Take that selfie

"Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;" Psalm 26:2

Selfies... it seems people are taking them everywhere and I'm certainly guilty of it myself on occasion. It's great to be able to capture the moments before a race begins and even better to show images at the finish line. They aren't just limited to those times though. I've seen many racers take selfies at every mile marker from 1 to 26 and many moments in between. Did you know that, in 2013, the word "Selfie" was not only added to the Oxford Dictionary, but was also chosen as "Word of the Year"? And they define it as this: A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media. And then, they add this advice: occasional selfies are acceptable, but posting a new picture of yourself everyday isn’t necessary.

What if we, instead of analyzing our outward appearance, put that effort into looking at the inside? When David wrote the words, "Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind", he was asking God to to look at his heart and mind and to test him by his actions that he might be proven to be sincere. If David was not trusting God or following his ways as he should, he wanted God to show him and teach him. Simply said, he wanted God to examine every part of him.

Might we all follow this example and, not only look at ourselves, but pray that God would do the same, pointing out the things we need to change. And unlike the advice of Oxford Dictionary, these self examinations, or selfies, are not only acceptable but necessary to do everyday.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would personally be our guide if we would only reach out to you in prayer. May we daily look inward, asking you to point out anything that we might need to change. May you be the taker and developer of our "selfie" as we allow you to make us the person we need to be by daily examining ourselves. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

From the inside out - Hillsong United

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YzXGDXgEyw

Complete your outfit

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:12-13

The night before a race, you have it all laid out... your shoes, socks, shorts (or skirt) and shirt. Ready to go right? Not quite.To enter the race, you'll need one more thing.. your bib. Your bib ties it all together. It shows the world who you are and why you are there.You're just not complete without it. The bible tells us something about how we should dress every day as well-instructing us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness.

But there's more. Colossians 3:14 says, "And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity." Our outfits are just not complete without love. It shows the world who we are, what we stand for and holds everything else in place. Even if each one of us could perfectly practice compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness, we are nothing without love.

So, "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love." (1 Corinthians 13:1-7) May we today and every day, remember that love is truly the tie that binds us together. We simply are not complete without it.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the love you have shown to us that, while we were still sinners, you sent your son to die on a cross to forgive us of our sins. If you were so loving to us, may we show that same love to others knowing we are all sinners in need of grace. May we run the race with the intent of bringing that love to the lost that they too might have salvation and eternal life. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Proof of your love - King and Country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgqYYk-0wDs

Pick a partner

"Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth). Ephesians 5:7-9

An old African Proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go it alone. If you want to go far, go together." Along with picking the right pair of shoes, picking the right people to run with can make a run more enjoyable. I am blessed to be part of a run group that meets at least twice a week. When in good conversation, miles can pass with ease and we can be done before we know it. Sometimes we counsel each other, other times we joke and laugh. Either way, I always finish refreshed physically and spiritually. That's just what good running partners do for one another.

The bible tells us much about the importance of picking the right partners as well. Not that we shouldn't associate with people other than believers, but that we should be careful who we spend the majority of our time with that we might not fall into sin. Ephesians 5:11 warns us to, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" and not to be partners with those that do since we are no longer in darkness but "light in the Lord." As such, we are to live exhibiting goodness, righteousness and truth at all times.

Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to, "not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another..." So, whether you're meeting for a run, lunch or a movie, pick the right partners that you might be mutually encouraged (and often) that we might help one another live as children of light.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us friends to keep us on the right path. Might we all be the type of friend that lifts others up as we share in the goal of serving you, praising you and bringing others to do the same. Help us to encourage one another that we might be refreshed and better able to fulfill the plan you have for our lives. Thank you for the blessing of running partners, Lord. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen..

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Lean on me - DC Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysLvmPCE9KA

You just know

"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. " 1 John 4:12-13

When exactly is a person considered a runner? Ever asked yourself that? Well, you know you're a runner when you know where one mile is exactly from your front door.. in any direction. You know you're a runner when you consider gels and gatorade a food group or if you schedule your vacations around races. Seriously though, being a runner requires nothing more than the desire and dedication to consistently run each week, no matter how far or slow. You're a runner when you love the feeling it brings when you're done.

Have you ever wondered if you're really a Christian? I know I have. Praise God the Bible has that answer.  It tells us that we will know because, "God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us." This is a relationship between us and the Savior as we abide in him and he abides in us. The manifestation of that relationship is shown in the way we love each other... just as Jesus did. You know you're a Christian when you simply can't help but love those around you.

So be as faithful in loving others as you are in logging your miles. Remember, you know you're a Christian runner when you can't talk about running without mentioning your greatest love... Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us first and giving us your Spirit to give us the strength to love others, even those we may not like very much. Help us Lord to reach out and love those people you have placed in our path that we might bring them to a relationship with you. Thank you for always loving us even when we aren't very easy to like either. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Say the words - DC Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QexZ4zuRlYc

Weak made strong

"Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Several weeks ago, I ran a trail that I could only describe as "punishing". Halfway into it, I fell... hard. I hadn't fallen like that in a long time. As I sat there stunned, I wondered how in the world I was ever going to finish. After saying a quick prayer, I got up only to fall again and again and again throughout the course of the race. As my prayers to stay upright seemed to go unanswered, I instead prayed for strength to endure it and the will to get back up. By the third time, I was laughing as I went down and found that each time I rose to my feet, I felt stronger.

It's strange to feel strong amidst great weakness isn't it? Paul wrote these words about that very thing, "I am glad to boast about my weaknesses... that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." When we are strong in our own abilities or believe we can do things on our own, pride can easily set in making it tempting to boast of the things we accomplished rather than what Christ accomplished through us. Weakness gives us the unique ability to draw strength straight from the Source and, as we rely on him, keep us mindful that we are nothing without Christ.

Admitting our weaknesses and taking pleasure in them draws us closer as we allow Him to work in our lives. Won't you draw upon his strength today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the strength we need to do the things you have called us to do. Thank you for the weaknesses we have that remind us where true strength comes from. May we always remember that we can do nothing apart from you and keep us from ever being prideful thinking anything differently. And, help us Lord, when we fall down, to get back up by your strength. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Cornerstone - Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI

Move out of striking range

"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that nearly 100 Missourians are bitten by snakes every year. If you have run trails for any length of time, you have inevitably seen a few of them. So, as I ran a grassy path Saturday, I was sharp-eyed to avoid contact with one. The MDC also reported that several factors can make a snake bite more or less dangerous, one of which is compromised health. Those people with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to the venom and so more likely to suffer negative effects from being bitten. 

What about someone with compromised spiritual health? The bible tells us that the serpent, Satan, deceived Eve by his craftiness and warns us against being led astray from our pure devotion to Christ. Being purely devoted to Christ requires that we daily seek him above all other things, being constantly sharp-eyed to avoid contact with anyone or anything that might distract us. Just as Eve lost her focus and compromised her spiritual health, we can do the same if we're not careful. 

The MDC reports that most people are bitten when they are attempting to catch a snake. Sounds silly to do that, doesn't it? But, sadly, many of us pursue the very thing(s) that will lead us away from Christ. The first action the MDC says to take in the event of a bite is to: Move out of striking range of the snake. Might we all heed that advice and remove any thing that might poison our pure commitment to Jesus. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessing of your presence. May we strive for simple and pure devotion to you every day of our lives removing anything that might allow us to be led astray. Help us to stay focused removing any distractions that Satan might not deceive us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Toby Mac - Til the Day i die

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLZ_MrPplk

 

http://mdc.mo.gov/blogs/fresh-afield/snakebytes?page=full

What do we really need?

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Running is pretty simple right? For many of today's runners though, it can get a little complicated. A GPS watch, smartphone, smartphone holder, Bluetooth headphones, a heart monitor and a GoPro are just a few of the things we might think we need before heading out the door. But, in all honesty, running requires nothing more than a pair of shoes and a desire to hit the road.

In Philippians 4:12, Paul wrote these words, "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." He was a man who truly knew what it was like to be wealthy and what it was like to be poor but, when he found Jesus was all he had, he knew it was all he needed. Quite simply, that knowledge is where true happiness lies. And, praise God, unlike the stock market, our bank account or things that will rust and rot, that contentment will never change and can never be taken away.

God knows what we need and it certainly isn't the newest gadget. In fact, the bible tells us that the same God who took care of Paul will supply all our needs from his glorious riches. So if we have Christ, what more do we really need to be content?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that you will supply all of our needs from your glorious riches. Open our eyes and hearts to discern between our needs and our wants Lord and to remember that true happiness doesn't come from the things we have but rather from the Maker of all things. May we be content in all circumstances simply being in your presence. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

All I need - Hezekiah Walker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egucrj1kWPE