Are you flexible?

"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." I Corinthians 9:22-23

On the way home from another session with the Chiropractor Wednesday, I drove past a sign on a church marquee that read, "Blessed are the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape." This really resonated with me as the doctor had just told me that, while my flexibility was good for an "average" person, it was not the flexibility that I needed to have as a runner. Now I wondered if inflexibility in any other area of my life was keeping me "average" as well. Not that average is bad, but I want to be more than that... more like Paul, who was far from "average".

Paul's main goal was to share the Gospel and he knew, to do it effectively, he needed to establish a common ground with those he was speaking to. He said, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means, I might save some." I imagine if he were speaking to a group of graduates, he would do it much differently than if speaking to a group of prisoners, don't you think? He was flexible in adapting to any situation or person without getting bent out of shape at having to change his tactics. While not ever compromising his beliefs or the Gospel, he would communicate to a person as he or she would understand it best.

Paul knew that not everyone would welcome the Message in the same way. I wonder if we were all as flexible, how much more effective we would be at reaching the lost?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful example of how to most effectively reach the lost. Might we all strive to be more than "average" at this. May we look for ways to share the Message to each person on an individual basis. Give us the words and the common ground to win souls Lord. Light a fire in us Lord to see the urgency of doing this. It's in your precious name we pray, Amen. 

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Hands and feet - Audio Adrenaline

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

Promises

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." Deuteronomy 7:9

It was announced yesterday that USPlabs, which sold the best-selling workout supplement Jack3d, will face criminal charges for the unlawful sale of nutritional supplements, supplements no doubt many runners have purchased. The indictment asserted that, despite the claims of USPlabs that the supplements were manufactured from plant extracts, they were actually made from a synthetic stimulant.The Assistant Attorney General on the case said, "many of these products are not what they purport to be or cannot do what the distributors claim they can do."

In other words, the company failed to fulfill their promise. Let's face it though, in today's world there are not many people or companies we can trust. But isn't it great to know that there is someone we can trust completely? Someone whose vows are never left unfulfilled? Deuteronomy 7:9 tells us this about our Heavenly Father, "he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

A covenant is defined as "an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified." God has promised that, if we love him and keep his commandments, he will show mercy and do good to those that love him...that would be you and me! Oh praise God for a promise we can stand on, one that we know will always be fulfilled. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us and for promising us that you always will so long as we love you and follow your ways. How wonderful it is to know that we will never have to doubt what you have pledged and can believe every word that you have written in your Word. May we look to it daily as we search for your will for our lives. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Promises - 7th Time Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u_f3wIS6v8

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/18/us-doj-investigation-dietarysupplements-idUSKCN0T628320151118

Strong enough

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2

Wow, I have run through many rainstorms in my life, but yesterday's torrential downpour was one for the record books. Had I never faced a deluge such as that before, wind whipping from all sides and the rain coming in sideways, I may have been hesitant to go on. But the memory of the many times the Lord had seen me safely through the storms of life reminded me that, through Him, I could persevere... that I was strong enough.

When asked whether God sometimes tests our faith by letting hard times happen to us, and why, if he already knows whether or not our faith is genuine, Billy Graham wrote, "God doesn’t test us because He doesn’t know how strong we are. Instead, He tests us because we don’t know how strong we are — and we’ll only realize it when times of testing come." He then reminded us that, "If our faith is weak, it may not be obvious when life is going smoothly and we aren’t challenged in any way. But when hard times come, a weak faith will be revealed for what it really is: shallow and unable to help us through life’s difficulties. It may be anything: an unexpected illness, the death of a loved one, the loss of our job, or even a friend who turns against us. But when hard times happen, the true nature of our faith will be revealed."

So, no matter what you and I are facing today, may we praise Him through the storm. And may we thank Him for bringing trials and tests into our lives that, by them, we can realize just how strong we really are.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the testing times in our lives that make us stronger in faith and closer to you. Although they may seem difficult and painful at the time, help us to feel your presence and your comfort. Help us to remember that you are always in control and will draw us near and carry us through the darkest storms. And each time, help us to grow in the knowledge that, through you, we have the power to persevere in the worst of times. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Strong enough - Matthew West
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es

http://billygraham.org/answer/does-god-sometimes-test-our-faith-by-letting-hard-times-happen-to-us-if-so-why-does-he-do-it-doesnt-he-already-know-whether-or-not-our-faith-is-genuine/

Fuel up

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23

As athletes, to perform our best requires putting the right foods (or fuel) into our bodies. And when it comes to choosing what to eat, we can opt for perishable or non perishable food items. What's the difference you might ask? Perishable foods (fresh meat, milk, ripe fruits) are those that will spoil quickly (especially if not refrigerated). Non perishable foods (canned goods, protein bars, gels) have a much longer shelf life sometimes lasting for years. But even these imperishable items will not last forever. 

1 Peter 1:23 also speaks of the perishable and imperishable when it tells us, "you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable". The NLT translation says it this way, "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." Through the perishable seed of human birth, we will all die. But through the message of the Bible, the imperishable seed, we have a new life, one that will "last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." It's by the power of God's word that we are transformed, completely changed and born again! 

If you haven't experienced this new life for yourself, why don't you start today? God's word is non perishable, has an eternal shelf life and is just what you need to fuel your body right.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would offer us eternal life through your living and eternal Word. May we hunger for it more than the choicest foods we have ever tasted. And may we share the good news with all those that are tired, thirsty and longing for a new life. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Your Words - Third Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zaaiFp4RSM

Run after it

"Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them." Proverbs 4:4

Since before my son was born, he was exposed to running. I ran during my pregnancy and as soon as I was able to after he came into the world. He saw his first views of the world from a jogging stroller as I taught him his ABC's and the words to Jesus Loves Me while we passed the miles together. As he grew older, he accompanied me to many races and knew what the words tapering and interval training meant before he even learned to spell. So you can imagine how proud I was when he (now 17) agreed to run a half marathon with me. And, as part of his training, he ran a 5k with me over the weekend (something we hadn't done together in some time).

As we started side by side, I quickly realized that he was much faster than me now. So fast, in fact, that I urged him to go ahead and meet me at the finish line. And as I watched him pass by and speed into the distance, I prayed that this young man would far surpass me in the wisdom of God's word too. I prayed that he would seek it and "run" after it with the same determination and passion he now had to reach his 13.1 mile goal. Because, while a half marathon is certainly a dream worth pursuing, chasing after knowledge and discernment will gain him an even greater reward...eternal life.

David Bly once wrote, "Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be." So before we teach our children to run, may teach them to walk with Christ. And before we teach them God's word and will, may we learn it ourselves. May we be the followers we want our children to be.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the faithful generations that have gone before us and pursued knowledge and understanding so they could pass it down to their children. May we pursue the same goal as we run with passion towards knowing you more. And, as parents, may we put you first teaching our children to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Run to you - Kari Jobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWKD4JUvcZs

Get daily checkups

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:6

That's it! As I hobbled through my morning run yesterday I just couldn't take the pain anymore and finally visited the chiropractor. As he looked through my chart and then at me, unable to even comfortably sit in a chair, he reminded me that it had been more than a year since my last visit. I silently chastised myself for waiting so long and tried to rationalize that the pain had only come on recently, but that was a lie even my simple mind wasn't buying.

Sin in our lives, left unattended and untreated for long periods of time, will inevitably bring us pain too. Whether physically, spiritually or emotionally. pain is a sign that something is wrong and it's time to seek a professional. David, the mighty warrior knew this and knew who to call when he wrote, "In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help." And isn't it wonderful to know that the Great Physician was listening? David said that, "From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Talk about the ultimate house call! God hears our cries for help and meets us where we are to comfort and heal us.

Wouldn't it be great if we could avoid pain all together though? Of course it would. While we can't always do that physically, we can spiritually by getting daily "checkups" asking him to examine us and convict us of things in our life that might cause suffering later. Because, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Heavenly Father, thank you for answering our cries for help when we are in distress. May we spend time with you each and every day, asking you to personally examine us and point out those things that are sure to only bring us suffering. May we then follow the orders of the Great Physician so we can lead a life free from the pain and distress we would have otherwise. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org

Healing hand of God - Jeremy Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-aE7zQTeEg

Nothing is hidden

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13

In a report issued Monday by CNN, it was announced that Russian track and field athletes and coaches could be banned from the 2016 Olympics and stripped of their medals for either using or encouraging the use of performance-enhancing drugs. While investigating reports of a state-sponsored doping program, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), uncovered a "deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels" within Russian athletics. The report claims that more than 1,400 samples were "intentionally and maliciously" destroyed by a Moscow laboratory after they were instructed by the WADA to preserve them for investigation.

Despite all the efforts to keep their behavior hidden, it seems the truth will come out anyway and the lies will be exposed. Not that they were ever truly "hidden". Hebrews 4:13 tells us that, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." And, while it's true that many things you and I do can go undiscovered by the world, God sees it all... everything.

He knows what we think and knows our "hidden" actions. Despite our best efforts at concealment, one day we will all "give account" for them and face the consequences. Quite a thought to ponder, isn't it? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us when the things we do make us unlovable. Thank you for promising to forgive us of our sins if we would only confess and repent of them. Today, may we examine ourselves and turn away from any thing we feel the need to keep hidden. After all, nothing is hidden from you. Help us to live a life with no secrets that there would be no barrier between us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!!

www.team413.org 

Change this heart - Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YTZq37OpMw

 http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/09/sport/athletics-doping-wada-coe/