A "real winner"

"In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:6 (TLB)

If you've ever watched the Olympics or a major Track and Field or biking event, you may remember seeing the boxes or podiums at the awards ceremony. Staggered in height with the tallest being for the number one spot, the next tallest for the number two and finally the shortest for the person coming in third place, the top three winners will line up on their appropriate boxes and be given their medals. By the world's standards a "winner" is the one who has beat his or her opponent(s) and who has sacrificed all to be the best that they can be. While I have never spent much time on a podium in first or second place, I do know that, to be a " real winner", my place is always third. In fact, it's a coveted position we should all be striving for. 

In the first box, representing our number one priority is God, as Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Second place goes to helping others. And, lastly... yes, you guessed it, is ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." 

While it may seem strange that being last ultimately makes us a "winner", it's great to know that if we put God first in everything we do, He will direct us and crown our efforts with success. There is victory in that knowledge my friends. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings and worldly "wins" you have allowed us to achieve. Help us to remember, Lord, that we are working for more than any medal this world can give us. We are working for you, serving others and competing for the greatest crown of all, the prize of an eternal life spent with you. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Love the Lord - Lincoln Brewster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8mr839-TVs

Don't water it down

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

On a hot day, there is perhaps no better way to replace lost electrolytes than with a sports drink. It can be the difference between finishing the race or not. I remember a marathon several years ago when the heat index approached the high 90's. I was extremely thirsty and fatigued and looked forward to downing the glass offered to me. Was I ever disappointed... it was completely watered down. Not only did it taste awful, it didn't have the things my body needed. Praise God that I had the strength to make it to the next aid station where there was full strength Gatorade. In fact, every aid station that followed served it. You could say there was an unswerving supply.

The dictionary defines unswerving as: not changing or becoming weaker; steady or constant. Meaning no matter the circumstance, the object, thing or person it describes does not change or become weaker. When it comes to our faith, the bible tells us to exhibit those same characteristics. We are not to change or become weak but to stay steady and constant in our walk with Christ. It means, no matter the circumstance, we are not to water down our faith, change our beliefs or weaken our convictions. When the world changes, we are to stay the same as Romans 12:2 tells us, "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."

Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Absolutely. Matthew 10:22 gives us this promise, "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Let us endure to the end, never changing, always constant and clinging to the hope we profess because He who has promised is faithful. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for being constant and unchanging in a world that isn't. Thank you for your Word that has been the same, is the same and will be the same until you come to take your children home. Give us the strength to be unswerving in our faith and to hold on to the hope we profess no matter the cost. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

No Compromise - Planetshakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cwWcTG-qA&index=1&list=RD27cwWcTG-qA

Stay safe

"Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." James 1:14-15

While running last week, I narrowly avoided stepping on a small snake. I think I jumped at least six feet into the air! After my heart rate finally returned to normal, I reminded myself that it's not just the big dangers that I should be looking out for. Did you know that the Timber Rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in Missouri? While the babies are not as lethal as the adults, Reptile Channel reports that the “activity level of some venom enzymes tends to increase with the size and age of the snake. So an older timber rattlesnake has venom more virulent than a younger one." Which means the majority of these seemingly harmless babies I almost stepped on can grow to be a very dangerous threat.

Sin in our life is much the same way. While small, our sins can seem nonthreatening and "safe", maybe even safe to step on. The problem is that sins, like snakes grow. That is, unless we do as the bible instructs. While scripture is clear to tell us that temptation comes from our own desires which can drag us away and, if allowed to grow, lead to death - it also tells us how to prevent this from happening. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to destroy every obstacle that keeps us from knowing God and to capture our rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. When sinful thoughts enter our minds, no matter the size, we must immediately take our thoughts captive and ask Christ to redirect our thinking.

While it's best to take control of our small thoughts before they "grow", 1 John 1:9 gives us this promise, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Oh praise God for the reminder that we need Christ every day to keep us "safe."

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Word to remind us that we can prevent our thoughts from becoming venomous and deadly. Give us discernment Lord to recognize the small desires we have that might tempt us to be dragged away. And then give us the strength to take those thoughts captive and to allow you to cleanse us from them and set our feet back on a path where we can run the race free from those things that might lead to death. It's in your precious name that we pray these things, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Lord I need you - Matt Maher

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

Children of God

"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." Romans 8:18-19

I recently had the privilege of watching one of my dearest friends and running buddies give birth. Having had C-sections myself, I watched this miracle of childbirth as I kept thinking that it looked very painful. While she was lovingly holding her new son later, I had to ask, "What's more painful, childbirth or running a marathon?" She said she didn't know, they both hurt alot! Oh praise God for humor! The bible has something to say about pain and children as well. Romans 8:16-17 says, "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering."

In Roman culture, an adopted child lost all rights to his old family but gained all rights to his new one including becoming a full heir to his new father's estate. When we become a Christian, the same thing happens. We become full heirs of God's glory. As children of God, we are now led by the Holy Spirit leaving our old lives behind and have an inheritance of forgiveness and eternal life. Just as we share in that glory, though, we must also share in suffering. We can face ridicule, harassment and even death as a price for being adopted as God's children. But we can smile knowing that, "what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." 

Pain and suffering will last but a moment compared with the eternity we will spend with our Father in heaven. And nothing we suffer can ever compare to what Jesus suffered to give us this gift of "sonship" or adoption. Let us continue to wait eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. What a glorious day that will be!!

Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving us so much that you would adopt us into your family making us, together with Christ, full heirs of your glory. Help us to endure whatever pain and suffering this world gives us as we continue to wait eagerly for the resurrection when we will be reunited once and for all with you, our Father and King. Let us consider our pain a reminder that we are sons and daughters of God. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

www,team413.org

Children of God - Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9RqVRBtjM4

Job title

"Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. " Acts 18:3-4

In Acts 18:3, Paul was described as a tentmaker. This was perhaps one of the main ways he supported himself as he traveled to spread the Gospel, as told in 2 Thessalonians 3:8, "We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you." How ironic it seems then that his vocation is mentioned only one time in the bible, and only in reference to it being his means to stay and work in a place, while he fulfilled his calling... being "at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike."

The apostle Paul is much better known as a faithful follower of Christ, a crusader of the cause and a man that, by the power of God, changed the world by converting thousands and writing many books of the New Testament. Paul was ultimately defined by his relationship with Christ and not by his job title. What he did for a living only served as a means to fulfill his calling to be, "a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God "(Romans 1:1). Paul knew that his true "job title" was to be a faithful follower of Christ. Which begs the questions... will you be known by whatever title your vocation gives you?  Does your job define you or is it merely a means to fulfill your calling?

While I'm sure that many will remember me as a runner, mother and friend someday. I pray that I will be remembered more by my true "job title", a servant of Christ. May we never confuse our jobs with our calling. And may we use our God given vocations as a means to, like Paul, bring others to Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the skills, abilities and talents that you have given each of us to work in the vocation we are in. Remind us Lord that we were given our jobs, whether great or small, as a means to fulfill our true calling to be a servant of Christ. No matter what position we are in or where that may be, please remind us that we are to be faithful followers of You and people ready to do our "job" of showing Christ to the world. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Called to be - Jonathon Nelson

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

Fifteen

"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14

Research has shown that it takes an average of 5-6 times for someone to hear the gospel before they make a decision to receive Christ. Some estimate that number to be as high as 15. That means, as Christians we all have a job to do. Whether we are the 1st, the 15th, or somewhere in between, sharing Christ with someone is the greatest thing we can ever do. After all, "how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" And that is what TEAM 413 is about... plain and simple.

While on a plane from St. Louis to Seattle last week, Pastor Lindell Shelden shared this remarkable story of a meeting only God could arrange. While making friendly conversation, he asked his seatmate what brought him to Seattle. The man replied that he was flying to Washington to run the Seattle Marathon that Saturday. That's when Pastor Lindell asked him if he had ever heard of TEAM 413. The man raised the cuff of his shirt to show him the bracelet he was wearing. It was a TEAM 413 bracelet! As they talked more, the man revealed that he really wasn't sure what the verse meant but had been given the bracelet and a shirt by a man whose name he had forgotten but had made such an impact on him that he had never taken it off (that man was Chris Gillespie, founder of the ministry). While he hadn't made the decision to follow Christ (yet), God was clearly working on him.

As you can imagine, Pastor Lindell was more than happy to tell him what the verse meant and so much more. What number Chris and Pastor Lindell were in God's divine plan isn't important. What is important is that they were there, taking their place in line to share the Gospel. Let us all be lined up, ready and willing, to do the same every day.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would arrange divine meetings. As believers, give us the courage and boldness to take our place in line to tell others about you and your gift of Salvation. After all, how can they believe if they've never been told? And how can they be told if we aren't willing to tell them? May we all be ready to be the witness you have called us to be. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Greg Long - Fifteen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVpWlf0-Gos&list=RDcVpWlf0-Gos#t=0

Overcomer

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Meb Keflezighi. winner of both the Boston and New York Marathons, gave the commencement speech for more than 2,000 San Diego National University graduates last week. As he drew parallels between running and life, his words were inspiring. He said that while he didn't win all the time "I learned from every race I competed in. Falling down is part of sports and life. But injuries heal and challenging circumstances can be overcome.... I always tell people to 'run to win'. It doesn't necessarily mean to win a foot race, but it does mean to make the effort to win in whatever situation you face. It means to get the best out of yourself in all that you do."

How many of us Christians simply drop out of the race or give up when we are faced with trials, tests, failures or hardships? What if we became determined instead to prevail over our circumstances and to make the extra effort to win in whatever situation we face? When we are hard pressed, let us press on knowing we are not crushed. When we are perplexed, let us move forward in confidence not in despair. When we are persecuted, let us keep our heads up knowing we are not abandoned. And when we are struck down, let's get back up and head to the finish line knowing we are not destroyed. 1 John 5:4 tells us, "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."

As children of God, we have the power to overcome any obstacle and, by faith, to achieve victory. So if you believe that God is who He says He is, trust in this promise, "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)

Heavenly Father, thank you for promising to help us in our battles and struggles. While we aren't guaranteed a life without heartache and mountains to cross, we can trust that your Word is true and that you will be beside us helping us to overcome. May we declare victory by faith and glorify your name through the battle. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Overcomer - Mandisa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw