#run hard

Frozen Toes 5k (actually 3.66)

1)this race was AMAZING

2)I didn't know I signed up to climb Mt. Everest

3)this race was BRUTAL

My running outfit <3 I just got this shirt yesterday for my birthday! I loved running it, it's so comfortable and super soft. In my sister we trust when it comes to what clothing for what weather. I was going to run with my rain jacket too, but she told me to just do the shirt. I am so glad I listened to her, because I would have been so hot. I actually felt a little hot just in the shirt.

The starting (and finish line)!! I showed up 45 minutes early. Plenty of time to use the restroom, mill around, warm up, and be indecisive about what to wear (thankfully, listened to my sister)

The course was ROUGH, but it was so much fun. it was basically all uphill until a little over the last half mile. The course was also .56 over the 5k limit, but they sent out an email beforehand so I was prepared for that.

It was also MUDDY. Thankfully, I managed to avoid most of the mud puddles until the very last bit, right before we got back on the pavement to kick in the last .15 of the race. However, WOW, did my feet become bricks as soon as they got coated in mud. They were so heavy, but I still kicked it in and passed three (or four?) people.

I was really delighted with myself when I realized how positively I was talking to myself during the race. I was so proud of how well I was handling the hills considering where I live, there aren't really any hills. Like one of my "courses" has a sort of big hill that could not even be compared to the hills I ran on today. I am being serious when I say, pretty much 90% of the race was uphill. We went down hill right as we hit the third mile. and the downhill was steep. It was really fun because I felt like I was flying, but I was also desperately trying to throw my feet out in front of me to avoid becoming a snowball. There was no way I could slow down or stop....if I fell, I was just going to keep going.

Not only that, it was also a trail race and I run on pavement. I don't usually have the time to trail run, but after this race, I definitely want to run more on the trails. This race wasn't that far from me so I will be running on these trails more!

Besides that, I was so kind to myself. My self talk has changed. I have learned (and am still learning) to just enjoy running. To love myself, to love my times, to love my pace, and to love just running. I'm not running for a college anymore, I'm running solely for myself, so why be so mean to myself? If I would not say it to a friend, I should not say it to myself.

I didn't care if people passed me, I didn't beat myself up when I walked. Because frankly, I was KILLING it. I was running a really hilly course with lots of mud, rocks, and roots and I was doing GREAT. And besides that, who cares how fast or slow I ran it, I was running it and I was having a great time!!!

My post race beer! Confirmed it, beer still tastes terrible. I haven't had a beer in three years because I had to cut gluten out of my diet for a long time... I think I could go another three years before having another one.

When I tell this race was challenging, I mean it. I was running at a pace that is usually more of an easy, relaxed run, but I was HUFFING and PUFFING up those hills. My heart rate was red lining literally all but 1 minute and 57 seconds of the race. It was challenging. I definitely want to do another trail race.

My super cute mug!!

The Important Part

“…This Man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:42NIV

The single most crucial decision every person has to make in their entire life is— Who is Jesus Christ to me? John 4 we find a town of people answering this question for themselves. Do you think the village of Sychar had no other miracles except for one woman saying, “…He told me everything I ever did.” John 4:29NIV?

Other evidence was given for, V42NIV tells us “ They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this Man really is the Savior of the world.” Miraculous events happened creating their belief, and full acceptance of Jesus Christ.

Jewish people require a sign in order to believe, “…they asked Him, “What sign then will You give that we may see it and believe You?…” John 6:30NIV Are we Jewish? Must we have a sign to believe?

Once, while teaching a Bible study, I was intrigued by one student. She’d traveled to Michigan for a church service with a preacher from Georgia. This preacher’s Bible oozed oil at the rate of 100 gallons per year. Sid Roth invited this preacher onto his program, asking him to bring the miracle Bible. I watched on youtube— the Bible was pulled from a clear plastic container half filled with oil. The man lifted the Bible out, squeezing out the oil. He opened the Bible and turned pages. Miraculous? Truth or fiction — My student brought a small vial of the oil home with her. She anointed her house. Peace replaced difficulties almost immediately. During Roth’s program, they testified about a woman who had placed the oil in her son’s muffins.  His stage 4 cancer was totally reversed in one week. Do people need this oil to believe in Jesus?

Why does God do the strange phenomenon of the oil coming from a Bible? Let me ask you, why not? John 5:4KJV “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” For 25 years, God has been putting ‘gold’ fillings in people’s teeth, covering uplifted hands with gold dust, as people worship Him. Truth? Yes. Why? God does as He pleases, when He pleases, and how He pleases.

Searching for miracle signs and wonders— don’t. Remember Jesus said “…Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” John20:29ESV. The greater blessing goes to the one who doesn’t see but believes. IF you witness a miracle, don’t worship the miracle. Praise God for what you’ve seen, then worship Jesus for being all powerful.

We’re entering the time of false signs and wonders operating alongside real signs and wonders. Believe Jesus and His Words for what you need— have faith. Praise Jesus for all miracle signs and wonders. But do not accept everyone and every miracle as being from God, especially, to the point of beginning to worship the miracle. Do not chase after seeing miracles happen. Chase after our Savior. Run hard after Him. Exhaust yourself looking for Him in His Word, and in your heart. “If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me” Jeremiah 29:13NLT.

Are we looking for signs? Have we decided— who Jesus is? For the most important part, of eternal relevance, will always be our decision about who Jesus is to us, individually. It’s your choice. You choose.

PRAYER: Sovereign God. You are holy, jealous for our souls, desiring holiness and righteousness. Help us to always see You Jesus, as the Savior of the world. Help us seek You and You alone, in the name of Jesus Christe I pray.