In His ability

"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:22-24

Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, "When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus." Corrie was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II by hiding them in an upstairs hidden room in her home. Although she was eventually discovered and sent to a concentration camp, she was released several months later and continued helping others until she died at the age of 91.

If you and I are honest, we would have to admit that many times we feel powerless to do things too. Whether it's completing a marathon, healing a broken marriage, overcoming addiction, raising godly children or simply getting through each day, we lack power because we forget this one thing... whoever says to this mountain move "and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." Corrie's faith allowed her to do things many of us would never dare or think possible and ours can too. 

So if you're feeling powerless to do something today like finishing your education, helping a lost loved one or moving on from a past hurt, "Have faith in God..." Inside His ability, mountains can be moved, lives can be changed and miracles can happen. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for filling us with power when we have none. Remind us that we are nothing apart from you but, by faith, we can do the things you have called us to. Help us to live each day knowing that everything we need is in you. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Only a Mountain - Jason Castro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWayfx3p2s

our daily bread

"Give us each day our daily bread." Luke 11:3

On April 20, Henry Ward, a recovering addict-turned-ultra-runner, completed his goal of running for a full 24 hours around the Belmont High School track in Massachusetts. Logging nearly 85 miles in the process, he did it to raise money for scholarships for programs to fight addiction. Of his own battle to overcome addiction and stay clean for nearly nine years, Henry said this, "You just take one day at a time, one step at a time. Can’t worry about a month down the road, really, just worry about today. Do the best you can for today."

You know not worrying about tomorrow, taking one day at a time and doing the best we can is great advice for all of us. The Bible tells us so when Jesus instructed us on how to pray saying, "Give us each day our daily bread." But you can bet that Jesus wasn't just talking about food. Oh no. He was talking about asking God to give us everything we need, spiritually and physically, for the current day. You see it's only by this day to day petition through prayer that we learn to come to God in a spirit of humble dependence regularly. And it's because God's provisions are provided daily, rather than given all at once, that you and I will have cause to pray and seek him each morning thus strengthening our faith and relationship with him.

So today and every day, let us ask God for our daily bread as we acknowledge him as the Sole Giver of all we need. And then as we take one day at a time or even one step at a time, let us simply trust that he will provide just what we need, when we need it – for every area of our lives.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for providing us with just what we need for today. Help us to look forward to our daily time with you as we thank you for your many blessings and then beseech you to once again give us what we will need for the day ahead. Help us to then trust you to provide it that we might be anxious for nothing. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Tis so sweet - Casting Crowns

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

He's a chain breaker

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains." Psalm 107:13,14

Ever feel like your workout routine isn't 'working' for you anymore? If you've been doing the same thing the same way for as long as you can remember and not seeing any improvement, it's most definitely time to do something different. Famed running coach Jeff Galloway writes, "If your routine has become so routine that you dread lacing up, it's time to make a change. Even minor ones can help you head out the door with a smile on your face." He suggests simple changes like rather than running the same loops, running them in reverse or instead of running the same easy pace, throwing in some speed-work. In other words, change up your routine if you want to see changes.

In our personal lives, we can get into the same old routines too can't we? Many of which just aren't 'working' anymore. It could be that perpetual anger, bitterness or unforgiveness we have towards someone or ourselves? Or maybe that habit or addiction that we've held onto for too long? Whatever it is, whatever is keeping you captive to the routine of sin, it's time to change it. Psalm 107:13,14 tells us that when the prisoners cried out for mercy, "He brought them out of darkness... and broke away their chains." 

Do you realize that God still has the power to break the chains that bind us? To rid us of the habits and sins that have become so routine that we don't even notice them anymore? With one cry out to the Lord, our lives can be changed and our chains broken-but, as Gary Renard wrote, "You will not break loose until you realize that you yourself forge the chains that bind you." 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would free us from the things that hold us prisoner. Help us to realize what those things are that we might cry out to you and allow you to break those chains. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Chain breaker - Zach Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYjKR69M6U&list=RDJGYjKR69M6U#t=0

Change your title

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

After 13 months of treatment, Joe Zayas graduated from a Christian drug-treatment facility in July 2015 with a goal in mind... complete a marathon. And that's just what he did on October 9 when he crossed the finish line of the Twin Cities Marathon and earned the new title, 'Marathon Finisher.' Once a man who rarely finished anything he started, Zayas said, "I'm not who I used to be anymore. I used to have a needle in my arm, and now I'm running marathons." And not only has running earned him a new title and medal, Joe says the sport is instrumental in maintaining his sobriety by providing "a positive, but equally effective alternative." 

Wow, that's quite a transformation from the drug addicted man he once was isn't it? And while the transformation into a marathon runner took time, Joe became a new person the moment he accepted Christ as his Savior. He was no longer 'Joe, the lost drug addict', but, 'Joe, child of God, found, transformed, forgiven and free'. And the best part is that this transformation can take place for anyone. The Bible tells us that, "anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun." Did you get that anyone part? That means that any person, even you, can be transformed. 

So today, if you don't know Jesus Christ, won't you make the decision to become a new person? To allow Him to change you from the inside out and give you a new life free from addiction and the pain that accompanies it? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that anyone, no matter what they've done, can become a new person by trusting you as their Lord and Savior. I pray that if there's anyone who has not done so will today say, "Lord, I admit that I'm a sinner in need of salvation. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I ask that you come into my heart today and change me from the inside out." Oh Father, thank you for this promise of salvation that is open for anyone to receive. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I am new - Jason Gray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6YG2NZguc

Uniquely designed

"Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

In addition to the momentous blessing of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior this weekend, I had the great pleasure of helping a friend complete her first half marathon Saturday. And by God's grace the first few miles we did a run/walk ratio to complete went by quickly but, as we prepared to tackle the second half, it was apparent that we would need to take more walking breaks, thus doing less running. So as the pace slowed, my now discouraged friend said, "This was one of the reasons I didn't want to do this. I'm so slow." "Oh honey," I replied. "That's exactly the reason you should be doing this! You should embrace the way God made you-slow or fast, this is the speed God gave you. We will make it to the finish line. After all", I also reminded her, "God knew exactly what he was doing when he made you the way he did."

In fact, the Bible tells us that, "we are the clay" and the Lord is "the potter" and we are all the works of his hand. Do you realize then that means that God created each one of us the way he wants us? Specifically and uniquely designed and hand-crafted by him to fulfill the purpose he has given us? So rather than live with disappointment or dissatisfaction with the way we are made, shouldn't we be embracing those qualities that make us different and looking for ways to glorify the Lord with them instead? I sure think so. 

So today let us celebrate and be grateful for our individuality, for the fact that not one of us is the same. That would be boring anyway, wouldn't it? And then let us always remain workable and flexible that the Lord can continue to mold us--knowing that just as the clay finds its highest purpose when it remains pliable in the hands of the potter, our lives fulfill their highest purpose when we let our Potter shape us the way he sees fit.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would personally mold each one of us with the same hands that formed the earth. Oh Lord, knowing that you have hand-crafted us. let us see ourselves the way you do and use our unique qualities to bring you glory. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Britt Nicole - Through your eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJzaQP1GmEc

Celebrate kindness

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10

Did you know that yesterday was National Good Samaritan's Day? It’s true. The day was set aside as a day to display unselfish actions to help those in need and to celebrate kindness. The term “good Samaritan” comes from the Bible parable where a Samaritan helped a stranger who had been robbed and beaten and left to die by the side of the road. The Samaritan not only cleaned the man’s wounds and clothed him, but took him to an inn where he paid for the man’s care. And in celebration of that day, Runner's World Magazine suggested taking time out to help a fellow runner in need by sharing gloves on a chilly run or paying for a stranger's morning latte, saying that the small act of kindness just might make their day a little brighter. 

And while I would certainly agree that small acts of kindness have the power to make a persons' day a little brighter, I don't think we should wait for a special day to do them. In fact, the Bible says that "as we have opportunity" that we are to "do good to all people." And you can bet that, in a fallen world full of pain and poverty, there are opportunities (or chances, occasions and windows) around us to “do good” all the time.

So may we pray today, and everyday, that God would give us those opportunities to show kindness to strangers and believers alike and would use us, in big ways and small, to show the love of Christ. Doing so might do more than make a persons' day a little brighter my friend, it might just lead them to Jesus. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there are so many hurting people in our world who would benefit from an act of kindness. Help us to be open and obedient to the Spirit's prompting that we would not miss even one opportunity to show love and kindness to someone in need. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Hold on tight - Greg Holden

https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0CB0CCNU

Beware of safety threats

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

With the Boston Marathon quickly approaching, the FBI and local police are looking for potential safety threats as they plan security for next month's 26.2 mile race. And while Boston FBI chief Harold "Hank" Shaw didn't divulge whether any threats had been detected at this point, he did say that security officials don't plan on being caught with their guard down. "We’re consistently looking at how that threat is morphing, whether it be the threat of the potential active shooter, whether it be vehicles used as a device for terrorism and all those things are factored into the greater plan of how we’re going to protect. The biggest thing is the need for good intelligence.”

You know, while it's certainly important to be looking out for people and things that can harm us physically, it's even more important that you and I don't let our "guard down" spiritually. We do that by gaining good intelligence on how the enemy, Satan, strikes and how we can best defend ourselves against those assaults. And you can be sure that the devil attacks by using “arguments," or fake philosophies, false reasoning and the schemes of the world, along with “every pretension,” or any thing he can find to cause us to be prideful, self-centered or take our eyes off our need for God. Thankfully, when it comes to fighting back though, you and I don't have to rely on the world's weapons which have no power to "demolish" them, but God's mighty ones - the Word, prayer, faith, hope and the Holy Spirit - that have unlimited power. 

So when exposed to a spiritual threat, or an idea or feeling that might lead us to sin, you and I must protect ourselves by immediately taking that thought captive “to make it obedient to Christ." In other words, when impure thoughts or intentions come to mind (and they will), we must immediately confess them to the Lord and allow Him to redirect our thinking. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the weapons we need to fight off spiritual attacks. Help us to remember that listening to arguments led to the first sin, as Eve listened to the devil and gave in to the lies and temptation that followed. Give us discernment Lord to recognize the devil's schemes and the strength and knowledge to fight them. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Get behind me - Relentless Flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Bt_OkaQwg