Be ready to give an answer

"Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. " 1 Peter 3:15 CEV

With the Boston Marathon quickly approaching, many participants are likely running inclines in hopes of being ready to tackle the infamous Heartbreak Hill. And those runners living in Boston are no exception. Every Wednesday night all year long, the Heartbreakers, the running club of the Heartbreak Hill Running Company, host a free hill running workout on this legendary section of the Boston Marathon course in hopes that the runners will be ready to conquer it on race day. 

And you know, when it comes to being prepared, the Bible tells us that believers should "always be ready to give an answer when someone asks" them about their hope. But sadly, many Christians believe their faith is a personal matter and so never share their testimony. That's not what you and I are called to do though. We are called to "honor Christ" with our lives and proclaim His greatness with our lips that the lost might come to know Jesus because of it. And since we never know when the opportunity might arise to do this, we must "be ready" at all times. 

So I wonder then... are you ready? And, more importantly, are you willing to give an answer when someone asks you about your faith? I sure hope so my friend - because openly sharing the reason you have placed your trust in Jesus could very well change where a person spends eternity. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that sharing our faith with others is not merely a suggestion but a command. Help us be ready to do this by spending time in the Word and in fellowship with You that we might grow in knowledge and boldness. Help us to share the reason for our hope with all those You put in our path.  It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Hope changes everything - NewSong

The Cross is big enough

"'He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." 1 Peter 2:24 NLT

As we headed out the doors of the downtown St. Louis hotel we were staying in Sunday to make our way to our assigned volunteer station for the city's marathon, my daughter, Hope, and I didn't expect to see anyone out at such an early hour. But there in the darkness of the morning were the flashing lights of two city police vehicles. And as Hope slowed down her walk to watch a young woman in handcuffs being loaded into the back seat of the department's SUV, she leaned over and whispered, "What do you think she did Mom? Will they be taking her to jail?" "I don't know sweetie," I replied. "But whatever she did can be forgiven. No one is beyond the point of forgiveness. God is good like that." 

And you know, God truly is good like that. That's why I had the confidence to say, "whatever she did can be forgiven." You see, no one, as I went on to explain to my daughter, is beyond the point of forgiveness regardless of what they've done. The Bible tells us so saying, "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right." And that "our sins" part means your sins, my sins, her sins, and every other person's sins, who repents and turns to God. 

Perhaps you or someone you know is struggling today with the idea that they couldn't possibly be forgiven for something they have done? Let me assure you that it's just not true my friend. God personally made the cross of Christ big enough to cover any sin. He is truly good like that. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would forgive even the most shameful and unspeakable sins if we would only turn to You and repent of them. Lord, help us to be your hands and feet to boldly go out and share this message with a world that truly needs to hear it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Come to the cross - Anthem Worship

He knows your name

"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:3 NLT

Blessed to have been given the job of greeting athletes exiting the early-morning shuttle buses that were dropping them off near the start line of Sunday’s Go St. Louis Marathon, I was overjoyed to see that many of the participants I hoped to encourage had bibs with their names on them. So knowing how happy it made me when strangers unexpectedly called me by name, I began doing it to as many runners as I could. "Good morning Susan! You're going to have a great race! Nice to see you this morning Michael! Today is your day! High five Laura! You’ve got this!” And you know what? Each and every runner that I called by name smiled back at me. There's just something special about someone knowing your name. Don't you think?

But you know what's even more special? Knowing that God, the Creator of the universe, knows each one of our names. And no matter how alone you and I may feel, we're not just a number or another face in the crowd to Him. We are individuals who matter. Our problems matter. Our worries matter, and our feelings matter. In fact, you and I matter so much that He speaks to us intimately and individually to encourage and restore us when the trials of this world weigh us down. 

So if you're thinking God doesn't care about what you're going through today, think again my friend. You truly matter to Him and if you'll listen for His voice, He will personally tell you so.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that no matter how unworthy, downcast or abandoned we might feel, You truly love us, call us by name, and care about every intimate detail of our lives. Help us to see ourselves as you see us that we might live lives of purpose and joy, free from the lies of the devil. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

He knows my name - Francesca Battistelli

Point them in the right direction

"The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.'" John 4:28-30 NLT

Beyond blessed to have been invited to assist a dear friend at the St. Louis Marathon this weekend, I was excited to learn that one of my jobs would be welcoming runners off the early morning shuttle and directing them towards the start line. And as busload after busload of athletes appeared, exited the bus and made their way to the staging area of the race, I couldn't help but think that many of these participants might have gone the wrong way and missed the event altogether had someone not taken the time to tell them which way to go. 

And you know the same is true of our witness for Christ. Millions of people are lost and looking for a Savior that many Christians are unwilling to take the time to tell them about. And if you think you can't share the Good News because you're not qualified, think again. Jesus spent just moments talking with the woman at the well, moments that changed her life so dramatically that she "ran back to the village" imploring the people to come see the Messiah. And guess what? This woman wasn't schooled, proficient in words, or a mature Christian - she simply had a sense of urgency so great she had to run to tell others about Jesus!

So I wonder, have you lost your sense of urgency? When's the last time you told someone about the Lord? And if you don't think it's that important, consider this... if a person headed in the wrong direction doesn't turn and accept Jesus before it's too late, they might never receive the eternal life that is promised to all those who believe. And that, my friend, would be a tragedy like no other - and we would be the ones to blame. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that everyone’s time on earth is short and could end in the blink of an eye. Knowing that, help us to have a sense of urgency to share Christ with the lost. Give us the boldness to be the witnesses you have called us to be Lord that we might point someone in the right direction before it's too late! It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

In the blink of an eye - MercyMe

What you eat matters

"I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables." Genesis 9:3 NLT

In an article published yesterday by Runner's World Magazine, it was revealed that a bad diet is more deadly than smoking or high blood pressure. In fact, the study found that a poor diet, namely one high in sodium and low in whole grains and fruits, is responsible for more than one in five deaths globally. Additionally, researchers said, diets low in nuts and seeds and low in vegetables were also top contributors. The takeaway from all this? You can't outrun a bad diet. What you put on your plate truly matters. 

And you know, just as sin has tainted our world, it has also tainted our food - our insatiable cravings for sugar, artificial sweeteners, bleached flour, processed meats, fried foods and ingredients you and I can't even pronounce proves it. But God never intended for us to eat this way. The Bible tells us that food in it's purest form was "given" to us to provide the calories and nutrients we need to survive and thrive. In that sense then, food is a gift from God and not meant to be altered in ways that harm our bodies when consumed.

So if you still think what you're eating won't hurt you, think again my friend. Continually substituting the clean foods God has "given" us for the fast and overly processed foods the world offers will not only lead to weight gain, fatigue, diabetes, stroke, and a litany of other maladies and diseases, it will keep you and me from performing at our best. Because, truly, we can't outrun a bad diet. No one can. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing the food we need to live. Help us to understand that we will never be able to do those things You have called us to over a lifetime if we don't keep our bodies healthy. Lord give each one of us the wisdom and the willpower to eat only those things are good for us that we might honor You with our bodies. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. 

Happy Running!!!

Hungry-Kathryn Scott 

Get back up again

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin." Proverbs 24:16 BSB

Even though I was able to complete 33 miles out of 100 at the Prairie Spirit Trail race Saturday, I received no official finishing time next to my name in the record books only the designation of DNF (which stands for Did Not Finish). But you know what? I am totally fine with a Did Not Finish because it totally trumps a Did Not Start. That DNF means I had the courage to step up to the start line and it also means I gained valuable knowledge to help ensure I don't fail again. And for that, I will absolutely embrace the DNF title as many times as it takes to turn it into success.  

And you know, each one of us will experience failure at some point in our lives. Failure that can even cause us to give up completely and never try again. I've seen it happen time and again, and it always breaks my heart knowing a person could have been just one attempt away from success. Consider Thomas Edison who failed 1,000 times before the light bulb was invented. What if he had stopped at attempt number 999? And Henry Ford who went broke five times before the Ford Motor Company was successful. What if he had thrown in the towel after attempt number four? In fact, some of the most successful figures in history suffered multiple failures before they saw their dreams come to pass. But they never would have come to pass it they had given up. 

So if God has laid a dream, a desire or a purpose on your heart today, don't give up in your attempts to achieve it my friend. Embrace failure knowing it is a necessary part of any journey that leads to victory and keep on trying! And remember... you are never alone. God is always there to help you "get up" again, and again, and again, no matter how many times it takes. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that the only way to avoid experiencing failure is to never try. And not trying is the truest form of failure. Help us to boldly step out to attempt those things you have called us to do today knowing that when we fail, there's always something to be learned and You will always be there to help us get back up. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Get back up

The ultimate finish line

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." Matthew 19:29 NIV

I know from experience that training for an endurance race requires a lot of time and a lot of sacrifice. And I also know that it requires a dogged determination to not let anyone or anything interrupt that training. So when, Jim, one of my best running buddies in the world, messaged me to apologize for being MIA for several weeks amid his training for the upcoming Boston Marathon explaining, "I'm just too busy on the weekends. Plus I have a specific running plan that I need to follow," I said, "I totally get it... we can run together after Boston.” And you know what? I have no doubt that, because of Jim's unwillingness to take his eyes off his goal, he will reap the reward of crossing that iconic finish line on Marathon Monday. 

And you know, this same type of dogged determination is the exact thing you and I need to have in our pursuit to grab hold of the ultimate prize of "eternal life." You see, the Bible is very clear that walking with Jesus will require a complete and unreserved willingness on our part to let go of anything or anyone that would interrupt or hinder our relationship with Him. But the Bible is also clear that those who are willing to surrender all "will receive a hundred times as much" as what they cast aside for His sake, making every sacrifice more than worthwhile. 

So, knowing that, I pray you will make the decision to let nothing prevent you from reaching that ultimate finish line my friend. Your pursuit to do so will not only reap amazing benefits now but for eternity. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that a relationship with You is so worth fighting for. Help us to gain the dogged determination needed to let nothing interfere with the goal of taking hold of the prize of eternal life. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Prize worth fighting for