"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." 1 Corinthians 15:10

I have been perceived by many people as being a strong person, and nothing could be farther from the truth. I am very fragile emotionally, and have many weaknesses. I truly am totally dependent on the God I serve. He enables me to be and do so much more than I am. I declare with Paul I am what I am but by the grace of God, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, as I have chosen to labor diligently in pursuing my relationship with Him above all others, yet not I, but the grace of God in me.

This was never more evident than this week when I went to run the Annual Bear Run at Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC which kicks off the Grayson Highland Games. I had missed it last year due to a broken tibia and doing major damage to my hyper extended knee while running a mud run last June. This year I picked up a virus which continued to get worse putting me in a doctor"s office Tuesday morning before the Thursday of the Bear. However, I had been praying and began a z pack, and on Wednesday morning I awoke to feeling some improvement! So I called and rescheduled the clients I had canceled on Tuesday. This means I did a personal training session with machines in the gym, ran a very hot 3 mile run midday on Beaver Dam Trail, did a round of weights and rested a couple hours and returned to work on New River Trail to run another three miles on New River Trail with the last client of the day. Only those who are of close acquaintance realizes how unrealistic that day was without divine intervention. This made me believe because of the God I serve the Bear wasn’t out after all. If God’s grace brought me this far I believed He would get me up Grandfather Mountain!

There are many reasons I love this race. The first time I ran it was with all my children in 1999, and to my knowledge they were the first children to run it. The spectacular views on top every July are something to behold and never the same. The rhododendrons are always peaking, and running through Max Meadows with Celtic bands playing, and all the clans enthusiastically high fiving everyone are other great highlights. Then the real ascent begins with those last two miles being the steepest in elevation out of the 1,541 ft climb within five miles.

So on Thursday morning I did a water session with a client, and went home to rest feeling very weak and anxious about attempting the Bear. However I left that afternoon driving in thunderstorms all the way to Linville. The race began promptly at 7:00 pm. I always have to rely on the Lord’s strength, but this time I related to Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on water. In my 62 years of living I have learned not to be dictated by feelings and circumstances. God has continuously made be more than I am in every aspect of my life. In my weaknesses He has proven strong when I allow Him to. He can never show Himself strong until we trust Him for the impossible. He makes the impossible – possible.

I ran the first three miles totally within the realm of the Holy Spirit, because this was one time I had nothing extra in my flesh. I locked into a "rest" running in a strong cadence my first three miles astounded at how easy it was totally resting in Him. After completing the run through Max Meadows at three miles I began to weaken climbing the last couple miles. My pace slowed, but I topped the mountain completing my run, so thankful I had not been robbed of this triumph through mercy and grace.

What are you facing that seems impossible for you today? May I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and allow Him to perfect His power in you through your weaknesses?

But He said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."( 2 Cor 12:9)

Please join Paul and myself in allowing His grace to make you all He intended you to be for His glory.
In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

276-237-6680

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God’ and their expense is declaring the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1

This was true more ways than one upon Grandfather Mountain July 11, 2019!

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