Today I read 1 Corinthians 9:23-27, one of my favorite passages in Scripture and one that has been a guide for me in life. My favorite verse in this passage is: “I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” I’ve been thinking about this verse for a long time. In fact, it was the text I used in the message I gave at my seminary graduation over ten years ago. When I need to make a decision I think “all things for the sake of the gospel.” When I need to accomplish a huge task I think “all things for the sake of the gospel.” When I get the idea to do something that is above and beyond what any “normal” person would do I think “all things for the sake of the gospel.” What does it take to do “all things for the sake of the gospel?” If you look at this passage you will learn some of the secrets.
First, it requires making a decision to go for the gold in life. Paul encourages you in 1 Corinthians 9:24 to “run in such a way that you may win.” It is imperative to make a firm commitment to follow Christ. It means you answer His call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).
Then, it requires discipline without regard for personal ease and comfort. “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things” (verse 25). This kind of discipline is not manufactured, but built into a life over time as one walks with the Lord and grows in their relationship with Him. I believe the greatest time of discipline building in my own life came during my seminary years when I had to say no to many good things in order to say yes to the best. I spent hours in the library studying obscure journals to go the extra mile in learning what God wanted me to learn. Other students thought I went overboard in my study but I knew that it would make a difference in future ministry and it has. I could never carry out the multitude of responsibilities on my plate without this kind of discipline and self-control.
Then, “all things for the sake of the gospel” requires a clarity of purpose, calling, and goals. Paul says “run in such a way that you may win.” It’s imperative to understand the stewardship God is entrusting to you. Paul knew that he was called to preach the gospel. I’ve always loved to write. I had my first article published in my grade school newsletter - it was a little paragraph all about the birth of Jesus. I wrote volumes of papers in seminary. But I’ll never forget the day I was in a Christian bookstore a number of years ago and it became clear to me that it was time to stop reading books and start writing books. After that time God gave me the idea for Pilgrimage Of The Heart. Since then He’s led me and strengthened me to write seven books and I’ll write two more this summer by the grace of God. I love getting the idea, laying out the book, and then getting to work on the writing of it. And it’s a lot of work to write a book. But I LOVE the work of it and oh, how I love to see the final product. Before I actually began writing I remember being so inspired as I watched others around me write. And I am still inspired as I watch what God does in the lives of others. Both writing and speaking require a clarity of my own purpose, calling, and goals to finish the course. I want to complete what God has called me to do and that requires knowing what that is and then giving my all to carry it out in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, it requires purposeful living. Everything you do is done in light of the goal. Paul says, “I run in such a way as not without aim; I box in such a way as not beating the air…” (verse 26). For me, it means I get up early and get more accomplished. Last night I read an article online by some guy who shared how radically his life changed when he began to get up at 5 am. He said he became more productive throughout the day. And I do believe that early risers accomplish more. Night owls may disagree with me. But there is something about getting started early that propels you through the day and energizes you for the responsibilities of life.
Purposeful living has also meant saying yes to the trials, obstacles, and suffering that come my way. It has meant not giving up the dream when it seems everything is against me but continuing to run my race even if no one cheers me on. If I cannot write the books God has given me to write without the ease of circumstance and the applauding crowd then I may as well lay my pen down now. Every writer and every preacher and every servant of God must learn to live and serve in the audience of One. They carry out the stewardship entrusted to them no matter what. What this has meant for me is countless hours alone with God in His Word, early mornings sometimes beginning at 3 am to design and write a book, and researching new ways to use the resources available to us today to reach others with the gospel (such as computers, the internet, and video/multimedia).
It’s all things for the sake of the gospel or as OC (Oswald Chambers) says, it’s “my utmost for His highest.” May we continue to run our race well. Time is short. And Eternity is forever.
CHICAGO - Last Wednesday my husband and I flew in to Chicago for a speaking engagement on the weekend in Indiana. Look at the view of the city of Chicago from the plane - it is incredible to see so many buildings and then, of course, the beautiful Lake Michigan. We arrived a day early because I wanted to spend a day at Moody Bible Institute to do some research on D.L. Moody who is one of my heroes of the Christian faith. 
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE - What an adventure I had at Moody Bible Institute. I had arranged in advance to meet with Joe Cataio, the man in charge of the Moody Archives. What a servant of the Lord he is. He took me on a tour of the archives housed in the basement of the Moody Library. Then, he took me to the Moody Museum and left me on my own for awhile to look at all that was there. At the Moody Museum I was able to see the Bible that D.L. Moody preached from. But what was most interesting to me were Moody’s preaching notes. 
Moody had countless blue linen envelopes all with different topics or texts written on the outside. Then, he would store his notes, clippings, and the results of his study in these envelopes. When he was ready to preach on a topic or text, he would pull out all the notes and clippings and formulate his message, then attach the message in his preaching Bible with rubber bands. Here is a picture of his message on the “New Birth.” Then, you can see his notes on the new birth. Then, on the outside of the blue envelope, D.L. Moody would list all the places where he preached that particular message along with the date of the message. How cool is that!! And what a great idea. I learned an incredible amount of things from D.L. Moody just by looking at how he organized his preaching. I also discovered that God called him to preach, plain and simple. He wrote messages and delivered them everywhere. In fact, one of the things that Joe Cataio showed me were all the albums filled with the letters Moody wrote. It is interesting to note that early in Moody’s life, the letters were long. Later in his life they were short and to the point. Why? Because time is short and eternity is forever. He spent his time doing what he was called to do: preaching the Word. 
After my time in the museum and a lunch in the student union, I returned to the archives and met with Joe Cataio. My greatest interest was in those preaching notes. I asked if I could actually look at some of the preaching notes. He went to the file cabinets, pulled out some green pendaflex folders, put them on the table and then turned to me, smiled, and said, “go for it!!” Wow! I could not believe the great privilege the Lord was giving me. I sat and opened the first folder. The topic was “Abraham.” I literally got to hold Moody’s notes on Abraham. He outlined the “4 Surrenders of Abraham.” And then, he outlined the promises of God to Abraham. And then, Moody had written two very powerful statements about the promises of God: “Not one false” and “Not one grown stale.” Is that not SO TRUE about the promises of God!! It was a lifechanging experience for me to sit and handle for myself the notes of Moody for his many sermons. I was challenged anew to be sold out to the Lord, study with my utmost for His highest, and then watch to see what the Lord will do. What an example Moody is for all of us. I will share more on my time with D.L. Moody in the days to come because I have more to say about it and also LOTS of pictures.
VALPARAISO, INDIANA - The next morning, we got up early and drove to Valparaiso, Indiana, about an hour and a half outside of Chicago. That evening and the next morning I spoke at the Women’s Spring Retreat for Valparaiso Nazarene Church. These women are on fire for the Lord Jesus. This picture is one of their Women’s Council. The woman in the center next to me is Pam Anderson, their director of Adult Ministries and Women’s Ministries. Oh, may her tribe increase. She is just a bundle of energy. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite like her. It was such a blessing and a privilege to be with these women who love the Lord so much. 
The women invited me because of their time of study in “A Heart That Dances.” The theme of this retreat was A Heart That Dances and I gave two messages: Will You Dance With Him? and Will You Be Radical For Him? It was such a powerful time and the Lord moved among us. The worship was incredible and something special that they included were dancers that I think were really angels in disguise. You should have seen these girls dance. The ending dance of the whole retreat was to the song “I Can Only Imagine.” It was a perfect conclusion to our retreat and we were all weeping at the thought of dancing with our Lord. 
My heart was filled with joy as we flew home from our time in Chicago and Indiana. This picture is the view from the plane as we flew over Colorado. You know, when the Lord gives me the privilege to travel to other places to preach His Word, He broadens my vision. I see that He is at work in many places, including Chicago and Indiana. I am filled with such a desire to see widespread revival and I do see Him stirring the hearts of many in the body of Christ. I know that there in a place called Valparaiso, Indiana is a group of men and women on fire for Jesus Christ. May their love and passion for Him spread all across this land. To God be the glory!!