2012 has started out with a bang. 🙂 Not really! It has actually started out very slow. Mike has been really sick since before the New Year. So most of my time has been at home taking care of him. He is finally on the mend after 10 days of outright yuckiness. My relief came the days I was able to run. Training is in full swing so, running is a must these days. I will say it has not been as easy in the cold and/or wet conditions. This summer’s training was dry(until the marathon) and hot. Those of you who know me well, know COLD is miserable in my book and HOT is great!!! I guess it comes from all of those hot summers in Texas. 😉
My motivation comes from knowing this go around it is for a different cause; it is not for me! It is for the Lord and for Team Hoyt. www.teamhoyt.com The team the Lord provided for me in such an incredible way! They are my motivation. Yes, You Can! is their slogan. Those are the words that come to mind when I think, “No, I can’t!” Dick Hoyt is 71 years old and Rick is 50…they are running and training for the same run together. One pushing the other. Yes, I can!
Yesterday, I had my first solo run in a while. When I got to my running destination, it started pouring down rain. I sat in my car for at least 15 minutes. I just couldn’t muster the energy to get COLD and WET! So I drove home. I was by myself. I didn’t have faith in myself to get it done (at that time anyway). 😉 I drove home and got comfortable. Then the weather broke and off I went. I am so glad I did. God is so good. He showed up. He was my training partner yesterday. As the excerpt from my Bible study states below: However, be encouraged. Trust God. Have faith that whether you walk or sink, Jesus is always with you. He was with me!
I was able to clear my head. Pray. Take in the sounds around me…dogs barking, water flowing, birds chirping, train blowing and thoughts dancing. It was great! I thought about our fund-raising. I thought about my foot. I also realized that this run is for others, not me! It is for a bigger purpose…bringing glory to God every step of the way while helping others!
My foot is still not 100%. My selfish desire has been to run Boston with a new PR. Yesterday, I ran 6.5 miles…the longest since my qualifying marathon. I felt okay. But, I am nervous about my longer runs. Again, the statement above comes to mind…However, be encouraged. Trust God. Have faith that whether you walk or sink, Jesus is always with you. He will be with me whether I run fast, run slow or walk! I will finish Boston glorifying Him every step of the way! It will be His run. Not mine! (as it should be!)
Now, to the fundraising…I am more concerned about my foot than raising $5000..so I am happy about that and praying God continues to take my worry away in regards to my foot. With this in mind, here are the last two days of Bible study I have been doing online. The following segments were taken from www.youversion.com. Both excerpts are from the Living a Divinely Inspired Life. Check it out when you have time…great stuff!
Matthew 15.25-32
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.29 And he said,Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Situations will arise when you would have to leave your comfort zone and get out of the boat. There will be moments when you will have to take a bold step and walk on water believing that Jesus will be there with you. When these moments arise, it is easy for the spirit of fear to overwhelm you and make you look at the waves rising all around. The reality of the situation could dawn on you rapidly and cause you to begin to doubt and sink.However, be encouraged. Trust God. Have faith that whether you walk or sink, Jesus is always with you.When these moments arise, it is easy for the spirit of fear to overwhelm you and make you look at the waves rising all around. The reality of the situation could dawn on you rapidly and cause you to begin to doubt and sink.However, be encouraged. Trust God. Have faith that whether you walk or sink, Jesus is always with you.
Mark 6.35-42
35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.37 He answered and said unto them,Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
Many times your God-given vision is larger than your current circumstances, background or education. Everything you need to take the first step is already in your hand. The moon is within your grasp if you are willing to reach for it. Jesus wanted the disciples to feed the crowd in Mark 6 but their attention, understandably, was on what they did not have and the magnitude of the task. Instead Jesus asked ‘what do you have?’. They only had five loaves and two fish but He took it to God in thanksgiving before asking the disciples to share with the crowd. The result was a miraculous overflow. Start where you are and trust that God in His awesome power will supply all your needs for a successful journey.
My thoughts…God is taking me out of my comfort zone. He is encouraging me to get out of the boat and trust Him with this amazing journey. Faith is obedience. Faith has shown me many offers to help. (more later) Many see this journey as something larger than my current circumstances…but it is God given…so He will provide. Here is how He is showing His awesome power and He will supply all I need for a successful journey. Why? Because He is responsible for providing this journey. He is the guide and HIS glory will come from it!
As many of you know(and are these people), God has introduced me to the Bayside Run for God group here in Chattanooga. They have become my family! I have been SOOOOO blessed by their encouragement, their prayers and their support. They are the connection to Team Hoyt and the way the Lord got me to Boston! (Thanks again Mike and Nancy!) Godincidences for sure! Now, they are stepping up to the plate and supplying needs as stated in the second excerpt. Thanks to them we are having a “Run for Trish 5k” to raise funds for Team Hoyt. (More about this next week…planning meeting on Saturday, January 14…pray it all goes well!) They are also hosting a Butter Braid fundraiser. We will be selling Butter Braids just in time for Easter. A portion of each sale will go to Team Hoyt. How awesome! Check them out: http://butterbraid.com/
Trusting God is an awesome thing. He loves to show up if we let go and let Him. I will never be able to put into words what the Bayside Run for God group means to me or how their unconditional love and support has carried me through and will continue to do so! They are awesome and are God-given.
God also provided me an amazing husband. I see this more daily. He (even in his sick stupor) is thinking and coming up with great ideas to help me on his journey. His words, for one, are always encouraging. He is always checking on my foot. 🙂 He is my thermometer in regards to my pain level. That is good! As many of you know, he is also a gifted artist. He is a master craftsman. He has offered to raffle chances to win one of his unique pieces of woodwork. We are still working on details for this too…but someone will be the proud owner of a one of a kind piece by Mike Newsom. 🙂
A very small sample…very small…of his work!
We will also be starting a Pennies for People…People with Disabilities. I will be collecting pennies to raise awareness for Team Hoyt. Finding a penny is sometimes considered lucky and gives rise to the saying, “Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck.” We all have pennies lying around. So, let’s bring some good luck to Team Hoyt with our pennies. 🙂 (yes, I am taking them to the bank to have them counted…they will LOVE me!)
With all of this in place, God is providing. I am doing my part, but I have a team of wonderful people going above and beyond what they have to do…:) I am grateful that the Lord has blessed this journey so! He is the reason and His glory is what we are wanting to share. Let’s shout it from the mountain tops how good our God is!!!
Ephesians 5.19-20
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I am singing praises to our Lord and giving thanks for YOU!
Running Blessed!
Trish
Trish
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