TommyRunByFaith

In a World of Noises And Distractions, God Speaks.

I’m sure that it’s happened to you. Something inside “nudges” you to act. Some call it intuition, I call it “that still small voice.”

Honestly, I feel like it happens to me a lot. I sense a prompt, so I try to act. It can be as simple as walking up to a stranger and asking if they need help. But oftentimes, I’m moved to send a text to check in with someone.

Just the other day, I returned from a run when I had the urging to message a friend.

Hey there, my friend. God put you on my heart today. Are you ok?

Hey. Thank you for reaching out. I have so much anxiety today. It is making me sick to my stomach. “

Wow! I truly had no idea this friend was going through something at that exact moment. In fact, we hadn’t talked in weeks.

What if I didn’t hit send? What if I just “blew it off?” Would my friend still be struggling?

Thank you for reaching out. That’s such a loving God. To send someone to encourage me…

Whew!

I haven’t always listened so intently. I often thought, “I have no idea why that person popped into my mind, but maybe I’ll just reach out.”

But, after several times of this happening, I knew it wasn’t coincidence. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was God’s still small voice.

I also feel that the more I have listened to the voice, the more in tune that I am with His voice.

It’s kind of like when my dogs learned the sound of my voice. They began to pay attention much more closely when I spoke. Yes, the dogs might respond to a stranger. But they really pay attention when they recognize “their masters voice.”

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with mine eye.”

A lyric from the band, “Out Of The Grey,” says, “He is not silent. We’re just not listening.” This time, I’m glad I did.

Listen for the prompt. Go make a difference. Always run by faith.

3 Song Titles To Help Strengthen Your Marriage And Relationships

My wife and I approaching another Anniversary! Many people ask, “What does it take to make a marriage last?” I could tell you, but I prefer to put it in musical terms.

1) As Queen sang, “You’re My Best Friend” To have a Best Friend, you have to Spend Time with each other.

Deuteronomy 24:5 says, “If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and be happy with the wife whom he has married.”

A year off sounds amazing, huh?! It might not be possible, but the concept is still there. It’s important to make time for each other.

This is the Heart of God revealed when you spend time together. 2 become 1! Don’t take for granted what God has placed in your life. Take time to make time!

2) Be Willing To Lose Fights. Or, as Elton John sang, “Sorry Seems to be the hardest word”

It is hard to say sorry, but it shows humility, and honors your spouse.

In Philippians 2:3-4 it says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in HUMILITY regard others better than yourself. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”

Look not to your own interests – But to each other.

3) Connect With Christ Daily

Another less known prophet of music is Matthew West who wrote a song called, “Jesus and You”. The Bible says, “a Cord of three strands is not easily broken.” How do you connect with Christ daily?

–Pray together (family prays together, stays together).

–Read the Bible or a devotional together.

–It’s important to get involved at a church together.

That Matthew West song, Jesus and You, says,

“Why, you’ve got a ring around your finger
While he’s got scars on his hands
Why you both promised me forever
God, I’ll never understand
But when I think about the only things in life that pull me through
I hit my knees and thank the Lord for Jesus and you”.

“Marriage takes three to be complete. It’s not enough for two to meet.” You must be united in love by love’s Creator, God. A marriage that follows God’s plan takes more than a woman and a man.

It needs a oneness that can be only from Christ—Marriage takes three.

Take time together – You’re My Best Friend

Be willing to lose fights – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Connect with Christ daily – Jesus And You

Keep harmony in your marriage. Go make a difference. Always, run by faith!

Divine Intervention: A Lifesaving Encounter Along The Road

It’s always interesting to see the bigger picture of things, right? In my last blog, I shared about the power of God’s timing. I was at a certain place at a certain moment, which allowed me to witness God’s humbling work.

After posting this story, I received this amazing comment. (I chose to leave the names out)

Hello Tommy,
Yesterday on our trip up for my husband work, we made a side jog to a little town in Illinois to see a veteran memorial, or so we thought.

When we pulled up to the spot I heard what sounded like a woman screaming, we looked and there was a man beating up what we thought was a woman, it was horrible.

My husband got out of our vehicle and I started honking the horn to get there attention. I called 911. It was totally Gods plan for us to be there when we were.

Come to find out it was two brothers fighting, the one brother was going to hurt if not kill the other brother.

The cops have been in touch with me and the one doing the hitting is going to go to jail. It was a scary moment, but at the same time we both knew we were there for a reason.

God loves His children, each and everyone of us, whether we acknowledge Him or not.

I encourage you to keep your eyes open to where you are at this moment. Where have you seen God show up when you least expected it? Life is much bigger than grabbing bread, pumping gas, or taking a side jog to see a memorial.

Be present. Keep making a difference. Always run by faith!

Please keep these comments coming!

Testimony of God’s Perfect Timing: A Touching Encounter Over Dinner

God’s timing always amazes me, and I experienced that first hand.

My wife and I decided to go out for dinner, just the two of us, which is rare. They told us that it would be a 15-20 minute wait. No problem.

As we’re standing there, several people came in and put their their name on the wait list.

We kept chatting. We were on a date. We were in NO hurry!

Suddenly, a woman stands up, and walks over to us. “Tommy? You’re Tommy right?” “Yes I am.” “I’m Kim, I’m here with my dad. I lost my mom a few months ago, and you have been a huge help to me in the grieving process. I listen to you everyday, and, I’d like to pay for your dinner.” I’m like, “Kim that’s not necessary.” She said, “No. I insist. I’d like to bless you.”

I humbly said, “Well that’s so very kind of you…thank you.”

It was then that I began to think of the amazing timing God had to put into motion to make that happen. We “suddenly” had the idea to go out to eat. Kim “suddenly” chose the same restaurant, at the exact same time as we did. Coincidence? Nope!

It is because of God’s timing, and Kim’s generosity, that I am able to share this story with you, at this exact time.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9

When have you had your own, “That had to be God’s timing” moment? I’d love to hear your story.

God’s timing is perfect. Go make a difference. Always run by faith.

Simple and Practical Summer Running Tips for a Safer Workout

Summer is here! And, so are the hotter temps! While it’s wonderful to be out in the sunshine, and not dealing with wind chills, summer running can be very dangerous and challenging.

I asked my friend, Jeff, the owner of Striders in Grandville, to share some simple, practical tips for summer running.

Have a Hydration Strategy: Make sure that you’re replacing water and electrolytes as you sweat it out! It’s recommended to have at least 8 glasses of water per day.

Have a good pair of Wicking Socks and Apparel: When moisture is pulled off the skin, it helps you regulate your temperature better.

Slow down: Slow your pace when running on a hot day. Also, it is wise to set an early alarm and get your run in. The earlier you run, the more likely you are to avoid high temperatures.

What other things do you do during your summer running/training?

Stay hydrated. Go make a difference. Always RUN by faith!

“We All Have To ‘Choose Our Hard'”

“And she’s moving on!”

After several rounds of voting, West Michigan’s Amber Powell has cracked the Top 5 in voting for the title of, “Ms. Heath and Fitness 2024”.

While it is easy to hit the “vote” button to help her pursue the title, I think it’s important to know Amber’s backstory.

Amber, what got you into running?

“I remember exactly what got me interested in running, yet I still don’t know why . I was in the back of my mom’s car driving home from the store and we saw a group of ladies running on the side of the road. I asked my mom what they were doing and she said, “it’s probably the cross country team”. I said, “I want to do that!” I was only 11 years old, but my mom signed me up for cross country that year in 6th grade.”

Who was the athlete that you looked up to when you began running?

“Steve Prefontaine was the runner I looked up to! He had so much guts and grit during his races. His mentally toughness and, “never give up” attitude made him the best. We used to watch the movie “PRE” every year before the state finals for track in high school.”

Less than 1% of the American population has run a Marathon. What was your first Marathon like?

“My first marathon was in 2013. I had just started getting into running competitively again after my collegiate career ended in 2011. I worked with a doctor at the time who also ran and told me “you should run a marathon and try to qualify for Boston.” This didn’t mean much to me then, but I was up for the challenge.

I had NO idea what I was doing. I looked up training plans on google and landed on good ‘ol Hal Higdon. I followed that plan to a “T.”

I toed the line in downtown GR (Grand Rapids) on a chilly October morning to run my first marathon. I had no idea how important nutrition and hydration were and took only 2 gels and zero water!!

I got a little too confident around mile 10 and my pace went below 7:00. It wasn’t long after that that I hit “the wall.” I was really struggling around mile 16! I had so much lactic acid built up in my entire body.

I was on the verge of walking and this guy came up to pass me and said “you’ve got to slow your breathing down, you’ve got this! Keep going.” And I did.

I remember rounding the corner in GR and hearing my Dad’s loud yell and seeing my whole family…instant tears! I ended up finishing in 3:24 which was a BQ (Boston Qualifier) by 11 minutes!!! I remember crossing the line and saying to myself “I’m never doing that again!”

What advice do you have for someone thinking about getting involved in running?

“Advice for people wanting to get into running: it’s hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. BUT it’s so worth it. Give yourself grace and build slowly. You can’t go out and bust out 5 miles if you’ve never run before. Focus on YOU and what success looks like to you.

Don’t play the compare game. That will defeat you every time. Start small with run/walks, then slowly increase the time you spend running and decrease the time spent walking. You’ll be able to slowly build up your endurance and go farther and farther.

Find a friend or a running club. It’s so much easier with a friend. I spent a lot of my 25 years running alone. Now I’m part of a team and have a best friend that runs with me and it’s so much better!!

Amber, how do you juggle mom life, wife life, and running life?

“Oh man, juggling it all is so hard! I make it work because running is my outlet and I can be a much better wife and mother after a good run!

I have a strict bedtime to ensure I get 7-8 hours of sleep and then get up in the morning and get it done before anyone else wakes up.

This does make it tricky to be a good wife because by the time the kids are in bed, we have maybe an hour to spend together, but we just make the best of that time and try to be as purposeful as possible with what time we do get!

There’s definitely mornings I choose to sleep in, but then I run out of time after work to get it in because I may still be charting or having sports to get to!

We all have to choose our “hard” cause let’s face it, life is hard. It’s hard to wake up at 5am to run, but it’s also hard to wake up and be cranky because you slept in. You have to choose your hard.”

So we’ve learned about making time for “mom-ing” and “wife-ing”, how do you carve out time to grow in your faith?

“I carve out time every night (no matter how exhausted I am) to get into my Bible. Right now I’m actually reading “Imagine Heaven” by John Burke. Ending my day with God helps me get a peaceful sleep.

I also volunteer at my church several Sundays a month in the kiddos room and absolutely love sharing Jesus with them!

While we do have to, “choose our hard”, choosing to vote for Amber is easy. Would you join me in helping Amber make it one step closer to winning the title of “Ms. Health and Fitness 2024”?

Cast your vote here.

Choose your hard. Go make a difference. Always Run By Faith.

For more encouragement, and updates on Amber, I’d love for you to “subscribe and follow”.

Life Is More Than Fitness

In my last blog, I shared that Amber, a West Michigan Mom and Wife, was up for the title of, “Ms. Heath and Fitness 2024”. Well, the first round has come to an end, and SHE MADE IT THROUGH!

I had to find out more from Amber, and get her thoughts about this process. I asked, “Tell me more about your emotions leading up to the first round?”

I was nervous for the competition to start. I honestly wasn’t sure if it was “legit” or not and didn’t truly think I had a chance. Until I started sharing….then I saw the amazing support of all of my friends and family. I felt like my story caught fire and I felt overwhelmed with love and gratitude!

So, once I saw that Amber made it to round 2, I had to ask, “What was your reaction?”

I was so excited to see I made it to round 2! I started thinking “maybe I CAN do this!” And I was filled with a drive to keep this fire burning and sharing my story with others!

So, how is Amber feeling about round 2?

I’m feeling good about round 2! I’ve held my 1st place position all the way through. I get a bit nervous that the new will wear off and people will forget about it and stop voting. So I’ve been trying to keep posting daily as a reminder and to keep the excitement alive!!

But life is more than making it to the next round of Ms. Health and Fitness 2024. For Amber, she has a higher calling as a Hospice Nurse.

In nursing school, the focus of care was always on saving the person at all costs and I feel like that’s the goal in medicine as a whole in our society.

What we fail to realize sometimes is that everyone dies. There is a 100% mortality rate in life, and no matter how hard we try or what measures we go to to save someone, if it’s their time to go, it’s their time to go.

We cling so tightly to this life and often forget that this is on a blip on the radar of what God promises is to come. So, coming out of nursing school and working in the hospital, I found myself with a lot of anxiety. There was so much pressure to make sure we were doing everything we could to make people better or to save their life.

A lot of times I found myself going to extreme measures to try to save someone even though I knew deep down that what they had was incurable.

Death is generally viewed as “tragic”, or as a “failure” in the world of medicine. But the fact of the matter is, people die every day, and not one person makes it out of this life “alive.”

This all became personal in February 2014 when I sat by the hospital bed of my grandfather who had been fighting stage IV lung cancer.

He was admitted to the ICU after having a heart attack and deciding not to receive treatment. He was struggling so hard to breathe and was placed on BiPap (one level below a ventilator).

We kept trying to bribe him to drink his ensure, or to eat “just a little more” so he could regain his strength. Our entire family was there in support of him. Deep down I knew that we weren’t going to save him.

Thankfully, my grandfather had a deep love for Jesus that he instilled in all of his children and grandchildren. When the time came, I got to be the one to ask him “do you want to go on the ventilator for a few days to see if your lungs can get rested? Or do you want to go home and be with Jesus?” His answer was immediate and clear as day “I want to go home.”

Of course we weren’t ready to say goodbye, but we were able to bring in his dog from home so he could pet her one last time and we were all there holding his hand and talking to him as he took his last breath here and opened his eyes at heaven’s gate.

This was the first major loss I have experienced in my life and it shook me to my core. My best friend and hero was gone. It took me a few years, but I felt God tugging at my heart to pursue a career in hospice.

I found an opening for a position and decided to apply and leave the rest in God’s hands. 30 minutes later, I received a call and scheduled an interview at 8am the next morning. Within 2 days I had been offered and accepted a position as a hospice nurse.

I was so nervous. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with my role as a hospice nurse. I realized these families and patients rely heavily on the knowledge and support of their hospice team.

I was finally able to work in a job that allowed me to pray with my patients, openly discuss my faith, and journey with folks at the end of life.

Death really can be a “beautiful” thing. People often say “I don’t know how you can do it.” And honestly, if it weren’t for my faith that this life isn’t “it” and the extra strength I receive daily from God, I wouldn’t be able to.

Some situations are just downright unfair. but, God doesn’t promise us a “fair” life without hardships. He promises that he will walk with us through whatever comes our way. When we shift our eyes to heaven, the things of this life grow dim.

I did step away from hospice for a couple years during the pandemic, but never found the same satisfaction I got from being a hospice nurse. I returned to hospice this February and my cup is full. I can’t imagine doing anything else as a nurse, as being a hospice nurse is the greatest honor of my life.

If that doesn’t convince you that Amber is more than just a “fitness lover”, I’m not sure what else will.

I’m continuing to cast my vote for Amber for Ms. Health and Fitness 2024. Will you join me in voting?

Life is more than fitness. Go make a difference. Always run by faith.

West Michigan Woman Up For “Ms. Health And Fitness 2024”

Do you know someone “famous”? In West Michigan, fame is kind of a big deal. You can be “famous” being on the radio. You can be “famous” as a teacher. You can be “famous” as a “brew meister”. But there’s one West Michigan Mom, and wife, who wants to use her fame to share her story you.

Amber, a West Michigan Mom, and wife, is up for the title of “Ms. Health and Fitness 2024”. How cool is that? If Amber wins, she’s not only awarded that incredible title, but she’ll walk away with $20,000.

Amber is about more than just fitness, she’s about health and faith.

I take pride in my fitness and try to honor God with my body. I want to stay healthy for as long as I can! Sure, I have the occasional “treats” (several times a week) but for the most part I’m very conscious about what goes into my body!

I try to think of food as FUEL and keep a healthy relationship with it. My running is my time with God. I start every run with a prayer, thanking God for another day, the ability to run, and for his guidance and my safety. I realize that not many people can run the way I do, so I try to take time daily to thank him for it. I want my kids to grow up seeing what “healthy” looks like and how important it is to keep your body moving! We’ve become pretty lazy as a society with drive through restaurants, grocery delivery, etc. you have to be much more intentional these days to keep your body moving. I also want to be an example for other young girls that they don’t have to look a certain way to be healthy. Muscles are healthy! I strive to be strong, not skinny! Let me know if you’d like anything else!

There is a lot you can do with $20,000, but what is Amber planning to do with her winnings?

I would donate a large portion to my racing team (team StellaFly) and also to local road races in my town of Grand Rapids, MI.

How amazing is that? I encourage you to vote for Amber TODAY! I would love to see the prize of, “Ms. Health and Fitness 2024” given to a woman who wants to honor God, and West Michigan, with more than just a title to her name.

Vote here: https://mshealthandfit.com/2024/amber-powell

Represent your title well. Go make a difference. Always run by faith.

April 8 Changed Me

Have you ever tried to share with someone, something that you saw, or experienced, and you just couldn’t find the right words? No matter how many ways you try to describe or share it, words simply fall short.

Think about what we witnessed on April 8, 2024; the Solar Eclipse. It was simply stunning! My kids drove 4 hours to see the sun in 100% coverage. They actually experienced total darkness. They were part of something that was hard to describe. As much as I watched their videos, and looked at their pictures, it just couldn’t tell the entire story. Yet, each of them, who shared in the experience together, fully understood.

Sometimes I feel the same way with prayer. I will pray about something, and I just cannot put it into words. But, here’s the good news, like the people who had a “shared experience” in watching the Eclipse, they 100% understand some of the things that could not be put into words. Someone shares a story, and the others nod their head because while it cannot be put into words, they understand.

God also understands when we cannot put something into words. God understands our hearts and thoughts through the Holy Spirit.

All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.

Romans 8:27 Contemporary English Version

I love that we don’t need flowery words to chat with God. He already knows our hearts. He’s longing for shared experiences with Him.

Share with God. Go make a difference. Always run by faith!

If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to share this, and subscribe, to pour more encouragement into your life. -Tommy

I’ve Never Seen This While Running Through The Neighborhood

In the many years that I’ve spent running, I’ve seen a lot. From skunks to pets. Snow shovels to Sun bathers. But today was different. I saw a mistake. A mistake that got me thinking about life.

It happened in someone’s freshly mowed lawn. Probably the first cut of the season. Let me show you.

Did you see it? Look again, in the upper left-hand corner of the picture. See it now? A little line of grass that didn’t get mowed. I’m sure at the time it wasn’t a big deal. But, now that the lawn is growing again, you can’t un-see it. Let me zoom out and show you what I mean.

Crazy, huh? It’s only about 2% of the entire lawn, but it sure sticks out!

I often find that the little things that seem like ‘oh that’s just a small thing’, add up quickly. You know, a little carelessness here, a little ‘eh it’s no big deal’ there, and over time, and like the lawn, it sticks out!

The life of Solomon is a great example. A man loved by God, who began to make small compromises here and there over his lifetime. God wanted His people to fully rely on Him. Solomon made his own decision to get a little help for the battle. So, he imported some horses. No biggie, right? Well, eventually, over time, those horses led to murder. Devastating.

It got me thinking of the little ‘blades of grass’ in my life that are ‘overlooked’ and need to be trimmed. It might just be 2% of the things in my life, but, if they’re not trimmed properly, will really stand out.

Trim often. Go make a difference. Always run by faith!