Find peace in the storm

“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:37-38 ESV

As my friends and I set out on a three hour training run Saturday, we were praising the Lord for the unusual coolness of the mid-summer morning and the spectacular sunrise that was emerging before us; especially as we ascended to the highest point on our route. But a little over an hour in, we began to notice the skies darkening. “Let’s keep going,” I said. And we did. Even through the torrential downpour that followed for the next two hours and the thunder that boomed all around us. Strangely enough though, while some people might have been scared, the three of us were completely at ease in the storm; wholly, fully, thoroughly, and absolutely convinced and confident that the Lord was with us. And I must say, running in the rain had us laughing like kids again.

And you know, while you and I (for the most part) have control over being caught in a storm outside, we don’t usually have control over the storms that pop up in our lives. Storms that will undoubtedly bring doubt, anxiety, fear and hopelessness. Storms that may even have us questioning whether God knows or even cares. But you can be sure that God does know and does care about each and every one of us and what we are going through. Consider Jesus. In the midst of a storm that scared even the roughest and most experienced of fishermen who were used to rough seas, Jesus was “in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” Why? Because Jesus was tired and knew that He could rest peacefully... because He knew God would take care of Him.

Wow. That’s so much different than the way most of us react isn’t it? Our first reaction to an unexpected storm or trial is usually to cry out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” What would happen though if we prayed, “Teacher, would you teach us how to sleep in the storm?” instead.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of trust that Jesus Christ displayed. Help us to trust You in the same way when the wind and waves of this world threaten to crush us. Remind us that we only learn to sleep in the storms of life by repeatedly going through them and discovering that You never leave our side. For that very reason, help us to embrace the storms of life. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Sleep in the storm

Allow God to remove your fear

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah" Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

While filming a YouTube video with my coworker, Sean, for the latest FitFriday post we publish every week through the Health Department where I work as the Wellness Coordinator, he and I were talking about proper foot care for runners when the conversation inevitably turned to toenails. As a new runner who had gotten his first 'black toenail', Sean was interested in preventing another one. "The key is to cut your toenails as short as you can," I explained. Going a little further, I added, "Forgive me for being graphic but sometimes, especially if you have a toenail that repeatedly causes you pain, you'll need to remove the toenail completely." I then relayed a story of how the toenail on my left pinkie toe (which I had trimmed down to a tiny sliver rather than removing it completely as I should have) caused me so much pain that I had nearly dropped out of a long-distance race. 

And you know, while it's hard to imagine that something so tiny could cause a person to call it quits, I can vouch that it's the truth. Just as I can vouch that fear, even what seems to be a tiny amount of it, will have the same effect on our spiritual lives by rendering us incapable of taking another step. And surely if you and I watch the evening news, we can find a lot of things to be fearful about right now. I mean COVID-19, riots, political unrest, and economic instability are just a few we could name right? But guess what? "God is our refuge and strength" and "a very present help" in ALL trouble. And for that, you and I have absolutely no reason to fear... even if the earth gives way and the mountains are moved into the sea. We still have no reason to fear!

So if you've found yourself feeling fearful lately, even just a tiny bit, let me remind you that holding on to even the slightest bit of fear will keep you from being the warrior God is calling you and every other believer to be at this time. So allow God to completely remove your fear by reminding yourself over and over again that God is still on the throne, He will never fail, and He is forever faithful. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that those who have placed their trust in You have nothing at all to fear. Cause us to continually remember this Lord that we might courageously go out into the battle around us with a firm and unshakeable determination to be witnesses to the Truth and to bring the lost to the foot of the Cross. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Faithful now

A true champion

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 BSB

In early June of this year, ultrarunner Jeremy Humphrey, 41, of McCall, Idaho, learned that a woman and her dog had been missing for nearly a week in the nearby Valley County Wilderness. And since he was familiar with the area after years of running and race directing ultras in those woods, Jeremy decided to put his expertise and running abilities to good use by joining in the search. Around 20 miles into it though, Jeremy knew he would have to turn around soon or run out of supplies so he decided to check out a few lakes before heading back; and that's when he saw the woman and her dog who were eventually rescued. “Normally, running is super selfish and fueled by the desire to be a champion,” Humphrey said. “All these years of doing that, I feel like I had a skill set that made it possible to help someone else, and that feels good. It feels not so selfish.”

And you know when it comes to being concerned excessively or exclusively with ourselves and what we want without regard for others and their needs (the definition of being selfish), the Bible is clear that you and I are to do "nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride" but are to "consider others more important" than ourselves. And that starts by remembering that any talent we have comes from God for the sole purpose of using that talent to serve others and to bring Him glory; something we do only when we humble ourselves before the throne and say, "Not my will but Yours be done Lord. Use me the way You see fit.”

And while a 'champion' can be defined as a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sports, a true champion is a person who gives glory where glory is due and puts the needs of others above their own. May you and I strive to be true champions then; because in the end, only what we do for Christ will matter. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us how important it is to use our talents to serve You. Help us to love like You love Lord that we would seek ways to bring people to the foot of the Cross by using all the resources You have blessed us with. To You be all the glory Lord. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I’m Christ alone - Brian Littrell

Be ready for His return

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:40-42 NIV

“I'm so relieved. It's an eye opener on how fast your life can change” my ultrarunning friend, Amanda, texted me yesterday after discussing the results of her echocardiogram test with her doctor. Still in her early forties and the mother of three children, it was unsettling for her to hear that she had a dilated inferior vena cava and multiple mild leaky valves. And while neither of the conditions were necessarily life threatening at this point, she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to run again. Thankfully though, the doctor said she could resume running but had to monitor for certain symptoms that would indicate a need to stop. She would also need to have the valves checked annually. Wow. Life truly can change quickly, can't it? 

And you know, the Bible is clear that one day everyone's life will be changed in an instant. You see, one day Jesus will come back for all those who have placed their trust in Him. His coming will be swift and and it will be sudden. "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." And just like that, there will be no more time to make the decision to follow Christ; you and I will either have surrendered to Him and "be taken" or we will have denied Him and be left.

So I ask you this today... if the Lord were to come back at this very moment, would He find you watchful and prepared for his return? If the answer to that is no, I would encourage you to accept Jesus as your Savior right now since no one knows what hour or day the "Lord will come." We only know that when He does, everyone's life will be changed - and you will either be taken or you will be left. There are no other options and the choice is entirely yours to make. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that You are coming back soon. And while that may be years from now, it could also be minutes from now. Help us to not only be ready for your return then Lord but to be bold in sharing the Good News with others that they too might be ready. Please give us opportunities to witness to others today Lord that we might add at least one person to the number of those that will be taken up. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Tell Somebody - Danny Gokey

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Embrace the hills

Hello runner friends! 

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series 

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog. Now let's get started by talking about hills. Some runners like them, others love them and then you have the haters who try to avoid hills at all costs - which is virtually impossible for those of us living in the Ozarks. 

So here’s the deal. Whether or not you like hills, learning (and that's by repeated actions) to embrace them so you will purposefully incorporate them into your training program will make you a better runner in more ways than one. It will also help you gain the grit every runner needs to conquer the hills of Dogwood Canyon and to make it through the tough times in life with a smile on their face. 

So to entice you to at least try adding hills a few times a week into your workout regime, check out some of the benefits of running hills...

* Training on hills improves leg-muscle strength, quickens your stride, expands stride length, develops your cardiovascular system, enhances your running economy and can even protect your leg muscles against soreness. In short, hill running will make you a stronger, faster and healthier runner. What’s more, the benefits are relatively quick to take effect. In as little as six weeks of regular hill training you can expect a significant improvement in your muscle power and speed.

* It strengthens tendons and ligaments, reduces the risk of injury and improves overall running form. The problem is that most runners tend to do the majority of their strength-specific work in the gym, through squats, leg extensions or arm and shoulder presses. While these exercises do increase strength and muscular power, they do it in isolation of your running, focusing on individual joints and small sets of muscles.

* Hill sessions, in contrast, force the muscles in your hips, legs, ankles and feet to contract in a coordinated fashion while supporting your full body weight, just as they have to during normal running. In addition, on uphill sections your muscles contract more powerfully than usual because they are forced to overcome gravity to move you up the hill. The result is more power, which in turn leads to longer, faster running strides.

Still not convinced? Check out some of the science that supports the claim that hills make you a better runner...

Much of the science supporting hill training was carried out in Sweden, initially at the Karolinska Institute. One major study carried out on marathon runners discovered that after 12 weeks of twice-weekly hill sessions, the athletes’ running economy had improved by three per cent. Although the subjects were trained runners, that improvement would still have helped them clip as much as two minutes off a 10-mile time or six minutes off a marathon.

Other research, carried out by Dr Bengt Saltin, discovered that runners who trained on hills have much higher concentrations of aerobic enzymes – the chemicals which allow your muscles to function at high intensity for long periods without fatigue – in their quadriceps muscles than those who did all their running on flat terrain. Heightened aerobic power in your quads gives you improved knee lift while running and also accelerates each leg forward more quickly as you run, which improves your speed.

Those who run on hills have also been shown to be less likely to lose fitness when they take time off from training. And many scientists believe that hill training can improve the elasticity of muscles, tendons and ligaments, allowing these tissues to carry out more work with less effort and fatigue.

Now that we've checked out the reasons running hills can benefit our running, let's check out what some local runners had to say when they were asked these three questions. Do you like, love, or hate running hills? Do you prefer going up or going down? Why? 

But first let's start with Rebecca Ito from St. Robert, MO. She was actually the person who inspired the idea to write about hills! Rebecca signed up for the Dogwood Canyon trail run although she hates hills. Crazy right? So as I caught up to her before the biggest hill on our group training run Saturday, I shared the secret to getting better at climbing hills and enjoying them... tell yourself that you love running hills over and over and over and over. So to demonstrate what this looks like, I said, "Okay Rebecca, repeat after me... I love hills." "I love hills she said," forcing a smile. And then, at my incessant prodding, she repeated her new-found mantra over and over again until she reached the top. And although her mind will have to learn to adopt this new way of thinking through repeated action, I have a feeling she will view hills differently in a few weeks. Meanwhile this is what she said in response to my three questions... 

1. Hate
2. Down
3. I have always become extremely short of breath when going up hills. I know why and if I keep at it this should get better. However, I have a mind block now that has nothing to do with logic. When going downhill, recovery happens pretty quickly. - Rebecca Ito

And here were the rest of the responses...

Love - Hate relationship! Uphill especially on gravel. They make me stronger. Uphill makes me feel like a gladiator! Down hill is like flying! - Debra Sampson Herzog

Love and hate hills! Love hills because they of the challenge and view from the top. Hate because, well they are hard, but that makes me love them also uphill because downhill hurts my knees and I feel like it causes more pounding. - Samantha Boeh

Love. Up. Just cant beat hill work...I believe it translates to a lot of areas. I do like and think downhill work is necessary, it's just a hard pounding on the body, and I love the mental fortitude grinding up an incline requires. - Mike Wells

Enjoy. Up. Tightens the buttocks, builds muscle and not to mention gives me a sense of accomplishment! - Lisa Marie McCall

Hate. Downhill. I can open up my stride going downhill. Uphill just focus a little ahead, small objectives, one step in front of the other; keep moving forward. - Andrew Reichart

The only hill I like is the one behind my home because it is the entry path to my deer stands. - Jade Miller

I have a rule to walk the uphill and save my energy and I absolutely love trail running. Downhill is easier for me. Both are necessary in our sport. - Sherry Wilson

Love hills for the challenge. I like that my mindset has to change. I try to attack them but am willing to walk if I have to. Currently prefer going up but getting to love running down them. - Jimmy Brooks

I love the strength you gain by running up hills. But I LOVE bombing the downhill sections.....so fun. - Jeff Wehling

Hills are better than speed work. I feel like they do the same as far as results go but it's honestly just a preference for me. I'd rather struggle up all the hills than push myself on a track. Maybe it's the circles of a track that make me dislike speed work. Running up makes me hurt less. - Ashley Hopkins

I love hills because they make me stronger. Going up hills I prefer because again they make me stronger and I feel I have really conquered something. - Kesta Smith

Love them. Going up. It’s just you against the hill. And they can always be conquered if you don’t quit. - Charlie Hungerford

I love to hate hills - I can't seem to engage my glutes to power up them! Plus, they make me out of breath. Going down - because I can breathe. - Alicia Adamson

It's a love/hate relationship. - Gina Rendon

Like, sometimes love. Up. I like them because they make me feel like I've accomplished something and makes running on the flat seem so much easier. Going downhill seems tougher on the knees to me. - Kimberly Fuhr

I love hills, it reminds me of desert hills we used to do in El Paso and I remember when I was young I hated them so much but now I remember every single conversation, joke, struggle I had when I started running and those memories are priceless. I prefer going up because I feel less damage is being done to my knees. - Jenni Sherman

Love hills, prefer going up because you dig deep, gut it out and see what you’re made of. - Sara Ochs

My answer is based on my mood. If I am having a really challenging day and just need to relax I like downhill. I feel free and can just let go. If I need to get out frustrations or need to gain control of something, I like a gradual slope because you have to have the mental control and body control to make it to the top. I do not search for hills and I try to avoid them at all costs! - Melissa Fritchey Whittle

I love the up and hills during buildup its to build bones and muscles to get strong and open the chest breathing but during speedwork or after you have to go easy run i use to avoid hills in fact hills also is a challenge make mental strong during or when you compete tough hill race. - Mark Rono

LOVE HILLS! Up is always a challenge-love to be challenged and down feels like a speedy vacation! - April Leonard

Like, both, variety and challenge. - Jason Crockett

I prefer some hills over too much flat, same muscles getting hammered over and over. I'm better at climbing tho, my descending game is not so great lol. - Stephanie Lane

I love hills! I always look at them as a challenge and relish the feeling of accomplishment after having run one long one (Pike's Peak or Mt. Washington) or multiple repeats. If you can get through that you feel like you can do anything. - Tiffany Reed

I like running up hills and I run faster, I hate running down hills and I run slower. - Erin Heady

I freaking LOVE hills, running or cycling up them. I pretend I'm playing the childhood game King of the Hill and each time I make it to the top, I WIN. Plus they make me stronger and I find I run the flats way faster. - Christine Lorenz Cornelius

I love bombing down hills, it makes me feel like I'm young and running effortlessly! - Kris Bossert

1) Do you like, love or hate hills? Hills are a necessary evil. 2) Do you prefer going up or going down? Up! 3) Why to both. My knees say bad words to me when I go down steep hills. I tend to zig zag to take some of the stress off my joints. Plus I’m afraid of falling. Soooo - Jackson Stigenbauer

I know hills are necessary to make me a stronger runner. I honestly love the feeling of the downhill though, as I feel like I could just keep going forever and ever......my analogy....uphills are the storm and it makes me rely totally on Christ and His strength....downhills are the calm that reminds me that He carries me through it all. - Linda Smith

I love hills. Running uphill now is better, although I used to be a good downhill runner before my knees got old. I discovered early in my competitive racing life that I was good at this, more then a flat surface grind.- Allen Cibert

1.Hate up hill, until I get to the top! 2. Adore downhill! 3. Because I am crazy! - Sharon Weidelman

Definitely a love/hate relationship, but nothing makes me feel stronger or faster. That burn going up is awful, but once you’ve conquered it and made it to the top you feel unstoppable! - Jaunine Marie

Since speed is no longer personally important, I've grown to like hills. Each one is different. As my knees age, I've taken a preference to running uphill; in fact, I've always felt I'd rather run uphill than against the wind. - Lynn Cline

1. I like the challenge of a hill. Not always thrilled about how much they can slow me down.
2. Mostly prefer downhill running but.... see #3
3. Love to feel like I’m flying, so down- especially on trails is SO MUCH FUN, but if it's too steep- it becomes too jarring and risky. So, with super steep hills, I'd pick the uphill for the challenge of it.- Rosie Laughlin

I call hills “mounds of opportunity “ - Shelly Skeins Stout

Indeed hills ARE mounds of opportunity! Opportunities to get stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually; because each and every time you force yourself to conquer something most people choose to go around - whether it be hills, mountains, spiritual battles, hurts, trials, or the hurdles of life - you will find out that you are capable of so much more than you ever thought. And guess what? By adopting this mindset, you will soon find that the hills you thought were once huge are now small. And if you keep seeking larger hills to climb and conquer throughout your lifetime, you will continue to grow as a runner and as a person who is unwilling to let life keep you down... no matter how hard the climb or the time and sacrifice it takes to get to the top.

 

And so on a final note, I hope this has inspired you to become a hill seeker today, in running and in life. Because as a person who absolutely loves hills with a passion that can't be explained (especially going up),  I will say that hills have most definitely made me better. They have caused me to appreciate the mountaintop moments in life more and to be thankful in the valleys that I'm not walking them alone. Hills cause me to remember where my strength comes from and to be grateful for each step I am allowed to take... no matter how hard that step might be. So embrace those hills friends! They are the place where true runners - the ones who keep doing it over a lifetime - are made. 😊

Happy Running!!!

Hills and Valleys

Psalm 121:1-2

Endure the pain patiently

"Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you." 1 Peter 2:20 NLT

In an article recently published by Runner's World Magazine, the topic of hip pain, a common injury that plagues many runners, was discussed. Among the six most common causes of hip pain in runners listed were muscles strains and tendinopathy (which account for a third of all hip pain in runners), hip impingement, osteoarthritis, labral tear, and stress fracture. Unfortunately though, no matter what the cause of the hip pain might be, it most always requires taking substantial time off from running to heal; which for many runners can be more painful than the actual injury itself for so many reasons. But ask any runner who’s returned to running after a period of injury and you will most likely hear about their newfound love and appreciation for an ability to move that they might have taken for granted. And for that reason you and I can be sure that there is always good that will come out of our pain if we patiently endure it.  

And you know, just as there is always good that will come out of our running pain, there is always good that will come out of the pain you and I, as believers, will experience in this life. And while that pain might be a consequence of something we are doing wrong, it many times will come as a result of something we are doing right—something like standing up for the Truth and refusing to conform to any values, ideas and narratives of the world that are contrary to God’s Word. These are things that can not only open us up to ridicule, defamation and harassment but can actually get us fired from our jobs or cause family, coworkers, and friends to ostracize us. But the Bible is very clear that “God is pleased” with us when we refuse to compromise our stand for Christ and choose instead to endure the consequences of “doing good” patiently. This not only brings a smile to His face my friend but strengthens our faith and the faith of those around us. 

So if you are suffering for “doing good” today and are finding your resolve to patiently endure the pain for doing so waning, let me encourage you to stay strong by reminding you that the Creator of all things is experiencing pleasure and satisfaction because of your efforts! That’s what it means to be pleased! And doesn’t the thought of pleasing God make enduring to the end worth it? Of course! So hang in there!!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that if we want to please You and lead the lost to the foot of the Cross, we must be willing to endure the consequences of setting ourselves completely apart from the world. Please give us the wisdom, strength and patient endurance we need to stay faithful and declare your Truth to a world so desperately in need of hearing it no matter the consequences. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Truth I’m standing on

Make the effort to assemble

“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.“ - Hebrews 10:25 NASB

As I pulled into the parking lot of the Dixon Assembly of God Church where our Saturday morning group run was going to start this past weekend, I smiled at the number of vehicles that were already parked there and the runners that were standing around talking to one another. This wasn’t our usual starting place so it was nice to know that my running friends treasured our time together as much as I did; so much so that most of them had driven 30-45 minutes to personally gather rather than logging their miles solo closer to home. You could most definitely say then that they, like me, believed that the benefits of meeting together in person far outweighed the inconvenience it involved; and I think I could speak for the whole group in saying that each one of us was greatly encouraged and refreshed by our time together. 

And you know, in the same way that runners benefit by being part of a group—where they receive encouragement, instruction, support and friendship—Christians do too. Which is the very reason that Paul urged us not to forsake meeting or assembling with fellow believers. You see, Paul understood that the chances of an individual staying faithful, avoiding sin, and living up to their potential (all God created them to be) were exponentially better when they were part of a support group a.k.a. a body of believers. There’s just something about being around a group of like-minded individuals that strengthens each individual member spiritually, physically and emotionally. 

So in a world where it’s becoming increasingly more convenient to do ‘church’ alone from the comfort of our own homes (via the internet), let us make every effort to not forsake meeting with our brothers and sisters in person. You and I will not only be better for it but the Church as a whole will be better for it; especially now as we realize how much we need each other "all the more" as we "see the day drawing near."

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that assembling together is crucial for the health of the Church and the advancement of the Gospel. The apostles clearly understood this and so made every effort to meet regularly despite the dangers of doing so. Help us to be equally bold and courageous in not letting anything stop us from meeting that the world might take notice and be inspired to follow You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

TOGETHER