Happy New Year

I love celebrating the new year! A new year resembles a new beginning. The old has gone and made a way for better things. It doesn't matter what you did or did not do last year. This year is not meant for you to have a do-over, it's meant for you to have a fresh start! I thank God because His mercy is new everyday. He's not concerned with what you did yesterday. He wants to meet you exactly where you are today, and He wants to take you places you've never been before. He wants you to have a fresh start! God wants you to be whole or as I like to call it, Fit - Mind, Body & Spirit! :) He didn't create us for mediocrity. He created us for greatness! 

We each have a unique fingerprint. Do you think that's a coincidence? Absolutely Not! God designed us a certain way for a reason. We are all gifted in different ways. Give yourself the opportunity to discover who God created you to be. Stretch yourself in ways you never thought you could. Challenge your mind and your body. It's in the midst of those challenges that you begin discovering your true potential. And guess what? It's never ending! :) Every day is a new day and with each day comes new opportunities and adventures. Embrace the journey! 

May the best of your days be the rest of your days. Wishing everyone a Happy & Prosperous New Year.... Cheers to 2015! :-)

Love,

An Athlete On A Mission 

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Merry Christmas

God's way of gauging success is very different than our way. God is not concerned about the career you have, the title you hold, or the possessions you own. He's simply concerned about YOU! God wants to know you and he wants your life to bear fruit. He doesn't call us to be busy, he wants us to be fruitful. Living a fruitful life pleases God. 

Unfortunately, there are many hurting people in the world. People that live without a purpose,  people that can't seem to find their way or feel like they've lost their way. The good news is "there is a way" and his name is Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! By choosing to follow Jesus you choose life and your life takes on an entirely different meaning.  Your path becomes brighter and your eyes are open to matters you may have been insensitive about in the past. 

This holiday season I pray that you are able to find "the way".... and the true meaning of Christmas! :-)  

 Love, 

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission 

Isaiah 9:6 ~ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

A Purpose-Filled Life

According to Dr. Myles Munroe, the greatest tragedy in life is not death, it's life without a purpose. Every human was created by God to live life with meaning and purpose. We were not created just to make a living. We were created for more! But until we discover our purpose, we will never be fulfilled. He further goes on to explain that the source of all human behavior lies in these 5 questions...
1) Who am I? (Identity)
2) Where am I from? (Source)
3) Why am I here? (Purpose)
4) What can I do? (Potential)
5) Where am I going? (Destiny)


Do you know why you are here? The most important question in life is "Why"? Why = Purpose. We were not born as an experiment. God does nothing without a purpose and knowing our purpose begins by knowing our creator. Wanting to know our creator is the beginning of a purpose-filled life. Do you know your creator? 

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission

Proverbs 19:21 ~ Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lord's purposes that prevail. 

Photo Credit: Cristhina Danies

Who Is A Missionary?

Meet Lacy Beach, a 19 year old Southern Belle from North Carolina. Lacy and I met while studying at the Miami Leadership Institute (MLI). From the first day I met her, I knew she was different. This girl loved God and Loved People. It was evident to me that she had a huge calling on her life. Though she never thought she'd be leaving her Southern way of life to move to a fast paced city like Miami, she did. She knew that's where The Lord wanted her to go. It was a tough decision to make, but she was ready. Ready to grow and learn outside of daily Sweet Tea, a slow-paced culture, quaint coffee shops, her big backyard, and the closeness of family. Her time for more had come!

Fast forward a year, Lacy Beach took another leap of faith and traveled to Cambodia. While in Cambodia, Lacy has been working alongside Cambodian Care (a non-profit organization) building a school in the slums called "Light of Future School." The children that will attend this school have never had an opportunity to receive an education. But now they do! And they are so excited about starting school that they have helped build the school themselves (see pictures below); over 200 children will begin school this month. All of this is possible thanks to the vision and leadership of Cambodian Care along with Lacy Beach's obedience to God's calling on her life. 

You may not be called to a different state or country like Lacy Beach, but God surely has a calling on your life. He may be calling you to do something for your community or to support a local cause. Just be open to what God wants to do in your life. We all have a mission field; yours may be right in front of you. It could be a friend, a family member, or a neighbor in need. Do not miss out on those opportunities God places before you. Strive to be a people builder because how you make others feel says a lot about you.

So the question is, "who is a missionary?" You, Me, Us. We are missionaries! God doesn't call the qualified; he qualifies the called. 

 Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission 

Proverbs 16:3 ~ Commit to The Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

Mind Over Matter

For those of you that know me well, you know I hated running! I actually made fun of people that woke up at 5am on the weekend to run. In my mind, "those people" (as I called them) didn't have a social life! I'm sure many of you non-runners can relate. 

 Then along came my dear friend, Mitzi Espino. Mitzi spoke to me about something called the "Color Run." For those of you unfamiliar with what that is, it's a 5k (3.1 mile) race where people dress up in all sorts of bright colored costumes, run around a park for 3 miles, while music is blaring and colored powder is being dumped all over them. Hence the name: the "Color Run" aka the happiest 5k on the planet. I told her, "I don't run!" But, because this sounds more like a party than a run, I'll do it! Little did I know, that was the beginning of a year full of so called "fun runs." 

The runs ranged from 5k's, to mud runs, to obstacle course races. Hey.... it was all in the name of fun and to support fundraisers, so I thought. 

The ultimate challenge came when again, my dear friend Mitzi, came up with another bright idea! "Let's sign up for a half marathon training program" she said. My reply, "you're crazy..... I can barely run 3 miles and you're asking me to run 13.1 miles?!?!" But guess what happened??? I signed up! :) LOL 

I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I determined to give it a try. Four months later, and a lot of 5am runs into it, I was able to complete a half marathon (13.1 miles). A year later, I ran a full marathon (26.2 miles). How did I do it you wonder.... I changed my mindset. My frame of thought went from "I hate running" to "I'm going to try my best" to " I can't believe I just ran a marathon!" 

But I could not have accomplished this alone. I had friends who challenged me, encouraged me, and coaches who guided me along the way. 

My advice to you today is: surround yourself with people who build you up, believe in you, and propel you forward into a greater destiny. 

Love, 

Jeanette,
An Athlete On A Mission

  Proverbs 13:20 ~ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 

Baby Steps

  In life sometimes we are faced with certain obstacles. At times there are so many of them coming at you at once, that it seems unbearable. I was faced with some of these unbearable circumstances a few years ago. I just couldn't seem to figure out how I was going to overcome them. That's when I realized I wasn't supposed to figure it all out alone. It took an overwhelming amount of weight placed on my back for me to discover I needed help! That's when I invited God into my life. That strong, independent girl that thought she had it all figured out needed someone to step in and take over. 

  I still wasn't sure how my problems were going to be solved, but I figured I had to begin by taking baby steps. I began by reevaluating my priorities in life. I decided to shift things around a bit. My new priorities became my Faith, my Family, and Fitness. I knew that in order for me to truly be that strong woman God created me to be, I had to be strong mind, body, and spirit. To me these things became all encompassing; I could not have one without the other. They were a package deal! I can honestly tell you that this has been by far one of the best decisions I've made. I encourage you to take time out today to reevaluate your priorities. It all starts by taking a few baby steps..... 

Love,

Jeanette 
An Athlete On A Mission 

  Hebrews 12:1-2 ~ Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.