Monthly Archives: June 2011

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (James 2:22 NIV)

You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. (James 2:24 NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

Running full of FAITH!

If you are a Christian runner and you don’t know Ryan Hall yet…get to know him! He is an elite runner who loves the Lord and runs full of faith with God’s joy! Read the excerpt from his book, RUNNING WITH JOY: (a must have!)

Click to access running-with-joy-chapter1.pdf

His other blog can be found here: http://ryanhall.competitor.com/

On April 22 Ryan Hall finished in fourth place at the 115th Boston Marathon with a time of 2:04:58, the fastest time ever by an American. His story is amazing. He took time away from running because he felt he lost his true focus…running for God. He was covered up by distractions. He got away and turned His focus back on God. The Lord truly blessed him. He didn’t win Boston, but he ran full of faith and with joy…faith in our Lord and experiencing God’s joy!

This is my true aspiration…to run FULL OF FAITH while experiencing God’s joy!

My run today was good. We started fast and felt it at the end. 50 minutes was our goal. We finished all 50 with the last 10 being a little sluggish…still in our time goal, but with heavier legs. It must of been all of those hills yesterday. Yeah, that’s it! 😉

Yoli, a godly women and god-given friend, and I had another running scripture to memorize as we ran. (if you haven’t tried this…do it! It takes your mind off difficult running…momentarily, anyway!)
She is doing this for a Bible study and I am being blessed by it!

Philippians 2:3-7…

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Great stuff! God is so good! This scripture was once again so timely for my journey! I want it to be about Him as I share my interests with others and their interest in running. Making it God centered! Let’s run full of faith while experiencing God’s joy!

Run blessed!

Last week while I was still in recovery mode from the marathon I was listening to our local Moody Radio. Rebecca St. James was being interviewed. During the radio broadcast her song, Shine Your Glory Down was played. As you see below the first line is…WHEN I RUN, LEAD ME! Boy, did God speak. As I continued to listen to the song, it ministered to me in a way I didn’t expect. It spoke to my heart. WITH EACH BREATH, FILL ME; WITH EACH STEP, FREE ME…this is my prayer. I want God to truly shine down on me…during my run and during my daily walk with Him. I want Him to shine through me!

My running is a form of praise to Him. I praise Him for my talent. I praise Him for His glorious earth. I praise Him for time alone with Him on my feet.

So, now I am in my next phase of training. Recovery is over. 🙂
Run 3 of 6 is in the books for this week. I feel great! I have run in 3 different places with awesome views and with a great friend. I have run in the rain along side cow pastures; I have run in the shade along the TN River. I have run up and down rolling hills while memorizing Ephesians 4:2-3 to take may mind off of the pain. :o)

Ephesians 4.2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

My theme song for this phase is the one mentioned above and listed below. God’s Word that will lead me through this phase is the one mentioned in an earlier post: Habakkuk 3.17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.

I am that fig tree that did not bud June 4; the olive crop that failed to produce food…but I will rejoice in my God and Savior and let Him shine down on me and through me as I allow Him to be my strength through this next phase of training. He will make my feet like that of the deer and enable me to go to new heights. (I have 10 weeks vs. 7 weeks to train this go around…we will do it! (God willing…:))

Continuing the journey and Running blessed for HIM!

Shine Your Glory Down song – Rebecca St. James

When I run, lead me
When I sleep, keep me
When I wake Father speak with me
Oh Majesty

Light of the world,
Light up this day
God I long to see your face
Oh shine your glory down
Light of the world
Be on display
And every heart will sing your praise
Oh shine your glory down

With each breath fill me
With each step free me
When I love Father love through me
Oh Majesty

Light of the world,
Light up this day
God I long to see your face
Oh shine your glory down
Light of the world
Be on display
And every heart will sing your praise
Oh shine your glory down

I do not walk in darkness
I will not live in fear
I’ll walk in Your light

Light of the world,
Light up this day
God I long to see your face
Oh shine your glory down
Light of the world
Be on display
And every heart will sing your praise
Oh shine your glory down

Light of the world
Be on display
And every heart will sing your praise
Oh shine your glory down

You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord! Ezekiel 34.31

The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalms 111:10

Today I am going out for a swim in the lake and a run. This is my last easy run before marathon training officially begins, AGAIN. 🙂 A friend is training for a sprint triathlon and I plan on doing one after the marathon. So, a little swim won’t hurt.

I say all this to refer to the above scripture…

The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom…

We all seek wisdom. But where do we seek it? With God or the world?

Last year, I signed up for my first sprint triathlon. I was scared to death of the swim. I had the biking and running down pat. Now don’t get me wrong…I can swim well…but the idea of swimming with all those people, that is what gets me. My fear was real. It was a healthy fear because it was new and unknown. So, what did I do? Find people who have been there, who have experienced it, who know and have wisdom-the experts! It was still a little unnerving, but it helped!

What would have happened if I had gone to those who didn’t know, who just thought they knew? I would have been in for a real surprise and the day of the race would have been very scary!

So, I go back to the question…where do we seek wisdom?

God, the expert, the creator, the ruler, the Lord or the world?

13 “With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding” Job 12:13

With all we do, we need to go to Him for guidance. He will supply the wisdom and might for the task at hand….the task He gives us! His counsel and understanding are here for us! We just have to take the first step and ask.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10

So, where do we go for wisdom?

I praise Him for loving me! Saved by grace! Running and swimming blessed!

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3.17-19

Two days ago we watched a young buck roam around our backyard. My cat, TJ was in awe. He eyed the buck while the buck watched him. I am sure they were both wondering “what is that funny looking thing?”. It was fun to watch.

The above scripture came to mind. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. That buck knew he was being watched but he was sure footed and confident. He walked around like he owned the backyard. He definitely did not know who lived inside, did he? He would have run for his life. 😉
These were new heights to him. He was exploring and finding new food sources. It was good.

As I run, I want to have the Lord’s strength and confidence. I want to be sure footed as I go. I want to own the road I run and shine with His strength. I pray the Lord continues to show me His hand in everything around me…even the standoff between TJ and the deer.

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
Tennessee, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads…

This song strummed through my head as I ran my TN country roads this morning. I took the challenge to listen to God’s sounds as I ran today. I took in His sights as well! There were guinea fowl, horses, three little dogs that thought they were BIG, chipmunks and a blue heron along with open fields of cattle and a babbling creek. How awesome is our God on those old country roads?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8.37

This was the scripture I read on Saturday during my devotional. It was paired with a story about comebacks. The author talked about a well known athlete who has had many physical ups and downs. He has had cancer yet he keeps on keeping on. Then the author related this to our Christian walk. Do we have setbacks? YES!

I read the commentary and continued to think about my running. The last two weeks have been recovery weeks. Week one – no running. I did end week running with a friend training for a 10k…it was good. Week two – 3 30 minute easy runs. They were not so easy. Except for Saturday. Mentally they were hard.

During this week I spoke with the guy helping me train. We debriefed the marathon. He was thrilled about my performance even though he was saddened by the 52 second miss. He said I am right where I need to be! We talked about the recovery weeks. Since the mental and physical aspects have not met in middle yet – week three – 3 30 minute easy runs. One more week and then back to training for September 4!

I had a setback. I had a hurdle that I didn’t make. BUT, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

As quoted from the You Version Right From The Heart 1-minute Devotion on Saturday, June18:

Setback into comeback: How about you? What setbacks are you facing in your life? A key to victorious living is learning how to turn your setback into a comeback. I believe faith in God is a tremendous help in doing so. Ask God to help you transform your setback into a comeback. And when you do, you’ll become an inspiration to many around you!

After reading this on Saturday, I asked the Lord to turn my setback into a comeback for Him. He is the reason I am on this journey and the reason I run. Then, I had the best run since the marathon. First, I was able to cheer for three wonderful friends(who did the Run for God Bible study) as they ran a 5k and 10k. I ran part of the race with them….not as a racer but an encourager. (I was later told I ran as a bandit.) ;). It was worth it. They all finished well running for Him! It was awesome to be on the other side and see their excitement and hard work payoff. I was also able to spend time with two other new friends that I have met because of the Run for God Bible study. How awesome!

After visiting and taking in the whole race experience as a spectator I was off to do my own 30 minute easy run. I ran downtown and across the bridges. Chattanooga is a beautiful city. The river, the parks and the people. My run was full of His sights and His sounds. The way it should be.

God has been so good during this new season of my running. I am praying He opens a new world up as I run to the next mailbox for Him! I think He has already started…

Running blessed and as a conqueror through Him who loves us!

I heard this today for the first time. It is quite appropriate for my Boston journey as well as life!
His timing is perfect!

Randy Houser, In God’s Time Lyrics

[Verse 1:]
In God’s time, a million years might only be a single day
And everything he does gets done in his own way, in God’s time
In God’s time, you’ll find that certain someone you’ve been praying for
And they’ll be everything you dreamed of and a little more, in God’s time

[Chorus:]
Oh but no one knows, not you or me
It might be tomorrow or it might never be
But don’t lose faith put it in his hands,
Cause it might be that He might have a bigger plan
Than you had in mind, miracles happen in God’s time

[Verse 2:]
In God’s time, you’ll finally get the chance to hold your baby girl
And all the sudden everything makes sense in this crazy world
In God’s time

[Chorus:]
Oh but no one knows, not you or me
It might be tomorrow or it might never be
But don’t lose faith put it in his hands,
Cause it might be that He might have a bigger plan
Than you had in mind, miracles happen in God’s time

[Verse 3:]
In God’s time, you’ll go to sleep and wake up with wings and learn to fly
And you’ll finally meet your loved ones on the other side
In God’s time

It is always nice to go on vacation, but it is even better to come home! Just think, we are really jot even home yet! One day we will experience a homecoming unlike any other. I can’t wait! All of our worries and concerns will be gone!

“Show me, lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalms 39:4-7

My hope is in Him! This journey to Boston did not go as I planned. I had the last week to truly reflect. I was running for Him, but with my will in mind, not His. His will is the path I choose. I want His glory in all I do. So here we go again.

The San Diego marathon was one mailbox on the way to the final mailbox-Boston. God is in control of how many mailboxes are in between the two. He has provided the next one. Thanks to my mom and dad who said do it again and we will sponsor your entry fee. I have the best parents in the whole wide world! The next mailbox is in Tupelo, MS on September 4, 2011…Labor Day weekend! I am jumping back on the horse with Tupelo on my mind. Sounds like a country song, doesn’t it? That reminds me of my book title…if I write it…What can a person do in 52 seconds? Qualify for Boston, cook two hot dogs in the microwave….anything else? Comment with your suggestions. 🙂

God is so good. I have felt His never-ending love through the support and encouragement from all of you all-my family and friends!

My hope is in Him!

Let His journey continue!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Still running blessed!

I can not begin to tell you how many times God has shown up in amazing ways. I truly do not know why I am amazed because…He is God! He loves us! He wants to provide in big ways!
He does so many times and we don’t catch it. I like to call these Godincidences not coincidences. He is in every detail of our lives. Every detail! He loves us so much!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

He wants us to see and feel Him show up. We need to be close to Him…close proximity to Him allows us to shine for Him!

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

So, back to the Godincidences…short version: My running led me to the Run for God Bible study. Leading this Bible study was a true blessing! I have met amazing people and grown closer in my walk/run with Him because I now have a new running focus – Him! He gave me the desire and talent to run…soI now I use it for Him. Through this RFG journey I have met people at races and on Facebook that are brothers and sisters in Christ. The family continues to grow.

As I was training for the marathon, I read a post on the RFG Facebook page. It was from a blogger in North Carolina. I read his blog and God showed up. It was a Godincidence. God spoke to me as I read the blog. I commented on the blogger’s post and then he made some very encouraging comments on this blog. All this to say: God showed up again. God is SOOOO good.

Check out David’s comment and then go to his blog:

[ First off, very awesome. Your time really is incredible given the time off between distances and the abbreviated training cycle. An effort that very few ever achieve.

As to the overall experience, what a great testimony to others in your post-race attitude. The goals are important and I believe God gives us the passion to use our gifts to the fullest and glorify Him through that. But it is His journey for us, not our journey for Him. In fact, I go back to your use of the word Godincindence. I wrote the following blog entry earlier today before ever checking in your results.

http://davidholcomb.blogspot.com/2011/06/message-from-margaritaville-not-exactly.html

You might find it timely as the Boston door appears to have closed for this week, keep moving as Paul did, and the next bigger, better door will open at the right time.

Thanks for sharing. I know you all had a great time and have great memories to bring back home.

Keep running with horses! ]

As you can see God shows up in every detail!

Godincidence – Romans 8:28 in action! And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God’s journey continues. I will follow and praise Him running along the way! The bigger, better door or mailbox awaits!