The One Dollar Miracle

I'm so inspired by our Iowans for Africa team that has raised $11,900 as of tonight. The money will go to either clean water projects or AIDS caregiver kits. The kits cost $28 each and help family members and trained community folks in Africa care for those who are suffering with AIDS. We've raised enough to purchase 425 kits! As for clean water, a village's infant mortality rate gets cut in half when that village gets clean water. A whole bunch of good things begin to happen when a village gets clean water...kids can go to school, adults can focus on some other kind of economic venture...all because they're not spending half the day fetching water. I was thinking about how many of our African neighbors are praying for a miracle today and how much God wants to work the miracle through us.

I love the miracle where Jesus multiplies the loaves and the fish for many reasons, but one reason is that he can take so little and transform and mulitply it in such a big way. So, in the next 6 weeks before the marathon, I'm putting out a "one dollar miracle" challenge for people who haven't given. I'm wondering how many people would like to give only $1 and watch to see how Jesus multiplies it to meet needs of people and change a community. I love to see how big the difference "together" makes, and this $1 miracle will be such an example of that.

Anyone else want to join me in this last stretch "One Dollar Miracle" campaign? If so, talk to people about this and count up how many $1 donations you get from folks in the next 6 weeks! I was at my dad's birthday party last week and received $57. Let's see how Jesus can take so little and transform and multiply it in a big way! I'll put a blog post out once each week to see the miracle in progress. :)

Yay to a God who allows us to partner with Him to restore and redeem His world!
Laura

This week's Scripture/Commentary

Biblical Training: Flee false teaching and love of money-pursue righteousness.

1 Timothy 6: 11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all of this. Pursue a righteous life- a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to. (The Msg)

Commentary: Paul's good advice to Timothy applies equally well to us.

A few photos from the Beed's Lake 1/2 marathon

Today's 13.1 through Beed's Lake State Park and on the country roads around Hampton was GREAT! Gorgeous weather, farm country, and the planning team did a great job with signage and water stops. Even a free pancake breakfast after with Chris Cakes! And the lake view was beautiful. Pictures above:

1- Katherine Krukow and her brother, Jake, ran together. They have relatives in Hampton.

2- Mike Brost, Laurie Williams, Jon and Chris Anderson, Eric and Char (Char grew up in Hampton) Williams, Laura Hoy, and Coach Don.

3- Mike Brost comes in strong to the finish line.

4- Jon Anderson, Laurie Williams, Chris Anderson (Jon and Chris lead a church in Hampton and are on our Iowans for Africa team.)

Hampton half marathon

There are about 11 of us running the 13.1 at Beed's Lake this Saturday morning. Laurie Williams and I are going to drive together...leaving by 5:15 a.m. Saturday a.m. (Run starts at 7 a.m.) If anyone else is interested, drop a comment below, or check out a post a week or so ago that has the registration website.

Bought some new, fresh shoes today! They feel so good!

This week's Scripture/Commentary

Biblical Training: Forget what is behind and do your best to reach what is ahead.

Philippians 3: 10-14 All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

Commentary: Finish well.

tomorrow 6 a.m. Chestnut's

9 miles from the Chestnut home, 114 E. 14th St., CF (1 blk south of the CF Rec Center) tomorrow morning (Wed., Aug. 19) starting at 6 a.m. Everyone's welcome!

Aug. 29 half-marathon

I'm just sending my entry in for the "Friends of Beeds Lake" half-marathon in Hampton, IA, on Aug. 29. We're scheduled to do 12 miles that day, so I figured this would be a good Saturday to do another half-marathon and support two of our teammates who live in Hampton.

If you're interested, get a form from Don or go to www.friendsofbeedslake.hamptoniowa.org . If you're planning to participate and want to ride together, let me know.

(I think there's also a Park to Park half-marathon Sept. 12 in Cedar Falls)

This week's Scripture/Commentary

Biblical Training: Obey the rules (the commands that Jesus gives us).

2 Timothy 2: 5 An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules.

Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

John 14:21 " Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Commentary: Love wins!

Preschooler Noah Williams drew this fine artwork of his mom, Laurie, and her marathon running team.

Do you see how we are all mostly smiling?! (and how we all run with our belly buttons exposed?!)

This goes on my fridge to remind me to keep smiling! Thanks, Noah! What a handsome team that "Iowans for Africa" team is!

praying for our injured

I'm thinking and praying for our team members who are experiencing injuries right now. I remember having a calf problem early on that was making it real hard to run. How discouraging it was. There are members of our team right now with stress fractures, lower back problems, knee problems, and probably more. Please stop and say a pray right now that God would heal them, encourage them, and be especially near them through this.

These injury reports make me realize that I'm never "past the hump" when it comes to injuries...never "in the clear". We are fragile beings. Give God thanks for your running health, take good care of yourselves, and pray for those who are down right now.

Friday long run

Laurie Williams and I are going to run 15 miles on Friday morning...meeting at 6 a.m. at Pfeifer. If anyone is interested and maybe can't make the Saturday group run, please know that you're welcome to join us.

Wed. a.m. run

There are two groups taking off from Chestnut's tomorrow: One group is leaving on their 9 mile run at 5:45 a.m....their pace is about 10:00 miles. The other group is leaving on their 9 mile run at 6 a.m. with a pace of about 11:30 miles. Anyone's welcome...even you speedsters. If you want to start off together, we'll see you in the morning!

Scripture/commentary for the week

This week's scripture comes at perfect timing now that our runs are getting lllllooooonnnngggg!

Biblical Training: Run with perseverance

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

praying for supporters

One of our team shared with me an idea that I've modified somewhat and thought I'd share. She told me that she read of a marathoner who pinned a baggie to her shirt with slips of paper that had the names of all of that marathoner's supporters. Each mile, she'd pull out a name and pray for and think on that person during the race.

I liked this idea, and rather than waiting until race day when I think I'll be too wound up to do such a thing, I took a jar at home and placed the names of people who are actively supporting me financially and prayerfully in the jar. Every time I go out on a run alone, I pull a slip of paper from the jar and pray for that person and their family. Through a note to my supporters, I let them know I would be doing this and that they could send me any prayer requests if they choose to. This has been a very good practice, and I thought I'd share it in case you're interested in doing the same! It has helped me to really connect with God and these family members and friends, and it hopefully helps them to feel more a part of this team that is being used by God to make a positive difference in the lives of African brothers and sisters.

This week's Scripture and commentary

Biblical Training: Seek God's rhythm and keep in step.

Galations 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Commentary: I find running lots easier and more enjoyable when I run alongside someone and we work together in a strong, steady rhythm. When we are in sync with God, our lives bear fruit. Get on board with what God is doing and let Him set the pace.