Week 1 🙌🏻💯 || 100MileMonday

I am so very excited!!🙌🏻 With nearly 4,000 participants, we have officially made it to the largest Spring100 to date. It is my hope and prayer that this challenge will bless each one of you! Today is our very first 2024 100MileMonday post. These posts will include a weekly Spring100 Devotional and our fun weekly Photo recap from Spring100ers across the world! To everyone who sent in photos, thank you for being a faithful participant. Hundreds of photos were received and I wish I could share all of them. Keep on taking pictures of your Spring100 walk and sending them for a chance to be featured in the 100MileMonday posts! Remember, there is still time to Sign Up and join the challenge. Registration closes on April 8th, 2024. Please continue to share the Spring100 with friends and family!!

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The Race Set Before Us!

Mr Trent Moody || Week 1 Spring100 Devotional

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

As we begin our Spring 100, one main thing is needed to complete our goal of 100 miles—  endurance.  What I like about the Spring 100 is that it is not a sprint but a long race that we each run at a different pace.  One meaning of the word Endurance in the Strongs dictionary is cheerful (or hopeful) endurance.  This is the true mark of Christian endurance; that no matter the circumstances, we can be cheerful and hopeful in our race set before us.  

The Spring 100 is simply a physical walk, but there are many comparisons to our spiritual walk of faith.  In Hebrews 12:1 the writer is encouraging us in our walk, because there are challenges along the way that can slow us down and stymie our progress.  I have learned that when we are given strong encouragements in the Bible, it is because there are dangerous temptations and trials that can discourage us.  God gives us encouragements to lift us over any challenges along the way.  

The first encouragement is that we are not in this race alone.  Not only are we joined by countless others presently in this race, but there is “a great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before and faithfully endured to the end. This is a reason for hopeful endurance— others have completed the race. 

The second encouragement is an exhortation, “let us lay aside every weight…”.  You may be the type of person who only sees the “weight” at the end of this phrase, but I want to encourage you to see the opportunity and the Christ-endowed ability that He has given us to “lay [it] aside”.  You are not hopeless in this race but you have been endowed by God to put off the old man and be clothed with the new man.  This weight is not necessarily a sin.  I believe the weight could even be a good or seemingly indifferent thing that has taken the wrong place in your life.  I encourage you to take an assessment of your life, and all that fills up your days, and lay aside every weight that is hindering your race. 

The third and final encouragement in this verse is that you lay aside “…the sin which so easily ensnares us…”.  There is no doubt that we all have sin, and I believe that each of us has at least one that so easily ensnares us.  I want to encourage you to lay it aside today (i.e. repent of that sin specifically).  You cannot run your race with endurance, cheerful and hopeful endurance, while being weighed down with sin.  But here is the good news in the words of a most beloved hymn:

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more; 
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

This is the true race set before us—now run with endurance!

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QUESTION!! Let’s warm up the comment section and get to know each other!! Leave a comment letting us know how many years you’ve walked the Spring100 and what state/country you’re walking in. 🙋🏼‍♀️ COMMENT NOW!

Don’t forget! These posts are made possible by YOU!! Your photo submissions and comments make these posts extremely fun and my job of putting them together super easy. Thank you! So with that being said, don’t leave without commenting and remember to send in your Spring100 walking/running photos for a chance to be featured in next week’s post. Thank you!

“Love walking with my siblings! The spring weather and colors have been beautiful!” Hannah Reed 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Great seeing you back for another year, Hannah!

Matthew G. checking in for week 1 and Sarah K. says, “Happy first day of spring!! I’m excited to be doing Spring100 together”🙌🏻 So happy to have you join the Spring100!

“I took a long snowy walk the other day! It was so beautiful!” Bethany M. – Welcome back for another Spring100, Bethany!!❄️

Becca & Lucy, So excited to be doing this challenge again + Nathan S. grabbing an early morning Sp100 walk for week 1!! 👏🏼

Kathryn S. and cute crew enjoying a Puddle walk for week 1 of the Spring100!!🌧 So glad to have you all back.☺️

“Hello from the Bartel family in Kansas! This is Colton walking on our first day of Spring100. We are definitely enjoying the challenge together! :)” Bartel Family. — “Had a fun walk with the Ford ladies! Great way to start off Spring 100!” Lydia C. 💯

“Kicking off our Spring 100 miles by hiking 12.5+ miles in the Smoky mountains as a family!” WAY TO GO!!🙌🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️

“Enjoying our southern Wisconsin spring ;)” Susan F. Fabulous photos for week 1!! 🙌🏻❄️

“Enjoying a spring 100 walk while it was snowing.” So happy to have the Wilkes + Fuhrmann ladies back for another Spring100!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Lydia enjoyed grabbing her Spring100 walk while exploring a beautiful State park for week 1!👏🏼

“My siblings and I are so excited about Spring100!! We enjoyed a 4.5 mile walk on the Buffalo Trail to celebrate the first day of Spring100!” Victoria F. 🙋🏼‍♀️👏🏼

Moore family joining the fun for week 1 of the Spring100! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Snowy Spring walk!! Welcome to the Spring100. 🙋🏼‍♀️

“Got outside this morning and enjoyed our time together ☺” Julie B.

Welcoming Andrew S. to the 2024 Spring100!! 🏃🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♀️

Such fun walking photos submitted by Heather H.! Good to see you join the Spring100 challenge. 👏🏼

“Thanking the Lord for my family on this beautiful first day of Spring!” Sarah B. 🌸💯

“Day 1 – morning walk in the brisk air. So refreshing!” Mary R. — “Day one accomplished!! It was cool, but a beautiful day for walking! 🌞🌸” Sarah B.

Such a fun walking group!! Welcoming you to the Spring100.🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“First of many! 💪🏻” Pearl S. — Rachel and Suzy T on our first Spring100 walk in beautiful north Alabama!

“Getting our first few miles in🤩” Susanna + Jon D.🙌🏻

Great photos. 👏🏼Welcoming you all to the 2024 Spring100!

“Three muddy dogs and 1.1 miles later, I’ve finished Spring 100 Day 1 in PEI! My three Border Collies couldn’t care less about savoring the moment with a group shot before we started off. They were off like rockets after I snapped this, tearing down the fields far ahead of me. (:” Hannah S.

S siblings enjoying a walk on a windy day!! — “What tornado watch 🤷🏼 hubby and I taking an evening walk” Jenifer K.

Welcoming these ladies to the Spring100! Such a fabulous photo for week 1.🏃🏼‍♀️💗

Welcoming these Spring100ers!! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“And were off! Excited about starting the 2024 Spring 100!!” Welcome back, Barnes family!!👏🏼🙌🏻

“Day 1 ✅ 1.5 miles in for the start!” Amy B — “2miles done! Great first day! Perfect weather here in Wyoming!” Elizabeth P.

“Fun but cold walk with my mom and neighbor!” Anna D. So glad to have you back, Anna!! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Welcoming these Spring100ers to this year’s Challenge!! So good to have you all. 🙋🏼‍♀️👏🏼

The Silvey family enjoying their first Spring100 walk together! So happy to see you all back for another Spring100!! 👏🏼💯

“Hiked the trail along the Castor River Shut Ins. Beautiful area!!” Bonnie O.🙌🏻

“We love seeing the cows on our road as we get in our daily exercise! 🤍” Caitlin and Matthew N

Welcoming Clara R.!🙋🏼‍♀️ — “The temperature is not so “springy” here in Ohio, but the kids are committed to the Spring100 challenge!” Darlene A. 🙌🏻

“The Youngblood family kicking off the 2024 Spring 100 with a walk at Gibbs Gardens.” 🙌🏻

Keilah G. checking in for week 1 and Kristin T. says, “Checking in from Pittsburgh, PA!”🙋🏼‍♀️

“Enjoyed kicking off Spring100 with my mom and dog.” Lisa W. 🐶💯

“Buckley Bunch begins the Spring100 Challenge!” — “Angela and Rebekah on our first Spring 100 walk.”🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️

“Beautiful clouds on this first day of spring.” Lori and Alexa🌤

“Ginger might be getting gray, but she is energetic enough to keep me company on my walks” Linda O. — “My dog, Mozzarella, and I stopped to take a photo in front of some beautiful Texas bluebonnets.” Michelle J. 💯

So happy to have this sweet family back! Enjoying country walks and time with their Grandma for the first week of Spring100.🙌🏻

“Enjoying our second Spring 100 walk!” Elisabeth M. So glad to have y’all! 😄💯

“Not quite Spring yet in ND. Still getting it done!” JoAnn H. — Welcoming these Spring100ers!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

“So excited to be back for Spring100!” Avery F. 🙌🏻

Welcoming Anna L. and Cindy J. to the challenge!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Spring100 walks are always sweeter with friends! Enjoying a beautiful morning Spring100 walk with Kathryn D.🙌🏻💗

“Even in an office you can find a way to walk your miles!” Katie T.– “Emily is still putting in the miles even with a broken ankle.” Nancy B. LOVE the dedication!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Welcome back for another Spring100, Victoria!! 🌸☺️

A hearty welcome to these Spring100ers!! Great photos.🙌🏻💯

Happy to have the Hurlin Family here for the 2024 Spring100!🙋🏼‍♀️

“Had a great first day of walking for Spring100! Even baby Heidi was along for the ride in the stroller :)” Carey C– Welcome Christopher L!!🙋🏼‍♀️

Such a gorgeous view for a Spring100 walk!! Glad to have these two joining for the challenge. 🤩

I’ve enjoyed grabbing an evening Spring100 walk with my sister Bekah for the first week of Spring100. 💗 Such a great start to the challenge!! Week 1 is complete. Let’s press forward and conquer week 2 in His strength!! 🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”Hebrews 12:1-2