Sheep need a Shepherd

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36 NLT

If you're like me, you've not only heard of organ donation but you have designated yourself as an organ donor upon death on the back of your driver's license. But did you know that, according to an article posted in Runner's World Magazine on April 09, that runners are considered ideal candidates to be living organ donors? Not many active people are aware of this key detail, the writer said, or why living organ donation is a better option in many cases. “Donation for kidneys is not only increasing and helping to decrease the shortage of organs, but we’ve also found that living donor kidneys, as opposed to cadaveric kidneys, have better outcomes,” Dr. Sheffield MD, Transplant Surgeon and Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation, Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Weston, Florida said. “The immediate short-term function of those living donor kidneys is better than cadaveric kidneys and the long-term outcomes are excellent.” The majority of living donors who sign up, they went on to say, are those people who know someone close to them that needs an organ; people like 56-year-old runner Subbu Venkat who decided he was willing to make the ultimate act of humanity and compassion and became his relative’s living kidney donor in September 2014.

And you know, when it comes to compassion, or the sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it, the Bible says that when Jesus saw the "crowds, he had compassion on them..." Why? Because, like us before we accepted Jesus' offer to follow Him, "they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." And Jesus' compassion was surely justified when you consider that sheep literally cannot survive long without a shepherd. They are not only prone to wandering off from the flock, they can't find pasture and water by themselves, they are wide-open and helpless against predator attacks, and will soon become plagued with diseases and unkempt hooves on their own. In other words, sheep are totally helpless without a shepherd and we are totally helpless without the Shepherd. 

So if you've yet to make the decision to follow Jesus, let me ask you this... are you lacking direction today? Do you feel hopeless? Do you need guidance? Are you worn out, weary, and confused? Then simply say, "Jesus, I can't do this on my own anymore. I am a helpless sheep in need of a Shepherd. Come into my life and lead me along the right path all the rest of my days. I choose to surrender and follow You today." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the insight into just how helpless and hopeless we are until we choose to follow You. Thank You for being the good Shepherd who cares so much for us, your sheep, that You laid down your life to rescue us from our sins and vowed to lead us into life everlasting. Oh praise you for that today Lord. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Morning by morning - Pat Barrett

Pursue growth every day

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV

On Sunday, April 4, 26-year-old runner Ruth Chepngetich from Kenya won the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon in 1:04:02, breaking the previous world record of 1:04:31 by 29 seconds. This was Chepngetich’s third win of the Istanbul-based race and her fastest time yet; Ruth was so fast, in fact, that she averaged a 4:53 mile and beat her personal record by more than one minute. “I am really happy with this amazing result,” Chepngetich told World Athletics. “The world record is something I have been dreaming about for some time, and I am so happy to do it on the streets of Istanbul.” But this amazing performance would not have been possible without the purposeful efforts Ruth put forth day after day to become better and faster; something you can be sure she will keep on doing if she wants to continue to improve.

And you know, when it comes to continually improving, the Bible urges all believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" -- something that requires us to put forth purposeful effort each and every day to do those things (prayer, Bible study and meditation) that will draw us closer to Him and give us a better understanding of the Word. Why is this so important you might ask? Because continually improving our knowledge of the Truth is the only way that you and I can recognize and refute false teachers and ungodly doctrines, narratives, agendas and ideas; especially now as we draw closer to end days and see these things increasing, even within the walls of many "churches" and out of the lips of many "pastors." 

So knowing that, in the words of Edwin Louis Cole, "knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution," let us strive to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Truth that we would be prepared to stand for it in the face of any and all circumstances. "To him be the glory both now and forever!"

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us to be on our guard against deceptive people and ideas. Cause us to seek You at all times that we might get to know You better and better so that we would be ready to recognize and call out those things that are contrary to the Word. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

I want to know You - City Alight

The cause of Christ

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--" Romans 1:1 NIV

In a perfect world, I would do nothing but sleep, eat, run and worship Christ. But since our world is not perfect... eating, running, and having a place to sleep requires money which means I'm in need of employment. Thankfully though, I have what I believe to be the best job in the world which is working for my local health department as the Wellness Coordinator. And while my job description might have changed a bit since the events of last year, I absolutely love what I do and I love being a part of a team that serves our community--a team that now includes countless volunteers who work our vaccination clinics, staff our events and, most recently, donate their time and expertise to coach the participants of a new fitness program the health department offers. Each and every one of these volunteers is priceless and yet they rarely get credit for their actions; nor want it for that matter. They serve merely to help others because it is their calling and they know that by serving others they are serving Christ. 

And you know, if a volunteer is defined as a person who donates his or her time or efforts for a cause or organization without being paid, a Christian volunteer would be defined as "a servant of Jesus Christ." A title that Paul, "called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God," embraced.  You see, Paul knew that his time wasn't really his. Neither were his talents or his possessions. Everything he had was given to him by God and belonged to God. So to call himself a servant of Jesus Christ was Paul's way of acknowledging that he would give his time, efforts, and possessions to serve the One to whom he belonged; to serve the cause of Christ. And you can be sure that Paul expected nothing for his efforts in this life but looked towards the reward of eternal life with his blessed Savior in the life hereafter.  

So if you were asked to define yourself today, what would you say? Would you call yourself "a servant of Jesus Christ?" I sure hope so my friend because only what we do for Christ will matter in the end. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being worthy of our undivided service and devotion. Remind us Lord that we serve You best in this world when we serve others. Cause us to look for opportunities to volunteer that we might lead others to the foot of the Cross by doing so. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

The cause of Christ

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION-Make the right choice

 

Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog.

Now let's get started by talking about how quickly life can derail your plans and the two choices you have when life hands you an unexpected plot twist. But first, let's start with a story that runner Shelly Stout termed "A bittersweet and lengthy race recap: Bronco Buster Last Man Standing;"a story that illustrates just how quickly the plans we make can fall apart.

This was my first time running this format and as of a week before I was feeling strong and ready. Last Friday evening I started to have some pain and tightness in my right shin. Took it easy going into race week. I swallowed my pride and broke my run streak, completely resting it the two days before the race. It felt great yesterday morning. Then another issue arose 2 days ago… My allergies were getting the best of me, my asthma decided to flare up, to the point where I was having to use my inhaler. But I still wouldn’t let it get me down.

The first lap went perfect, I was right on pace and came in with 10 minutes to spare. 2nd loop I started to feel the tightness and achiness come back in my shin, but I thought “you got this girl.” My amazing friend Jill Brockman (who was crewing me) was right there to massage my shin and calf and feed me part of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 3rd loop the tightness became pain and I started to think “oh crap“. Consistently coming in with about eight minutes to spare it’s amazing what you can accomplish in that amount of time. Melissa Bland, was not only the race director but Rock Tape extraordinaire. Off I went on the fourth loop and that’s when everything fell apart. The pain in my shin became a sharp shooting pain to the point where I almost fell twice because it was hurting so bad. With 2 miles left in the loop I thought “just power through this sister“ and was thankful I still came in under the hour time limit. But I knew right then I had to stop. Just under 17 miles with all my body would give me. I cried a few tears, had a pity party, and then I looked around me. What I saw and felt lifted my spirits immediately. Smiles, words of encouragement, hugs, high fives, my husband there behind me, and an awesome personalized plaque!

Am I disappointed the race didn’t go how I know it could have and should have gone? Of course. But I’m not going to let one “bad“ race discourage me from continuing to give it my all. I really like this format of racing and will give it another go. I have made some amazing friends and progress over the years through running and racing. And so many of them were there yesterday. And so I shall take a (hopefully) short break from running, do some biking, and get some therapy on my shin.

I’ve learned over the years to find the silver lining in all situations, and so here is mine from yesterday: I was the ONLY woman that toed the line. After the first loop I officially became the first overall female finisher and the last woman standing! So there’s that. I really did have “a rootin tootin good time“ despite not having the race that I wanted to have. Because hey, that’s life. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Alright, so do you just love this or what? I know I do. So much so that I had to get a followup report on Monday morning when I asked permission to share Shelley's story. "Anything you want to add?" I asked her via Messenger. "I won't let an injury get me down. I will use this time to do more cross training and give my body the rest it needs," she replied. What a great attitude right? But guess what? That attitude didn't come naturally. The natural response of a runner who has just had their hopes dashed (and I speak from experience) is to be angry and resentful. After all, no one likes having to drop out of a race and no one likes getting injured. And this is where we get to the good part. Here are the two choices every runner must make when their plans don’t go as planned. And let me give you a hint... by making the right choice over and over you too can cultivate the attitude that says, "hey, that's life" and then makes the best of the situation. 

Choice Number 1. Feel sorry for yourself. This is the sad start of a chain of events that will spiral quickly. Why? Because when you focus on what you didn't achieve, the way that you are feeling, and the fact that this was not fair to you, you will find yourself doing things that will make you even more miserable--things like being too bitter to encourage your friends, too envious to celebrate the success of others, and too into yourself to realize that it's just way life goes sometimes. Life isn't fair and it isn't predictable. But do you know what it is? It's a beautiful thing when you, like Shelley, learn to find the silver lining in all situations. Which brings us to choice number 2.

Choice Number 2. Acknowledge that things happen and vow to find the joy, aka the silver lining, in every situation you might find yourself in. And remember, this attitude is an acquired skill that is worth learning. Why? Because our attitudes are the only thing that we truly have control over. And a positive attitude will allow you to look back without regret. For instance, I, like Shelley, recently injured myself while attempting the PST 100 (Prairie Spirit Trail). I dropped out near mile 50 due to injury and am now in a walking boot. Do you think I have a reason to host a pity party for myself? And to complain about the unfairness of it all? If you said yes, let me ask you something.... what good would that do? Would it change my circumstances? Absolutely not! It would only leave me feeling miserable for the next few weeks. And honestly, who has time for that? So I've chosen to use this time to cross-train and to become stronger; which means I will be able to one day look back at this time and not regret the way I spent it. And you know what else I choose? Joy!! Why? Because joy is what opens our eyes to see those silver linings!!

So there you have it friends, in a world that's unpredictable at best, always choose to see the silver lining in all circumstances. And always, always, always choose joy!! Doing so won't necessarily change your situation but it will change the way you look at it. And that changed perspective will put a smile on your face every time.

Happy Running!!!

He knows and He cares

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." Psalm 139:7-8 NIV

As I made my way slowly around the dirt track behind my workplace yesterday afternoon--getting outside to absorb some sunshine, breathe in the fresh air and move a little on my 15-minute break--I couldn't help but throw a little pity party for myself. "I miss my morning runs. I miss the sunrises and I miss being able to just walk at a brisk pace. Everything is so hard right now," I found myself thinking as I looked down at the walking boot I would be wearing for a few weeks after injuring myself while running a 100 mile race on March 27. And while I could have continued to focus on those negative thoughts, I refused because I knew it would only lead to despair. Instead I chose to remind myself that, although the sequence of events that led me here might have taken me by surprise, they didn't take God by surprise... not in the least. In fact, nothing takes God by surprise. Oh how that thought made me smile.

And you know, there will be times in every believer's life when their circumstances will cause them to wonder, "Does God know what I'm going through? Does He even care?" And just as David believed with all his heart, God is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present; which means nothing takes Him by surprise. There's nowhere we can go from his Spirit and nowhere we can flee from his Presence. If we go up to the heavens, God is there and if we lie in the depths, God is there. And the best part? Where God is, there is supernatural hope, comfort and peace. Which means, although we may not understand what's happening to us or around us, we can rest assured that God does and will work it for our good.  

So no matter what you might be going through today, I hope you will choose to find joy in your circumstances knowing that God knows, God cares and God is there. And that thought, my friend, should have you smiling from ear to ear. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there is absolutely nowhere we can go that You will not be there. You know what we are feeling and You truly care. And You are not a God who watches from a distance, You personally walk with us right by our side. Cause us to believe this Lord that we would find hope in every situation. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Psalm 139- MercyMe

Whenever the time is right

"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" Psalm 27:14 ESV

On February 1, 2020, Don Muchow, a 59-year-old runner from Plano, TX who suffers from Type 1 diabetes, set out to complete The Type 1 Diabetes Run Across America which included the Mouse to Mouse run -- a 2,761-mile cross-country ultra that would take him from Disneyland to Disney World. Unfortunately for him though, COVID put a few pandemic-pauses on his plan to complete the race in 98 days. But determined to let nothing stop him, Muchow set out to finish the run on March 2, 2021 and is expected to reach his destination today, April 05. Muchow will still complete the Disneyland to Disney World run in about 90 days, but the full cross-country journey will have taken him just over 14 months. Of these setbacks and waiting periods, Don said, "I never considered quitting even once. COVID didn’t change my mission: I want every single person with Type 1 diabetes to see that we can still dream big, despite the very real 24/7 challenges and risks involved in balancing insulin, blood glucose, food and activity.” True to character, Muchow never stopped running during the twin breaks — running 1,200 additional miles during the pauses. “I stayed on top of my conditioning because I wanted to be ready to start whenever the time was right,” Muchow said via email.

And you know, as this story clearly illustrates and most of us have come to know, our plans are never guaranteed... even when our mission is clear. You see, while God might make our calling plain, it may not come to pass in the time you and I might expect it to. Consider the story of David. He had been anointed king at age 16 but didn't ascend the throne until the age of 30. During the long pause, David was chased through the desert by King Saul and exposed to a variety of tests and trials that caused him to understand the importance of staying strong and courageous while waiting patiently for the Lord; something that would keep him ready to move whenever God deemed the time to be right. And we can know with certainty that David believed this message to be important because he repeated it with passion, "Wait for the Lord!"

So if life has you on pause today my friend, take courage. "Wait for the Lord" but keep yourself conditioned so that whenever the time is right, you too will be ready, willing and able to run the race God has called you to without hesitation at the moment He says, "Go." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God whose plans we can always trust. For the person who is in a period of uncertainty today Lord, cause their hearts to turn to You for strength that they might take courage and trust You as they wait on You. Cause them to understand that You always act at the perfect time. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Wait upon the Lord - Leeland

Jesus conquered death once and for all

“ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18 ESV

As an ultra runner (a person who regularly runs distances longer than a 26.2 mile marathon), I can’t even begin to add up the number of times I’ve heard questions like, ”You run how far?” or “You can run for that long and not have to sleep? How is that possible? Don’t you ever get tired?” And one of my favorites that always makes me smile, “Why would anyone want to run that far anyway?” And while I always try my best to explain the “whys” and just how amazing the human body is made—and how it can endure and do much more than anyone could ever imagine, I’m inevitably left with the person shaking their head and saying, ”I just don’t understand how that’s possible. It’s hard to believe.” And I guess I can understand their reaction when I look at how seemingly impossible it indeed seems to the majority of people. 

And you know, the same can be said of the way the death of Jesus on the cross conquered death once and for all? Death conquered death? That’s impossible and makes no sense right? Oh but it makes total sense when you and I stop to consider that Jesus didn’t stay dead. Oh no! Jesus Christ triumphed over death when He rose again on the third day, never to die again—and this is how He truly conquered death and earned the right to say, "I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” You see, the key to Christ conquering death lies in the word "forevermore." Other people have died and have been resurrected, but they all ended up dying again. Only Jesus was resurrected, never to die again. And because of this, every person who has placed their trust in Him will live again in heaven after they die. Seems impossible, I know, but it’s not. 

So as we prepare to celebrate Good Friday and this blessed Easter weekend, let us stop to remember that the resurrection of Jesus Christ did something seemingly impossible... it allowed Jesus, by his death, to conquer death once and for all. Something that we shouldn't keep to ourselves but declare to the lost so that they too can live again with Christ into eternity. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the sacrifice of your one and only Son who, by his death, conquered death to give us life. Lord, while we were still sinners, Christ did this for us. Cause that knowledge to quicken and strengthen our resolve to share the Good News with others not only on this blessed holiday weekend but at every opportunity, especially now as we see the end times drawing ever closer. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Death was arrested - NorthPoint InsideOut