Founder, Lisa M. Harper

"Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk." - J.C. Penney 

Keep your eyes on the prize. Set your face like a flint. Aim for the bulls eye.
You know what I'm talking about. This is not complicated: our bodies will follow where our eyes are looking.

 What are your eyes fixed on these days? Perhaps you are looking forward to the end of school and the beginning of summer. Maybe you can't wait to walk on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan or climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes like me. On a less exciting but more realistic note, maybe you've been staring that pile of papers in the face for months, and you want to see it dwindle.

 How about your health? What's your target? Consider setting a realistic goal for yourself this summer. Eat and rest well. Stay hydrated. Exercise often. Cross-training is wonderful because you can work different muscles, strengthen your core and avoid injuries from over-use.

 Pick a 5K, 10K, a trail run, a half marathon or even a full marathon (like the Detroit Free Press Marathon with the Marathon Mission gang) and prepare for it now. (Remember to email our Marathon Mission Trainers, Dan and Carolyn, with questions. They are terrific!)

 Setting realistic goals that YOU own will help keep you focused and productive in life. Your good physical health will affect every other part of your day. It's worth the effort...and the reward.

 Nike had something going when they said, "JUST DO IT!"

 Take in a little inspiration from Sir Edmund Hillary, the Mount Everest Conqueror:

 "You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things to compete. You can just be an ordinary chap, sufficiently movitated to reach challenging goals."

 I"ll see you at the finish line!

 Have you ever had a rough morning? Not too long ago, I did. I backed our white Taurus into a can of bright blue spray paint which seemed to explode on our concrete driveway, covering at least 20 feet.

 At first I thought it was latex paint.  A strong hose with water  might help. But no! The paint didn't move one inch.

 "Hmmm," I thought.  Maybe it was oil based paint, and paint thinner would help. Nope.

 "What's the deal?" I frantically questioned. "Why isn't the paint coming off the driveway? What will the neighbors think of our Picasso?"

  Ah hah! I looked at the can and realized that it was a very high quality, shiny, durable STAIN. Great. A bright blue stain on squares of concrete.

 Five hours later, the sun was shining. Through a variety of methods, our blue paint (which started to create a "blue day" for me) was finally gone. Thank God.

 If you've had a monkey wrench thrown at you in terms of life, family, work, health and specifically training, don't give up, friend.

Do what you know to do. Ask the Lord to intervene. Know that most of these obstacles are not permanent. Trust the Lord. Persevere. Try to look at the bright side of things. Your blue days (and my blue paint) will turn into blue skies!

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work [and pray] every day some." - Robert Fulghum

"What matters is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
 
What are you fighting for these days? (You should see me try to "fake box" in the air. It's hilarious. I'm so out of my element.)  Now, I don't mean fighting with your literal fists. I mean with your heart. Your soul. Your mind. Your will. Your emotions. And even your feet.
 
Honestly, I think left to ourselves, most of us are apt to take the path of least resistance whenever possible. We cut corners, avoid change and even sweat! We give up on the fight. But that need not be the case any more. The choice is ours.
 
The best things in life are worth fighting for.
 
Fight for your fitness. God has great plans for you and wants your heart, lungs, muscles and bones to work like a well-oiled machine. Eat well. Rest well. Exercise often. Try walking, jogging, biking or swimming to name a few. When your whole person is healthy and well,  you will be ready for whatever God calls you to do.
 
Fight for your family. Take time to chat together and even eat meals together. When was the last time you said a prayer together as a family? Try it. You'll like it. Sometimes we take the ones we love for granted. Instead, let's actually share an encouraging word and express appreciation to those we love. Don't wait on this one, friend. The Gospels remind us: "Give and it shall be given unto you!"
 
Fight for your faith.  That's a hefty topic nowadays. Our faith in Christ doesn't rest on the wisdom of man, but the power of God. Read God's Word daily, for it is life to our flesh and health to our bones. When you and I take it a step further and actually put into practice all that we have learned from His Word, we will see God work in mighty, awesome, remarkable and incredible ways. Going to church and hanging with other genuine Christ-followers is a big plus, too. (We often become like the people we hang out with, but that's a whole other topic!)
 
As for the Marathon Mission Team, we're on a mission. It's about Fitness. It's about Family. It's about Faith. "What strategies can you implement into your race of life that will help you start strong and have faith in your daily journeys?" - Living and Loving - The Marathon of Life (www.themarathonoflife.com)

How many of you remember the cartoon character Bugs Bunny asking this while chewing a carrot? It's a short but interesting question, even for us today.

 

What's up with YOU these days? How are you feeling about the health of your body, mind, and spirit? One area really affects the others. If you happen to feel any "March Madness" of a different sort than basketball, perhaps these words of Scripture will encourage your heart. Take this prescription from the Doctor of your soul:

    “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Imagine that. God's plans for you includes prospering you with a hopefilled future. Picture yourself as strong and healthy - ready to do what God calls you to, with the strength to do it! What steps can you take to get there? I know of a few that can help:

1. Fill your mind with the Word of God on a regular basis. His Word brings health in so many ways.

2. Move that body! Exercise will release helpful endorphines. A common sequence for exercise includes discipline, desire and then delight. Having short and long term goals in the exercise department really helps me stay movitated. For example, I like to run 5-6 days a week. (Short term goal). On October 17, 2010 I hope to run my 13th marathon (long term goal).

3. Eat well. Somebody said, "You are what you eat." I'm not sure that I really like that (because I adore chocolate!), but we increase the chances of being well when we choose our food wisely.

4. Do something for someone else. God has given you every breath for a reason. Let's use our strength to live that compassionate, passionate life He has planned for us.

 

There IS a hope for your future!

Do you want to hear about a random running experience that happened to me recently. My good husband Scott and I were running near our local high school one Saturday morning. After doing a few miles in the surrounding neighborhoods, Scott thought it might add a little variety if we ran around the rubbarized track for a lap to close out our trek. 

"Sure thing," I responded. I was curious to run on a bouncy surface after miles and months of concrete. As we approached the track I could see more than the usual sporadic jogger on the track. There were groups of people inside the track area, with tables, t-shirts and oranges. 

And...there people sprinting like there was no tomorrow. 

"Boy, some of those runners are really bookin' it. Why are they running from outside the track and onto the straight away?" I questioned. 

As Scott and I ran closer to the track, we could hear peppy, pumping music reverberating from 15 foot high speakers. "Wow. That music sounds really fun. How cool!" 

Running closer still, I spied numbers pinned to the front of the runners' shirts.

 "Hey, this looks like a race. It IS a race!"  

Within the next few steps Scott asked and discovered that we were running onto the finishing course of a local 5K / 10K race being used as a fundraiser for the Salem High Women's track team. Being the bold runner that Scott is, he quickly asked someone if it was okay if we still used the track. "No problem," we were told. 

 Even though we had permission, I felt sorely out of place as we ran down that straightaway, for people were starting to cheer for Scott and me as if WE had run the whole race and were truly getting ready to cross the finish line. When I saw the photographer taking photos of us, I whispered, "That's it, Dear. We really need to get off the track NOW." Lickety split - - we crossed at least 6 lanes of the track and quickly made it to the infield to continue our running. I couldn't get there soon enough!

 When was the last time you felt embarrassed because people were cheering for you when you really didn't deserve it? What a weird sensation.

 We laughed a bit. For Scott, maybe he was reliving his 11 years of track running as a youth and young adult. For me, I was tagging along for the ride as Scott's side kick. 

As we finished our jaunt, we chatted about the myriad of life lessons and sermon illustrations that would be coming from our mistaken "time in the spot light".  For one thing, if you want to reach your goals in life, you must be a person of integrity and always take the high road. Don't look for short cuts in your training or in your races. Stick to the plan. Follow the course marked out for you. Let God be your guide. Put in the time you need to in order to prepare adequately for your race, whether a true road race or the marathon of life.

 That way, when you cross your finish line you can smile when see people cheering for you  and hear God's voice saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!" 

Drop me a line and tell me one of your humorous running stories: lisa@marathonmission.net

I'm all ears.

What motivates you to be healthy these days? For those of us who are training for a Marathon Mission event, the excitement and challenge certainly motivate us to walk or run months ahead of time.
 
Perhaps you a training now for a upcoming spring-time race. More power to you!
 
I am motivated by the ever-running digital clock that is on the front of our home page: www.marathonmission.net. It reminds me of how many days, hours, and seconds are left until I run the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon again. (My 13th marathon, if God wills!)
 
Running for worthy causes, such as Convoy of Hope which brings help to the victims of Haiti, can fuel our fire.
 
Of course, running or walking with a friend is a huge motivator. If you have someone to exercise with, cherish him or her! There is strength in numbers.
 
Perhaps you are motivated to move by your family. In the Harper house, there are several of us who actually run. Just by seeing each other lace up our shoes, it makes us want to get out there and pound the pavement (or treadmill)!
 
"No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair." - George S. Patton
 
Some of us want to stay healthy FOR our families. How cool it is to be able to play with the kids and not be winded.
 
Honestly, if you want to be motivated and stay motivated, feed your body, soul, mind and spirit the Word of God. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalms)
 
I find that when I renew my mind with God's promises, and set my affections on things above, that He helps me see to the rest of my life through His eyes.
 
"May they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." - Judges 5:31
 
With God as our big MO, the best is yet to come!
 
Enjoy your sunrise.
 

It's a new decade. Some like to call it "Two Thousand and Ten" while others refer to it as, "Twenty-Ten." What's your preference? No matter what we call this year, we can be confident that God who began a good work in us will continue it.
 
I love to encourage and motivate people to be well in body, mind and Spirit. You see, to be fit just for ourselves is a shallow goal. But when we use our "wellness" to bless others and be an instrument of God's goodness to a needy world, life is so much more fulfilling. That's the Marathon Mission Vision.
 
At the beginning of this new decade, I can think of nothing better than the Word of God to propel you and me into being all that God calls us to be. It's not going to be by our might or our power that we accomplish the will of God for our lives. It will be by His Spirit.
 
As you set new goals and aspirations for yourself in 2010, may these words of life guard and guide your heart:
 
"Do not lose the courage you had in the past, which was a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what He has promised." - Hebrews 10:35-36
 
"We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9
 
"Yes, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you. So, trust the Lord always, because He is our Rock forever."  - Isaiah 26:3,4
 
So the next time you lace up those walking or running shoes, ponder on these promises and expect great things in 2010. I'm standing (or running) with you!

Recently I was challenged by a scene from a local church Christmas musical. An angel, shepherd and wise man were all fighting among themselves and struggling with the concept of "giving up" their gifts. I asked myself, "What is it in my life that God might want me to lay down, and what might He want me to pick up in the New Year?" There needs to be less of Lisa and more of Him! That's it in a nutshell.
 
So, I give God my desires, dreams, expectations, disappointments, aspirations, relationships, agendas and even running. I choose to pick up His plans, listen to His voice, read His Word for guidance, freely worship Him freely and quickly obey Him.
 
Perhaps you might want to join me in taking myself less seriously and God more seriously! It's a marvelous exchange. What do you say?
 
Watch out! Inside, life-giving transformations like these often occur while we are walking or running. All the more reason to lace up those shoes...
 
"Whoever makes himself great will be humble. Whoever makes himself humble will be great." - Matthew 23:12