Hi all. Since we couldn’t walk to the local butchers on Saturday as the storm was giving it the beans…We had to settle for some old M&S sirloin steaks from the freezer, lol! After Sarah had cut the disgusting fat off (Me and Sarah don’t like the elastic rubber stuff) we only had 6oz steaks. 😭 They were super soft once Sarah had done her secret magic to them and i’d already baked 4 jacket potatoes yesterday (we share 1 between us per meal) which had the carbs sorted…But then Sarah did carrots, swede, garden peas, green beans, broccoli, onions, mushrooms and best of all brussels sprouts!! 😲 Wow i love recovering over the weekend after training Monday to Friday! 💪🏼
I don’t have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal was…And how jam packed full of protein it was. Protein…
Click on the GRACE logo for more posts like this! 🙏
(J.C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Not your strength, not your wisdom, not your prayers, not your experience; but “My grace”–My free, My matchless grace: independent of all works and efforts, independent of everything in the creature, flowing wholly and solely, fully and freely, out of the bosom of Jesus to . . . the needy, the guilty, the destitute, the undone.
You who are tried in worldly circumstances, who have to endure the hard lot of poverty–“My grace is sufficient for you.”
You who are tempted, day by day, to say or do that which conscience testifies against–“My grace is sufficient for you.”
You who are harassed with family troubles and afflictions, and are often drawn aside into peevishness and fretfulness–“My grace is sufficient for you.”
Our weakness, helplessness, and inability are the very things which draw forth the power, the strength, and the grace of Jesus!
Believer, your case is never beyond the reach of the words–“My grace is sufficient for you!”
The free, the matchless, sovereign grace of God, is sufficient for all His people–in whatever state, or stage, or trouble, or difficulty they may be in!
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Me in my waterproof gear heading off for some flapjacks! 💪🏼
Hi all. Just a quick post to let you know even the heavy rain storms and gale-force winds can’t keep me from collecting my flapjacks from the bakery, lol…Yes making sure we have the adequate amount of fuel for our long walks is really that important! 💪🏼
After the British Gas man had been this morning to finally repair our boiler so we could have some lovely heating, i armed myself with my waterproof clothes and headed out. It was nice and cosy inside my lovely warm clothes and returned (without accident) with my supply of the amazingly tasty flapjacks! 😋
Let’s ‘Fitblitz’ our goals together…No matter the weather! 💪🏼 🤣
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 4…18.13 Miles…😲
Hi all. I seriously didn’t think i was going to smash these personal best times yesterday, as i kicked a fallen tree and nearly went flying…But i managed to land ok without doing a triple forward somersault. The sun was so bright it was almost impossible to navigate a trail i couldn’t see at all and the muddy sludge was simply sapping my energy…And this was just the first lap! 😨
As usual i was telling myself not to be mardy and to stop making every excuse on why i was going to quit after 1 lap and go home…I think it was knowing that after i’d done 2 laps i could break out the chocolate hob nobs! 💪🏼
I always message Sarah after each lap and she was fantastic at motivating me with her mighty messages. I really…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 3…6 Miles…
Awww I love my new and ultra bright trail shoes!
Hi all. It was a whopping 12˚C, overcast and super splashy wet after yesterday’s heavy rain, but that is no match for my new super trail shoes my lovely wife Sarah gave me on valentine’s day. It was even warm enough to put my shorts on so i was ready and excited to try out my new shoes again.
I had my usual 2 laps (6 miles) to do today and i spent the first lap hoping i wouldn’t crash in to any fallen trees etc after the storm yesterday. Thankfully i didn’t hit anything unlike last time i steamed in to a fallen tree, lol! 🤣 My new shoes felt amazing again and just splashed through everything and stayed super grippy…So after a clear trail and the weather…
2 x 8oz Dexter sirloin steaks sizzling in Sarah’s cast iron pan! 😋
Hi all. As you may know by now me and Sarah love steak. It’s great for the obvious protein, iron and micronutrients, but also as it has no carbs it’s fantastic for Sarah as a T1D…Win win! 💪🏼Tonight as it’s valentine’s day and we saw the local butchers were selling something called a ‘Dexter’ steak (no not Dexter the allusive serial killer aka the ‘Bay Harbour Butcher’), although that’s why we wanted to try it (although not too rare it’s dripping in blood)…But beef from the Dexter cattle, lol. 🤣
We opted for the sirloin as always as it’s the leaner cut, and as always Sarah does dissect it and cut off the existing fat. But as we’d never had this kind of steak we didn’t know what to expect…And it was unbelievable!! The combination of the…
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love Never Fails…
📖 Bible Verse…
Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
🤔 My Thoughts…
This is one of my favourite Bible verses that i try desperately each day to live up to. As soon as i first read this verse it convicted me straight away and i knew i wanted to be a husband like that!
🙏 Prayer…
Holy Spirit, thanks for being a constant guiding presence in my life. Give me the faith to take practical and radical action to keep in step with You, so that You can love my spouse through me in a way that will sustain a fun, loving & trusting relationship. Amen.
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 1…6 Miles…
Inov8 Terraultra G270 Trail Shoes in Super Bright Orange! Awww I love my new and ultra bright trail shoes!
Hi all. I hope you are as stunned as me this morning, as i opened this valentine’s gift from my lovely wife Sarah?! Now these bad boys really put the ‘Motivation’ in to Monday, lol! 🤣 My photos really don’t show just how bright the orange is on these super duper trail shoes, as when i walked outside of the house they seemed to have LED’s in them! Anyway let’s take them for a test drive. 💪🏼
The INOV8 Terraultra G270 Trail Shoes…
Wow just look at that grip! 💪🏼
As soon as i walked on to the hard tarmac of the road i knew these were going to be good. I thought the 4mm lugs, zero heel drop and…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4/12 – Day 6…Cup Cake! 😋
Hi all. As i do my 5 days of walking on Monday – Friday, i have the weekend to actively rest with my lovely wife Sarah. I still make sure i get my 10,000 steps in each day but take it easy and enjoy my time off from the trail. And what better way to enjoy this time than a trip to our local bakers…Not only to get my flapjack fuel for next week but…Just look at this pre-valentine love heart cup cake Sarah spotted for us to share…Well i obviously have to eat more of it as i always like to help her out, lol! 🤣 ❤️
The Cup Cake…
Mmmmm! 😋
Hope you’ve started this new month smashing your health and fitness goals too? Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ February together!! 💪🏼 😀
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4/12 – Day 5 – 5.33 Miles…
Hi all. Wow what a morning! It was ultra bright, ultra cold -1˚C and time to break out the puffer jacket! I don’t know how but i still managed 1 lap (3.33 miles) this morning, not the 2 laps i had planned but i needed time on feet to reach over 30 miles this week again. I simply couldn’t have done 2 laps if i tried, the sun was so bright it burnt my eyes and they were finished, even the peak on my cap did very little to help so i call this a recovery day after my personal best walk on wednesday!
As i was going at a snails pace i managed to stop and take some photos. I thought the images would show a little of how bad the sun was as i pointed…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 4 – 6 Miles…
Hi all. After smashing my personal best walk of 16.21 miles yesterday, i went out on a slow (really hard to go slow now) sauntering pace this morning. As i was shuffling round i thought i’d use this time to take lots of photos of the trail. I don’t normally take photos on my walks as i don’t normally have time as i’m concentrating on form, speed and trying my hardest not to get lost. Also my iPhone is 4 and a half years old and i’m trying to conserve as much battery as i can just to time my long walks, and i don’t want to use it for anything else that’ll drain my battery, lol! 🤣
Having said all that…I didn’t want to bore you to death with lots of images of boring trails, lol…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 3 – 16.21 Miles…
Hi all. Yay i’ve managed to finally smash through the 16 mile marker this morning, and manage 16.21 miles, and wow was it hard! I knew i had to pull a little bit more out of my legs to beat last walking wednesday’s record of 15.85 miles…But i somehow managed it even though the blinding sun was doing it’s best to end my walk. Sorry i can’t write too much today as i’m dying here! 🤣
Today’s Walking Stats…
Although it doesn’t seem like much to beat last weeks record by just under half a mile…I managed to walk a little faster and do the walk in 4 hours 15 minutes at around 3.9mph. All this was non stop walking (incredibly without a toilet break) and i’m…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 2 – Tough Mudder Motivation…
Hi all. I thought you’d like to look back with me on the day this blindman tackled the Tough Mudder…And survived…Just! Looking back on this post has given me some more motivation to keep smashing aways at my current fundraising challenge…The Trail Marathon! 💪🏼 😝
Tough Mudder
Yay…..We did it!
⇧From left: Adie, Vini, Me, Josie & Ashley⇧
Tough Mudder 5K – Saturday 13th October 2018…….Here Goes!
⇧ From left: Adie, Me & Josie ⇧
⇧ Me carrying Adie on the “Hero Carry” ⇧
It was amazing to have my friend of nearly 30 years Adie Monk join our “Hard As Nails” team. I thought we’d sit and catch up over a coffee….I didn’t have this in mind, lol!
Thanks John Atherton for taking another great photo. I can’t thank you and Sarah Atherton enough for…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 1 – 6 Miles…
Hey there…Yep i’m still walking, lol! 🤣
Hi all. Wow ‘Motivational Monday’ has come around quickly once again, and i think i’ve spent the weekend thinking up every excuse possible so i don’t have to go for my walk today, lol. It really is true when they say the hardest step is getting to (and out) of the front door! After my lovely wife Sarah had demolished every excuse i could think up…I slowly dragged myself outside.
I think i need to read (and listen to) some of my older ‘Motivational Monday’ posts…I need some motivation this morning!! 💪🏼 It’s week 4 of 12 of my trail marathon training…That’s already a third of the way through! 😨
The sun was unbelievably bright this morning and my cap didn’t make things any better, so it was time to…
“Affliction does not come forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring forth out of the ground!” Job 5:6
“Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.” Deuteronomy 8:5
“I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me!” Psalm 119:75
“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline!” Revelation 3:19
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:6
“I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9
Dear Reader, I have come into yoursick-room, as it were, and wish to tell you a few things for your comfort and profit.
God has seen fit to stop you in the midst of your busy life, and to lay you aside for a while. It is not by chance that His afflicting hand has fallen upon you. It is not at random that He has chastened you. It may seem to be a mere accident that you are afflicted, and not another. But no; God has done it purposely!
Learn this then–that your present sickness or affliction is from God. It is His doing. He it is, who has brought this present chastisement upon you. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father’s ordering, and He prizes His redeemed children more than many sparrows.
Sickness usually comes as a messenger of divine love–it is sent to be a blessing, and may be made, by God’s grace, a very great blessing to the soul. God afflicts His children, because He desires to do them some great good.
The gardener cuts and prunes his tree, to make it grow better, and bear more precious fruit. In the same way, God often uses His sharp knife for some gracious purpose.
The wise and loving father thwarts his child, and sometimes scourges it, for its good. Just so, God uses His chastening rod for the very same reason.
The skillful physician prescribes nauseous medicines to restore his patient’s health. In the same way, God makes us take His bitter medicines, though at the time they are very distasteful to us.
Why does God afflict us?
Because He loves us, and wishes to make us holy as He is holy, and happy as He is happy. For, as it has been well said, “Fiery trials make golden Christians!”
God had one Son without sin–but He never had any son without sorrow.
God chastens purposely and lovingly. Affliction comes from Him; and He afflicts, not as a stern Judge, but as a Father and a Friend!
Before then you go a step further, ask God to convince you of this precious truth: “It is my Father who corrects me–even He who loves me! I will receive this chastisement then from Him, and remember that it is a loving hand that smites. I will kiss the very rod that scourges me. Father, not my will, but may Your will be done!”
A true Christian will receive affliction with submission. It is his Father’s doing, and therefore he quietly submits. It comes from Him, and must therefore be well. He feels that there is a needs-be for it. What a sweet pillow is this, on which to rest his weary head!
“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 6&7 – Total: 36 Miles This Week…
The Brobdingnagian VEGETABLES…
Thee really are carrots…And not a pile of tree logs, lol! 🤣
Hi all. As part of my 2 day rest from endless walking Monday to Friday, Sarah * i like to go shopping at our local market on Saturday to get some FAT vegetables as we both like really chunky veg. My lovely wife Sarah peels and chops them into monstrous sizes and then cooks them ready for the week. Sarah wanted to get Brussels Sprout stalks this week as they seem to last longer and are much bigger sprouts…As you may or may not notice in the image below…They are like tennis balls and tasted amazing, i’m looking forward to chomping on the rest this week, lol! 🤣
I also took a photo of the carrots Sarah was preparing…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 5 – 6 Miles…Total: 36 Miles This Week…
Hi all. Now that was a freezing, soaking and horrific 6 miles today! The weather app only gave out light showers this morning, so i really wasn’t prepared for the absolute drenching that battered me 10 minutes into my walk. At this point there was no time to turn back as i was already soaked…So i put on my 4mph pace playlist and charged around 2 laps for 6 miles!
It wasn’t all negative though as it was like the wasteland from the video game Fallout 4. There were no dog walkers blocking my path, cyclists flying past…Actually there were no other people out at a all which was amazing for me. Once i’d left the thought of it being a radiation rain storm (Fallout 4) behind i realised there was no glare…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 4 – 6 Miles…
Hi all. Since when has the phrase “I’m only doing 2 laps (6 miles) today’ ever been a standard by me in this house, or even been uttered, lol 🤣 I need to stop, get back in bed and go to sleep instead!
Wow that was hard…
I felt like i was in the movie ‘The Wrong Trousers – Wallace & Gromit’ this morning, as no matter what my instructions were to my legs…They just kept plodding on and ignoring my command to stop…My mind was writing cheques my body wouldn’t cash. When i did eventually squeek to a halt i managed to take this photo of the stew pond…
The smaller stew pond on my trail
It took me a minute to get going again as my lower legs felt like heavy blocks…Well they felt like…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 3 – 15.85 Miles…
Hi all. I can’t tell you how happy i am to have made it around 6 laps (15.85 miles) today. This is a life long personal record for non stop walking for me…Yet i’m so glad it’s over, lol! 🤣
Beta Blockers & Bendroflumethiazide…
I was a little worried about today’s attempt as not only do i have to fight ‘Beta Blocker’ medication but also ‘Bendroflumethiazide’ too. This is a diuretic which makes you want to pee to help lower blood pressure…But doesn’t help when you want to go for a long walk through the woods, lol! 🤣 Sorry to talk about this but i still can’t believe i made it for 15.85 miles for 4 hours 13 minutes non stop without needing to pee…Another victory for me and is just one more obstacle on this epic…
Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 2 – 6 Miles…
Hi all. I decided to do today’s 6 miles at a faster pace of 4 miles per hour, this is apparently ‘Speed Walking’ but only just, lol. 🤣 It certainly felt like it to me, as being blind this feels like warp speed…I’m just glad i didn’t hit anything!
Walking at this pace helps improve fitness, endurance and strengthens legs and abdominal muscles…Who doesn’t need that, lol! 🤣
When i arrived home i heard an extra bing from my apple watch to say i’d won yet another award. Although it wasn’t much of a challenge this time, as i only had to complete a 20 minute walk and had 2 weeks to do it (my walk today was a 90 minute one)…But it still feels good to get another award for all of my efforts and muscle…
Week 3 – Day 1 – Blindman Trail Marathon Training…
Hi all, After spending all morning and most of the afternoon with Sarah up in London at the diabetic eye hospital…Just checking up on the not so good laser treatment they did in December (don’t get me started), there isn’t enough hours of daylight for me to get some mileage done today…But i do have a 6 mile walk tomorrow, Thurs & Friday…And a personal best 15 miles on Wednesday if i can manage it which should help put the miles back up this week. 🤣
But as today is ‘Motivational Monday’ i’d better give a little something to help motivate you, lol…So here are a couple of badges/awards my fitness app sounded to tell me i’d achieved them over the weekend!! 🎉Do you have a fitness tracker etc to help you? I’d love to know if you do and…
Hi all. After walking to the local butchers yesterday and getting 2 9oz sirloin steaks, my lovely wife Sarah prepared them and did her secret, special and tasty steak lunch with potatoes, 7 vegetables and her super secret mushroom sauce! Sorry i can’t get her to release any information on her secret recipes, lol! 🤣
I don’t have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal was…And how jam packed full of protein it was. Protein is essential for keeping our hair, nails, skin, bones, cartilage and blood in good shape. It’s an important building block for increasing muscle mass and repairing tissues, and is also needed to create hormones, enzymes and other chemicals within the human body. It also has lots of iron and other micro nutrients too…Perfect! 💪🏼
A huge thanks to my lovely wife Sarah for this amazing meal!
LISTEN to audio!Download audio (You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.) “I will rejoice in Your salvation!” Psalm 9:14
The minds of the wicked find joy from the most trivial causes–causes which the Spirit of God has taught the Christian to estimate as mere “vanity and vexation of spirit.” To the enlightened mind, the pursuits of this world, and the possessions of the most wealthy, dwindle into insignificance when compared with the value of the soul and its great salvation. If a sinner finds cause for joy in his career of iniquity, the end of which is damnation–then surely the believer has an unfailing source of joy and consolation in God’s salvation!
No one can rejoice in salvation, unless he understands it. There will be a knowledge . . . of the necessity of salvation, arising from the conviction of one’s fallen, guilty, and condemned state before God; of the accomplishment of salvation, by the atoning death, resurrection, and intercession of Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 1:15; that when received, salvation will grant . . . pardon to the guilty, justification to the condemned, liberty to the spiritual captive, health to the spiritually sick, sight to the spiritually blind, and, in short, “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus!”
No one can ever rejoice in salvation, unless he has felt his need of it. The Spirit has opened the eyes of his understanding, and revealed to him his great guilt and need of the Savior. He now knows the plague of his own heart. He now feels his utter helplessness, and perceives the adaptation of the Savior to his state as a perishing sinner.
True salvation always produces joy and rejoicing! “I will rejoice in Your salvation.” The sick person rejoices when his disease departs, when the bloom of health again mantles his cheek, etc. The debtor rejoices when his debts are discharged, etc. The culprit rejoices when reprieved, when he hears the opening of the doors of his prison-house. And shall not the penitent and believing sinner rejoice? He is saved! Saved from . . . the guilt of sin, the condemnation of sin, the dominion of sin, the power of death, the dominion of the grave, and the vengeance of everlasting fire!
This joy springs from the realization of divine mercy, through the sin-atoning death of Christ. This rejoicing is over . . . an infinite soul, redeemed by an infinite price, from an infinite damnation– to infinite joys, realized first here, and then to be realized fully in an infinite Heaven.
What a possession! What a prospect! “I will rejoice in Your salvation!”
1. The believer rejoices in the origin of salvation. It is the result of distinguishing grace–the sovereign goodness and unmerited compassion and favor of God. Man . . . did not deserve it, had no equitable title to it, never solicited it. God beheld him as an outcast, pitied him, and condescended to save him!
2. The believer rejoices in the procuring of salvation. When he sees his Redeemer in the garden and on the cross, he weeps–but they are tears of joy. There he sees Christ’s astonishing love. There he sees Him bearing his sins and dying in his stead, etc.
3. The believer rejoices in the glorious properties of salvation . . . the freeness of it, requiring no qualifications nor conditions, the purity of it, unto holiness, the power of it, saving him from the guilt, dominion, and pollution of sin, the extensiveness of it, investing him with every spiritual blessing, the certainty of it, assuring the soul, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish–ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:28
4. The believer rejoices in the prospective consummation of salvation in Heaven. He anticipates with joy . . . the full harvest, the fruition of hope, and the vision of gloryin which faith shall be lost.
“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!” Psalm 16:11
Hi all, after yesterday’s trail closure setback i was a little hesitant to venture out this morning…Well as i held a hot fresh coffee (made by my lovely wife Sarah), it was 1˚C and i didn’t know if the trail would be open again, these were just some of the reasons i didn’t want to go out again this morning, lol! 🤣
When i did finally drag my lazy self out onto the trail…Yes you’ve guessed it…The dreaded barrier was still there!! 😨
I turned around again thinking i could do the trail backwards until i reach the other side of this barrier, then turn around and come back to get my mileage up for the day. Well i thought it sounded like a good idea until…The sun came out really bright with a nasty glare and i simply couldn’t stay…
Hi all. After yesterday’s 13.5 miles my legs were still a little sore, so i wanted to just do a normal 6 miles today but at a really slow stroll to take care of my legs microtears. I was keeping a really slow pace (it’s really hard not to speed up) and i was walking around the first quarter of my route when…
I bumped straight into the road block (well path, lol) as i don’t notice anything is different until my nose is on it…But when i do i can stop very quickly…Thankfully, lol. I stopped for a moment and thought how i could get past it without damaging anything, then when i was satisfied that i just had to turn back and go home, i did just that…And then…
Hi all. Wow that was hard…But i managed 5laps non stop in 3 hours 45minutes…That’s 13.5 miles which is just over a half marathon!! Yay i’m happy…Well now it’s over anyway, lol! 🤣
I bought a SIS (science in sport) energy gel for the first time last Saturday to try on my walks, it was orange flavour and was very tasty…It tasted like a orange lucozade but with a viscosity of thick custard…MMMM perfect for me as i love custard! I also had my fave – chocolate hob nobs with me too as they are simply delicious and work really well for me. I love all of this walking as i can eat and burn off my fave biscuits, cake and gels as i’m going round the laps…Win win, lol! 🤣
When i eventually arrived home i was greeted with another…
Hi all. I don’t know if it was my beta blockers crushing my adrenal glands to the point of feeling comatose…Or the -1˚C freezing tempurature that was making me feel like staying in bed…Or am i just making excuses for not wanting to do another 6 miles today!
I did eventually ‘man up’ and drag myself out there, and once i did i started to feel better…Well after a few miles anyway once i’d warmed up, lol!
I finished my 6 miles in 1hour 34mins and was totally ready for my lovely warm fresh coffee made by my lovely wife Sarah. 💪🏼 😀
As it’s WEEK 2, DAY 2 of my 12 week trail marathon training plan, i’ll be increasing tomorrows walk to 14 miles from 12 miles last wee! I hope i feel much more lively tomorrow morning…I’m really not…
Hi all. Yay it’s a blistering 1˚C this morning, that’s almost tropical temperatures, lol! 🤣 It was also cloudy which is perfect conditions for me as there is no blinding (pun intended) sun to slow me right down…And it didn’t. I did the 6 miles and was 10 minutes faster getting home to my lovely coffee freshly made by my stupendous wife Sarah!
It was eerily quiet on the trail this morning so not too many people to crash into! I hope it doesn’t mean all of the “New Year Resolutioners” havn’t quit already?! Don’t get me started on how health and fitness is for life…Not something you start and stop Yoyo etc…Sorry rant over, lol! 🤣
And Then…A Donation…!
I was about 5.5 miles into my walk when the happy muppets theme tune started playing over my audiobook. I thought “No way it…
(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)
“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume . . .” Luke 7:37
It is wonderful how genuine goodness draws to itself: the unfortunate, the troubled, the friendless, the outcast, the fallen.
Wherever Jesus went, these classes always found Him out and gathered about Him. It was because He was the true, unselfish friend of all men. They found sympathy in Him. He would listen to their story. Though He was the sinless One, there was yet no air of, “I am holier than you” about Him. He was just as gentle to an outcast sinner, as to a religious Nicodemus. No matter who reached out a hand for help, He was ready to grasp it. One of the truest things ever said of Jesus, was the prophetic word concerning him, “He shall not break a bruised reed!” He always dealt most gently with sore spirits and with bruised hearts!
Those who want to be useful in this world, must have the same qualities as Jesus. There is a kind of false “holiness” which draws nobody to itself–but rather repels. Genuine holiness, however, wins its way everywhere into men’s hearts. The secret of it all is in living “not to be served–but to serve;” in considering one’s self not too good to serve the most unworthy of God’s creatures. If we live in this world to be served, we shall be of no use to anyone. But if we live to minister to others, yearning to be of service to everyone we meet–then our life will be of great worth. The hungry-hearted and the soul-needy will be drawn to us, and God will love to put work into our hands.
We need, too, to train ourselves to exceeding gentleness in dealing with human souls in their spiritual crises. Many earnest people, in the excess of their zeal–do incalculable harm to those whom they greatly desire to help. People with sore and bruised hearts, usually need loving sympathy and strong, kindly friendship–much more than they need a lecture in theology!
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Hi all. i really didn’t want to let go o my lovely warm coffee this morning after checking the weather app…It said it was -2˚C but feels like -5˚C! 😨 I dragged myself towards the front door wearing my puffer jacket and bobble hat…My ears were not going to freeze off today, lol! 🤣 I managed the 6 freezing miles today which made a total of 35 training miles this week which was my goal of this 3 month marathon training plan!!! 🙌
More uphill on my trail marathon route!
I was out for around 1h 40mins and averaged 3.5 mph. This pace is good for me and also enables me to take a few photos on route, so you can hopefully enjoy some of this beautiful scenery too! 😲 😀
The stew pond in the freezing frost on my trail marathon route!
Hi all. After checking the weather app yesterday it said there was a cold snap moving in until Sunday…It wasn’t joking, lol! 🤣 My lovely wife Sarah had made me another one of her fresh coffees and a slice of wholemeal toast with Grenade chocolate spread to fuel me on my journey…Mmmmmm! 😋 I knew i had 11 miles (4 laps of my trail marathon route) to complete today and i really didn’t want to go out…But i did and i nailed it and feel much better now i’ve done it! 💪🏼 😀
I was out for a little over 3 hours and didn’t have any dramas this time, only the amazingly bright sun again which melted my brains (drained so much of my mental strength just trying to figure out where i was going). Looking forwards to…
Hi all. Wow it’s 0˚C again this morning and i really wished i’d done a summer trail marathon, lol…But where is the challenge in that! 🤣After a tasty slice of wholemeal toast with Grenade chocolate spread on top and a fantastic warm coffee…I managed to do another 6 miles again today, yay! I won’t be laughing for long though as i’ve got a 12 mile one to do tomorrow! 😨
Hope you have had a great time so far this year and you are either starting to set goals? Or you’re already smashing them?! 💪🏼 😀
“You do not rise to the occasion, you simply fall back to your level of training.”
Hi all. “Awww that’s better” i say whilst drinking a soothing hot fresh coffee made by my lovely wife Sarah. Even though it was -1˚C, white and frosty ground which was also slippy and blazingly bright sunshine burning my eyes…I still somehow managed to drag myself out of the front door and do my 6 miles today! 💪🏼 😀
I have 2 hats to choose from when i go out – A baseball cap with a nice long peak to stop the incredible sun, or a beanie hat that keeps my ears and head warm. I chose the baseball cap today as i needed to stop some of that intense glare…But my ears got frozen off! 😨 Which one would you have chosen? 🤔
Reading the messages you guys have written on my fundraising page always inspires and motivates me…And having to write one of these blog posts each time…
“BE DIFFERENT! Don’t go with the flow!” we are urged. “Don’t follow the crowd! Even a dead fish can float downstream.” It does not take any effort or work on the part of a fish to go with the flow and drift downstEven a dead fish can float. Only a living and healthy fish can swim against the current and travel upstream. In the same way, any weak Christian can live like the world; it takes a vital, healthy faith to enable someone to stand on their convictions, firm against the tide of opinion and the example of unbelievers.
Perhaps we can carry the analogy a bit further. With the polluted condition of many of our modern streams and rivers, it is not only dead fish that float downstream. Trash, industrial waste, and pollutants of one kind or another floats downstream. A fish that travels in that direction finds itself swimming in increasingly fouled and filthy waters. The purest, cleanest waters are found farther upstream nearer the source, where people rarely go. What kind of water would you rather swim in? What kind of life would you rather have? Pure waters are reached only by swimming against the current!
Obviously, we do not want to be one of those wimpy, weak-willed, dead-fish Christians; yet it is so easy to go with the flow and follow the crowd. If we carelessly live like everyone else, we will find ourselves surrounded by the pollution of sin. Is there any way out of this mess? What does it take for us to be able to swim against the current and move farther upstream? I suggest that we need to concentrate on five main points.
Convictions
We will have to know what we believe and then hold to it strongly, for, as it has often been said, those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. We are given the teachings of the apostles and prophets so that we may “no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). We must read our Bibles, accept the principles we find there as our standard of conduct, and then stand firmly on scriptural convictions! How rare it is to see that today! Most of us are so caught up in feelings and tradition, we do not allow truth to shine through.
Courage
The unbelievers will not make it to heaven: “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). When they see that God’s way will require them to leave the false security of doing what all the rest of the world is doing and strike out on their own, their hearts will fail them. Rather than standing against the crowd with the courage of convictions (Romans 8:31), they take the easy way out, turning back to the world, to sin and condemnation. Joshua said, “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go” (1:9).
Strength
We must have power and might to stand firmly against the flood of evil that would swiftly sweep us downstream to our destruction. Paul said, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We could not successfully withstand temptation and sin that threatens our spiritual well-being by ourselves. Therefore, we are called to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Fortified with power that comes only from God (Ephesians 3:16), we can say with Paul, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Endurance
For most of us, the Christian race is not a brief sprint to the finish line, but rather it is a long, grueling marathon. Listen to the words of the Hebrew writer, “You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised … ‘My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him’” (10:36, 38). It is so sad to see those who have started on the Christian way later give up, forfeiting the race. They did not have the the long-distance endurance to run the race through to the end. Therefore, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Heavenly Goals
The reason we want to travel upstream is because we are seeking something better and higher than the careless world around us. We are not trying to be different from the world just for the sake of being different. We are different because we are pursuing different goals. We have to keep these goals continually before us. Paul said, “Keep seeking the things above, where Christ is … Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Raise your sights! Don’t follow the foolish crowd!
Hi all. I hope the photo above (taken this morning) shows just how muddy this tiny section of my trail marathon lap really was?! As i was slopping through the mud i heard that loud popping sound, whilst at the same time feeling my shoe being ripped off from some monster underneath the mud!! 😨 Thankfully i was wearing my INOV8 X-Talen 190 trail shoes (Sarah bought them 4 years ago for the Tough Mudder) which fit like a glove and didn’t get ripped off…Phew! Otherwise it would have been a very sloppy, freezing and different outcome to my walk today. Just thought i’d share this with you guys…There’s always drama when this blindman decides to go out walking, lol! 🤣
Hope you’re having a great time so far this year and you are either starting to set goals? Or you’re already smashing…
It’s now the start of the “Diet-Season” whenmillionsenthusiastically begin a diet onJanuary 2nd and. . .usually fall off that bandwagon three weeks later. Why?
Failing on a diet plan is usuallynot because we don’t know what we should do.Most realizewe: 1. eat less 2.exercise more 3.slow down and 4. drink water, etc., etc. . . .Yet we failtime andtime again, even when we believe we are doing the right thing! That’s frustrating and self-defeating.
Weight loss ismuch morethanmere willpower. There is no magic formula. Since we are each uniquely created, it’s primarily an individually mental, physiological, and spiritual challenge. It’s also a matter ofunderstanding the scientific reasons behind the”why”we can self-destruct.
My book, “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese. . .” will make the perfect motivational New Year’s gift this year. It’s available for only $4.99 on Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKQ3HYV
🙌 YAY…A BROBDINGNAGIAN NEW YEAR TO YOU!! We pray you have a monumental, inconceivable and definitely memorable time smashing your health and fitness goals in 2022…Love Steve & Sarah! ❤️💪🏼🍾🥂🎉😀☀️
Today, a form of excommunication called “canceling” is taking place on the basis of opinions, not sin or a destructive lifestyle. A canceled person is shunned or snubbed when he or she offends the sensibilities of some group for cultural, political, or religious reasons. When Christians are canceled today for their biblical values and views, we find ourselves in good company. Jesus Himself experienced the ultimate form of cancelation by being crucified. The day is coming when those who hold biblical views will be canceled, even killed – as pictured by the persecution of the two witnesses in Revelation 11. The Antichrist will forbid the preaching of the Gospel during the Tribulation and “cancel” followers of Christ (Revelation 6:9). If you experience being “canceled” for your faith, take heart. It is nothing more than what Jesus predicted (John 15:20).
Commentary from the David Jeremiah Turning Points magazine and devotional, October…
The great nineteenth century Baptist preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, once confessed: “On a sudden, the thought crossed my mind—which I abhorred but could not conquer—that there was no God, no Christ, no heaven, no hell, and that all my prayers were but a farce, and that I might as well have whistled to the winds or spoken to the howling waves.”
The above quote reminds us that nearly all Christians, even those who seem strong and confident, face periods of doubt about what they believe. Indeed, sometimes those doubts can swell up into a crisis of sorts. Even Spurgeon admitted his doubts were difficult to conquer.
So, how do we handle these doubts when they come? Or, how do we help others who admit they are struggling with what they believe? Here’s a five truths that can perhaps help us be more careful and more compassionate in…
Hi all. I’ve been a little quiet around here over the last few weeks…But i’ve now found ‘Ruck Marching’. Some of you may have seen this coming as i do lots of walking through my local trail, but i seriously didn’t see it! I’ve always loved rucksacks (i have a few) and i’ve always loved the armed forces as i have family who have served and are still serving to this day.
As you know i don’t run at all as i’m always on my own, and my eyes just go crazy even at slow walking speeds never mind jogging or running. I’ve managed to do 14.6 miles in 4 hours (my longest non stop walk so far) whilst training for my ‘Blindman Trail Marathon’ in April 2022. Now i’m upping my walks with loaded marching and taking my walks to new heights…
Yesterday my lovely wife Sarah came out on the trail with me, and she took some photos of me wearing the amazingly bright t-shirt the MS Society gave me to help promote their great charity during my trail marathon training! It was freezing cold and raining but that didn’t stop us…Until it proper chucked it down and we had to get home fast, lol! 💪🏼 😀
LISTEN to audio!Download audio (You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.) One of the finest things in a complete Christian character, is thoughtfulness. It gives awondrous charm to a life. It makes one a blessing wherever he goes. It tempers all his conduct, softening all natural harshness into gentleness, and giving a spirit of kindliness to his every word and act, and to all his bearing.
A thoughtful person does not have to be asked to help others–he helps, as it were, instinctively. He is ever ready . . . to do the obliging thing, to say the encouraging word, to show an interest in the life of others, to perform those countless little kindnesses which so brighten the common pathway.
In much home-life, there is a lack of thoughtfulness shown. Not always is the speech gentle–sometimes it is sharp and bitter, even rude. Without being aware of it, many of us are miserably selfish in our life among others. We practically forget that there are any other people, or that we ought to make any sacrifices, or practice any self-denials, for their sake.
Thoughtfulness will seek always to say kindly words, never words that will give pain–but ever those that will give pleasure. We have no right, for the sake of saying a bright thing, to let loose a shaft, however polished, that will make a loving heart bleed!
We all know in our own experience, the value of sincere and Christly thoughtfulness. We do not like to come in contact with thoughtless people. We know well how it hurts and how unbeautiful, how unchristian, it seems when we see it in another–and when our heart is the one that suffers from its harsh, rude impact. We all long for thoughtfulness in others; our hearts hunger and thirst for it. It is bread and wine to us.
What we long for in others in their relation to us, we should be ready to give to them. What in others hurts us, gives us pain–we ought to avoid in our contact with others. Thoughtfulness is one of the finest, ripest fruits of Christian love–and all who would be like the Master must seek to learn this lesson and wear this grace.
“Arise, My darling, My beautiful one, and come with Me!” Song of Songs 2:10
“He said to them: Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place” Mark 6:31
G. Campbell Morgan tells of a friend of his who had a little daughter that he dearly loved. They were great friends, the father and daughter, and were always together. But there seemed to come an estrangement on the child’s part. The father could not get her company as formerly. She seemed to shun him. If he wanted her to walk with him, she always had something else to do. The father was grieved and could not understand what the trouble was.
His birthday came and in the morning his daughter came to his room, her face radiant with love, and handed him a present. Opening the parcel, he found a pair of exquisitely made slippers.
The father said, “My child, it was very good of you to buy me such lovely slippers.”
“O father,” she said, “I did not buy them–I made them for you!”
Looking at her he said, “I think I understand now, what long has been a mystery to me. Is this what you have been doing for the last three months?”
“Yes,” she said, “but how did you know how long I have been at work on them?”
He said, “Because for three months I have missed your company and your love. I have wanted you with me–but you have been too busy. These are beautiful slippers–but next time buy your present, and let me have you all the days. I would rather have my child herself, than anything she could make for me.”
Just so, we are in danger of being so busy in the Lord’s work that we cannot be enough with the Lord in love’s fellowship. He may say to us, “I like your works, your toils, your service–but I miss the loveyou gave Me at first.”
There is real danger that we get so busy in striving to be active Christians, so absorbed in our tasks and duties, our efforts to bring others into the church–that Christ Himself shall be less loved, and shall miss our communing with Him.
Loyalty to Christ means first of all devotion. Has Christ really the highest place in your heart? It is not your work that He wants most–it is you! It is beautiful to do things for Him, it is still more beautiful to make a home for Him in your heart.
A young man, at great cost, brought from many countries the most beautiful materials he could find, and built an exquisite little chapel as a memorial to his dead wife. Only a few men could do anything so rare, so lovely. But the poorest of us can enthrone Jesus in our hearts–making a little sanctuary in our hearts for Him.
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love!” Revelation 2:4
No way we’re in Corsica! My lovely wife Sarah is going to kill me for ruining this post with another of my digressions…But my fave cars of all time raced here and i can’t contain myself….Yes it’s Group B rally cars!
Awwww i can hear that ferocious engine sound (and the monster dump valve) of one of my favourite cars…The Lancia Delta S4. It had an Abarth-designed supercharged and turbocharged 500bhp 1.8-litre engine, it could hit 60mph in just over two seconds…And this was 1986!
But…After a fatal accident (here in Corsica) Group B rally cars were banned and a FISA investigation later proved that drivers’ reactions were too slow to keep up with Group B cars, and drivers’ eyes could not adjust their focus between the fast corners, which caused tunnel vision. Now that’s fast…And insane!!
They said the cars had so much raw power but with little containment…I have a wife like that, lol! Sorry Sarah! 🤣
I thought the heat was blistering already but it didn’t prepare me for the inferno when we walked underneath the archway and onto the track. 🔥🔥
Sarah said “Steve you’ve got to get a photo of me at the original olympic start line! I’ve only been out of my aircast for a few weeks and it would make a great photo…Zena (Sarah’s friend) will comment straight away and tell me off, lol (she did). 😀
“Here goes” i said “No pressure at all for this shot…It’s only a one off picture” But it worked and Sarah looks fantastic! Sarah had gone for months with an aircast, and now seeing her on the start line looking like a true olympian was another emotional moment for me. She really is my warrior princess wife! ❤️❤️❤️
I’m not good in the sun but Sarah comes alive in the scorching hot weather. So i sloshed on my sun cream as it was already 36 degrees outside (ouch) I’ve also bought myself a ‘Tactical Sun Hat’ to try and keep myself cooler in the sun and provide a little shade with the wide rim…It worked really well but i was still dripping like a candle in a Salvador Dali painting! 🤣
This has to be one of my favorite photos!! I’m glad to see Sarah(The Greatest Warrior” parting some of her knowledge and instruction to an inferior ranked warrior on how to correctly throw a spear! 💪🏼
February 20, 2022 
iChristian 
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