Pre-Game Pep Talk

The warm air turns into slightly cooler temperatures, perfect for wearing your worn-in, cozy sweatshirt/sweater and jeans. Instead of getting your coffee iced, its now time to settle down with a hot apple cider chai or pumpkin spiced latte. The pumpkin patches are ready for you to come get your pumpkin to carve and the apple orchards are ready for you to pick some juicy ones for a homemade pie. The leaves are changing into what is soon to be a magnificent display of fiery colors. It’s fall in Northern Michigan, my favorite time of year! If the things I listed above weren’t splendid enough, the best part I have to say is...IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON!

 

 

If you’ve ever played football, or any sport for that matter, you know that the pre-game pep talk is vitally important to getting the game started right. When you step onto the field you must be in the right frame of mind; confident, focused, and at the same time “pumped up” to play. Your coach gives you some words that are instructive and encouraging before he/she sends you off to play. As I was reading the Bible the other day, I was reminded of this when I came upon God’s talk with Joshua before he was going to lead the people. Lets take a look at the text…

Joshua 1:1-9,

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

-vs. 6, 7, 9, and even the final words of the chapter repeat this command. God knows that the battles of life will be hard and that the opposition will be fierce, but He commands Joshua to go into this battle with strength and courage…

GODS GOT YOUR BACK

-vs. 5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” vs. 9, “...For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” We can be strong and courageous because we know God is right there with us. He’s on your team!

LEAD THE PEOPLE

-vs. 6, “...you will lead the people to inherit the land…”. God was talking to Joshua about leading the people into the land promised to them. It is our duty as Christians to lead others to Christ and the land (Heaven) He has promised to those who believe and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. What kind of a team mate are we if we don’t share this with our family, friends, co-workers, and those we come in contact with?

THE PLAY BOOK

-vs. 7 and 8 talk about the “Book of the Law” and how we are to learn it and follow it which leads to success. Just like the playbook is foundational to how you run your game in football, the Bible should also be foundational to how we live as Christ-followers. Study it so you know how to play, huddle together with other believers, and look to the ultimate coach, God, to call the plays.

Learning from Peter's Walk on Water

Matthew 14:22-33

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Be Courageous and Listen to His Call verses 27-29

Will you be like Peter, having the courage to get out of the boat and step out onto the water? Many times we are like the other disciples who stayed safely in the boat. Will you be brave and listen to what God is calling you to do? This might be the calling of Him drawing you into a personal relationship with Himself, calling you to accept Him as your Savior. This might be the call of Him asking you to trust Him in a situation that you know you can’t handle on your own.


Don’t Get Distracted by the Waves verse 30

Storms surround us in this life. It is not all smooth sailing as we all know and can attest to. There are so many circumstances that will arise, that if we allow them to, will take our focus off of God. Just like Peter began to sink, we also start to sink as we look around and let the strong waves suck us under. We know, as it says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He will hit you with waves from all sides trying anything he can do to keep you away from the great things God wants to do in your life.

 

 

Have Faith and Call Out for His Help verses 30b-31

God is not calling us to trust in our circumstances. He is calling us to trust in His power! He is the perfector of working out situations that in our minds are impossible. Later, in the book of Matthew Jesus says to them, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” There is also a verse in Job 42:2 that states, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” When you are in the storm, have faith in what He can do, and like Peter did, call out, “Lord, save me!”


Worship Him and Let Him Use Your Life to Show His Power verses 32-33

When He does great things in your life, make sure you point to Him, worship Him, and give Him the glory He is due. So many times when a situation works out we throw up a quick “thank you prayer” and move on. God might have a bigger purpose for the mighty “waves” we are facing. A purpose to show His great power through circumstances in your life that to the world watching, and maybe even to just yourself, shows what He can do.

So I ask you today...

1. Will you go, stepping out of the boat, trusting in His power to see you through in what He is calling you to do?

2. Will you focus on Jesus and not the waves of your situations?

3. Will you have faith enough to trust Him and call out for His help, not depending on your own strength?

4. Lastly, in however God works through the storm, will you worship Him and allow Him to use your life for His purposes?

Parts of a Race

 

This past weekend I did a triathlon with my sister, along with my dad, brother, some friends, and many other competitors. The race was along a beautiful course that involved climbing up the National Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes during the running portion, riding your bike around two gorgeous crystal blue lakes, and kayaking (yes, thankfully instead of swimming). As we were participating in the longest portion of the race, the bike ride, a bible verse came to my mind that I had taught my Sunday School girls a short time ago. In the first part of Hebrews 12 it says, “...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

 

Preparation

To perform at your optimum, you must train and prepare for the course you are racing. Whatever the sport, practice is the key to ready yourself to execute the race. Reading and studying the Bible allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind what God says about things when you face situations of daily living, just like staying “fit” for a race.You’ll remember what God said and be able to make the right decisions and have the right frame of mind. Prayer, which is talking with God, also prepares you in a supernatural way when you encounter the unexpected. Psalm 25:4-5 says, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Potholes

Just like in a race where you might get a flat tire, flip your kayak, or like my sister, have your bike chain fall off, life is full of obstacles and trials. When these trials come God, has commanded us as in Joshua 1:9, “...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” We won’t always know in this life why God allows us to face certain potholes to land in our path. We know that God sees the bigger picture, and those ugly situations can make us stronger, and we never know just how He might be using those things for His glory.

Partner

In this life we need others to encourage and help us with the challenges of life. This might be someone on the side of the road who says, “Great job. You can do it. Keep going.” as they ring a bell and clap for you. This might be the person out in the water with the boat that helps you flip and get back into your kayak. Or this might be the one who is by your side running the race with you. God has given us people to come along side of us and run this race with us for many purposes. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”.

Perseverance

Sometimes the race is long and we can get exhausted, but God calls us to remain constant to our purpose and rely on His strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. When you feel like you can’t keep going, hold fast to His power and remember He goes before you. Colossians 1:11,17 “...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience...He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Prize
Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.” At the end of this race, this life, where will you stand? James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Eternal life in Heaven with our Creator is the most epic prize there will ever be. Are you running your race in such a way as to receive “the prize”?

What's In A Name?

Have you ever sat and thought about the names given for God in the Bible and what they mean for you and I? At a friend’s church I was visiting in Chicago last weekend, they asked men to come up and read Bible verses during the worship service that spoke on the different names of God. I was overwhelmed as I listen to them read, just dwelling on the power of His names. Think of what they mean to you as you read a few...

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”-Isaiah 9:6

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”-John 10:14-15

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”-John 14:6

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”-Hebrews 13:6

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”-Psalm 18:2

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” -which means “God with us.”-Matthew 1:23

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”-Revelation 1:8

So what are we to do with His name? First of all, we need to believe on His name. We are to praise His name, gather together in His name, find comfort, strength, peace...in His name. Proclaim His name, pray and call out to His name! Take time and look up some verses for yourself (there is an abundance). A relationship between two parties is spending time together and getting to know each other. God’s names reveal things about Him and help us know Him more as James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...”

What makes a hero?

What makes a hero?

Two things come to my mind when I think of what a “hero” is: courage to do what is right even in the face of great opposition, in some cases even death, and putting the good/lives of others above your own.

July 24th, 2012 I received the numbing news that my friend, classmate, neighbor, and hero- Marine Sgt. Justin Hansen had been shot and killed while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. A familiar verse (written on the tombstone of my brave cousin who died trying to save his friend) immediately came to mind. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friend.” As thousands who have fought in the past, and many who continue to fight today, they have purchased and continue to defend the freedom and liberties we are blessed with as Americans. We are forever grateful for their sacrifices.

There is a hero that paid the ultimate price for the freedom we can have in this life and the next. Jesus Christ came to earth to die so that we can have the opportunity to have freedom from our sins. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Like all who knew Justin, we are proud to know our heroes. So the question I ask you today is this...do you know Jesus Christ? Have you accepted His free gift and have a relationship with Him? If so, remember daily and live, knowing the ultimate price He paid in laying down His life for you.

A Woman of Valor

[In light of this past weekend being mother's day, this weeks devotional is dedicated to my mother as she beautifully embodies the qualities of the “Proverbs 31 Woman”]

The Bible tells of many women who God has used greatly for His wonderful plans. If you are striving to be a woman after God’s heart, not only can you look to these individuals, but there also is a great passage of scripture found in Proverbs to help guide you. If you are a man reading, single, and searching for a wife, here are some qualities to help guide you in your search. If you find a woman that possesses many of these characteristics, like it says in Prov. 31:10, “She is worth far more than rubies”. If you are already a hubby; cherish, honor, encourage, and pray for these attributes in your wife.

Proverbs 31- A Woman of Valor

1. She is trustworthy and of great integrity

vs. 11-12, ”Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”

2. She works hard and does not complain

vs. 13-14, “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.”

vs. 18, “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night”.

3. She takes care of her family

vs. 15, “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.”

vs. 21, “When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.”

4. She is smart and conducts business

vs. 16, “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard”.

vs. 24, “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”

5. She is strong and skilled at her tasks

vs. 17, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task”.

vs. 19, “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her hands”.

6. She helps the poor and needy

vs. 20, “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy”.

7. She takes care of herself

vs. 22, “She makes covering for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple”.

8. She causes others to respect her husband because of her behavior

vs. 23, “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land”.

9. She has a positive outlook on life

vs. 25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come”.

10. She is looked up to and is full of wise counsel

vs. 26, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue”.

11. She looks out for her family's good and has good morals

vs. 27, “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

12. She makes her family proud

vs. 28-29, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all’”.

13. She may be beautiful on the outside, but her true beauty radiates from within because of her relationship with God

vs. 30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”.

Women, if you would like to know more about these characteristics and make them more a part of the woman you are, I would encourage you take more time studying these scriptures and pray that God would help you. Many of us have women that we know or may be a part of our families, that possess these characteristics. Watch what they do, learn from them, maybe even have conversations with them or ask them if they would mentor you. Also, a great study that I am doing is “Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be: A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life,” by Donna Partow.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, "SPEAK" No Evil

Most likely you have seen the pictures of the three wise monkeys that originated from a 17th century carving at the famous shrine in Nikko, Japan. We three “Wyse” sisters mimic the picture by covering our eyes, ears, and mouth to represent stopping them from sinning. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “reject every kind of evil”. This week’s devotional is “SPEAK” no evil...

 

Research shows that the average woman speaks 20,000-24,000 words a day, while the average male speaks roughly 7,000-10,000 words. That is a lot of words spoken! If someone told you they had been secretly recording every word you said for the last year and were going to play back that tape, what would that reveal about you? Do you think you would be pleased? Would God be pleased? Luke 6:45 says, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

You might have heard the quote “The tongue is the strongest muscle in the human body; use yours to lift someone up today”, by Terri Ann Armstrong. Although by some standards of measurement this is not true, it is true that the tongue can have great strength. We can use this strength for good like encouraging someone, praising God, or sharing the gospel. On the other hand, James also said it can be full of “deadly poison” and may tear others down, spread gossip, or encourage others into evil action. James 3:5-6 compares the tongue to a tiny spark; “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” In what way have you been using this muscle in your body? Have you been using it to glorify God or have you been using it in evil ways? Matthew 12:36 says, “I tell you that every careless word that people speak they shall give an account for it in the day of judgement”. Like the prayer in Psalms 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips”, ask God to help you “speak no evil”.