During my almost 27 years of personal training I have accumulated multiple certifications and tons of continuing education credits. While those accolades have been a big part of developing my training knowledge, they aren't nearly as valuable as the practical experience of training for a specific event or dealing with an injury.  Getting injured is a trial we all encounter at some point in our lives.  For me, it has become an opportunity to learn more about the body and support myself and our clients better.
 

And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." Isaiah 57:14.

Skiing in the mountains is one of my favorite things to do.

I've been skiing out in Colorado since I was a kid.

One of the biggest challenges on the mountains are mogul hills.

 

My college football experience had a BIG role in shaping who I am today.  It humbled me, challenged me and taught me the process of setting BIG goals and seeing them through.

"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense."  Proverbs 12:11.

According to a recent survey in usnews.com, the average American spends 3.1 hours per day watching TV.  Digitalmarketing.org puts the average social media time at over 2 hours per day.

When I look at these numbers it's apparent most of us have plenty of time to kill.

The problem along with killing time is we are killing opportunities too.
 

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he"  Proverbs 23:7

How do you think of yourself?

If we talked to other people like we talked to ourselves in our thoughts we would get slapped.

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much"  Luke 16:10   Last week I had the privilege of going fishing for catfsh on the Mighty Mississippi with my old high school friend Andy.   Andy has fished professionally and is the BEST fisherman I know. (So good, in fact, I could see him hosting his own fishing program). 

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life."  James 1:12.   Simply put, when we are faced with trials in our lives, we are forced to grow and change.  It's a choice we get to make.

"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23

I don't know about you, but summer is always the biggest challenge for me to stay on track with EVERYTHING.

"For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up." Proverbs 24:16.  Too often we when we fail (fall down) we think of it as a negative thing. This shouldn't be the case.  Have you ever heard the term "failing forward?"  Thomas Edison knew this. One of his most famous quotes is "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."  Failing is really learning.

 

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18.

Fear is defined as "an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat."

Do you remember the last time you felt REAL fear?

 

"Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them." Proverbs 26:12

When I worked at the big club there was this guy named Dale who would always come up to the trainer desk to talk fat loss strategies with me.

More like argue and debate his theories with me.

Normally I'm pretty open minded to talk with someone and share ideas.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

In our lives there will always be some kind of fight.  It's true.  A good friend of mine made the statement once - 'as you go through life you will always be either going into a fight, be in a fight or coming out of a fight.'  This statement has always stuck with me. Be it big or small, our lives are full of 'fight' and sometimes, they are not easy.  But we always manage to finish the race.  

There will be times you'll want to quit and just give in.  But as the passage says, 'keep the faith.'

Proverbs 22:13 shows God's sense of humor. It says "The lazy person claims, "There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!"

To me, this Proverb is timeless.  To me, the 'lion' translates into excuses.  The lazy person is often blaming the 'lion' or excuses to not get things done.  
 

When I think about the times in my life I've grown the most, it was always when I was facing some sort of trial.  One trial in particular was the divorce from my first wife.  That event shook me up - but it also woke me up.

 

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man."  -Proverbs 6:10-11

This proverb is powerful.  It applies to so many aspects of our life.  When we think of poverty we usually associate it with lacking money.   But it can also be associated with our health, our relationships, even our spiritual well-being.
 

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."  This passage has gotten me through some tough times and over some big obstacles.  Too often when life gets busy we go into survival mode.  We exist with an attitude of "conquer the day" or "just get through the day".

Proverbs 11:14 says "Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety."

Who do you have on your "wise counselor" team?

Are there people in your life who support and guide you no matter what the circumstances? Do they say the hard things to you that others may shy away from?  Who keeps you moving forward in your life - to help you see through the forest that, let's admit, can get very dark at times?

Proverbs 22:6 says: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

When my stepson was younger, he played football and basketball.  I really enjoyed going to his games and watching him compete.  One of the perks of these outings was getting to know the other parents.  We formed a camaraderie off the field that was fun and entertaining.

However, there are always those parents that drive you crazy...if you have kids in sports, you know what I'm talking about.  It's the parent that constantly criticizes, complains and coaches from the sideline.

I knew one of those parents.

 

My days are filled with coaching, instructing and counseling my clients through all kinds of challenges.  If I'm being honest, it can be very rewarding but also very frustrating at the same time.  You see, there are people who truly are their own worst enemies.

Jeremiah 8:5 says "Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return"

Two of the most dangerous words are "good enough."

These words breed complacency.