Share the Evidence

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

In an amazing story published by BBC News over the weekend, it was reported that: A long-distance runner believes he has beaten the world record for the most ultramarathons completed on consecutive days by a man.

This week, Sam King from Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, said he had reached 61 ultramarathons since starting his challenge in September.

The world record attempt is yet to be verified but, according to Guinness World Records, the record stood at 60 ultramarathons in as many days.

Sam hopes his challenge, a fundraiser for the brain injury charity Headway, will continue for 79 days.The 32-year-old wanted to raise money for the charity after his mum, who he described as "the most amazing woman", suffered a bleed on the brain earlier this year.

"We spent 24 hours at the hospital waiting for her to take her last breath and that just threw my whole life into perspective."

He quit his job in London and moved nearer to his hometown of Frinton-on-Sea so he could spend more time with her. He had planned to run 74 ultramarathons in as many days – one for each year of his mum's life before she became unwell – but he has extended the challenge to 79 days so it finishes on a weekend.

"What's an extra five days after running 74?" he laughed, before setting off on a run with a friend who was visiting from Exeter to support Sam's challenge.

His mum watched him finish his record-breaking run on Wednesday, which Sam said was "one of the best moments of my life".

He runs 50km (31 miles) in about five hours each day, which is about the same distance as running from Wembley Stadium to Gatwick Airport.

"I struggled a lot through the first few weeks but I've adapted into it now. It's just incredible how your body can adapt to these things and how good I'm feeling."He said he had already applied to Guinness World Records to contest the previous record set by Col Krishnan Badhwar in India in January 2023.

Sam records his efforts using two running watches and take lots of photos and videos ready to submit to an adjudicator at the end of his challenge.

"Hopefully they're happy and satisfied with the evidence at the end when I upload it," he added.

And, you know, when it comes to having evidence that leaves no room for scrutiny in proving the validity of a claim, the Bible tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And since God, who is the substance and solid foundation of our faith, can not be seen with human eyes, we must learn to view Him through an eternal lens—something that takes a deep trust in the evidence that can be seen. 

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20

Thankfully, God has made it easy for us to know Him in ways other than by physical sight and touch and to therefore put our total confidence in Him. And He’s done this by revealing Himself to us through both the Word and through the world—thereby giving us irrefutable evidence of His existence and of “His eternal power and Godhead” so we have no excuse for not following Him. 

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Furthermore, the Bible is clear that God “is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” through the Scriptures which allows even “the simple” to know and understand Him. That’s why it so important for us to seek and search for God with all our hearts that we might develop the faith that pleases Him and the faith that shows itself to be true through our actions.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” James 2:17-24

You see, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Which is the very reason Abraham, and many other saints, were commended for their deeds in Hebrews 11. Abraham's faith and actions worked together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. Abraham’s leaps of faith (and those of the others listed in the Hall of Faith) displayed the evidence of God’s mighty power for all to behold. They couldn’t see the Lord with their human eyes but they could see what the faith of Abraham produced... descendants as numerous as the sands on the seashore. And this was evidence of God’s existence!

So, do all you must do to grow your faith my friend. Read your Bible each and every day. Pray, meditate on God’s Word, spend time with other believers, embrace trials, and make time to get out into nature. But don’t stop there! Let your faith spur you to action by stepping out to do whatever it is God is calling you to do… trusting Him to provide for you in the same way He did for Abraham and countless other saints, especially when the task seems impossible. These works and your testimony will further serve as evidence of God’s existence that you can share to inspire the lost to seek Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God with a proven track record. You have never changed, Your Word has never been disproven, and Your power has no limit. Help us to acquire and grow the type of faith that moves mountains Lord that we might inspire the lost to seek and trust in You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Contentment Must be Learned

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

If you’re like the majority of people on this Black Friday (aka the day after Thanksgiving considered the best time to get a discounted price on items from footwear to furniture), you’ll either be hitting the stores or surfing the web for something you “need.”

And while there’s nothing wrong with looking for the best deal on necessities and essentials, after all we are called to be good stewards of our money, shopping for many has become an obsession as detailed in an article titled "Black Friday: How a Post-Thanksgiving Sale Became a National Obsession" published earlier this year. In the write-up, the author detailed the history of Black Friday and what it has become:

When Macy’s launched its first holiday parade in 1924 — then called the Christmas Parade, and three years later dubbed the Thanksgiving Day Parade — it wasn’t just pageantry. It was a signal flare for the retail world, capped by Santa Claus waving in the official countdown to Christmas.

“The Thanksgiving Day parade was one of the first experiential marketing moments,” says Barbara Kahn, professor of marketing at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “It didn’t say ‘go shop now,’ but it absolutely started the holiday period.”

Three decades later, Black Friday sparked our nation’s collective obsession with holiday deal-hunting. According to History.com, the term was first used in this context in the 1950s in Philadelphia, where it was coined by police to describe the gridlocked streets and unruly crowds that flooded the city the day after Thanksgiving. Marketers later used accounting terminology to flip the narrative, rebranding Black Friday as the day businesses went from “in the red” to “in the black.”

By the 1980s, that clever spin had stuck: Retailers embraced it, the media amplified it, and shopping became cemented as a post-feast tradition. Lining up and chasing a deal became a quintessential part of the holiday experience.

And while, a good majority of people now opt for online shopping rather than visiting the stores and the malls, one thing hasn’t changed… a great majority of the world is still obsessed with acquiring things.

But this is the deal with chasing after an abundance of “things,” specifically the “things” of this world, they will never be enough. They will exhaust themselves trying to acquire more and more but it will be in vain. You see, the person who seeks comfort and contentment in the “things” of this world will never have enough things because apart from Jesus Christ, there is no true contentment. 

This was something the apostle Paul had 'learned' that led him to say, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Unfortunately, many people take Philippians 4:13 out of context and use it to reinforce a “triumphalist” (think about completing a marathon after just a few training runs) or “super-Christian” mentality, instead of seeing that the strength of Jesus in Paul’s life was evident in his ability to be content in all his circumstances, not in the ability to always change or overcome them.

You see, contentment is an inward spiritual state of peaceful happiness that isn't dependent on circumstances (with having a little or a lot), but is instead rooted in trusting God's sovereignty and goodness. It involves a deep-seated satisfaction with what God provides, a cheerful submission to His will, and a joyful acceptance of one's lot in life, recognizing that God is sufficient and that our greatest treasure is found in Him, not in worldly possessions.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

As you can imagine, being content with what God provides is not always an easy thing. Especially with the advent of social media which constantly reinforces the idea that we “need” this to be happy or that to fit in. That’s the very reason Paul relied on Jesus for the strength to resist the temptation to pursue the things of this world and to be satisfied with what God provided instead, knowing it would always be enough to meet his needs and not his greeds. This dependence on God was a constant reminder that Paul could do nothing apart from Him, and that the more he relied on the Lord, the more fruit he would show. Being content in Christ kept Paul humble and so was a win for him and it’s a win for us as well.

“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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

“for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand.” Psalm 50:10

So, knowing that the total dependence that leads to godly contentment must be learned, pray for the Lord to show you how to abide in Him my friend. But don’t be surprised when those lessons come in the form of trials and testing as they are oftentimes the best teachers. Keep the joy in all situations and trust that the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills can and will provide for every one of your needs and, in doing so, will draw you closer to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to provide for all of our needs. Help us to understand that your resources are as limitless as your love for us. Teach us to abide in You God that we might learn to be content in You by drawing on the strength of Jesus. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

God Created us to be Grateful

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 NIV

Like thousands of other runners around the world on this Thanksgiving morning, I will be running a “turkey trot” with family and friends. As a wellness and running coach, I can attest to the many benefits of getting in a workout before sitting down for a big meal. After all, our bodies were made for movement—something that is made clear by the reward system God has put in place.

You see, movement releases endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and endocannabinoids (the body’s feel-good chemicals) which naturally improve mood, reduce stress, and boost overall mental well-being. Exercise increases levels of these neurotransmitters, with some evidence suggesting that endocannabinoids may be responsible for the euphoric feeling often associated with a "runner's high.” Movement also provides clarity of mind and keeps our bodies ready for service. It’s no wonder then that God, the One who personally created our inmost beings and individually knit each one of us together in our mother’s womb, would make us in such a way that we would be drawn to and rewarded for keeping His commandments. 

Know that the LORD is God It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:3-5

I don’t know about you, but the more I learn about the human body and the way that it functions, the more I can’t help but acknowledge and thank the divine Creator… the One who made us and calls us “his people” and “the sheep of his pasture.”

He is the One who commands us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” and to “give thanks to him and praise his name.” Why? because “the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Our Creator is worthy of our praise! Furthermore, science shows that displaying thanks and praise comes with mental and physical rewards in the same way running does! Pretty neat right? Gratitude actually triggers physiological changes, like activating the parasympathetic nervous system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine, and prompting the brain to release oxytocin.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Gratitude reduces stress and lowers blood pressure, which improves heart health in the same way physical activity does. It can also lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of depression and anxiety just as exercise does. These effects occur because practicing gratitude (notice it’s not a one time thing but a practice?) shifts our focus from ourselves to God. It causes us to continually remember His faithfulness, which in turn allows us keep worry at bay. After all, if God was faithful in the past, He will be faithful in the future… through all generations.

So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving today, be sure to give thanks to the One who made you to praise Him my friend. And then give thanks publicly for all He has done and make it a practice from this day on! It’s hands down the best thing you can do for your physical, mental, and spiritual health.


Heavenly Father, thank You for making us in such a way as to receive rewards for obedience. Help us to be people who are known for being grateful for all You have given us and for praising You at all times and on all occasions. Help us to influence a lost world to seek You by the way we acknowledge You as our Creator. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Get Signed up for that Turkey Trot

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 running a 5K Turkey Trot is one of the best decisions you can make—for you and your family. 

So, if you've never participated in an early morning run on Thanksgiving (which can have many names but is commonly referred to as a “turkey trot”), let me be the first to say that you're missing out! There’s just something special about participating in a Turkey Trot (which can range in distance). Maybe it’s the crisp fall air, the energy of a community coming together, or the promise of a warm Thanksgiving meal waiting at the finish line (after you've worked up an appetite). As both a runner and a running coach, I’ve seen firsthand how a simple 5K—just 3.1 miles—can deliver big rewards for runners of all ages and abilities.

Whether you're lacing up solo or gathering the whole family, here’s why participating in a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot can become one of your favorite annual traditions.

 Benefits for Individual Runners

1. A Perfect Goal to Keep You Active Through Fall

It’s no secret that as the weather cools down, motivation can drop as well. A Turkey Trot on the calendar gives you a reason to stay active during the holiday season. Training for a 5K is manageable—even for beginners—and gives you a structured plan to follow.

2. Jumpstart Holiday Wellness

Thanksgiving is often associated with delicious food… and lots of it. Running a 5K earlier in the day helps boost metabolism, increases calorie burned, and sets a healthy tone for the rest of the holiday. Think of it as investing in your health before the pumpkin pie.

3. A Confidence Builder

Crossing that finish line—whether it’s your first 5K or your 50th—feels incredible. It’s a reminder that your body is strong and capable. Many runners walk into Thanksgiving dinner feeling more energized, more confident, and more grateful for what their bodies can do.

4. Stress Relief Before a Busy Day

Thanksgiving can be joyful… and hectic. A morning run clears the mind, releases endorphins, and helps you stay relaxed and present throughout the day’s celebrations.

 Benefits for Families Participating Together

1. Build Healthy Habits as a Family

Want your kids to grow up active? Let them see you being active. A Turkey Trot sends a powerful message: fitness is fun, not a chore. Kids who participate in family runs often grow into lifelong exercisers.

2. Creates a Meaningful Tradition

There’s something magical about pulling on matching race shirts, pinning on bibs, and lining up side-by-side. It becomes more than a race—it becomes a tradition your family looks forward to year after year.

3. Encourages Teamwork and Support

During a Turkey Trot, families cheer for each other, celebrate successes, and sometimes even cross the finish line hand-in-hand. It’s a chance to support one another and build stronger bonds in a simple, joyful way.

4. Reduces Screen Time, Increases Together Time

Instead of spending the morning on phones or watching TV, you’re outdoors, moving, talking, laughing, and making memories. The shared accomplishment becomes a story you can tell for years.

5. Teaches Kids About Goal Setting

Training for a 5K gives children a hands-on lesson in setting a goal, working toward it, and completing it. The finish line becomes a powerful symbol of perseverance.

The Best Part? Everyone Wins

Turkey Trots are most often inclusive events—welcoming walkers, strollers, dogs, and first-timers. It’s not about pace; it’s about participation. Families finish smiling, individuals finish proud, and everyone heads home ready to celebrate the day with a sense of accomplishment. And... since most Thanksgiving Day races benefit a charity, you'll be starting off the holiday by blessing others! How's that for win? 

So this Thanksgiving, consider joining a local Turkey Trot. Whether you’re racing for a PR or simply enjoying the morning with loved ones, you’ll gain far more than miles—you’ll gain memories, confidence, and a healthier, happier start to your holiday. Happy Running!

*Below are a few of the Turkey Trots taking place in our area....

St. Robert, MO

Springfield, MO

Lebanon, MO

Weigh the Benefits

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?’” Genesis 3:1 NKJV

In a story published by SlowTwitch last week, it was reported that: Nike, the pioneer of carbon-plated footwear, has been sued by a former NCAA Division I athlete who claims that the AlphaFly 2 caused her to suffer a catastrophic fracture in her foot.

Heather Cerney’s attorneys filed the suit against the footwear behemoth this week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which alleges Cerney suffered a sesamoid fracture in her left foot due to the carbon plate and geometry of the AlphaFly.

Cerney ran track and cross-country for the University of California, Berkeley. She ran mostly distance events during her tenure there from 2011 to 2015, with appearances at the NCAA West Region Cross Country Championships. Her best event on track was the 1500, whereas she performed best at 5 kilometers at cross country.

According to the suit, Cerney paid full retail plus local tax of nearly $300 for the AlphaFly 2 in November 2023. She then wore the shoes for the first time for the San Francisco Turkey Trot, a 5 mile road race. Cerney finished as the second overall female and won her age group. After the race, the suit claims Cerney began suffering from severe pain in her left foot.

Testing showed a fracture in a sesamoid. The sesamoid bones are two small bones underneath the joint of the first metatarsal. It effectively acts much like a kneecap does, facilitating movement during walking and running activities. Cerney was forced to undergo surgery for the injury, as sesamoid fractures are susceptible to necrosis due to a lack of available blood supply.

According to the complaint, Cerney has been left with a permanent partial disability despite the medical intervention, which impacts both her daily life and her ability to work. Cerney is no longer able to run competitively. The suit references both an ongoing loss of earnings as well as loss of potential earning capacity as a result of the injury…

As many runners can attest, the benefits of carbon-plated footwear are relatively clear: faster running. But, as this story clearly shows, many times the benefits (in this case, running faster) are short-lived and come with a lifetime of consequences.

The same can be said about sin if you think about it. Yet so many of us fall for the devils ploys over and over again. And one of his greatest ploys to tempt us to sin involves deception—something we see in the devils conversation with Eve. “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” was the question the cunning serpent asked Eve.

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:2-5

The enemy downplayed the consequences of sinning against God and tempted her with the benefit of supernatural knowledge and enlightenment if she would simply give in to his temptation. In today’s language, the conversation might have sounded something like this, “Oh come one Eve. You’re not gonna die! That’s silly. Surely God won’t really kill you. He just doesn’t want you to eat the fruit because He knows you’ll become like Him if you do, and then you won’t need Him anymore.” See the deception? 

And of course we know how all this turned out. Eve ate the fruit and then offered it to Adam who also ate the fruit. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” But that wasn’t the worst part. When they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid themselves. They traded a moment of sin for the precious and close fellowship they had enjoyed with God, Himself. 

The serpent promised they would have knowledge and a god-like status if they would only eat of the one and only fruit God had commanded them not to eat. What might have felt good in the moment (the short term benefit of sin) came with a lifetime of consequences as we read in Genesis 3. 

Adam and Eve would no longer enjoy the pure and undefiled fellowship they had had with the Lord before they sinned, but were sent out of the garden and made to till the land. What God had freely provided them with in paradise (food, clothing, shelter) would now have to come by their hard toil and labor. And there was no going back! Although Adam and Eve were sorry for what they had done, the world is still feeling the consequences of their sin today.

But that’s the thing about sin… As Adrian Rogers said, “It will take you further than you want to go; it’ll keep you longer than you want to stay; and it will cost you more than you want to pay.” You think it will get you somewhere, but it will only get you separated from God in the end, the One who made mankind for sweet communion.

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:6-11

So, don't fall for the ploys of the devil my friend. The benefits of sin that he tempts you with such as fame, fortune, beauty, pleasure, or psychic powers are always short-lived, always come at a price, and always have lasting consequences. Be content with what the Lord gives you (remembering He fills your needs and not your greeds) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness--things that have holy benefits both now and for eternity. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the devil has been a cunning serpent from the beginning of his creation and speaks nothing but lies. Help us to understand that every word out of his mouth is a fabrication spoken to deceive people into falling into sin and the death that it brings. Help us to recognize his ploys so that we might avoid them and warn others to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Don’t Leave it to Chance

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV

In a story titled “After 2 Years of Finishing Second, Habtom Samuel Finally Gets His Win at the NCAA XC Championships” posted by Runner’s World over the weekend, it was reported that: After finishing runner-up twice, Habtom Samuel finally secured his first NCAA cross-country title.

On Saturday, November 22, the junior from New Mexico won the men’s 10K in 28:33 (4:35 mile pace) at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. After running patiently in a dense lead pack for the majority of the race, Samuel broke away in the final mile on the grass. Rocky Hansen attempted to chase Samuel but was unable to close the gap. The junior from Wake Forest finished second in 28:38.

“This is amazing. After these past two years of finishing runner-up, I was like, keep working hard. I didn’t ever give up, just fighting,” Samuel told Chris Derrick on the ESPN broadcast. “So, I feel really good the whole day, just being patient in the group, and I just gave a big move…”

Samuel didn’t leave anything to chance. After losing to Graham Blanks of Harvard two years in a row, the runner from Eritrea surged ahead about a mile from the finish in a move none of his rivals were able to match.

And, you know, in the same way that Samuel gained victory by not “leaving anything to chance” but by training hard and carefully planning his race strategy so he was thoroughly prepared, you and I would do well to ensure that we are always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have.

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 1 Peter 3:14

And we do this by training hard spiritually—reading, meditating, and memorizing the word in the same way and with the same zeal an Olympic athlete trains for gold. Why? Because as Peter knew, believers would be persecuted or “suffer for what is right" but would be blessed for the awesome privilege of suffering for Jesus because of the unique opportunity it would provide them to share their faith. Hence the reason Peter said when (not if) this happened, they were not to fear or be frightened by “their threats” but were to “revere Christ as Lord" in their hearts so those who came up against them would see their unwavering hope. 

You see, suffering for what is right gives a believer a divine set of circumstances to show the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ—the hope that provides peace in the midst of chaos and joy in the face of hardship. It’s this hope (that’s undeterred, unchanging and independent of conditions) that causes people to ask the question, “"How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?" Which gives us the open door to “give the reason for the hope” we have in Christ Jesus. 

Think about it… The way we conduct ourselves can inspire this curiosity and this curiosity gives us an opportunity!

And this is the reason we must always live in a way that shows Jesus is Lord of our lives and must always be prepared to make the case for our faith in Christ—doing it with all gentleness and respect that we might inspire the lost to seek the One who inspires the hope that is so contrary to the world.

So, don’t leave it to chance that you’ll be able to give a defense for your faith in Christ my friend. Put in the work it takes to study the Bible and commit it to memory so you’ll be fully prepared to give an answer for the hope you have when the time arises. And, in doing so, will lead the lost to Jesus. You might only have once chance, so be ready!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible that gives us everything we need to defend the reason we continue to hope in Jesus despite hardships and suffering. Compel us to train in the Word with all effort that we would be found ready when the opportunity to give a reason for the hope we have arises Lord. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Seek those Heavenly Hugs

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

Did you know that yesterday was National Hug a Runner Day? Neither did I until I saw a post on social media which caused me to do a quick Google search that yielded this result:

International Hug A Runner Day is observed annually on November 20. This holiday is also known as Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day, abbreviated as ‘G.O.H.A.R.D.’ As much as International Hug A Runner Day is about appreciating runners and hugging them to bring unity, everyone can participate in this holiday. At first, the holiday was created by a cross-country runner but others quickly picked it up to spread the message globally. Today, millions of people participate in the holiday.

So get out your running shoes and join thousands of runners all over the world on this great day. And hug your fellow runners!

And while a hug (which can be defined as the act of holding someone or something close to show that you like, love, or value them) is a great thing to get from a fellow runner, it’s an even greater thing to get from your Heavenly Father. And here’s a fun fact about hugs: They don’t just give you a warm, fuzzy sense of well-being — they can also be good for your health. Hugging for just 10 seconds has been shown to boost feel-good hormones like oxytocin. Often called the “love hormone,” it fights stress chemicals and helps lower blood pressure. Hugs also calm chaos, relieve anxiety, lessen feelings of loneliness, reduce inflammation, protect your heart, and improve your immune system among other things. So who better to get a hug from than the God of all comfort and the One who made you?

Just how do we get these hugs you might ask. Well… while you and I can’t get physical hugs from the Lord, we can get “heavenly hugs” through the Word. You see, the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Which means God speaks through the pages of the Bible—pages that declare His great love for us and remind us that we are highly valued. Reading the Bible bring us into God’s presence where we can experience “heavenly hugs” that have the power to encourage, heal, and comfort us in a way that no other hug can.

That being said, check out just a few of the verses in the Bible that show us how much we are liked, loved, and valued. I pray as you read them that you feel the presence of God and experience the countless benefits that come from spending time with Him. And I pray that they inspire you to keep seeking Him!

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jeremiah 31:3
“The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Psalm 139:13-14
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved.”

1 John 3:1
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are.”

And there you have it friends. These are just a few of the countless verses that reflect the biblical understanding that God’s love is unconditional, everlasting, and extends to all people. They serve as a reminder that each one of us is valuable and beloved in the eyes of the Lord. Does that make you smile or what?

So, seek God above all else. And never forget that He loves more than you could ever imagine or comprehend. Doing so will change your life!

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it abundantly clear that we are very loved and highly treasured by You. Cause us to crave your Word in the same way we crave physical nourishment every day Lord, that we might experience all the benefits that come from spending time with You. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives us the heavenly hugs our hearts so desperately desire and need. You are so very good to us Lord and we thank You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!