Opportunities are everywhere

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16

Chandler Self, 32, won the women's division of the 2017 BMW Dallas Marathon Sunday with an official time of 2:53:57. And if her speed wasn't enough to make you say "wow", the events that led up to it will. You see Chandler began struggling to stay on her feet while nearing the end and might not have made it without some help. That's when 17-year-old Ariana Luterman, who was running for the elite high school relay, spotted her and helped her reach the finish line. Ariana later said, "As soon as we got to the finish line, I pushed her out in front of me so she could cross the tape before I did...More than anything, I think I showed people there are opportunities everywhere. There are opportunities to help everyone everywhere."

You know, Ariana could have easily stolen the spotlight and gone ahead of Chandler but she didn't. This young girl saw an opportunity to help someone else and didn't hesitate to take it. And shouldn't that be our response when we see someone in need too? Of course it is. The Bible tells us so when it says that you and I should never "neglect to do good" when we have the occasion to do so "for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

So today and everyday, let us do more than help when the occasion presents itself. Let's actively look for chances to bless others and by doing so show the love of Christ. Because as Ariana simply said, "there are opportunities everywhere" and we don't want to miss even one. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that there are always people in need and that we, by taking advantage of every opportunity to help, can share Christ with others. Help us to be generous and bold in our actions that they might be pleasing to you. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Dallas-Marathon-Womens-Division-Ends-in-Dramatic-Fashion-McKinney-Coach-Wins-Mens-463207743.html

If you ain't in it - Danny Gokey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMJ6RBqrsoU

To God be the glory-36 Hours of Jack 2017

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20 NLT

At 6 a.m. Saturday, I was blessed, along with many other runners, to step up to the start line of the 36 Hours of Jack endurance race in Carthage, Mo. Since the event offered many distances, including a 5k, 25k, 15k, 50k, 75k, 100k, 100 mile and 200k, you could be sure that the reason each person participated was as different as the mileage they chose to conquer. As for me, I was led to do the 100 mile race for one reason. And that reason was to glorify God through my actions and pursuits. And that pursuit continued until 6:42 a.m. the next day (24 hours and 40 minutes later) until I, with the help of my friends, crew and many amazing prayer warriors, crossed the finish line to proclaim "All glory to God." 

And you know, as hard as this race was (and it got very tough with the nighttime lows dipping down to 23), I never had a doubt that it could be accomplished. You see, the Bible tells us that "God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us" can "accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." This means, that when Christ dwells inside us, you and I have the power to achieve more than we could ever imagine or comprehend. And when you have the faith to step out and attempt the impossible, great and unimaginable things happen for which you can declare "All glory to God". 

So knowing that God can do more in us than we have the capacity to conceive, what will you attempt to do today? What action or pursuit will you use to bring Him glory? Because as Greg Warren writes, "The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason everything exists, including you." 

Heavenly Father, thank you being so worthy of all our praise and honor. May every action and pursuit that we undertake, today and every day,  be done for the sole purpose of bringing you glory. And may you supply everything we need through your "mighty power" that this might be done. All glory to you God. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Life - Beckah Shae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EpFKN1q6Q

Thoughts are powerful

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

While talking with a dear friend a few weeks ago about my upcoming 100 mile race (that is now happening tomorrow) and what it takes to complete an endurance event of this kind, we discussed the obvious intense physical training that was necessary but agreed that the battle was ultimately either won or lost in the mind. In his words, "The longest and hardest distance you will ever cross is the five-and-a-half inches between your ears." And you know what? It's true. As Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can, or think you can't-you're right." 

The psalmist understood this to be true as well when he urged his readers to "above all else, guard your heart.." And why take the precautions to protect the heart and mind more so than anything else? Because the condition of your mind-whether it be pessimistic or optimistic, focused on Christ or focused on your problems or discomfort-determines "everything" that "you do" and everything that you don't do. You see, your mind has the power to motivate you to press on through trials to achieve great victory or to dishearten and discourage you to surrender and accept defeat. Your thoughts are just that powerful. 

So no matter what you're facing today, whether it be a tough race, a hopeless situation or just the pressures of the day, remember to watch over your heart and mind with the utmost diligence by guarding what goes into it and what goes out of it. Fill it with the truth and knowledge that comes from the Word and take captive and remove every thought that is contrary to it. That, my friend, is the only way to reach the finish line. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that clearly tells us that the devil is out to seek and destroy us. Help us to remember that our thoughts are many times what satan will use to make us doubt what we can do through You and for You. And then help us to stand firm and fight the good fight knowing that through You, all things are possible. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Victory - Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5PHqan-lg8

Live it to the fullest

"“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”" Psalm 39:4,5

Jill Jackett, a beloved teacher, cross country coach and avid runner, was killed by a hit-and-run driver late last week while she was out for her usual morning run in Rochester, New York. She was only 38. Todd Grimes, the athletic director at the school where Jackett worked said, "We have lost so much more than a great coach and teacher. We have lost an amazing person." An opinion shared by many, including Russell Herman, a member of the Bagel Brunch Runners who joined Jill (she was a member) every Saturday for their group long run, "As a runner, she was intensely competitive, but in a quiet way. She’d never admit it, but whenever you ran with her, it was a hard run. So many people are impacted by her death. If anything good comes out of it, it’s that a whole lot of people will carry on her legacy of truly living life to the fullest.”

You know, truly living life to the fullest is something we should all ascribe to do. Wouldn't you agree? David certainly did-which is why he asked God to remind him that his time on earth was short and that his days were numbered saying, "at best, each of us is but a breath." He knew that living each day with the knowledge that it might be his last, or even close to it, would help him to make better choices of how he would spend his time. Think about it... if you knew you only had two months to live, would you live today differently? Would you forgive easier? And love harder? Would you attempt those things you only dream of? And most importantly, would you boldly tell others about Jesus?

The sad truth is, life is short no matter how many days we are given my friend. And since we never know the number of days that will be, we should start living now, making each moment count for something so that we too can leave a "legacy of truly living life to the fullest."

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that life is short. May today be the day that we completely surrender our will to yours that we might live life to the fullest in service to You. Call us out to do great things Lord and equip us to save the lost that we might leave a legacy of faithfulness for others to follow. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Take my life - Jeremy Camp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkK8RdZ99jM

https://www.runnersworld.com/obituary/rochester-runner-killed-by-driver-remembered

He has compassion

"Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." Psalm 103:13 NASB

Within just a few feet of turning off of our town’s main highway and onto a side street on my early morning run yesterday, I saw a friend pull over on the opposite side of the busy road and motion hurriedly for me to come over. As I looked both ways and then sprinted towards her, she excitedly said, "I'm so glad that I saw you just now. What great timing! I really need you to pray with me." In awe of God's perfect timing, I took her hands in mine. And right there, oblivious to anything around us and the other cars passing by, we prayed over the situation she was on her way to face. Then as we finished, both of us near tears, she thanked me and drove off as I resumed my run. Wow! What a start to the morning. 

You know, God is so good like that isn't He? He knows exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. In fact, David, in describing God's great love for us, wrote, "Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." And if compassion is defined as a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for other people’s suffering or bad luck and a desire to help, consider that God is not only sympathetic to our suffering or pain but empathetic to it. In other words, our good Father can show us true compassion because he truly has an ability to understand what we are feeling because He has felt it too. 

In the words of Ben Carson, "God cares about every area of our lives, and God wants us to ask for help." So no matter what you may be going through today, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. God truly cares about you and has a desire to help if you are suffering... just ask Him. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would care about every area of our lives from our smallest fears to our deepest hurts. Help us to realize that You not only care that we are suffering but can suffer alongside us because You know what we are going through. May that thought bring us peace as we cry out to You to be compassionate to us. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

How He loves - David Crowder

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

Ignore the insults

"Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it." 1 Peter 3:9 NLT

Last Friday People Magazine shared Ultramarathoner Latoya Snell's story of being heckled at this year’s New York City Marathon. At 5 foot 3 inches and 218 pounds, Snell describes herself as a full-figured, powerful and phenomenal woman who uses running to cope with the trials of life. So as she was joyfully focusing on pushing through the last four miles of this famous 26.2 mile race, looking to finish her eighth marathon in four years, she was stunned when a man in the crowd began shouting disparaging comments about her weight. “Shocked and angry, I stopped and retorted expletives and insults. Two other female runners witnessed our confrontation and told me he wasn’t worth it. They were right, of course, but the damage was already done. By that point, I’d lost minutes and much-needed energy to a man who took pride in poking fun at my size.”

You know, regardless of how we look or how well we live, there will always be those people who enjoy putting us down for one reason or another. But when that happens, and you can be sure it will, the Bible reminds us not to "retaliate with insults", but to "instead, pay them back with a blessing." In other words, rather than reacting angrily to put-downs, you and I should pray for the person hurling them. After all, peoples' unkind words usually come from hearts in need of a Savior. And if we "repay evil for evil", they will never be drawn to the Christ they see in us and so desperately need. 

So today and every day, may you and I vow to follow the example of Jesus by turning the other cheek when we are insulted and choosing to love others that might never love us back-because, plain and simple, "this is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it." 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that clearly tells us that we are to respond to insults with kind words and to hatred with love. Help us to walk so closely with You that these would be our natural responses to the bitterness we will experience in this world. And by our actions, may we lead others to You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Bigger than me - Le'Andria Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3hgUpgbhVs

http://people.com/bodies/curvy-ultramarathoner-heckled-new-york-city-marathon/

Real heroes-St Jude Marathon 2017

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:1,2

This past Saturday, I was blessed to be one of the 37 runners who made up the official pace team of the 16th annual St. Jude Marathon. And of the 25,000 other runners that we shared the course with, a large number were recognized as St. Jude Heroes-those people who, in addition to running the race, fundraised for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Considering that a hero is defined as a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities, those runners and their supporters who helped raise $10.3 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude this year are most definitely heroes. Wouldn't you agree?

And if a hero is someone known for their noble or righteous qualities, the apostle Paul adds that a Christian hero should also be known for their strength and willingness to, above pleasing themselves, "bear with the failings of the weak"-looking to please or help their "neighbors for their good, to build them up." In other words, being a hero means taking action. It means being a helper, a supporter and a friend. It means loving others enough to use those things God has given you like money, time or talent to give back to someone else. Being a hero means being like Christ in a world in desperate need of Him. 

So if you think you have nothing to offer, no great strengths to speak of, consider this...it took 4,000 volunteers to put this race on.  From the people who worked the water stations and the police who directed traffic to the men and women who placed medals around our necks and served us hot food at the finish line, there were heroes everywhere. And you too can be a hero to someone today. You don't even need a cape. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be the ultimate example of what it means to be a hero. He always put others first and never failed to help someone in need. May we follow that example in a world that truly needs heroes that others might come to know You because of it. And Lord, I pray that more heroes will step up to help until cancer is permanently cured. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!! 

Love is action - Tauren Wells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owS7uJcdDh8

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).