Gift That Brought Me Closer To God

High School Memory

Over the three short years of running for Mountain View has left me with many memories that I will never forget. All the long runs we did in the summers that involved jumping in the canal behind the school, making Tracy laugh so hard to a point he can’t even run anymore, jump squats with Bartlett, Bruce always supplying the team with gum right before the race, Rusty sharing his wisdom, Naomi being the next Bug, and all the hard work we all went through getting to where we are now.
Even though these were all great memories, they still played a great role of what I would have done different during my high school running career.
First off, I would have come into running mentally stronger. I think when I came into Cross Country my first impressions was just to sandbag the first year just to make sure I would be in shape for baseball. If I would have just started with a stronger attitude in the beginning who knows how much better I could have been where I am now.
From my training standpoint I would say I could have worked myself a lot harder when it came to timed workouts and the mile time trials. What you get out of practices is what you’ll get out of races. Putting someone on the spot light, I would like to throw Kevin Miller out there. That kid works harder then anyone I know right now. I don’t know why we would always give him a hard time about him working harder then everyone else. But now look at him, Kevin has worked his way so far up that him and Ytsma will be front runners next year and be a one two punch in every race.
Fear played the greatest role to stop me from reaching my goals. I would say most runners have a problem with this when it comes to running competitively. Just like when you step up to the starting line of a race. Most runners start to think the worst of what could happen, or start second guessing their ability. Like I can’t stay with that person ahead of me, or I don’t want to get last. It’s easy to be confident when you have control of the race. It’s very, very difficult to keep that confidence when you have to take whatever strange bounces life throws your way. Don’t be careless, but don’t be too careful either. You cannot be afraid to lose. That’s how you gain confidence to attack the leader when the race isn’t yours. That’s how you attack life. Even when you think you don’t have any control.
My advice for everyone here that has some sort of part in running would be you have to be able to work hard for something. You have to be mentally prepared to go through pain. Just think to yourself before you run that there will be pain. Second would be to remain curious. I’m sure almost all of you know this quote to the “T”; it’s probably one of the greatest quotes that I stand by when I run. After a race I’m sure that all of you go through your mind on what if you did something different? This quote will help for each race to reach your accomplishments to where at the end you can say that you have done all you could. All you can do is just go out there, and give it your best, and have fun while you’re at it.

Do You Not Know???...

You say: "It's impossible." God says: All things are possible. (Luke 8:27) You say: "I'm too tired." God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 1:28-30) You say: "Nobody really loves me." God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34) You say: "I can't go on." God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15) You say: "I can't figure things out." God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6) You say: "I can't do it." God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13) You say: "I'm not able." God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8) You say: "I'm not worth it. God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28) You say: "I can't forgive myself." God says: I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) You say: "I can't manage." God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19) You say: "I'm afraid." God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7) You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated." God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7) You say: "I don't have enough faith." God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) You say: "I'm not smart enough." God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30) You say: "I feel all alone." God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
Do you not know that if you just give your everything to the Lord how much he wants and will do for you. HE is your true father that want's nothing for the best of you. All that God asks from you is to follow in His pathway, leaving the oldself behind and a newself will be given. :)

Remember!!!...

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Developing spiritually is like training for a title belt in the boxing ring or getting ready for a marathon. These activities require a great deal of endurance and strict discipline for those who want to win. Paul makes it clear that growing in our relationship with God requires discipline and perseverance. We need to give up sinful activities that hold us back and press on to follow God's will for us!

Athlete's In Training: Overcoming Personal Disabilities (Bible)

Timothy 4:7-8 Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.Brad Lauwers was in the locker room, showering after a grueling football workout, when he first noticed the lump. He bent down and rubbed his ankle gently, cupping his hand around the swelling. He felt no pain or stiffness. Probably just some fluid, he thought. It will disappear in a few days.But the swelling didn't disappear, and a month later Brad lay in the hospital bed awaiting amputation of his left leg. The lump turned out to be a malignant tumor that was sending runners out in several directions in Brad's foot. The next day a surgeon removed Brad's leg just inches below the knee. Of all the adjustments to his new life- including "one-legged" jokes, the awkward reactions of friends and learning to walk on an artifical leg- Brad most feared the loss of athletics, his main love in life. He had been a standout on his high school basketball and football teams in Alaska, a sports-crazy state. His doctor, also an amputee (from a war injury), tried to be encouraging: "Remember, Brad, there's nothing you cannot do."Against All OddsFour months later, Brad visited the campus of UCLA for a prosthetic leg fitting. Even before fully learning to walk on his artifical leg, he sought out a basketball backboard and began tossing up reverse lay-ups. The designers had warned him against subjecting the leg to the jarring stops and turns of basketball and had vetoed football outright, suggesting he take up swimming or water-skiing instead. But Brad never gave up his dream of returning to his two favorite sports.As he trained, his artifical limb rubbed his leg stump raw and covered it with blisters. Undaunted, he ran until the blisters hardened into calluses. Then he began working on jumps and pivots.Incredibly, in August, less than one year after the amputation, Brad played his first game as a one-legged quarterback for Dimond High School. Some though his appearance was a mere sentimental gesture. They were wrong: Brad ended the year leading the state in passing! He completed 58 percent of his passes and racked up 662 yards in seven games as a part-time quarterback on the state championship squad. After football season, he started on Dimond's basketball team. From there, he wen't on to major in physical education at Washington State University.When asked about his exploits, Brad shrugs and mentions two factors in his extraordinary achievement: gritty determination and long hours of often painful training.A Lesson from AthleticsPaul uses the analogy of physical training in his letter to Timothy, urging him to train himself for godliness in the same way disciplined athletes train for competition. Brad Lauwers had to overcome physical barriers; Timothy faced personality barriers. Several times Paul refers to Timothy's reserved, timid, disposition, which probably contributed to his chronic stomach trouble. Given his shyness and his half-jewish, half-Gentile ancestry, Timothy did not seem the ideal choice for a heresy fighter in a turbulent church. But Paul was convinced that he could do the job. He encouraged Timothy wish such motivational phrases as "I charge you" and "I urge you." He also reminded Timothy of his ordination, a commitment he had made long before.Harassed Christians need a model, an example of how they should live, perhaps even more than they need words of wisdom. In 1 Timothy, Paul urges his loyal friend to become that model by accepting the discipline and hard work required.