Good Afternoon

I would first like to apologize to anyone that I have hurt with my words and actions. In particular, Lisa Lisa I would like to apologize to you.

Second, I would like to thank the AC that posted his vision thread back in December. Thank you, it was your message of love and forgiveness that drove me back towards God. Your words gave me the courage to forgive the person I overlooked the most, myself.

Third, I would like to thank Neim. Your threads have opened up my eyes and have enriched my spiritual life in ways you cannot imagine.

Identifying Your Gifts to Glorify God
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Three years ago I was an emotional and physical train wreck. I was taking medicine for anxiety, depression, and doctors wanted me to go on high blood pressure medication. I was in my mid thirties at that time, and the thought of being on blood pressure medication scared the crap out of me. I weighed 250, had a forty waist, and got winded by the least amount of physical activity. I was so embarrassed and ashamed when I took me sons to the pool, I would wear pants and a shirt, and then go home and feast on more Zingers. My life reached the ultimate low. I knew I couldn't diet, and exercise that wasn't the answer. I prayed, hadn't prayed for years, went to church every week, but never really prayed. I asked God to help me, well actually I begged Him.

That night I had a dream that I was running on my treadmill, yeah I owned one five years old but it was brand new if you know what I mean, but the treadmill was in church. The next morning I woke up, put on my shoes, and oh what a pitiful and pathetic start it was, one eight of a mile only, but I never looked back. By the winter I was logging 50-60 miles a week, had lost eighty pounds, was off all medicine, and felt the best both inside and out then I ever had. In the summer of 2011 I ran in a 10K, my first race ever, and took first place for my age group. Well I was the only one in my age group, but I finished sixth overall.

Fast forward to this past December when my life was completely turned upside down. My wife announced she wanted a divorce, and my life hit an all time low. I had drifted from God, and had become so self absorbed because I felt great, and I was intoxicated by my own looks. I was in love with myself. Once again I reached out for God, several times. I came across a wonderfully profound post on GLP, about a vision. I prayed that night and cried my tears out. I brought all my transgressions to Him, many which cost me my marriage, and asked Him for forgiveness. That night I had a dream of the day three years ago when I asked for His help.

The next morning I woke up, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and thought about my dream. I knew then I had never thanked God for the incredible gift he gave me, running. The whole time I was running I built up mileage very fast, endurance very fast, decreased my mile time very fast. Never once have I been nagged with injury. In fact no matter how hard I pushed my legs, and believe me there were times when I came home and had to wrap my legs with ace bandages they were so sore. Guess what, in the morning my legs were always refreshed, always ready to go. More importantly, I realized that not once did I work on my relationship with Him, in fact the better I became as a runner the more I turned my back on Him.

I have only been running a few months, seven weeks exact, and i am logging six miles consistently.Not bad considering i took almost the entire year of 2012 off. Today I run to bring Glory to God. Before every run and after I offer Him thanks for the gift He gave to me. With every step and mile logged, it acknowledges His love for me, and in turn shows Him my love. There are days which I don't want to run, but I do, because He never gave up on me, he never once stopped loving me. I run today with my ears open to Him, and it is often when I am running, not praying or reading the scriptures, that I feel the closest to Him. God has given all of us gifts, it is how we utilize these gifts which count. Do we glorify Him, or do we bring glory to ourselves?