I have been meaning to do this for a while, and decided that today was the day to do it. Things lately in my life have been in an uproar. I have been running around with so much to do and so many things I want to do that there is no way I can begin to even talk about it. There are two that I want to talk about though, and I want to make sure that the praise for any success in these is given to Jesus Christ, because my efforts would be worthless without Him.
The first (but not neccessarily the most important) is my business. Yes, I have decided to go into my own business, that of Herbalife. I have been a distributor for 2 years now, but never really made an effort to make it a real business. Due to some changes in my job situation, I have decided it is time to be serious about Herbalife, really serious. I have gotten back on the products and I am lossing weight again (ir you have been reading my posts you will see that). That's great, but that is not a business. Herbalife has a goal this year to help America lose 1,000,000 pounds They are doing this through many ways, but one of those ways is the Weight Loss Challenge. I have decided to participate and run my own Weight Loss Challenges. I have started two of them now and want to have a total of 5 running by the end of the month. Getting the word out is hard for me. I do not have a lot of money to advertise, so that has meant I needed to use flyers and door hangers. Anyone that knows me knows that I am not the most outgoing guy in the world. In fact I am a bit on the shy side, so this was a real stretch for me. Well I did it and you know what? I have had responses! I know they way it's a numbers game, but numbers don't always work. That is the reason I want to thank Jesus Christ for this. I believe that He is the reason this is starting to happen. Yes I have been more teachable than I was before and yes I am following the advice of my mentor, coach and friend, Paula, but in the end, Jesus is what makes it all work so here it is.
Jesus, Thank you for helping me get the Weight Loss Challenges started. I know that the desire I have to help people in this way comes from You. It is part of who Youmade me to be . I want to honor you with everything I do in this business I have started. I want to make this part of my life so that I can share hope with others, hope for a healthier life and ultimately, hope for eternity with You. Lord, pleasehelp me do the needed work to bring others in and allow this business to grow so quickly there is no other way to describe it except a miricle.
The second item I want to give praise to Christ for is the chance to be the Youth Leader at my church. I was preparing this weeks lesson when I realized that God has given me a vision, but only a partial vision for the youth group. We are just starting and I am excited and terrified all at the same time about this direction, but if anything I am more excited about this than I even my Herbalife business (and I am really excited about that!). God keeps laying out lesson ideas and titles before me, sometimes as I read my Bible sometimes during the Sunday Sermon, sometime at other odd times (like at work or in the car). To date I have over 25 teaching ideas already that God has given to me! I also have fund raising ideas, field trip ideas, an idea for a summer project, so much that at times I can't keep it all in! The hardest part is knowing where to start, and even in that God provides (he gave me next weeks lesson today in service). It's like I see part of the destination and many of the steps along the way, but I can't tell where to step next (or third in the case as I have step 1 and step 2). It is only happening though because God has made it happen, so here is my thanks for this.
Precious Jesus, You have overwhelmed me with passion, hurt, love and desire to touch the teenagers of my church. You have placed a mountain in my path and showed me the view from the top in a vision, but have not reavealed the entire path to me. Your glory is around the mountain, Lord and I will put my hand in Yours so you can lead me. I know that You cannot carry me to the top, because if You did I would be no stronger from the journey. So I will take the steps you put before me as you put them before me. Thank You for revealing 2 steps this time Lord. I know there will be days that even one step will take faith. I know Lord that all my work, all my knowledge, all my desire and passion will not be good enough to reach these teens, but I will give it my all. Please Jesus, send the Comforter to guide me and uphold me and guard what I say and do (I know will mess up otherwise). Let me see these children of Yours as You see them Lord. Let my love for them be Your Love for them. And mostly, Jesus, let me be unnoticed while Your light shines in all You ask me to do.
Jesus Christ is my Lord, Saviour and Master. Everything I do that has worth is only because He has allowed me to be used by Him for that good. May these passions of mine be used to give glory to God!