Mark Wilkerson’s Blog

May 9, 2010

May 9, 2010

Spiritual Prep

It is the Lord’s day.  We praise and honor a risen savior and the kindness and faithfulness of our God, through the Spirit who dwells in us.  It is a day we all gather to worship Him and to encourage one another.  Praise be to the Father, the Son and the Spirit.  We pray for you all in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Also Mother’s day.  CJ has her children here to honor her.  We are celebrating together today, honoring all she has done for our family.  She is truly a family manager who has work tirelessly for many years for the higher good of our tribe and has kept the faith being an inspiration to us all.  We love her beyond expression.   

I know the wonderfulness of heaven is beyond our dreams.  But for today, we will rejoice in the heaven we are experiencing with each other on earth.  My prayer is that your day is going as well.

Training Prep

As you know, training is over.  I want to express my great appreciation to Sallie and Craig Sparks-Shonda and Mark Oliver-Becky and Andy Delicker .  They got up at 3:30 am to get to Indy to surprise me at the start of the race.  It was a long drive and very cold morning but they made it.  Can’t tell you how great it is to have such friends in Christ.   

Ok, legs are really sore.  Surprised which muscles hurt.  All of them.  Sleeping last night was good but couldn’t stay in one spot for very long because of the ache.  Looking to walk a lot today and will take a short run tomorrow to iron them out. 

We are not sure of the exact number of people we passed yet.  However, one of our running team was Dennis Martin an actuary.  He did the math and is estimating we passed over 10,000 people.  What a great victory for NWHCM and the people of Haiti.

May 8, 2010

Spiritual Prep

(This is Jenny, Mark’s daughter) So as we finished the race and I kept encouraging Dad to “run Mark run”, I couldn’t help but remember Paul’s exhortation to Timothy stating that he “fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished the race.” And boy did Dad do that today. As I sit here blogging with him (I took over), and hear him groan as he stands up, I’m overwhelmed with how faithful God is to help us complete our personal race. Our life is an endurance race and like Dad, we have a choice to run them for ourselves or run for God. We’ve run this race 4 years now and none have been as sweet and rewarding as this one. We were running for God. We were running for what God’s heart beats. We were running as an extension of God’s hands and feet for Haiti. When we choose to partner with God we can do amazing things in our race. And it’s these radical things that pull other people closer to the amazing God we serve. I know when we cross the true finish line in heaven God will look at us and say, “well done good and faitful servant, you fought the fight, kept the faith, finished the race and now a great reward awaits you.”

Training: FINISHED (insert hallelujah chorus)

Dad says…”arghhhhh.” and “ugh….”

We won’t know the final results until Monday. We’ll post Monday evening so you can still pledge….. a lot…a whole lot….

Thanks everyone for supporting and loving my Dad.

May 7, 2010

May 8, 2010

Spiritual Prep

I was sent this scripture by a friend as an encouragement.  Hebrews 12:1b-2a  Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.  The preparation is not quite finished.  The physical prep is over but there is still spiritual prep to do.   We ate the pre race meal CJ cooked for us all and had our prayer as a family asking for good health but most of all that what we are doing and have done will all be for the glory of the Lord.  To help show the passion he has put on our hearts for others in despirate need. 

We are all here and have enjoyed the company that comes with the teasing and jabbing of a family.  The kids teasing because CJ and I don’t hear quite as well as we used to and re-living Tanner’s first run last year.  We are full of whole wheat pasta, and getting ready to sleep if we can.   

I feel almost like I am playing ball again with all the prep that is taking place.  There was a point where I would get some quite time and review my play book and scouting report.  That quite time will be in the morning with coffee and the play book will be speaking to the Lord and reviewing his play book for our lives.  I give thanks for all of you and the graciousness you have shown.  Each step that is painless and each that may have pain will be given for him and what He has already done for those who believe in Him. 

Training Prep

Two times in the whirlpool today.  Still one stretch to go.  Have to be there for another TV interview at 6:40 AM.  Then to the back of the line to get ready to go to work.  Tell you all about it tomorrow night.

May 6, 2010

May 7, 2010

Spiritual Prep

As I am waiting for Saturday, the race morning time starts to accelerate as we get closer.  Wasn’t that long ago it seemed a long way off.  And now, it is about 33 hours away.  IT’S HERE!  At the beginning there were things to do to be ready.  Little things like planning the drink stops and big things like physical training.  Waiting is where a lot of people lose direction and find themselves at the end unprepaired.   

There is a story I heard once about two college students who had been studying for final exams.  Early the next morning as they were on the way to class for the test, the students passed a  Church where elderly people were filing out after an early morning service.  One student asked the other, what do you think they were doing in there?  The other student replied, cramming for finals. 

Will we find in our lives that the time has escaped and we are left with the feeling we need to cram for finals?  Let’s be training to be prepared for what God has in store for us on that day and in these days.   

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.’

Training Prep

Did the whirlpool today and got some relief so will keep stretching and do the whirlpool twice tomorrow.  Also will wear rubber sole shoes tomorrow for comfort. 

We went to the Mini Expo to hand out cards to the runners as they came in  to get their running packet for Saturday.  The cards had the Run Mark Run.net website on one side and “check it out on the other.  We handed out about a thousand this afternoon.  It was pretty cool.  Because of the TV spot, a lot of people recognized the effort and asked us to tell them more about it.  There was a lot of interest and support.  Also, I had someone tell me a story about how their 5 year old told them he wanted to give all he had in his piggy bank after watching the interview.  An associate at work told me she shared the TV interview with her children as a way to describe why she worked for our company.  A company of people who did what we are doing.  Told you I was getting much more than I was giving.  The excitement is building.  Tomorrow we will go and hand out the rest of the cards at the Expo and meet more great people.  I am getting pumped.  When our kids get here tomorrow and we eat dinner together, then start getting ourselves ready, I will really be in a zone.  Can’t wait.

May 5, 2010

May 6, 2010

Spiritual Prep

I started out the blog on March 7th, using this scripture Matt 19:26 “”with God, all things are possible.”  Today we went over 500 pennies.  Not only are things possible, He always exceeds our expectations.  There is no telling how far the Lord is going to take all we are doing together.  Using all this social media really makes it a joint effort.  One has to pass it to another and another and so on.  It can start in the heart of one but will only grow in hearts that are molded by the Spirit that dwells in us.  We are connected by so many things.  We now share in this work as this chapter is closing and another will begin.  Keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of our work together here is to provide a chance for  someone to get a chance to tell a person in Haiti that our Lord gave His life so we could give ours and that is the God we serve and strive to be like.  His example, his pattern in our life– to yours.  The offer of Jesus to join in him is for everyone and will be shared thanks to you.  Shared when the hungrey are eating, the sick being given care, the eldery and widows are looked after and the oprhans are loved.  You all are amazing and I am sad there is only a couple of days left to write.   It is said that when we have an experience such as this, we benefit more than the ones we serve.  From my point of view, I am the one who has been given much in this experience.   God is good–All the time!  Lord, bless the final days of our work.  I ask blessings on all the people who have and will participated in Run Mark Run 4 Haiti.  You are our God and we praise your name.  All we ask and do, it is in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Training Prep

Stretching is helping.  Starting to be sure I am drinking a lot of water.  Tomorrow we will go to the Expo which is where everyone gets their running bib/number.  We will have our shirts on and will be handing out cards with the web site on it and asking runners to go check out the web site.  Will get a whirlpool tomorrow.  Got to figure out with the running team how we will be effecient in passing people.  You use a lot of energy and time weaving in and out.  Thinking about some sort of horn to let people know we are coming.