Please click the image to read, donate and share my fundraising story.
Please can you help me reach my fundraising target, canβt believe thereβs only 7 weeks to go! π°
Donβt underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! Itβs so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to comeβ¦β€οΈ
Letβs stop MS together! πͺπΌ
Thanks to 3 donations last week (Harry, Daniel & Heather) iβm only Β£2 away from hitting 50% of my target! π² πͺπΌ
Here is the message i received from Heather taken from the FitBlitz facebook page and my replyβ¦
Heather Mertens Since we metβ¦ wow back about a decade ago now!β¦ on our blogs, I was just impressed with your journey and your praise to God! It was my honor to donate to this worthy cause. As you know both my daughter and I suffer from chronic diseaseβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 7/12 β Day 5β¦3.27 Milesβ¦πͺπΌ
Hi all. Iβm not entirely sure how i managed to feel exhausted before i even left the houseβ¦But it seems to be harder to get going when i only have to do 1 lap, than when i do lots of miles over multiple laps! π My lovely wife Sarah (my personal drill sargent) helps lots when she says βNo lapβ¦No flapjackβ, not only does she use my own quote against me, lolβ¦But it really gets me motivated and quickly out on the trail! π€£
The sun appeared to be ensconced in cotton wool which made the trail as dull and miserable as an empty flapjack container! π¨ The bonus was there were hardly any people out so it was nice and quiet and a lot less taxing on my brain, lol! π€£
Iβll never get bored of this photo of my lovely wife Sarah relaxing in her fave seat in the world. Sarah sat here every night watching the Bajan sunset during our 2 week long stays at βSouthern Palmsβ in Barbados, and to say that we miss being there is an understatement. βοΈ
“The Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.” John 14:17
The world–that is, the world dead in sin, and the world dead in profession, men destitute of the life and power of God–must have something that it can see. And, as heavenly things can only be seen by heavenly eyes, they cannot receive the things which are invisible.
Now this explains why a religion that presents itself with a degree of beauty and grandeur to the natural eye, will always be received by the world; while a . . . spiritual, internal, heartfelt and experimental religion will always be rejected.
The world can receive a religion that consists of . . . forms, rites, and ceremonies. These are things seen.
Beautiful buildings, painted windows, pealing organs, melodious choirs, the pomp and parade of an earthly priesthood, and a whole apparatus of ‘religious ceremony’, carry with them something that the natural eye can see and admire. The world receives all this ‘external religion’ because it is suitable to the natural mind and intelligible to their reasoning faculties.
But the . . . quiet, inward, experimental, divine religion, which presents no attractions to the outward eye, but is wrought in the heart by a divine operation–the world cannot receive this, because it presents nothing that the natural eye can rest upon with pleasure, or is adapted to gratify their general idea of what religion is or should be.
Do not marvel then, that worldly professors despise a religion wrought in the soul by the power of God. Do not be surprised if even your own relatives think you are almost insane, when you speak of the consolations of the Spirit, or of the teachings of God in your soul. They cannot receive these things, for they have no experience of them; and being such as are altogether opposed to the carnal mind, they reject them with enmity and scorn.
Hi friends. I was checking my notifications this morning and I was stunned to have found this badge! As you may have guessedβ¦I like to celebrate achievements and goals no matter how big or small!Β πͺπΌΒ πΒ
People who already know me (from my other blogs βRebus Photographyβ & βiChristianβ) know Iβve been struggling to beat all kinds of obstacles since I was registered blind 20 years ago, at age 24β¦.. BUT now itβs time to face my nemesisβ¦ Health & Fitness and itβs many enemies β overeating, obesity, excuses not to exercise and many moreβ¦π¨Β
Iβm now trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and learning even more about health, fitness, weight training, nutrition and If you want to follow my blog, Iβd like to share my adventures with you β So that we can lose weight and getβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 6/12 β Day 5β¦3.2 Milesβ¦
Hi all. After the torrential rain yesterday i headed out in to the ultra bright sunshine again. My body felt good and energised (well as much as it can be, whilst being dragged out early morning, lol) BUTβ¦After half way around my first lap iβd just had enough! My brain, eyes and head had simply had enough of the pain of struggling through the blinding sun. If i couldβve teleported home i would, but i had to stumble the rest of the way homeme! π
After receiving 2 more amazing donations yesterdayβ¦Thatβs nearly half way towards my target! π² Thank you all, and after jumping around and celebrating i felt good! π I thought my down week next week would give my body chance to rest and repair itself for my next personal best in Marchβ¦But it will beβ¦
Please click the image above to read, donate and share my fundraising story.
Please can you help me reach my fundraising target, can’t believe there’s only 8 weeks to go! π°
Steveβs Blindman Trail Marathon Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis SocietyIn Memory of my mum Valerie. Donβt underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! Itβs so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to comeβ¦β€οΈ
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 6/12 β Day 3β¦6 Milesβ¦
Hi all. Once iβd dragged myself out of bed i saw the sun blitzing through the windows, i checked my weather app to see how cold it was outside so i could choose my layersβ¦The app said exactly what i was thinking as i thought about walking for 6 miles in the blinding sun! π¨
After the fallen tree drama yesterday i was happy to find it gone this morning, yay. But for some reason my legs and energy levels were just not happening and i almost gave up half way round, but realised i still have to get home and iβm miles away, lolβ¦So i gave it as much as i could to make it back home! π°
In the middle of fighting myself not to give up i took this photo of the stew pond to remindβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 6/12 β Day 2β¦6 Milesβ¦
Hi all. After 3 storms last week iβd not managed to walk out to the trail until todayβ¦And as i was making my way to the start of my trail lap i hit the brakes (a full emergency stop, lol) as i kicked this treacherous obstacle. To most of you guys this isnβt treacherous at all, but once iβd told myself i wasnβt turning around and going homeβ¦I felt around it with my feet to make sure there wasnβt any branches sticking up etcβ¦And simply stepped over it, yay! π
I then thought βIf this has happened on the path before i even start the trailβ¦Then what is the actual trail going to be like?β I had 2 laps (6 miles) to walk today and i was on high alert for the first lap making sure i didnβt hitβ¦
Hi all. Since we couldnβt walk to the local butchers on Saturday as the storm was giving it the beansβ¦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 donβt like the elastic rubber stuff) we only had 6oz steaks. π They were super soft once Sarah had done her secret magic to them and iβd already baked 4 jacket potatoes yesterday (we share 1 between us per meal) which had the carbs sortedβ¦But then Sarah did carrots, swede, garden peas, green beans, broccoli, onions, mushrooms and best of all brussels sprouts!! π² Wow i love recovering over the weekend after training Monday to Friday! πͺπΌ
I donβt have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal wasβ¦And how jam packed full of protein it was. Proteinβ¦
Click on the GRACE logo for more posts like this! π
(J.C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.”Β 2 Corinthians 12:9
Not yourΒ strength,Β not yourΒ wisdom,Β not yourΒ prayers,Β not yourΒ experience;Β butΒ “My grace”–My free, My matchless grace: Β independent of all works and efforts, Β independent of everything in the creature, Β flowing wholly and solely, fully and freely, out of the bosom of Jesus to . . . Β Β Β the needy, Β Β Β the guilty, Β Β Β the destitute, Β Β Β the undone.
You who are tried in worldly circumstances, who have to endure the hard lot ofΒ poverty–“My grace is sufficient for you.”Β
You who areΒ tempted, day by day, to say or do that which conscience testifies against–“My grace is sufficient for you.”Β
You who are harassed withΒ family troublesΒ and afflictions, and are often drawn aside into peevishness and fretfulness–“My grace is sufficient for you.”Β
OurΒ weakness,Β helplessness, andΒ inabilityΒ 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! πͺπΌ
Hi all. Just a quick post to let you know even the heavy rain storms and gale-force winds canβt keep me from collecting my flapjacks from the bakery, lolβ¦Yes making sure we have the adequate amount of fuel for our long walks is really that important! πͺπΌ
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! π
Letβs βFitblitzβ our goals togetherβ¦No matter the weather! πͺπΌ π€£
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 5/12 β Day 4β¦18.13 Milesβ¦π²
Hi all. I seriously didnβt think i was going to smash these personal best times yesterday, as i kicked a fallen tree and nearly went flyingβ¦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 couldnβt see at all and the muddy sludge was simply sapping my energyβ¦And this was just the first lap! π¨
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 homeβ¦I think it was knowing that after iβd done 2 laps i could break out the chocolate hob nobs! πͺπΌ
I always message Sarah after each lap and she was fantastic at motivating me with her mighty messages. I reallyβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 5/12 β Day 3β¦6 Milesβ¦
Awww I love my new and ultra bright trail shoes!
Hi all. It was a whopping 12ΛC, overcast and super splashy wet after yesterdayβs heavy rain, but that is no match for my new super trail shoes my lovely wife Sarah gave me on valentineβs 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 wouldnβt crash in to any fallen trees etc after the storm yesterday. Thankfully i didnβt hit anything unlike last time i steamed in to a fallen tree, lol! π€£ My new shoes felt amazing again and just splashed through everything and stayed super grippyβ¦So after a clear trail and the weatherβ¦
2 x 8oz Dexter sirloin steaks sizzling in Sarahβs cast iron pan! π
Hi all. As you may know by now me and Sarah love steak. Itβs great for the obvious protein, iron and micronutrients, but also as it has no carbs itβs fantastic for Sarah as a T1Dβ¦Win win! πͺπΌTonight as itβs valentineβs day and we saw the local butchers were selling something called a βDexterβ steak (no not Dexter the allusive serial killer aka the βBay Harbour Butcherβ), although thatβs why we wanted to try it (although not too rare itβs dripping in blood)β¦But beef from the Dexter cattle, lol. π€£
We opted for the sirloin as always as itβs the leaner cut, and as always Sarah does dissect it and cut off the existing fat. But as weβd never had this kind of steak we didnβt know what to expectβ¦And it was unbelievable!! The combination of theβ¦
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…
π Bible Verse…
Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
π€ 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!
π 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 β Week 5/12 β Day 1β¦6 Milesβ¦
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 valentineβs gift from my lovely wife Sarah?! Now these bad boys really put the βMotivationβ in to Monday, lol! π€£ My photos really donβt 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 LEDβs in them! Anyway letβs take them for a test drive. πͺπΌ
The INOV8 Terraultra G270 Trail Shoesβ¦
Wow just look at that grip! πͺπΌ
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 andβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4/12 β Day 6β¦Cup Cake! π
Hi all. As i do my 5 days of walking on Monday β 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 bakersβ¦Not only to get my flapjack fuel for next week butβ¦Just look at this pre-valentine love heart cup cake Sarah spotted for us to shareβ¦Well i obviously have to eat more of it as i always like to help her out, lol! π€£ β€οΈ
The Cup Cakeβ¦
Mmmmm! π
Hope youβve started this new month smashing your health and fitness goals too? Letβs βFitBlitzβ February together!! πͺπΌ π
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4/12 β Day 5 β 5.33 Milesβ¦
Hi all. Wow what a morning! It was ultra bright, ultra cold -1ΛC and time to break out the puffer jacket! I donβt 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 couldnβt 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 pointedβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4 β Day 4 β 6 Milesβ¦
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 iβd use this time to take lots of photos of the trail. I donβt normally take photos on my walks as i donβt normally have time as iβm concentrating on form, speed and trying my hardest not to get lost. Also my iPhone is 4 and a half years old and iβm trying to conserve as much battery as i can just to time my long walks, and i donβt want to use it for anything else thatβll drain my battery, lol! π€£
Having said all thatβ¦I didnβt want to bore you to death with lots of images of boring trails, lolβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4 β Day 3 β 16.21 Milesβ¦
Hi all. Yay iβve 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 wednesdayβs record of 15.85 milesβ¦But i somehow managed it even though the blinding sun was doing itβs best to end my walk. Sorry i canβt write too much today as iβm dying here! π€£
Todayβs Walking Statsβ¦
Although it doesnβt seem like much to beat last weeks record by just under half a mileβ¦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 iβmβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4 β Day 2 β Tough Mudder Motivationβ¦
Hi all. I thought youβd like to look back with me on the day this blindman tackled the Tough Mudderβ¦And survivedβ¦Just! Looking back on this post has given me some more motivation to keep smashing aways at my current fundraising challengeβ¦The Trail Marathon! πͺπΌ π
Tough Mudder
Yayβ¦..We did it!
β§From left: Adie, Vini, Me, Josie & Ashleyβ§
Tough Mudder 5K β Saturday 13th October 2018β¦β¦.Here Goes!
β§ From left: Adie, Me & Josie β§
β§ Me carrying Adie on the βHero Carryβ β§
It was amazing to have my friend of nearly 30 years Adie Monk join our βHard As Nailsβ team. I thought weβd sit and catch up over a coffeeβ¦.I didnβt have this in mind, lol!
Thanks John Atherton for taking another great photo. I canβt thank you and Sarah Atherton enough forβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 4 β Day 1 β 6 Milesβ¦
Hey thereβ¦Yep iβm still walking, lol! π€£
Hi all. Wow βMotivational Mondayβ has come around quickly once again, and i think iβve spent the weekend thinking up every excuse possible so i donβt 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 upβ¦I slowly dragged myself outside.
I think i need to read (and listen to) some of my older βMotivational Mondayβ postsβ¦I need some motivation this morning!! πͺπΌ Itβs week 4 of 12 of my trail marathon trainingβ¦Thatβs already a third of the way through! π¨
The sun was unbelievably bright this morning and my cap didnβt make things any better, so it was time toβ¦
“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 β Week 3 β Day 6&7 β Total: 36 Miles This Weekβ¦
The Brobdingnagian VEGETABLESβ¦
Thee really are carrotsβ¦And not a pile of tree logs, lol! π€£
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 sproutsβ¦As you may or may not notice in the image belowβ¦They are like tennis balls and tasted amazing, iβm looking forward to chomping on the rest this week, lol! π€£
I also took a photo of the carrots Sarah was preparingβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 3 β Day 5 β 6 Milesβ¦Total: 36 Miles This Weekβ¦
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 wasnβt 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 soakedβ¦So i put on my 4mph pace playlist and charged around 2 laps for 6 miles!
It wasnβt 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 pastβ¦Actually there were no other people out at a all which was amazing for me. Once iβd left the thought of it being a radiation rain storm (Fallout 4) behind i realised there was no glareβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 3 β Day 4 β 6 Milesβ¦
Hi all. Since when has the phrase βIβm only doing 2 laps (6 miles) todayβ ever been a standard by me in this house, or even been uttered, lol π€£ I need to stop, get back in bed and go to sleep instead!
Wow that was hardβ¦
I felt like i was in the movie βThe Wrong Trousers β Wallace & Gromitβ this morning, as no matter what my instructions were to my legsβ¦They just kept plodding on and ignoring my command to stopβ¦My mind was writing cheques my body wouldnβt cash. When i did eventually squeek to a halt i managed to take this photo of the stew pondβ¦
The smaller stew pond on my trail
It took me a minute to get going again as my lower legs felt like heavy blocksβ¦Well they felt likeβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 3 β Day 3 β 15.85 Milesβ¦
Hi all. I canβt 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 meβ¦Yet iβm so glad itβs over, lol! π€£
Beta Blockers & Bendroflumethiazideβ¦
I was a little worried about todayβs attempt as not only do i have to fight βBeta Blockerβ medication but also βBendroflumethiazideβ too. This is a diuretic which makes you want to pee to help lower blood pressureβ¦But doesnβt help when you want to go for a long walk through the woods, lol! π€£ Sorry to talk about this but i still canβt believe i made it for 15.85 miles for 4 hours 13 minutes non stop without needing to peeβ¦Another victory for me and is just one more obstacle on this epicβ¦
Blindman Trail Marathon Training β Week 3 β Day 2 β 6 Milesβ¦
Hi all. I decided to do todayβs 6 miles at a faster pace of 4 miles per hour, this is apparently βSpeed Walkingβ but only just, lol. π€£ It certainly felt like it to me, as being blind this feels like warp speedβ¦Iβm just glad i didnβt hit anything!
Walking at this pace helps improve fitness, endurance and strengthens legs and abdominal musclesβ¦Who doesnβt need that, lol! π€£
When i arrived home i heard an extra bing from my apple watch to say iβd won yet another award. Although it wasnβt 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)β¦But it still feels good to get another award for all of my efforts and muscleβ¦
Week 3 β Day 1 β Blindman Trail Marathon Trainingβ¦
Hi all, After spending all morning and most of the afternoon with Sarah up in London at the diabetic eye hospitalβ¦Just checking up on the not so good laser treatment they did in December (donβt get me started), there isnβt enough hours of daylight for me to get some mileage done todayβ¦But i do have a 6 mile walk tomorrow, Thurs & Fridayβ¦And a personal best 15 miles on Wednesday if i can manage it which should help put the miles back up this week. π€£
But as today is βMotivational Mondayβ iβd better give a little something to help motivate you, lolβ¦So here are a couple of badges/awards my fitness app sounded to tell me iβd achieved them over the weekend!! πDo you have a fitness tracker etc to help you? Iβd love to know if you do andβ¦
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 canβt get her to release any information on her secret recipes, lol! π€£
I donβt have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal wasβ¦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. Itβs 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 tooβ¦Perfect! πͺπΌ
A huge thanks to my lovely wife Sarah for this amazing meal!
LISTEN to audio!Β Β Download audio (You will find it helpful toΒ listen to the audio above, as youΒ read the text below.) “I will rejoice in Your salvation!” Psalm 9:14
The minds of the wicked find joy from the mostΒ trivialΒ 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 ofΒ iniquity, the end of which is damnation–then surely the believer hasΒ an unfailing source of joy and consolation in God’s salvation!
No one can rejoice in salvation, unless heΒ understandsΒ it. There will be a knowledge . . .Β of theΒ necessityΒ of salvation, arising from the conviction of one’s fallen, guilty, and condemned state before God;Β of theΒ accomplishmentΒ of salvation, by the atoning death, resurrection, and intercession of Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 1:15;Β that when received, salvation willΒ grantΒ . . .Β Β Β pardonΒ to the guilty,Β Β Β justificationΒ to the condemned,Β Β Β libertyΒ to the spiritual captive,Β Β Β healthΒ to the spiritually sick,Β Β Β sightΒ to the spiritually blind, and, in short,Β Β “all spiritual blessingsΒ in heavenly places in Christ Jesus!”
No one can ever rejoice in salvation, unless he has felt hisΒ needΒ 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 alwaysΒ produces joyΒ and rejoicing!Β “I will rejoice in Your salvation.” TheΒ sickΒ person rejoices when his disease departs, when the bloom of health again mantles his cheek, etc.Β TheΒ debtorΒ rejoices when his debts are discharged, etc.Β TheΒ culpritΒ rejoices when reprieved, when he hears the opening of the doors of his prison-house.Β And shall not the penitent and believing sinner rejoice? He is saved! Saved from . . . Β theΒ guiltΒ of sin,Β Β theΒ condemnationΒ of sin, Β theΒ dominionΒ of sin, Β theΒ powerΒ of death,Β Β theΒ dominionΒ of the grave, andΒ Β theΒ vengeanceΒ of everlasting fire!
This joy springs from the realization of divine mercy, through the sin-atoning death of Christ. This rejoicing is over . . . Β an infinite soul,Β Β redeemed by an infinite price,Β Β Β fromΒ an infinite damnation– toΒ infinite joys, realized first here, and then to be realized fully in an infinite Heaven.Β
What a possession! What a prospect!Β “I will rejoice in Your salvation!”Β
1. The believer rejoices in theΒ originΒ of salvation. It is the result of distinguishing grace–the sovereign goodness and unmerited compassion and favor of God. Man . . . Β did notΒ deserveΒ it, Β had no equitableΒ titleΒ to it, Β neverΒ solicitedΒ it.Β God beheld him as an outcast, pitied him, and condescended to save him!Β
2. The believer rejoices in theΒ procuringΒ of salvation. When he sees his Redeemer in the garden and on the cross, he weeps–but they areΒ tears of joy.Β 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 theΒ glorious propertiesΒ of salvation . . .Β Β theΒ freenessΒ of it, requiring no qualifications nor conditions, Β theΒ purityΒ of it, unto holiness, Β theΒ powerΒ of it, saving him from the guilt, dominion, and pollution of sin, Β theΒ extensivenessΒ of it, investing him with every spiritual blessing, Β theΒ certaintyΒ 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 10:28Β
4. The believer rejoices in the prospectiveΒ consummationΒ of salvation in Heaven. He anticipates with joy . . . Β the full harvest, Β the fruition of hope, and Β the vision of gloryΒ in which faith shall be lost.Β
“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!” Psalm 16:11Β
Hi all, after yesterdayβs trail closure setback i was a little hesitant to venture out this morningβ¦Well as i held a hot fresh coffee (made by my lovely wife Sarah), it was 1ΛC and i didnβt know if the trail would be open again, these were just some of the reasons i didnβt want to go out again this morning, lol! π€£
When i did finally drag my lazy self out onto the trailβ¦Yes youβve guessed itβ¦The dreaded barrier was still there!! π¨
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 untilβ¦The sun came out really bright with a nasty glare and i simply couldnβt stayβ¦
Hi all. After yesterdayβs 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 (itβs really hard not to speed up) and i was walking around the first quarter of my route whenβ¦
I bumped straight into the road block (well path, lol) as i donβt notice anything is different until my nose is on itβ¦But when i do i can stop very quicklyβ¦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 thatβ¦And thenβ¦
How on earth did this barrier get here i thoughtβ¦
Hi all. Wow that was hardβ¦But i managed 5laps non stop in 3 hours 45minutesβ¦Thatβs 13.5 miles which is just over a half marathon!! Yay iβm happyβ¦Well now itβs over anyway, lol! π€£
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 tastyβ¦It tasted like a orange lucozade but with a viscosity of thick custardβ¦MMMM perfect for me as i love custard! I also had my fave β 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 iβm going round the lapsβ¦Win win, lol! π€£
When i eventually arrived home i was greeted with anotherβ¦
Hi all. I donβt know if it was my beta blockers crushing my adrenal glands to the point of feeling comatoseβ¦Or the -1ΛC freezing tempurature that was making me feel like staying in bedβ¦Or am i just making excuses for not wanting to do another 6 miles today!
I did eventually βman upβ and drag myself out there, and once i did i started to feel betterβ¦Well after a few miles anyway once iβd 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. πͺπΌ π
As itβs WEEK 2, DAY 2 of my 12 week trail marathon training plan, iβll be increasing tomorrows walk to 14 miles from 12 miles last wee! I hope i feel much more lively tomorrow morningβ¦Iβm really notβ¦
Hi all. Yay itβs a blistering 1ΛC this morning, thatβs almost tropical temperatures, lol! π€£ It was also cloudy which is perfect conditions for me as there is no blinding (pun intended) sun to slow me right downβ¦And it didnβt. 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 doesnβt mean all of the βNew Year Resolutionersβ havnβt quit already?! Donβt get me started on how health and fitness is for lifeβ¦Not something you start and stop Yoyo etcβ¦Sorry rant over, lol! π€£
And Thenβ¦A Donationβ¦!
I was about 5.5 miles into my walk when the happy muppets theme tune started playing over my audiobook. I thought βNo way itβ¦
(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)
“WhenΒ a woman who had lived a sinful lifeΒ in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume . . .” Luke 7:37Β
It is wonderful howΒ genuine goodnessΒ draws to itself: Β the unfortunate,Β Β the troubled, Β the friendless,Β Β the outcast, Β the fallen.Β
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 foundΒ sympathyΒ in Him. He wouldΒ listenΒ 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,Β “He shall not break a bruised reed!”Β He always dealt most gently withΒ sore spiritsΒ and withΒ 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 livingΒ “not to be served–but to serve;”Β in considering one’s self not too good to serve the most unworthy of God’s creatures. If we live in this world toΒ beΒ 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. TheΒ hungry-heartedΒ and theΒ soul-needyΒ will be drawn to us, and God will love to put work into our hands.
We need, too, to train ourselves toΒ exceeding gentlenessΒ 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.Β 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 11:28Β
Hi all. i really didnβt want to let go o my lovely warm coffee this morning after checking the weather appβ¦It said it was -2ΛC but feels like -5ΛC! π¨ I dragged myself towards the front door wearing my puffer jacket and bobble hatβ¦My ears were not going to freeze off today, lol! π€£ 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!!! π
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! π² π
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 Sundayβ¦It wasnβt joking, lol! π€£ 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 journeyβ¦Mmmmmm! π I knew i had 11 miles (4 laps of my trail marathon route) to complete today and i really didnβt want to go outβ¦But i did and i nailed it and feel much better now iβve done it! πͺπΌ π
I was out for a little over 3 hours and didnβt 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 toβ¦
Hi all. Wow itβs 0ΛC again this morning and i really wished iβd done a summer trail marathon, lolβ¦But where is the challenge in that! π€£After a tasty slice of wholemeal toast with Grenade chocolate spread on top and a fantastic warm coffeeβ¦I managed to do another 6 miles again today, yay! I wonβt be laughing for long though as iβve got a 12 mile one to do tomorrow! π¨
Hope you have had a great time so far this year and you are either starting to set goals? Or youβre already smashing them?! πͺπΌ π
βYou do not rise to the occasion, you simply fall back to your level of training.β
Hi all. βAwww thatβs betterβ i say whilst drinking a soothing hot fresh coffee made by my lovely wife Sarah. Even though it was -1ΛC, white and frosty ground which was also slippy and blazingly bright sunshine burning my eyesβ¦I still somehow managed to drag myself out of the front door and do my 6 miles today! πͺπΌ π
I have 2 hats to choose from when i go out β 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 glareβ¦But my ears got frozen off! π¨ Which one would you have chosen? π€
Reading the messages you guys have written on my fundraising page always inspires and motivates meβ¦And having to write one of these blog posts each timeβ¦
βBE DIFFERENT! Donβt go with the flow!β we are urged. βDonβt follow the crowd! Even a dead fish can float downstream.β 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 βno longer be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrineβ (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: βBut 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 deathβ (Revelation 21:8). When they see that Godβs 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, βBe strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you goβ (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, βBe on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strongβ (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 βbe strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His mightβ (Ephesians 6:10). Fortified with power that comes only from God (Ephesians 3:16), we can say with Paul, βI can do all things through Him who strengthens meβ (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, βYou have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised … βMy righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in himββ (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, βlet us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesusβ (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, βKeep seeking the things above, where Christ is … Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earthβ (Colossians 3:1-2). Raise your sights! Donβt 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!! π¨ 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 didnβt get ripped offβ¦Phew! Otherwise it would have been a very sloppy, freezing and different outcome to my walk today. Just thought iβd share this with you guysβ¦Thereβs always drama when this blindman decides to go out walking, lol! π€£
Hope youβre having a great time so far this year and you are either starting to set goals? Or youβre already smashingβ¦
Itβs now the start of the βDiet-Seasonβ 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 donβt 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! Thatβs frustrating and self-defeating.
Weight loss ismuch morethanmere willpower. There is no magic formula. Since we are each uniquely created, itβs primarily an individually mental, physiological, and spiritual challenge. Itβs also a matter ofunderstanding the scientific reasons behind theβwhyβwe can self-destruct.
My book, βLifeβs Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese. . .β will make the perfect motivational New Yearβs gift this year. Itβs available for only $4.99 on Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKQ3HYV
Itβs not simply another diet book. With over 241β¦
π YAYβ¦A BROBDINGNAGIAN NEW YEAR TO YOU!! We pray you have a monumental, inconceivable and definitely memorable time smashing your health and fitness goals in 2022β¦Love Steve & Sarah! β€οΈπͺπΌπΎπ₯ππβοΈ
Hi all! Just wanted to say a quick hello and hope youβre all smashing your health and fitness goals?! πͺπΌπ
Oh and itβs nearly Christmas so i hope you wonβt forget to do some carb loadingβ¦To help towards fuelling your extra long walksβ¦Obviously!! πͺπΌ π€£ π
Today, a form of excommunication called βcancelingβ 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 β 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 βcancelβ followers of Christ (Revelation 6:9). If you experience being βcanceledβ 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, Octoberβ¦
The great nineteenth century Baptist preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, once confessed: βOn a sudden, the thought crossed my mindβwhich I abhorred but could not conquerβthat 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.β
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? Hereβs a five truths that can perhaps help us be more careful and more compassionate inβ¦
Hi all. Iβve been a little quiet around here over the last few weeksβ¦But iβve now found βRuck Marchingβ. Some of you may have seen this coming as i do lots of walking through my local trail, but i seriously didnβt see it! Iβve always loved rucksacks (i have a few) and iβve always loved the armed forces as i have family who have served and are still serving to this day.
As you know i donβt run at all as iβm always on my own, and my eyes just go crazy even at slow walking speeds never mind jogging or running. Iβve managed to do 14.6 miles in 4 hours (my longest non stop walk so far) whilst training for my βBlindman Trail Marathonβ in April 2022. Now iβm upping my walks with loaded marching and taking my walks to new heightsβ¦
March 4, 2022 
iChristian 
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