Colossians 1:9-14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
I have asked many lately if I could shout from the mountain tops how good God is. So here I go…GOD IS SO GOOD!
We know as believers that He is good. We know He provides. We know He cares. We know these things. But I know that I am guilty of getting swept up by life and my current circumstances that I often miss these wonderful truths. I see how friends around me struggle. How one family is hit by heartache not once, twice, or even three times but four times in a two month period – it makes you take a step back and truly contemplate your life and the big picture that the LORD is in control of. As my heart is heavy for this family, my heart is also full of so much joy because of the awesomeness He is personally showing me. My prayer is that if you are hurting, as they are, that you hold on and know He is at the wheel. He is your comforter. He is your counselor. He is your great physician. He has this…LET GO and LET GOD!
So what is He doing with thenextmailboxboston? The question should be, “What is He not doing?” He is truly working in ways I could have and would have never imagined!!!
Ephesians 3.20
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Here is a lengthy update on His unbelievable journey to Boston:
Pennies for People Campaign: My students have truly amazed me with their enthusiasm for this cause. (as well as the idea of free ice cream!) They have raised $646 to date. Final count will be tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how they finish well!
Butter Braid Campaign: We raised $830.00!! Woo hoo! Fund-raising never tasted so good. 🙂 Thanks to Nancy Ayers for organizing this one and getting it going. Thanks to everyone for buying one and helping me get many steps closer. Amazing!
On-going – Mike’s Mirror Raffle: we are raffling a Reclaimed Heart Pine Lumber Mirror; Made from floor beams of the Cavalier Corporation, Chattanooga ~1865 to 2000. Valued at $500 this 26’ x 46’ handcrafted mirror by Mike Newsom is being raffled for $10.00 a ticket – 100 are being sold. 1 in 100 chance to own this piece of art. 🙂
Garage Sale: Again Nancy is hosting a garage sale on March 31. Someone’s trash will become treasure for Team Hoyt.
Now for the big one…
The Run with Trish 5K for Team Hoyt!
God is truly showing up here in ways we could have never anticipated when we decided to do this. He is proving Himself and blessing the journey getting us to March 10. I can only believe that March 10 has a huge blessing awaiting us. Here it goes…(not in any particular order)
T-shirts are going to be provided to race participants thanks to 4 wonderful sponsors…Eagle Exxon and Construction Unlimited both in Dayton, TN and my mother, Eddie Lou Taylor and my brother Rob Taylor from Arkansas. As a runner, I like to have a shirt from my races. It is something physical to show my hard work. 🙂 I could not be more excited about this addition. I received an email from a 14 year old’s mom asking me we were having t-shirts. Her reason was that this will be her daughter’s 1st 5k. She wanted to make sure she had something to walk away with that day. That email spurred me on to get it done. Thanks!
Run for God – www.runforgod.com – will be there in a big way. We will be showcasing their NEW finish line. I can’t even describe how awesome it is. We are going to look so official. And the best part about it…the RUN FOR GOD message will be out there for everyone at the race but also those just enjoying the river walk. Along with the incredible finish line, Run for God will be there filming with a production crew. They need to get pictures and footage of their new finish line and RFG groups for their newest material. RFG will be out in force. They are bringing their youth triathlete team. Mitchell Hollis is asking local RFG Bible study groups to come participate to support our run and to help with their new production materials. Mitchell Hollis will also be speaking that day. Wow!!!! That is all I can say!! God is so good. His glory will be present that day as it already very present!
Local Press – Thanks so emails from a couple of my new running angels – Mike and Gina – the Times Free Press and Get Out Chattanooga contacted me about this God-given journey. The Times Free Press article has been published and is listed below:
Look for the Get Out Chattanooga publication in March. The Dayton Herald, the local paper where I work, will be doing a story as well int he next week or two.
The race has been place on the Chattanooga Track Club website:
http://chattanoogatrackclub.org/races.cfm?contentID=eventDetail&recid=851
It is on J103 and Family Life Radio:
http://www.myflr.org/News-and-Events/Events/Events-Index/Event-Index.aspx?tid=104
God is getting His story into many hands. My prayer is that He touches someone’s life for Him through all of this press and all of the different connections He is making and providing. It is about HIM…
Matthew 18.19
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
He has been with me every step of this journey. He has been with us! I pray that His will is done as we get closer to that Boston goal. It is an honor to be watching Him work. I am learning and growing closer to Him as I hope you are too.
He is our God. He loves us no matter what! He wants His people saved. He can do it however He wants…even with RUNNING!
Running blessed for HIM!
Trish 🙂
Okay…Bayside – if I forgot something …comment and I will add. God has been working so hard…
thenextmailboxboston 
Wow! So many blessings indeed. I’m glad you’re blogging all of this! Looking forward to reading more about your journey to Boston.
Thanks!!! God is truly good all the time. Much more to come!
Trish, WOW! It’s been hectic here, (RFG is really blessing the instructor as much as the participants – you warned me about that!), but I had no idea what all was going on in your world. Incredible. I sense that a revival of purpose for proclaiming God’s name and giving Him glory is taking place. I pray that you remain strong, that God places a shield around you and your family, that there are others that help carry this load and that you continue to grow in your journey, in order that you can continue to share that growth with us. Bless you.
Run With Horses,
David
By the way, over 130 ‘runners’ entering week #3 are thankful to you for your encouragement last spring regarding Run For God. Had paths not crossed, I may likely have not been moved to pursue a study here.
Wow is so right! I am truly amazed by God’s hand in all of this. You have been reading from the beginning so you know what an incredible journey this has been. Thanks for your prayers. God has truly blessed me with prayer warriors along the way. I pray your Bible study is continuing to go well. Let me know about your race as well! I have been known to travel to run. 🙂