“Smiling is my favorite!”

OBSERVATION:
There is so much in life to worry about - money, relationships, appearance… It’s so easy to get caught up in the worries. But all worrying does is paralyze you and make you become counterproductive. It’s wasted time and energy. We should place our time and energy into something we can control and then trust and have faith that God will take care of the rest .

APPLICATION:
I sometimes worry about things that really aren’t a big deal and that I really shouldn’t worry about in the first place. The time I spend worrying about things could be used to do something about it. Or, if I have no control over it, I could use that time for something I have control over.

PRAYER:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen

On the back of the hand out we were given, there were all these beautiful charts showing how the Gospel is being expanded in different continents of the world. The biggest expansions from 1900 to 2000 were in Asia and Africa and actually Latin America as well. Not a huge shocker, since our country sends missionaries to many countries on these continents. Yet when you compare those to North America…not so much a big jump. This could be justified by the density of population…but is that REALLY the reason?

This goes along with one of my biggest issues about the war. Now, I’m not a very political person, nor will you frequently hear me debate issuess…in fact, you’re more likely to see me run! But what really chapps my hynie (I have no idea where that phrase came from or what it actually means, but I like it at the moment) is not the war itself, but the fact that we pump in so many resources - monetary and personnel - to other countries, yet there are so many people in our own backyard who need our help.

Last night, from two different people, I heard that the Chinese (I think it’s the Chinese) are training missionaries to come to the US! It seems backwards in my head. Sometimes, I just think we should take care of our own, but then again, in Acts, Luke tells us to go to the ends of the earth. I think we need to continue on that, but also put some time and effort into our own backyard.

What are your thoughts???

I also went out to a couple of colleges today. One of the things I would like to do while on staff is work with a college - getting to know the athletes and coaches and helping in any way that I can. At both of the colleges I went to, I had some sort of connection with a few of the coaches. One coach coached one year as an assistant at UND, a college in my conference, while I was competing; another knew the men’s head coach at Alabama who I know well; another used to coach at the U and has family in the area I grew up in. It just goes to show that the track world is a small world and I got excited about these connections, because they can only mean positive things for the future (hopefully!)

All I know is that a part of me wants to hop on a plane, fly home and finish up the remaining 10.5% I have left to raise and move out here. I believe this week is going to give me the exact motivation and encouragement I’ve been looking for.

OBSERVATION:
Jesus had given his disciples the power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases. They were so excited about his power they had. Jesus points out that even though that is fantastic, they should not lose sight on what is even more incredible than that - the fact that their name is written in heaven. God has chosen them to spend eternity in heaven with Him.

APPLICATION:
I sometimes get caught up in the great things I can do. I am in awe of the gifts and talents God has given me. I then look forward to the things I am going to do - how awesome they’ll be. But I must never forget that what I have done, what I will do, no matter how awesome they are, it’s infinitely cooler knowing I will spend eternity with God.

PRAYER:
God, You have greater things in store for believers everywhere - past, present, future. Our lives are a mere spec on the timeline of eternity. Thank you for choosing me and letting me be Your child.

OBSERVATION:
The word of God is scattered among many different types of people. Everyone has a past, a story. Everyone has different soil, everyone will receive the word of God differently. We need to keep that in mind when reaching out to others. Not everyone will see things as we see them or understand them as we do. We need to be receptive of that.

APPLICATION:
I know I have gotten frustrated with people for not seeing things the way I do - not necessarily just Biblical issues, but with life in general. I am appalled, shocked and dumbfounded…until I get a glimpse of their life. Understanding soon follows - not necessarily acceptance, but understanding (yes, there’s a difference!)

PRAYER:
Help me Father to take the time and initiative to learn about someone’s story. Help me to understand so I can be more of a help to others.

OBSERVATION:
How many of us feel this way? We feel we do not deserve to have the Lord come to us. So much so that we send someone else to send the message, as if to say we are not even worthy to speak to Him. The centurion wasn’t even seeking help for himself. He wanted his highly servant to be healed (this story may need some more study time from me).

APPLICATION:
Too often, I feel unworthy of the Lord’s love. I go to Him in prayer, but rarely for my own needs. I lift up the needs of others - my friends, my family, my brothers and sisters. But that is the exact definition of grace - being given something we don’t deserve. Of course we don’t deserve the Lord’s love, grace and mercy, but He gives them to us anyway.

PRAYER:
Abba, Your love for me is a great mystery. Sometimes I wonder why You love my as You do, but always I am so grateful You do. Thank You for Your unconditional, no strings attached love.

This video is a personal interview with Glen.

OBSERVATION:
Moses has died and God is now calling Joshua to finish what Moses  had started - bringing His people to the promised land. Such a huge task and responsibility. But God reminds Joshua that he had been commanded and because the Lord is with him, he needs to continue on, to be strong and courageous.

APPLICATION:
It’s easier to go somewhere when you have someone with you. You seem to get a boost of confidence and courage when someone is there. I think back to my college years and how it was easier to approach a cute guy to talk to him when I had a friend with me, watching, encouraging (sometimes pushing). God is our watcher, our encourager, our pusher. He is with us. And since He is with us, we need not to be afraid. When God commands us to go, we must be strong and courageous and remember that He will always be with us.

PRAYER:
Thank you Father, for always being with me. For the promise you have given me that I will never be alone.

OBSERVATION:
God doesn’t always lead us to greeny pastures where the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the deer and lamb frolic in the meadow. Life isn’t always a Disney movie. Sometimes it’s a Nightmare on Elm Street. But our God is a God of promises and one of those is that He will never leave nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5). In all the promises God gives us, not one of them is about an easy life. But He promises us peace (John 14:27), victory (1 John 5:4), wisdom (James 1:5), comfort (Isaiah 51:3), guidance (Isaiah 42:16), joy (Isaiah 35:10) and many others. We kid ourselves when we expect the Christian life to be an easy one and when it gets difficult we get upset. We need to learn about and understand who God is and then we will begin to understand our lives.

APPLICATION:
On a weekly basis, sometimes daily, I wonder what my life would be like if I were doing something else. What if I stayed on the road I was on, working with student athletes in an academic setting? But God didn’t lead me that way. He led me into this wilderness where life hasn’t been easy. Sure, there are times things are fantastic and I’m glad I’m where I am, but other times, I long to be somewhere else. But God is forever with me, walking this path at my side.

PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord for your promises and thank you for being a God who keeps His promises, although we may not always see them as you intend them to be.