God is in control

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."  Proverbs 16:9

Before the beginning of yesterday's Heart of America Marathon, we were preparing to get into our starting positions.  To my extreme pleasure, I turned around in response to hearing my name, to see an older woman (dressed in a TEAM 413 shirt this time!) I had met at a marathon last November. She had joined a group of us in the lobby of the host hotel to pray before we rode to the starting line together.  It happened to be an unusually cold day for that time of year with wind chills in the single digits.  Melanie (as I later found out her name) was so kind as to offer me a pair of glove warmers. I, in turn, offered her a bit of advice when she told me she was worried about how well she would run the race in the cold and that she might come in last. I asked her if she believed that God loved her and had gotten her to where she was at this point in life? When she answered yes, I simply told her that she could make the best of plans but God would put her at the point in the race (and in life) where He wanted her to be - the place where she could be used to be a blessing or to bring glory to His name. 

Unfortunately, I didn't see her again that day or since.  That was... until yesterday. As we embraced, I thanked her once again for the kindness she had shown to me and she thanked me for the words I had spoken to her.  Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." You see, when two iron blades are rubbed together, the edges become sharper and the knives are better able to cut and slice, the purpose they were designed for. And so it is with a friend.  As you fellowship with your Christian brothers and sisters, sharing Christ and helping one another grow in love and maturity with Him, you are sharpened, making you better suited for the purpose you were designed for... good works. "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10.

We can do everything in our power to plan our future but God is ultimately in control.  He directs our path and each and every person He puts in it. Some are there for a time and some are there for a lifetime. Each friend is special and serves to "sharpen" the purpose for which we were designed. Trust in His plan and His purpose for your life. Then enjoy the friends He gives you along the way. 

Heavenly Father,thank You for giving us friends to strengthen and help us as we commit our lives to serving You. May we appreciate the friendships You have given us for a time or a season realizing that You know full well what is best for us. As we plan our course, help us to remember that You direct our steps.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

This is the time - Superchick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiXqwHmBB2g

Heart of America Marathon 2014

Today was the 55th annual Heart of America Marathon in Columbia, MO. Described as one of the hardest marathons...ever!  The elevation chart makes a first time marathoner shudder and a veteran

A photo from the race.  Free race pics are a bonus!

runner rejoice at the prospect of overcoming the hills. Today's event didn't disappoint.  For the first time in history, the 6am start was delayed until 7am due to lightning. The rain and clouds turned out to be a blessing as the temps stayed much lower than expected much to the delight of everyone running.

The course is full of rolling hills and scenery as it winds through the back roads of Columbia and down by the Missouri river making for spectacular views of the water close up.  Got us ready for the mother of all hills at mile 12.  The majority of runners decided that walking this hill was just as fast as running it, and they were right. This thing was tough.  Many more hills were to follow with another big one around mile 20.  Definitely not a race for the faint of heart or anyone with a dislike of hills or difficulty.  The course was challenging but that's the allure of it.  Conquering the Heart of America Marathon gives you bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment. The volunteers and spectators were full of energy and encouragement.  For a course that didn't allow for people to sit and watch (too close to the road),they followed us in their cars yelling, ringing cowbells and spurring us on.  How they added to the overall enjoyment of the race. By far, some of the friendliest and outgoing volunteers and supporters anywhere!

Finished the race in Downtown Columbia amid the cheers of families and others gathered to see their loved ones finish.  Postrace treats included ice baths, cookies, soda, water and pizza.  A shuttle was provided to drive the runners back to their cars or hotels.  The official cutoff time for the race was 6 hours, however I was pleased that they didn't pull the runners off the course if they were within a mile or two of the finish line. They simply began breaking things down leaving the timing mat, medals and some refreshments.  My friend finished (her first marathon) in 6:23 to the joy of her family waiting for her at the finish.   God was good today. It takes a lot of guts, mental strength and perseverance to push for that long and I was pleased to see her claim her reward.  She was tired, sore and chafed but finished with a smile on her face and a renewed sense of what running is all about... doing things you thought you could never do and sharing the experience with others doing the same. These are the friendships forged by adversity and a shared ambition to live life to the fullest - even if that means conquering 26.2 miles of the meanest hills in Missouri.

Prerace with Jim McDermott, Alaina Jacobson, me, Doug Jacobson
Sandra Ortiz and Lynn Jacobson
Alaina,Lynn and Sandra completed their first marathons today at HOA.

Sandra with the finish line in sight.  As the course was shut down after 6 hours, the runners were responsible for yielding to traffic as they made their way to the finish line.  Philippians 4:13 was proven today as she relied on Christ for the strength she didn't have.  When you've done all you can, He will do all you can't.

Packet pickup - little did Sandra know what the next day would hold.

God blessed us today with air in our lungs, strength in our legs and joy in our hearts. We will forever be grateful to Him for the blessings He has given and run each race to share His love with others and glorify His name.  That is TEAM 413 and this is what we do.  He is worthy to be praised!!!!  www.team413.org

gracerunner413.blogspot.com

Labor for the right reasons

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 5:8

Labor Day means different things to different people...the official end of summer, the day white shoes are no longer worn, a day off from work and a weekend of parades, barbecues and celebrations. "Officially" though, it is defined by the U.S. Dept of Labor as," the first Monday in September, a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."  This is the one day a year to celebrate our accomplishments and "officially" rest from the hundreds of other days we spend laboring in pursuit of wealth, position or some other reward. 

What is your attitude towards work? Do you find it burdensome? Are you grateful?  God, from the very beginning, designed us to work, "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it." Genesis 1:27-28, 2:15. And God is very specific that our attitude should be Christlike in all we do, "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free." Ephesians 6:7-8. Not only should our attitude be Christlike so should our motives, "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life" John 6:27

We should work everyday as if we were working for Christ, with a joyful heart and our eyes focused on the eternal rewards of a life well lived. Since we can do nothing apart from Christ, including our jobs, today should then be a day to recognize and honor the One who provided them and gave us the ability to fulfill those jobs.  Don't leave God out of your celebration, make Him the center of it! We are nothing apart from Christ and we have nothing that He didn't give us, "From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."   Wow, what a reason to celebrate!! Happy Labor Day my friends. May you find time to sneak in a few miles before the day begins.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting apart of day of rest and reflection.  I pray that we remember where our blessings come from - although we work for a perishable reward now, I pray we are ultimately working for the reward of eternal life and resting with You after our work is done. Meanwhile, may we work to the best of our ability with a thankful and joyful heart showing your love to others as we do so, that they might come to know you through our actions.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!

www.team413.org

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe - Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0-89RJIL4

Our deserved wages

"But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:22-23

If you ask me, the best part of any job has got to be payday, the day you receive the benefits of your hard work. It's pretty simple really - you do a job well you get paid well, do a job poorly and you get paid poorly.  For the most part it's a pretty fair system, work hard and you will reap the benefits.  I wonder, though, if we would work nearly as hard if we weren't guaranteed payment in a swift and timely manner? You probably wouldn't think very highly of your employer if he withheld payment would you?  

What if I told you that our ultimate President and CEO is doing just that? Withholding our deserved wages? The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death.  Since we are all sinners,  we are deserving of nothing less. But what if I told you that God, in His infinite love and mercy for us, has withheld payment of what we truly deserve and instead offered us the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus? And it gets even better... What if I then told you that this same God, "showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8, and that it is by nothing we have done that He offers this so that none of us can brag? "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. " Ephesians 2:8-9.

Isn't it great to know that we serve such a wonderful and mighty God? He gives us so much and asks for so little in return. He requires us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27. Seems the least we can do for all that He has done for us.  Are you willing? The benefits are priceless.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending your son to die on a cross to forgive us of our sins. The sins that make us deserving of death.  It's amazing to know that You loved us enough to withhold our wages and instead offered us the free gift of eternal life.  How can we ever thank you Lord?What can we do to ever repay You? The answer is nothing short of loving and serving You with all our heart, soul and mind...and even then we fall short.  But You love us anyway, thank You. In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen. 

Happy Running!!

www.team413.org

Lord I thank You for loving me - Michael Hart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5uvY9CBP6Y

God's blessings revealed

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"I do believe if people see someone like me doing this they will for sure know that God is the reason. I have never been a good athlete. Seriously, I was always the last one picked. When playing games, I was slow and small." -Todd Raney

Can anyone relate to that? Being the last one picked or the one no one wanted on their team? I believe without a doubt that God gives us all gifts. Sometimes they just aren't revealed until God is ready for us to use them for His purpose. My friend, Todd, and I were talking about his upcoming race schedule which includes running 10 marathons, one ultra and one half this fall.  He discovered running just recently and found he was good at it.  The small frame and short stature that made him an unfavorable pick for basketball or some other school sports, made him perfect for running!   Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God absolutely planned for my friend to be made for this very purpose and this very moment in time. Had his talent been revealed sooner, it might have been wasted. God's timing is as perfect as His faithfulness.

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 4:10-11.  Our abilities and  talents (and possessions) are not our own.  They are a gift from God to us to be given back in the form of praise and worship.  What greater way to worship Christ than to use the gift of running to glorify Him!  To publicly acknowledge Christ as the provider of your strength is the ultimate thank you.  As Todd and I, and thousands of other TEAM 413 members around the world run races this season with the scripture "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13, emblazoned on our shirts, may we plant seeds that will lead others to Christ.

Your talent may not be running or anything even associated with it. But I promise you that He has given you an ability that you can use to bring Him glory. Pray that it would be revealed and use it for the purpose it was given... to bring glory to the Giver of all gifts.

Heavenly Father, thank you for everything You have given each of us.  I pray that each of us would use the talents, possessions and blessings that You have so graciously provided to us to lead others to You and to glorify your name.  Father, in everything we do and say, may we show the love of Christ so that others will want to do the same.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!
www.team413.org

If there's anyone here brought through the fire, say Amen - Finding Favour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfWaMVh4dZM

Defining Moment

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”  When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more." Ruth 1:16-18

When I was much younger,  I worked for a most wonderful woman who took me under her wing as her personal assistant (a tough job I felt totally unequipped to do). I do believe she saw something in me that I didn't see in myself.  She was the busy founder and president of a large company but still took the time to send out individual cards and gifts to her hundreds of employees and was generous in all parts of her life. That was 16 years ago and I remember many of the lessons she taught me and still smile when she comes to mind. Whether she realized it or not, she was my mentor, the person God put in my life to shape and mold me for a time and a purpose. Working for her was definitely one of the  "defining moments" in my life. Although the Bible doesn't use the word mentor, it frequently describes successful mentoring relationships: Jesus and His disciples, Barnabas and Paul, Paul and Timothy, Naomi and Ruth (one of my favorites), Moses and Joshua, Elizabeth and Mary (the mother of Jesus), and many others. All are great examples of people God brought together and the God-inspired actions they took to help one another develop and grow.

Consider what it means to be a biblical example and mentor to others, " Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:3-8

If you're now in a situation to teach and guide another, don't take it lightly. You may be the only one to ever talk to that person about Jesus - you may be the only one to show them kindness, acceptance and love.  If you are in the position to be a mentor, remember that your words and actions can be the "defining moment" in someone's life. God put you where you are for a reason.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for those people willing to step out and show your love to a dying world. My prayer is that we would be compassionate and caring to those we meet and listen to the Holy Spirit if we are to speak.  I pray that we will search for ways to do so.  May we be a light in the darkness to those searching for You.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy running!!

www.team413.org

Defining Moment - Newsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF64-zFONzk

Seek the important things first

"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:3

Do you sometimes get so overwhelmed with things to do that you feel anxious or irritable? Do you ever skip a workout or run in your attempt to "catch up"? Ever forgo your alone time with God, making a mental note that you will "catch up" with Him later, and then haphazardly start on your to do list? Unfortunately we probably all have been guilty of doing one or the other. But who and what are we really working for? Are we not trusting God to meet our needs when we pursue our worldly ambitions before our heavenly ones? 

He has given us all jobs to do while we are here (surely you didn't think you landed it on your own?). This is how He enables us to provide for our needs, the needs of our families and the needs of our church. While we should do our jobs to the best of our abilities as if we were serving Christ, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," Colossians 3:23. - we should remember that, no matter what service we provide or job we perform on this earth, we are first and foremost a servant of the Most High and He is our first priority. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Jesus is reminding us to seek His guidance and direction first and He will provide for the rest. In other words, He's got this...He can and will get you through the day and that to do list if you trust Him enough to pursue Him before anything else. Proverbs 4:11:12 gives us more insight on the benefits of seeking Him above all else, "I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble." He is our greatest friend, savior, teacher and coach!

When you're tempted to miss your morning run with God or your morning devotional, think of what you are really missing. You may not always have time to do a long run or read the whole chapter of Genesis, but any time spent with Him is valuable and just what you need to start the day off right.

Heavenly Father, You are such an awesome God. Thank You for giving each of us guidance for the day if we will only ask and spend time with You. I pray that we yearn for your presence day and night and are never satisfied being apart from You. May we always put you first and remember that we must be servants of Christ before we can be anything else. In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy running!!
www.team413.org

You are all I need.  I surrender all of me - Selah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZR8Y19qffM