DAY 21 Winning Edge Devotions
ROM. 5: 6” For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
I still don’t get it. I have heard it all my life. I teach it. I believe it. But I still have a hard time grasping the concept of Jesus dying for me. He chose to die for me. He did it with a motivation of love!
One reason I struggle to grasp this is because it so foreign to me. By nature, I am a very selfish person. I really do not understand sacrifice and love for anyone other than myself. To give up something for someone else is not natural.
If my children cause me to lose sleep I am grouchy, If someone takes up my lunch time, I am inconvenienced. Make me late or hold me up and I am a bear of a person to live with. I am soooo weak. I fully get Romans 5:6. I struggle understanding how Jesus could give such a sacrifice for me. I would like to think I would die for my kids, it is the noble thing to do. I pray to God that He would allow me to suffer before my wife would have to. I would lay down my life for my wife.
But if someone asked me to give my life for that dirty, bummed out man on the corner of the street? NO WAY! Would I give one of my children for a drug addict? FORGET IT!
But that is what God did for me! I am a bum, a loser, a drifter compared to the holiness and perfection of Christ. It is too much for me to comprehend!
What impact should this have on me? For a long time I felt a little guilty that it took that much of a sacrifice for me to be forgiven. But God’s love has turned my guilt into gratitude. My faith now allows me to accept this great gift and rejoice in it. But it is a very precious thing!
I should also now be motivated to sacrifice for others. I believe that our generation knows little about that king of sacrifice. What are we willing to give up to help others. Can I give of my time and talents to better someone else?
I find that I am very generous with things that really don’t cost me much. Rarely, do I give to where it really takes an effort or a sacrifice. I need to meditate more on what Christ has done and see if I can look for ways to sacrifice a little.
As a coach, I want to inspire my team to sacrifice. It begins with giving up selfishness and learning to give to the team. To the extent that we can learn to do that, will be a big part of our ability to become great.
I now challenge myself to sacrifice for God’s team. What can I give today? Do I see a need that I can meet? Is there some time I can give? Am I using my budget to serve? If Jesus gave His all, can’t I give just a little more?
Lord Jesus- thank you- thank you- thank you- I am overwhelmed by Your love and sacrifice. Keep me mindful of how I can learn to give a little more. Not to earn Your favor, but out of a heart of thankfulness!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
SUFFERING TOGETHER
DAY 20 Winning Edge Devotions
2 CORIN. 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
I think the greatest team builder in the world is suffering. My closest football teams have been teams that experienced some type of shared pain. None of us want it that way and we want to avoid it as much as possible. But at the end of the year, we got closer when we laughed, but we grew together when we cried or hurt.
I’m not exactly why this is true. It may be the first time we see one another without masks or we see how much individuals care- but pain is a useful tool in forging a team of one heroic purpose. That is one reason why I push them so hard in summer camp- they have to experience hardship to break down all the barriers to brotherhood.
The above passage contains that same sentiment. When pain comes, we should be urgent and diligent to support each other and comfort one another. The best comfort is time and understanding. It is not a three point sermon. I never really ever want to preach to my team following a loss- it is usually a one on one evaluation of who needs support the most. It is a time to seek out the injured and quietly stand with those that are taking it the hardest.
When we receive God’s comfort, it helps us to be sensitive to others in similar pain. I remember what it was like to have a football injury and I look to make sure that guy feels a part of the team. I remember the hurt of losing my senior year in the playoffs and I usually pour all my empathy to them.
In our football creed we have a line that says: “We suffer together so that we WILL persevere together”- which is related to Romans 5:3,4 which says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
When we suffer and comfort, we eventually heal. That healing produces unity and strength. If you ever have to compete against a team with this type of unity- look out- it may be a tough night!
If you are hurting, go comfort others. If you see someone hurting, comfort them. You will reap a great harvest of hope!
Father, please send ministers to me in my hurt and, as I heal, help me to comfort others. I have tasted of Your goodness, allow me to share it with others! AMEN
2 CORIN. 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
I think the greatest team builder in the world is suffering. My closest football teams have been teams that experienced some type of shared pain. None of us want it that way and we want to avoid it as much as possible. But at the end of the year, we got closer when we laughed, but we grew together when we cried or hurt.
I’m not exactly why this is true. It may be the first time we see one another without masks or we see how much individuals care- but pain is a useful tool in forging a team of one heroic purpose. That is one reason why I push them so hard in summer camp- they have to experience hardship to break down all the barriers to brotherhood.
The above passage contains that same sentiment. When pain comes, we should be urgent and diligent to support each other and comfort one another. The best comfort is time and understanding. It is not a three point sermon. I never really ever want to preach to my team following a loss- it is usually a one on one evaluation of who needs support the most. It is a time to seek out the injured and quietly stand with those that are taking it the hardest.
When we receive God’s comfort, it helps us to be sensitive to others in similar pain. I remember what it was like to have a football injury and I look to make sure that guy feels a part of the team. I remember the hurt of losing my senior year in the playoffs and I usually pour all my empathy to them.
In our football creed we have a line that says: “We suffer together so that we WILL persevere together”- which is related to Romans 5:3,4 which says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
When we suffer and comfort, we eventually heal. That healing produces unity and strength. If you ever have to compete against a team with this type of unity- look out- it may be a tough night!
If you are hurting, go comfort others. If you see someone hurting, comfort them. You will reap a great harvest of hope!
Father, please send ministers to me in my hurt and, as I heal, help me to comfort others. I have tasted of Your goodness, allow me to share it with others! AMEN
Friday, February 15, 2008
A HOPE TO KEEP GOING
DAY 19 Winning Edge Devotions
HEB. 12: 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
A comeback victory is the sweetest win of all. There is something about a football team being down and all hope seems lost, and they find a way to claw back and win it in the end!
It’s getting harder to keep teams in that ‘never quit’ mindset. There have been times in my coaching past where I stop a film at a point where we are 14 or 21 points down and ask the team, “Right here, men, did you still believe you could win?”
Part of the inability to stay focused and fight is a modern phenomenon called “the re-set button”. It is a button found on most video games. If the game starts poorly, most kids will just press that re-set button.
My generation had no such button. We had to learn to keep playing. If I could pick a re-set button, I would use it in golf. I could keep re-starting until I got that par on the first hole! I will say that I am glad I grew up without that re-set button, I learned that there is an honor of fighting well to the end and, at times, you come back and win!
Jesus is an inspiration of endurance. I am still amazed at the courage, discipline, and toughness needed by Him to choose to die. In agony, he prayed the night before His torturous road to the cross- there was NO short cut to salvation- it was a road that no man can imagine!
When this verse says that he endured the cross for the joy set before Him, can I fathom that?! What was His joy?
The joy was you and me. He looked forward to welcoming us into His kingdom based on His sacrificial purchase of our very souls. How did He keep walking uphill while the blood dripped down? JOY How did he gather Himself to lie down willingly on that cross? JOY How did He endure the agony of nails? JOY How did He endure the shame of sin? JOY
You are in the 19th day of walking with Christ. Some days have been so sweet and good, while others have been tedious and difficult. Keep Jesus as your model. If He kept getting up, so can you! Don’t give up on your pursuit. Keep moving to the Lord and look forward to your comeback victory!
Father, You are the King of Comebacks! When things seem all but lost, You break through in swift and sudden victory. For the sake of joy, keep me steady in YOU!
AMEN
HEB. 12: 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
A comeback victory is the sweetest win of all. There is something about a football team being down and all hope seems lost, and they find a way to claw back and win it in the end!
It’s getting harder to keep teams in that ‘never quit’ mindset. There have been times in my coaching past where I stop a film at a point where we are 14 or 21 points down and ask the team, “Right here, men, did you still believe you could win?”
Part of the inability to stay focused and fight is a modern phenomenon called “the re-set button”. It is a button found on most video games. If the game starts poorly, most kids will just press that re-set button.
My generation had no such button. We had to learn to keep playing. If I could pick a re-set button, I would use it in golf. I could keep re-starting until I got that par on the first hole! I will say that I am glad I grew up without that re-set button, I learned that there is an honor of fighting well to the end and, at times, you come back and win!
Jesus is an inspiration of endurance. I am still amazed at the courage, discipline, and toughness needed by Him to choose to die. In agony, he prayed the night before His torturous road to the cross- there was NO short cut to salvation- it was a road that no man can imagine!
When this verse says that he endured the cross for the joy set before Him, can I fathom that?! What was His joy?
The joy was you and me. He looked forward to welcoming us into His kingdom based on His sacrificial purchase of our very souls. How did He keep walking uphill while the blood dripped down? JOY How did he gather Himself to lie down willingly on that cross? JOY How did He endure the agony of nails? JOY How did He endure the shame of sin? JOY
You are in the 19th day of walking with Christ. Some days have been so sweet and good, while others have been tedious and difficult. Keep Jesus as your model. If He kept getting up, so can you! Don’t give up on your pursuit. Keep moving to the Lord and look forward to your comeback victory!
Father, You are the King of Comebacks! When things seem all but lost, You break through in swift and sudden victory. For the sake of joy, keep me steady in YOU!
AMEN
A HELP TO KEEP GOING
DAY 18 Winning Edges Devotions
HEB. 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
The above verse has always fascinated me. As a coach, what do you think comes to mind as I read ‘a great cloud of witnesses’? I get the privilege of conducting a game in the midst of a big group of people called fans. We have big crowds at our stadium and we also get a lot of media coverage. I never coach for these witnesses, but I am mindful of them.
When you are being watched, there is a certain level of accountability that encompasses that. You definitely don’t want to lay an egg in front of a bunch of spectators. I do know that when our fans get energized, it spills over into our play on the field. Think about a tight, big ball game and the sudden explosion of cheering as a player makes a game winning catch or tackle! That outburst of celebration is something special and creates a lifetime of memories!
If you are familiar with this Bible passage, you know who these witnesses are. Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. When you look at the named and un-named saints and what they endured, you marvel at their heart for God and ability to trust the Savior!
This group of spectators puts a whole new spin on the meaning and accountability on the game. I wonder how different I would feel if our stadium was full of former hall of fame coaches. How much more would I celebrate if they cheered?
I don’t picture these heroes with folded arms and grumbling. I hear them cheering, ‘You can do it!” I feel the applause and the prayers. These former winners are pulling for us with excitement and love!
Does that inspire you to go deeper or longer? Let us get leaner and more focused to continue the race they started.
I know that it is popular in athletic circles to teach about the audience of one, meaning to worry only about God’s pleasure and not the praise of men. I think that this is valuable and helpful for our motivation.
But I also think that it is equally inspirational to accept the cheering of significant warriors in the faith. Moses followed God and that helps me. Jim Elliot asked God to consume him as fuel for the kingdom- do I have that same passion? Mother Theresa served the poor and destitute, can’t I feel some of that compassion?
These saints ran their race so well- it is not to much to ask me to follow.
Lord, thank you for the cloud of witnesses. I feel the positive pressure to honor them. This is a welcome help to keep going! The most faithful witness is the Lord Jesus Christ! I ask Him to help me lose the weights and sin. Let me feel the cheers and applause of heaven, to You glory alone! AMEN
HEB. 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
The above verse has always fascinated me. As a coach, what do you think comes to mind as I read ‘a great cloud of witnesses’? I get the privilege of conducting a game in the midst of a big group of people called fans. We have big crowds at our stadium and we also get a lot of media coverage. I never coach for these witnesses, but I am mindful of them.
When you are being watched, there is a certain level of accountability that encompasses that. You definitely don’t want to lay an egg in front of a bunch of spectators. I do know that when our fans get energized, it spills over into our play on the field. Think about a tight, big ball game and the sudden explosion of cheering as a player makes a game winning catch or tackle! That outburst of celebration is something special and creates a lifetime of memories!
If you are familiar with this Bible passage, you know who these witnesses are. Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. When you look at the named and un-named saints and what they endured, you marvel at their heart for God and ability to trust the Savior!
This group of spectators puts a whole new spin on the meaning and accountability on the game. I wonder how different I would feel if our stadium was full of former hall of fame coaches. How much more would I celebrate if they cheered?
I don’t picture these heroes with folded arms and grumbling. I hear them cheering, ‘You can do it!” I feel the applause and the prayers. These former winners are pulling for us with excitement and love!
Does that inspire you to go deeper or longer? Let us get leaner and more focused to continue the race they started.
I know that it is popular in athletic circles to teach about the audience of one, meaning to worry only about God’s pleasure and not the praise of men. I think that this is valuable and helpful for our motivation.
But I also think that it is equally inspirational to accept the cheering of significant warriors in the faith. Moses followed God and that helps me. Jim Elliot asked God to consume him as fuel for the kingdom- do I have that same passion? Mother Theresa served the poor and destitute, can’t I feel some of that compassion?
These saints ran their race so well- it is not to much to ask me to follow.
Lord, thank you for the cloud of witnesses. I feel the positive pressure to honor them. This is a welcome help to keep going! The most faithful witness is the Lord Jesus Christ! I ask Him to help me lose the weights and sin. Let me feel the cheers and applause of heaven, to You glory alone! AMEN
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A GLIMPSE OF VICTORY
DAY 17 Winning Edge Devotions
REV. 21: 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
I feel very fortunate as a coach to have three state championship rings in a trophy case on my desk at home. I had a coaching mentor call me on the eve on our second championship game to wish us luck. His call ended with, “you need to be grateful for this opportunity. Very few coaches get to do what you are about to do”. I hung up the phone and realized what a blessed man I am.
Those rings are getting older. I have not been able to take a team to the championship game in over four years now. Sometimes, those rings seem to represent another separate life and there are no guarantees that I will ever get another one.
How different are the rewards that are guaranteed and waiting for us. The new heaven and new earth is coming. These are rewards that will never grow old or fade.
Just as it helps to look on those rings from time to time, I also believe it is important to re-visit our coming victory from time to time. The King is coming to remove all the rottenness and wrong and make all things new.
The newness of heaven is like the dawning of a spring day that never fades; a new car smell that never goes away, and a warm embrace that never grows cold.
I think that it is almost sad that we cannot even imagine the glory of heaven. Harps, clouds, and halos have corrupted our thoughts of heaven. Take the greatest thrill you have ever had on earth and multiply it to infinity- that is what God’s city will be like!
Does the thought of being an astronaut capture your interest? Imagine flying to a planet and finding discoveries for five hundred years.
You can’t even begin to think of a worship experience that you would hunger for like a world-class meal. You can’t draw a place so beautiful that you tremble. You can’t feel a love that heals all your former hurts…permanently.
Our view of heaven is low, because our understanding of God is rather small. That’s okay- he will make it unbelievable good anyway. Makes those championship rings seem quite unimportant now. The best victory is upon us!
Father, as I grow weary in the battle or worry about loss, please let the glimpse of victory keep me going. Because of Christ, I am on a winning team and I thank you for
That prize! AMEN
REV. 21: 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
I feel very fortunate as a coach to have three state championship rings in a trophy case on my desk at home. I had a coaching mentor call me on the eve on our second championship game to wish us luck. His call ended with, “you need to be grateful for this opportunity. Very few coaches get to do what you are about to do”. I hung up the phone and realized what a blessed man I am.
Those rings are getting older. I have not been able to take a team to the championship game in over four years now. Sometimes, those rings seem to represent another separate life and there are no guarantees that I will ever get another one.
How different are the rewards that are guaranteed and waiting for us. The new heaven and new earth is coming. These are rewards that will never grow old or fade.
Just as it helps to look on those rings from time to time, I also believe it is important to re-visit our coming victory from time to time. The King is coming to remove all the rottenness and wrong and make all things new.
The newness of heaven is like the dawning of a spring day that never fades; a new car smell that never goes away, and a warm embrace that never grows cold.
I think that it is almost sad that we cannot even imagine the glory of heaven. Harps, clouds, and halos have corrupted our thoughts of heaven. Take the greatest thrill you have ever had on earth and multiply it to infinity- that is what God’s city will be like!
Does the thought of being an astronaut capture your interest? Imagine flying to a planet and finding discoveries for five hundred years.
You can’t even begin to think of a worship experience that you would hunger for like a world-class meal. You can’t draw a place so beautiful that you tremble. You can’t feel a love that heals all your former hurts…permanently.
Our view of heaven is low, because our understanding of God is rather small. That’s okay- he will make it unbelievable good anyway. Makes those championship rings seem quite unimportant now. The best victory is upon us!
Father, as I grow weary in the battle or worry about loss, please let the glimpse of victory keep me going. Because of Christ, I am on a winning team and I thank you for
That prize! AMEN
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
RESTORED BY FORGIVING
DAY 16 Winning Edge Devotions
EPH. 4: 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Football is never about perfection. If you go back and analyze each play of each game, you will see all kinds of missed assignments and blown coverages. It is also impossible to go through a season without some sort in personal conflicts.
These can be as shallow as simple soldier’s spats in practice or as complex as years of neglect or bullying. Coaches are not immune from the issues. Given time and human nature, all relationships can deteriorate into fragile and fractured pieces.
A team that holds onto anger, bitterness, or slander will crumble under pressure. I have seen good football teams torn apart by selfishness and bitterness. I have also seen good coaching staffs crumble under the weight of broken friendships and hurt feelings.
Another word that stands out in the above passage is clamor. I think of clamor as that underground talk that can rob a coach or team of their unity. It is the behind the scene doubting and gossip that undermines the good spirit of a team.
In the end, people who hold onto slander, wrath, bitterness, anger, and clamor are themselves destroyed. This is the primary reason that the Bible asks us to put it away. Don’t keep hating because it will poison you in the end.
How do we do this? It is really simple. When we truly understand how much God has forgiven us in Christ, there is no injury that we have suffered that compares. If God has put it away in His thoughts of us- we ought to easily put it away in regard to others.
If we can’t do this, then we really do not know the magnitude of Christ’s great forgiveness. As God forgives us, we forgive others.
Mistakes are inevitable; I hope forgiveness is also inevitable. I want my team to go back to the locker room and get it right. I want a team that is kind and forgiving to one another. Is there a relationship in your life in disrepair? Do the right thing and make it right. Forgive the offender, even if they have not asked. Ultimately, the forgiveness will only restore you.
Lord, help me to see Your great forgiveness and let it compel me to forgive others. Help me to see that kindness and forgiveness actually heals my heart. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. I ask You to forgive those that are grieving me. I will make an effort to begin forgiving them. I know this is the only path to peace.
EPH. 4: 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Football is never about perfection. If you go back and analyze each play of each game, you will see all kinds of missed assignments and blown coverages. It is also impossible to go through a season without some sort in personal conflicts.
These can be as shallow as simple soldier’s spats in practice or as complex as years of neglect or bullying. Coaches are not immune from the issues. Given time and human nature, all relationships can deteriorate into fragile and fractured pieces.
A team that holds onto anger, bitterness, or slander will crumble under pressure. I have seen good football teams torn apart by selfishness and bitterness. I have also seen good coaching staffs crumble under the weight of broken friendships and hurt feelings.
Another word that stands out in the above passage is clamor. I think of clamor as that underground talk that can rob a coach or team of their unity. It is the behind the scene doubting and gossip that undermines the good spirit of a team.
In the end, people who hold onto slander, wrath, bitterness, anger, and clamor are themselves destroyed. This is the primary reason that the Bible asks us to put it away. Don’t keep hating because it will poison you in the end.
How do we do this? It is really simple. When we truly understand how much God has forgiven us in Christ, there is no injury that we have suffered that compares. If God has put it away in His thoughts of us- we ought to easily put it away in regard to others.
If we can’t do this, then we really do not know the magnitude of Christ’s great forgiveness. As God forgives us, we forgive others.
Mistakes are inevitable; I hope forgiveness is also inevitable. I want my team to go back to the locker room and get it right. I want a team that is kind and forgiving to one another. Is there a relationship in your life in disrepair? Do the right thing and make it right. Forgive the offender, even if they have not asked. Ultimately, the forgiveness will only restore you.
Lord, help me to see Your great forgiveness and let it compel me to forgive others. Help me to see that kindness and forgiveness actually heals my heart. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. I ask You to forgive those that are grieving me. I will make an effort to begin forgiving them. I know this is the only path to peace.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
GRACE: THE REAL THIRST QUINCHER
DAY 15 Winning Edge Devotions
PSALM 116:5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
I cannot describe the incredible thirst that happens to a football player during hot and humid summer two-a-days. The desire can be so intense that players will sip on sweaty wristbands just to experience thirst relief.
Much has changed about football, but the best change is that we now give water during practice. My last year of high school football was still very close to the ‘no water policy’ of some crusty old coaches. I was allowed one sip from a hose! Why we did not have more heat related deaths amazes me!
We work overtime now providing ample water and cold ice towels during the hot summer days. We also realize that a player must hydrate after practice to replace what he lost during the workout. We will weigh in players before and after practices and will actually hold them out of the next practice if they have not gained enough of their water weight back.
There is a deeper thirst in us, however. As humans made in the image of God, we have a deep hunger for HIM. We often try to fill this thirst with worldly things like fortune, fame, power, or pleasure- but they never seem to completely satisfy.
In the above Psalm, David writes about the real thirst-quincher of God’s grace.
When we are dry and thirsty, worn out by life, and torn up by sin- it is God’s grace that washes over us and brings complete healing and restoration.
David has to preach it to himself. He says “O my soul” which is a way of reminding himself of all of God’s blessings and provision.
To not remind ourselves about God’s grace makes about as much sense as that one luke-warm sip. Stop sipping and start gushing in the grace of the Lord Jesus! It is a fountain without bottom and brings incredible relief and healing!
Do you really believe in God’s goodness, mercy, and grace? Do you think you have tapped it dry? Are you too weary to turn it on? Do you trust in His ability to satisfy? I challenge you to turn away from the faulty promise of this world to the cool, trustworthy, infinite spring of love and grace!
Father, teach us to fully imbibe of your sustenance and mercy. Help us to dive deep in Your fountain of mercy. Wash us whole and fill us new! Forgive me for forsaking the living water of Your sacrifice for me. Once I drink of You, I know that I will never thirst again!
PSALM 116:5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
I cannot describe the incredible thirst that happens to a football player during hot and humid summer two-a-days. The desire can be so intense that players will sip on sweaty wristbands just to experience thirst relief.
Much has changed about football, but the best change is that we now give water during practice. My last year of high school football was still very close to the ‘no water policy’ of some crusty old coaches. I was allowed one sip from a hose! Why we did not have more heat related deaths amazes me!
We work overtime now providing ample water and cold ice towels during the hot summer days. We also realize that a player must hydrate after practice to replace what he lost during the workout. We will weigh in players before and after practices and will actually hold them out of the next practice if they have not gained enough of their water weight back.
There is a deeper thirst in us, however. As humans made in the image of God, we have a deep hunger for HIM. We often try to fill this thirst with worldly things like fortune, fame, power, or pleasure- but they never seem to completely satisfy.
In the above Psalm, David writes about the real thirst-quincher of God’s grace.
When we are dry and thirsty, worn out by life, and torn up by sin- it is God’s grace that washes over us and brings complete healing and restoration.
David has to preach it to himself. He says “O my soul” which is a way of reminding himself of all of God’s blessings and provision.
To not remind ourselves about God’s grace makes about as much sense as that one luke-warm sip. Stop sipping and start gushing in the grace of the Lord Jesus! It is a fountain without bottom and brings incredible relief and healing!
Do you really believe in God’s goodness, mercy, and grace? Do you think you have tapped it dry? Are you too weary to turn it on? Do you trust in His ability to satisfy? I challenge you to turn away from the faulty promise of this world to the cool, trustworthy, infinite spring of love and grace!
Father, teach us to fully imbibe of your sustenance and mercy. Help us to dive deep in Your fountain of mercy. Wash us whole and fill us new! Forgive me for forsaking the living water of Your sacrifice for me. Once I drink of You, I know that I will never thirst again!
WRESTLING WITH GOD
DAY 14 Winning Edge Devotions
GEN. 32: 24-32 (A PARAPHRASE)
Then Jay was left alone and a man fought with him until daybreak. And when he saw that Jay would not quit fighting, he touched Jay and hurt him; so much that Jay hurt as he fought with him. Then He said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But Jay said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So He said to him, “What is your name?” And Jay said, “Schemer” And he said “Your name shall no longer be schemer, but “God Striver”; for you have devoted serious energy with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jay asked him and said, “Are you God, Do you care?” And Jesus blessed Jay there- even as Jay was sweating, and hurting, and bleeding. So Jay named the time of suffering “the face of God” for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed the river to a new adventure, and Jay was limping, but Jay was blessed….it was time to receive even more blessing.
Life is a series of battles, there is no way around it. The passage above is really the story of Jacob and all of the circumstances God used to change him from the inside out. Jacob’s name means “schemer” or “deceiver” and he spent much of his life as a manipulator. He would lie, cheat, steal or do anything to get his way.
Then, through a series of hard circumstances, Jacob was left to struggle. The struggles began producing the fruit of character. It finally culminated in this epic story of Jacob wrestling with God. In this struggle, Jacob was given a new name and a new destiny. But the road of progress always includes pain.
I substituted my name in the above passage because I have experienced hard times in the Lord. Now, the Lord laughs at what I call ‘hard’- my suffering is nothing compared to what many others have had to endure. But I have felt betrayal and disappointment, loneliness and despair. There have been dark moments where I believed my whole life was going to crumble.
In football, I have had some bitter losses and deep, painful experiences.
Put your name in the passage above, can we persevere like this?
There are two very important points in this process. The first one is to keep fighting. Jacob wrestled with the Lord all night. In the darkest moments when all seems lost, we need to keep striving. We need a rugged disposition to fight to the bitter end.
A second important point though is seen in the tactic. The Lord jumped Jacob and wrestled with him. I imagine that early on, Jacob tried to get out of the choke hold. Then, during the night, Jacob changed his plan. Instead of fighting against God, he began to cling to Him. God said to Jacob, “Let me go” and Jacob said, “Not until You bless me”. WOW!
Are you struggling in life? Have you considered pressing into God instead of running? Do you have a battle-hardened spirit that says, “God, You may kill me, but I am not quitting until this comes through.”
You will find blessing. And you will have scars and limps. But that is OK- Jesus kept His scars too! They are marks of victory!
Lord, thank you for the hard road. Give me the strength and courage to fight. Help me to press into You and cling to You… no matter the cost!
GEN. 32: 24-32 (A PARAPHRASE)
Then Jay was left alone and a man fought with him until daybreak. And when he saw that Jay would not quit fighting, he touched Jay and hurt him; so much that Jay hurt as he fought with him. Then He said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But Jay said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So He said to him, “What is your name?” And Jay said, “Schemer” And he said “Your name shall no longer be schemer, but “God Striver”; for you have devoted serious energy with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jay asked him and said, “Are you God, Do you care?” And Jesus blessed Jay there- even as Jay was sweating, and hurting, and bleeding. So Jay named the time of suffering “the face of God” for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed the river to a new adventure, and Jay was limping, but Jay was blessed….it was time to receive even more blessing.
Life is a series of battles, there is no way around it. The passage above is really the story of Jacob and all of the circumstances God used to change him from the inside out. Jacob’s name means “schemer” or “deceiver” and he spent much of his life as a manipulator. He would lie, cheat, steal or do anything to get his way.
Then, through a series of hard circumstances, Jacob was left to struggle. The struggles began producing the fruit of character. It finally culminated in this epic story of Jacob wrestling with God. In this struggle, Jacob was given a new name and a new destiny. But the road of progress always includes pain.
I substituted my name in the above passage because I have experienced hard times in the Lord. Now, the Lord laughs at what I call ‘hard’- my suffering is nothing compared to what many others have had to endure. But I have felt betrayal and disappointment, loneliness and despair. There have been dark moments where I believed my whole life was going to crumble.
In football, I have had some bitter losses and deep, painful experiences.
Put your name in the passage above, can we persevere like this?
There are two very important points in this process. The first one is to keep fighting. Jacob wrestled with the Lord all night. In the darkest moments when all seems lost, we need to keep striving. We need a rugged disposition to fight to the bitter end.
A second important point though is seen in the tactic. The Lord jumped Jacob and wrestled with him. I imagine that early on, Jacob tried to get out of the choke hold. Then, during the night, Jacob changed his plan. Instead of fighting against God, he began to cling to Him. God said to Jacob, “Let me go” and Jacob said, “Not until You bless me”. WOW!
Are you struggling in life? Have you considered pressing into God instead of running? Do you have a battle-hardened spirit that says, “God, You may kill me, but I am not quitting until this comes through.”
You will find blessing. And you will have scars and limps. But that is OK- Jesus kept His scars too! They are marks of victory!
Lord, thank you for the hard road. Give me the strength and courage to fight. Help me to press into You and cling to You… no matter the cost!
Monday, February 11, 2008
INTENSITY OVER EMOTION
DAY 13 Winning Edge Devotions
TITUS 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Our football team will often lose the ‘warm-up’. I can’t tell you how many times we have been preparing to play teams and they are ‘fired up’. Some teams really put on a show with all kind of pump up antics. One year I remember a team coming out of the locker room for warm-ups and barking like a pack of wild dogs!
My experience has convinced me that all of the pre-game hype lasts about 15 seconds into the game. Once the game begins, any manufactured emotion melts into the intensity of battle. Don’t get me wrong, I love emotion, but I want real emotion based on what is happening on the field. Teams that live on emotion will have games of highs and games of flat lows. It is hard to get pumped up week after week with emotion. The players end up feeling unprepared if it is all based on pre-game hype and they ‘don’t feel it’.
We want something more reliable. We teach this as ‘intensity over emotion’. The feelings may come and go as the momentum changes, but we demand fiery focus and a commitment to lay it all on the line for your brother in the trenches.
The above passage contains the exact sentiment- notice the focused intensity. Paul writes for us to be’ trained’ to ‘say NO’ to worldly passions and have a steady, disciplined, steadfast hope which is ‘zealous’ to serve the Lord in our lives through good deeds of godliness.
I know some Christians who live their spiritual lives on feelings. “I don’t feel close to God” or “I don’t feel like my prayers are getting through”. Please keep in mind that your salvation is not based on feelings but faith in the fact of God’s promise. Feelings will come with the natural flow of life, but they are very fickle and totally unreliable.
God’s grace is the trainer. It melts our stubborn worldly desires and washes away our shortcomings. God’s grace props us up to walk one more day in hope. God’s grace marks us as His and eventually makes us desire to produce works for His glory.
My challenge to all of us is to get up each morning and get steadied by the truth of God’s existence and encouraged by His gospel message of salvation. Let it be these solid facts that carry us through the day and not have to rely on warm-up pep talks or motivational music. Those things will come in time, but we don’t need them. We have our hope in Christ and that is enough. In fact, it is much more intense than we could ever imagine.
Father, the fact of your salvation and the trust I have in You to keep your promises is what carries me through the toil of life. There are days that I don’t feel You, but that does not hide the truth of Your existence. There are days I don’t feel like living right, but that doesn’t give me an excuse for ignoring such a wonderful salvation. I walk in truth, today, even if I don’t feel like it. And I do it with intensity of purpose. AMEN!
TITUS 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Our football team will often lose the ‘warm-up’. I can’t tell you how many times we have been preparing to play teams and they are ‘fired up’. Some teams really put on a show with all kind of pump up antics. One year I remember a team coming out of the locker room for warm-ups and barking like a pack of wild dogs!
My experience has convinced me that all of the pre-game hype lasts about 15 seconds into the game. Once the game begins, any manufactured emotion melts into the intensity of battle. Don’t get me wrong, I love emotion, but I want real emotion based on what is happening on the field. Teams that live on emotion will have games of highs and games of flat lows. It is hard to get pumped up week after week with emotion. The players end up feeling unprepared if it is all based on pre-game hype and they ‘don’t feel it’.
We want something more reliable. We teach this as ‘intensity over emotion’. The feelings may come and go as the momentum changes, but we demand fiery focus and a commitment to lay it all on the line for your brother in the trenches.
The above passage contains the exact sentiment- notice the focused intensity. Paul writes for us to be’ trained’ to ‘say NO’ to worldly passions and have a steady, disciplined, steadfast hope which is ‘zealous’ to serve the Lord in our lives through good deeds of godliness.
I know some Christians who live their spiritual lives on feelings. “I don’t feel close to God” or “I don’t feel like my prayers are getting through”. Please keep in mind that your salvation is not based on feelings but faith in the fact of God’s promise. Feelings will come with the natural flow of life, but they are very fickle and totally unreliable.
God’s grace is the trainer. It melts our stubborn worldly desires and washes away our shortcomings. God’s grace props us up to walk one more day in hope. God’s grace marks us as His and eventually makes us desire to produce works for His glory.
My challenge to all of us is to get up each morning and get steadied by the truth of God’s existence and encouraged by His gospel message of salvation. Let it be these solid facts that carry us through the day and not have to rely on warm-up pep talks or motivational music. Those things will come in time, but we don’t need them. We have our hope in Christ and that is enough. In fact, it is much more intense than we could ever imagine.
Father, the fact of your salvation and the trust I have in You to keep your promises is what carries me through the toil of life. There are days that I don’t feel You, but that does not hide the truth of Your existence. There are days I don’t feel like living right, but that doesn’t give me an excuse for ignoring such a wonderful salvation. I walk in truth, today, even if I don’t feel like it. And I do it with intensity of purpose. AMEN!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
CAST DOWN IDOLS- CUT OUT SIN
DAY 12 Winning Edge Devotions
COL 3:5-6”Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”
In our understanding of grace, we sometimes water down the impact of sin. We must keep a clear understanding of the stain and destructive power of attitudes and actions that the Lord despises. He hates them so much because He loves us so much.
Sin dominates and corrupts; it is a sure path to bondage and pain. If you think about it, evil is always the corruption of good. As we look at the list above, we get a stark picture of good things gone wrong. Ultimately, it is a disposition where we look at the Creator and say, ‘No thanks, I’ll do it my way” – it is a snub with a sneer.
Paul writes in this verse to “put to death” which is a commentary on the urgency of the call. We are reminded of Christ teaching about cutting off hands and plucking out eyes; this struggle is no light matter, it is a death match.
As a football coach, I have to prepare my players to fight. I will warn them from time to time about the need to come into a game expecting a war. One year we showed up with a ‘practice pace’ and the other team was stoked! It was a killing! We fell early to their intensity and the other team ripped us. I will say sometimes, “Don’t be shocked when that other team tags you on your chin- you better be ready to fight!”
We often treat our sin with play gloves and a practice pace. Do we not see the danger? If we treat sin lightly, we are showing contempt for the cross. The cross points to God’s very hatred of the things we find so prevalent in our lives.
‘Sexual immorality’ is the cheapening of God’s gift of marital intimacy. We turn tenderness into selfish sensuality. Think of the damage done to women in the rampant disregard of God’s prohibitions. ‘Impurity’ goes along with this. This is the idea of being way too casual with boundaries. It is a mental assent that says, “I’m really not that bad or I can play with sin and not get burned”. ‘Earthly passion’ is an unchecked desire for temporal rewards or pleasures with no regard to God. Passion apart from the moderation of God’s word and spirit always causes chaos.
‘Evil desires’ is the constant lust for the base and dark things of life. We are drawn to the power and allure of fortune, fame, power, and pleasure. Finally, covetous says to God, “You are not enough” or worse, “You are a liar and I cannot trust you”. It puts that thing we covet above the Lord and becomes a substitute god.
We need to gear up to fight and kill these things before they kill us. To lose this battle could cause a loss of family, reputation, trust, and effectiveness for the kingdom. If you want to be a champion, you must find a sense of urgency to keep attacking the sin in your life!
FATHER, Forgive me. I have not hated the things You hate. I am guilty of hammering the nails to the cross with no regard for the pain You endured to forgive me. Show me those things in a new light and let me wage a hearty battle with Your spirit as my helper! Do not let me attack these things in others, I want to fight them in me. Thank you for forgiveness!
COL 3:5-6”Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”
In our understanding of grace, we sometimes water down the impact of sin. We must keep a clear understanding of the stain and destructive power of attitudes and actions that the Lord despises. He hates them so much because He loves us so much.
Sin dominates and corrupts; it is a sure path to bondage and pain. If you think about it, evil is always the corruption of good. As we look at the list above, we get a stark picture of good things gone wrong. Ultimately, it is a disposition where we look at the Creator and say, ‘No thanks, I’ll do it my way” – it is a snub with a sneer.
Paul writes in this verse to “put to death” which is a commentary on the urgency of the call. We are reminded of Christ teaching about cutting off hands and plucking out eyes; this struggle is no light matter, it is a death match.
As a football coach, I have to prepare my players to fight. I will warn them from time to time about the need to come into a game expecting a war. One year we showed up with a ‘practice pace’ and the other team was stoked! It was a killing! We fell early to their intensity and the other team ripped us. I will say sometimes, “Don’t be shocked when that other team tags you on your chin- you better be ready to fight!”
We often treat our sin with play gloves and a practice pace. Do we not see the danger? If we treat sin lightly, we are showing contempt for the cross. The cross points to God’s very hatred of the things we find so prevalent in our lives.
‘Sexual immorality’ is the cheapening of God’s gift of marital intimacy. We turn tenderness into selfish sensuality. Think of the damage done to women in the rampant disregard of God’s prohibitions. ‘Impurity’ goes along with this. This is the idea of being way too casual with boundaries. It is a mental assent that says, “I’m really not that bad or I can play with sin and not get burned”. ‘Earthly passion’ is an unchecked desire for temporal rewards or pleasures with no regard to God. Passion apart from the moderation of God’s word and spirit always causes chaos.
‘Evil desires’ is the constant lust for the base and dark things of life. We are drawn to the power and allure of fortune, fame, power, and pleasure. Finally, covetous says to God, “You are not enough” or worse, “You are a liar and I cannot trust you”. It puts that thing we covet above the Lord and becomes a substitute god.
We need to gear up to fight and kill these things before they kill us. To lose this battle could cause a loss of family, reputation, trust, and effectiveness for the kingdom. If you want to be a champion, you must find a sense of urgency to keep attacking the sin in your life!
FATHER, Forgive me. I have not hated the things You hate. I am guilty of hammering the nails to the cross with no regard for the pain You endured to forgive me. Show me those things in a new light and let me wage a hearty battle with Your spirit as my helper! Do not let me attack these things in others, I want to fight them in me. Thank you for forgiveness!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
LEARNING TO SERVE
DAY 11 Wining Edge Devotions
JOHN 15: 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
We live in very self-centered times. Fifteen years ago players would talk about region and team championships and today I hear a lot more about scholarships. Do you see the difference? Getting teenagers to look beyond themselves is very difficult, but I do believe that if they ever catch the vision of serving and loving others, it can be life changing.
Team service projects can do wonders in helping to teach this concept. I am always looking for ways that I can get my players to help others.
Are you down or discouraged? The quickest recovery is to serve someone else.
There are a number of things we can do daily to practice love and service.
#1- Make it a point to encourage at least three people daily. Look for honest and sincere opportunities to brag on others. Find someone doing something right and point it out. Honor those who are loving and serving well.
#2- Learn to thank all of the people who serve you. Tell them thanks and show gratitude. At my school, I like to walk around and pump up those who serve so well and get very little recognition. I love to give them caps or shirts with out logo on it.
#3- Plan how to love and serve. Get out your PDA or planner and program in time to serve. It could be as simple as a birthday card or complex as working in a soup kitchen, but give time and money to good causes.
#4 Use e-mail lists or phone directories to call and check up on people. I take two evenings a week as I drive home to scroll down my contacts and call. I always just speak a warm word or leave a short message.
I want to do a better job of thinking about others. The Christian life ultimately boils down to loving God and loving others. A way to think of this is, we can practically love God the most by serving others.
How do you read the tone of Jesus above? I read it as a warm tone. It does not strike me as a stern- YOU BETTER LOVE… I COMMAND YOU- instead it comes across as” I want you to love others and you want to”. Why? We love because of the sacrifice for us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Is it that hard to give some effort for others?
Lord, let me see the need today in others. Teach me to serve others. Please forgive my selfishness. Give me that attitude of gratitude that produces warmth and encouragement for others. AMEN!
JOHN 15: 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
We live in very self-centered times. Fifteen years ago players would talk about region and team championships and today I hear a lot more about scholarships. Do you see the difference? Getting teenagers to look beyond themselves is very difficult, but I do believe that if they ever catch the vision of serving and loving others, it can be life changing.
Team service projects can do wonders in helping to teach this concept. I am always looking for ways that I can get my players to help others.
Are you down or discouraged? The quickest recovery is to serve someone else.
There are a number of things we can do daily to practice love and service.
#1- Make it a point to encourage at least three people daily. Look for honest and sincere opportunities to brag on others. Find someone doing something right and point it out. Honor those who are loving and serving well.
#2- Learn to thank all of the people who serve you. Tell them thanks and show gratitude. At my school, I like to walk around and pump up those who serve so well and get very little recognition. I love to give them caps or shirts with out logo on it.
#3- Plan how to love and serve. Get out your PDA or planner and program in time to serve. It could be as simple as a birthday card or complex as working in a soup kitchen, but give time and money to good causes.
#4 Use e-mail lists or phone directories to call and check up on people. I take two evenings a week as I drive home to scroll down my contacts and call. I always just speak a warm word or leave a short message.
I want to do a better job of thinking about others. The Christian life ultimately boils down to loving God and loving others. A way to think of this is, we can practically love God the most by serving others.
How do you read the tone of Jesus above? I read it as a warm tone. It does not strike me as a stern- YOU BETTER LOVE… I COMMAND YOU- instead it comes across as” I want you to love others and you want to”. Why? We love because of the sacrifice for us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Is it that hard to give some effort for others?
Lord, let me see the need today in others. Teach me to serve others. Please forgive my selfishness. Give me that attitude of gratitude that produces warmth and encouragement for others. AMEN!
Friday, February 08, 2008
LEARNING TO REJOICE
DAY 10 Winning Edge Devotions
PHIL. 4: 4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Losing kills me. Some of the worst kind of losses are we had opportunities to win. It is hard to communicate how much my heart hurts when I experience losing, it is a deep, empty, and fragmented sense of failure. I always feel like I have let my players down.
It is interesting some of the ministering spirits God has sent to me in those times. One night my children ran to me on the field right after we lost a heartbreaker. Their hugs numbed the pain… a little. It was so sweet.
On another occasion as I walked off the field, an opposing parent came to me. She asked if I was the coach and I said ‘yes’. She said, "I went to your (school) website this week and wanted to commend you on your stance for Christ." That was a soothing minister who helped.
Psalm 112 says, "1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands. 2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. 3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. 4 When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come.”
When Paul wrote of rejoicing always…he was in prison! He was being unfairly persecuted for his faith. He encourages us to find Joy- “rejoice” literally means, “find again your joy!”.
Paul pushes us to quickly lose the depression and pray. As we hurt, we need to be ‘thankful’. Our pain is going to produce good fruit down the road. There was one school in particular that had caused us a lot of pain. We shed a lt of tears on their field for three straight years. We prayed, we cried, we thanked, and we kept our spirit of rejoicing alive.
The next year, we finally pushed through a win and we celebrated! Learning to rejoice, makes life all the more sweet and keeps us unbeatable in any circumstance!
Father, teach me to rejoice in all things. Help me to see You in the midst of my pain and let me praise you even in defeat. Give me again the joy of knowing you!
PHIL. 4: 4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Losing kills me. Some of the worst kind of losses are we had opportunities to win. It is hard to communicate how much my heart hurts when I experience losing, it is a deep, empty, and fragmented sense of failure. I always feel like I have let my players down.
It is interesting some of the ministering spirits God has sent to me in those times. One night my children ran to me on the field right after we lost a heartbreaker. Their hugs numbed the pain… a little. It was so sweet.
On another occasion as I walked off the field, an opposing parent came to me. She asked if I was the coach and I said ‘yes’. She said, "I went to your (school) website this week and wanted to commend you on your stance for Christ." That was a soothing minister who helped.
Psalm 112 says, "1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands. 2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. 3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. 4 When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come.”
When Paul wrote of rejoicing always…he was in prison! He was being unfairly persecuted for his faith. He encourages us to find Joy- “rejoice” literally means, “find again your joy!”.
Paul pushes us to quickly lose the depression and pray. As we hurt, we need to be ‘thankful’. Our pain is going to produce good fruit down the road. There was one school in particular that had caused us a lot of pain. We shed a lt of tears on their field for three straight years. We prayed, we cried, we thanked, and we kept our spirit of rejoicing alive.
The next year, we finally pushed through a win and we celebrated! Learning to rejoice, makes life all the more sweet and keeps us unbeatable in any circumstance!
Father, teach me to rejoice in all things. Help me to see You in the midst of my pain and let me praise you even in defeat. Give me again the joy of knowing you!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
LEARNING TO TRUST
Day 9 Winning Edge Devotions
ROMANS 4: 18” In hope he (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.’”
One measure of our success as a football team is how far we grow in learning to trust. Any team is built on a foundational trust. We say that we want a team where players trust players, coaches trust coaches, players trust coaches, and coaches trust players.
When times get tough or the pressure rises, a trusting team will hang together and fight together. A team without trust will quickly disintegrate into useless individuals and the results are disastrous!
Trust is built in time as individuals give themselves to a cause bigger than themselves. The individual learns that he cannot rely on himself to accomplish the objective. As these individuals give themselves in energy, passion, sweat, and pain- they observe others giving the same sacrifice. Then they get a vision of what can happen if they all join together. When a team learns to give up self and give in to trusting their brothers, it is a beautiful experience.
Abraham grew in his ability to trust God. It took a long time of experience to follow the Lord this way. God was always faithful to His promise and Abraham learned to put stock in God.
When the pressures of doubt came, Abraham clung to his trust in God and refused to let go. He did not know how or when God would come through, he just knew that He would do as he always promised.
God’s Kingdom is always victorious and the gospel is never hindered. In the darkest moments of final despair is when God most wants to show up and conquer. God is a hero, and all He wants from us is to just keep swimming, keep swinging, keep praying, keep loving , and …..never, never , never lose hope.
It is important to note that Abraham had to grow in this faith, as we do. Jesus asked the question, "when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?" I believe He is referring to this type of faith- if we have anxiety, fear, or are overcome by circumstance- aren't we implying that we really do not trust God to keep His promises?
Lord- may we walk in our faith- may it secure our hearts, not merely fall from loose lips. You are able to do what You say- You will do what You have promised...even when it seems the bleakest!
ROMANS 4: 18” In hope he (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.’”
One measure of our success as a football team is how far we grow in learning to trust. Any team is built on a foundational trust. We say that we want a team where players trust players, coaches trust coaches, players trust coaches, and coaches trust players.
When times get tough or the pressure rises, a trusting team will hang together and fight together. A team without trust will quickly disintegrate into useless individuals and the results are disastrous!
Trust is built in time as individuals give themselves to a cause bigger than themselves. The individual learns that he cannot rely on himself to accomplish the objective. As these individuals give themselves in energy, passion, sweat, and pain- they observe others giving the same sacrifice. Then they get a vision of what can happen if they all join together. When a team learns to give up self and give in to trusting their brothers, it is a beautiful experience.
Abraham grew in his ability to trust God. It took a long time of experience to follow the Lord this way. God was always faithful to His promise and Abraham learned to put stock in God.
When the pressures of doubt came, Abraham clung to his trust in God and refused to let go. He did not know how or when God would come through, he just knew that He would do as he always promised.
God’s Kingdom is always victorious and the gospel is never hindered. In the darkest moments of final despair is when God most wants to show up and conquer. God is a hero, and all He wants from us is to just keep swimming, keep swinging, keep praying, keep loving , and …..never, never , never lose hope.
It is important to note that Abraham had to grow in this faith, as we do. Jesus asked the question, "when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?" I believe He is referring to this type of faith- if we have anxiety, fear, or are overcome by circumstance- aren't we implying that we really do not trust God to keep His promises?
Lord- may we walk in our faith- may it secure our hearts, not merely fall from loose lips. You are able to do what You say- You will do what You have promised...even when it seems the bleakest!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
THE GREATEST COACH
DAY 8 Winning Edge Devotions
JOHN 14: “15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
I loved playing football. I started as a Jr. 70 lb 2nd grader and played through two years of college, almost 14 years! During that time I had some incredible coaches. It was their awesome ability to influence me that led to my desire to coach. There is something about a coach that makes you want to please them and follow them.
I never saw these men as perfect, but I knew their words of instruction were helpful. They were invested in me and wanted me to be successful. I can still see a lot of them in my mind today. I was especially blessed to have some great coaches as role models for me. My high school coach was David Cutcliffe and I was honored to play at Alabama for Coach Bryant’s last season.
Coaches represent a standard and knowledge that we do not have yet. As much as I wanted to know the game, I realized that these men had experience and knowledge that I did not have. They also desired to impart in me their knowledge, and they took time every day to tell and train me in the ways of winning football. My respect for them and my admiration of them put me in a place of the willing apprentice. They did not restrict the flow of information; it was up to me to apply diligence and practice.
Without a coach, I can never move forward. There are some men who are disciplined enough to self-train and self-teach, but it is never as intense and fruitful as training under an expert coach.
In John 14, Jesus introduces the greatest coach of all time- God’s Holy Spirit!
It is very clear in this passage that the Spirit is a person. Think about it, as a believer in Christ, you have the awesome benefit of a ‘live-in’ coach! He is with you all the time and ready to help. Have you ever though about the tone of verse 15? For years I read it as a harsh command, like my mom telling me to clean my room. In later years, it seemed to sound more like a natural flow of feelings and actions. I love college football so I watch it. I love pizza, and I look forward to eating it with mouth-watering anticipation.
I love Christ, so I want to obey Him. It is not drudgery for me to follow Christ; it is an honor! I thank my Coach who helps me develop this mindset and attitude. We read later in the passage that the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts of sin and brings to remembrance the things of God. The Bible also makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the distinctive between natural men of flesh who cannot know God and children of the Spirit who depend on and cry out to the Father. We can also grieve the Holy Spirit when we continue attitudes or actions of rebellion.
Ask God for a search today. Are you aware of His spirit within you? If you are struggling with that, take it up with God. The fact that you are wrestling with it is a good sign of the Coach at work! Then start acknowledging Him and ask Him to coach you on Christ and His ways. He has training aids to take you further than you ever dreamed possible.
Lord, thank you for sending the Spirit. Please allow me to be more sensitive to His training in my life. I realize that when I pray, it is His prayers that are engaged. Thank you for the gift of this coach!
JOHN 14: “15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
I loved playing football. I started as a Jr. 70 lb 2nd grader and played through two years of college, almost 14 years! During that time I had some incredible coaches. It was their awesome ability to influence me that led to my desire to coach. There is something about a coach that makes you want to please them and follow them.
I never saw these men as perfect, but I knew their words of instruction were helpful. They were invested in me and wanted me to be successful. I can still see a lot of them in my mind today. I was especially blessed to have some great coaches as role models for me. My high school coach was David Cutcliffe and I was honored to play at Alabama for Coach Bryant’s last season.
Coaches represent a standard and knowledge that we do not have yet. As much as I wanted to know the game, I realized that these men had experience and knowledge that I did not have. They also desired to impart in me their knowledge, and they took time every day to tell and train me in the ways of winning football. My respect for them and my admiration of them put me in a place of the willing apprentice. They did not restrict the flow of information; it was up to me to apply diligence and practice.
Without a coach, I can never move forward. There are some men who are disciplined enough to self-train and self-teach, but it is never as intense and fruitful as training under an expert coach.
In John 14, Jesus introduces the greatest coach of all time- God’s Holy Spirit!
It is very clear in this passage that the Spirit is a person. Think about it, as a believer in Christ, you have the awesome benefit of a ‘live-in’ coach! He is with you all the time and ready to help. Have you ever though about the tone of verse 15? For years I read it as a harsh command, like my mom telling me to clean my room. In later years, it seemed to sound more like a natural flow of feelings and actions. I love college football so I watch it. I love pizza, and I look forward to eating it with mouth-watering anticipation.
I love Christ, so I want to obey Him. It is not drudgery for me to follow Christ; it is an honor! I thank my Coach who helps me develop this mindset and attitude. We read later in the passage that the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts of sin and brings to remembrance the things of God. The Bible also makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the distinctive between natural men of flesh who cannot know God and children of the Spirit who depend on and cry out to the Father. We can also grieve the Holy Spirit when we continue attitudes or actions of rebellion.
Ask God for a search today. Are you aware of His spirit within you? If you are struggling with that, take it up with God. The fact that you are wrestling with it is a good sign of the Coach at work! Then start acknowledging Him and ask Him to coach you on Christ and His ways. He has training aids to take you further than you ever dreamed possible.
Lord, thank you for sending the Spirit. Please allow me to be more sensitive to His training in my life. I realize that when I pray, it is His prayers that are engaged. Thank you for the gift of this coach!
BIG TEAM - LITTLE ME
DAY 7 Winning Edge Devotions
ROMANS 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
The most common characteristic I have found on our championship teams is a noticeable absence of selfishness. I always worry about teams that have a number of discontented individuals. The worst example of this is when the team has won, but that individual is not happy after the game because he didn’t get enough touches or playing time.
I make it a habit to look at everyone in the locker room after the game. After a win, we sing a silly song and really celebrate. I don’t care if it was an ugly one-point win- a win is a win and a beat is a beat. So we sing and dance and I watch the locker room for individuals with that ‘far away look’. It is those individuals who need encouragement in the message of “Big Team- Little Me”.
I had a quarterback one game who threw 4 interceptions in the game. He came back in the 4th quarter and threw the game winning touchdown pass. On the sideline as time was running out, I walked up to him and saw the tears streaming down his face.
Usually, I try to gently encourage a young man who is broken like that, but my response was surprising; I lit him up! I was angry that he could not stop focusing on self. I wanted so badly for him to see that it is not about him, we had a team win! Thankfully, the technique worked!
Self- focus is a terrible condition and it infects us all at various times. I believe it one of Satan’s best avenues to steal the joy of living from us. It kills a team.
The individual who cares more about the team than himself is the young man who learns to love and serve. He lives in the comfort of brotherhood and has great help in times of pressure. He is free to compete and tends to be focused on his role.
The most liberating time in my Christian life is when I get my eyes of the temporal and myself, and submit to the loving care of the Sovereign King of the Universe. Everything is about Him. It is all orchestrated to His glory and I an thankful to just be a small part.
Romans 11:36 is the great culminating doxology to some of the most incredible doctrinal statements in the Bible. The apostle Paul has just finished explaining the gospel in depth and detail that takes your breath away. Right after this chapter, he begins the application of these great truths. This great verse at the end of doctrine and the beginning of application is where we get the phrase- “SOLI DEO GLORIA- To God Alone Be the Glory”. It is not about me- It is about Him.
I am a part of a big team and Christ is my captain. When I start living for His glory and not mine, I find life becomes much less crazy. The greatest part is that the Lord cares for ‘little me’!
Father, thank You for being awesome enough to contain and maintain all things! It is comforting to me that You are bigger than my thoughts and unbound by my imagination. Help me to submit to You and live for You. Teach me to reflect glory back to You in humility and gratitude. Keep my focus on You and eternity and off this present circumstance. You are God and in control! Amen!
ROMANS 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
The most common characteristic I have found on our championship teams is a noticeable absence of selfishness. I always worry about teams that have a number of discontented individuals. The worst example of this is when the team has won, but that individual is not happy after the game because he didn’t get enough touches or playing time.
I make it a habit to look at everyone in the locker room after the game. After a win, we sing a silly song and really celebrate. I don’t care if it was an ugly one-point win- a win is a win and a beat is a beat. So we sing and dance and I watch the locker room for individuals with that ‘far away look’. It is those individuals who need encouragement in the message of “Big Team- Little Me”.
I had a quarterback one game who threw 4 interceptions in the game. He came back in the 4th quarter and threw the game winning touchdown pass. On the sideline as time was running out, I walked up to him and saw the tears streaming down his face.
Usually, I try to gently encourage a young man who is broken like that, but my response was surprising; I lit him up! I was angry that he could not stop focusing on self. I wanted so badly for him to see that it is not about him, we had a team win! Thankfully, the technique worked!
Self- focus is a terrible condition and it infects us all at various times. I believe it one of Satan’s best avenues to steal the joy of living from us. It kills a team.
The individual who cares more about the team than himself is the young man who learns to love and serve. He lives in the comfort of brotherhood and has great help in times of pressure. He is free to compete and tends to be focused on his role.
The most liberating time in my Christian life is when I get my eyes of the temporal and myself, and submit to the loving care of the Sovereign King of the Universe. Everything is about Him. It is all orchestrated to His glory and I an thankful to just be a small part.
Romans 11:36 is the great culminating doxology to some of the most incredible doctrinal statements in the Bible. The apostle Paul has just finished explaining the gospel in depth and detail that takes your breath away. Right after this chapter, he begins the application of these great truths. This great verse at the end of doctrine and the beginning of application is where we get the phrase- “SOLI DEO GLORIA- To God Alone Be the Glory”. It is not about me- It is about Him.
I am a part of a big team and Christ is my captain. When I start living for His glory and not mine, I find life becomes much less crazy. The greatest part is that the Lord cares for ‘little me’!
Father, thank You for being awesome enough to contain and maintain all things! It is comforting to me that You are bigger than my thoughts and unbound by my imagination. Help me to submit to You and live for You. Teach me to reflect glory back to You in humility and gratitude. Keep my focus on You and eternity and off this present circumstance. You are God and in control! Amen!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Embrace the Battle
DAY 6 Winning Edge Devotions
2 CORIN. 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
One thing that sets football apart from any other sport is putting on armor and going to war. It is not natural. I remember being so afraid at times playing football- but I faced my fear and became more of a man.
I am always interested in watching our young players face their fears and learn to hit. At different times and in various ways, they learn to embrace the physical side of the game. The best lesson is to learn to be the ‘hitter’ and not the ‘hittee’. The players who flinch often feel the most pain. The warriors learn to attack and become quickly feared. I love the steely eyed toughness of a seasoned fighter- there is awesome strength there!
This life requires learning to fight. One day you may have to fight for a job, for your wife, fight against disease or a tough situation. You may have to fight for your faith. Jesus was a great fighter. He used tough words against the Pharisees, he fashioned a whip and drove out the moneychangers, he carried a cross up the mountain bleeding and hurting for me.
This is a difficult issue. Our society is increasingly becoming more sedentary. Leisure is a big commodity. An unintentional result of leisure and affluence is “softness” or an inability to endure difficult circumstances or discomfort. Education tends to erode necessary traits of survival such as the ability to fight.
Our football program believes that true manhood is a balance between tenderness and toughness. Tenderness without toughness leads to weakness. Toughness without tenderness leads to brutality. Our motto is “become warriors and brothers”.
Our culture is growing increasingly hostile to the core beliefs of Christianity. As the country embraces secularism and relativism we see battle lines becoming more distinct. One thing that is interesting about this passage in I Corinthians is that it is impersonal. Our enemies are not people!
However, make no mistake about our being in a war! As believers we cannot wimp out of the fight. We have the divine power of God to boldly stand in the marketplace of ideas and destroy any argument that stands against the truth of God.
Have you been ignoring a tough situation? What fears are keeping you from engaging a noble fight? Instead of weakly walking in and taking a beating, why not attack in the Holy Name of Christ? There is great strength in winning battles; it creates momentum to win the war!
Lord, I have not been a faithful warrior for truth. Why am I so afraid of that person, they are not my enemy. Help me find the ability to fight in worthwhile ways and for worthy causes. Train me in how to battle! Christ is my great example. Give me His boldness and tenacity!
2 CORIN. 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
One thing that sets football apart from any other sport is putting on armor and going to war. It is not natural. I remember being so afraid at times playing football- but I faced my fear and became more of a man.
I am always interested in watching our young players face their fears and learn to hit. At different times and in various ways, they learn to embrace the physical side of the game. The best lesson is to learn to be the ‘hitter’ and not the ‘hittee’. The players who flinch often feel the most pain. The warriors learn to attack and become quickly feared. I love the steely eyed toughness of a seasoned fighter- there is awesome strength there!
This life requires learning to fight. One day you may have to fight for a job, for your wife, fight against disease or a tough situation. You may have to fight for your faith. Jesus was a great fighter. He used tough words against the Pharisees, he fashioned a whip and drove out the moneychangers, he carried a cross up the mountain bleeding and hurting for me.
This is a difficult issue. Our society is increasingly becoming more sedentary. Leisure is a big commodity. An unintentional result of leisure and affluence is “softness” or an inability to endure difficult circumstances or discomfort. Education tends to erode necessary traits of survival such as the ability to fight.
Our football program believes that true manhood is a balance between tenderness and toughness. Tenderness without toughness leads to weakness. Toughness without tenderness leads to brutality. Our motto is “become warriors and brothers”.
Our culture is growing increasingly hostile to the core beliefs of Christianity. As the country embraces secularism and relativism we see battle lines becoming more distinct. One thing that is interesting about this passage in I Corinthians is that it is impersonal. Our enemies are not people!
However, make no mistake about our being in a war! As believers we cannot wimp out of the fight. We have the divine power of God to boldly stand in the marketplace of ideas and destroy any argument that stands against the truth of God.
Have you been ignoring a tough situation? What fears are keeping you from engaging a noble fight? Instead of weakly walking in and taking a beating, why not attack in the Holy Name of Christ? There is great strength in winning battles; it creates momentum to win the war!
Lord, I have not been a faithful warrior for truth. Why am I so afraid of that person, they are not my enemy. Help me find the ability to fight in worthwhile ways and for worthy causes. Train me in how to battle! Christ is my great example. Give me His boldness and tenacity!
RELY ON YOUR TEAM MATES
DAY 5 Winning Edge Devotions
HEB. 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
One of the many reason I love football is because it is the ultimate team sport. Football requires incredible cooperation and team unity. In 2006 I began to rethink my definitions of ‘success’ and ‘achievement’ and developed the idea that one factor in our success, as a program, is if we grew into a ‘team’. Many of us know the slogans- “There is no I in Team” and T.E.A.M. “ together everyone accomplishes more”- but I want a team to be much more than a slogan. I think all teams are products of growth. A team cannot be made in a moment; it must be developed over a period of time. The fundamental ingredients to becoming a team are love and trust. To the degree that our players and coaches can learn to love each other and trust each other will be the depth of our power as a team. Ultimately a team is characterized by self-sacrifice and a unity of purpose. Selfishness, bitterness, cynicism, apathy, and isolation are team killers. To develop love and trust requires communication, honesty, forgiveness, tolerance, and effort. A great step to love and trust is learning to suffer together.
I can point to important moments when our football teams experienced major moves in developing the team spirit that we so eagerly wait for each season and it usually follows very difficult struggles or failures. Under pressure, we learn who we can rely on. There is very little pretending in times of pain.
Christianity is a team sport. Our need for the team is based on our enemy being the best one on one player in the history of the world. Our Savior beat Satan in the contest in the wilderness, but no one else has survived the encounter. We need each other to make it in this world of danger and pitfalls.
I believe that God’s mystery is designed to bring us together in fellowship. As we struggle with the questions of Scripture and life, we have to spend time together. It is good to hear different experiences and discuss various ideas. It is good to come together, it is dangerous to drift apart.
One of my mentors noted that most men who fall are isolated, without support or accountability. We need to make an honest effort to take time and invest in the relationships that carry us in life. For a man, it will be his spouse and a significant two or three men who are able to challenge, encourage, love, forgive, and support.
The local church provides some of the greatest opportunities to develop these types of relationships. I challenge men to take time and invest time and energy in building quality men’s ministries in their congregations. Find what you and other men like to do and do it together. Through these similar passions, you can begin to love and trust each other enough to begin encouraging one another. When the pressures of life come or when the opponents attack, you have teammates to rely on. They will watch your back! If you have been living life as a lone ranger, please reconsider. Do not forsake coming together with a team. Begin searching today for those you can encourage and grow with.
Father, who comes to my mind as I think of my teammates? Please help me be the kind of person who can play on a team. Begin building that team today!
HEB. 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
One of the many reason I love football is because it is the ultimate team sport. Football requires incredible cooperation and team unity. In 2006 I began to rethink my definitions of ‘success’ and ‘achievement’ and developed the idea that one factor in our success, as a program, is if we grew into a ‘team’. Many of us know the slogans- “There is no I in Team” and T.E.A.M. “ together everyone accomplishes more”- but I want a team to be much more than a slogan. I think all teams are products of growth. A team cannot be made in a moment; it must be developed over a period of time. The fundamental ingredients to becoming a team are love and trust. To the degree that our players and coaches can learn to love each other and trust each other will be the depth of our power as a team. Ultimately a team is characterized by self-sacrifice and a unity of purpose. Selfishness, bitterness, cynicism, apathy, and isolation are team killers. To develop love and trust requires communication, honesty, forgiveness, tolerance, and effort. A great step to love and trust is learning to suffer together.
I can point to important moments when our football teams experienced major moves in developing the team spirit that we so eagerly wait for each season and it usually follows very difficult struggles or failures. Under pressure, we learn who we can rely on. There is very little pretending in times of pain.
Christianity is a team sport. Our need for the team is based on our enemy being the best one on one player in the history of the world. Our Savior beat Satan in the contest in the wilderness, but no one else has survived the encounter. We need each other to make it in this world of danger and pitfalls.
I believe that God’s mystery is designed to bring us together in fellowship. As we struggle with the questions of Scripture and life, we have to spend time together. It is good to hear different experiences and discuss various ideas. It is good to come together, it is dangerous to drift apart.
One of my mentors noted that most men who fall are isolated, without support or accountability. We need to make an honest effort to take time and invest in the relationships that carry us in life. For a man, it will be his spouse and a significant two or three men who are able to challenge, encourage, love, forgive, and support.
The local church provides some of the greatest opportunities to develop these types of relationships. I challenge men to take time and invest time and energy in building quality men’s ministries in their congregations. Find what you and other men like to do and do it together. Through these similar passions, you can begin to love and trust each other enough to begin encouraging one another. When the pressures of life come or when the opponents attack, you have teammates to rely on. They will watch your back! If you have been living life as a lone ranger, please reconsider. Do not forsake coming together with a team. Begin searching today for those you can encourage and grow with.
Father, who comes to my mind as I think of my teammates? Please help me be the kind of person who can play on a team. Begin building that team today!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
WORK THE PLAN
DAY 4 Winning Edge Devotions
JOSHUA 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
One football season our offense had a very hard time scoring in what we call the ‘red zone’. We would drive the football all the way down the field and stall. We could not score touchdowns and we missed a lot of field goals.
The next season we began a practice period called ‘Live at the 35’ where we would spot a ball near the scoring zone and drive for points. We became a lot better at managing that space on the field and learned to adjust, as the ball got closer to the goal line. On 4th down we would punt or kick field goals. With a lot of the same players, the offense that next season learned how to score in the red zone and we scored a lot.
One of the assistant coaches remarked to me that season, “It’s kind of amazing, you get better at what you work on.” That has led us to try to keep in mind to spend practice time working on what we need to do to improve.
I have found the same thing to be true spiritually. It isn’t enough to draw up calendars and plans. A lot of poor performance begins with good intentions. At some point, we have to work the plan. It is in the repetition that we develop long-term memory and the building of habits.
One plan that needs constant work is the study and meditation of the Bible. God’s word is deep and supernatural. It doesn’t read like any other piece of literature I have ever encountered.
There is a wonderful promise here in Joshua 1:8. It encourages us to meditate on the word. This meditation, I believe, is a mental turnover and constant rehearsal of what the text says and how it should be applied.
We need to apply it to our situation. It should not always be directed at others and their issues, it should be directed within. It should be mulled over all day and night. The psychology textbooks tell us that the key to having information stored in our long-term memory is spacing and repetition. We need to multiple encounters with content, put it away for a time, and then return to that information and repeat it again. It is the recurring experience, divided over time, that really goes deep in our being. It is one of the many reasons that we remember music so well.
Notice also that it is the practice of God’s word, in a very detailed way, that brings about success. When we live according to the Creator’s game plan, we find the best environment for success. Every time we ignore God’s plan and go our own way, we close the door to the optimum avenues for true success.
So work the plan. Read it, mull it over, and practice it. Do it again and again. Over time, you will begin to get good at what you work on. Wouldn’t it be great if those things were pleasing to the Lord!
Father, help me have the patience to work the plan. Please remove the day-to-day distractions, which hinder my practice and focus. Let me clearly see what to do, help me to rehearse it, and then give me the strength to practice it.
JOSHUA 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
One football season our offense had a very hard time scoring in what we call the ‘red zone’. We would drive the football all the way down the field and stall. We could not score touchdowns and we missed a lot of field goals.
The next season we began a practice period called ‘Live at the 35’ where we would spot a ball near the scoring zone and drive for points. We became a lot better at managing that space on the field and learned to adjust, as the ball got closer to the goal line. On 4th down we would punt or kick field goals. With a lot of the same players, the offense that next season learned how to score in the red zone and we scored a lot.
One of the assistant coaches remarked to me that season, “It’s kind of amazing, you get better at what you work on.” That has led us to try to keep in mind to spend practice time working on what we need to do to improve.
I have found the same thing to be true spiritually. It isn’t enough to draw up calendars and plans. A lot of poor performance begins with good intentions. At some point, we have to work the plan. It is in the repetition that we develop long-term memory and the building of habits.
One plan that needs constant work is the study and meditation of the Bible. God’s word is deep and supernatural. It doesn’t read like any other piece of literature I have ever encountered.
There is a wonderful promise here in Joshua 1:8. It encourages us to meditate on the word. This meditation, I believe, is a mental turnover and constant rehearsal of what the text says and how it should be applied.
We need to apply it to our situation. It should not always be directed at others and their issues, it should be directed within. It should be mulled over all day and night. The psychology textbooks tell us that the key to having information stored in our long-term memory is spacing and repetition. We need to multiple encounters with content, put it away for a time, and then return to that information and repeat it again. It is the recurring experience, divided over time, that really goes deep in our being. It is one of the many reasons that we remember music so well.
Notice also that it is the practice of God’s word, in a very detailed way, that brings about success. When we live according to the Creator’s game plan, we find the best environment for success. Every time we ignore God’s plan and go our own way, we close the door to the optimum avenues for true success.
So work the plan. Read it, mull it over, and practice it. Do it again and again. Over time, you will begin to get good at what you work on. Wouldn’t it be great if those things were pleasing to the Lord!
Father, help me have the patience to work the plan. Please remove the day-to-day distractions, which hinder my practice and focus. Let me clearly see what to do, help me to rehearse it, and then give me the strength to practice it.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
FUNDAMENTALS ARE FOUNDATIONAL
DAY 3 Winning Edge Devotions
2 TIM. 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Every year we begin a quest to build, once again, a successful football team. Training camp consist of the same basic practices each season. Our seniors will hear and practice once again the same drills that comprise our ‘fundamentals’.
In football, all championship teams have great fundamentals. These include proper stances and winning techniques. It takes a lot of practice to instill these winning fundamentals. Practice does not make perfect. One of my favorite youth ministers used to tell our team, “practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”
On our practice field, we start everyday with these fundamental routines. You will hear our coaches say the same things every day- “Stance, start, form, fit, finish”. Our players go fast with the coaches calling out the buzz words of our system. You will hear “eat the football with your eyes”. The running back coach will say, “tuck it away, high and tight”, the linebacker coach yells, ‘step on toes, bite the football, club arms, grab cloth, and run your feet”.
Our quarterback’s coach repeats , “drop, drop, drop,, and hold our pose” our receivers coach preaches “burst off the cut” and “come and see me”.
This continued repetition builds habits. When our players play the game, we want them reacting and not thinking. By doing the same fundamentals again and again, we develop the proper fundamentals by instinct.
The same habits need to be cultivated in our spiritual lives. The evidence of grace is demonstrated in a desire to practice the disciplines of grace. The fundamentals of Christianity have not changed- we need to read the Word, pray, fast, worship, memorize scripture, share our faith, give. These habits of holiness re-orient our lives to be sensitive to Christ and His kingdom.
Can these habits become meaningless routines? Yes! But just as we push for energy and effort on the football field, we need to add enthusiasm for the fundamentals of our faith. The greatest fundamental, though, is the gospel itself. It is good news for bad people. The message is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sin and His resurrection is proof of our hope for eternal life in Him. I cannot earn or deserve this gift of salvation, I humbly accept in faith. I am not trusting in myself for eternal life; I am trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus. It is such an awesome message that it transforms our lives and is the foundation of all we do.
I challenge us to develop a practice schedule that includes a daily dose of fundamentals. Let us find workout partners who will hold us accountable and train in the ways of God. These disciplines are always a part of championship performance.
Lord, I have neglected some vital disciplines of my spiritual growth. I had great excuses for leaving them out including my worry about my life with You becoming routine and monotonous. Now, I find that I give almost no time to my study of Your word and prayer. I have not fasted in years. Father, help me to remember why these disciplines are so good for me and keep encouraging me to practice these with energy. Let my thoughts and daily routine develop habits of holiness to Your glory!
2 TIM. 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Every year we begin a quest to build, once again, a successful football team. Training camp consist of the same basic practices each season. Our seniors will hear and practice once again the same drills that comprise our ‘fundamentals’.
In football, all championship teams have great fundamentals. These include proper stances and winning techniques. It takes a lot of practice to instill these winning fundamentals. Practice does not make perfect. One of my favorite youth ministers used to tell our team, “practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”
On our practice field, we start everyday with these fundamental routines. You will hear our coaches say the same things every day- “Stance, start, form, fit, finish”. Our players go fast with the coaches calling out the buzz words of our system. You will hear “eat the football with your eyes”. The running back coach will say, “tuck it away, high and tight”, the linebacker coach yells, ‘step on toes, bite the football, club arms, grab cloth, and run your feet”.
Our quarterback’s coach repeats , “drop, drop, drop,, and hold our pose” our receivers coach preaches “burst off the cut” and “come and see me”.
This continued repetition builds habits. When our players play the game, we want them reacting and not thinking. By doing the same fundamentals again and again, we develop the proper fundamentals by instinct.
The same habits need to be cultivated in our spiritual lives. The evidence of grace is demonstrated in a desire to practice the disciplines of grace. The fundamentals of Christianity have not changed- we need to read the Word, pray, fast, worship, memorize scripture, share our faith, give. These habits of holiness re-orient our lives to be sensitive to Christ and His kingdom.
Can these habits become meaningless routines? Yes! But just as we push for energy and effort on the football field, we need to add enthusiasm for the fundamentals of our faith. The greatest fundamental, though, is the gospel itself. It is good news for bad people. The message is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sin and His resurrection is proof of our hope for eternal life in Him. I cannot earn or deserve this gift of salvation, I humbly accept in faith. I am not trusting in myself for eternal life; I am trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus. It is such an awesome message that it transforms our lives and is the foundation of all we do.
I challenge us to develop a practice schedule that includes a daily dose of fundamentals. Let us find workout partners who will hold us accountable and train in the ways of God. These disciplines are always a part of championship performance.
Lord, I have neglected some vital disciplines of my spiritual growth. I had great excuses for leaving them out including my worry about my life with You becoming routine and monotonous. Now, I find that I give almost no time to my study of Your word and prayer. I have not fasted in years. Father, help me to remember why these disciplines are so good for me and keep encouraging me to practice these with energy. Let my thoughts and daily routine develop habits of holiness to Your glory!
Friday, February 01, 2008
EVALUATION PRECEDES PREPARATION
DAY 2 Winning Edges Devotions
PSALM 139: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Our regular season Monday is a well-rehearsed routine. We lift weights, we watch tape, and we condition very hard. As a coach, it is the film that serves as the greatest teaching tool. We watch the previous Friday’s game play by play.
It is an amazing time – there is satisfaction if the play is a success and embarrassment if the play was a failure. Every player is required to study and listen as the coaches talk over essential details of alignments, stance, and fundamentals. You cannot be thin skinned and survive our film room!
When we slow the play down, frame-by-frame, we are able to see exact moments of success and failure. We run it back and forth, over and over, and there are unlimited details regarding how the player is supposed to step, block, run or tackle. Our coaches are great teachers, and the film clearly shows every detail!
We break down these tapes after every game whether we win or lose. It is a great way to evaluate. We go player-by-player and play-by-play, constantly making observations about the progress of our team. If we are making the same mistakes as the last game, we know that somehow our players are not getting the correct message or techniques.
Sometimes the mistakes are a flaw in the scheme or system, sometimes it is just a player mistake, sometimes it is a great job by the opposition. In every evaluation, we are then able to adjust and plan for future success.
Our lives are so busy in this post-modern world that I worry we don’t have time to evaluate. We don’t take time to rewind the tape and rehearse what went right or what went wrong. I believe that this is a major part of the Biblical idea of meditation. Psalm 139 speaks of God’s constant presence and the psalmist boldly asks for God’s evaluation.
This is a terrifying request. Do I really want to know what God thinks about me? It is easier to keep myself busy in my infinite desire to find distraction. I once saw a sign that quoted Baron Von Trapp saying ‘we often confuse a life of activity as a life of meaning’.
I am suggesting that we get alone and allow God’s spirit to replay our day. Frame by frame and person by person. What was I thinking when I said that? Did that decision glorify God? What values am I demonstrating in my lifestyle? Am I applying God’s word? Am I reading it?
It is only after that kind of honest assessment that we are able to plan progress. We have to know where we are coming from to navigate where we are going.
Father, help me today slow down and honestly evaluate. Search me and know me Lord. Show me what I need to know to move in Your direction. I have been hiding from some dark truths about my heart and motives. Shine Your light on me and let me experience Your merciful presence. I admit that I am afraid to see the depths of my sin, but I know that You are a good God and a loving Father. Thank You for caring enough to show me the truth.
PSALM 139: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Our regular season Monday is a well-rehearsed routine. We lift weights, we watch tape, and we condition very hard. As a coach, it is the film that serves as the greatest teaching tool. We watch the previous Friday’s game play by play.
It is an amazing time – there is satisfaction if the play is a success and embarrassment if the play was a failure. Every player is required to study and listen as the coaches talk over essential details of alignments, stance, and fundamentals. You cannot be thin skinned and survive our film room!
When we slow the play down, frame-by-frame, we are able to see exact moments of success and failure. We run it back and forth, over and over, and there are unlimited details regarding how the player is supposed to step, block, run or tackle. Our coaches are great teachers, and the film clearly shows every detail!
We break down these tapes after every game whether we win or lose. It is a great way to evaluate. We go player-by-player and play-by-play, constantly making observations about the progress of our team. If we are making the same mistakes as the last game, we know that somehow our players are not getting the correct message or techniques.
Sometimes the mistakes are a flaw in the scheme or system, sometimes it is just a player mistake, sometimes it is a great job by the opposition. In every evaluation, we are then able to adjust and plan for future success.
Our lives are so busy in this post-modern world that I worry we don’t have time to evaluate. We don’t take time to rewind the tape and rehearse what went right or what went wrong. I believe that this is a major part of the Biblical idea of meditation. Psalm 139 speaks of God’s constant presence and the psalmist boldly asks for God’s evaluation.
This is a terrifying request. Do I really want to know what God thinks about me? It is easier to keep myself busy in my infinite desire to find distraction. I once saw a sign that quoted Baron Von Trapp saying ‘we often confuse a life of activity as a life of meaning’.
I am suggesting that we get alone and allow God’s spirit to replay our day. Frame by frame and person by person. What was I thinking when I said that? Did that decision glorify God? What values am I demonstrating in my lifestyle? Am I applying God’s word? Am I reading it?
It is only after that kind of honest assessment that we are able to plan progress. We have to know where we are coming from to navigate where we are going.
Father, help me today slow down and honestly evaluate. Search me and know me Lord. Show me what I need to know to move in Your direction. I have been hiding from some dark truths about my heart and motives. Shine Your light on me and let me experience Your merciful presence. I admit that I am afraid to see the depths of my sin, but I know that You are a good God and a loving Father. Thank You for caring enough to show me the truth.
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