I surrender all

I surrender all  

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:1-2

When I first began running races, I was what you would call a "Christian straddling the fencepost".  God had a part of me, but he certainly didn't have all of me.   It seemed I hadn't yet learned the art of surrender (surrender is actually a battle term that implies laying down your arms and giving all rights to your conqueror giving him all control). In fact, it took years of spiritual growth before I realized that nothing I had was truly mine.... especially my time or my talents. Ephesians 2:10 says that, "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."   Regardless of any pride I had in my achievements, I was slapped with the reality that, if God had not allowed it, I would not have achieved it!  What an eye opener. 

Things have changed a lot since I competed in my first race.  With the ministry of TEAM 413, I now help runners.  I get all kinds of questions ranging from from tapering, speed work, distance and what races are good.  And of course, the answer to every question goes back to what Jesus wants for each person-His plan for you.  Here's the deal.  If you are a Christian, running is no longer yours.  Your time, talents and abilities were given to you by Christ as a way to serve Christ.   In other words, we are to surrender all we have to Him.   Merrian Webster defines everything as: all that exists.  It doesn't get any plainer than that.  

The ultimate goal for the Christian runner can be summed up by Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."   Such a life of surrender is not only pleasing to God, it will reap ultimate rewards in heaven-Rewards that no achievement, medal or trophy could ever compare to!  "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven." Luke 6:22-23

So, as you go for your run today, thank God for giving it to you.  Then pray for ways to serve Him through it.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for today and for all You have given us.  Help us to remember what a gift running is and to use it, and all our other abilities, to serve you and be a blessing to others.  I surrender all today.  Take me and use me.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

gracerunner413: I can see

gracerunner413: I can see: I can see "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!&qu...

I can see

I can see

"I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" John 9:25

“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

 
I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind but now i see.” 

― John Newton, Amazing Grace

One of the things I love the most about serving Christ through TEAM 413 is working at the expos.  If you've never been to one, imagine a large arena filled with vendors selling anything and everything a runner could need.... and a lot of things they don't.  After a runner picks up their race bib, they will head to the expo to get their race packet and zigzag through the lines to find the one thing that will bring their running to a new high-or at least a souvenir to bring home to the kids.  I'm always amazed and humbled by the different types of people drawn to our booth.  The name "Christ" has a million times the power of super glue.  

The man in this story (John, Chapter 9) was blind from birth.  A common belief at the time was that afflictions such as blindness were the result of some great sin committed either by the person afflicted or their parents.  So when Jesus healed the man, you can imagine the rejoicing that followed.  That is, by everyone but the Pharisees who were angry because Jesus performed this healing on the Sabbath (the holy day of rest).   They called the once blind man before them to question him. Twice they summoned him and "asked him how he had received his sight."  John 9:15.  Although the man would be cursed and thrown out of the temple by following Christ, he replied, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see."  John 9:25.  What a simple but powerful statement!!!  

You don't need to know all the answers to share Christ with others.  While you may not have been healed from physical blindness, you were healed from spiritual blindness the minute you accepted Christ as your Savior.  At that very moment,  God healed you and  "opened" your eyes to the truth!  No matter the circumstances, your's is a great story.  You don't need special words or a masters degree in Journalism to share your testimony, just tell the truth.  Tell others about what Christ has done in your life. Trust that God would use your words to help others believe in Him too.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for healing us from our spiritual blindness.  May we not forget that we did not deserve this and it's by nothing that we did or could ever do that you love us.  It's by your amazing grace that we have a testimony to give.  Thank you for your love, grace, kindness and mercy.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

You're an Overcomer

You're an Overcomer

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6

As you probably know the 2014 Boston Marathon is now exactly two weeks away.   Whether you will be participating in it or watching it, you will see many female runners (47% of women per runningusa.org).  In fact, females in the sport of running are so commonplace, most of us don't realize that before 1967, no female had ever run the Boston Marathon.  Women didn't run marathons then... period.  Common thinking at the time was that women were fragile and running 26.2 miles would do damage to their reproductive organs or their fragile frames.   Crazy thinking huh?  Times have sure changed.  Thank God!

AP Photo

Forty-six years ago, Katherine Switzer was the first woman to ever run in the Boston Marathon.  While there weren't any rules from prohibiting her from entering, it was pretty clear that women weren't welcome on the course.  To avoid detection, she even registered for the race using only her initials, K.W..  As a 19 year old journalism major at Syracuse University, this woman had guts.  When officials noticed a woman in the race, they launched an ugly attack -- which today is one of the most famous moments in the race's 116-year history -- to get her off the course.  As you can see in the pictures, these people were very angry that a woman would dare to run.  

She was attacked within two miles of the race but she didn't give up.  Though she was probably angry and perhaps embarrassed, she made a choice to keep running.  Whether she knew it or not, God had a purpose for her.  She persevered and was the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon.  I don't know if she was then or is now a Christian, but that doesn't really matter.  Proverbs 16:9 says that, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."  God was then always will be in control.  The important thing is that, through the action of this one woman, women everywhere are free to run the race.  And, for christian women, that means free to to be a witness there.  Whatever race or distance you're running though, male or female, may you be as determined in the pursuit of the goal-reaching the lost and sharing the Word.  

In the words of Mandisa, "Stay in the fight til the final round, you're not going under cause God is holding you right now.  You might be down for a moment, feeling like it's hopeless but that's when He reminds you, you're an overcomer."  

                         

Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence in our lives.  May we have strength and determination as we "run the good race" and strive to share Your gift of salvation with those we meet-whether that be on the race course, or at the grocery store or our workplace.  Help us to overcome any obstacles we may face in our pursuit of that goal.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!!

             

gracerunner413: Live today

gracerunner413: Live today: Live today For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flower...

Live today

Live today

For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord endures forever." And this is the word that was preached to you." 1 Peter 1:24-25

“It was becoming clearer and clearer that if I wanted to come to the end of my life and not say, “I’ve wasted it!” then I would need to press all the way in, and all the way up, to the ultimate purpose of God and join him in it. If my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God’s passion.” 

― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

I think sometimes we go through life as if our "last tomorrow" will never come.  As if there is no limit to the time God has given us to exist.  Proverbs 27:1 tells us, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."   But as Hebrews 13:3 says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today,""  So, shouldn't we treat today seriously?  "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24.  Shouldn't we live today in constant praise of the One who gave it to us? 

Perhaps, if we lived more aware that our time was passing quickly,  we would treat each day differently.  Maybe live it with more purpose?   Yesterday, as I spoke to runners at the Go St. Louis Marathon expo (as a representative of TEAM 413 at our booth), I noticed they all seemed to have one thing in common. They wanted to seize the moment and not put off what they wanted to accomplish.  In this case, their goal was a 5k, half marathon or full marathon.  Whatever the distance,  they weren't waiting until "the right time" to do it.   Today was the "right time."  Today was the day.   I heard many runners tell of the obstacles they had overcome to be there.  But absent were the excuses they could have used to not be there.  

Are you waiting for the "right time" to do those things you know you should or that you've dreamed about?  Maybe you're waiting until the kids are grown?  Or until you lose 20 pounds or work slows down to pursue your goal? Are you waiting for the right church or bible study group before you become a witness for Christ?  Like grass, we will wither and like the flowers, we will fall.   Are you so busy planning for tomorrow that you fail to live for today?  Go for a run.  Seize the day and make a decision to live it with no regrets.  Do that one thing you've been putting off or making excuses not to do.  Just live!!!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of today.  I pray that we live each day knowing that it may be our last so that we may live it to the fullest, loving with all we have and sharing You with all we know.  Help us to determine Your will for our lives and give us the passion, strength and desire to live it out.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Turn this one up!!!

gracerunner413: The joy of the Lord

gracerunner413: The joy of the Lord: The joy of the Lord Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing  prepared. Thi...