November Update/God’s Work
Well November is coming to a close, and with it, the warmer Minnesota weather. It was nice to be spoiled a little and to be able to enjoy a few warm runs outside and one last official running event.
Thursday was Thanksgiving and several Jesus Jogger’s started out their day by taking part in the Turkey Trot 5k in downtown Minneapolis. It was very exciting to see some family members take place in this as I was able to spend this time with my beautiful wife, Beth, and was blessed to see my cousin, Amy Whitmore, complete her first 5k, and she ran the ENTIRE WAY!!! So proud to see her accomplish this and awesome to feel the joy that God provides.
It was also fun to connect with other runners. It’s always encouraging to hear others say nice things about the shirts we wear and their walk in the Lord. If anyone feels encouraged to wear a shirt like this to help spread the news of the site, and more importantly Salvation, please contact me at jesusjogger@gmail.com. Even if you don’t want a shirt, it’s always great to hear from other runners and their stories, so shoot me an email.
This even was also good for other reasons as it not only helped to justify the eating that would take part during the day, it also was a great way to be active and enjoy some of God’s creation, as well as the creation he inspired man to build. We really do have a beautiful downtown, with large buildings and a beautiful river running right through it. What a blessing to be able to take it in!
Obviously, Thanksgiving makes you pause and reflect on the blessings God has provided for you, and I could go on and on here, but I will focus on the blessing that this ministry has been. God has changed the hearts, both emotionally and physically, by encouraging people to be active for Him. It is so encouraging to see this change take place. God can really change people physically as well as their personality/emotions.
Okay, I said I’d only focus on this ministry, but thinking of the change God can make in people by being active, I can’t help but think of my dad. Admittedly, he didn’t do a whole lot to take care of himself. Since I’ve made changes in my life, I’ve tried to be an encouragement, without being a pain (as much as possible), to others in my life to make some changes physically. My dad usually met these words of encouragement with a smile and a playful eye roll. In September the joking came to a stop when my dad suffered a heart attack. It was a very scary time as we could have very easily lost him, but God saw it as an opportunity to change my dad’s life. My dad is a walking miracle. That day he suffered pretty much no damage to his heart and will have no major impact as a result, except for a few stents put in. Since that time, my dad has lost over 30 pounds!!!! He regularly walks and watches what he eats.
How could a transformation like this happen? Well, like any major change in our lives, we need to come to the point where we want it to happen. Others can’t just tell us it needs to happen, we need to make the decision to and we need God to make it happen. That’s what happened to my dad. On a drastic level, God gave him a wake up call, and like we all need to do when we hear God’s voice, my dad responded. I am very proud of him for the changes he’s made, and more importantly, how he is looking to God and being faithful to him.
It is my prayer that God will bless you during the upcoming Christmas season.
Jogging for Jesus,
John Holgrimson