Ladies and gentlemen, we are just 31 days away from the finish of the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!! 👏🏼🙌🏻 Wow, this is almost unbelievable… We are rounding the corner and nearing the finish line! So many fellow Spring100ers have finished and are waiting to see us there. In God’s strength, YOU GOT THIS!!! Don’t give up. Let’s finish strong!! 💪🏼

Miles for Maleiah update:

To all those who participated in Miles for Maleiah, THANK YOU! I am filled with gratitude by how many dedicated themselves to get out and grab a mile(s) on her behalf!

315 Spring100ers worldwide Donated Miles to Maleiah!
Total Miles walked on behalf of Maleiah: 701.16

Spring100 Devotional

The Joy Set Before Us

Mr Wesley Strackbein || Week 9

Running the race of life will involve hard days that are difficult to bear. And if we fail to look past our immediate distress, we will be prone to falter and lose heart.

What’s the remedy? Look to “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

The joy set before Christ compelled Him to bear the sins of the world and to scorn His shameful death on Calvary. By persevering through the greatest pain any man has ever borne, he received the joyous inheritance of saving sinners unto Himself and being exalted to sit at His Father’s right hand in heaven (Heb. 1:3; 12:2).

This future joy was no fluke; it was prophesied of Christ in the Psalms:

You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy; (Ps. 16:10-11)

This fullness of joy was not only promised to Christ; it will be our inheritance as well if we run our race in faith (Heb. 11:6), “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).

This truth should embolden us to endure hard things, for when we are weak, He is strong. When we’re tempted to despair, we can cling to Him and rejoice:

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. (Ps 42:11) 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

No matter what trials confront us, let us look to Christ, with joy, and persevere.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25) 

LEAVE A NOTE! Let’s take a moment to leave a note for Maleiah!! Cheer her on in her recovery and, if the Lord puts one on your heart, share a scripture verse to encourage Maleiah!

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!

“Local “Miles for Maleiah” walk. We were a group of 26 (20 of which were Spring100ers). We walked 3 miles together, with various ones pushing Maleiah’s wheelchair and carrying the banner. The LORD blessed us with a beautiful afternoon for the walk! God is so good!”

“The Tope family is praying for you, Maleiah!! Much, much love in Christ Jesus♥♥”Madeleine T. — “My mom and I are praying for you, Maleiah!” Lauren W.

Thank you Reed family for participating in Miles for Maleiah!!🙌🏻

“So happy to walk for a loving purpose today!” Darlene A —  Abigail Shipman with Sister Naomi grabbing miles for Maleiah!

“Feel better soon Maleiah!! We are praying for you. 💙” Madiosn B.

Thank you to Joyce, Spencer Spring, and Caroline for donating miles to Maleiah!!🙋🏼‍♀️

Mary B. Grabbing miles for Maleiah!!🙌🏻💯💝

“Praying for you, Maleiah!!” The Hicks Fam — Sarah R. checking in as she grabs a miles for Maleiah!👏🏼

“Praying for you, Maleiah! Keep fighting the good fight!” Lauren Pinney

THANK YOU, Abigail!!♥️

Abigail, Mary, Phebe A. blessing Maleiah with their miles!! THANK YOU ladies!!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Bethany C. conquering a mile for Maleiah! — “We are walking for Maleiah!! What a joy to be able to share one another’s burdens with our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ!!” Becky D. & Amanda L.

“Praying for you, Maleiah!  Love, Rebekah, Kathy, Jessica, Ruth and Cynthia”

Sarah B. grabbing miles for Maleiah!! — “God Bless Maleiah” David, Isaiah and Elijah S.🙌🏻

“Praying for you on your road to recovery, fellow Spring100er, Maleiah!” — Ruth out walking a mile for Maleiah!! 🙌🏻💯

“Beautiful evening to get in some more miles!” Sara C. ☀️💯

“Had some great walks down our county roads this week with friends and family!! The sunsets were amazing! The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork. Ps 19:1” Natilyn H.

“Enjoying walks with our adorable kittens!!!🐈” Carter W.

The Barnes family grabbing miles and checking in for week 9!! 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Part of the Silvey and Harbor families enjoying a walk at White Oak Lake state park in Arkansas.” John S.👏🏼

“Warming up to a weekend run and taking time to enjoy beautiful flowers along the way! Thanking the Lord for His goodness and the ability to tackle these miles in HIS strength! James 1:17🌺” Micah S.

“We got to see a beautiful rainbow on an evening walk. The light was so beautiful too!” Elisabeth M.😍🙌🏻

“Beautiful evening for a walk! 😁” Alyssa M. — “Enjoying my quiet time while getting in morning miles…almost to 100!” Tom Girotti👏🏼🙌🏻

“Spring 100 takes us to new heights. (: The fam went to PEI National Park for an evening beach stroll and we couldn’t resist scaling this rock for a break taking view.” Hannah S. 😄 Such a great photo!!

“100 miles down for both of us!” Holly & Hannah W.💯🎉 WAY TO GO!!!!!!!! — “Went on a lovely walk to our creek with a dear friend and our dog Zoe!” Rebekah R.

“William completed his Spring 100!” 🙌🏻💯🥳 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

“I visited my sister in MI, and we had some long walks on the pier and at the Holland windmill.” Sarah H.

“Getting miles in with my sisters and friend. <3” Hannah H.🙌🏻

“The earth is full of His glory!” Melinda C. ♥️👏🏼

Sonya M. and crew checking in for week 9!! 👏🏼💯

“Taking a walk with the little bros! 🥰” Peyton F.– “Enjoying a nice evening in Oregon! 😊” Bethany M.

“Getting to fellowship with these dear girls this week!” Hannah S. 🙋🏼‍♀️♥️

“Melody has been my faithful walking buddy this spring. Since she cant walk, she cruises alongside me in her pink Mercedes. 💗” Hannah T. — Rachelle A. and fury friends grabbing miles!👏🏼

“I enjoyed meeting up with fellow Spring 100 participants Grace and Hannah S. to walk together this week! The Lord is so good to give us sweet friends to encourage and be encouraged by. 😊🤍” Caitlin N.

“Walking with family when traveling for my sisters wedding!” Sarah P.

“Got straight out of bed to go on my walk this morning! Still a little sleepy, but it was so good to get out in Gods creation and spend time walking and praying 🙏 Also, I hit 50 miles today! 🙌 Halfway there!” Hannah R. 👏🏼😁 WAY TO GO, HANNAH!!!!

“Taking a hike through Ireland with my dad on his birthday! Im so grateful for his guidance and influence in my life and am so blessed to be his daughter!” Rachael E. — “Our first Spring 100 as Man and Wife! Its also Johns first official year doing it!” Rachel W.🙋🏼‍♀️👏🏼

“Meet up with my wife at the end of a run!” J Steve C.

“Crossed the finish line! Praise the Lord!!💯” Lydia L. — “I am excited to have completed my 100 miles!” Lynn S 💯🎉🎉 Way to go!!!

“Visiting our cows as I walk!” Elizabeth A. 🐮♥️

Jacob B. checking in for week 9 of the 2024 Spring100!! — “We love finding all kinds of places to explore and take our walks. Its one of our favorite things to do together and gives us lots of quality time together!” Mary R. 🙋🏼‍♀️

“Nathan hitting 100 miles at the top of Shadow Mountain. Suzy (5 mo) already hit 100 stroller and chest carrier miles a couple of weeks ago, so she slept through this hike :)” Rachel T. 👏🏼💯 WAY TO GO!!!

“Me, my Dad and my brother Elliot got to walk around the Site of the Ingalls dugout in Walnut Grove, Minnesota! It was a great experience to walk where Laura Ingalls Wilder would play around!” Joel Swaim

“A nice evening walk to wear off our evening ice cream treat on Mothers Day!” The Shell Family 🙋🏼‍♀️

“Enjoying the warm weather while getting some miles in!” Kristin T. — “I’m 36 weeks pregnant, and my goal was to walk all through my pregnancy, but Spring 100 has given me the extra motivation I need to continue as I get closer to the the end! This evening me and my husband went to a beautiful park to get some miles in.” Laura M. 🙏🏼🙌🏻 Praise the Lord!!

“Enjoying times with God and family!” Kristina W. ♥️💯

“Grabbed a few evening miles this week! And ran into more family Spring 100ers💪😁” Susanna DeL

“Becca & Lucy enjoying a walk on this beautiful evening!” Lucy W. 👏🏼🏃‍♀️

“Grabbing a mile with a friend on a hot day!!” Abby S. — “On my way to the top of a waterfall!” Michaela L. 💯👏🏼

“Hannah and I taking a walk after our Monday night children’s ministry. The sky was so blue” Faith L.

“Fun sister time with my youngest sister!” Elizabeth F. — “Walking when it’s 60 degrees and pouring us awesome!!!” Lizzie Reynolds 🌸🙋🏼‍♀️

“We’ve enjoyed the wildflowers we’ve seen on our walks this spring!” Hannah & Bethany G. 🙌🏻💯

“Getting my steps while exploring in Sweden!” Annalysa C. — “Hiking at Grand Ledge, Michigan. Beautiful formations.” Sonya M.

“Was fun getting some walking in with these people in of all places, St. Louis Missouri” Kristalyn S.👏🏼

“Walked up a small mountain and had a jolly dust fight. 🤣” Grace — “Getting some miles in at a local state park. So beautiful!” Jasen P.

“Having fun!! I picked some flowers along the way.” Faith Steves💯💐

“It has been great to walk with some family the last few days and pick wild flowers along the different local trails!” Faith K.😍 — “Getting in some miles with my nephews and niece 😁” Lillian M.

“Went for a Sunday afternoon walk this week with some friends and family!” Victoria F.

Maleiah, the Spring100 community is praying for you!! What a joy to walk on your behalf. So thankful for the Lord’s mercies in your life and looking forward to your full recovery. May the Lord give you grace and strength as you make your way toward full recovery!! 🙋🏼‍♀️♥️🙏🏼

This week’s post is brought to you by:

Forge Ministries

Forge Ministries is a Christian non-profit organization bringing conferences and events to Texas. This year’s conference is The Peace of God, which will take place on August 29-31 in Kerrville, Texas. It will be a wonderful weekend of encouraging messages, singing, and fellowship! Check out our website for more info!

A huge Thank you to FORGE Ministries for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

Week 8 of the 2024 Spring100 Challenge is complete!! 🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️ KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. With 38 days left in this 94-day challenge, there is still plenty of time to grab your miles and make it to the finish line!! Don’t give up, press forward. YOU GOT THIS!! 🙌🏻💯 We have some fun Mother’s Day photos and other great Spring100 walking pictures below. THANK YOU to everyone sending in photos. You make my job so much easier!!

FUN Spring100 Week 8 Facts:

Total Miles walked for the 2024 Spring100: 188,397.36
Spring100ers who have officially crossed the 2024 finish line: 439

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Hannah Williams

Spring100 Devotional

How to Run the Race with Endurance

Alexander Strauch || Week 8

This week I am doing something a little different. I was blessed to listen to Mr Stauch’s message in person and greatly encouraged by it! The theme fit perfectly with our weekly devotionals so I knew I had to share the recording. I hope and pray it is an encouragement to you!

QUESTION! How do you enjoy spending your Spring100 walks? Listening to Podcasts/sermons, talking with walking companions? Taking in the beauty of the great outdoors? Leave a comment below and let me know!!

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!

“We’re so thankful for a mother who loves the Lord and points us to His Word for everything. Happy Mother’s Day!! 😊” The Haab ladies

“So thankful for our mom!! Grateful for the wonderful example she is to us!♥ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her own works praise her in the gates. Prov 31:30-31” Natilyn H. — “I’m so grateful for my lovely hardworking mother who has dealt with so much in her 45 years of motherhood and is still walking faithfully with the Lord, raising her children in the nurture and administration of the Lord! Happy Mother’s Day! ❤” Rebekah Rojas

“Mom, we are so thankful for your Godly example to us! Thank you for being strong even in great trials. The way you look to Jesus even through a broken heart is so beautiful. 💜 I know you are missing your first baby of the nine of us today. 💔 We will see him again! We love you so much!” The Baker Family

“Getting in some miles with Mama!” — “A walk by the lake seemed like a good way to catch up on some miles!” Melinda and Hadessa 👏🏼🙌🏻💝

“Happy Mother’s Day” LaToya J. 💝

“Im so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be a mother! Its a dream come true. We enjoyed a walk together in Australia on Mothers Day.” Stacy P.💝🎉

“So thankful for all our mothers and all they do for us!” Lydia B.🙌🏻👏🏼🌸

“Got another mile in and snapped a picture with my baby! 💞” Bethany C. — “I enjoyed some beautiful views with my walking buddy this week! I hiked this same trail almost a year ago when I was pregnant with him, so it was special to return with him.” Delie H 💐

“Enjoying a Mother’s Day walk on our property. Very thankful to be a mom! Tom, Deb, and Jonathan Girotti” 🙌🏻💯

“Being a mommy of 5 (number 6 on the way) has taught me a lot about the importance of depending on the Lord for patience. We consider each child to be a blessing from the Lord (I wasnt able to keep a pregnancy for two years and then between 2021-22 I struggled with several miscarriages before the Lord blessed us with another baby 😢🥰).” Sarah B.

“My mom and I on a sweet walk together at night on the streets of Jerusalem! :)” Grace C. — “We are so grateful for our incredible, smart, fun, and godly mother. We love you mom! – ❤ Youre Nine Children” 💝

“Being a mother has brought me the greatest joy in my life! Life with kids can be crazy, but it’s always worth it.” Elisabeth M. 💐💯

“We put in 6 miles on our last day of vacation on The Forgotten Coast! A few siblings finished well, and they are spurring the rest of us on! 🏁💯” Moore Family

“This week we hiked almost 5.5 miles, really enjoying sibling hikes while simultaneously giving Mom and Dad some time off!” Amanda A. 🙌🏻💯

“Enjoying a sister walk after a rain storm! Thankful for sister time and the beautiful scenery God gives us!” Emma S. — “I completed my 100 miles. Still going…” Lisa W. 👏🏼🙌🏻💯

“We have enjoyed a few walks lately with the K. family – our friends & fellow Spring 100 participants!” 🙋🏼‍♀️

“Soaking up some lovely morning sunshine with our puppy Blanca🥰” Lydia B.

A fun group photo from Lydia L. of Spring100ers grabbing a mile together deep in the heart of Texas for week 8!! 🙌🏻💯

“Backpacking in Glencoe, Scotland” Anna H. 😍💯

“The Silvey and Harbour ladies catching a Spring100 walk together!” Amanda S.

“We walked across a bridge from Minnesota to Wisconsin and back!
Motherhood is the opportunity of a lifetime to be selfless and humble and receive Gods grace. It challenges me to choose activities that refuel my desire to serve rather than make me frustrated about how much I have to serve. Walking is definitely one refueling activity!” Erika M.💝🙌🏻

“A beautiful way to finish Spring100!” Dulcie Moore 🎉💯🙌🏻WAY TO GO!!!

“Completed my 100 miles today on a beautiful windy Texas spring day!!! Hebrews 12:1-2” Elizabeth C. 🎉💯 WELL DONE!!!! Congratulations!! — “Little Sam loving the farm!” Kelly M.

“We all take walks but not often get the opportunity to do it as a family, but here we are!! Yay for getting closer to the finished line 👍👏” Mary R. 👏🏼 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!

“Enjoyed a walk with these girls today 🤩🤗” Melody P. — “Walked/ran 2.80 mi. tonight!👏” Prashansa N.

“Grabbing some ice cream on an evening walk through town with the siblings! 😁” Halbach Family

“Got in a couple miles and good talks with my sister Becs❤🙌🏼” Lucy — “I really enjoyed this challenge!! I look forward to doing this again next year Lord willing!! 😊” Sarah B. 💯🎉 CONGRATULATIONS!!!

“A walk along the water with the family.” Greta S. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“I enjoyed walking along the Florida beach this week.” Nancy M. 🙌🏻☀️

“I completed my 100 miles with my best friend, my wife!!!” AP 👏🏼🎉💯 WAY TO GO!!!!

“Yay to dragging your brother along for walks! We dont have fun. 🤫” Grace — “Finished mile 100 with a 9 mile walk” Thomas M. 👏🏼

“The Herbel family and three members of the Penner family participated in Heartlands Walk for Life, to help raise money to remodel the building Heartland recently bought.” Arlen P. 🙌🏻💯 LOVE IT!

“The heavy rains in Iowa this week have given my 5 and 7 year old renewed vigor to get their miles! Now we can go on “Puddle Walks”! :)”Julie F.☔️💯

“It was a perfect day for a walk with beautiful weather and wonderful fellowship!” Rebecca B.

“Out walking with sweet friends getting our Spring 100 miles in!” Abigail S. — “Happy Mothers Day from Laguna 💐” Lori H.

“Walking with best friends! 💖” Averey F.

“Two more finishers!!!😁” Martin Family — “Spring finally fully sprung in Fargo! Beautiful flowers! Finished all 100 miles Saturday, but hopefully will get to 150!” Ryah 💯🙌🏻🎉 WAY TO GO!!

“Woohoo!!! We kept track of our steps while we did highway clean-up in Minnesota! The girls said, take a picture and lets submit it the Spring100!❤” Heidi V. 👏🏼💯

Heather H. checking in for week 8!! 👏🏼💯– “First finisher in the Cook family!” Lori C.

“Having fun!!!!”🏃🏼‍♂️💯

“Sunny day in Moorhead!!” Lyd —“Getting Spring100 miles with the English family while spending the week with them! I’m so thankful for the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ!” Macy C.👏🏼💯

“a beautiful sunset walk after church to get some miles!!!!” Clara R. 🌅

“Halfways to 💯! And quite appropriately photobombed by a blackfly, since they have been my constant companions for the last week. 😆” Hannah Y. — “Went on a nice afternoon walk with a cousin and a friend!!🤩” Janae M.

“My siblings, nieces, & I went on a sunset walk the other night. On one side we had this pretty sunset & the other side we could see lightning. It was a beautiful way to spend the evening!” Victoria F. 🙌🏻👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

Enjoyed a beautiful beach walk with my Mom this Mother’s Day!! Words cannot express how thankful I am for my mom. Her love, patience, support, encouragement, and enthusiasm daily blesses me and my siblings! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to my mother.🙌🏻💝 Your labor in the Lord is not in vain!! – KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK everyone!! We are getting so close to the finish line. YOU GOT THIS! 🙌🏻💯

This week’s post is brought to you by:

Lenspiration

Lenspiration provides family-friendly photography training to help photographers of any skill level feel confident with their cameras! Through online photography courses & training, real-life photo assignments, and hands-on workshops, our goal is to see inspiration planted, nurtured, and expressed for the glory of God in the world of photography. Start learning for free at Lenspiration.com/spring100!

A huge Thank you to Lenspiration for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

“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 patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Hebrews 12:1-3

Week 7 is complete and we are officially halfway through the challenge! Way to go everyone. 🙌🏻💯 For those who find themselves behind, there is still plenty of time to catch up! Even if you haven’t grabbed a single mile to date, you can still finish the 100-mile goal by getting 2.2 miles in each day. Keep on making your way to the finish line!! You got this!🙋🏼‍♀️

Congratulations to the 339 participants who have already crossed the Spring100 Finish Line!! 🎉

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Bethany Fleming

Spring100 Devotional

Running the Race

Mr Charles DeLadurantey || Week 7 Spring100 Devotional

“1 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 patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

Hello to My Fellow Mighty Spring 100 Challenge Walking Warriors!

As we reflect upon this year’s Spring 100 theme Scripture passage, Hebrews 12:1-2, Iet’s be reminded that every Scripture passage has a context.  In that regard, I was looking over Hebrews 11 where the author has a completes a sweeping discourse about faith and I am struck by  Chapter 11 verse 40 that says:  “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”  Wow, what a way to “set the stage” for the exhortations that are to come in Chapter 12!

Looking at Charter 12:40 we find the writer wrapping up the familiar “Hall of Faith” verses about the Old Testament heroes with a capstone statement pointing us onward to our walk of faith, a faith that finds itself in the reality of Christ born of a virgin, living a perfect life in the flesh as the God-man (in the Greek: Theanthropos) , suffering the punishment of our sin, dying a real death and being resurrected to the Right Hand of God the Father and ruling as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We have a “better promise”.  Comparatively better than the types and shadows of the Old Testament saints. Our standing today is that of a better covenant, a further administration of the covenant of grace. Jesus has both expiates and propitiates our sin.  What does that mean?

Expiation is about Jesus taking away our guilt through His atonement (death and resurrection) that pays the penalty, the debt we owe to God the Father.  Propitiation is about how Jesus changes God the Father’s disposition towards us – we are no longer His enemies but His adopted sons – He is FOR us, not against us. So, Christian, you are in HIS favor.  Keep this solidly in your mind and heart as we move to Hebrews 12 and pick up with the exhortations therein.

Chapter 12 continues the conversation from Chapter 11, beginning with “Wherefore…..”.  The author is saying, hey, looking back, those Old Testament folks endured much with the promise of Messiah, but you and I have the reality of Christ Incarnate and now seated in heaven, accompanied by many (a cloud) witnesses who walked in faith.  I see this as a clear and emphatic foundation for what comes next.  The charge to “…..lay aside every weight…..”.  Let’s pause and dig a little deeper about what “laying aside” means.  CLUE:  It does not mean our lives are free from stress, strains, disappointments, betrayal, and sins that seem to never fully go away……

Matthew Henry has this to say – “….every weight, that is, all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. Inordinate care for the present life, or fondness for it, is a dead weight upon the soul, that pulls it down when it should ascend upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward; it makes duty and difficulties harder and heavier than they would be.”

You see this “weight” is additional to our circumstances, we can bring it upon ourselves.  The author of Hebrews is not just telling us to “pull up our bootstraps” and do better but rather he is in the context of the big picture – contrasting our standing in the resurrection of Christ to the position of those Old Testament heroes of the faith and saying – embrace the grace of God and give up the self focus and smallness of living ONLY a life in the flesh – “Walk by the spirit” friends! (Gal. 5:16 – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”).

How can we, having a “better promise” not find the freshness of freedom in the imperative to “lay aside” temporal concerns and cast them upon Him (Proverbs 12:25).  Not taking deliberate action to actively/daily “lay aside” leads being less able to also do the next charge of Hebrew 12:1 – To lay aside also the SIN that so easily besets us.  Sin moves us into backwards motion and stagnates our spiritual growth and holiness. You can’t complete 100 miles of walking by turning around and picking up the weight of sin.

Let’s utilize our walking time to reflect on our position in Christ and how we have a living faith, not dead and ritualistic but one of power through the Holy Spirit that guides us as adopted children unto a Father who is righteousness and goodness.

Whether we walk 10 miles or 1000 miles over the weeks ahead, carrying, as Matthew Henry puts it “a dead weight upon our soul” is off the list.  Look unto Jesus my brothers and sisters – What glory Divine, What a Savior, Hallelujah!  More on Hebrews 12:2 in my next devotional, See you then!

QUESTION! As we enter week 8 of the Spring100, what is your best tip for fellow spring100ers when it comes getting out and accomplishing your miles?? How do YOU stay motivated?

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!

“Mile 100 today, May 3rd!! Praise God for His strength!” Sheridan C. 💯🎉 CONGRATULATIONS!!!

“Went on a beautiful spring hike with my family in South Carolina! 🤩” Lydia B. — Rosalyn B. checking in for week 7 of the 2024 Spring100! 🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

“Catching a few miles with friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon😍” Angela G. 🌸 LOVE this photo!!

“Finishing up Spring100 with a 5k race!” Hannah H. — “Becca and I enjoyed a short walk😄” Lucy 👏🏼💯

“Hiking 40 miles on the Arizona Trail!” Kyle T. ☀️💯

“First finisher in our family goes to Lance!” Amy C.💯🎉 WAY TO GO, Lance!!!! — “It was so great to walk with a friend from out of state!!” Grace L. 👏🏼

“Mountain walk!” Bethany F. ⛰♥️

“Getting some miles in with my little brother down by the creek 😊” Joy R.

“Keith Family enjoyed a Sunday hike in the NC mountains!!! God’s creation is glorious!!!” Kate K. ⛰🙌🏻 Amen! It truly is!!

“Angel & Faron Derby getting in a Saturday walk. The weather was beautiful and the trees new leaves have arrived!” — “Visiting Isak Heartstone, the Breckenridge Troll” Taya T. 🙌🏻 Great job, y’all!!

“Walking off the miles, kiddos in tow!” Victoria S. 😁💯 Keep up the great walking!

“Taking a walk with my horse, and watching the sun go down” Elizabeth W. —“Had to walk with this guy.. 😩 😑 😂” Luker

“Love it when we can get all the siblings together for a walk!” Amanda S. 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Walking with my husband in Cincinnati while satisfying pregnancy cravings, and also getting miles in!” Mercy and Gabriel–“My first year officially doing Spring 100! Grabbed a cool pic on this massive fallen tree near our hometown.” Rachel W. 😁🍦 LOVE IT!!

“This picture is from a hike we took in Greyson Highland State park!” Madison B.

“Me and my loyal dog Basil finishing the Spring 💯!” Olivia C. WAY TO GO!!🎉 — “Fun walking with our favorite fury friend.” Sherri S.

“Got some walking in with my niece at my sisters track meet.” Elizabeth F 🏃‍♀️♥️

“We’ve been enjoying such beautiful evening walks during our Spring100!!😍💐 So thankful for our little country lane and all the wildflowers strewn along the way!” The B. Family

“Taking a walk with my friend Haddey!!” Abby S. 🙌🏻 Love the photo!!

“Got in an enjoyable prayer walk today inspite of the rain 🤗” Melody P. — “Girl clan🥰” Yvonne W.

“Enjoying a spring day in Alaska! #Spring100 🙌” Paige C.

Elizabeth F. checking in as she grabs her miles for week 7! — “Getting some miles in with my nephews for their first Spring 100!” Rebekah M. 🙌🏻💯

“Took a walk with Amy Busby and Tristan Wilson after a church college group party! Found some animal friends along the way.” Elizabeth C.🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“I found some pretty flowers on my walk! :)” Bronwyn H. —“Doing Spring 100 with my daughters at a park with beautiful flowering trees and landscape!” Malinda S. 🌸🙌🏻

“Logging some miles while visiting family in the California redwoods. Never tire walking among these giants.” Kristin T. 😍🙌🏻💯 Such a gorgeous place to grab your Spring100 miles!!

Love this Spring100 Scenery from Korina S. and Remember a.!!💯😍

“Hiking in Tennessee with a Sister in Christ!” Melissa A. ♥️

“We took a nice walk in a beautiful garden near Knoxville, TN.” Elizabeth S. — Hannah P. sending in smiles as she grabs her miles!! 😄🙌🏻

“Its finally feeling like spring in Minnesota! What lovely weather for walking.” Erika M.

“Getting in some laps on our driveway on a misty day:)” Anne E. — “Enjoying the beautiful weather with little Victoria! :)” Bethany M. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Can you spot the copperhead? The children and I came across this on a hike! Thankful for God protecting us.” Charity B. 🐍 GREAT REMINDER!! Walk safe and watch out for the snakes.🙈 🙌🏻

“Sister walk!!💞 So good to have my three older siblings back from college. 🥰” Megan J. — “After running a 5k, I decided to clock in some more miles , but walking this time 😄” Thomas M.

“I loved participating in a community 5K with my little guy this weekend! We placed 3rd overall (or 3rd and 4th depending on how you count us 😁). ” Delie H.

“Beach vacay walkin with siblings! 🏝🌊☀” Moore Family

“A Sunday afternoon walk with my sisters complete with songs from the cicadas! They are alive and well here in GA!😄” Hannah R.

“Hiking with the family at Charleston Falls, near Tipp City, OH!” Sheryl B 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Enjoyed doing one of my miles this week just around our yard, taking in the sights and smells of spring!” Lydia B. 💐💯

“Enjoying a nice walk and sweet fellowship with friends at the Michigan Scripturefest!! ❤ “ Nadia A

“A fun evening walk with friends 🤍” Victoria S. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Caitlin & Matthew N. checking in along with Emma H. and family for week 7 of the 2024 Spring100! 👏🏼🙌🏻

“Soaking up the sun on a warm afternoon in ND!!” Chelsea C.☀️

“Happy days on a beautiful hiking trail in Hamilton!” Chloe H. — “Mozzarella and Michelle hiking at Inks Lake State Park in Central Texas.” Michelle J.

Grabbing a mile in the terminal as I wait for my flight! Keep up the great work everyone. Remember to take a moment and leave a comment + encourage fellow Spring100ers!! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Live Oak Integrative Health

 I started Live Oak Integrative Health to help women and their families achieve optimal health for the glory of God. I specialize in pregnancy-related health, pre/post-natal care. I provide diagnostic and lab testing to help people understand the root causes of why they are unhealthy. Then I provide holistic recommendations and coaching so that they gain back energy and health that allows them to functions well. 

A huge Thank you to Live Oak Integrative Health for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

So hard to believe but we’ve just completed week 6 of the 2024 Spring100 Challenge! Time flies when you’re having fun. ☺️ You all are doing a great job! I am excited to see all the photos from Spring100ers in various locations(Pompeii Italy, Lake Erie, North Carolina Mountains, and Sunny Beaches to name a few. 😍) grabbing their miles flooding in! THANK YOU for taking the time to snap your walking photos and send them my way. These photos make our weekly posts so much fun!!💯

FUN Spring100 Week 6 Facts:

As of Week 6, 238 Participants have finished their 100 miles and are waiting for us at the finish line!!

To date, 150,000 miles have been walked for the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Clara H.

Spring100 Devotional

Looking Unto Jesus

Mr Leake || Week 6 Spring100 Devotional

Everyone likely has one chapter or a few verses in God’s word that resonate with them…a place to retreat to for spiritual encouragement and inspiration.  For me, that one chapter is Hebrews 12.  Although this entire chapter speaks to me on so many levels, our focus today is:

“…looking unto Jesus” Hebrews 12:2

The prominent teaching permeating our Church today is the false message that God’s exclusive desire is to ensure our happiness, health, wealth and all other creature comforts.  By embracing this concept, we gladly find a god of our own making.  As we consider Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus”, we must first “look unto” the true Jesus, the Creator of everything that is.  As we truly seek Jesus, we find God Himself and not the deceptive “portrait” the world has cast their gaze upon. Jesus warns us of taking a false Christ to heart, “for many will come in my name saying I am Christ and deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).  We can see this great deception as we look out on Christendom today.  In the Gospel of John, we see crowds following Jesus as long as the following was gratifying but when the teaching became too difficult, they abandoned the Lord.  
Secondly, we must examine ourselves. Romans 8:6 warns “to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  So many of us may even now be affected and deceived by the false messages of ease.  It’s time to “look unto Jesus” and return to the true teachings of God’s Word as Jesus calls us to sacrifice as He sacrificed, following His example as in Luke 9:23, “if anyone should come after Me, he must deny himself take up his cross daily and follow Me.”  As we consider this daily cross that we are called to take up, this emblem of death, “look unto Jesus” who calls us to die daily to our desires, calling us to a holiness “without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).  

Reading further into Hebrews 12 as we must also “look unto Jesus” to understand that God chastens those whom He loves and scourges every son whom He receives.  Even now many of us are experiencing this chastening in sickness, death, the death of relationships, the desertion of children, family or friends who find the good road too difficult to travel.  “Look unto Jesus!”  There is not anything that we have suffered or will suffer through that He has not experienced (and infinitely more).
Let us look to the Creator of this universe, who came to bring redemption to man. This Jesus was unlike us; He deserving honor but receiving shame.  Let us lean into the chastisement and embrace the rod of the perfect Shepherd of our souls.  Resist the root of bitterness “where by many are defiled” but rather let us, by the mercies of God, be trained by our trials and thank God for them…that they may produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives and…

let us remember in the easy times as well as the difficult to “look to Jesus” our Great Example! 

QUESTION! Have the past 6 weeks of Spring100 been “smooth sailing” or have you had to overcome obstacles to get your miles in? Leave a comment and let us know below!!

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!

“Beautiful sunset at the ocean!” Kate W 🙌🏻🎉💯 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

“Walking with Mom in Black Mountain, NC” Cynthia R. — “I finished! A few years ago, I was bedridden and facing serious health issues. I’m so thankful for the healing that the Lord has brought me and that I reached my 100 miles.” Lauren W. 💯🙌🏻🙏🏼 PRAISE THE LORD!!!

“Family walks are the best, especially when you live 2,600+ miles apart!” Kaitlyn R.👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Enjoyed seeing some amazing Texas wildflowers while getting in a Spring 100 walk together!” Gabriel C — “A morning walk, and devotion in Revelation 22” Ryah Reynolds 🙌🏻LOVE IT!

“The cool temperatures in this tunnel made for a refreshing stop on my walk. It’s a trail converted from a railroad.” David S. 🙌🏻👏🏼💯

“Memorable hikes with GREAT friends in Black Mountain, NC! Let’s keep it up, y’all! 😅👍”

“Three generations enjoying the sunshine on our neighborhood loop!” Mari H. 💯

“Went for a walk and did our devotions in God’s great creation!!! 😁🌳🍄” Gabriel R. — “Getting miles in with baby Ezra and a group of friends!” Maria S. 👏🏼

“Such sweet conversations on walks with siblings! We are loving Spring100. 💜” Baker Family 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 So glad you’re doing the Spring100 together!!

“Hannah and Elijah S. enjoying a fun sibling walk together one evening.🤗The sunset was beautiful too!”

“The best sister conversations seem to happen on walks!💗🥰” Grace

“Happy Birthday to Rebekah! She walked her 50th mile today.” Angela C. 🎉🥳 Happy Birthday!! — “Setting a personal goal of 200 miles!” Rosalyn B. 👏🏼👏🏼 Way to go pushing yourself above and beyond!!

“When you run into friends from church on your walk and then get to see the sunset!” Daniel Staddon Family🌅🙌🏻 LOVE IT!!

Annina F. checking in for week 6 of the 2024 Spring100!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ — “Crossed the finish line!!💯 Enjoyed a beautiful sunset by the ocean while finishing up my last few miles. I am excited for next year’s challenge!🎉” Hannah W. 🎉💯 WAY TO GO, Hannah!!

“Walking on my break at work!” Wendolyn R. 👏🏼💯 Great job!!

“A sunshiny day in Ontario (wind farms in the background)” Melodie K. — “Enjoyed a nice walk today with my fiancé, Aaron:)” Myra D. 🙌🏻

“The Little One’s walking with the cows!” Mary S. 🐮💯

“Halfway!” Michaela L. — “Enjoying a short walk at a conference in NC!” Rebekah R. 🙌🏻👏🏼💯

“It is a lot of fun to walk with friends so we are all getting our miles in.” Chyanne🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♀️

“The honeysuckle has been SO fragrant this year! 😍” Amanda S. — “Brenda and Brittany Sommer completed the Spring 100 in Spring, TX! Enjoying mother-daughter time!” 💯🎉 CONGRATULATIONS!!

“We enjoyed walking in the Upper Peninsula this weekend, looking for waterfalls!” Candi S 🙋🏼‍♀️ LOVE IT!

“Fun Saturday morning 5K with my siblings.” Carter W. — “Sunshine!☀” Emily B. ☀️💯

“Enjoying the incredible views while exploring the trails during my walk at Agua Fria National Monument!” Kayla M ♥️🙌🏻

“We really enjoy the time that we are able to spend together as we clock in our Spring 100 miles! It has truly been a blessing. 😁” Caitlin & Matthew N 🌊 Praise the Lord!!

“Taking a hike with Grandma! Someone said they saw a dinosaur print 🦕 🤷♀🤭😆 nothing like exploring God’s Creation while you get a few miles in!”Charity B

“I finished my 100 miles today with a 6.3 mile run!” Heather L. — “Enjoying an evening walk! ⛅” Lisa F. 🙋🏼‍♀️👏🏼💯

“A fun weekend outing. Always a plus to get some miles in. :)” Plocharczyk Family 👏🏼😃 Keep up the great work!!

“Getting my miles in as a firefighter” Caleb L. — “Got in 13 miles on the Ahnapee State Trail, and some quality time with my brother” Hannah L. 👏🏼💯

“Gorgeous evening for a run in Point Pelee😎” Margaret B.

“Michael wants to live outside, so he adores going on our Spring100 walks. Even in the stroller. Amelia, Mom and Abigail F. love to have him along. He is usually clapping or singing the whole way. :)” Julie F. — “Walked 2 miles through ancient Pompeii, Italy!” Libby B. 🙌🏻💯

“The M. and B. families took a fun walk together today which included a stop at the park and waving to the train as it passed!” Bethany M. 🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

“We had so much fun hiking as a family at Sweetwater State Park viewing the fascinating ruins of a factory that was built during the Civil War!” The Bill Family 👏🏼

“An amazing 4.5 mile hike, including a quick selfie stop at a historic mansion!! (thank you to my awesome twin for agreeing to go with me❤)” Faith B.

“A Spring 100 walk turned into an opportunity to help a neighbor remove a snake from her house! Thankfully it was not venomous.” Lori C. 🐍– “Enjoying a walk with my niece today!” Lynn S. 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Fitzgerald sisters enjoyed a beautiful hike up Roan Mountain to have some pictures done along the way!” Avery F. — “Weight Challenge! I didn’t realize how much weight can make the difference with walking one mile. 🥵😉” Megan J.

“We love after rain walks! The air is so fresh and clean!” Elisabeth M. 🙌🏻🌧

“Esther, Mom(Linda), and JoAnna Mitton. Joanna and Esther out on a windy day training for a 5k!” Esther M. — “Enjoying a beautiful evening walk with my brother Mark after a full day of work on the farm! So grateful for siblings that love Jesus!💖” Sarah Wilkes

“Took a very muddy Sunday Spring100 walk with three of my kiddos!😀” Dana S.

“First time hiking in North Carolina.the view was magnificent!” John S. — Lydia + Ruth L. grabbing miles together for week 6!! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻

This past week has been filled to the brim and overflowing for me as I was able to meet so many Spring100ers and walk a couple of miles with a few of them!! 👏🏼 A fun night walk up the North Carolina Mountains for a gorgeous view closed out week 6 for me. Keep up the FABULOUS walking/running!! You all are blowing me away with your dedication!! Let’s conquer week 7!!🙋🏼‍♀️

This week’s post is brought to you by:
Radiant Homeopathy

If you are struggling with symptoms from allergies, long COVID, hay fever, anxiety, autoimmune conditions, pediatric problems or female health issues, our knowledge of natural healing methods can help you find lasting solutions. As a mother-daughter team, at Radiant Homeopathy, we take the time to discover the root problems to your symptoms from a Christ-centered perspective. We are certified homeopaths and use homeopathic remedies to help you live the life God has called you to the fullest and to achieve your health goals.

A huge Thank you to Radiant Homeopathy for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18

35 days into this 93-day Spring100 challenge and we have just finished week 5!! WAY TO GO!! 🙌🏻🥳 We are over 1/3 of the way through this exhilarating challenge. You all are doing such an amazing job!! This is the most dedicated Spring100 group to date.😁 So many are already crossing the finish line and cheering the rest of us on as we make our way to the 100-Mile goal!🙋🏼‍♀️💯

FUN Spring100 Week 5 Fact:

As of week 5 we have collectively walked a grand total of 128,500+ Spring100 miles…believe it or not we could have circled the earth over 5 times!!

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Joshua Chupik

Spring100 Devotional

Run With Endurance

Mr Jack Fuhrmann || Week 5 Spring100 Devotional

“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 patience the race that is set before us”
Hebrews 12:1

You must first read Hebrews Chapter 11 to understand the context of this verse.  The writer has just recounted some of the many events that God has given us in the Scriptures as examples of regular people living by faith not sight.  We are completely surrounded, not by an enemy that seeks to devour us (although he is prowling around) but we are actually engulfed in a cloud of witnesses. These being the people, men and women, young and old who have gone before us by faith.  These witnesses serve as a great encouragement to us.  We do not need to focus on and fear an enemy.  We should be aware and alert but we should be strengthened and empowered by the host of witnesses surrounding us that testify of God’s faithfulness, crying out to those of us who are still here on this earth called to walk by faith.  Crying out they remind us, “He is faithful! You can fully trust Him with every single aspect of your life! Look nowhere else but to Him to meet all your needs!” 

Walking by faith requires a bit of tenacity.  You have to be willing to do things no one else around you is doing.  You must be willing to walk and live out your life believing in the promises of God. One example for us is Abram.  Once Isaac was born, Abram no longer required faith to hope for the son of promise by Sara.  Although, for years prior to Isaac’s birth, Abram believed that God’s promise to him was true, that God was faithful and would make him the father of a great nation destined to inherit the land of Canaan.  Abram never saw the land inherited by his descendants but he believed and remained faithful to his God.  Every day he got up maybe wondering when this son would be born, what this multitude of descendants might be like or what it would be like to truly own the land.  Day after day, week after week, Abram (soon known as Abraham) continued to walk by faith believing that he was the father of a great nation even though, physically speaking, he did not yet have a son.  He believed that his descendants would inherit the land even though in his lifetime he never possessed it.  That’s faith, waking up every day, showing up to perform the duties, obediently and humbly engaging in the life that God has called you to.  

Much later, a descendant of Abraham would write: “I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.”  Phil 4:11. Abraham had learned to be content. Jesus exemplified this and Paul the apostle admonished us to continually press on to be learners of contentment. Contentment requires faith and peace that comes from knowing our God, not just by other people’s example, but by living our own lives by faith.  Abraham was not perfect.  He failed many times but that didn’t stop him from getting back up, repenting, and faithfully following his God.

Since we have these beautiful examples of people living their lives by faith it encourages us to do the same. We are not alone. God knows everything and cares about you.  He wants to teach you to walk by faith, not sight. 

Whatever your current circumstances, you are where you are because it’s the perfect place for you to grow in faith and Christlikeness–that’s the goal of life. 

QUESTION! I would love to know what your “BEST DAY” of the Spring100 has been to date. Find the answer on your Dashboard portal and leave your comment below!! 👇🏼

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!

“A late night hike to watch Northern Lights! Emily and friends” Emily B. 🙌🏻🤩💯

“Walking with Jack in the mountains.” Barbara M. — “Taking a night walk in North Carolina!!” Anderson K. 👏🏼 Great job!!!

“We took a picture with some curious cows on a recent walk.” Kaitlyn R. 🐮💯😁

“Crossed the finish line! 🥳” CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🙌🏻🎉💯

“enjoying a beautiful hike with our uncle and aunt in France.” Fuhrmann Family🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻

“Enjoying the weather while getting some miles with the siblings. <3” Hannah H. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Such a wonderful walking crew!!

The Penner family checking in for week 5!! Keep up the great walking! 💯

“Got a mile in a lovely tulip garden about half an hour away from our house. The tulips and other flowers were gorgeous!” Jane F.

“Stopping to play while getting our Spring 100 miles at Crown Hill Lake.” Hillary C.🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Such a fabulous week 5 photo!!

“Going walking after the tornado warning and rain subsided” Sarah P. 🌧 Great job… I love rainy day walks!!😄

“We are walking a trail while visiting Jamestown, Virginia! From the Combs Crew”🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Thankful for the sunshine and Gods beautiful creation! Somebody got tuckered out just riding😴” Charity B. 👌🏻😄 Great work!!

“Bonjour du Québec 🙂” Caleb O. 🤠Howdy from Texas!! 😁 Glad to have you part of the challenge!

“Almost to 100!” Benjamin D. 👏🏼 Great job!!! — “Logging some miles with a friend whose shoes are fancier than mine!” Crystal P. 🐎🙋🏼‍♀️

“Our travels took us from walking in snow to walking amid bluebonnets!” Erika M. 😍🙌🏻💯

“DOUBLE BIRTHDAY FUN AT GRANDFATHER MT, NC!! Lots of thrilling adventures on a huge swinging bridge, and climbing ladders up STEEP mountain sides! Gods is AMAZING and His creation reflects that!!” 💯🎉 Love that hike.🤩 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

“Walking for life with family!” Robinson Family🙏🏼🙌🏻💯

“Had to take a quick breather 😂😂” Luker — “Evening walk with my brother!” Michaela L.🙌🏻💯

“Walking at the Grand Canyon this week with my family to finish off my 💯! Emma F. 🎉 WAY TO GO!!! Congratulations!

“My girlfriend Janese and I went on a 9-mile hike in Hawn state park while she visited!” Dylan G. — “One thing I enjoy doing is walking between work For example if I am hanging up laundry, I might hang up two towels, then walk a lap around the house and then repeat the process.” Kristalyn S. 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️ LOVE IT!

“Taking a fun hike with our aunt in New Hampshire. We even found a little bit of snow!” Emma S ❄️🌷

“It was a beautiful day in the wildflower park today!!” April N. — “Enjoying a fun walk with some sweet friends!” Rebekah L. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯♥️

“Hiking at Table Rock State Park while visiting Missouri!” Lange Family 👌🏻👌🏻 A beautiful place to walk your Spring100 Miles!!

“Got a mile in a lovely tulip garden about half an hour away from our house. The tulips and other flowers were gorgeous!” Jane F. 🌷 Such a beautiful Spring100 walk!!

“Beautiful sunny walk with cousins!” Beth B. 🙋🏼‍♀️♥️ LOVE IT!!

“Hit 100 miles! I had so much fun. Keep it up yall” Nathan Kleinsasser 🎉💯 WAY TO GO!! Congratulations!! — “Walking with my love 💕” Rachel M.

“Our family enjoyed a wonderful spring walk in the park. We were able to log some great miles steeped in Gods beautiful creation.” John Derby Family ☀️🙌🏻 Great week 5 photo!!

“The Lehman crew getting those miles in while marching up and down the fields picking up rocks.😁” — “My mom and I enjoyed hiking at Broddock’s Trail in PA. The wildflowers were beautiful.” Lauren W. 💐🙌🏻💯

“Stepping out and upward at the Airport Vista Summit in Sedona, AZ.” Fagan Family⛰👏🏼 Such fabulous views!!

“Luv walking with my siblings!🥰” April M. — Tina K. checking in for week 5 of the 2024 Spring100!! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“We enjoyed walking around Plymouth, MA this past week! :)” Mary Jo H. 👏🏼 SO fun!!

“Sunset walk!!!🌄” Kayla G. — “Were moving overseas to Papua New Guinea. So we got some distance walking in the airport.” Stacy P.🙋🏼‍♀️✈️

“We enjoyed hanging out and walking with fellow Spring100-er, Eli, this week!😀 The weather is getting warmer here in Georgia!” Hannah Reed 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️☀️

“Clover is enjoying the Spring100 with Lauren!” Lisa W. 😆🐰 Love it!! We officially have bunny walking the Spring100.😉

“Beautiful spring day, precious baby niece, peaceful walk…👌😊” Alyssa M. — “Getting a mile in with the gang!” Ryah Reynolds 👏🏼🙌🏻

“Fresh snow in April.” Lori E. 🙋🏼‍♀️❄️🌷

“Ginger is more excited than I am to go for our walks in the South Texas afternoon heat.” Linda O. — “We had 1 foot of sunshine here in California today!” Lori H. ☀️🙌🏻 Great job conquering week 5!!

“Getting a lil walk in with my brother on my birthday. 🎂” Dobson Moore, left, DeLane Moore, right 🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

“Was a awesome walk by the Michigan river with friends 😍” Heather H.

“With my job, I havent been able to log in as many miles as I would like. Was a blessing to get in a walk with my sister and encourage each other in Christ. 🥰 We were also able to witness this gorgeous WI sunset 🌅” Heather P. 🙋🏼‍♀️So glad you’ve had that time together!!

“Enjoying a beautiful Missouri evening with my sister and nephew.” Addie W. — “Beautiful spring evening for a walk with a friend!” Korina S. 🌷💯

“The C. family getting our miles at the Grand Canyon this week!” 🤩 Wish I was there!!🙌🏻

“Took a walk with family on vacation and found a shoe tree!” April B. 👟😅 That is the most unique tree I have ever seen! — “Spring 100, ’24 on the Royal Carribean!” Krista E. 🛳😍

“Nasbys, Covingtons, and Morris Families exploring George Washington Carver National Monument on our Spring 100 walk.” 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

“Walking with my cousins!!” Lucia C. 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“We loved walking with our friends and fellow Spring100-ers, the Astudillos, this week!!😄” Hannah Reed

“Walking with friends makes the miles fly!” Maris H.🙌🏻😍 This is so true!! Spring100 walks are always funner with friend!

“My dad and I got to run together!” Bethany M. — “Randomly reminding ourselves we still have a ways to go to make our 100 mile goal😋” Susanna D.

“Jogging with my sister!” Madison B. 🏃🏻‍♀️♥️

“Dont always feel like going for that walk but never once regret going anyway!! Absolutely loving that fresh Spring air!” Mary R. — “Such a sweet evening walk with beautiful fog!” Rebekah R. 👏🏼👏🏼 Great job!!

“Morgan, Samantha and Christopher F. heading out for another 3 miles!” — “Got some miles in at a wildlife preserve with my brother, while trying to see how many species of birds we could find! We were happy to identify 23 species.” Lily 🪶💯 Love that!!

“Getting our miles in today on the Unal Trail in the Sequoia National Forest! More snow than we expected!” Stephany I. ❄️🙌🏻

“Walking in the beautiful town of Pella, Iowa where there are SO many beautiful tulips!! :)” Caroline F. 😍🌷

“Enjoyed waking on this gorgeous spring afternoon in the mountains!” Michal W. 🙌🏻 Great picture!!

“Met my 100 miles in the rainy forest today! Im excited to keep going! The Lord has been so good to help me see beauty in each of my walks thus far! :)” Aimee B.👏🏼🎉 Way to go! — “I ran 2 miles and walked with my sister Lydia this week!” Elizabeth F. 😁 LOVE it!!

“It is always fun to walk with my cousins Esther and Faith Lehman!” Chyanne 💯

“My sister Hannah L. (who is also participating in the challenge) came to visit me in WY! Here we are freezing but getting a good mile in. 😊” Esther S. — “Finished my spring 100 walk with a dear friend!!” Leah K. 👏🏼🤩🎉

“Walking with the cows” Jillian B. 👏🏼🐮

“Finished up 100 miles at the White Cliffs of Dover!” Anna H. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Such a gorgeous place to complete your 2024 100 miles!! WAY TO GO!!🎉

“Had an amazing time getting some miles in while hiking with a friend this past week! ❤” Lynnaea K.

“Took a walk on a beautiful and rare 67 degree Texas afternoon! Saw some pretty cactus on my walk and snapped some photos. 1 Thessalonians 5:18” Elizabeth C. 🌺 Beautiful!!

“A morning walk through our town. 😄” Halbach Family👏🏼

“Hannah and Dad at the start of the little loop (1/2mi) as opposed to the big loop (1 1/2mi) on Lovell Farm, VA. Praise God for Spring 100!” — “My sister and I enjoying a walk on our way home from work! Country gravel roads are always a favorite for us!” Sarah F. 🙌🏻👏🏼 Great photos!!

“The whole family enjoyed a waterfall hike near Branson, MO!” Elisabeth M.

“Sunday afternoon sister walk after church! 💗” Amanda S. — “Enjoying a walk by our city’s clock tower on a beautiful Spring afternoon!” Caitlin & Matthew N. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Beautiful East Texas evening for a Spring 100 walk together!” Gabriel and Sara C 🙌🏻💯

“Walking 2.5 miles w the kiddos and doggie.” Amanda M. — “Getting in miles on our farm” 😃🙌🏻

“Getting in some miles in with some friends and family this week, and enjoying the nice weather!” Daniel F 👏🏼

This week’s post is brought to you by:

“I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”
Psalm 71:16

Finishing out week 4 of the 2024 Spring100!! So many fabulous photos were sent in and SO MANY Spring100ers are faithfully making their way to the 100-mile goal. WAY TO GO!!! 🙌🏻👏🏼 It seems as if many of you were like me… walking in the rain most of week 4! Registration officially closed and we have 4,303 participants from approximately 8 different countries walking this year’s challenge. Praise The Lord!! I am beyond thrilled and excited to have you all here! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 It is my prayer that this challenge leaves you physically and spiritually encouraged and renewed!

FUN Spring100 Week 4 Stats:

Total Miles walked to date for the 2024 Spring100: 103,975.94

Total Spring100 Participants for 2024: 4,303

Participants who have crossed the 100-Mile Finish Line: 70

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Reese King

Spring100 Devotional

Lay Aside Every Weight

Mr Wesley Strackbein || Week 4 Spring100 Devotional

As we run the race of life, we can be hindered by sin and a preoccupation with worldly cares. Knowing this, we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Heb. 12:1).

The “weight” in this first clause can be lawful pursuits that we’ve elevated out of proportion. These can include making money, tending our personal property, maintaining our physical health, or any other earthly concern.

To be clear: We have positive duties to perform on all these fronts, as God created the world “good” (Gen. 1:31) and called us to be faithful stewards of our money, lands, and bodies (Matt. 25:14-30; Prov. 12:11; Prov. 25:16).

Yet the moment we give greater prominence to the cares of the world than we do to Christ’s kingly interests, we err. We become encumbered from our most important aim which is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

So, in view of the eternal race, we must rid ourselves of otherwise good things when they become excess baggage. If they’re slowing us down, we must put them in their place.

The second thing we’re to lay aside is “the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Heb. 12:1).

Unlike lawful worldly cares, sin has no rightful role in our lives at all. Yet we cannot wrest ourselves free of it in our own power.

Every one of us is beset by sin at birth. It is imputed to our very nature, passed down from Adam through the generations (Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51:5).

Without Christ’s help, sin’s crushing weight always brings on death (Rom. 6:23), but if “we confess our sins [to Him], he is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Once redeemed through Christ’s perfect work (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:8-19), we are no longer “slaves of sin” (Rom. 6:6) and can “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

Now that we’re able to reject sin, we must “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:14).

Clinging to the smallest sin will slow us down in our race. Sin “so easily ensnares us” (Heb. 12:1), and if left unchecked, it can sideline us in shame.

Let us, then, heed these sober commands:

“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump” (1 Cor. 5:6-7).

“. . . do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Rom 6:12).

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11).

While our eternal soul may be secure in Christ, giving way to any pet sin—be it anger, lust, pride, envy, discontentment, or some other vice—will hamper us in the race ahead (Heb. 12:1), for a “double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

So let us give sin the “black flag”—no quarter to this violator of God’s Word and our personal testimony—even as we put lawful pursuits, that are out of proportion, in their place.

Only by doing this will we run our race well.

QUESTION! This has very little to do with Spring100 BUT who got to witness the Solar Eclipse last week??😍 Would love to hear!! Let me know in the comment section below!!

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!

“My first SPRING 100 walk was with my dear grand daughter on the day we were waiting for her little brother to come home from the hospital !! The Snow that fell was mystical and made it so much FUN! Our Lord is so good and gives us exactly what we need every day. The Lords unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him!! Psalm 32:10” Georgia M 🙋🏼‍♀️ LOVE IT!

“A beautiful day for a walk” Elizabeth W. — Grace P. grabbing her miles and checking in for week 4 of the Spring100!! 🙌🏻👏🏼

“A little after storm, after gym walk!” Grace ⛈💯 Great photo, Grace!!

“Through Rain or shine☔☀😁” Lois G. 🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️ Great job, ladies!!

“Walking at a park with my brother.” Elianna J. — “Josh C. walking in Alabama!”👏🏼💯🙌🏻

“Love our evening spring walks together!! God is so good!! ✨💛💐” Cailyn F. 🙌🏻 Yes, He truly is. LOVE the photo, Cailyn!

“My buddy and I enjoyed a walk past the blooming forsythia!” Hannah F. ☺️ Adorable walking buddy. He’s a heart-melter! ♥️

“Joanna and Esther Mitton Quizzing on our walks is so fun!!”— “I made it!! Yall keep it up!!” Nathan S. 🙌🏻💯🎉 Way to go reaching your 100 Mile Goal!!

“Enjoying a walk with my sister and her family while they were in town!” Kate S. 👍🏻👏🏼💯

Jennifer M. conquering miles with this fun walking group! 😃🙌🏻 — “Beautiful sunset stroll among the bluebonnets!🤍” Madeleine & Katherine T.

“Enjoying an evening walk along a river at a local park for week 4.” Mr & Mrs Neely 👏🏼🙌🏻💯

“Changed things up a bit and did a backpack walk with baby B!” Esther C. — Nicole P. Saying “hello” for week 4 of the Spring100!! 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Walking the dog on a beautiful day in Kansas” Nathan and Joy K 🐕‍🦺👏🏼💯

“Enjoying our afternoon walk (and rollerblading) with a delicious cup of coffee and marveling at Gods creation!” Ivory B. 🙌🏻 Way to go!

“I love walking in the woods with my siblings 🥰” Kara G. 😁🙌🏻 Such a fun photo!

“Grabbing a walk with my mom in between rain showers. 🌧” Amanda S. — “I enjoyed walking a bunch in St. Louis with my husband and two kids.” Elisabeth S.👏🏼

“Starting a new challenge in our first official week of “retirement” : )” Sherri S.🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻💯

“Enjoying a walk during the solar eclipse! It was so weird to be dark in the middle of the day. MI” Jamie A. — “For our 2 year anniversary we found a new trail and walked almost 4.5 miles. I love the quality time we get walking together!” Laura M. 🙌🏻♥️ LOVE IT!

“Morgan, Abigail, Christopher and Amelia F enjoying a walk on the neighbor’s farm.” 🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻

Heather H. grabbing Spring100 miles with friends! — “Ran my fastest 10k since 2015 tonight with a stop at the most peaceful spot on the river” Heather L 🏃🏼‍♀️💯 Way to go!!!!

“Walking with Ohio friends!” Hannah K. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Such a fabulous photo!

“😍 Loving Spring100 this year!!!” Amber N.

“So thankful for Spring100 and getting outside in God’s creation, even in a snowy place! ❄😄” Paige C. 🙌🏻💯 So happy to have you part of the challenge!!

Brynn checking in for week 4 of the Spring100! So great to have you here. 🙋🏼‍♀️–“My siblings and I are enjoying the beautiful weather!” Chyanne☀️💯

All smiles as this fun group grabs their miles! Fabulous photo submitted by Edee M.🙌🏻

“Great way for my homeschooler to get in some much-needed fresh air! I love the beautiful new and old trails we discover during this time!” Dolorese J. — “Getting our miles in on a girls trip to Charleston, SC!!🥳❤” Hannah B

“So happy to have Bethany and Hannah G. back for another Spring100 Challenge! Grabbing their miles in North East Texas.” Hannah G. 🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻 Love it when Spring100ers get together!!

“Awesome walk with my brother!” Jenna — “The weather was cold, wet, and windy, and my umbrella was struggling. But I laughed and kept walking!” Lauren W. ☔️💯 Keep up the great work!!

“I had been feeling pretty defeated this week – sickness slammed me and my 3 and almost 2 year old, making our goal of walking at least a mile a day harder than it already is. I also won’t be able to run the 5K I was so excited for. But today when we made it less than 0.5 mile round trip to the swing set by the lake I realized it’s not about how many miles you walk but your attitude when you walk them. We could have been upset by what we weren’t able to do but instead we chose to enjoy what we could do, and it made all the difference.” Sarah B. 🙏🏼🙌🏻 Perfect encouragement! Thank you, Sarah! ♥️

“Theres nothing like ending the day with a walk with the fam. On a beautiful day! Enjoying Gods creation!” Madison G. — “Nice evening for a walk! 😁” Prashansa N. 🙋🏼‍♀️

“Morning run with my brother! 🤗” Clara H 👏🏼 Love sibling walks!!

Rosie A. checking in as she grabs her miles during a cold Spring100 Walk!❄️💯

“Walking is best with friends!” Hannah L. 👏🏼♥️

“Getting miles with my parents while they visit me at college! I’m so thankful they took the time to come visit me, and the Lord blessed our time together greatly!” Macy C. — “Nighttime walks in Fargo!” Ryah Reynolds 🙋🏼‍♀️Great job y’all!!

“Our tract distribution team at Niagara Falls on eclipse day also happened to be a mini Spring 100 group that doesn’t usually get to walk together and we had an awesome time covering over 6 miles between the US and Canada, getting the word of God into hundreds of peoples hands!” Reese P. 🙌🏻🙏🏼💯 PRAISE THE LORD! Love this!

“Hiking in the mountains is my favorite way to get the miles in!” Sarah M.– “Taking a mid morning walk with a friend, her daughter, and little red wagon! 🙂 Enjoying the fellowship, lovely weather, sunshine, and flowers.” Sarah P. 🏔🙌🏻🌸

“Love walking at our local botanic garden and park!!” Esther S. —“Day 25! A quarter of the way there! 🙌 I enjoyed a beautiful windy walk with my youngest daughter ❤” Hannah R. 👌🏻 WAY TO GO!

“Grabbing some miles with my sweet cousin!!” Abby S. 👏🏼😄

“Delightfully cool morning walk. I am enjoying Spring 100 so much!” Michaela L. — “I brought my little brother Michael along in the stroller for a mile walk. It was a little difficult to push a stroller along a gravel road, but we made it!” Jane F. 💯🙌🏻 Way to go!!

“Walking (and some biking) with great friends on Daniel Boones Wilderness trail!!” What a great Spring100 walking group!! 👏🏼😃

“Clouds and mists and mountain views and warm breezes made for an awesome 4 mile walk this afternoon! 🤩 Vermont” Melody P. — “Hiking in our local park! The spring weather is amazing today” Mikenna L.

“Loving the sunshine and spring flowers!😍🥰” Kayla H. 👌🏻🌸

“Our cat followed us for over a mile on our walk!” Sarah S. 🐈😁💯

“Completed what I called a 3 mile victory walk just after finishing all of my Texas Drivers Ed program! Even hit the fifty miles mark while doing so! Rejoice always- 1 Thessalonians 5:16” Elzabeth C. 👏🏼👏🏼 Way to go!! — “Making progress Emily is down to one crutch 🤗” Nancy B. 🙏🏼👏🏼 Praise the LORD!!!! Well done, Emily!!

“Walked up Enchanted Rock” Janna C. 🪨😍 Love it!!

“We walked 5 miles at Plum Creek with Spring 100 friends in Ohio, where we traveled for the Eclipse.” Melissa A. — “A beautiful Saturday morning walk with my five sweet blessings and one on the way! 🤩🥰🌞” Sarah B.

“Its fun to meet up with friends who are also doing Spring100. And an extra special treat when theyre normally 1,000 miles away!” Ruth D. 😃💯So happy you had that walk together!!

“Hit a 10 mile run in Duluth mn today” Matthew G. — “Enjoying a beautiful spring morning in Iowa!” Sally M. 🙌🏻💯 Keep up the great work!!

“Dabney Moore getting in 3.5 miles in the POURING rain!!” 🌧 Well done!!

“early morning walks🔥” Amanda W. — “Walking with my best friend three days a week while chatting on our cell phones.” Nancy Z. 👏🏼 LOVE this idea!!!

“We have enjoyed getting in some miles this past week, and enjoying the unusually nice 70+ degrees temps in Wisconsin! I recently bought a drone, so got a few pictures from the sky when walking 😀” Victoria F. 👏🏼 LOVE IT!

Love having the Shell Family checking as they grab their miles for week 4 of the Spring100!!🙌🏻💯

“Had to do some of my walking on the treadmill this weeknot my favorite but when it rains it rains😂” John S. — “Taps enjoying a solar eclipse walk!” 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

“Great Hike with cousins” Abigail M.🙋🏼‍♀️ Love seeing this walking group!

“We are enjoying the beautiful Spring weather here in Fairhope, Alabama! It is fun to explore different places in the area to walk our Spring 100 miles. 💯 😁” Caitlin & Matthew N– “Catching some miles on a windy Sunday afternoon with some walking buddies.” Krista Z

“Enjoying a beautiful hill country sunset while walking with my sisters ♥” Natilyn H.

“Hiking to water falls for some miles!!!” Andrew G. — “Stopped at a park for a picnic and got some miles in while the kids were playing!” Sarah H. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Way to go!!

Melody N. conquering her Spring100 miles and checking in for week 4!!🙌🏻💯😃

These lovely ladies saying “Hello” as they grab their miles!! Cherry M. and The L. ladies.🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“We enjoyed a beautiful walk near Frankfort, KY!” Elisabeth M. ♥️👏🏼

“We enjoyed a sunset walk in East Texas together this evening to get in some more Spring 100 miles!” Sara C. — “Susie K. and Karissa H. getting a mile in on a beautiful spring day in Manitoba.” 😃👍🏻💯 Fabulous photos!!

Spring100 evening walk with the Moody family! 👏🏼🙌🏻💯

Such a full week here! Finding beauty as I enjoy my sunset Spring100 walks with Bekah this week. Romans 9:16 has been a verse on my mind as I grabbed my miles this week, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” I am so thankful for the Lord’s mercy. Keep on pressing toward the goal! You all are doing such a fabulous job!!🙋🏼‍♀️💯

This week’s post is brought to you by:
Forge Ministries

Forge Ministries is a Christian non-profit organization bringing conferences and events to Texas. This year’s conference is The Peace of God, which will take place on August 29-31 in Kerrville, Texas. It will be a wonderful weekend of encouraging messages, singing, and fellowship! We’re also so excited to be hosting a pre-conference singles lunch for the first time! Check out our website for more info!

A huge Thank you to FORGE Ministries for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

Find Forge on Instagram & Facebook

“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”
Hebrews 12:1

Three weeks finished for the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!🙌🏻💯 Y’all are blowing me away with your dedication and enthusiasm. Way to go!! I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy the Friend’s feature this year.😃 It is adding a new level of community and accountability. So fun!! Reminder: Registration closes TONIGHT(April 8th) at 11:59pm(CST). NOW is the time to get friends and family to join the Spring100 Challenge!!

FUN Spring100 Week 3 Stats:

👉🏼 4,290 Participants
👉🏼 78,082.35 total miles walked to date for the 2024 Spring100
👉🏼 25 participants have already crossed the 100 Mile Finish Line!

Spring100 Featured Photographer: Nenni Grace

Spring100 Devotional

Truly Repent – That Times of Refreshing May Come

Mr Trent Moody || Week 3 Spring100 Devotional

In Acts 3 we find an amazing scene as Peter and John are entering the temple gate on their way to pray. At the gate was a lame man who had never walked in his entire life. He had to be carried to that spot in order to beg for alms. 

Little did he know that the next men to come along would give him something far greater than alms. Peter and John looked at this man and said, “. . . In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). They then took him by the hand, and he rose up and began walking, leaping, and praising God.  

All the people around who saw this were filled with wonder and amazement. Yet Peter took this opportunity to turn the crowd’s attention to something far greater than the miracle.  

The miracle—as great as it was—was for the purpose of pointing to something more needful than physical healing.  

Being healed from lameness is amazing, but the “no-longer-lame man” would one day die. What he and the crowd truly needed was something far greater than physical healing. They needed to be saved from their sins. Their greatest malady was not physical, but spiritual. They were all dead in their sins and trespasses.  

Peter, seeing the crowd gathering, seized the moment to preach the gospel, telling the crowd, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Two words here are really helpful for us to understand what true repentance is. The first word “repent” means to change one’s mind or purpose. The second significant word “be converted” means to turn.  

In its simplest form, these two words, together, give us the understanding that true repentance means a change of mind that results in a change of action or behavior.  

Most people only partially repent by acknowledging that what they did or thought was wrong and sinful, but they stop short of true repentance and actually turning from their sin. Partial repentance is no repentance at all. In fact, partial repentance is actually presumptuous sin. It is knowing that what you are doing is wrong, yet continuing to do it anyway. Presumptuous sin is actually worse than sinning out of ignorance.  

God’s message to this crowd, and to each of us, is that we must have faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:16), and we must truly repent of our sins. The result of true faith and repentance is “that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

This is the greatest miracle ever—that a holy God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, would blot out our sins! The idea behind the word “blotted out” is to obliterate. What a glorious truth! Jesus has totally obliterated and utterly destroyed the guilt of my sin! This is what brings “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19).

These times of refreshing may come to you as well, if you will truly repent of your sins, and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the truth of the resurrection that declares God was fully satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice.  

As Peter declared to the crowd, so I declare unto you: 

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

QUESTION! What is your favorite feature in the NEW Spring100 Member Portal? Keeping up with friends? Quick and easy daily Mile Logging? The ability to keep track of your best day? Comment Below and let me know!!👇🏼👇🏼

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!

“Hiking in the Douro mountain region of Portugal 🇵🇹. Never seen so many waterfalls in one region in all our lives. Such beauty to behold and this under the curse. So thankful to the Lord for His mercies!! Pit stop for some lunch.” Melinda C. 🙌🏻💯 LOVE THIS!

Beautiful morning walk for Lori E. — The Lovely Rojas ladies enjoying a beautiful Spring100 walk for week 3!!🙋🏼‍♀️♥️💯

“The Mathews family enjoyed a beautiful sunset walk in chilly Minnesota! Nathan (3) is especially enthusiastic to walk a hunred miles!” SOOOOO excited to have the Matthews family back for another Spring100!!🙋🏼‍♀️👏🏼💯

Andrew C. enjoying an evening Spring100 walk!! 🙌🏻💯 Great having you check in for week 3!!

Jedidiah + his dad conquering a 5K for a beautiful cause during week 3 of the 2024 Spring100!💯👏🏼

“A beautiful Saturday morning walk with mom!❤ Im so grateful for the warm spring weather.😄” Lydia L.

Late night walk for Heidi v. and Melody P. + crew checking in for week 3!!👏🏼💯

“Doing spring 100 with my little pony pal, Otis! We’re both enjoying it!!” Carol Y. 🐴👏🏼

“I call this my Prayer Walk!” Aja L. — “Our evening routine.” Bernie B. 🙌🏻💯 WELL DONE!!!!

“Love spending the weekend with all my sisters!” Bethany C. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Such a fun Spring100 walking group!!

“Walking in the Birch Trees on the mountain!!” Barbara M.– “I love listening to all the bird sounds and looking at the springing buds while I walk! If anyone is behind by some miles, you are not alone! But together we can reach the finish line! 💪🏻 1 Thessalonians 5:11a Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” Megan J. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Great photos for week 3!!

“Hiking through the woods and the Bluebells are blooming!” Hope S. 🌸💯 Love the photo, Hope!!

“Enjoying the beautiful 108 degree weather here in Southern Mexico! It has been so much fun to get outside and spend quality time with my siblings!” Hannah W. ☀️ Phew!! Keep cool and enjoy week 4!!🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Great having Ethan A. checking in for week 3!! He’s conquering his Spring100 miles.👏🏼💯🙋🏼‍♀️

“Enjoying the wonderful spring weather!!” Grace F. and Macy C. — Grazia W. checking in during a fun hike for week 3 of the Spring100!🙌🏻🥾

“Two weeks in Scotland! Getting in our steps, rain or shine!!” Grace S. ☔️👏🏼💯

“A fun evening walk as siblings!” Herbel crew checking in and enjoying an evening Spring100 walk together!!👏🏼💯

“Little waking buddy who is determined to get all my miles.” Sharon Enns — “Martin family having a great time walking with our neighbor, Mr. Moore!”

Love it when Spring100ers get together!! Halbach and Schmechel ladies enjoying a walk and fun fellowship together!👏🏼🙌🏻♥️

“Its fun to get creative and find different trails to take our walks on. Sometimes when I feel unmotivated to walk I find a beautiful trail like this to walk on and its so worth going out again!” Mary R. — Emmi found some Spring beauties during her walk for week 3!! 😍🌷

“We had a fun time taking a city walk in the rain this week. 🙂 So thankful Spring100 is back this year!” Mary Jo H. 💯🙋🏼‍♀️ So happy to have you all back for another Spring100!!

“I was taken out of commission for days because of a stomach bug this week, but I’m slowly starting to get back to walking.” Sarah H. — “Going for a walk with my 96 year old grandmother in a coastal rainforest near our house in British Columbia.” Susannah D. ♥️🙌🏻

“I had a great 23rd birthday on Wednesday, part of it being a 3 mile walk on our beautiful Confederation Trail with my sisters Abigail and Elizabeth!” Hannah May S. 🥳🥳🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNAH!!!!!!💯

Heather H. checking in for week 3 and Nicole and Noelle Schafer, getting some miles in together!🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Love seeing Elizabeth and Lydia all smiles as they grab their Spring100 miles!!👏🏼♥️

Great having Jenna snapping a Spring100 walking photo for week 3!!👍🏻👌🏻 — “Walking with my sister on a windy afternoon” Maggie H. 💯 Keep up the great work!!

“How many people can say that theyve walked the Spring 100 with a Confederate Soldier?!
Love walking with these guys! Always a joy and lots of laughs! ❤” Charity B. and crew

“Decided to go on a family hike and the trails ended up being mud pits! The kids loved it.” April B. — “My mom and I went to the Mall to walk together. 😁” Char K.

“Walking my neighborhood with Eastern Redbuds while a storm approaches in the distance!” Melissa A. 🌨💯

“Sunsets here are beautiful for evening walks!!” Kelly M. — “Finishing our miles for the day in the beautiful crisp spring air!” Lillian R. 👏🏼👍🏻 Keep on going!! You’r doing great!🙋🏼‍♀️

“Becca & I enjoyed a jog on this beautiful evening!” Lucy 😍💯

Esther M. checking in for snowy week 3 of the Spring100! ❄️🙌🏻 — “Stopping to smell the flowers as I walk with my daughter!” Melinda and Hadessa

“Went for a walk in the middle of a snow storm😏” Janae M. ❄️

“Do I triple the distance if Im pushing two people?! 🤔🙈😂” Priscilla A. — “Morning run with my brothers!” Rosalyn B. 👏🏼 WELL DONE!!

“First time Spring100ers:) Wonderful incentive to get out in the beautiful central Texas weather and enjoy the bluebonnets and wildflowers!” Anne E. 💐💯 So glad to have you join!!!!!!

“Getting walking in while working at the sheep farm 🐑” Ivory B. — “Evening walk with my husband!” Rachael M.

“We just had to go walk in this (hopefully last of the winter) beautiful snowy scene.” Shannon ❄️💯

“Walking next to the steer got him all riled.” Lady L. — “Took my walk to the park today! Enjoying the sunshine and some prayer time with God.” Kelsey G. 🙌🏻💯 Way to go!!

“Grabbing some miles while training with my search and rescue team!” Shannon Lehman👌🏻🙌🏻💯 Well done!!!!

“Lovely spring walks in Canterbury, UK accompanied by the ever-changing weather!” Ellie H. 😍🙋🏼‍♀️ So glad you got to enjoy Spring100 walks in the UK!!

“Sisters evening walk at golden hour 🙌❤” Victoria S. 😃♥️ LOVE IT!! Great job!!

“A beautiful sunset and crisp evening jog!” Andrew L. — “We walked to a beautiful waterfall and saw a rainbow!” Katherine V. 👏🏼 Keep up the great work!!

“I enjoyed a beautiful, breezy walk with some of my family!” Hannah Reed 🙌🏻💯 Great photo!

“A few Moore and Moody kids grabbing some miles on a fun afternoon walk at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap, VA😁 So thankful for great friends and Gods beautiful creation🙌🏼” Erin Moody 👏🏼💯 LOVE IT!

“Really enjoying our walks in the desert and the special mother-daughter time!” Anna C. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯♥️

“I’m pretty happy to have crossed the finish line this Saturday, it was a fun challenge!💪💥” Douglas F.🙌🏻💯👏🏼 WAY TO GO!!!! — “I had an invigorating jog this afternoon!” Annina F. 🙋🏼‍♀️♥️ SO glad to have you part of this challenge!

“We are loving the beautiful flowering bushes on our walks!” Elisabeth M. 🌸💯

“I went to a local park, which made walking all that much more enjoyable! Especially with this beautiful sunset!! 😁” Royal A. — “Finally got out as a family for a good brisk mile!” Stacy P. 👌🏻😄 WAY TO GO!!!

“Resurrection Sunday walk!” Katie C. 🙌🏻♥️

“Love hiking in the warm weather!” Rosalyn B. — “Sisters evening walk at golden hour 🙌❤” Victoria S.

“Lovely Sunday afternoon canal walk with these sweet ladies!” Naomi P. 👏🏼💯

“Hiking through the woods and the Bluebells are blooming!” Hope S. — “Soaking in the sunshine after days of rain, hail and snow!” Kristin T. 👏🏼Great job!!

Loved seeing this great Spring100 walking group! Great photo submited by Jacob B. 🙌🏻💯

Micah S. and baby A. checking in for week 3! Looks like they had a sasquatch sighting.😆🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Getting some miles in at WindWolves Nature Preserve in Kern County, CA” Staphanie I. 💯🙌🏻LOVE the scenery!!

“Its a beautiful spring in Texas and Im loving my first time joining the Spring100!! Its been so refreshing and such a blessing to get outside-3rd week of walks have been all over the place :)” Aimee B. — “Enjoyed a walk with the fam today!!” Emma 👌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️ Good job, y’all!!

“Family walks are the best!💯 Praise the Lord for some beautiful sunshine and warmth!” Lehman family ☀️Amen!! Great having you all part of the challeng.😄

“Out walking with my Aunt Lynn and Sister Grace!” John S. — “Taking a Sunday evening walk on Kansas country roads 😊” Joshua + Lynnsey 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

The DaRosa Family Farm Crew getting in their miles here in Arkansas!!💯🙌🏻

DeLane, Daylie Grace, and Delight M. getting miles in together! 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️– “Went for a nice cool walk… Perfect weather!!!” Gabriel R.

“Enjoying getting in a few more miles with a friend ❣” Hannah P. 👌🏻 Spring100 walks are always funner with a friend! 👏🏼

It has been another beautiful week of walking here in East Texas! Rebekah has been such a blessing to grab evening Spring100 walks with. We are soaking up the cooler evenings before the heat shows up. Praise the Lord for another sucessful week of Spring100! Y’all are doing such a great job. Keep on pressing forward and keep your eyes steadfastly set on Christ!! 🙋🏼‍♀️♥️ Rachel @ Spring100

This week’s post is brought to you by:Brandon and Lindsay Statum-Certified Health Coaches

My husband and I have recently found the love of moving our bodies since we have lost weight (a total of 220 lbs). We became Certified Health Coaches about 2 years ago. We love to be able to accommodate and customize our program specifically for our client’s goals! We would love to connect with you to help you become the healthiest version of you! We look forward to success with other Christians in moving! 

A huge Thank you to Brandon and Lindsay Statum-Certified Health Coaches for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

“let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12

Congratulations!!👏🏼 You’ve made it through week 2 of the 2024 Spring100!! Wow, what an energetic group we have this year. 🙌🏻 As I sort through the photos submitted this week, it is such a JOY to see so many families getting out and enjoying time together for their Spring100 walks. Such a blessing! ☺️💯 How about some fun Stats as we end Week 2:

4,093 have joined the 2024 challenge to date!
50,067.27 miles have been walked in the first 2 weeks

Just a friendly reminder! There is still time to join the challenge and catch up!! Spring100 Registration will close on April 8th. Once closed, we will not be taking any new members so NOW is the time to share this 2024 Spring100 Challenge with friends and family!!

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses

Mr Wesley Strackbein || Week 2 Spring100 Devotional

As we tread the race of life, we should be heartened by the vast throng of saints who came before us.

That’s a message we learn in Hebrews 12:

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, (Heb. 12:1)

This “cloud of witnesses” are believers, from centuries past, who had enduring faith in God and finished their race well. Their stories are showcased in the text immediately preceding this verse for the express purpose of encouraging us in our race.

“[Y]ou have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36), states the author of Hebrews, and from there he launches into a rousing description of the great Hall of Faith (Heb. 11:1-40).

Included in their number are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, and more.

Most of these witnesses lived in different centuries, yet their testimonies have a common theme—they walked by faith, not by sight.

They all ran their race of life, believing in promises, made by God, that they never saw fulfilled in their lifetimes (Heb. 11:13, 39). And because they believed, without seeing, they “obtained a good testimony” (Heb. 11:1-2).

By faith, each of them persevered—many having to wait a long time to see God bring about His plan for their earthly pilgrimage.

Noah labored tirelessly to build an Ark when rain had never occurred before. Finally, the Flood came (Heb. 11:7; Gen. 6-7).

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son, but decades passed, and Sarah remained barren. Then, in their old age, at God’s appointed time, Isaac was born (Heb. 11:11; Gen. 15:1-6; 21:1-3).

David was anointed as king of Israel while young (1 Sam. 16:1-13), but was hunted and harried by King Saul, for years, before finally taking the throne (Heb. 11:32; 2 Sam. 5:1-4).

Just as these witnesses endured years of waiting, believing God’s promises in faith, so we must do.

Their race of life also required them to make hard choices. Consider Moses, for example:

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Heb. 11:24-26)

Just as Moses cast aside “the passing pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25), so, too, must we as we press on toward the prize.

Our faith is not in the “cloud of witnesses,” but in the faithful God they served. If we’re truly His, the same God who sustained them over many long, hard miles will sustain us in our journey. 

May we run our race with bold faith, as they did, “for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

QUESTION!! What is your game plan for conquering your 100 miles? Are you walking 1.1 miles every day? A few times a week? Or running all 100 miles in 36 hours? 😉 Comment NOW and let us know!

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 this photo submitted by Spring100er Hannah H.! Such a great walking crew. 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Running with the Roley family in North Carolina on yesterdays 5K distance.” Way to go!👏🏼

“A Sunday afternoon walk with cousins😍” Joanna G.

“Family hike at Red Bluff MI. It was SO cool! The erosion is actively eating the road. :)” Grace

“Wegner’s…..out getting some miles in.” 🙌🏻💯 WAY TO GO!!

Such gorgeous photos from this week 2 Spring100 walk!! Thank you, Ashlee S. for sending.🤩🙌🏻

“Funny things happened on our walk!” Cook family 👏🏼 LOVE IT!

“Penners enjoying a walk on Easter Sunday!” Great Spring100 walking group, great photos!! 🙌🏻

Love having these sweet friends join the challenge! The F. ladies and sweet little guy out grabbing their miles. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Rejoicing in the Lord always! Thankful for good weather and for three generations of family to walk with!” Kristina M. — “Fun evening walk in the beautiful evening with Lucy!❤ Praise God for HIS wonderful creation!” Rebecca W. 💯🙋🏼‍♀️

“It was WINDY, but we managed over 5 miles! Hurray!” Becky L. Great job!!👏🏼

“We took a trip to see the Grand Canyon this week and did some hiking with the boys!” Esther C. — “Just finished a desert Marathon with a 35lb ruck sack in memory of those who died on the Bataan peninsula during WWII !!!” Timothy S. 🙌🏻💯 Love these photos!!

Melinda C. enjoying week 2 of the Spring100 in El Puente Nuevo in Ronda, Spain 🇪🇸

The Johnson family grabbing their miles for week 2 of the Spring100!🙌🏻 — “Samantha and I caught a few miles together on a sunny day.” Jane F. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Walking spring 100 with my siblings; So fun!” Kristina R

“We enjoyed some beautiful spring walks this week!” The Bill Ladies 🙋🏼‍♀️💯 Way to go!!

Jacob B. checking in and grabbing his miles for week 2!!🏃🏼‍♂️💯

“Enjoying the beautiful weather the Lord has blessed us with!” J&J Moran — “Little man has been enjoying his miles in the stroller!” Sarah M. Keep up the great work!! 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Great walk and talk with my wonderful wife.” J Steve C. 🙌🏻💯

“Easter Sunday afternoon walks together! ☺” the Bartel family 👏🏼

“Enjoyed a Spring 100 walk with some of my family! All of the ladies here have Ruth or Elizabeth (or both!) as part of their name!” LOVE THIS! Such a fun walking group!! 🙌🏻

Treadmill miles happening for these Spring100ers!! L to R: Maddox I., Nathan K., Jude S., and Lori H. Jude writes, “50 miles done, 50 to go! First year doing Spring 100, and I am absolutely loving it! (Also decided to run it all instead of walking) Super fun.” WELL DONE!!!👏🏼👍🏻

“Got in some distance while putting invitations in mailboxes (allowed in Canada!) for a special meeting we had for Brazilians in Toronto last week!” P. Family — SUCH a great way to grab your miles! 👏🏼

Denise C. checking in for week 2 and HUGE shoutout to Emily!! She’s persevering and grabbing her Spring100 miles on crutches this week.🙌🏻👏🏼♥️ WAY TO GO!!

“My girls and I enjoying an after dinner walk!” Elisabeth M. Keep up the great work!! 👍🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

“50 miles done! 50 miles to go!” Trevor Penner, from Kansas– SOOO exciting!! Great job, Trevor!!💯👍🏻

Bethany M. soaking up some gorgeous sunshine and Spring views as she tackles week 2 of the Spring100!👏🏼🌸

“Running for some free chicken biscuts!!! 3 miles down!” Amy B. — “My sister Hannah and I love walking in the evenings to see the sunset!” Benjamin H. Great photos!!👏🏼

Gideon M. checking in enjoying his 2nd Spring100 and great coffee while he conquers his miles!!😁💯

“We enjoyed walking in the rain this morning and seeing all of the beautiful flowers that are blooming! :)” Bronwyn and Aliyah H. — “Enjoying some beautiful sunshine on my walk with my brother Morgan!!” Caroline F. Great job!! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙌🏻

Rosie A. checking in for week 2!! Love the lambs.😁💯

“Windy spring day!!” Suzette U. — Martens Family grabbing Spring100 miles together!! 👏🏼

The H. family tackling their miles in windy Kansas!🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

Warmer texas days for Ruth L. and her sisters as they enjoy Spring100 walks together!!👏🏼💯 — “Enjoying Gods creation: A beautiful, snowy day walk with family!” Sarah P. ❄️

“A fun walk by the Shenandoah river this week!” 🙌🏻SO happy to have the Halbach Family here for another Spring100!!

Gabby T. enjoying a Spring100 walk with friends and Holly C. says, “Walking the field in my backyard to get those miles in! ☺ First time doing this challenge and its been a great motivator to be exercising daily!” Great job, ladies!! 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️

Kandace E. enjoying the Texas sunset and good company as she conquers week 2 miles!!🙌🏻🌅

“Enjoying running with this girl!” Darleen W. — “I love getting in my miles with these two!” Delie H.♥️💯

“Having fun on an evening walk!” Joshua G. 👏🏼

Kuddos to all the mom’s out there pulling out the strollers, bundling up the children, and grabbing your miles!!!🙌🏻💯 Love these photos from Jane F. and Laura B.🙋🏼‍♀️

“Love all the family walks we get in during Spring100!” Renfer Family 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

Kate S. checking in for week 2 with these sweet girls!! 👏🏼🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“Walking on a brisk Utah afternoon.” Mike K. 🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“We are exciting to be doing the Spring100 officially this year! Enjoying our West Virginia hills. :)” Barker Family — “Lynn S. enjoying a walk with her sister-in-law and niece!”

“Been really enjoying some quality family time this past week on our walks! Also loving the amazing spring weather!” Natilyn H.

“S girls enjoying a fun sister walk!” — Long ladies checking for week 2!! 🙌🏻💯

“We always love walking together as siblings!! Sweet time of conversations and making memories 💛💛” The F. family

Megan B. checking in for week 2 of Spring100 💯 — “Long day but trying to get some miles in!!” Rachel C

“Going on a walk with one of my mustangs! Theyre kind of like dogs and follow me around😁” Erin P.

“The Miles family getting their miles”🙋🏼‍♀️💯 — Sally M. checking in for week 2 of the 2024 Spring100!

“Simply Sarahs!” Sarah M enjoying her Spring100 miles with a friend!!🙌🏻😁

“This is my first year and I’m loving it (and so is my dog 😁!)” Talitha — “We enjoyed a beautiful day in south Texas walking around our neighborhood park.” Tawnya J.

“It was a beautiful day for a walk at the Johnsonville State Historical Park” Nancy Z.

This week’s post is brought to you by: Comfort Commander

Comfort Commander Air Conditioning & Heating is a family-owned and operated business serving south Texas, for over 16 years. We prioritize reliability, safety, and efficiency in all our heating, cooling, and refrigeration services. From installations and repairs to routine maintenance, our expert technicians are here to ensure your complete comfort. We are committed to making Americans cool again, especially after walking Spring100!!

A huge Thank you to Comfort Commander for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18

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!!

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!

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!! 🙌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

This week’s post is brought to you by:
Private Family Banking

Private Family Banking Partners’ mission is to help you set up your own privatized banking system so that you can prosper and pass along tax-free wealth to the next generation and teach them to be financially responsible with that wealth.  We train and mentor our customers to prosper in any economy by using our uniquely designed Private Family Banking system.  Our customers include individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, small businesses, retirees, and families (even those with high interest credit card debt), student loans, car loans and other consumer debt).

A huge Thank you to Private Family Banking for supporting the 2024 Spring100 Challenge!

“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

It’s the first day of Spring which means TODAY Spring100 officially begins!! Are you ready for this? It’s challenge time!🙌🏻

Start Walking + Logging Your Miles!

Spring100 has begun and you can now start walking and logging your Spring100 miles!! With the new Spring100 Member’s Portal, you can daily submit the miles you walk or run for the Spring100! Log in, click the “Log Miles” tab, and enter the miles walked or run for the specific date.

Send In Your Photos!

Don’t forget to snap your Spring100 Starting Line Photo and send it in to be featured for our FIRST 100Mile Monday post which this coming Monday, March 25th! If you’re a Spring100 Veteran, this is your time to set the example and show the New Spring100ers how it’s done. 🙌🏻 You can easily upload your photos on the Member’s Portal. Click “Log Miles” tab and locate the “Send Photo in a Photo” button. Please Note: The Weekly photo submission deadline will be Sunday at 8pm (CST)!

STILL TIME TO REGISTER!

If you have yet to register, Registration for the 2024 Spring100 is open until April 8th! Now is the time register and to share this challenge. The more people who join this challenge, the more fun it will be!

I hope and pray this year’s challenge is a tremendous blessing to each of you. Walk safe and have fun… I’ll see you at the finish line!🙋🏼‍♀️💯

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18