I am truly excited today for you to meet my new friend Wendie. She is in a word - inspirational. She dares you to dream bigger, pusher farther and go deeper with God. This weekend I will get to hug her neck in person for the first time at the Refine Conference. We'd love to have you join us and there's still time - http://therefineconference.com/ for details!
______________________
by Wendie Pett
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when
you run, you will not stumble.
Proverbs 4:12
I run, because I have to.
 |
| WendiePett.com |
Or so it goes for those who
live to run. As a fitness expert, however, I must admit that there are things
I’d much rather do for exercise than run. But run I do, and for a number of
reasons — the excellent cardio rewards, an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors,
and that lasting sense of accomplishment that stays with me throughout the day.
More importantly for me,
however, is running provides as much time as I want to silently pray and listen
to God. How often we pass through life without a thought Heavenward. The One
who created us runs alongside us, every determined step of the way. Removed
from phone, doorbell, TV, and the Internet, I am able to carve out a niche of
time not only to hear from Him, but to experience His presence in the solitude
of nature.
On more than a few occasions,
I’ve found myself reaching out to pluck a lonely leaf simply to appreciate
holding something completely God-made. Stretching my calves as I lean against a
tree, I marvel at how the Lord thought ahead in ensuring we had everything we
would need in this world. Trees, for instance, were created not only for
ascetic appeal, but to construct houses, furniture, buildings, and to serve as
a source of energy. I can’t help marveling at the Lord’s forethought in
creating us for His purposes too.
While God never said this
life would be easy, He did provide us with enduring families, friends, and
mentors to help navigate our paths. Years ago, my own path appeared ideal at
first glance: a promising career in
sales and marketing for a publishing company, followed by authoring my own book
on fitness - the result of a tragic snowmobile accident that, in the end,
equipped me to help others realize that their bodies are their gym and they’re
self-healing if utilized properly.
The path I’d created would
take a devastating turn for me in the years to come, however, when I lost my
job, my company car, a steady income and even my home. Negativity pecked loudly
at my heart. It was then that I forced myself to take a leap of faith and
follow a new direction – one I’d prayed about and I felt certain was divinely
orchestrated. Seven years later, God has continued to clear the path set before
me, both on the running trail and in the running of my Visibly Fit™ business –
in hosting a national TV show, speaking engagements, books, articles, radio
spots, and popular fitness DVDs.
Whether we are running from
something or desperately chasing the purpose for our lives, traversing a path
alongside our Heavenly Father affords a pace that allows us to see the finish
line He has envisioned. Faith-filled determination will get us there, and
gratitude and thankfulness will be our rewards. Lace up those running shoes and
be prepared to cross a magnificent finish line. Your name is on His banner.
__________________________________
WENDIE
PETT is a nationally renowned fitness expert and coach, mother, speaker, author
and creator of the Visibly Fit™ exercise program. Her many Visibly Fit™ instructional DVDs teach wellness maximization
through the balance of mind, body, and spirit as well how to use your body as
your gym To learn more about Wendie and her program visit - www.wendiepett.com.
