Morning, peeps.

I am pooped after a long day yesterday.  (Not to mention sore from boxing!)  That’s the neat thing about new workouts though… They work new muscle groups!  Awesome for overall fitness.  Un-awesome for sore muscles.

FOOD

I’m actually writing this post before breakfast today, so I have nothing to share yet in the food department.  But I happened to snap a few pictures yesterday of my working lunch:

A protein-packed salad and fresh berries.  For the salad I threw down a couple large handfuls of mixed greens, shredded carrots, green and red peppers, egg, grilled chicken, and topped it off with balsamic vinegar, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.  It filled me up, no problem!

Other favorite work salads:
Black bean & Deli Ham
Kale & Butternut Squash Salad
Black bean & Quinoa (a favorite!)

FAITH

So the other day I shared a little bit from the book that our small group is reading through together, Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden.  We talked a little bit about what the “deny yourself” part of Luke 9:23-24 was about.

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

The chapter also speaks on what it means to “lose your life” for his sake, (verse 24).  What does that look like?  It means to “invest all that we are and have for him and his gospel,” (Ogden, Discipleship Essentials, p 29).  Phew, that’s a tall order.  That means our home, wealth, talents, brain, heart, ambitions… all surrendered to him.  Here God, it’s yours.  Yours to use to glorify yourself and further your purpose on this earth.  (Ogden, Discipleship Essentials, p 29).

That may be an extremely difficult thing to do, but put it in perspective:  the only thing that really matters–the only thing that is eternal–is the kingdom of God.  Everything else will fade away.  Jim Elliot said it best when he said:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

BOOM!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you agree with Jesus when he says, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it?”  If so, would you say that you’re saving your life or giving it to the One who is worthy of it?