Prayer Run, Week #3

God is funny. Just when I think I have Him all figured out, He changes things up again. (At least he is keeping me on my toes!)

If you are just joining us, I have been taking prayer requests and running one mile per request, praying for the duration of said mile. I just completed Week #3, which really poured over into like Week #4.5. (Catch up on my previous prayer runs #1 and #2.

This time, I took requests and didn’t receive as many on Facebook. I thought that maybe it was the opportunity to take things a bit slower fitness-wise that week.

Until I checked Instagram.

Holy Macaroni and Cheese, friends! So. Many. Requests. (Hence why it spilled over into an extra week and a half).

This prayer walk run totaled 39 miles, mostly from complete strangers! Awesome. (And a little exhausting, but mostly awesome)

Prayer Walk Note: I write initials (for confidentiality sake) of prayer requestees on my left arm so I don’t have to carry a piece of paper or constantly be looking at my phone. However, I’m left handed, so when writing with my right hand, so please forgive the sketchy penmanship.

Friends, if you have a prayer request, please send it to me via email via sharita@7daystime.com or submit it here. You can also leave your request in the comments below or send me a personal message on Facebook. 

Praying for God’s glory,

 

 

“And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” ~1 John 5:15

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Prayer Walk, Week #2

Well, my friends… All I have to say about this new Prayer Run/Walk Project is that you all are determined to keep me moving toward my fitness goals!

You might recall that God recently nudged me to start doing Prayer Run/Walks every other week. Basically, I send out the call for prayer requests, you submit them, and I dedicate one mile per person to praying.

Week #2 once again delivered the volume AND quality of requests. I prayed for 21 total miles, which broke down into one 4-miler, four 5ks, and one 10k.

Prayer Walk Note: I write initials (for confidentiality sake) of prayer requestees on my left arm so I don’t have to carry a piece of paper or constantly be looking at my phone. However, I’m left handed, so when writing with my right hand, so please forgive the sketchy penmanship.

One thing I have already discovered about these prayer walk/runs… I love them. It is such a cool experience to pray for you, even if we have never met in real life. Also, it makes the miles fly by (especially since I don’t use music, podcasts, etc on prayer miles– just praying). AND it has already deepened my prayer life, since I do not naturally have the gift of praying as a first line of defense in need or crisis (I DO pray, but it isn’t a natural thing… but it is becoming more naturally as I practice it!)

Oh, and it’s unbelievably encouraging to hear the fruit God is producing from these requests… I love hearing how God is at work in your lives and it makes me want to run more and more for His glory!

Friends, if you have a prayer request, please send it to me via email via sharita@7daystime.com or submit it here. You can also leave your request in the comments below or send me a personal message on Facebook. 

I will be going on these Prayer walk/runs every other week and it would be an absolute privilege to pray for you. Every mile is for God’s glory!

 

 

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ~2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

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If You are Gonna Run In Texas…

Over the last seven (!?!?) years since answering the call to ministry, the Lord has taught me many life lessons, from being less “flakey” (literally) with my faith, to seeking Jesus in my Everyday. 

This last year, He has really been teaching me a lot of things in the health, food and fitness realm. Recently, I learned that yes, if you are gonna run in Texas, do it before it gets to hot… Or you won’t just be running to bring Jesus glory, you will be running and feel like you are going to meet him too (and I don’t mean in a “good” way like on-the-road-to-Damascus-life-changing kind of way… More like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego furnace kind of way.)

So here are a few reflections on my way-too-late-start-4-mile run from a while back.

 1. West Texas is beautiful.
2. But SO hot.
3. This run would have been completely glorious if I was able to start three hours earlier. 
4. But I have Tiny Humans.
5. Left side pic is before, feeling like a happy, sparkling ray of Texas Sunshine. Right pic is after, so grateful to be off the Hot Mess Express and back in the air conditioning of the car.
6. The first half of the run was so wonderful.
7. Because, as I realized on my way back to the car, going out was downhill.
8. I need to start running with a full camelbak of water because the piddly bottles on my running belt are not enough.
9. El Paso makes me appreciate even lukewarm water to drink. (It was ice cold when I started).
10. I’ve never been more thankful for mountain breeze.
11. Apparently, I was visually struggling the last quarter mile because a random stranger saw me checking my running watch and said “Parking lot is right there. You are almost done!”
12. It was still a great run and so glad I went.
13. Now, to shower. Because I think I smell…

So now you might be saying, “Cool story, bro.” What’s all this have to do with following Jesus.

Well, I am SO glad you asked.

1.  Following Jesus can be a simultaneously wonderful yet hard, exhausting experience. I think many believers are convinced that when they say YES to the Lord, that their life will automatically be sunshine, rainbows and puppy dog tails. But looking at accounts throughout the Bible, that’s not true.

2. It will sometimes feel like it’s all uphill work.

3. You might sweat… Physically, emotionally, spiritually.

4. But every step is purposeful.

5. It’s not always going to be pretty. I shared the before/after picture of my run so people don’t think I’m one of those always-put-together runners with lipstick and a glittery hat (although research indicates that glitter/fun lips makes a person run faster. And by research, I mean my personal opinion that has no scientific basis whatsoever). Authentic faith is real and can get a little messy.

6. It’s encouraged to always start sooner than later.

7. After fighting the good fight of faith and making it to the end of our journey, there is SUCH victory! Of course, I write this on faith and spiritual speculation, but considering how great sitting down in the air conditioning feels post Texas run, I’m sure crossing the threshold to heaven and hearing “Well done, my good and faithful servant” is simply no comparison!

So keep running, my friends. Even if your steps are heavy and you have slowed to what feels like barely more than a crawl. Keep going, even if you cannot yet see the finish line.

Christ will empower you and carry you. He will refresh you as the Living Water. He will give you rest. Keep moving forward toward Him, because his love is cooler than the Texas temperature and wider than the Texas landscape.

 

 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” ~1 Corinthians 9:24-25

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Prayer Walk, Week #1

I’m not gonna lie. (Well, obviously, I wouldn’t lie to you. Because I like you. And I’ve heard lying is a no-no with Jesus).

Anywho. I’m not gonna lie, I am often on the lookout for ways to make life more efficient and work smarter instead of harder.

I always love it when God gets right down in there with me and inspires a pretty cool thought.

A couple weeks ago, I was having what I will call a “twitchy” Saturday. For the last several years, I’ve tried to make working out a priority, not only because it’s good for my body whose life motto seems to be “STORE FAT, MAKE BABIES” (it didn’t get the memo that particular ship has sailed), but also because those feel-good-endorphins greatly reduce my heifer-like attitude factor.

(Last I checked, nobody likes hanging out with a heifer. And without those endorphins to work out my stress, that can be like a thing).

That particular “twitchy” Saturday, my workout had not yet happened. (I try to exercise earlier in the day, again to manage all things heifer-ish). But circumstances just didn’t allow it. So I finally got to run, er, lovingly depart from my familia for my workout late in the afternoon.

I wasn’t in the mood to run, so I parked at the parade field and walked. I had felt that God was stirring something up but wasn’t sure what that looked like.

By the time my three miles concluded, He had given me the answer: Go on a prayer walk (which has eventually led to recharging 7DT blog).

So, I put the call out to you lovely 7 Days Time fans and followers on Facebook. My original no-plan-plan was to go on a long walk/run, no more than 10 miles, with each request equaling one mile.

Surely with the wonky Facebook algorithms and the small number of people who see my posts, I wouldn’t get more than 10 prayer requests in just a couple of days, right?

Yeah. You hear that? That’s Jesus laughing as He watches the replay of the latest episode of Sharita’s submission to Jesus Funniest Videos.

In just a couple of days, I got 24 prayer requests. TWENTY-FOUR. Many of those requests were from complete strangers which honestly is pretty cool. But TWENTY-FOUR.

Even though I love Jesus very much, I didn’t actually want to MEET Him on the day of my long walk/run. So I split it up into four 5Ks and a half-marathon. And lived to tell about it.

Here’s how it broke down… (Note: I write initials of prayer requestees on my left arm so I don’t have to carry a piece of paper or constantly be looking at my phone. However, I’m left handed, so when writing with my right hand = please forgive the sketchy penmanship).

Friends, if you have a prayer request, please send it to me via email via sharita@7daystime.com or submit it here. You can also leave your request in the comments below or send me a personal message on Facebook. 

I will be going on these Prayer walk/runs every other week and it would be an absolute privilege to pray for you. Every mile is for God’s glory!

 

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” ~Acts 20:24

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Embracing the Race (Guest Blog)

It’s taken me many years to admit that I am kinda-sort-of a runner. And now, in my current season as more of a pregnant waddler, somewhere deep down, I realize I actually miss running. Especially considering that just a little over a year ago I ran a full marathon and didn’t die. 

So whenever I can, I like to support other runners on this quest– especially ones that love Jesus. Today, it’s an honor for me to share a guest post by Lisa Preuett, announcing the release of her new book for Jesus-runners like me. Grab a copy and let’s hit the road. ~SGK

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“What’s your pace?”

This is a common question we hear frequently among runners. It’s also a number runners must sometimes enter on race registration forms. It’s easy to obsess about exactly how long it takes one to cover the distance of a mile. [Read more…]

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11 Ways that Being an Army Wife is Like Running a Marathon

Life is funny.

Why? Because just a few short years ago, I had two “nevers” that I (naively) thought were non-negotiable.

  1. I will NEVER love/marry/follow a man.
  2. I will NEVER run a marathon.

You can probably already see where this post is going.

Obviously, I have done both. [Read more…]

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The Holy (and not-so-holy) thoughts of a Marathon runner #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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As you might know, I recently ran my first ever marathon.

And it is my tradition to share some of my mile-by-mile thoughts, because I think of Jesus most miles and I think of some pretty crazy stuff… But it is too good to just waste on a Facebook status.

Plus, we all need a good laugh, right?

So, per request, here is a breakdown and the nitty-gritty (rainy? painful?) details from my first-ever full marathon experience during the Columbia Gorge Marathon​ on 10.25.15… Enjoy! [Read more…]

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26 Things I Learned Training for a Marathon #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Last week, I experienced a miracle.

I ran an official full marathon. And didn’t die. 

I am not trying to be all “look-at-me-I-am-awesome,” but for a former (very) fluffy asthmatic gal, who, eight years ago couldn’t even run a quarter-mile to save her life, running 26.2 miles (with hills!) and living to tell about it is kind of a big deal.

And ALL the glory goes to God. Every. Single. Ounce. [Read more…]

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Marathon Faith #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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God oftentimes calls us to do things that are way, WAY bigger than us.

To the outside world, it seems totally crazy.

But to us believers, it seems, well crazy… With the foundation built on faith.

I have kinda sorta drug my feet on sharing this post, because if I do, then it is a little more real.

And real is sometimes scary, even in our everydays.  [Read more…]

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When your Game Face is Tired

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Fact: I am not the Energizer Bunny.

If I had my way, I would be– the person that just keeps going and going and going… But ’round these parts, I am all about being authentic. So endless spiritual energy is not a thing for me.

And I think if we are honest with ourselves, we will agree to this truth: Even the strongest Christians’ game faces occasionally get tired.

On any given day, at least one of my regular game faces is a little bit weary: my army wife game face, my mama game face, my minister game face, my fitness game face. [Read more…]

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