All glory to You

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:17

Over the weekend, I had the blessing of participating in, and helping organize, an eight-hour ultra endurance event. And as you can imagine at a gathering such as this, everyone had their own unique reasons for attempting to press on and keep moving for such a long period of time. Some used the race to see how far they could push themselves, some to just have fun, others for a training run to prepare for a longer race and, for one group, as a means to spread suicide awareness and deal with grief after a young girl in their community took her own life. 

And you know, when it comes to the ultimate reason that you and I, as followers of Christ, do anything, the Bible is very clear that it should be for God's glory saying, "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.." Knowing that full well, my dear friend, upon saying the prayer before the race began (with all the participants joined in hands around a big, beautiful prayer circle) said this, "Lord I just ask that as people see us out there on the course whether walking, riding or biking that they understand that we do things for a higher purpose Lord - that we do it to bring glory and honor to You - because it's through you that all blessings flow." 

So no matter what you and I are doing today, whether we are working, running, or at home with our families, may our ultimate goal be to glorify Jesus in all we do and say - loving and humbly serving those around us while "giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the many blessings that you choose to bestow upon us each and every day. May we, in thankfulness of all You have given us, especially the free gift of Salvation, serve to bring You glory in all we say and do that we might lead others to the foot of the Cross through our actions. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

All glory to God - Matt Maher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcdKSgJzVqw

Everyone had different reasons and stories for participating in this race. 

This fun group completed 30+ miles to promote suicide awareness and process some of the grief they were feeling. 

The final survivors of the 8-hour event. What a night it was! God was surely good to us. 

Word of life

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11

"Word of life. Speak to my weary heart, strengthen my broken parts...” Those were the words I was singing out loud just as my music player went completely dead nearing the end of my run yesterday. But you can be sure that I didn't miss a beat. I continued to sing the song for the next half mile. And then I sang another worship song. and then another, and another until I had completed my workout. Somewhere along the way I smiled at the realization that I could continue to sing these songs because, after listening to them over and over, I had memorized the words.

And you know, when it comes to memorizing words so they can be recalled when needed, David knew doing that very thing was vitally important to his spiritual life. In fact, he wanted to know the Word and keep it so near that he studied it and hid it in his heart, buried deep down, the way a person would hide the most valuable treasure. And you can bet that it was the most priceless treasure David knew he could ever possess. He knew the Word was his lifeline and the very thing that kept him close to the Lord and away from partaking in any sin that might jeopardize that relationship. 

And since the Word was hidden in his heart, David had access to it at all times. Even without a Bible or someone to play a worship song, he could recite the words and sing songs of praise. And shouldn't knowing and storing up the Truth be the goal of every Christian? After all, as the song went on to say, "There is a new song in my soul. And it begins when I breathe in... Your word of life."

Heavenly Father, thank You for your Word that lets us know You so intimately. Renew our passion to read it more that we might hide the Truth in our hearts and reap the benefits of a closer relationship with You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Word of life - Jeremy Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjf278z1atY

No matter what it feels like

"And the great dragon was hurled down--the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." Revelation 12:9 BSB

After quickly glancing at my local weather app, I chose my running attire based on the current temperature. Immediately into my morning run though, as the cold penetrated through my light jacket and my fingertips froze beneath my thin gloves, I realized I had made a huge mistake. I had neglected to check the "feels like" temperature. You see, forecasts can be deceiving when the temperature given is what the thermometer reads rather than what it actually “feels like" when you step into the wind. And believe me, the difference in the two can be eye-opening. 

And you know what? There's another situation where, if we aren't careful, we can be deceived too. It's when we know that we are forgiven but, because of the devil’s lies, it "feels like" we aren't. You see, many of us live under the burden of guilt and shame over sins that God has long since chosen to forget - but sins the devil, the "deceiver of the whole world" likes to bring back up by whispering things like, "God could never forgive you for something like that. You really think God could let that one go? What you did was way too big to ever be pardoned." And it's when we believe these lies, that you and I make a huge mistake... we forget God's promise and so live shackled to chains that have long since been released. 

So remember, you and I don't have to live with guilt or shame today my friend - no matter what it "feels like". God's promise to forgive and bring up our sins no longer is true. You can be certain of that. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for your promise that when we repent and ask for forgiveness that our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west and that you choose to remember them no longer. Help us to grasp that this is true that we may no longer live in guilt or shame today. And may this thought renew and rekindle or love for You, our gracious and loving Father that forgives his children. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Clean - Natalie Grant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hk8mrz-YAI

Quality tested

"their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work." 1 Corinthians 3:13

With winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour yesterday, I was grateful to have recently purchased a Nike shell that, in spite of being nearly paper thin, boasted to have the newest and greatest technology in wind blockage. "Alright you overpriced jacket," I thought to myself, "Let's see if you were worth the money." And you know what? It was. Although the sheer force of the gales nearly knocked me off my feet at times, it never penetrated the material, thereby proving the "quality" of the workmanship. 

And you know, while nature's elements tested the caliber of this piece of performance wear, the Bible tells us that "fire will test the quality of each person's work." You see, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, our life's "work will be shown for what it is." Each of us will give an account of what we did to contribute to the kingdom and "the Day will bring it to light." God will test the sincerity of our service to see whether it was genuine and done according to his instructions. Faithful and good work will be rewarded while inferior or unfaithful work will discounted. 

So knowing that good work will have its' rewards, may you and I vow today and every day to be faithful servants. May we do nothing out of selfish ambition, but work with sincere hearts to bring others to the foot of the Cross and bring Him glory in the process.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for who you are. You are gracious, mighty and forgiving and you are worthy of all praise. Cleanse our hearts today of any impure motives we might have to serve you and reignite our passion to make disciples of all nations. Help us to be bold that we might lead others to the Cross. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Audience of One - Big Daddy Weave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFxVfAZj5Q0

Posture is important

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers," Psalm 1:1

Sure, we all know that strong legs are crucial for running performance. But what about strong arms and shoulders and a strong chest and back? A recent article from Map My Run said that many runners are missing out on a golden opportunity to improve performance even further by neglecting upper body strength-training, listing three ways runners would benefit from doing so. Lifting weights regularly, they say, means more muscle glycogen (more muscle means more glycogen can be stored), improved arm swing (strong arms keep a consistent tempo) and better posture. Of the importance of posture: Your running form ultimately dictates your performance potential. If you can’t keep proper form and posture throughout your training or event, you’ll never perform at your best. Increasing upper-body strength can improve posture and help you keep consistent form.

And while our physical posture, or the position in which you and I hold our body when standing, sitting or while moving, is important to help us succeed in running, our spiritual posture is absolutely crucial to our success as a Christian. You see, how we stand, sit and move is important in keeping us on the right track. David certainly knew that and so warned us to never "walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers." In other words, you and should walk upright in a fallen world, stand for the Truth in a world that does the opposite and never sit, or join in, with people who make fun of God or others.

So may you and I strength-train daily in the Word that our spiritual posture might be so good that others would take notice. After all, the stronger we are spiritually, the more we will influence others to be the same. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that tells us so clearly the posture that we are to work to perfect and maintain. Help us to realize the value of consistently spending time with You through Bible study and prayer that we might gain the strength to stand boldly upright at all times. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Not ashamed - Jeremy Camp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wb21LfYdH0

Nothing would be impossible

""You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."" Matthew 17:20 NLT

On a windy afternoon in 1954, in the town of Oxford England, Roger Bannister did something most people believed to be humanly impossible - he became the first person to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile. And to put into perspective how difficult a feat that was, and still is, consider that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile. Of his feat, Roger, who died peacefully Saturday at the age of 88, once said, "It became a symbol of attempting a challenge in the physical world of something hitherto thought impossible. I'd like to see it as a metaphor not only for sport, but for life and seeking challenges."

And if a metaphor is a phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another to show or suggest that they are similar, you could definitely say that Mr. Bannister was correct - to achieve the seemingly impossible in sports or life, you have to first believe you can and then set out to do it. And how can you and I believe that the seemingly impossible is possible? Because, as Jesus told the disciples, if you and I "have faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move." You see, the "mountain" was a metaphor for a major difficulty, especially one that you and I might deem humanly impossible to overcome but one that, by faith, could be conquered. 

So if you're staring at a mountain today, remember this my friend... what you are powerless to do in your own strength, God can effortlessly do in His. Because it’s only when we put our “faith even as small as a mustard seed” in Jesus and His power to move our mountains, rather than our own abilities, that "Nothing would be impossible." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for your Word that gives us the promise that we can overcome even the biggest mountains, or difficulties, when we put our faith in You and trust that you will make a way when there seems to be no way. Help us to have "enough faith" to know that You are strong enough. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Limitless - Colton Dixon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VddKd73aNCI

Not by luck

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."  Proverbs 16:33 NIV

 With St. Patrick's Day approaching, many runners are gearing up for St. Paddy's day races. And if you've been looking for a pair of shoes to match those shamrock leggings and green boa, you're in luck. Brooks Running just announced the release of the new Launch 5 Shamrock Shoe. Featuring a four-leaf clover-covered upper and a Kelly green lining, the shoe’s final touch of holiday spirit comes from the gold coloring that’s sprinkled across the midsole and on the Brooks logo. In line with the “luck of the Irish” theme, the shoe puts a twist on Brooks’ “Run Happy” motto, with the phrase “Run Lucky” printed on the sock liner and heel. The Senior Manager of Brooks went on to say, "We celebrate the luck of a good running shoe and the many miles a shoe can take a runner."

And if luck is defined as the force that causes things, especially good things, to happen to you by chance and not as a result of your own efforts or abilities, what is "the force" that we are celebrating? Could it be that there is no such thing as luck and that everything that happens is under God's sovereignty? The truth is, God is sovereign over all and nothing happens that He does not allow or cause to happen. Solomon understood that when he confidently declared, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." In other words, you and I may roll the dice, but the Lord alone determines where they will land.

So today and everyday, may you and I celebrate what is truly worthy of celebration... our Father and Creator who has supreme power and authority over all things. Could there be any better reason to celebrate? 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that nothing is outside of your control and that You are sovereign over all creation. May that thought bring us peace today as we surrender our will and trust You to work all things for our good. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Sovereign - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMTG13qVY3g&list=RDJMTG13qVY3g&t=6