Expect to Have Trouble

“‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’” John 16:33

In an inspiring story titled “Last runner to finish New York City Marathon shares harrowing journey to triumph” published by ABC News Wednesday, it was reported that Juan Pablo Dos Santos crossed the finish line of the 26.2 mile iconic NYC race just after midnight on Monday morning. "It was a complete mental struggle where pain was present and only increasing," Dos Santos told ABC News Digital following the marathon this week, in an interview translated from Spanish to English.

Not long after midnight on Monday, Nov. 3, after more than 15 hours of running, Dos Santos was cheered across the finish line like a champion, becoming the final runner to complete the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon..

Dos Santos' journey to the Central Park finish line started long before Nov. 2.

On Sept. 8, 2019, Dos Santos lost both of his legs in a destructive car crash. "The [prognosis was] not good at all," he said. "There was reconstruction in my hip, in my pelvis, in what was left of my lower limbs, and the majority of the prosthesis specialists and traumatologists dared to say that I would never walk again." He sure proved them wrong!

"After passing the finish line, for about 10 minutes, it was as if the tiredness, pain and exhaustion were completely gone," he recalled. "I was just thinking about the purpose for which [I had run] this race ... and how many people were seeing this and being inspired and realizing that they can also fight to achieve their dreams."

Dos Santos said he wants his achievement to inspire people to chase goals that might feel unreachable.

"If any of those people feel that they are coming late to their dreams, if any of those people feel that it is too late to try those things that they love," he said, "this is the proof that no matter if you arrive last, you have to cross the finish line."

And, you know, when it comes to the race of life, Jesus, when speaking to the disciples about what they should expect here on Earth, made it clear that they (and all followers) would, without exception, face difficulties and suffering on their way to the finish line. Knowing they would be discouraged by the words, "In this world you will have trouble," Jesus went on to encourage them by saying "but take heart! I have overcome the world," Jesus was not only offering hope that their troubles could be "overcome" through faith, steadfastness, peace, and courage, but that they could actually work for the good of the one experiencing them and for those around them who would be witnessing their faith, steadfastness, peace, and courage.

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

The latter purpose is the very reason we are told rejoice in our trials because, if we have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, we know that EVERY hardship we experience has a purpose! "Trials of many kinds" not only increase our perseverance but when we endure the “testing” of our faith with hope and a steadfast and unshakeable belief and trust in God, our faith is shown to be true! And this is what inspires the lost to seek Jesus.

You see, it’s easy to follow Jesus when life is sunshine and rainbows. Even those on the fence do that! But what about when it’s not? What about when tragedy strikes, the storm clouds move in, and a person's life is turned upside down? Those without a true faith in Jesus crumble, despair and lose all hope. But true believers, who are called to be set apart, praise God and continue to display a confident and joyful expectation of future good based on God's character and promises. Because that’s what God does!

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

 
God takes those things the enemy intended to harm us with (sickness, disease, accidents, death, wayward children, stresses at our job, etc.) and works it “for good” in a way that only God can. That’s why believers must continue to trust even when they don’t understand! And continue to say, “Lord I don’t know why this trial has come upon me but I trust in your ability to bring good from it. Show me what my purpose is in this season of hardship Lord and give me the strength to fulfill it so that others might be inspired to seek You because of it.”

 

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Isaiah 46:10

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

So, no matter what you’re going through today, trust the Lord my friend. Continue to praise Him in EVERY situation knowing that the One who knows “the end from the beginning” can and will work your situation for good as He has for every believer since the beginning of time. That’s a promise for all believers "who love him" and "who have been called according to his purpose." 

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You work all things for the good of those who love You and are called according to your purpose. Lord, if there’s someone reading this today, that is not a believer in You, I pray today is the day that they will make the decision to follow you with their whole heart so they will have the peace that surpasses all understanding in this world no matter what trial or tribulation might come their way and the confidence that one day they will spend eternity with You in heaven. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

 
Happy Running!

We are Called to Lead by Example

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

In a heartwarming story titled “Blind Baltimore runner conquers NYC Marathon at age 66” published Tuesday, the writer reported that Jackie King, 66, finished the New York Marathon over the weekend with the help of guides from the Achilles Running Club in just over five hours, marking her fifth marathon completion. The UMBC alum and employee was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 2017, a genetic condition that gradually deteriorates the retina.

"I felt accomplished. I felt like, Wow, I did that because my goal was never to set a time. My goal is to finish well, and I finished well," King said….Despite her vision loss, King continues running with the support of guides who provide verbal cues during races.

"The two guys that I ran with for New York, one was on my right, one was on my left, and they will say, 'Jackie, come to your left, Jackie high knees, Jackie a little bit to your right,'" King said. At UMBC, where King serves as associate director of the U-RISE program, she mentors undergraduate STEM students. Jessica Hoffman, a UMBC senior, finds inspiration in King's determination.

"She not only overcomes challenges, but she exceeds expectations, I think, in a lot of ways. And so I think as students that's really inspiring because you want to hear from your mentor that, you know, they want you to succeed, but also it's amazing to see your mentor succeed," Hoffman said. Talk about leading by example!

Speaking of leading by example, if a person were to imitate you, can you confidently say that they would be imitating Christ? This is a very important question since, as believers, we are to be like Christ. Paul was so confident that his life reflected Jesus that he didn’t hesitate to say to the Corinthian Christians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Now this didn’t mean that Paul was perfect. None of us will be 100% like Jesus this side of heaven. What it did mean though, is that the sum of Paul’s life indicated that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. The way he walked and the way he talked showed that he loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, body, and soul.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

And while it's true we must all ultimately look to Jesus for our example, this world (much like the ones in Paul’s day) needs modern day examples. It needs men and women who exhibit the attributes, attitudes, and actions of Jesus to help them discover the way to true freedom and salvation. Sadly, few people today are able and willing to say what Paul said. Instead, because of compromise and ungodliness, they are quick to say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus.” And look at where that has gotten us! With fewer and fewer godly examples to follow, countless people turn to singers, rappers, actors, and social media influencers as their examples to follow. 

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” Ephesians 5:1

But the Bible is very clear that each and every true believer is called to “follow God’s example… ” In this way, we will be shining lights in a dark world. Paul strove to follow God in every area of his life and, therefore, knew he was a good example to imitate. He also knew that it was not “Paul” who was a worthy example, but “Paul the follower of Jesus” who was the example—setting a limit and a direction on the way we imitate others. Just as I also imitate Christ (NKJV) has the idea of “follow me as much as you see me following Jesus.”

Of the importance of having Christ-like examples to follow, Puritan William Bates wrote, “Precepts instruct us what things are our duty, but examples assure us that they are possible… When we see men like ourselves, who are united to frail flesh and in the same condition with us, to command their passions, to overcome the most glorious and glittering temptations, we are encouraged in our spiritual warfare.”

So, seek to be so much like Jesus my friend that you can confidently say to others, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." In a world in desperate need of godly role models, you'll make an indelible mark on those around you that will have ripple effects for generations to come. 

Heavenly Father, please help us to be like You that we might shine like stars in a dark world. Lord, in a world filled will role models that are leading people astray, help us to understand why it’s so important for us to follow your example so that we would lead the lost to You and they would find the true freedom, salvation, and purpose that’s only found in You.  It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Now What?

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about a question that many runners who crossed the Bass Pro finish line on Sunday are asking today.. "What now? Now that I've reached my goal, what's next?" These are legitimate questions when you stop and think about what your life has been like for the past several months. Training (and everything that goes along with it) has been a high priority and your body has been flooded with feel-good chemicals. You now have lots of free time and are coming down from the "high" of  achieving your desired aim and result. So what do you do? 

As a longtime runner, this is a question I had to answer for myself many years ago after completing my first 26.2 mile race. I was riding "high" for a few days and then a cloud of depression started to make its way in. I remember thinking to myself, "What's going on here? Why am I feeling down?" And then it dawned on me. My dream of finishing a marathon had led me to embark on six months of intense training that had changed the way I was living. I went to bed earlier, I ate better, I developed better time-management strategies, and I spent more time with friends who would help me reach my goal. So, as you can imagine, I was left with sense of being lost after I crossed the finish line—a feeling I named PMDD (Post Marathon Depression Disorder).

Thankfully, though, PMDD has a cure and I was glad I found it! And the cure was to find another goal and then to work towards it. For me, it was to sign up for another marathon. Once I registered and started a new training cycle, the fog lifted and I was back in business! That being said, as a runner and running coach, this "disorder" is something I like to warn runners about so they, like me, aren't left wondering why they might be feeling down days after crossing the finish line. 

Which is one of the reasons I love pacing the Bass Pro Marathon so much. The vast majority of those who join our pace group (Jody Rhoades, pictured above with me, has been my longtime co-pacer) are first timers. Which means Jody and I not only get the blessing of encouraging them to finish but have the opportunity to pass on recovery tips as well. This was something we did with Callie Baxley and the two other first-timers in her group. Jody and I came upon them at mile 24 as they were walking. As we neared, we yelled, "Come and join us!" When they said they just didn't have anything left in the tank, we assured them that they did--they only needed some motivation to bring it out. And sure enough they followed us, enjoying the walk/run intervals we were doing, and had a great time over the course of the next two miles before we kicked them out of the nest and told them to sprint to the finish line. 

Before they went on their way, though, I told them that they should all sign up for another marathon soon (and for next year's BP Marathon as soon as registration opened back up as well) so they could avoid the dreaded PMDD. To that, they all said, "No way!" Laughing, I said, "I will personally lay down a Benjamin right now betting that at least one of you will run another marathon." Boy did we all have a laugh over that one!!! I also told them to, in anticipation that I would be proven correct, write down everything they did right, what went wrong, and how they could have a better experience WHEN (not if) they ran their next marathon. 

I was laughing once again when I received a DM from Callie early Monday morning that read: 

Okay, I don’t know if you remember me but you picked me up at mile 24 of the marathon yesterday. You got me through that race and I’m so thankful for you and Jody! You guys were so fun and really are the reason I finished that race in the time I did. I’m sitting at work talking with my friend that did the full as well with me and we are already like okay we did all these things wrong…. We need to do another one the right way and are very intrigued by your pacing strategy. Was wondering what exactly you did for the pacing because our 5 minute running 1 minute walking made us hit a wall at 18 miles. Hasn’t even been 24 hours and already thinking what I could have done differently and rolling my eyes at myself thinking about you saying “I’d put a Benjamin down that one of you will do another one” and I was like absolutely not. 

My response? "Oh my goodness I totally remember you! This made me laugh!! we were so meant to run into you and your gang. What fun we had!! And I knew I would win that bet on the Benjamins lol”

After chatting some more, Callie said, "For my new goal I would say I learned a lot through my first marathon! There’s lots of things I would do differently. I would change up my training a bit. I didn’t do any strength training and I think that was part of the reason my legs were as sore as they were. I’d incorporate more strength training on my legs with the running. As far as the marathon itself I love the pacing strategy you and Jody used. I would like to try that strategy from the beginning. Your energy, enthusiasm and just the pace you used from the beginning I think could help me a lot for next years bass pro marathon and hopefully keep me from hitting that wall I hit at mile 16. Honestly I would love to just run with you guys the whole time. Then if I have anything left in the tank at the end take off." 

Do you just love that or what? Did you notice that Callie is already geared up for next years Bass Pro Marathon? And I have no doubt that she will use what she's learned from this years BP Marathon (and will learn from the races she will do before the 2026 event) to help her finish with less pain. And I do hope she will join our pace group next year! I told her that she could stay with us until mile 25.5 and then Jody and I would kick her out of the nest again so she could sprint down the finish line! Funny right? Speaking of funny, check out Callie's video documenting her experience. As she said in her post, "Enjoy this little video clip — one for each mile. You can literally watch the giggles and smiles fade as the race went on. Let’s not do that again… lol." 

And there you have it friends. Whether you completed the 5k, the Half Marathon or the Full Marathon on Sunday, I hope you'll make a new goal and begin to work towards it. You'll not only keep the upward spiral of fitness going, you'll avoid the pitfalls of falling into a running rut and staying there. So, get moving this week and get signed up for another event.... And, of course, be on the lookout for when the 2026 event registration opens up and get registered! Happy Running!

Have a God First Philosophy

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

In an interesting story published yesterday by businesswire titled “Brooks Running Continues to Deliver Double-Digit Growth Globally,” it was reported that powered by performance and a runner-first philosophy, Brooks posts 17% revenue growth in Q3. Brooks Running achieved its ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, increasing revenue by 17% in Q3 as all regions and channels delivered double-digit gains. A leader in performance run, Brooks accelerated global expansion efforts, growing year-to-date revenue by 23% in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and 82% in Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) over the same horizon last year. Brooks’ unwavering focus on runners continues to strengthen its position on the global stage as the running category expands worldwide.

“Our entire global team wakes up every day thinking about the runner – how they move, what they feel, the experience they desire and expect from their Brooks gear,” said Dan Sheridan, Brooks Running CEO. With that mindset, it’s not surprising that they would be experiencing so much growth.

This growth mindset that’s always looking to become better is the same mindset believers should have. Hence the reason we are told to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And obviously to do that means we must seek to know Jesus by waking up every day thinking about Him and reading the Bible so we will know what He desires and expects from us. It’s a mindset that puts Jesus first and keeps an unwavering focus on becoming more like Him.


You can be sure that developing this mindset will pay off in more ways than one. You see, the more a person grows in their knowledge of Jesus, the more they will live to bring Him glory. And when they live to bring Him glory, they can’t help but be the salt and light (making things better and brighter for others by bringing out the God flavors and God colors to the world) every follower of Jesus is called to be--impacting a world in desperate need of saving. 


So, seek to develop a God-first philosophy with your whole heart my friend. Put Him first in all things and you will reap rewards and success in your Christian walk far beyond comprehension.


Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that in all things we are to put You first. Help us to develop this discipline so that we would not only walk the righteous path ourselves but would lead others to walk it as well. Give us a passion to seek your word each and every morning Lord that we might grow and thrive. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.


Happy Running!

Run With Joy

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

"Good morning friends! Who’s ready for a great race today?" This is the question I asked before the pre-race devotion I was blessed to give before yesterday's Bass Pro Marathon/Half event. With the near record cold temps in the starting line, I went on to say," Now if this has you saying. 'Melissa, I don’t feel ready and in fact if I’m honest I’ll admit that I’m totally regretting my life choice to be here right now. It’s so cold, I’m so tired and I have so many miles ahead of me,' You’re not alone."

And here's the rest of the message I shared...

"But get this, in all of my years of being both a runner and a running coach I have NEVER ever met anyone who regretted completing a half marathon or a marathon. And I mean NEVER. On the contrary, every finisher spoke about the lessons they learned by sticking it out, the grit they obtained that still serves them well, and the pride they have in themselves for completing such a monumental task.

Which means the regret you are feeling right now over the choice you made to sign up for this race (which is going to be amazing by the way) will be replaced by joy, happiness, and celebration when you cross the finish line. But crossing the finish line isn’t guaranteed and regret makes a very hard pillow. And I promise you… if you choose to give up before you reap the reward of your months of training, you WILL regret it. Which is the very reason that it would serve you well to make the determination NOW that you WILL make it to the finish line… no matter how much you might feel like stopping before you get there. And not only that you WILL make it to the finish line BUT that you WILL make it to the finish line with a SMILE on your face.

That you will RUN WITH JOY!! As it says on your running bib!!!

Because this is the deal friends…. the Bible is clear that no one knows what will happen tomorrow… our lives are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14). Which means if we are to live a life free from regrets, we must make the most of every day we have… and since we have today, let’s make the most of it!! Isn’t it amazing how running teaches us such amazing life lessons?

On that note, I want to share a message I received on Friday from my dear friend Phillip who I’m proud to say is running his first full marathon today. He said “I'm running my first ever full at Bass Pro this Sunday. I was wondering if you’re going to be able to say the prayer and if you had any advice for me to help me get to the finish line? Anything you may tell people on the first go around?”

And this is some of what I told him and what I would tell everyone attempting a race whether it was their first or one hundredth go around… “First of all… congratulations on making this decision,” I said. I have NEVER met one person who regretted running a marathon or half marathon. Not one! I have however met people who regretted dropping out or not even showing up. That being said… determine that you WILL finish and then give God all the glory. Life is too short to not attempt big things.

“And then remember,” I went on to say…you don’t HAVE to run the race, you GET to run the race. God gave you the ability so trust Him to get you through and to teach you lessons along the way. Crossing the finish line will change you in ways that nothing else can. So run the race with joy and take in all the sights and sounds. We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow so make the day count…

And I would like to add this to what I told Phillip….

If you are a believer, you aren’t running the race alone. Obviously you will have 4,000 runners with you and countless spectators around you but believers have something even greater to encourage us…

Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…. These are the saints that have gone before us and persevered through the many hardships and trials of life to make it to the finish line and now serve as examples for us to follow. In light of that example…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us today. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

And this is where it gets good…for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Did you get that JOY part? JOY was crucial to finishing! Why? Because Joy produces perseverance and perseverance produces steadfastness and steadfastness will get you to the finish line one step at a time.

So once again, run with joy today! Run with a smile on your face as well because, as science proves, running while smiling lessens a persons perception of pain and makes the mind happy! Which then makes the heart happy! And when the heart is happy, the legs are happy and when the legs are happy, they will get you to the end. And that’s where all of your hard work will pay off and you will reap the rewards of your labor. And that’s also where the food and party is!"

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

And you know, running with joy isn't just crucial for finishing a marathon, it's crucial for finishing the spiritual race of life as well. You see, as believers, we will all face trials, tests, tragedies, and troubles. But we must press on, knowing that, like Paul, we will one day reap a reward far greater than we could ever imagine for doing so. We will receive "the crown of righteousness!" And we do this by following the example of Jesus who "for the joy set before Him" endured pain and suffering beyond imagination to finish the work the Father had given Him. Let us be found just as faithful!

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we can be joyful in all situations by keeping our eyes on You and remembering that there is in store for us a crown of righteousness when we reach that final finish line. Help us to be found faithful Lord that we might do our part in making heaven full and working hard until the day You call us home. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

*On a side note, Phillip (pictured above) ran with joy, completed his first marathon, and gave God all the glory!!!

Always Stay Humble

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

In a story titled “He could’ve gone anywhere. How this runner ended up at WSU and shattered a record” published by The Wichita Eagle yesterday, Wichita State cross country coach Kirk Hunter expressed his glee over having Elkana Kipruto on his team after he entered the NCAA transfer portal following a breakout freshman year. 

“We didn’t really find him,” Hunter said. “He found us.” Kipruto, now a sophomore for the Shockers, could’ve gone just about anywhere after he racked up four Southland Conference running titles during his freshman year at Stephen F. Austin. But fate, and a friend, steered him to the Shockers. Unbeknownst to Hunter, he had already recruited one of Kipruto’s childhood friends from Kenya, Kelvin Kipyego, in WSU’s 2025 class. When Kipyego vouched for the Shockers, the decision became easy. Kipruto, or “Elly” as he’s known on the team, trusted his friend and soon Wichita State had quietly landed one of the most talented distance runners in the country.

“It was almost disbelief,” Hunter said. “With that kind of talent, he can go anywhere he wants. Everybody in the country would want that guy. So the fact that he’s here and running for us, we’re extremely thankful. Because he’s not just a fabulous runner, he’s a fabulous individual too.”

What makes Kipruto’s story even more remarkable is how humble he is given his talent. Hunter describes him as someone who quietly picks up trash after practice, helps teammates clean up the locker room and thanks the training staff after workouts.

And I would agree with Hunter that it’s indeed remarkable (and heartwarming) to see a gifted athlete display such humility, especially at such a young age. This humility sets him apart as much as his talent does. And this is the same type of humility that every believer should display. After all, people are more inspired to seek Jesus when we display the mindset of Jesus in our relationships with others. 

You see, Christ Jesus “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” This death on the cross provided victory over death for every person that chooses to accept Him as Savior of their lives—who choose to turn from their sins and turn to Jesus. 

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Knowing that we are powerless over death without Jesus Christ then reminds us all that we are on a level playing field regardless of our talents or gifts. Furthermore, everything we have comes from God to be used for God. Hence the reason we are to honor God with our bodies—something we do by following the example of humility Jesus set for us.

So, knowing that we inspire a lost world to seek Christ by our actions as much as our words, seek to be like Jesus my friend. In all your relationships look for ways to serve and always acknowledge God as the Giver of all good things. This mindset will ensure that God gets all the glory and we remain humble. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that believers are to be set apart by the humility they show in serving others among other ways. Help us to develop the mindset of Jesus Lord that we might love You as He did and love others as He did. Help us to impact our world by our words and deeds. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!

Brush up on Your CPR

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 NIV

In a story titled “Off-Duty Cardiology NP Saved Fellow 10K Runner’s Life at Finish Line,” it was reported that a quick response in a moment of crisis can mean the difference between life and death. That’s exactly what happened at the San Diego Aloha Run 10K when Christie Morcos, a cardiology nurse practitioner at Scripps Memorial Hospital, saved a fellow runner’s life. Her clinical expertise and swift action turned what could have been a tragedy into a story of hope.

Here’s how it all went down: Kim Stevens, a 62-year-old runner, collapsed just after crossing the finish line. She had no known history of heart problems, yet she was experiencing sudden cardiac arrest—a condition that claims over 350,000 lives in the U.S. annually. The survival rate for cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting is less than 10%, which makes timely intervention absolutely crucial.

Lucky for Stevens, Morcos was in the right place at the right time.

The writer went on to give details of the incident and then said, “You never know when you’ll need to make a difference. And maybe it’s time for all of us to brush up on our CPR skills, you never know when you might find yourself running a 10K and saving a life before heading to brunch.”

And, you know, when it comes to saving lives and making an eternal difference, Christians are never to consider themselves “off duty.” We are to be trained up and ready at all times to deliver the only Message that has the power to save someone’s soul. And we do this by knowing spiritual CPR (Christ’s Path of Redemption), which can be explained by using the Romans Road illustration. The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the book of Romans to make it easy for a lost person to understand. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation

The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives.

The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23a, teaches us about the consequences of sin: “For the wages of sin is death.” The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!

The third verse on the Romans Road to salvation picks up in the middle of Romans 6:23b: “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins.

The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The final aspect of the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, brush up on your spiritual CPR my friend so that you can be able to respond quickly in a moment of crisis. Timely intervention is crucial when you find yourself in the right place at the right time by God’s divine intervention to deliver the only CPR that leads to eternal life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we may only have a brief moment to share the Gospel with someone in need of being saved. Help us to commit the Redemption Message to memory so we can be ready to share it when we see someone in danger of spiritual death. Lord, give us a heart for the lost so we would never miss an opportunity to help someone in desperate need of spiritual CPR. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

 
Happy Running!