until the big day!
Tupelo is on it’s way! It is getting closer day by day. Two weeks from this very moment it will be over. He will complete what He started!
This week while Yoli and I were running she quoted Philippians 1.6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
This journey is for Him! He started a good work in me when He helped me realize one of my talents is running. He has given me more opportunities to talk about what He is doing in my life through my running. (or at least I am more aware now than before)
The Lord truly amazes me how He continues to open doors to me for Him with my running. Just this weekend we ran the Mud Run. This is truly the best way to run a 5k ever! Mud, water, obstacles…fun! Anyway, at 10:00 pm the night before the race we found out that 2 of our 5 person team could not participate. Oh my! Panic mode hit…I am an early to bed person. For some reason, I was up to receive the text. If I hadn’t we wouldn’t have been able to participate. But, the Lord provided.
One of my dear friends who wanted to do it originally and could not was able to jump in…and then the wonderful world of Facebook helped us find another person. This is where God was so good. He provided us with a fellow believer who was a true team player. He helped us along the way as well as other teams! We knew God was behind it when he got out of his car and had on a Philippians 4:13 shirt. That verse was quite appropriate when we hit the several 8 foot climbing towers.
Philippians 4.13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength
It was awesome how the day played out. We met a new friend and had a great time with many others.
So back to the fact that I am 13 days away…this Mud Run helped me take my mind off of the serious training we have been doing. It was a day without the George the Garmin. It was a day to remember why we run! We run for God…We run for fun!
Then today’s run was the same. We had to run 12 with no pace requirement. Our directions were…just run, don’t push, just run. We had a great time exploring new territory. God’s creation surrounded us. We saw deer and more deer. We watched geese fly in a V to feed in a field. We experienced the sun come up over the river. It was God saying “Good Morning, glad you could join me!” It was a great way to start the day! We got up to run and we got to experience GOD!
Deuteronomy 33:13-16a
13 “May the LORD bless his land
with the precious dew from heaven above
and with the deep waters that lie below;
14 with the best the sun brings forth
and the finest the moon can yield;
15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
The earth is one of the best gifts from the Lord. I worship through nature. Today was a day that brought me back to one of the main reasons I run…it connects me to HIM! I am able to experience Him in a way that only happens out in nature with His creation!
This week we had a 12 miler on Wednesday. We ran it in the evening. It was HARD! As I struggled, Yoli spurred me on. We were able to finish and finish strong. We stayed within pace but it was HARD. These two scriptures came to mind:
Romans 5.3-5
3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Proverbs 27.17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Through my suffering and being sharpened along the course…I survived and finished well. This is my hope and prayer for the next to weeks. We will continue to sharpen one another and finish well the work He started for HIS DAY! To God be the glory!!
Running Blessed!
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