Running towards the Son

Perfect running weather today.  63 degrees and no wind.  This was the view as I ran along the Ohio River this afternoon.  Easy relaxed run today as I ran towards the sun.  I had my cross around my neck and christian music playing from my phone.  I was reminded how lucky I am to have Jesus in my life.  One of the songs I was listening to today was Every Good Thing by The Afters.  It is a praise song that gives thanks to God.  The chorus goes "Your the reason for every good thing, every heart beat, every time we get to breath".  I often know I am not thankful enough for what God has done in my life, but what if I were thankful for every time I get to breath?  Wow, that would be a powerful statement.  I do want to thank God for being in his presence today as I ran.

* Running tip - To prevent injury try stretching or Yoga 2-3 times per week.  15-20 minutes each time will make you more flexible and more resistant to injury.  It may even make you faster.

Running is Beautiful

Wonderful run today.  I had the opportunity to run this evening along the Ohio River.  It was a bit warm but beautiful clear skies.  Today was an easy run.  I had no burdens that I took with me on the run.  I had a sense of freedom.  I couldn't help but notice how beautiful God's world is.  Sometimes we get overloaded by images on TV or in the media.  We only see the negative in our lives.  But if we open our eyes and see the world around us we will know that it is a wonderful life we live.  This is where my run started and ended.

 

It will be interesting to see how the green color changes over the next 4-6 weeks.  Maybe I can have a comparison picture in a month when the color is filled with reds, oranges and yellows.

 

One of my favorite songs right now is "Every Good Thing" by The Afters.  I heard it several times while I was running.  One of the lines in the song sings "I don't want to miss or take for granted it's a beautiful life we live".  That is so right.  I want to live my life to the fullest and I can do that if I seek Jesus.  The beauty of the day continued as the pictures show below.

 

Sunset on the Ohio River

 

God can show us the beauty in life if we keep running with him.

 

Talk to you later and keep Running with God





Listening to God while You Run

I know lots of people listen to music when they run.  I run past them all the time with their ear buds in.  I have never been one to wear ear buds.  I like to hear what is going on around me.  If there is a car coming behind me, a biker passing me, or a faster runner is coming from behind I would like some advanced warning.  Have you ever passed a fellow runner or walker and they didn't know you were there until they saw you out of the corner of their eye?  You know the look when they nearly jump out of their shoes.  Well I can't stand the fear of having that happen.  A few years ago my wife bought a spy belt.  It is a great device that fastens around your waist like a fanny pack but it is very small and compact and fits the contour of what is inside of it.  I used it a couple of time when I had to carry my smart phone with me during a run.  It works well and when my shirt is pulled over it, people can't tell I have it on. On one of those runs it hit me that I could listen to my music while I was using the spy belt.

I soon had a playlist for my runs.  This was great.  I could listen to music to get me pumped during my runs.  One day when life was treating being unkind I left for a run in a depressed mood.  I was definitely not in a mood for my running playlist and its upbeat up-tempo songs.  So I thought I would listen to something else.  I tapped my "Faith" playlist and off I went.  It seemed like some of the songs spoke to my problems and by the end of my run I was not depressed.  It didn't take me long to realize that listening to my "Faith" play list on other runs my be uplifting.  Since that time I take my music on most runs.  There are some days that I do like up-tempo music so I have a playlist that has Christian music that is more upbeat.  Some of my favorite songs on it are Move by MercyMe, Eye On It and Unstoppable by tobyMac, and Every Good Thing by The Afters.  Just this morning tobyMac sang "You sing to me and my heart comes to life"  How fitting.

If you run and listen to Christian music leave a comment and tell us what some of your favorite songs are to run to.