Study to Show Yourself Approved

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

In a story published by the Daily Mail yesterday, it was reported that a marathon runner in China missed out on first place after he was accidentally sent in the wrong direction by race volunteers. The incident took place during the 2024 Hangzhou Marathon held on the morning of November 3. In the footage, Ethiopian runner Tesfaye Deriba Ketema can be seen in the lead with his Kenyan rival Moses Kibet trailing close behind. However, as they approach the finish line, both runners appear to misinterpret the race staff's hand signals and they take a wrong turn. Both men hastily realise their mistake and sprint to the finish line. Unfortunately for Mr Ketema, however, the mistake meant that his trailing rival Mr Kibet was able to assume the lead in the race - without even overtaking him. This is due to the fact they were forced to double-back to follow the correct route, putting Mr Kibet into the lead. Mr Ketema was unable to reclaim his leading position, and Mr Kibet crossed the finish line in first place - claiming top prize with a time of 2:07:47. Mr Ketema was just six seconds behind but his mistake was a costly one as it meant he missed out on the £41,800 cash prize for first place.

And, you know, while it’s one thing to accidentally misinterpret someone’s hand signals, it’s a whole nother thing to purposely misinterpret the Bible. Which is the very thing people do when they fail to thoroughly “study” the Word as they should and choose to “cherry-pick” individual verses or passages so as to take them out of context instead. You see, there is a right way and a wrong way to divide “the word of truth.” And the right way takes the WHOLE Bible into account as though it is one large story, because it is! Scripture ALWAYS supports scripture. You will NEVER read something in God’s Word that contradicts itself. This correct handling of the word is crucial then because it keeps people from translating scripture in a way that supports an ungodly narrative or gives approval for actions, thoughts, and lifestyles that the Bible clearly condemns.

So in the words of Paul, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” and not unto man my friend. Make it a priority to devote your time and attention to knowing what the word says, and knowing what the word means so that you will be known as “a workmen that needeth not to be ashamed” and as a person who correctly explains “the word of truth.”  In this way you won’t be responsible for sending someone in the wrong direction. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the Bible must be studied and analyzed as a whole so it can be taken into context and explained correctly. Help us to refute errors in the way the world translates the Bible by picking single verses and using them to fit their narrative, thereby wrongly dividing it Lord. And please cause us to be bold in pointing out the truth in love, knowing that by doing so we are keeping people from going in the wrong direction and missing out on eternal life. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus amen.

Happy Running!

Cling to the Rock that is Higher than you

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:1-2 NKJV

After finishing up the Dogwood Canyon 50k trail run late Saturday afternoon (after nearly eight hours of running), my husband (who was waiting for me at the finish line after completing the 25k earlier) and I headed back to our room to prepare for day two of the Dogwood Canyon Challenge, which would require completing another 15k of trails. And if the thought of another morning spent running up and down the Ozark trails didn’t fill my heart with joy, knowing that I had the blessing of delivering the prerace devotional before  the race began did. “Lord,” I prayed as I propped up my tired feet and began to prepare Sunday’s message, “what would you have me say to encourage these runners tomorrow to complete life’s race when the course before them is hard?” 

And as the runners gathered around before the start of Sunday’s race, this is what I said…

“In the first two verses of Psalm 61, David prayed the prayer, ‘Hear my cry, O God;… from the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.’

Let me tell you, if you were here yesterday for the 25k or 50k, this was undoubtedly a prayer that you prayed as well. I know I did. Many times in fact over the course of 31 miles I cried out to the Lord for help. Not only were the hills challenging but the massive amounts of mud from the rain made it very slippery to navigate at several points. 

And I imagine it will be that way today as well. Which means it’s a great time to remind you that on the course and in life, there’s nowhere you can go that God can’t hear your prayer and no predicament you can find yourself in that God can’t help you get out of… even those that make you feel as if you’re drowning under the weight of things, slipping out of control, or utterly and completely defeated. 

This was the emotional state David was in when he penned these words.  And even though David was a great king, he knew that there was a King higher than him. The King of kings and the only One who could come to his rescue. 

You see, David was at a point where he needed secure footing because his circumstances were out of his control and he was slipping into despair. Because of that, David knew he needed three things…

First. He needed the rock, a place of stability and security, something strong enough to stand against crashing waves or quaking earth and solid enough to gain a much needed foothold. 

Second. He needed a rock that is higher than I, a place above himself, above his wisdom, above his abilities.

And lastly…David needed God to lead him to that rock. David was unable to get to the firm-footed place above his crisis on his own in the same way that we all are. 

So friends… knowing that running in the mud and mire of the world will only leave you feeling overwhelmed and in danger of falling, choose to cling to the Rock that is higher than you today and then run with joy the race set before you.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunities you open up for believers to share the Good News and encourage others through the words and stories the Bible gives us. Lord, please help us to be bold in declaring that the only way out of the world’s muck and mire is clinging to the Rock, because without Jesus there is no hope for rescue, restoration or salvation. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Pride Leads to Shame

“When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 NKJV

In a story titled “Influencer Disqualified From New York City Marathon After He Ran With Unauthorized E-Bikes Filming Him,” it was reported that 
Matthew Choi, a running influencer from Austin, Texas, who finished the New York City Marathon on November 3 in 2:57:15, has been disqualified from the event after he ran much of the course with two people alongside him riding on electric bicycles and filming his race. New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon and dozens of other large races in the city, issued a statement on November 4 that read, in part, “After a review and due to violations of World Athletics rules, and New York Road Runners’ Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition, NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and removed him from the results. He has been banned from any future NYRR races.” Choi, 29, “ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, obstructing runners,” the statement said… Choi, who has more than 465,000 followers on TikTok and 405,000 on Instagram, runs with no shirt and a backwards baseball cap. In a clip posted to the Instagram page for the Matt Choi show, he says, “I don’t even think running is my job. I am a creator first and then I run.”

And, you know, this attitude of ‘rules for thee but not for me’ is very typical of people who think more highly of themselves than they ought. But, eventually, if left unchecked, a person’s pride and need for praise from the world will lead to their shame, as they will do anything necessary to get likes, follows, comments, and fame —even breaking the rules when necessary. Sadly this is a trend, as Paul predicted, that would only increase as we near the end of the end times. 

So refuse to get caught up in how the world measures your worth my friend. Stay humble and seek the approval of God above man so you won’t be disqualified and experience the shame that comes from being exposed for breaking the rules. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that true wisdom begins with a humble heart that acknowledges You as Lord and Creator of all. Help us to seek your approval above all else so we won’t be disqualified after completing the race set before us. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

There’s Happiness in the Hardship

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Psalm 119:71 ESV

"Well that certainly wasn't how I hoped it would go. But exactly how I expected it to.” Those were the words my friend Chris Hines posted after experiencing a DNF (Did Not Finish) at Sundays Bass Pro Marathon. Anxious to pace the 4 hour, 45 minute group, Chris stepped up to the start with some foot pain and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the pain only increased and he made the wise decision to bow out of the race at mile nine. “The day wasn't a complete failure though,” he went on say. “After a quick shower and change, I headed back to the finish to cheer on the runners and see Carrie [his copacer] bring home the 4:45 group. That proved to be more rewarding than I expected. There's something about seeing people achieve hard things that I truly enjoy. You can almost tell when it's someone's first marathon as they approach that finish line by the look on their face. Joy, pain, accomplishment, disbelief. A memory they will always cherish.” 

And, you know, as this story clearly shows, things don’t always work out the way we would like them to. But, as believers, we can keep the joy when this happens by remembering that God is always working through our circumstances for our good (even when the circumstances themselves are not good). Many times it’s only in looking back, though, that we can see it. This was something the psalmist clearly understood when he said “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” The affliction at the time I’m sure seemed to be heavier than the psalmist could bear and lasted longer than the psalmist thought he could hang on. But in the end, this wilderness season caused the psalmist to seek God in a way that he never had before or would have otherwise, and for that the psalmist was grateful. 

So no matter what you might be going through today, take heart my friend. God often uses suffering to grow our knowledge of his Word and his true character. And although our trials and afflictions might seem unbearable, they won’t last long in view of eternity. But what they produce in us will. And for that we must rejoice as we trust in and wait on God. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that trials serve a purpose that’s many times beyond what we can comprehend or understand this side of heaven. Lord, please help us to trust You as we endure them and to keep the joy so that others will see that trust and be inspired to follow the only One who can cause us to be happy in the midst of our hardship. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - The Benefits of Running in the Rain

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about Marathon Weekend. I don't know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it... especially the rain on race day. And I'm not the only one either (check out those smiles at the finish line in the photo above). I heard so many runners and walkers talking about how they didn't think they would enjoy running the race in the rain but had a better time running in it than they would have without the rain! Which is a good thing since the forecast calls for more rain this Saturday. So, if you're signed up to run the Dogwood Canyon 25k or 50k and you're a bit apprehensive, take heart. If thousands of other runners enjoyed the experience, you can bet that you will too. 

But hey, if you need a few more reasons to be coaxed into running in the rain, check out a few benefits of getting out in the precipitation:

Running in the rain could help you run faster.

Did you know that when temps are even just a couple of degrees warmer your performance can suffer? That’s because your body temperature rises as you run (hence the reason runners dress for temperatures 20 degrees higher than the actual temps). The warmer it is, the more you have to sweat to cool off. However, when the sky opens up, rain acts as a natural air conditioner to keep your body temperature down so you can keep your effort up. And you'll need all your effort to conquer the hills of Dogwood!

Running in the rain will help you deal with adversity.

While it may feel ideal to run on beautiful sunny days, challenging yourself to run in adverse conditions like rain will remind you that there are many things in life you can't control. Facing some of the things you can't control (like the weather) will help strengthen you to let go of things you don't need to hold onto or carry anymore and accept the things you can't walk away from but are powerless to change. This will help you to not only successfully complete workouts and reach your goals in races but also deal with adversity in the rest of life. After all, daily life is rarely a perfect, cloudless day or a leisurely stroll in the park.

Running in the rain helps to relieve stress.

Water is cleansing, and the sound of rain is relaxing. Combine running and rain and you get even more stress relief since running has been proven to fight depression and anxiety because of the release of those feel good chemicals called endorphins. Be sure to bask in the moment and count your blessings while you're out on the trail as well. This will further help you appreciate the experience and the inner peace nature brings. 

Running in the rain can boost your confidence.

Ever notice how the streets grows deserted during a rain shower?  Getting out there in adverse conditions will make you feel all the more gritty. And the sense of accomplishment you'll have when you're done will only add to your sense of self assurance that you're capable of doing much more than you give yourself credit for (in running and in life). 

You'll be labeled as hardcore!
People may call you crazy, or silly, or even blinded by dedication, but we know these are all just different ways of saying that you got out there and showed Mother Nature who's boss. While most people were cooped up inside waiting out the rain, you’ll be known as the one who defied the climate-controlled treadmill and tackled the hills of Dogwood. Own up to your high degree of awesomeness and embrace your new label of "hardcore"!

Now that you're thoroughly convinced that you can and should tackle the hills of Dogwood Canyon rain or shine, check out what to wear so you'll be prepared for the rain should the forecast not change. 

No running clothes are going to keep you completely dry in the rain, so you should expect to get wet. But the right gear will keep you more comfortable.

A running hat with a bill that extends out over your face.
A running hat with a bill will shield your eyes from the rain so you don’t have to constantly wipe water out of your face.

Synthetic, form-fitting clothing (including socks).
Don't wear cotton. Cotton T-shirts and socks act like sponges in the rain, soaking up water and sticking to your skin. Even in sunny weather, cotton doesn’t dry out as fast as synthetic fibers, and wet cotton can lead to chafing. Also, aa opposed to baggy clothing, form-fitting gear has less excess fabric to soak up water and cling to your body.

Anti-chafe balm
Try Squirrel’s Nut Butter or Body Glide to protect you from uncomfortable rubbing. I'm a huge fan of Gold Bond Friction Defense that can be found almost anywhere (Wal-Mart carries it) as well. 

A breathable, running-specific jacket (if it's chilly). 

Jackets that don’t breathe well might keep you dry from the rain, but they'll bottle up sweat and leave you feeling clammy. If it's warm, I’d suggest skipping the jacket and embracing getting wet. A jacket will simply make you feel hot and heavy, and getting wet will only make you feel more “hardcore”

The right shoes

This one is super important and always the top priority when it comes to running Dogwood. But it’s even more important when the ground is wet and muddy and lined with slick leaves. Trail shoes are a must at this event! My faves are the HOKA Challenger and the HOKA Speedgoat. No matter what shoe you choose though, make sure they have good traction to prevent or minimize slipping. On a side note, if you're participating in the Dogwood Challenge, it would be wise to have two pairs of trail shoes on hand to ensure you'll have a dry pair on Sunday. However, if two pairs are not in your budget, take off your wet shoes (and they'll be wet even if it doesn't rain because of the multiple water crossings) as soon as possible and remove the insoles. Then place them somewhere where they will dry quickly, like over a heater vent or out in the sun if we get a break from the rain. 

*HOKA is the Presenting Sponsor of the Dogwood Canyon 15k this year! So excited about that!!

And there you have it friends. We certainly can't change the weather but we can change our attitudes about the weather. And... we can wear the right gear! So rain or shine, I hope you're ready to join me at the start line of the greatest trail run there ever could be! You'll be so glad you did. Happy Running!

Challenges are Fantastic Ways to Grow Faith

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV

In a story titled "Thousands participate in Bass Pro Shops marathon weekend" published by KY 3 News yesterday, it was reported that more than 3,000 people from across 40 states - and one from Switzerland - made their way to the Ozarks for Bass Pro’s marathon weekend. Sunday’s Conservation Marathon was a qualifier for the famous Boston Marathon in April, while other runners competed in a marathon relay or half marathon. The route took runners across many neighborhoods, several paved trails, part of historic Route 66, around Missouri State University, and downtown Springfield. “Today has really been a fantastic challenge with the rain and the weather, but all these people still managed to come out and show their perseverance to get the job done,” said Melissa Bondy, the director of Bass Pro Shop’s Fitness Series.

And, you know, while most people would never use the word ‘fantastic’ to describe a challenge (especially one as daunting as making sure 3,000 runners were kept safe), that’s actually a great word for believers to use. You see, the Bible tells us that followers of Jesus Christ can and should be joyful whenever they “face trials of many kinds” because these challenges test their faith in the same way a marathon tests or reveals their training (or lack thereof). A true believer will rise to the challenge and trust God’s faithfulness to work any and all situations for good and will be able to keep running the race. On the other hand, a person with little or no faith will likely throw their hands up in defeat and walk away. Furthermore, each time a person is witness to the faithfulness of God, their perseverance grows because their trust in Him grows stronger, allowing them to overcome bigger and bigger battles over time in the same way a runner progresses from the 5k to the 10k and then to the half marathon and then to the full marathon. Challenges give us opportunities to grow!

So consider it pure joy when (not if) you “face trials of many kinds” my friend. These fantastic challenges will not only serve to grow your faith but also have the potential to cause others to seek Christ by the faith you exhibit when you keep running the race with your eyes on Jesus, despite the troubles you will encounter along the way. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the challenges in life that give us opportunities to experience your goodness, mercy, grace, and faithfulness. Knowing that the lost are more inspired to seek You by the way we face our trials than when we have no troubles at all, help us to be joyful, faithful, and hopeful as we trust in and follow You until the very end. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.  

Happy Running!

A New Perspective Brings Joy

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.” Psalm 39:4 NLT

As I sat down to prepare the devotion I would be blessed to give before Sunday’s Bass Pro Marathon and Half Marathon, my thoughts drifted to the weather forecast. As a seasoned runner, the predicted rain and wind were not alarming as I had battled these conditions many times. But for the first-time racers and many others, I recognized that this was a very big concern. And so I prayed, “Lord what would you have me say to them to calm their fears, lift their spirits, and encourage them to press on despite the conditions they might face” and this is what I was led to say…

“Good morning runners and walkers! It’s so great to be out here with you on this beautiful Sunday morning! Now if you’re saying, how can you say this is a beautiful morning with all the rain around us and more coming in later,  I hope you’ll choose to remember how blessed you are to have the strength and ability to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles regardless of the weather today or any other challenge you will face out on the course. Doing this will change your perspective so you can “run with joy” whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, and whether the wind is at your front or the wind is at your back. 

You see, whether you’re 18 or 80, there WILL come a day when you will no longer be able to run. This happens to everyone…  without exception. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, no one is guaranteed continued good health or freedom from injury, and no one escapes the aging process. 

This was something King David clearly understood when he prayed this prayer in Psalm 39:4…. LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. David prayed this prayer because he wanted to fully understand just how short and unpredictable life was so that he could thoroughly grasp his limitations and how powerless man was to control the events of each day (including the weather). David wanted to be prompted by God to remember that he, like us, only had a certain amount of time on this earth to do all that he wanted to do…. and all that God was calling him to do. Being “reminded” of these immutable facts then was a priceless blessing to David because it caused him to appreciate and take full advantage of EVERY moment he had… something he could ONLY do because he understood what an undeserved gift each day was and how fleeting each day was. 

So no matter what today holds, and it may hold a lot of wind and rain, remember that your days are as numbered as King David’s were and that this day will pass by very quickly. For that reason make the most of it by getting out there and running with a smile on your face and joy in your heart, choosing to count your blessings and choosing to be thankful for the rain along the way…..  knowing that the rain and any other challenge you will encounter along the way will only serve to make reaching the finish line all the more sweeter and grabbing hold of your well deserved medal all the more meaningful.”

This was a message I wanted to share with you because no day will be free from problems my friend. I want to encourage you, as I did them, to face them all with a smile on your face and joy in your heart and to keep pressing on to the final finish line. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons running teaches us about life. Help us to understand that the wind and rain will take many forms as we navigate our days, but if we will keep our eyes on You, we will be both joyful and victorious. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!