Day: November 2, 2019

First off, thanks to Big Pappy for the invite.  Been a long time since I’ve been to/Q’d Folsom.  I kind of remember why 😉

We had 14 to start, then some runners joined, then some runners left.  I was very confused.  Anyways, for those 12 who remained:

Warm-Up in cadence:  SSH, Squats, MNC, IW, Merkins, LBC’s.  After that, we did some cardio, follow me in single-file line – we bearcrawled for 3-4 segments of the tennis courts, then lunged 2-3, ski- lunge 4 on both sides (L -R), and finish with crab walk.

Painstations – pick a spot, do the exercise, rotate when I say to do so.  Big ups to Montross and Pizza Man (and me and Oompa 😉  ) for alternating in exercises at the station by partnering up.  We had curl bar, swings, goblet squats, merkins, half-moons, front raises, kick-backs, cleans, presses, and some more I can’t remember.  Good work by all, sorry it was so dark and my station signs may have been hard to understand.  Come to Painlab more often and it will fit like a hand in glove.

The Test – we had 5 groups, instead of the usual 4, still enjoyed doing this.  Set the clock, waterfall burpees.  I can’t remember what we got to, maybe 360?  So divided by 5 that’s 72 burpees per contestant?  Very glad to see the work done, remember even when you take a break, just get back to it and get going!

Yoga – only 8 minutes left, time to cool-down and stretch.  Doing Yoga at Folsom is…..interesting.  There was no sexual innuendo at all.  None.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.  Nein.  Negative.  And if you believe that….

A quick word (see Moleskin), COT and pray out by Broke, which was excellent.  And big ups to Montross for reminding me of my Q fail and getting the pledge in!  Great work guys!

MOLESKIN:  On the speaker today was The Beastie Boys.  I started the exercise by asking if anyone knew who Curtis Mayfield is.  Then I asked if they knew the connection.  It’s tenuous, but here’s the truth:  if you don’t know who Curtis Mayfield is, look him up.  Amazing man who was as religious as he was charitable as he was a man’s man.  Classic and amazing songs, some you know with his group the Impressions, but in 1990 tragedy struck as he was hit by equipment on stage, and made a quadraplegic.  Nevertheless, he persisted and continued to build a legacy.  His songs are positive and moving, and then he toughed it out for nearly a decade.  True him.  The connection with The Beastie Boys?  They sampled the HELL out of all his songs, especially “Superfly” on a favorite of mine, “Egg Man”.  Hard to lift weights to Curtis Mayfield though, so I punted to Beastie Boys.

Always a pleasure Folsom, stay crazy.

Rudolph

Day 20 was a vitally important day in the Love Dare – and in your life. You came face-to-face with the glaring need of every human heart. And perhaps for the very first time, you became aware of how personal this need really is. You may have realized that nothing in your toolbox of talents and resources could repair the damage that sin leaves, and that Jesus is the only One who can supply what you’ve been missing. If you’ve received Him by faith and have turned your life over to Him to manage and lead, then His Holy Spirit is renewing your heart. His wisdom, grace, and power can now be released into everything you do. Including, not the least, your marriage.

But whether this is new territory for you or if you’ve been a follower of Jesus for quite a while, now is the time for you to firm up one thing in your mind: you need God every single day. This is not a part-time proposition. He alone can satisfy, even when all else fails you.

Your husband may be late coming home. Again. But God will always be right on time.

Your wife may let you down. Again. But God can always be trusted to deliver on His promises.

Every day you place expectations on your spouse. Sometimes they meet them. Sometimes they don’t. But never will they be able to totally satisfy all the demands you ask of them – partly because some of your demands are unreasonable, partly because your mate is human.

God, however, is not. And those who approach Him in utter dependence each day for the real needs in their life are the ones who find out just how dependable He is.

Can your spouse give you an inner peace? No. But God can. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Can your spouse enable you to be content no matter what life throws at you? No. But God can. “In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled … I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13).

There are needs in your life only God can fully satisfy. Though your husband or wife is able to complete some of these requirements – at least now and then – only God is able to do it all. Your need for love. Your need for acceptance. Your need for joy. It’s time to stop expecting somebody or something to keep your functioning and fulfilled on a non-stop basis. Only God can do that as you learn to depend on Him. But He wants to do it His way. “My God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The needs of love, peace, and adequacy are real. No one is saying you shouldn’t have them. But rather than plugging into things that are unstable at best and are subject to change – your health, your money, even the affections and best intentions of your mate – plug into God instead. He’s the only One in your life that can never change. His faithfulness, His truth, and His promises to His children will always remain. That’s why you need to seek Him every day.

Our only reason for not doing this is because we really don’t trust God to supply what we need. And yet the Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). When we are seeking Him first, loving Him first, making our relationship with Him top priority, He promises to supply us with what we really need – which, actually, is all it really takes to satisfy us.

Jesus once spoke to a woman at a Samaritan well, a woman who had tried getting her needs met through a string of failed relationships. With both her life and water bucket empty, she had come to this place broken and hardened yet still desperately in need. But in Christ she found what He called “living water” (John 4:10) – a supply that wasn’t just for quenching temporary thirst. What He offered her was a drink of soul satisfaction that never quits giving and refreshing. And that is what’s available to you each morning at sunrise and each night before bed, no matter who your spouse is what they’ve done to you.

God is your everyday supply. Of everything you need.

The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire. – Isaiah 58:1

 

Today’s Dare

Be intentional today about making time to pray and read your Bible.  Try reading a chapter out of Proverbs each day (there are thirty-one – a full month’s supply), or reading a chapter in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).  As you do, immerse yourself in the love and promises God has for you.  This will add to your growth as you walk with Him.