The shoebox

"Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ." Colossians 2:8

Last week my daughter was looking for a box to decorate that would hold her valentines for school. "Mom, do you have a shoebox I can use?" she asked. After handing her one, she said, "This is the same one I had last year, how'd that happen?". As I laughed, I explained to her that it wasn't the same box but it was the same type of box. When she asked why I always wore the same type of shoe, I explained that it was because it worked for me, it had proven itself to be a reliable brand and was true to it's advertisement. I described how, many times, I had believed the promises of other manufacturers only to be highly disappointed and vowing to be more careful.

And then I explained to her how the same was true of this world. You have to be very careful not to believe everything you see, hear or read I told her. Many people advertise that they know Christ but promote their ideologies above His. They will sell "their ideas" of Christianity to you in the form of self improvement seminars, self help books and many other items. They might even lead you astray with their words and ideas. But the only thing that is tried, true and reliable is Jesus and the Holy Bible- not something like Jesus, not something like His Word but Christ and Christ alone. Before buying into anything that man says or promises, you need only look to what God says. Psalm 118:8 gives us this advice, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Being consistent in shoes can be a great thing. But being consistent in what you follow, who you allow to give you advice and where you gain your knowledge is even better. Don't be fooled by false advertising, go straight to the Source.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the lessons we can learn from a shoebox. Thank you for your Word to open our eyes to false teachings and philosophies. May we turn to you to guide us and may we choose those teachers that follow you and your word. Help us to be wise in who we place our trust. You and you alone are the true source of wisdom and life. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Trust in Jesus - Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BtaCeJYqZA

Never give up

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:6

At the 2015 Austin Marathon on February 15, Hyvon Ngetich (a 29 year old Kenyan runner) was leading the females and was just 50 meters away from a second place win when she collapsed to the ground unable to take one more step. With the finish line in sight, she was so determined to finish the race that she crawled on her hands and knees until she crossed it. This incredible act of endurance and persistence caught the eye of race director John Conley, who promised to give her the same amount of money given to the second place finisher as a prize for her dedication.

Where did she get the strength to do this?! It was apparent to everyone watching that she had absolutely nothing left to give. The one small sentence she spoke after finally crossing the finish line spoke volumes. Still on her hands and knees she said, "Oh, God, thank you, I crossed." It was by God's power... simple as that. Have you ever felt this way? So weak you couldn't possibly take another step? In Psalm 34:17, God gives us this promise, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." When we cry out to Him, you can be sure that He hears... and is there to rescue us.

Whether your struggle is a physical, emotional or spiritual one today, don't run the race alone. The psalmist said that in his distress he called to the Lord for help and He heard his voice. He hears yours and mine too if we will simply cry out.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being only a desperate cry away. Thank you for hearing our anguished pleas and always coming to our rescue. Oh Lord, how we love you, praise you and adore you for your faithfulness to us. Help us to remember that we are not alone in our struggles... you have the strength we need to get through any situation. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Cry out to Jesus - Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVxRl5bc4Y

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2955787/Kenyan-Hyvon-Ngetich-crawls-hands-knees-collapses-just-50-metres-finish-line-Austin-Marathon.html#ixzz3RxgADgBM

Give me a thirst

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:1-2

Do you know what it's like to be thirsty? I mean really thirsty? Last Saturday, with temperatures forecast to be in the 30's, I ran a 25k dressed in tights and a long sleeved shirt. As the mercury climbed and got into the 50's, I realized I was way overdressed, really hot and intensely thirsty... thirstier in fact than I could recall being in a very long time. The road between the water stations, placed 2.5 miles apart, began to feel like a no-man's-land. Water become my main focus, my only thought and my greatest obsession. Just keep running, I thought to myself, you will get what you long for soon. Run faster, get to that oasis... run Forrest run!

Each time I drank in the cold water, I silently thanked God for quenching my thirst and providing me with the necessary hydration that I needed to go another 2.5 miles. Oh Lord, I thought, help me to run after You and Your Word like this today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life. Give me a thirst so great for You that I can focus on nothing else. Psalm 119:20 says, "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times." and Psalm 119:131 says, "I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands." This is the kind of thirst I desire. This is the yearning I need to keep me running.

Isaiah 55:1 says, ""Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;". God has prepared a place of refreshing for you and me. Won't you come and drink?

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a thirst for you. May it be as unquenchable as our physical thirst in the driest desert. I pray that we would yearn for You so greatly that we can think of nothing else besides You. May we be consumed at all times with a longing for your laws. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Come to the River - Rhett Walker Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywdDGqKWB-o

Run with the Wind 2015

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Post race picture- (L-R) Luke Morrison, Pastor John Shaw, Melissa Martinez


What a fabulous day for a race. Valentines Day is a day to express your love... for running I would say. The 25k race runs from Sarcoxie to Carthage or vice versa depending on which way the wind is blowing. The goal is to pick the route that will have the wind at your back. Today's race started in Carthage and ended in Sarcoxie. With mild temps and great friends to share the day, we were off and running at 9 a.m. to complete the 15.6 mile race.

The course led us through the country with some rolling hills and beautiful views of God's creation. I love that it was a family friendly route where loved ones and friends could follow their runners via car cheering them on and passing them any supplies they might need. For Luke Morrison, it was to be a day full of anticipation. This was to be his first race and. although I had given him some race pointers, he would have much to discover about distance running and himself as he ventured to complete his first road race. One thing he seemed to know was speed! He finished in 2:01 to place 2nd in his age group with a smile on his face and a spirit already planning his next one. Loved seeing the grin on his mother's face too!

Pastor John and I finished with respectable times and agreed that it was a blessed day indeed. God willing, we will run this race again next year. Exceptional job Joplin Road Runners. Thanks for a great race!

Clowning around waiting for the race to start - Love this group of friends!

Amazing Grace

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace " Ephesians 1:7

Friday the 13th is considered to be the unluckiest day of the year. While luck denotes that things happen by pure chance, grace says something different. Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. Simply put, grace is a blessing we don't deserve. One Friday three years ago, I got to see this grace up front. On the way back from Good Friday services at church, my children and I were nearly sideswiped by a drunk driver who pulled out of a driveway in front of us (on a highway as we were going 55 mph), barely missing our minivan, and then flipped over just feet later, totaling the car and surely killing any occupants. By God's grace, we were able to quickly pull onto a gravel road to avoid being hit ourselves on the busy two lane highway. With trembling fingers, I quickly dialed 911 as I stood in the road waving my free arm to warn traffic. When emergency personnel finally arrived, we headed home... very shaken, but counting our blessings and praying for the driver of that car. 

With a few phone calls the next day, we were able to find out some information about that driver. His name was Fred, he had been released from jail on bond and he lived close by. After church the next day, that blessed Easter Sunday (a day of amazing grace), accompanied by my mother and children, I went to go talk to Fred (who had been told we were coming). With his head hung low, he listened as I spoke these words, "Please look at my children, who you could have killed, so that you might find it in your heart to never drive drunk again. By God's grace we have all been saved... not just from this accident but from our sins. I forgive you and God forgives you Fred." As he cried, he told us the story of how he had just lost his job and was taking care of his bedridden father. He was a recovering alcoholic who made a terrible mistake... a mistake that I reminded him that he had already been forgiven of.

As we all stood crying on Fred's front porch, we were overwhelmed with emotion and gratefulness.  Christ had indeed saved us all that Friday night from physical death - but He had saved us from eternal death on that blessed Good Friday thousand of years ago. Not by luck, but by his Grace. Amazing Grace indeed... can I get an Amen?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the redemption you have given us through your blood and the forgiveness of sins in accordance with your grace. Oh Lord, I pray that we would be givers of that same grace to others and that they may come to know you and be forgiven. May we forgive those who have wronged us and dare to love them in the same way you have loved us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Amazing Grace - Leanne Rimes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joBxjfyGWM8

Who's your coach?

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

At the end of a winning game or season,  you will most likely see the winning team hugging the coach, lifting him up or patting him on the back - acknowledging that his skills, leadership and coaching were the cause of their success. You see... you can have the greatest God given talents, strengths and abilities, but without focus, you will never reach your full potential. A wise coach takes the gifts and capabilities of each individual and determines where and how they will be best used to serve the team as a whole. In this way, everybody wins.

There's one catch though...every individual player has to surrender his or her will to be part of that team. To be used, we have to let go of our pride and trust the coach to place us where we will serve a greater purpose. Wouldn't it be great to know that there is a coach who knows exactly where you and I should be? That knows exactly what we should be doing? God is that Supreme Coach, the wisest mentor, teacher and trainer that we will ever know. Psalm 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." As members of God's team, our goal is to share Christ with those we meet.

Our different gifts give us the means to serve as individuals and his coaching gives us the wisdom to know the best way to serve as a team. He has promised to instruct and teach us in the way we should go and better than that... to watch us as we do so, keeping his loving eye on us. How great it will be to hug our Coach when we gain victory!

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the greatest instructor we could ever ask for. Not only did you give us everything we need to serve you and be a part of your team but you are there to show us how best to use those things. May we look to you always to instruct and teach us in the way we should go knowing that your loving eye is always upon us. May we work together as a team of believers to bring others to you and gain victory through Christ. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Go Hard - Lecrae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuLC4r5ZEs&index=14&list=RDyJGDKM6XsfQ

Beautiful YOU

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12

If you are on social media much, you will probably read at least one status update daily that reads something like this: John Smith ran 6.2 miles in 57 minutes and feels pretty good or Sally Johnson biked 22 miles in 65 minutes and feels blah. While these posts might serve to encourage and motivate some, they can serve to dishearten and discourage others. The problem is comparing. When we compare ourselves to others, whether in our abilities or appearance, we are bound to either think too highly of ourselves or too lowly. We simply weren't meant to compare or judge ourselves by what anyone else says or does - we weren't created to be alike or to have the same gifts or skills.

Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Notice the psalmist says I and not we. He knew that God made us all unique and that his works are wonderful. We were not made on an assembly line but individually handcrafted by the Creator himself. In fact, God made us so distinct that out of the billions of people on the earth, we all have totally different fingerprints and DNA. He made us individual down to the palms of our hands. There is no other person on the planet that shares the same design as the one on your thumb! And when he said, "my soul knows it very well" he was praising his Maker because he realized he was special.

Maybe the reason we compare is that we forget or simply don't know "well enough" the special way we were created. Avoid the temptation to compare yourself with others and instead celebrate the YOU He formed.... the YOU that is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Heavenly Father, thank you for making us all different and yet perfect in your eyes. Your word tells us that we were created in your image. You don't' make anything less than the best! Oh, help us to praise you for the way we were made, help us to embrace it and know that your works are truly wonderful indeed. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

A more beautiful you  - Johnny Diaz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ks3R2BwyO0