathon at the age of 42 and hobbled around for days afterwards, wanted to find out what running long distances did to the body. And so he began the largest and most detailed study of the knees of middle-aged marathon runners to date. He did MRI scans of 164 knees belonging to 82 runners, all in their forties, all first-time marathon runners with no known injuries. He wasn’t sure what he would find. ‘There was a risk we could have killed off running,’ he says, smiling. The results surprised him. The runners were scanned before and after a four-month training plan that culminated in the London Marathon. ‘It looks like running, even up to marathon level, is actually good for the bones. It strengthens them. And this, in turn, is good for the cartilage; we really didn’t expect that at all.’… 

And you know, when it comes to detailed studies, the Bible is clear that “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” and “the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” That means that, contrary to the popular belief that God gave us laws to limit our fun, following the law of the Lord keeps us safe from the consequences of sin, which fills our lives with joy, pleasure, and contentment far beyond what we could ever have living as the world does. Which is the very reason the psalmist went on to say that “The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey than honey from the honeycomb.” 

So choose to live within the boundaries God has set my friend, knowing they are good for all those that do. Sin may look innocent but what it does to the body physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally is devastating to a person’s health.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us laws to follow to keep us safe. Help us to understand that they’re designed to allow us to have the most fun possible within boundaries that are for our good. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Choose the Narrow Way

“‘You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

In an article titled “Chevron Houston Marathon drew in large crowd of runners, supporters” published by Houston Public Media after Sunday’s 26.2 mile race, the following was reported: The 2024 Chevron Houston Marathon drew thousands into the streets of Houston on Sunday, January 14, 2024. Though freezing temperatures were on the way, a large crowd of supporters still stood and cheered the runners on.The race began at Fannin and Congress in downtown and ended at Lamar and Crawford. Runners say Houston’s marathon is one of the best because of its ideal conditions.

And you know, while I can tell you from experience that running a marathon is never easy, some 26.2 mile races are definitely easier than others. And you can bet that those “easier” races are the ones the majority of runners will choose to enter. Similarly, the Bible tells us that we all must choose which race we will run… the difficult one that leads to God’s Kingdom or the easy one that leads to hell. Sadly, since the “gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it,” the majority of people in our world will choose to run on the “broad” highway where the gate is wide and the race is easy. 

So knowing that those who choose the “broad” road because it’s easier now will regret the decision later when they see where it leads, let us boldly declare today to all those who will listen, “Following Jesus is indeed difficult my friend, but it’s so worth it! Choose to enter ‘through the narrow gate’ today so that you can inherit eternal life. Jesus is the only way!”

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there’s only one way to eternal life and that’s through Jesus Christ. Lord, in a world that encourages and celebrates those who are on the broad road and headed to hell, help us to shine a light on the lies of the enemy so the lost would truly understand that the wide gate leads to eternal damnation, with no hope of a second chance. Help us to be bold in doing this Lord so that none would perish and we would do our part in making heaven full. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.  

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Give the Treadmill Another Try

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about this crazy weather! The arctic blast we're finally coming out of today (and going back into on Friday) hit us with some dangerous wind chills, ice, snow, and sleet. Which means it was dangerous to venture outside without some serious planning and slowing down the pace to accommodate for conditions (especially when logging those miles by headlamp and not being able to spot black ice). And while this normally wouldn't concern me, I (like many other runners with Spring A races coming up) have a stricter than usual running schedule right now; a schedule that included completing a tempo run on Sunday. But with the slick roads and the -18 feel like condition, I knew it couldn’t happen outside as I wanted it to. So what did I do? I sucked it up and hopped on a treadmill.

Now if this has you saying, "Big deal Melissa. A lot of runners hopped on the treadmill last weekend," consider this.... I haven’t stepped foot on a treadmill in more than a decade! For real! Nor have I had the desire to! It was something I had to do when I was blessed to be a stay at home mom when my kids were little but vowed to never do again after that…opting for a recumbent bike or an elliptical workout when the weather forced me to stay inside. But with the quandary I was in, I decided to give it another shot. And let me tell you, I was so thankful that the gym was empty!! I found it extremely hard to get in a rhythm and keep the momentum going at first. It wasn't pretty to say the least but when I finally got the hang of it again, I was happy! I had renewed my like (cannot say I love it yet) of the treadmill and plan on incorporating it into my training schedule as needed. I was able to keep a solid pace to complete the run quicker than I would have outside. 

But there was a downside to all this... boredom! I really had to concentrate on zoning out and later began looking at ways to rid myself of the unhappy thoughts I had while on this exercise machine so that I can throw in a long run when the weather turns bad again. My search turned up a lot of tips but I particularly liked these "6 Boredom Busters to Spice up Your Treadmill Workouts" I found and I hope you will too. Because, let's face it. The treadmill is boring! 

But without further ado, here are some great tips to combat treadmill boredom (*with my two cents thrown in of course): 

1. Use the incline.

Burn more calories without putting in more miles or even moving any faster. (Yep, it’s possible!). How? Just change the incline setting from “0” to “1” and move up from there. The higher you “climb,” the harder your muscles have to work.

2. Move back.

Ever feel like you’re about to accidentally punch the console? You’re too far forward on the treadmill. This can cause you to inadvertently shorten your stride, which lowers the intensity of a workout, and may even strain your neck and shoulders. So, just move back a bit. (But not too far!) Aim for the middle of the treadmill. Still able to reach the console but with plenty of room to safely swing those arms.

3. Do intervals.

Whether you’re using the interval setting on your treadmill or creating your own plan, you’ll get tons of benefits from adding high-intensity bursts to your cardio workout. You can either shift from a brisk walk to a jog or from a run to a sprint. No matter what type of interval you choose, it can be a big-time boredom buster and get your body moving in new ways.

4. Lunge instead of run.

“Walking lunges” are a top way to target leg muscles and glutes. Get on the treadmill and start slow, so you have time to complete each lunge instead of racing against the machine. You can tweak the incline for even more of a challenge.

*Try walking with some light weights for added intensity. 

5. Climb mountains.

Once you get used to putting the incline into your workout, increase intensity by doing a “hill workout.” When you bring the incline way up, it causes your calf muscles to work harder and boosts your general leg muscle activation. When that happens, your glutes and abs also get involved, giving you a great full-body cardio workout.

*Slow it down a bit and lengthen your stride to work those abs, low back, hamstrings and glutes. Make a conscious effort to hold in your stomach muscles. 

6. Go sideways.

When you side step on a treadmill, you’ll work your hips, abs, obliques, and inner and outer thighs. You’ll also be giving your balance a major workout, so start slow and put your hand on the rail in front of you. Shuffle in a foot-to-foot motion and bend the knees to increase stability.

Changing up your treadmill workouts does more than keep boredom at bay. By challenging your muscles to pay attention and try new things, you may even see results faster.

So there you have it friends. With two more months of winter left, you might want to give the treadmill another try. With the unpredictability of the weather, this is a great plan B that can work to your advantage. It definitely doesn't compare to running outside as far as the sights and smells, but it will work in a pinch to help you nail those training runs without falling on the ice or getting frostbite. And as far as I know, nobody ever died of boredom, they just felt like they wanted to. But at the end of the day, overcoming boredom to stick with a run develops staying power in a person so that's always good. And it's a great reason to give the treadmill another try. 

Happy (treadmill) Running!

Don’t Let Fear Stop You

“The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.” Judges 6:11 NIV

In a harrowing story published last week, it was reported that British runner Rachel Drew was nearly killed by a dog while out running last July. She now has PTSD from the incident and is afraid to run outside again, but after a judge’s recent court ruling, the woman, Rachel Drew, will no longer have to worry about being attacked again by that specific dog. When the incident occurred, Drew was midway through her six-mile run along a path by the river. Totally unprovoked, the dog, a 15-month-old boxer-rottweiler mix named Frank, came up behind her and jumped on her shoulders, knocking her to the ground. He clamped onto her arm and dragged her across the grass while Drew screamed for help and tried to be as still as possible to minimize the damage. Thankfully, Rachel didn’t lose her arm although she had to undergo extensive plastic surgery and was in intense pain for several months. 

And you know, although PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder isn’t specifically mentioned in the Bible, the intense fear it can cause a person to have is. And fear, as we know and Scripture confirms, can cause a person to not only withdraw from the things they love but to shrink back from the calling God has placed on their lives. Consider Gideon. He was so afraid of the Midianites that he went down into a winepress to thresh wheat which would have been easier separated out in the field. But thankfully, Gideon’s story didn’t end in a deep vat. By placing his trust in God, Gideon overcame his fears to became a “mighty warrior” who was unafraid to go wherever God called him to go and to do whatever God called him to do. 

So if today has you too afraid to go where God is calling you to go, ask Him to remind you that you (like Gideon) are more than a conqueror my friend. And that by His strength working in you, you can do more than you ever thought or even imagined. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You can empower all those who choose to trust You to do great things for the Kingdom. Lord, help us to remember that Gideon was an ordinary person who was made extraordinary by You. And that if You can make a man hiding in a winepress into a mighty warrior, You can do the same for us. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Live to bring Him honor

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” Philippians 1:20 NLT

On the evening of April 03, 1968, Baptist preacher and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech to a crowd in Memphis, TN. Ironically, not knowing he would be assassinated the following day, King ended his formal address with these words, “I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

And you know, as we celebrate MLK Jr. Day today, you and I would do well to remember the reason King is revered. He was a man who lived to ‘do God’s will’ as the apostle Paul did, with his heart fixed on going home ‘to the promised land’ but his eyes set on the mission God had for him here. He lived to “bring honor to Christ” above all, knowing that it could literally cost him his life. Nevertheless, like Paul he was free to live for Christ because he wasn’t afraid to die for Christ. And because of that Martin did great things for the Kingdom. 

So in these difficult days ahead of us, let us choose to “be bold for Christ” my friend. Let us serve Him unwaveringly and share the Gospel unashamedly, trusting that our lives will “bring honor to Christ” whether we live or die. Let us be unafraid to die for Him so that we are free to live for Him. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that this life is not all there is. Cause us to truly understand how short our days are on this earth so that we would make the most of them by serving You in whatever way and in whatever place You have called us to. Help us to keep our hearts fixed on the promised land and our eyes locked on our calling. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

The Devil wears a Disguise

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV

In an article titled “5 Overrated Health Foods That Aren’t as Nutrient-Dense as You Think” published Wednesday, the writer described some of the pitfalls of not reading food labels saying… Savvy packaging and marketing that positions certain products as being better for you than others can make choosing healthy foods difficult to navigate. When grabbing packaged foods adorned with words like “fruit,” “vegetable,” “whole grain,” or “high protein,” on the labels, it’s natural to assume they will offer you some level of added nutrition. The reality, however, is that a number of these foods actually carry an undeserving health halo. If you aren’t careful, these overrated health foods could end up undermining your training. To make the best dietary choices, it’s helpful to get wise about what is actually healthy and what is mostly food marketing hype.

And you know, food manufacturers aren’t the only ones trying to disguise their products as healthy when they are anything but healthy. Satan, who “disguises himself as an angel of light,” does his very best to market sin as harmless. The reality, however is that Satan is a liar and this couldn’t be further from the truth! Sin not only harms the individual who commits it but also those who are caught up in its ugly web. Sin separates us from our Creator, ruins our health, destroys our families, pollutes our minds, and if not repented of, lands us in hell. This is just some of what the horrible and destructive things sin does! Which is why we must make ourselves wise by reading the Bible and putting its commands into practice.  

So don’t fall into the trap of the enemy my friend. Disguising himself as good, the devil does all he can to deceive and trick us—fooling all those with his hype who aren’t firmly rooted and planted in the Truth. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the devil comes only to steal, kill, and destroy and has not even one shred of decency or love in him. Help us to truly understand that he works by deception so that we would be discerning and found faithfully studying the Scriptures to separate fact from fiction and expose his lies. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Believers Have the Promise

“And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 BSB

In a story titled “Emma Bates Withdraws from Olympic Marathon Trials” published by Runner’s World Monday, it was reported that Emma, who was widely considered a top contender to make the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon this year, announced that she won’t be lining up at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida, on February 3. Bates, 31, tore her plantar fascia during October’s Chicago Marathon after stepping in a pothole around mile 14. On December 12, she posted that she had been healing well and was back to running on the ground for an hour at a time when she developed another injury, posterior tibial tendonitis… And in a tearful Instagram video posted Saturday night, Bates said that while she had returned to workouts with her Boulder-based training group, Team Boss, “we just know that there’s not enough time to be where I need to be.”

And you know, when it comes to shattered dreams that make us tearful, believers can find comfort knowing that “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” This is something you and I may question while going through the kind of trials that bring us to our knees, but in looking back can say, “Thank You Lord for that hardship.”  I know I’ve thought more than once, “Lord I can’t see how You could ever work this trial (and there have been a lot of them!) for my good.” But then He does… again and again and again in ways that leave me in awe and saying, “Thank You Lord” again and again and again. 

So if you’re a believer and in the midst of a trial that has you downcast and doubting today, hold fast to that promise my friend. It may take a while but, when the time is right, God will work your situation for good and you will come out with stronger faith and a deeper knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. And believe it or not, you will be grateful for the experience. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for all the ways You prove Yourself faithful again, again, and again. Help us to trust You Lord when we don’t understand why we’re going through times of trouble, knowing that Your ultimate goal in working all things together for our good is to make us more like You. And for that Lord, we have cause to rejoice. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!