Praise the One who Gives Breath

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” Psalm 150:6 NKJV

In an astonishing story published by Runner’s World over the weekend, it was reported that American ultrarunner Tyler Andrew’s latest mountain record attempt ended on the highest possible stage.

Andrews reportedly reached the summit of Mount Everest from Base Camp in 9 hours and 55 minutes while using supplemental oxygen, setting a new fastest known time (FKT) for an oxygen-assisted ascent of the world’s tallest mountain. The previous mark was 10 hours and 56 minutes, set by Lakpa Gelu Sherpa in 2003, meaning Andrews lowered the time by just over an hour.

Andrews began the climb on May 27, starting from Everest Base Camp at 7:11 p.m. local time. Upon completion, his team reported that he reached the summit at 5:06 a.m. on May 28. The time is still expected to go through formal confirmation, but if verified, it would reset the oxygen-assisted speed mark on Everest.

The finish time is even wilder when you look at the route he took. Andrews began at Everest Base Camp, more than 17,500 feet up, and climbed to the 29,031-foot summit through the Khumbu Icefall, the higher camps, the South Col, and the summit ridge. One might say it’s not a super long route by running standards, but it gains roughly 11,500 feet in about 8.4 miles, according to iRunFar, with the obvious complication that all of it is happening on Everest…

But you know what’s even wilder than that? There’s been all this talk about oxygen but no one has praised the One who created oxygen, the God who breathed it into our lungs, or the Lord that sustains our life with it.

Think about that for a minute. Not one person acknowledged God as the giver of life, much less praised Him for it—or for the ability to scale a mountain.

The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7

But the truth is this… from the beginning of Genesis, it was “the Lord God who formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Do you get that? It’s God’s breath in our lungs that makes each one of us “a living soul.” We are nothing without Him.

Science itself declares that there is a Creator. Consider the act of breathing...

Body cells keep us alive by performing their various functions. To do this they need a constant supply of oxygen, which begins when we inhale. As the air passes through the nose, it is warmed and moistened. If foreign particles are present, little hairs called cilia stop them. Sneezing or blowing the nose clears out these particles.

When we inhale, our lungs stretch like balloons being filled with air. Then, in about two seconds, the lungs contract and the air is exhaled. This takes place about fifteen or twenty times a minute. Getting a sufficient quantity of oxygen from this air and into the bloodstream is the main function of the lungs. This is why they need fresh, clean air that is free of smoke, dust and fumes in order to maintain good health.

When expanded, the lungs have a surface of about two square feet for the air to pass over, but this is not enough to take care of their work. When God designed man’s lungs, He wisely added to the lung capacity without making that organ huge and bulky. He did this by forming blood channels ending in tiny sacs all over the linings of the lungs. There are about 600 million of these sacs, which increase the capacity of the lungs to 600 to 1,000 square feet (larger than many classrooms), which is 300 times the capacity of the lungs alone! Each one of these tiny sacs brings blood to its surface. In the two seconds that air flows over these sacs, oxygen is transferred to the blood. This oxygen enriched blood moves on to the heart and is pumped throughout the whole body.

The lungs not only take oxygen out of the incoming air, they also remove carbon dioxide from the blood. This carbon dioxide is a product of the body-cell processes and must be removed. The blood carries it to the lungs where it is expelled by the lung’s exhaling action.

"In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?" Job 12:10

This entire process goes on without our thinking about it (except when we have a cold and have difficulty breathing). Only God could design and make our wonderful bodies and their remarkable details, which are the same today as when he created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God, “in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” is always aware of everything pertaining to our lives.

So, knowing that your very life depends on the oxygen that God provides, don’t forget to thank Him my friend. And then ask yourself, "When is the last time that I thanked God for the air in my lungs and praised Him for His goodness in watching over me so carefully?" If it’s been a while, make today the day you vow to “praise the Lord” each and every day. Moving forward, let every inhale and exhale be a testament to the grace of the Creator.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the air in our lungs. Help us to never take it for granted by acknowledging You as the Giver and Sustainer of life and by choosing to praise You with the air You have supplied. Help us to never take the glory for any of our successes but to give You all the glory. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

The Lord Gives Us a New Song

"I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV

In a story titled “Runner turns personal struggle into cross-country mission for mental health awareness” published over the weekend, it was reported that a run across Canada that began as a deeply personal challenge has turned into a growing movement for mental health awareness.

Carter Armstrong arrived in Swift Current this week on Day 46 of his solo journey from Vancouver toward his hometown of Dryden, Ont., running thousands of kilometres while raising awareness and funds for mental health initiatives through the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Armstrong said the idea for the run came after years of struggling with mental health himself, including the loss of a close friend to suicide.

“About two months before I started on this venture and decided what I was doing, I attempted to take my own life,” Armstrong said during an interview with Country 94.1 FM's Chris Martens. “The next day, I just realized I had so much more to give to the world.”

And, you know, sadly, Carter isn’t the only person who has struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide. Statistics say that an estimated 5.7% of adults (roughly 332 million people) suffer from depression worldwide. In the U.S., current depression rates range between 8.3% and 18.3% of the adult population depending on whether the metric measures a diagnosed major depressive episode or self-reported ongoing symptoms.

However you measure it though, one thing is clear. There are a lot of people who struggle in this sinful world, and a host of reasons why a person can despair of life. King David was one of those people who, at any given time, had legitimate and real reasons to be downcast and despondent.

As a young shepherd, he protected his flock from lions and bears. He famously defeated the Philistine giant Goliath as a youth, which immediately thrusted him into the national spotlight.

David’s popularity then caused King Saul to become fiercely jealous. For years, David lived as a fugitive in the wilderness (although he had been anointed as king, it would be about 14 years before he ascended the throne), narrowly escaping assassination attempts and living in caves. During this time, he had multiple opportunities to kill Saul but chose to spare him, demonstrating restraint and respect for God's anointed and for God's timing.

After becoming king, David fell into severe moral failure, committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating the death of her husband, Uriah.

 
Though God forgave him, David faced lifelong internal and external punishments, including the death of his newborn child and intense family turmoil.

David's own children brought him immense grief. His son Amnon violated his half-sister Tamar, leading her brother Absalom to murder Amnon in revenge. Absalom later conspired to steal the throne, forcing David to flee Jerusalem on foot. This agonizing betrayal by his own son is often considered the darkest and most difficult period of David’s trials, pushing him from his own palace into exile.

In addition to internal family conflicts, David fought endless battles with enemy nations and endured devastating civil wars. Wow right? And that’s just a few of the things David went through!
As you would imagine then, David had his many  ups and downs and his innumerable highs and lows. And although David had countless times of depair and doubt, he forbearingly depended on the Lord. Why? Because he had learned that God was faithful to hear and faithful to act. 

This is something we can see in Psalm 40 when David said, "I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord"

There’s so much we can glean from this ourselves as we go through (and it’s not a matter of if, but when) our own dark times. And the first thing is this… although we might be in a season of waiting for deliverance, God bends his ear to hear our cries. Think about that for a minute. The Almighty God of the universe bent down to hear David and He does the same for us. That means no matter what our feelings tell us, the facts tell us that God knows and God cares. 

Secondly, God pulls us out of the sinking mud. If you’ve ever experienced depression (and I have), you know exactly what it feels like to be weighted down by feelings of sadness and sunkenness. These feelings become a pit so deep that they are impossible to overcome or climb out of by our own strength and willpower. But God…

Depression may steal our joy and silence our voice for a time, but God will give us a new song. He will take away our heavy groans of despair and replace them with a melody of genuine hope and freedom. And here’s the beautiful part of our healing: Our survival becomes someone else's survival guide!

You see, as David noted, people didn’t just hear his song; they "saw it." And they trusted in the Lord because of it! Talk about having so much more to give to the world! That’s everyone going through a state of sorrow that continues to trust in the Lord. The Lord replaces that sorrow with singing!

So, no matter what you’re going through today, hang in there my friend. Your pain is not meaningless. God can and will use your story of overcoming the darkness to anchor the faith of someone else who is still trapped in their own pit if you will call on Him and trust in Him. He did it for David, He did it for me, and He can do it for you too.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You know, You hear, and You truly care about what we are going through. Lord, help us to understand that we won't always grasp the reasons we go through seasons of dejection, especially when it's caused by something out of our control, but that if we depend on You to see us through these times, we will not only come out better for it but will have a new song to sing that will cause others to trust in You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Be Grateful for Adoption

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV

In an astonishing story published earlier this week, it was reported that runner Mai Richards crossed the finish line in Sturgis after completing the Miles of Honor Run—an approximately 451.5-mile journey across South Dakota to honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Richards said she felt grateful and overwhelmed after completing the challenge, calling it a cause that has touched countless lives. She said her inspiration came from her own story—being adopted from Vietnam as a child—and a desire to give back for the freedoms she’s been given.

“I am feeling grateful. My heart is full. My feet are tired and my head is” Richards said. “I think it’s still trying to wrap around that… that I’m done. I’m done. And it’s for such a great cause. And it’s touched so many people’s lives.”

And, you know, if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, your story is also a story of adoption--an adoption story so awesome that it should fill you with an overwhelming desire to give back to Jesus Christ, the One who “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” 

You see, God determined beforehand, in eternity past, His plan of salvation for humanity. This plan not only gave eternal life to all those who chose to believe in God's one and only Son, who gave His life to free us from the consequences of sin, but granted believers full and permanent legal standing as sons and daughters in God's family.

If you think that's amazing, consider this... Our adoption in God's family is not based on our merit, but stems solely from God's sovereign love for us. God, who created all things, specifically chose before the creation of the world that you and I would be created, live, become children of God, and then one day stay with God for eternity!

So, in light of God's acceptance of us as His children, let us give back for the freedom from sin that acceptance provided by running our race for Him my friend. Let us live each and every day in a way that shows our gratitude for being adopted into the family of God that we might inspire others to seek this adoption for themselves.

Heavenly Father, thank You for bestowing such amazing love on us. To be called a son or daughter of the most high is the greatest honor we could ever have. Help us to truly understand how awesome this is Lord that we might give back our lives in service to You for the great gift we have received. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Ambassadors Never Retire

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV

In a story titled “Grace Sugut, Eliud Kipchoge’s Wife, Runs Her First Marathon” published earlier this week it was reported that Eliud Kipchoge hasn’t exactly retired from competitive running yet. The 41-year-old “GOAT” of the men’s marathon is still training and racing—but now with more of a focus on being an ambassador for the sport and “inspiration.”

You can count Kipchoge’s wife, Grace Sugut, among those he has inspired to run 26.2 miles. Sugut completed her first marathon at Sunday’s Cape Town Marathon in South Africa. She crossed the finish line in a time of 4:29:59, placing 2,353 out of the 6,914 women in the Cape Town field….

Before the race, Kipchoge gave some advice to Sugut. “My advice actually is to line up in the starting line,” he told the media “Enjoy the whole race, feel that pain all through the race, cut through the finishing line, and, you know, she will be accomplished. She will not be the same.”

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 1 Corinthians 5:18-19

And, you know, when it comes to being an ambassador, you and I would do well to remember that, as believers, each one of us has been called to “the ministry of reconciliation.” Put simply, this means that we are to be busy helping people fix their broken relationship with God and with each other.

You see, here’s the deal… Sin broke the relationship between humans and God. Jesus' death and resurrection repaired that broken bond. And because of that we, as reconciled believers, now act as representatives and official messengers of God’s Kingdom, tasked with the awesome privilege of telling others that God is ready to welcome them back in the same way that He did us. Is that amazing or what? 

As Christ’s ambassadors then, we are called to passionately beg or plead with others in a deeply emotional, urgent, or desperate manner “on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” This is something you can be sure we do with our lips and with our lives, preaching the Gospel and living in such great appreciation for what salvation has done for us that our passion and faith becomes an “inspiration” to others.

"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8

And you can be sure this is a job we never retire from! We keep training in the Word and racing to the finish line, beseeching all those in our path to join us as we pursue the prize!

So, from this moment forward, make it your mission to be the best ambassador for Christ that you can be my friend. Let your faith be so strong and so well known that it inspires your family, your friends, and all those you come into contact with.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the awesome privilege of being an ambassador on Your behalf. Help us to understand what a great honor it is to have such a title Lord that we would take it seriously and do our very best to implore the lost to be reconciled back to You before it’s too late. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Remember... You Get to Run Today

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let's get started by talking reframing our perspective on running by remembering that we don't HAVE to run, we GET to run. This is something that I stress often (and written on in the past) and also something that the Bass Pro Fitness Series published on their Facebook page in a post a while back that read... "You get to run today... remember... "

Unfortunately, this is something that I, like many runners fail to "remember" at times. This failure to remember can then lead to taking the ability to move for granted, which can eventually lead to grumbling and ingratitude... and grumbling and ungratefulness does no good for the one doing it or the people who have to listen to it. This is the very reason that I make the choice every day to be grateful for the ability to run (or walk) and you should too.

This was something I was thinking about Monday as the runners, walkers, and cyclists began to assemble at the start line of our annual Memorial Day Run to Remember. Many of the participants had once been runners but due to injury and/or age were now cyclists. And while cycling is great exercise and a fantastic way to cross-train, there's no workout that provides the same results as running (in my humble opinion of course). This is probably why I've heard the phrase, "I sure would like to run again" so many times from those who have lost the ability.

Which is the very reason, you and I should never take running for granted but should choose to remember... I get to run.

Let's face it, though, as runners, it’s easy to fall into the trap of saying, “I have to run today.”

We say it when the alarm clock goes off before sunrise. We say it when the weather's cold, windy, humid, hot, or rainy. We say it when the training plan calls for miles we’re not excited about.

But what if we changed just one word?

What if instead of saying “I have to run,” we started saying:

“I GET to run.”

That one small shift changes everything. As I said before, some people would give anything to move their body again. Some are recovering from injuries. Some are fighting illnesses. Some are sidelined by surgeries, disabilities, or life circumstances that prevent them from running at all.

When we say, “I GET to run,” we remind ourselves that movement is a gift.

The ability to lace up shoes, step outside, breathe deeply, and move forward under our own power is something many people wish they could experience.

Running isn’t punishment for what we ate. It isn’t a chore to survive. It isn’t something we are forced into. It’s an opportunity. Gratitude changes the entire run. Think about it...

A runner who approaches miles with gratitude experiences training differently. The same hill becomes a challenge instead of a burden. The same long run becomes time for reflection instead of suffering. The same sweat becomes evidence that your body is alive and capable.

Mindset doesn’t magically make every run easy, but it absolutely changes how we experience hard things.

A grateful runner notices the sunrise during morning miles, the quietness of early roads, the strength in their legs, the rhythm of their breathing, the ability to keep showing up, and the mental clarity that comes after movement. Running becomes less about obligation and more about appreciation. When we constantly tell ourselves we have to run, running can begin to feel heavy.

It starts sounding like a punishment, a requirement, another stressful task on the checklist, or something we owe instead of something we enjoy. Eventually this feeling of obligation can steal joy from the sport. That mindset often leads runners to dread workouts, compare themselves constantly, focus only on pace, forget why they started, and burn out mentally. 

But “I GET to run” creates freedom.

This way of thinking reminds us that running is a choice we are fortunate to have. And get this...  You don’t need to be fast to appreciate running. A 12-minute mile (as the BPFS post stated) covers the exact same distance as a 6-minute mile, proving the road doesn’t care how quickly you travel it. Whether you run, jog, walk, intervals, shuffle, or move slowly uphill, you are still out there doing something positive for your body and mind.

When we say “I GET to run,” we also acknowledge everything running gives back to us like stress relief, confidence, mental clarity, emotional release, discipline, resilience, community, improved heart health, stronger bones and muscles, better sleep, anxiety reduction, and personal growth.

In fact, some of the greatest lessons in life are learned on tired legs. Running teaches patience. It teaches consistency. It teaches us how to keep going even when things feel hard. And these lessons carry far beyond race day. These are the lessons that get us to the finish line. 

And there you have it friends. When running becomes something we appreciate, we are far more likely to not take it for granted and to pursue it with a smile. So, the next time your alarm goes off early for a run, pause before saying: “I HAVE to run today.” Instead, remind yourself: “I GET to run today.” And then get out there with joy in your heart, knowing that there are countless people who would love to be able to say, "I GET to run today" but can't. Don't take it for granted. That mindset shift may not change the miles ahead of you — but it can completely change how you experience them. That's the power of gratitude. Happy Running!

Give God your Plans

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

In a shocking story titled “Holy cow!' Boston runner shatters Vermont City Marathon course record in marathon debut” published yesterday, it was reported that Ryan Smith shattered the Vermont City Marathon course record on Sunday during his first-ever marathon.

He finished the race in Burlington with a final time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 52 seconds, beating the previous record by 1 minute and 10 seconds.

"I mean, holy cow! What? I don't know. I'm, ah, I have no words. That exceeded all my goals," Smith said after the race.

He averaged 5:11 per mile and held onto first place throughout the race, which included 1,834 competitors.

"The plan went out the window right away. I was going to wait and be patient and sit in a group. But I was excited. I ran the whole thing alone. I was, I felt good," he said…

The prize for winning is $2,400.

With that performance, Smith also qualified for the 2028 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles.

Wow, right? Based on this outcome, I bet Smith is thankful that "his" plan went out the window right away. 

And, you know, when it comes to plans, the Bible tells us that "A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." 

This means that, while it's good and natural for us to make plans, set goals, and chart our own paths, we would do well to remember that God is ultimately in control of our destiny. This, in turn, means we would do well to hold onto our plans loosely and to be willing to “throw them out the window" when we feel God leading us in a different direction.

You see, humanity often plans and prepares for future events, but in each case God directs the outcome. And, let me tell you from experience, God's plans are always better than ours even if we don't understand them at the time. 

This is a principle we can see in the life of Joseph. As a teenager, Joseph was his father’s favorite, dreaming of greatness. His life took an immediate, dark turn when his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Just as he was building a stable life managing an Egyptian household, he was falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison for years. He spent over a decade as a slave and prisoner.

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

But then… Joseph rose to power after successfully interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, which foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine. For his God-given ability to do the miraculous, Joseph was named Prime Minister of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh.

God then used Joseph’s position in Egypt to eventually save the entire region—and his own family—from a deadly famine. This led Joseph to say to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Talk about God directing his steps! Joseph surely didn’t understand what God was doing at the time, but came to understand that God’s plans were much better than his!

So, no matter what you’re going through today, choose to trust in God my friend and choose to trust that His plan is much better than yours. It may take a while to see it come to pass, and it may involve hardship, but when God directs your steps, you can be sure that your response will always be “Wow!”

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that Your ways are much higher than our ways. Lord, help us to understand that the path you have for us won’t always be free from tests and trials, as these are the things that cause our faith to grow and to show the power of God in our lives. Help us to trust You at all times, especially when we don’t understand Lord. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. 

Amen.

Happy Running!

Stop to Remember

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,” 1 Timothy 2:1-3 NKJV

On March 22, 2026, the White House issued the Memorial Day, 2026 Proclamation that read in part:

The greatest fighting force the world has ever known is built upon the extraordinary service of selfless men and women who safeguard our liberty and preserve our way of life. Since the birth of our Nation nearly 250 years ago, countless souls have lost their lives in this noble and righteous pursuit. On Memorial Day, we honor these American heroes.

America endures in strength, power, and prosperity because of the awe-inspiring selflessness and valor of those in uniform willing to lay down their lives in its defense. From the frozen fields of Valley Forge and the beaches of Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam and the mountains of Afghanistan, the sacrifice across our Armed Forces is the foundation upon which our Republic stands. Today, we especially remember the 13 members of the Joint Force who have fallen in support of Operation Epic Fury to defend our national security and preserve the blessings of liberty for future generations. These warfighters lost their lives for freedom’s cause and we will never forget the cost.

All Americans inherit the glorious gift of liberty that has been purchased with the spilled blood of brave warriors and the tears and heartache of those they left behind. It is fitting and necessary for our Nation to pause for an annual reminder of the enduring and perilously high cost of freedom, but the immeasurable gravity of what has been sacrificed for the greater good deserves our eternal reverence and unwavering gratitude every day…

And, you know, I couldn’t agree more. Which is the very reason I will be pausing to remember the fallen, to pray for those left to mourn their passing, and expressing my gratitude for the awesome privilege of living in a country that was made great by the blood of those who fought for our freedom… and I hope you will too. 

You see, Memorial Day isn’t just a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. It’s a sacred day to honor the brave men and women who died for our country—the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our liberty. This day reminds us of a powerful truth: freedom isn’t free.

Which is the reason, every American should stop to pray for our nation and give thanks for the ultimate sacrifice of fallen service members responsible for our hard-won peace. When we stop remembering the cost of freedom, we take it for granted. 
So, on this Memorial Day, let us pause, give thanks, and pray that America never forgets her fallen heroes my friend. 

* At 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, all Americans are asked to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance by pausing for one minute to reflect on and honor those who died in service to the United States. The time is specifically chosen to take place when most people are enjoying the freedoms that service members fought to protect.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the brave American soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. Help us to never forget what they’ve done that we might never take freedom for granted. Lord, more than that, though, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that provided the ultimate freedom… freedom from sin and its consequences. Help us to live lives of gratitude for both of these Lord that we might honor their actions. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!