June 26, 2017 - Get Back Up!

“If you are not making mistakes, then you are not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” John Wooden

 

When I am training/coaching I hate hearing the answer “I can’t” when I give a new skill to work on; usually it involves doing something with the weak hand or in a way that is new… To which I typically respond, “And that’s why we are working on it! Try saying. ‘I will!’” But the reality is that no matter how much work we put in, as long as we are active we will at times falter.

Today I read a friend’s post on Facebook that stated that a hypocrite is someone who tries to appear to be something he is not, not someone who believes something and fails to live up to it. (Thanks Donna Evans)

Believer, not sure where you are at in your walk, but the secret is to keep on keeping on… Proverbs 24:16 states, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.”

You’re “positional (legal)” standing of righteousness is found 100% in Christ and the great exchange that took place at your salvation where He took your sin and gave you His righteousness… now the Judge is appeased! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

You’re “practical” standing of righteousness is founded in your willingness to “get back up” when you fall! It is found in “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart…” (Psalm 51:17)

How does this go back to the player that says, “I can’t.” The problem for the player is one of pride! The player doesn’t want to be seen failing… Yet when a player is willing to throw away pride and simply keep “getting back up” in his attempt, he will see great progress.

So let’s revisit Psalm 51:16-17 in a paraphrase from The Message Bible: “Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I Learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”

This week let me encourage you to not stay in a feeling of defeat, uselessness, or despair… or even in a feeling of hypocrisy… instead push forward living in Christ’s victory! And if you fall… GET BACK UP!

June 19, 2017 - Lottery Pick Friends

The news this week on ESPN is centering heavily around the upcoming NBA draft; talking about what teams are doing to either compete with Cleveland in the East, or how Cleveland can possibly compete with Golden State from the West…

The talking heads all have their opinions, yet I like to listen to the former players that understand what makes teams great. When listening to those guys, you hear more about how players will mesh with one another – or how they complement one another.

Ultimately great teams require players that understand their roles and fill them!

Recently, while sharing with a group of recent high school grads on our mission trip, I encouraged the group to “find their lanes” (purpose and passion) and “swim in those lanes.” I encourage each of you to do the same… what are you passionate about? What is your purpose? How are you gifted?

Yet this week I want to also ask you if you have considered if you have the right “personnel” around you? Have you surrounded yourself with encouragers? Are the people around “dream-makers” or “dream-breakers”?

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully…”

If the NBA executives are taking time to choose basketball players carefully, how much more should we emphasize choosing friends carefully? It has been said that “you become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.”

“Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” Booker T Washington

1 Corinthians 15:33 Bo not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Go to the "draft board" and get you some “lottery pick” friends that will help this next season of your life be stronger!

June 12, 2017 - Let's Get Better!

I regularly have seen players over the years that fell way short of their potential… some due to lack of discipline in training… yet more due to lack of willingness to humble themselves and listen to instruction. Great players are greatly coachable!

 

I was reminded of this truth throughout this week as I am in the Dominican Republic with a group of 17 graduates (plus a couple other leaders.) I have been thrilled with the incredible hard work these young adults have done; I have been thrilled with the lack of complaining/whining they have done; I have been thrilled with seeing them love on the kids in this community; I have been thrilled as they have shared their testimonies at rallies; I have been thrilled…

 

Ye the thing that gives me the most encouragement for their futures is the coachability I have seen. I have been able to pull individuals to the side and point out different ways to do things or different ways to view things and each individual has responded with a desire to “get better”!

 

Do you desire to “get better”? is there a coach/mentor/leader in your life that you receive instruction from? Let me encourage you to be coachable if you want to grow… otherwise you are… well we will let the Proverbs tell us:

 

Proverbs 12:15 The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

(Another great verse in Proverbs 12 that says it directly [like a coach would] is 12:1)

 

Let’s get better!!!

June 5, 2017 - Face Up To The Goal!

For time’s sake this week I am going to give you some verses to look up and hopefully you will take the time to do so before you read on, as they will help you make more sense out of the short devo…

 

The “I Have/I Have Not/I Can/I Cannot ” Verses (as mentioned in Max Lucado’s book Glory Days (p. 67)

1 Corinthians 6:20

2 Timothy 1:7

Romans 8:35

Hebrews 4:16

Philippians 4:13

 

Read those verses to see what you have in Christ when you are on His team…

 

Often as I am teaching ball handling to young kids I show them a very protected stance that helps them keep the ball from getting stolen. The common term is called “Triple Threat” position, as you begin in a place where you can dribble, pass, or shoot. Yet even when teaching “Triple Threat” a player should progress to a more open, and much more offensive positioning; trusting one’s ball handling instead of just shielding away a defender…

 

I thought about this as I pictured young players (and at times older but non-confident players) not only shielding away defenders, but at times, in order to protect the ball, actually playing with their backs to the basket. That is not a good position to be in when an opening arises to the goal…

 

In Lucado’s book (p. 67-68) he talks of the fact that the Hebrews in the Book of Joshua were instructed to remember what God has done for them and to remember to whom they belong… Take a moment to inventory how incredible God has been to you! Think about how He has equipped you for this life!

 

Lucado goes on to remind us to look at the right goal in the battle… we are in a spiritual battle and it matters where we set our eyes! In the words of Max: ”Don’t face Satan by facing Satan. Face Satan by facing God.”