Running with God in the Great Smokey Mountains

Great run today with the love of my life.  We were in the Great Smokey Mountains.  We ran the Gatlinburg Trail.  Along the way we say a few people in the 27 degree weather.  We traveled across this foot bridge that traverses the Little Pigeon River.

The path is gental and mostly flat.  When we reached the Sugar Lands Visitors Center we took a short trail to Cataract Falls.

This half mile trail was soft and flat.  Cataract Falls is only a half mile from the visitors center and well worth the trip. 

I have to continue to thank the Lord for my life and the ability to run with him.

Running in God's Beautiful Wilderness

I had the opportunity to run in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park on the 28th.  I ran on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.  It is a one lane road that is closed during the winter.  Being that it is closed to cars it makes for a quiet run in the woods.

While I was running I had views of many creeks and cascades.  This reminded me of God's gift of Jesus and how Jesus is the Living Water.

As I ran I was reminded of God's great beauty.  I love the world he has made for us. 

 In some places there were still some snow on the ground from a few weeks ago.

I didn't see any people during my run and I liked that.  I did see these residence of the Great Smoky Mountains

I have to thank God for letting me run and allowing me the opportunity to run in his wilderness.

Run Your Race

Hebrews 12:1

Running with the Christmas Spirit

I passed this scene while running this morning.  Please put Jesus at the center of your Christmas and be thankful that God gave us his son Jesus over 2000 years ago so that we may be saved.  

Running with Peace on Earth

I have been on the treadmill too many times this past week.  It was nice getting outside.  45 degrees and cloudy this morning.  I was able to run through Friedman's Park.  I haven't been here since the snow storm two weeks ago.

Today December 22 2013

2 weeks earlier December 6 2013

It was so peaceful today.  It was very quiet and I was all alone. During the Christmas season we see the words Peace on Earth written on postcards and in decorations.  Today as I thought about the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, I was able to experience this peace.  Jesus can give us Peace on Earth everyday of the year if we will let him into our hearts and allow him to guide our lives.

Run Your Race

Hebrews 12:1  

Running With Clarity

I had a long run yesterday.  I left the house at 10:00 and didn't get back until 12:30.  It was 35 degrees with light rain at the start and then overcast the entire run.  No sunshine today.  Visibility was minimal as you can tell from these pictures.

The roads were completely clear and there was minimal traffic so I was able to have a great run.  As he frequently is God was with me during my run.   He made me aware that when I am running with the world that sometimes my visibility my be obscured but if I run with him I will have clarity. I know what is right and what is wrong but if I let the things of the world be in front of me it may blur the lines between the two.  Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles .  And let us run with perseverance the race maked out for us. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus...  Run with clarity by throwing off everything that hinders you.

Running on Stable Ground

Yesterday was the first day in over a week that I have been able to run on pavement.  Last week I had two days of running in the snow, which I love.  Due to timing and roads being icy I had been relegated to the treadmill a few times.  I was able to run in the evening so I have some beautiful sunset pictures.

I like google's autoawesome

Most of the roads were clear but there were some areas that I had to be careful where I was running.  There were some areas of roads that still had been covered completely with ice.  At times I had to slow down so that I didn't slip.  When I run with God in my life I don't have to worry about my footing because he provides me with a clear path.  I am not going to fall if I keep going where he directs me.  One of the song today that I was listening to was Chris Tomlin's "I Will Follow".  In the song he says "all your ways are good, all your ways are sure."  I know when I am running with God he will provide a sure way.

Running in God's Winter Wonderland - Crazy

We must be crazy running outside today.  It was 13 degrees with a windchill of 1 degree as we left the house at 9:00 am.

Crazy Runners

The more time I spend outdoors the more I am amazed at how beautiful God's world is.  I love the beach but there is something about a snowscape in the winter that takes my breath away.

Rolling Hills 

Today instead of listening to Christian music I listened to my tropical playlist.  It is a mixture of Reggae, Bob and Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson and Kenny Chesney.  As I took the picture above the song Paradise by Coldplay was on.  I do think this is paradise.

Do you recognize these locations?

 

Here they are just 3 months ago.

I have to give thanks to God for letting me run in such beauty.

Run Your Race

Hebrews 12:1

Run Through the Straight Gate

What a difference 42 hours can make.  Two days ago I was running in shorts and short sleeves on an unseasonably warm December evening.  Today I was running in a 25 degree snow storm with 4-5 inches on the ground. 

The view from my front door.

I love running in the snow.  I think there is something primal inside of me that causes this love.  I have knows for a week that we may be getting the snow today and I was holding out hope that I could run in it.  

Blue Lake

Part of my run today took me through a local park that is sparingly used on good days.   I usually am the only person there when I run.  Today the solitude was fabulous.

Freidman's Park

Running in the park in the 5 inches of snow was difficult so I return home via the road.  On the road I could run better when I found a tire track to follow.  Often these tracks were thin and I had to pay attention to where my feet were striking to prevent running in the deeper snow.  It reminded me of Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  What a great comparison between today's run and our spiritual life.  We need to stay focused on where we are going and not let the devil and the lust of this world take our attention away from the saving power of Jesus.

Run Your Race 

Hebrews 12:1

Free Running

Not your ordinary December run yesterday.  I was not able to run yesterday morning so If I was going to run it would be after work in the dark or on the treadmill.  When I got home at 7:00 PM the temp out side was 67 degrees.  WOW.  So I put on my shorts, short sleeve shirt and my light and headed outside.  I can't remember a December run in shorts before.  It was enjoyable.  It was also enjoyable because it was a "free run".  I use the term free run when I don't look at my watch, run easy and I don't have any particular route that I am running.  I like doing this sometimes because it is basic and easy.  Free running helps me remember that I like running.  It takes any pressure or work out of the run.

As I was enjoying my free run I started to think of the freedom we have with Christ.  It seems like an oxymoron when we say that giving our lives over to Jesus brings freedom, but that is what happens.  With Christ I have the freedom to live without guilt or shame.  I know that I can go through life and feel free from the lust of the world.   I greatly enjoy the freedom I have with Jesus.

* New song in playlist - MercyMe/Shake

Greatness Awaits

I always want to run outside as opposed to running inside.  Did I say always?  For some reason I decided to run on the treadmill this evening.  At 4:00 pm my duties around the house were done and it was sunny outside and beautiful.  For some reason I decided to run on the treadmill and watch football.  While I was running there was a commercial for Playstation.  You may have seen these commercials.  During there adds they use the slogan "Greatness Awaits".  This is sad to me.  Why would anyone judge their greatness by a video game.  I know many kids and young adults who do just that.  They live in a fantasy world and not reality.  It's not just video games that the world uses to steal our greatness.  Many of the things we chase in life steal our greatness.  Running can be one of those things.  Anything that builds us up to the world steals from our real purpose.  Real greatness is when we build up those around us, when people can see God in our lives.  We are great when we are living like Jesus.

Run Your Race

Hebrews 12:1

Running with Purpose and Focus

Yesterday was a long run.  I was out for over two hours.  It was cool but there was abundant sunshine.  I felt strong and thanked God for allowing me to enjoy the world he created.  I often run through the neighborhood of Victoria National Golf Course.  Yesterday I decided to take the cart path and run through the actual golf course.  Victoria National is the most prestegous golf course in the area and many golfers would love to be able to play on it.  Yesterday for 4 miles I had the course to myself.  Even in winter time it is beautiful.  I can only imagine how it would look during the summer when everything is green and the flowers are in bloom.

I caught these two trying to sneak onto the back nine!

I was in prayer some of the time but I also had many thoughts about having purpose in life and what that might be. This is a frequent topic and many books have been written about purpose and having a purpose driven life. Here is my two cents on purpose.  I think we all have four main purposes in life.  1. Love God.  2. Love our spouses.  3. Be a good parent.  4. Be a witness to the people in our lives.  Some of us, no many of us, may have other purposes in life, but the four listed here are global.  If you are looking for your purpose in life, look no further.  

Now that you have your purpose...stay focused.  Don't let the world interfere with you achieving your purpose. Galatians 5:7 gives us a great running analogy, You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?  Stay focused.