A Message From Melissa Reinert… 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” Colossians 1:9

Recently I had the honor of meeting with our friends to pray for our donors and to write a little note of thanks. It was such a blessing to my heart.

One gentleman who has been coming to the Covington gym for quite some time, had some trouble writing, so I offered to help. He told me what he wanted to say and I wrote it for him. He signed each of the cards himself. His message of thanks was a beautiful representation of what Lord’s Gym Ministries is all about. He spoke of how the gym is a place for him to come to get his mind and heart right with the Lord.

He offered genuine appreciation to those who support the gym through generous giving. He deeply understands, as many of our friends do, that it is because of others’ generosity we are able to operate. God does all the work, let me assure you, and He is the No. 1 reason this ministry has existed for 30 years. However, the Lord has pressed upon so many hearts and so many have listened to His call to give and serve through the gym. It’s so appreciated. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of this process and how God uses normal every day human beings to accomplish such great works as saving and transforming lives for His glory. All glory be to God!

Another gentleman, who volunteers at the Covington gym wrote a note of thanks. His perspective is quite interesting. “I came here to be a blessing,” he said. “Instead, I have been blessed.” What another beautiful insight into God’s wonderous and mysterious ways. 

I hope that as our supporters begin to receive these little notes o thanks, they are reminded that they are an important part of this ministry. It’s not just about the giving of their treasure. It’s about the giving of their hearts to the Lord. It’s about their willingness to obey when He calls. It’s about serving Him. I hope they too are reminded that they are prayed for on a regular basis, not only by our staff, but also by our friends who they are serving. I hope these realizations leave them blessed.

From the desk of Melissa Reinert… 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2  

God’s Word tells us in Romans chapter 12, to not be conformed to this world. Conformed means to comply with rules or standards. Simply put, we need to be different. We are to be transformed. We experience this transformation with the renewal of our minds. In other words, we are to be refreshed, rejuvenated, renovated, and restored. 

We do this by reading God’s Word. We should also be seeking the Lord in prayer, communicating with Him on a regular basis (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). In addition, as we come into difficult circumstances and decisions, we must have the courage to ask ourselves: What is the responsible response? We do not ask: What do I feel like doing or do I like it? Then, we do it. We do the work. There it is again discipline over default. 

Think of Jonah. God called him to go to Nineveh to preach a message of repentance. He didn’t ask what the responsible thing was to do. He didn’t feel like doing it. He didn’t like the idea. So, he didn’t. 

In refusing God’s call, He attempted to run from the Lord. Ah, but: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10.  

Jonah learned the hard way. He went through a horrific storm and was thrown overboard to drown. The Lord had other plans. Great plans.  

A great fish, prepared by the Lord, swallowed Jonah up and three days later spit him out safely on shore. Jonah had plenty of time to get his mind right while in the belly of the fish. After being spat out, his attitude was renewed. His relationship with the Lord was restored. Refreshed, He gladly answered the Lord’s call, and the fruits of his labor were multiplied with many saved souls. 

Take heed of 1 Peter 1:13-15: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He Who called you is holy so be holy in all you do.” 

Do the right thing. Answer God’s call. Be renewed in His Spirit. Live set apart. Live like Jesus. Live for Jesus.

From Melissa Reinert… 

This Saturday we hosted our first Volunteer Essentials, a 90-minute volunteer training session to better equip our volunteers with the tools and resources needed to maximize their impact. If you could not attend the Saturday session, please register for Thursday’s session: https://bit.ly/VolSessionThurs

The training was a true blessing to all those involved. You’ll learn more about the ministry, as well as hear a testimony about the impact the ministry is having on those volunteering.

From the desk of Melissa Reinert… 

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I don’t need to tell you we live in a fast-paced society. You know the pressures. You know the desire for and the pleasure of instant gratification. You also know the heartache that results from someone’s thoughtless action or remark, as well as the heartache of your own lashing out.

This living in constant hurriedness is quite contrary to how our heavenly Father calls us to live… it’s quite contrary to our spiritual nature. The toll is devastating. Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Without self-control, without taking the time to train ourselves in discipline, we are a city broken into and ravaged.

There are many scriptures that call us to “be still,” such as Psalm 46:10. First Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to take inventory of our blessings and circumstances. We are to be content. First Corinthians 7:5 says we should make time for others and to devote ourselves to prayer so that we may escape the enemy’s snares. We should also take time to appreciate the Lord and all that He has done and will do in our lives; 1 Samuel 12:16.

When we press pause, we get to know God. We are more appreciative for what we have and that brings great satisfaction and lessens our temptations. When we slow down we spend time with those we love, we care for ourself, we walk ever-closer to the Lord. This allows us to put on His full armor and fight against the enemy. Finally, we have a clear vision of the big picture in life – what the Lord wants for us – how we can serve Him by telling and showing others Jesus’ unconditional, unstoppable, timeless love.

Pressing pause clears our heads. Titus 2:2 says we are to be “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness.” This is something that takes effort and time. It’s intentional. It will help us in every situation we face. Pressing pause allows us to reflect on our situation and revitalizes our energy so that we can face our situation naturally, resiliently, and successfully.

Meet Bailey… 

FAC Learning Center Coordinator Bailey started with Lord’s Gym Ministries a few years ago as a volunteer. Now on staff, she leads the learning center and has served as a coach for our all-girls basketball team.

This basketball season marked the first that Lord’s Gym has an all-girls team. The Lady Panthers recently finished second place in the SWOB League. The girls displayed a lot of growth through the season. Bailey and the volunteer coaches she recruited played a intricate role in that growth.  

“I so appreciate the coaches,” she said. “They did a great job and were there for our girls. I am blessed because I was able to work with these coaches and the girls on our team. We’re planning to do basketball again next season and looking into summer sports opportunities for our girls.”

Bailey, 27, loves basketball. She’s played most of her life. She has enjoyed sharing her passion for the game with the girls on the team. Even more, Bailey appreciates the opportunity to share her faith.

“I came to really know Jesus when I was 12,” she said. “I grew up in church and knowing about Jesus. But my discovery to know what it is really means and what it’s really like to walk with Jesus didn’t come until my parents were divorced.”

During that time, everything Bailey knew that brought her security in life was suddenly gone. She needed something to cling to.

“I needed something to cling to during that time,” she said. “That something was Jesus.”

Now she’s working with youth, many who have never had a stable homelife or spent time in church; many who have never known what it feels like to be loved.

“I love the opportunity to create a safe space for the kids in Price Hill,” Bailey said. “I like providing programs, like our sports offerings or the after-school program at the Learning Center that they may not have anywhere else. They deserve these opportunities. I like being the one to advocate for those who don’t have a voice.”

From the Desk of Melissa Reinert… 

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19

A few weeks ago, we talked a little bit about Discipline vs. Default.

Let’s review: Default is our impulsive or auto-pilot response. The result is stagnation. Default is easy and resistant. It is folly. Check out Proverbs 5:23; 12:23 and 14:8.

Discipline, however, is intentional. It’s on purpose. Discipline is faithful to God’s Word. It also involves building skill for the life you want. Check out 2 Timothy 3:16; Proverbs 5:23, 12:1 and 3:10-20; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:27 and Titus 1:8.  

Ask yourself and answer honestly: How do I respond to most situations, especially stressful ones?

We typically respond in one or two ways: Discipline vs. Default. Picture your reaction as one of either above or below an imaginary line Discipline/Default.

Are you living above or below the line?

Where does your typical behavior dwell? Do you need to make changes to reach your goals and objectives? You must be willing to change and do the work, even when it’s hard, to achieve the outcomes you desire.

Think of Proverbs 28:19, if you work the land, then you will have an abundant crop. The key, do the work. You must work the soil, water it, nourish it. That’s the only way you will yield.

This applies to every situation of our lives. Do we want our relationships to grow and flourish? We must work at them; work on ourselves – put in the time and effort. Do we want that promotion? Well, show up to work on time; do the tasks you’re given now well. Do we want to grow strong in the Lord? Well, walk along side Him. Pray, read His word, serve. It takes intentional effort.

Putting forth intentional effort requires discipline, living above the line.

It’s your choice to learn and to grow spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s a process that is slow, small, and daily. You must be intentional and stretch your resiliency muscle. Go. Rise above.

From the Desk of Melissa Reinert… 

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he mediates day and night. He is like a tree planted by steams of water that yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

At Lord’s Gym Ministries our objective is to see lives transformed for the Glory of God. We want to see our friends come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and for their lives to dramatically change spiritually. We also want to encourage self-responsibility that will allow them to rise above their circumstances and end destructive lifestyles. These things are accomplished by us living out the culture we’ve defined for ourselves at Lord’s Gym. We can also apply the same objective to our own personal and spiritual lives.

 As children of God, our objective for ourselves should be to be transformed. Once we accept Jesus, we are “a new creation,” according 2 Corinthians 5:17. This is a process, as we are to continually “put off the old man and put on the new,” as it says in Ephesians 2:44.

Knowing one’s objective requires self-awareness and mental toughness.

Being self-aware means to have conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives and desires. This takes work. It takes assistance from God too. In Psalm 139:23-24, David writes: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ask the Lord to reveal these things to you, to give you the courage to face them and the strength to change them.

The next step is mental toughness. Mental toughness is simply a measure of individual resilience and confidence that may predict success in sport, education, and the workplace. Let’s take it a step further and include our spiritual and personal lives.

Mental toughness predicts our success in these areas. To be mentally tough we must have and build on our resilience. Resilience, as we know, is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, i.e. toughness. We must be willing to do the work, even when it takes us outside our comfort zone. We must have a discipline over default mindset.

Default is our impulsive or auto-pilot response. The result is stagnation. Default is easy and resistant. It is folly. Check out Proverbs 5:23; 12:23 and 14:8.

Discipline, however, is intentional. It’s on purpose. Discipline is faithful to God’s Word. It also involves building skill for the life you want. Check out 2 Timothy 3:16; Proverbs 5:23, 12:1 and 3:10-20; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:27 and Titus 1:8.  

Be aware of yourself and have the mental toughness, accompanied by God-given spiritual toughness, to be transformed.

From Chaplain Lynn… 

It really breaks our hearts when we see our friends that have tasted freedom for many years find themselves back in the miry clay of addiction. When we’ve been clean for many years I believe we can let our guard down and forget we have an adversary who is going to and fro seeking whom he may devour. However we don’t beat them up when they fall by the wayside, we lift them up and build them up just like we would want somebody to do for us. I’m sure the guilt and shame is already a heavy load for them to bear but we come to remind them Christ yoke is easy and His burden is light. We come to cover them in prayer believing that one day they will come to themselves and remember that their Heavenly Father is running toward them with His arms open wide ready to throw a heavenly party because His child has come home! 

From the Desk of Melissa Reinert… 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

I’ve been struggling lately. Things are getting hard. As I was driving recently replaying all the trials I’m facing over and over in my mind, it occurred to me: “It’s a season.” It’s not going to last forever. It will pass. I will live through these trials, albeit it seems so overwhelming in the moment, God is here with me and will see me through. He always has.

A wonderful sense of comfort flowed into my soul. My heart felt calm. The Lord gave me His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Naturally, I should be overwhelmed. There are bills, there’s inflation, there’s health struggles, there’s just so much to do and I’m tired. But, God! My heavenly Father has me. Things will get better, in fact, things already improved in that car ride. My mindset shifted.

It takes constant intentionality to keep a better mindset. It’s something I’ve been working on my entire life. 😊

When circumstances are difficult and beyond our control, it’s easy to lose hope and optimism. That’s why it’s so important that we prep ourselves. So how exactly do we prepare? How do we cultivate a get better mindset?

• We cultivate a get better mindset growing our faith. Hebrews 11:1, says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It takes work. We must regularly commune with God and build a strong relationship with Him. We do this by spending time in His word, worshipping, praying and serving others in His name. Growing in faith instills and empowers hope. We need hope that things will get better. That we will become better people through the trials we face. 
• We need to remind ourselves of the great things the Lord has done. Psalm 126:3 reads: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” Keep counting your blessings over and over. Write them down so you remember them. Write down the Lord’s provisions and His answers to prayer. Keep this journal handing for when you need reminding. This provides our hearts and minds with proof that with God, we can will overcome any of life’s circumstances.
• We need to understand that if God is for us, who can be against us? Remember, the Lord says in Jeramiah 29: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” What more comfort do we need than knowing that we are in the hands of our loving Father, the Lord God almighty Who created the universe and is indeed its master.

“Hello” from Valerie… 

For Lord’s Gym Ministries Community Liaison Valerie, there’s no place she’d rather be than in Price Hill serving her neighbors.

“I live in Price Hill,” Valerie said. “That helps me to understand what our friends are going through and their needs. I understand exactly how what happens here in the community affects them, because it affects me and my family too.”

Valerie, a Certified Community Health Worker, comes to Lord’s Gym Ministries through a partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“I love being at the Family Activity Center,” she said. “I love having a job that allows me the opportunity to openly share my faith. I can pray over people and share with them my testimony.”

Valerie said she grew up in a faith-based home and has always known Who God is.

“I haven’t always lived out my faith,” she said. “I’ve lived for my flesh and instant gratification. It wasn’t until 2010 that I reconnected with the Lord. I found myself in the Lord and realized that I want to live for God and not myself.”

According to Valerie, at that turning point, God had “graciously and lovingly” let her hit rock bottom. He then lifted her and inspired her to be the “mom and woman He created me to be.”

Valerie said that she’s excited that Lord’s Gym Ministries is now a big part of that. She’s looking forward to helping to redefine the community within the Family Activity Center, a community that encourages and lovingly expects respect and self-responsibility.

She also hopes to share her testimony more and prays that God leads and encourages her in doing this, as it can be a little intimidating.

“My human condition holds me back,” she said. “It can be hard because our friends here are my neighbors. They see me at the grocery store. They see me when I take my kids to the park. Sharing my story is so intimate, but I have to overcome my fear. Besides, the only thing that matters is how God feels about me. Also, I know that my testimony could be the thing that helps someone else… that helps them draw closer to God.”

Stop in the Family Activity Center Monday through Friday to be greeted by Valerie; always smiling and spreading the joy of the Lord.