I still hate running

Yeah, I said it.  Again.  And I mean it.  But, I am going grit through it if it kills me.  If there is one thing I lack in my athletic/CrossFit game it's endurance.  I'm strong, and I have heart like no one's business.  But keeping the butt-whoopin' speed I start with is an area of concern.  "Make friends with your weaknesses, then beat them to death".  I cannot quote that enough.  Today I ran for 25 minutes working between sprinting and "jogging".  I quote "jogging" because I was once told that real men don't jog, they run.  So I sprinted and ran, I did not jog.  I would also like to say that life's business is kicking Marka and I in the teeth, pray for us.  We need more strength than we can muster and that's only going to happen through the strength of God.

Devo

Exodus 1:11-14:
11So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.  13So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. 14They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.

The Egyptians tried to wear down the Israelites by forcing them into slavery and mistreating them. Instead, the Israelites multiplied and grew stronger. We go through times in our lives when we are burdened or mistreated, and we may feel defeated. But our burdens can make us stronger and can develop qualities in us that will prepare us for the future. We cannot be overcomers without troubles to overcome. Be true to God in the hard times because even the worst situations can make us better people.  This is true of where Marka and I find ourselves at current; not enough day at the end of the day.  Between running 2 ministries, a business, a household, and 2 young kids, we are barely treading water and feel like there is no end in sight.  But, we know that God provides and He made us strong people and had the foresight to put her and I together so I am confident we will make it.  The cool thing is that in all of this, the Isrealites trusted God and leaned on them in their time of heavy burden.  Funny how later, Jesus looks at His people and tells them "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).  He is saying in that moment what God had told His people in Egypt; trust Me and I will get you through this and give you rest on the other side.