24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run is such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

Observation: Following Jesus and sharing the gospel can be like a race. Run to win. Prepare, plan and then execute… and win.

Application: I am very excited about something I want to share with my blog readers… and the whole blogosphere. But I need to prepare, plan and then execute my plan and win souls for Christ.

I am so excited that I want to shout my idea from the rooftops and I want to recruit everyone to join in. But I cannot be like the man who runs aimlessly, beating the air. I need to pray, listen and plan.

If you follow me on Twitter, my last tweet last night gives you a huge hint.

Get ready, because I am excited!

Prayer: Thank you,  Lord for never giving up on me. For continuing to call me to you through the years I was studying and through the years I was slipping.

I am honored to follow you and to be your child.

Please guide me as I formulate these plans. Tell me what you want me to do and how you want me to do it.

I want to work with you and execute your plan just as you would use me.

And thank you for the honor of being used by you.

I love you and am amazed by you… and can’t wait to share your true love with many, many more.

PS: Dear praying blog readers,

Would you please pray for me today and over the next few days as I listen and plan? I want to be sure I’m hearing HIS voice and not my own as I determine my steps. Your prayers will help that to happen.

Thanks!

(Warning: This next photo will not go along with that last statement!)

As my daughter was enjoying her dessert, I had to take a picture.

This is why SHE loves Sweet Tomatoes:

Yes, that red lump is Jello in her frozen yogurt. Blech!

But she’s happy and I hope you don’t stop reading my blog now that you see that yes, sometimes I do let my children get a little crazy with dessert.

And here is why I love Sweet Tomatoes:

So many fantastic options of veggies to add to your salad. YUM! This picture does NOT show the salad bar any justice.

Unfortunately I decided to take pictures after I had already enjoyed my salad or else I would have shown mine to you. It was good. And filling. And almost no Weight Watcher Points!

But wait, there’s more…

Look at all those soup options! This place has made a soup-lover out of me!

Okay, that’s enough randomness for tonight…

I’m just sayin’ I totally enjoyed dinner tonight. That’s all.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Observation: If you are being trusted to do something, do it.

Application: God has placed me in the roles He has given me for a reason and I need to live out those roles.

Sometimes it is hard for me to just serve my husband. But I was made to be his helper and I should just be trustworthy and do the job set out for me: no grumbling, no questioning, just doing.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the many opportunities you have given me to serve you.

Please forgive me, though, when I do don’t do them completely. Please guide me as I slip and remind me that I am to fulfill the roles you have created me to fulfill. When I begin to grumble, please guide me in calling this verse to mind so that I can prove myself trustworthy and faithful to you.

No toys were stolen from my children for these projects… I promise.

Although my son was puzzled when he saw the pieces I borrowed from his stash to make the dots sitting in the sink covered in chocolate. And all three willingly let me take some of their Halloween candy to decorate the castle.

I am really excited to share these cakes tonight at the auction. I hope they do well for the school!

My weight remained exactly the same.

I’ve been losing at such a steady pace that the stop was a bit of a surprise. However I know I didn’t track as closely as I should have over the weekend, so I can’t be too frustrated.

This week I’m back to being a picky tracker, so hopefully I’ll have a loss to report next week.

And thanks to my new tool, I bet I’ll find success:

To help me in planning low-point meals, I assembled a binder of recipes with their Weight Watchers Points values clearly listed. The binder only has recipes that I have determined the Points values. (I have a file of recipes awaiting calculation in hopes of adding soon. But they will not go in there until I know exactly what I might be eating.)

Sure, I have quite the collection of cookbooks and random recipes filed away in my own cookbook-style binders throughout the kitchen, but trying to meal plan with my new eating style was tough. I’d flip through all the books, binders and files of recipes, looking for ideas. I was tempted to buy a few new healthier cookbooks until I realized that I probably have more than a full cookbook’s worth of ideas already in my house… I just needed to get the ones I like, or want to try, together.

By compiling them all in one place I can flip through and make choices rather easily. I know this next confession isn’t too green, but it helped me: I even photocopied recipes out of cookbooks I already own (no copyright infringement) and slipped them in the binder. No more wondering where a favorite or potential favorite recipe is… they are all together. And after we try each recipe I write a few comments about the dish right on the recipe… or rip it out and trash it if I know it won’t work for us.

My new cookbook has been a great help for me. And I bet with time it will come to replace my other binders of recipes as our family moves toward this new healthier lifestyle. Sure, I’ll keep a few favorite indulgences, but I’ll also work to improve them and see how we can replace the unhealthy favorites with much healthier, just-as-delicious options.

I’m excited to begin this new collection and I have to ask… Do you have any recipes you think I should include? Please share in the comments!

I know I need to head on over to Simply Sugar & Gluten Free’s Slightly Indulgent Mondays. Anyone else have any ideas to share? I’d love to learn about them!

Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation: I need to be sure that I am working to please God, not men, to be a true servant of Christ.

Application: In what ways am I working to please men and not Christ? What things on my perceived to-do list are there for the wrong reasons?

** I do want to point out that doing things to please others can also be pleasing to the Lord. Serving others is serving the Lord, provided that what you are doing is motivated by serving the Lord and not just gaining ‘brownie points.’

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have been crying out to you for so long for guidance in handling my to-do list. Please guide me in using this measure so that I can weed out what really doesn’t need to be done. Empower me to look at my list with your eyes and carve with your sword.

Thank you for this reminder to be focused on your will and not the will of the world. Guide me in getting out of the tangled web of perceived to-dos, which are so filled with people-pleasing items. I don’t want to feel overwhelmed and worn-out… especially when I get that way by serving the wrong master.

Please, Lord, show me what to cut and how to cut it. And keep my efforts focused on your will alone.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Observation: Spread the news about Jesus to everyone all over the world.

Application: This one, in the past, has been a tough one for me.

I don’t want to get into an argument with anyone about Jesus. I don’t want to be asked a question on the spot that I don’t know the answer to and then blow it with a potential believer because I sounded like an idiot. So I’ve held back quite a bit on the whole evangelizing/spreading the good news about the Son of God thing. It’s easy to talk about Him with other believers, but in a crowd of non-believers, I typically only made hints. Until now.

Now I’ve been given a unique opportunity (which I’m hoping doesn’t remain so unique!) to interact with those who have questions about Christ over the internet via secure email. I am answering questions and responding to comments by those who might be a little curious about Jesus Christ, but don’t know who or how to ask in person.

I have tons of resources a click away in case I get stuck and I can evangelize in my pj’s, when the kids are asleep or when I have a few moments in the middle of the day—It is completely up to me.

And, after answering emails, now I’m a bit bolder when talking with non-believers in person, as well.

Over the past few days I’ve harped a bit on this. But that is because my daily Bible reading has been confirming my decision to follow this path and help fulfill the Great Commission and spread the news to all the world.

And I’ll be straight with you: If you are a believer who loves the Lord and wants to share his Word on a daily basis, a weekly basis, or anywhere in between, you can do this, too. Really, you can. You’ll be trained, you’ll be coached and you’ll be changing lives for the Lord in no time.

Wanna see how many people are asking questions and where they are emailing from just today? Check out this real-time map of who is logging in, asking questions, receiving Christ and requesting feedback: http://greatcommission2020.com/

If you want to know more, please visit www.gmojoinus.com , leave me a question in the comments, and/or drop me an email using the box on the left sidebar. And if you are a blogger who would be willing to let me guest post about this on your blog, please let me know that, as well. I’ve got tons of angles I’d love to share with anyone who will listen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your love for us, which is the truest love there ever could be. Thank you for your forgiveness, your guidance and the gift of eternal life with you for all who want it.

And thank you for the opportunity to share this love with people all over the world. I really appreciate you using me in a way I never thought I would be bold enough to be used. Thank you for what I am learning in sharing about you… and for how I am growing with every single email I send.

Please continue to guide me as one of your online missionaries. Use me how you see fit.

And, please, guide those others whom you might use in this way to respond to the call and help spread your good news and love all over the world, just as you have asked us to do.

Thank you, Father.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

Observation: Jesus is explaining to his disciples what must happen before he is to return. One of the things he says that must happen first is that the gospel must be shared with all nations.

Application: I am really excited to be sharing in this right and responsibility! I am so thankful that I was presented with the opportunity to share the gospel through email to people all over the world as an online missionary with Global Media Outreach.

And now, to re-read this passage about the end times and realize that He is using me to fulfill prophesy is pretty exciting!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to serve you and share your word. Please continue to equip me in answering the emails that come my way. Please guide me in stepping aside and letting your words come through to those who seek you. And please guide me as I serve as a shepherd to the new crop of online missionaries at my church. Thank you, Lord, for this unique way to serve you.

Please use me in whatever way YOU see fit, not just the way I want to be used, but in accordance with YOUR plan. I think of GMO and have so many ideas for helping that organization reach even more. Show me where and how to speak up and when to remain silent.

Thank you, Lord, for wanting all to have the opportunity to hear your truth. And thank you for using me to help share that truth.

3If only I knew where to find him;

If only I could go to his dwelling!

4I would state my case before him

And fill my mouth with arguments

5I would find out what he would answer me,

And consider what he would say.

Observation: Here’s what I hear from Job: If I could just approach God and talk with him about my situation I would gain some true insight into my situation.

Application: Again, I cannot imagine living in such a way that I would have no one to go to ask why and how and what next. Job faced great suffering and wanted to know what to do about it. And he had no way to approach God about it, so he was even more deeply puzzled and frustrated. He went to his friends who offered up all they could… but their input was not appropriate.

Knowing Jesus, it is so difficult for me to fully understand this part of Job’s plight.

I cannot imagine not being able to approach God. Jesus allows me to have direct contact whenever I want it. And the Bible also allows direct contact.

I may not understand the answers right away, but I know that my Father hears me. And I know I can pray to Him at anytime.

Can you imagine the hopelessness of wanting to reach out to God but having no idea of how to do it? How desperate and desolate that would be!

Prayer: Lord, Father, Creator of the universe, thank you for your love of me. Thank you for reaching down and sending your son and taking human form and also the form of the Holy Spirit so that I, and everyone else, can have a direct relationship with you.

Please guide those that cannot see this to understand this gift and reach out and embrace it. Help those that are lost and longing to find a way to you.

Use me, Lord, in whatever way you wish to help reach those who don’t know you or are puzzled by you so that that frustration may no longer exist.

Please guide all of the world, this world you created, to know you, as you have said you would.

I am here, Lord. And I am at your service. Guide me in setting my ego aside and my desires aside so that I can just serveyou in whatever way you want to end that feeling of hopelessness and end that grip that Satan has.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to commune with you. Please help me help other to realize that gift.

5He could not do any miracles there, except lay hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Observation: Faith in God is what drives miracles. Without faith, the miracles will not happen.

Application: I compared this verse in four different translations this morning: King James, New International, New Living Translation and the New American Standard Bible and all four used the phrase “could not” followed by an explanation referring to the people’s lack of faith.

Had those in his own hometown just had faith (which is a huge thing… I don’t mean to simplify it by saying “just,”) what other miracles might have taken place?

And what miracles today are prevented by lack of faith?

I think He wants us to ask in boldness… and believe in His ability and willingness to answer our prayers.

So perhaps instead of saying “God, if you could, will you….,” try “God, if you are willing…” Then believe in his ability 100%.

And if you are having a hard time believing in his ability, I bet just reading the New Testament part of today’s reading (Mark 5-6) will get you thinking and soften your heart. And continued reading and prayer will convince you of it. (For a bookmark with this quarter’s daily reading assignments, drop me an email using the button above.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are absolutely amazing. You are all-knowing and all-powerful, even more so than I can fully fathom.

Thank you for loving me, even in my mistakes, and for standing by me even when I had big questions.

Thank you for all the beautiful examples of love and your power throughout the Bible.

Please guide those who lack faith in your Word. Help them to read and pray with a heart open to you and then consume them with your love so that they, too, may have complete faith and pray in boldness.

And Lord, when doubt creeps into my heart, or anyone’s heart, don’t let us stray. Pull us back so we can see your amazing forgiveness, love and power.

Please, Lord, bring healing to our land. You’ve given us many tools to bring faith and healing to all. Empower us to use those tools in your name and change lives.

Thank you, again, for your unending love and forgiveness, and this reminder to have full faith, and trust in you.