Take it one day at a time

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11 NKJV

On Tuesday, CBSN DFW published a story about 74-year-old Texas resident Annabelle Corby who is set to run the Dallas Half Marathon this weekend, 50 years after winning the full marathon. Impressive huh? Of the first 26.2 mile Texas race, Annabelle said, “I ran the first White Rock marathon, now the Dallas Marathon, in 1971. I was the first woman finisher, and I was actually the only woman finisher that year.” Since that first marathon, she’s run 23. Her last 26.2 mile race was the Boston Marathon in 2005. Now, Corboy mostly sticks to half marathons. That’s what she plans to run this Sunday at the 50th anniversary race of the Dallas Marathon. She’s most looking forward to the support from the crowd. “I of course fade off into thinking about how much further I have to go and so forth, but I try to bring myself back to paying more attention to the moment and how lucky I am to be there,” said Corboy. Her take on running is similar to the way she views life. “My philosophy is pretty shallow,” she said. “Live one day at a time, I guess you could sum it up.”

And you know, when it comes to living one day at a time, Jesus told us, among other things, to pray only for the provisions we need for one day, "this day.” Why? Because He loves us and wants us to humbly and faithfully depend on Him rather than ourselves for our needs to be met each and every day—something that happens only when we acknowledge that everything comes from Him and is given in His perfect timing. This daily fellowship and dependence then allows us to live contentedly today without worrying about tomorrow, the next day, or the next... fully confident that He will provide tomorrow’s provisions just as He has today’s. 

So while you and I should most definitely work hard and save for the future, we should pray each and every morning for Jesus to "give us this day our daily bread" and then thank Him each and every night for the “bread” that He provided to get us through "this day." After all, every good thing comes from God... something that should never go unnoticed, unappreciated, or unthanked. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to provide everything we need for each day. Help us to trust You in that promise so that we would not worry or fret about the future. Lord, forgive us for the many times we failed to thank You and stir our hearts to be grateful for the many blessings You provide each and every day. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Shine bright all year

"No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light." Luke 8:18 BSB

To say I was excited to be able to run yesterday would have been an absolute understatement. After taking significant time off to heal from an infection in my shin, I headed into the office well before dawn to run "in town" and then return and shower (at my office.. yes, I have the best job ever) before arriving at my desk at 9:00 a.m. to start the work day. But as I entered the building and the door shut behind me, I found myself in total darkness. "Oh no," I said out loud. "I forgot how dark this hallway is this time of year." Thankfully though, after taking some very careful steps and rounding the corner, I was met with the glowing lights from the Christmas tree that had been left shining in the window overnight. "Oh Lord," that's beautiful I thought smiling as I gazed at the bright white bulbs adorning the holiday evergreen. "It's exactly what I needed to find my way out of the darkness and into the light where I could gather my supplies before heading out for some much needed fresh air and exercise." 

And you know, Christmas trees aren't the only thing that should be shining bright this time of year. The light of Christ in every believer should be shining as well. Not just in the month of December, though, but all year round. You see, when Jesus said, "No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed," He was making it very clear that you and I are to shine the light of Truth into this dark world at every opportunity so that "those who enter can see the light" and find their way out of the darkness. That means not being afraid to "set" our faith, convictions, and beliefs on display for all to see or to speak the Truth that sets men free; and on every occasion living on fire for Christ. 

So in the words of John Wesley, "Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” Can you just imagine what our world would be like if we all vowed to do this? If we were all so passionate about sharing the Truth that we couldn't keep it to ourselves?  I don't know about you my friend but I want to find out.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are to be the light of Jesus in this dark world. Help us to not let fear, risk of embarrassment, the threat of persecution, or any other thing cover our lamps in any way. Give us the boldness to shine bright Lord so that the lost might see the Truth and be led out of the darkness. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Train your mind to be positive

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let’s get started by talking about something that has the power to motivate a person to reach the finish line like nothing else... positivity. For those of you, like my new friend Suzanne Johnson who I met on the second day of the Dogwood Challenge, who understand the power of positive thinking, this will all come as no surprise. But for those of you who haven’t tapped into the power of a positive mindset, or might not even know how to, this blog is for you.

Suzanne is on the left, pictured here at Dogwood Canyon

So speaking of Suzanne... this is the message she sent me Monday that inspired today’s topic. “ Hello, hello. It was so great meeting you at Dogwood! I just completed my 1st marathon this past weekend. It was a rough one. Check out the FB post I made about it! Thanks for your inspiration, your positivity stayed in my mind and helped keep me good mentally!”

Her Facebook post following the seriously tough trail marathon she did.... I did it (only with God's strength though)! Trained all year long for this day! Full 26.2 mile marathon. The training paid off because I finished. It was definitely a race to remember! It was a gorgeous, brutal, treacherous, beautiful, "angry hill" trail race set in the bourbon hills of Shepherdsville, Kentucky. It started off very, very, physically difficult for me because I wasn't feeling well the day before, which led to gut issues race morning, and then I jacked up my foot just 1 hour before race time on our way out the door. So thankful for Christy who told me to "suck it up, let's go!" So here I am, 10 minutes to start time, sitting on the toilet taking Imodium AD, with a bandaged foot just praying for strength to finish this race I've trained so hard for. I watched one gal get carried out from an injured ankle and watched another gal go down in front of me..... so I took it slow. Started battling nausea issues from pure exhaustion about mile 20, thankful for the aid station at mile 21 that had ginger ale, pushed slowly through those last 5 miles, and made it.

So what exactly is this positivity that kept Suzanne good mentally despite all the obstacles she faced? By definition it’s the practice of being positive or optimistic in your attitude and thoughts. Did you get that practice part? Positivity stems from repeated and practiced thoughts of hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. And guess what? Just like with running, the more you practice it the better you become at exuding it. And when positivity pours out of you, it not only benefits you but those around you. Positivity is downright contagious!

To see just how contagious, check out what Suzanne said about the positivity she received from me that helped her complete her first marathon, keeping in mind that every runner (that's you!) has the power to pass this on as well...

Here's the picture of who I am from when we met on the trail, 2nd day of Dogwood. You were with a guy, maybe John???, who I think you were coaching that weekend, or pacing, or something like that.(I'm from Wichita, KS area where it's super flat, and we don't have hills like that to practice on.) We had all run Saturday and were super sore and tired on Sunday. We kind of leap-frogged for awhile and I commented on the saying on the back of your shirt (the one in the picture). I am the gal beside you. I thought it was a lot of fun seeing my backside in someone else's profile picture for awhile, lol. I may have Facebook stalked you when I got back from the race, to learn more about you, where you were from, and this running group you told me to look up. I just remember you were so positive with that guy, and very encouraging to me as well. That 2nd day of Dogwood was 100% a mental challenge for me because I really didn't want to be there. I just wanted to be back at home in bed, resting. Not back on the trail working my already tired, sore, exhausted body from the 25K the day before. I felt just like a cartoon character with 2 little angels on my shoulder the whole time. One was saying "you're crazy, why are you doing this, go back to bed, just walk the whole thing, etc." Then the other little voice was saying, "you paid to do this, this is your training for your upcoming marathon, push through the pain, you've got this, gotta keep going, you're not a quitter, you have enough energy now jog, move that body, run the flats and downs, walk the uphills." And then there was your voice, "God's got this, use His strength, push through, we'll all finish this together, you're not alone." And then your shirt #To God Be the Glory. I am a Bible believing protestant Christian, but haven't had my focus on Him during most of my runs or training. You helped put that back into place, which I am so very thankful for. I really relied on that during this last weekend Marathon. Even though Satan was doing everything in his power to knock me down, I totally relied on God's strength to keep me in a positive mental state. Saying only the positive words through that whole marathon was enough to keep me moving. Most of the time I was praying for strength and just kept saying "one foot in front of the other, just one step at a time," and it was enough to get me to the finish line. I also kept saying all those positive things that I was saying back at Dogwood too. And there was one point in time I told myself "Girl, gosh darn it! You gave natural birth to 5 big healthy boys, you can do 26 miles, come on, pick up those feet and MOVE!!! You've got this!" Lol. And I kept reminding myself that God created those hills and I was running in His neck of the woods. He was totally there with me, I was enjoying what He created and I needed to be grateful for the scenery because I don't get to enjoy that everyday (flat Kansas girl here.) 

Wow! Do you just love that or what? And I have no doubt that Suzanna passed on the positive words she received from me to others. See why it's so important to cultivate and exude this attitude? Still don't believe me? Check out a couple reasons why Trail Runner Magazine rightly called positivity a "Performance Enhancer." 

• A January 2018 article in the “Psychology of Sport and Exercise” journal sought to examine the effects of smiling, frowning and relaxing while running. They had 24 trained runners do six-minute bouts on a treadmill at 70 percent of velocity at VO2 max (essentially an easy run pace). When smiling, they used less perceived effort and energy to go the same pace, translating to improved running economy of 2.2 percent over control and 2.8 percent over frowning. The study had some limitations. It was at a lower intensity than many race scenarios, for one. Also, the effect was more pronounced in male study participants versus female participants. But it generally demonstrated a principle that applies beyond your running life: if given a choice between being the person that is quick with a smile and being the person that withholds enthusiasm, choose the smile.

• A 2012 study in the “Journal of Sports Sciences” found that runners that were given compliments had better running economy. It doesn’t have to come from the outside, either. This 2014 study on cyclists in the “Medical Science Sports Exercise” journal found that positive and motivational self talk improved performance. A 2011 meta-analysis in the journal “Perspectives on Psychological Science” put it all together to find that positive self talk works for both performance and learning.

So there you have it friends. From both a scientific viewpoint and that of a grateful runner, positivity really is good for all of us. But just like a smile, we shouldn't keep it to ourselves! So choose to look for the good in everything. Choose to speak words of affirmation and encouragement to those around you.  Choose to laugh when your situation is less than perfect. And choose to sing with abandon when the race gets hard. Choose all of these things and you will have chosen positivity... a choice you will never ever regret. 

Happy Running!!!

We must press on

"He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!" Luke 13:32-33 NIV

On December 2, Runner's World Magazine published an article asking these questions, "How Long Is a Marathon? Why exactly is the race 26.2 miles? And why is that last little bit torture, glory, and history all rolled into one stretch?"' The writer went on to say, "As many know, it is not just 26 miles. There’s that pesky point-freaking-two—385 yards with inestimable importance. In those final moments, races are won and lost, Boston-qualifying dreams come true (or die). The realization that you did it happens, but you still have .2 to go.... It’s a complicated feeling, reaching that 26-mile mark. It’s elation when it's approaching, knowing you only have .2 to go. But the final meters grind. They seem endless, a stretch of road that tests your every mental and physical capacity. Only the race you run that day can dictate if you’ll surge or flop, sprint or fall. But once you get there, don’t be shy: raise your arms in triumph or cry out in pain. This is the moment you’ve trained for—the final stretch, the end." The final meters grind? As someone who has completed my fair share of marathons, I will attest to that being a true statement. The final .2 can indeed seem endless and painful. Which is the very reason we must keep our eyes on the finish line to avoid slowing down. 

And you know, when it comes to pressing on despite obstacles, especially in the final meters, I love the attitude Jesus had. Nearing the end of His race, Jesus was once again met with opposition when He was told to go somewhere else because Herod wanted to kill Him. Rather than back down though, Jesus said, "Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day..." Jesus was determined to let nothing slow Him down as He raced to the finish line. He was resolute and steadfast in His decision to press on with dogged determination and tenacious persistence until he reached the goal He was given by the Father. His attitude was, "I MUST press on..." And press on He did!

So let us imitate Jesus my friends. Let us make the determination that we will keep doing today, tomorrow, and every day whatever task the Father has called us to do. In spite of all obstacles and increasing hostility towards following Jesus, we must press on to the finish line without slowing down even one bit, knowing that a prize of immeasurable value awaits each person that remains faithful til the end. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Jesus who never shied away in fear, never backed down from a challenge, and never slowed down in His pursuit to serve You and accomplish all that He was instructed to do. Lord, give us this same attitude that we might be able to impact our world in the same way Jesus did. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Lawlessness will continue to increase

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. " Matthew 24:12-13

Fox News recently reported that two women were attacked and sexually assaulted while out running in New York City. They went on to say that there have been other similar events across the country in recent weeks, according to local reports. In Port Huron, Michigan, a woman was assaulted while she was jogging on Monday, according to The Detroit News. Last week in Marlboro, New Jersey, another woman was also attacked while she was jogging in a park, the Asbury Park Press reported. Other similar incidents have been reported in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dayton, Ohio, and Houston, Texas. In the wake of these attacks that are most definitely on the rise, Fox News spoke with personal safety and self-defense expert Jennifer Cassetta who recommends that everyone take self-defense classes so they can learn and practice techniques that will help them in potentially dangerous situations. She added that, instead of waiting for people to stop attacking one another, it’s more important to take a proactive approach to safety. "If you feel like you can protect yourself...you just walk through life very differently than living in fear," Cassetta said.

And if you think these are isolated incidents or that people will soon "stop attacking one another," think again my friend. One need only watch the news for a few minutes to see that lawlessness, a state of disorder due to a disregard of the law (for both God's and for man's), is spiraling out of control everywhere. And because of that "the love of many" has grown cold, something that we are also seeing in epidemic proportions. But before you let this upset you, remember this... Jesus told us these things were going to happen before his return so that we could be ready. Not by taking self-defense classes though (although that's a great idea for everyone), but by studying, meditating, storing up, and strengthening ourselves in the Word so that we will be able to endure to the end. 

So if the circumstances of our quickly-changing world have you feeling a little fearful today, take heart. Not only did Jesus tell us what would happen in the last days but promised to be with us through it all, even to the very end of the age, a time we should be waiting for... not in fear but in hopeful expectation. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing us for Jesus' return by clearly telling us the things that must occur before that happens. Help us to be brave and courageous during this time knowing that the worse things get, the closer "the end" is. Cause us to have a heart for evangelism Lord and give us the courage to take the Good News to the ends of the earth so that no one would perish without hearing the name of Jesus and His offer of eternal life. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen, 

Happy Running!!!

Don’t be caught by surprise

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 NLT

Like most runners, Eighteen-year-old ultramarathon runner Samuel Odom has a favorite route. Unfortunately though, as Spectrum News 1 out of North Carolina reported yesterday, Pilot Mountain State Park, Samuel’s favorite trail, is closed due to wildfire. He's running on the road instead because of the blaze that's been dubbed the "Grindstone Fire.” You get to run a little bit faster, but at the same time it's a lot harder on your knees, your hips, your ankles," Odom explained. Odom says getting ready for his run Tuesday just feels different because he does about 90% of his ultramarathon training at Pilot Mountain, and he loves it there. “I just love the peacefulness. It's really low key here. Not too many people. There's more horses than people here, so that's really great," Odom said. Odom was caught by surprise when he saw the mountain in flames and his favorite trail closed."I was definitely shocked. I definitely wasn't expecting it, but I don't think anyone was. It's very tragic," Odom said.

And you know, when it comes to being caught by surprise, the Bible tells us that “the Lord's return will come unexpectedly.” So unexpectedly in fact that it will be “like a thief in the night... when people are saying, “everything is peaceful and secure” when it’s anything but. But you and I don’t have to be caught unaware because the Bible also tells us what will happen in the days leading up to Christ’s return—things that are occurring right now, things that we should be taking diligent notice of so that we are not shocked on that “day.” Not only that, while you and I anxiously await Jesus’ return, we should be sharing the Good News with the lost so that they might choose to accept Him now before it’s too late. After all, there’s absolutely nothing more tragic than the fate that awaits all those who die without having done so.

So look for opportunities to share the Gospel today my friend and be bold, yet kind, caring, considerate, loving, and meek when doing so. The gift of eternal life that is given to all those who choose to follow Jesus is the absolute best thing we could give anyone this Christmas season.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word that tells us what to expect in the end times. Lord give us discernment to interpret that Word so that our eyes and hearts would be open to the seriousness of what’s to come and the urgent need to share the Good News. Give us a heart to evangelize Lord and remind us that it’s sometimes just as easy as sharing our testimony with someone else. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Jesus made it simple

"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

If you're like me and thousands of other runners around the world, you view food as fuel--and as such, try to only put in "healthy" fare that will allow you to perform better. Which is the very reason, the newest article in Runner's World Magazine titled, "Is Chipotle Healthy? Here's What a Dietitian Says" caught my eye. As someone who eats there every chance I get, I was happy to hear what Roxana Ehsani, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., sports dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics had to say. Chipotle offers an abundance of healthy choices for customers. She lauds the nutrient-dense options available, like brown rice. Plus, there are plenty of veggie choices—such as peppers, onions, lettuce, and the diverse range of salsas—that are rich with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Both pinto and black beans are excellent sources of protein (and plant-based protein at that), as well as dietary fiber. That being said, Ehsani issued this warning, " Keep in mind, it’s easy to go overboard... so as you’re going through, beware of adding too much sour cream, queso, cheese, or even an extra scoop of guacamole." Admitting that it can be overwhelming to say “no” to every extra ingredient you’re offered, Ehsani laid out what to put in your bowl, burrito, or salad to make it simple to order. 

And you know, when it comes to knowing and living out the commandments laid out in the Bible, many Christians might admit to feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully though, Jesus laid it out in simple terms when he said, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." You see, by fulfilling these two commands, a person follows all the other commands. That means if you and I truly love God and our neighbor, we will naturally keep all of the commandments. Pretty simple right? 

So let us strive to love the Lord with all that we have friends and then to love our neighbors as ourselves. Doing so will ensure that we follow the commandments laid out in the Word. Aren't you glad Jesus made it so simple? 

Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us exactly what is required of us in a way that we can understand. And while loving You and others as we should might seem simple, we know that it's anything but simple unless we do it in Your strength. Help us to surrender our will to Your's each and every day Lord that we might be completely yielded to You and thus fulfill the greatest commandment and the second one that is equally important. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!