Half Marathon - Yesterday - 3 Hours Plus of Endurance

Wow,

Yesterday was amazing. God blessed the whole time and I thank Him for His grace and mercy for giving me a day that I surely as a sinner did not deserve. His grace was and is more than sufficient for all our needs. The race started at 10 after 8 because there was a full marathon that started at 8. My friend Dave Ziegler, was amazing! He came in second in that! It was an amazing day for him... He was GREAT! So, 8:10 came and the race began... Everything going great until I got really hot so I took off my sweatshirt. Was amazingly hot. Got started going again and was great! Was one with the great God of the Universe. I feel like He is liking this. He delights to sing over us I think the Scriptures say. Then, came to the foot of the bridge. St. George's Bridge is pretty steep. Many thoughts ran through my mind at that point. Wow, if I quit, no one could blame me at all. I heard that small voice of the God that I know. Jesus lived His whole life of endurance. That is the one thing that everyone had been praying for me. Chris Jarrell and Mom gathered around me on Saturday night and prayed for endurance. The Bible says sooo much about endurance. I think of Paul at the end of his life and how he said that life is like a race and we all run. or all of us are in a race. NEEDED and God provided the strength. They say that all of it was your mental preparation. I kinda disagree. The mental disengagement with what you think you can accomplish and what you actually end up accomplishing happens at the start line I think. I hope that makes sense. (That last sentence) So, up the hill of one side of Saint George's Bridge... Ouch! The climb was very hard but Jesus came to me in my hour of need. I don't know how to explain it. When I reached the top , Shane and Shane came through the speakers in my ears.... "When I think about the Lord, Makes me want to sing, hallelujah, thank you, Jesus, Lord you're worthy of all the glory and all the honor and all the praise."Had a time of worship like no other! It, then, had a mile on the other side where my friend Eric was waiting for me. He was the one who told me about this challenge as he works in the fitness center at work... He asked me how I felt, I said, "Ugh, bad!", ha ha, but He knew I wanted to finish. That was only half way. My left should was about to fall to the ground but thought that I must continue. Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross for our great salvation.
Got back to them bridge and had to go over it again. With the worship chorus "Forever" in my ears, the Lord aloud me to start this incredibly hard incline again. His love endures forever, His love endures forever! His endurance was mine. That might be a theological truth, I don't know. But I know that it happen. I never been sooo worn out in my life. He got me to the top though! Was so happy!!! getting back was not so hard compared to the horrendous trial of the bridge. Was just having to take my time because of my left shoulder but was at peace that I would make it after that. At the last leg of the course, people were cheering me on. It was very humbling. It was amazing! When I crossed the finish, Ken and Denise Barnes and a new friend of mine name Shane Harris were there. It was an amazing moment. Can't explain the emotions. Mentally, I was drained, physically I was wiped, but spiritually was on the mountain top... Thank you all who prayed and supported me in many different ways. God's LOVE ENDURES FOREVER