1st Place - Overall Masters
Thanks be to God, I am back. Today was my first race since the marathon and since my Plantar Fasciitis diagnosis. As my husband was leaving for his day in the woods, he said “Win it!” I replied, I am just going to run to run. With my heel issues I have been told to back off and not run as much. Which, I have…for the most part. Then there was today. Those of you that run know, you can easily get caught up in the festivities. No matter how hard we want to hold back…we go full force. Today was worth it. I needed to know I could still do it! And with His help, I did!
This morning when I climbed out of bed I was missing something…pain. Yay! First day pain free…how awesome! God is soooo good! I took my time getting ready and preparing for the morning. My scripture reading was:
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6.28
God only requires us to believe in Jesus and ask Him into our lives…then we get to experience His glorious power and saving grace. How awesome is that???
With running, once we have trained and have our base underneath us…all we have to do is believe in ourselves and we can do it! It is a mental game! There are so many times we think we can not do this because of this or that and we don’t…b/c our mind wins the battle. Thankfully with our salvation, once saved, our mind can talk to it all it wants but it can not take the eternal salvation God gives. Hallelujah! Even after time away from running or living right…we can come back. We can do it! We can live for Him or run for Him.
God is a gracious god and holds us even when we stumble.
Psalm 119:165-168
New International Version (NIV)
and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, LORD,
and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
for all my ways are known to you.
Another awesome part of today was spending it with new friends who share the love of Christ and running. We are connected by His love first. We are sharing in the ups and downs of life(sounds like a song ;)) and running. It was so fun to be there today to encourage and run with these new friends from the Bayside Run for God group. Y’all are awesome and thanks for lifting Him up in all you do…as well as lifting me up in prayers and with your words of encouragement.
God is good. God is faithful. He proved that once again today with a glorious day to run and a great day with His people!
Thank you Lord for allowing me to run for you and to be back at what I love to do…running!!!
thenextmailboxboston 
You are sooooo amazing!!! Congrats…on your 1st place, who knew? Me, of course…I am NOT surprised!!!