All You Need

I posted this quote on my marathon blog this morning:

I don't have a runner's body, but I have a runner's heart - and that is all you need. 
~ Army Sergeant Jennifer Morris, Runner's World Challenger currently deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan

We can accomplish so much when our heart is in the effort.  Read your Bible, it's not the giant killing the kid with the sling, but it's David calling on the name of the Lord and watching the giant fall.  It wasn't the religious leaders, who had perfected following the Law, but it was fishermen and tax collectors who Jesus called to do a great work on this earth.  God rarely used the people who looked the part - it was those with a heart for Him and His kingdom.

Never doubt your ability to be useful in God's kingdom.  Put your heart into it and just watch how God will bless your efforts!

Keeping Score

On the way home from Bible study last night Les and I were talking about heart rates. My heart rate hit 174 beats per minute Tuesday morning as we were climbing the upper portions of Las Llayas. Some people believe that we are only given a certain number of heart beats per lifetime, so exercising and getting your heart rate up would actually shorten your lifetime.


I don't know if we only have so many heart beats or not. One site claims we get about 3 billion beats in a lifetime. By upping the heart rate during exercise, we actually lower our resting heart rate, causing a longer life. I do know that if I sit on the couch, eating bon bons all day, my heart rate will surely be lower ~ but my poor heart will be in trouble! I'm not going to spend my days worrying if I've used up all my heartbeats. God knows the number of days He has allotted to me, and I'll trust Him to keep my heart pumping.


I was thinking about all this today as I was riding again. We humans have a tendency to want to keep track of everything. I've heard of people who don't think you should pray for little things. "God's too busy for that stuff." As if God has a spreadsheet for each of us - "Oops, looks like I've already answered three prayers this month, can't do anymore for them until August." God hears and answers every prayer ~ we may not get the answer we want, but He answers.


In Matthew chapter 18, we see the Apostle Peter was concerned about keeping score. " Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Again, mankind wants to keep score, while God says just keep forgiving.

No relationship is healthy when score keeping is involved. "You got to this so I get do to that..." "I did this for you, so..." Give love, without restraint, and love will come back to you, without restraint.


Truth Tabernacle Christian School dedicated their 1995 yearbook to Rod after he passed away. Part of that dedication says this: "It's not the years in the life that count, but the life in the years. Rod was full of zeal for life and in the course of his life he gave us laughter, faith, and encouragement."


I've decided I'm not counting my heartbeats, but I'm making my heartbeats count!