Where is my hope? 5/27/24

Reverence to God's power can be a confusing battle to be caught in. In our minds, characteristics of God can seem contradictory. We hear things about God's love, grace, mercy and compassion while also hearing of His judgment, power and all knowing knowledge. We can come to God the Father but are also called to have the fear of the Lord. Where is the balance in all of this?

With everything going on with my dad, I’ve struggled with not being afraid of hope. I try to hold on to peace in the Lord in the midst of my confusion. I trust that the Lord can give complete healing and work miracles in my dad's condition, but I also understand that healing may not come in Earthly measures. What better healing than heavenly relief. God can use the testimony being made now, but He can also use the struggle to be an opportunity to share exactly the message my dad has lived for. There is love, and compassion, but also power and divine understanding that I find myself battling in. I have hope for the healing I would selfishly prefer while being concerned and trying to trust if the Lord chooses the latter. I look at it like God the father. For my dad, I respected that he would discipline me for learning sake but I could always trust that he loved me and would do anything for me. I also trusted that, especially in younger childhood, he saw and understood things I didn’t know. For example, even though my basketball bounced better in the road, dad understood an important thing, cars hurt and I didn’t know how to look for them yet. At first I was so upset because he “ruined the fun” but I found trust in understanding his teaching and correction was out of a loving protection. If God knows more than I do, which is definitely true, I can understand that whatever route He takes, He is on my side. One character in God does not negate or contradict another. They work together to make a God we can depend on. Dad always has mentioned to his players he was coaching that he was on their side, so when he taught, corrected, and coached them through practices, games, and even life at times, it was for their good, out of caring love. The way he went about in his actions and reactions, was to make a lasting impact for those around him. Something I’ve asked myself is, am I genuinely trusting God like I trust a coach to make the right calls in a game, do I trust Him like I trust my own dad, or more so? He is a safe and secure place to put my faith in. God is omnipotent (powerful), while being omnipresent (near). If I trust that God is on my side, I can trust that whatever happens is good and for His glory. Ultimately I’m learning that my hope should be found in Christ, not the conditions I find myself in. That I can trust His character, nearness, and power; not just one or the other.

• Romans 15:13: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"

• Romans 5:5: "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”

• Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Are you creating a legacy?

Hello everyone, this is Faith Burden, Todd Burden's daughter. I know I am late to post how dad normally would, but I'd like to do my best at continuing his tradition of weekly devotionals. As many of you probably know, Todd is currently intubated in the hospital, and fairly unresponsive. They have him off sedation, but he is still struggling to wake up which could possibly be due to brain damage from the brain clot and/or bleed. If you could bear with me, I'll do my best to honor his legacy until he can get back to doing the things he loves. 

Speaking on legacy, my dad, and this situation I can highlight a lot of key motivators in my life. The Burden crew had asked friends and family to send in videos of memories and prayers for dad to hear and we were overwhelmed by how many people have been touched by the testimony and ministry of Todd Burden, including myself. This week of struggles has really challenged my perspective on how God can move and work. However, in my questioning, I never found myself doubting. Instead, I found myself at peace with God having the control - If you know anything about me, you know I hate to feel out of control or not have something to do/ contribute towards tackling a challenge. I evaluated where this peace may have grown from and found that my dad's voice was still ringing in my ears saying, "But God." His two favorite words in the Bible. Though struggles may come, and tomorrow is uncertain, God has the power, control, love and sovereignty to have the final say in whatever path life may take. My dad has left a legacy, in my life, and many others. Like any good basketball player, a legacy is made in highlights, and triumphs. It's a person/player who rises to an occasion and handles it in a way that leaves others inspired to do the same. My father always shows me the love of Christ, he always reminds me of the examples of God's goodness in our lives no matter how hard I thought it would be to see them. He has shared his knowledge and impacted my life in a way that I can have confidence in who I am, my beliefs, and ultimately who Christ is. People always look to parents when a child does something, they learn and grow to be who they are because of the impact of who they're parents are. I could not have been more blessed by the impactful example that my parents have shown, but this devotion is not about them. Not everyone has been blessed in that way, not everyone can think of a hero in their life that they want to live up to in legacy. So, I ask, "who are you looking to, what motivates you to act?" We are called by God our father, put on a mission as Christians to follow the example that Christ has set before us. We are Christ's legacy, are we honoring it well, are we inspiring others to do the same? Creating and honoring a legacy takes dedications towards that goal. We are commissioned to dedicate each day, every action and reaction to Christ. In this, we become the example of the impact Christ has left in our lives so that others are inspired to show how they have been or could be touched by God's presence as well. What better way to open conversation for the Gospel, than unexplainable acts of love, mercy, grace...the way Christ had unexplainable love, mercy and grace towards us on the cross. I challenge you, dedicate active time each day to work on that legacy, like a player practices a skillset, practice putting on the image of Christ so maybe we can master the skill.

I'd like to claim that these words have been written in attempts to encourage those who read it, but ultimately it is to remind myself of the same truths my dad has instilled in me. The same truths he acquired from practicing active time studying God's word. 

1 Peter 2:21

For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps

1 John 2:6

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

May 13, 2024 - SUCCESS (Opportune Time)

In my Total Player Academy basketball clinics, I often share a thought for the day. One of those thoughts centered on the number 86,400 and the player’s PBA… Personal Basketball Account. This is used as a reminder that time and effort are investments that you can draw from when game time comes. The more you put in, the more you have in the account.

I often talk of those that don’t have the will to prepare to win… those that want the destination (winner’s podium) without the journey (the blood sweat and tears.) I just saved a meme yesterday that read: “don’t be upset with the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do.” And recently saw one that quoted South Carolina women’s hoops coach Dawn Staley: “Problem is, ya’ll got Big League dreams with backyard work ethic. And your parents applaud it.”

So, it sounds like I am getting ready to talk all about investing more time in your game… and that very well may be needed. There are many natural athletes that are applauded by their parents and others for results in games instead of in the life lessons of investing in the future… and eventually those athletes will meet others that are as naturally talented BUT also had the right work ethic.

But the other concern is that there are some that take this to the wrong point of spending too much time. The reality is that IF YOU SACRIFICE YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF TIME… YOU WILL ALSO SACRIFICE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WHOEVER OR WHATEVER YOU STOLE THAT TIME FROM!!!

I think of the corporate dad spending excessive time at work to close deals; stating is to provide the best for his family… only to lose said family because in order to make the extra money he stole time from them!

I remember many years ago talking to a pastor that was bragging about the amount of hours he spent with the church… he even bragged about the extra hours he put in driving the charter bus the church had for groups… he mentioned how he easily spent at time 75 hours a week there. And the whole time he told me this, I knew his family was in shambles.

The Scriptures are clear that being in ministry should be for guys that have a time agenda that allows for their houses to be in order. We often applaud folks that invest in programs and ignore people.

Just a few minutes ago I talked to a gentleman taking care of me at the hospital and we celebrated thart he was takin g off in time to get to his granddaughters dance. I applauded him and encouraged him t always invest his time wisely by giving hi best effort in the time set aside for the job… but not to sacrifice other areas of importance in doing so.

In the morning sow your seed. And in the evening do not withhold your hand. For you do not know which will prosper, either this or that. Or whether both alike will be good. Ecclesiastes 11:6

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love the way The Message paraphrase this: There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.

SUCCESSFUL STEWARDING OF  YOUR TIME: MAXIMUM EFFORT AND ATTENTION DURING A PRESCRIBED TIME FRAME THAT DOESN’T STEAL FROM OTHER PRIORITIES.

May 6, 2024 - Final Few Frenetic Minutes

Got back to the house tonight and turned on a game that was in its final few frenetic minutes… the game had the teams exchanging leads… it was fitting as I had just typed myself a note yesterday for an  idea for this week’s Game Plan for Life… the note simply reads: Play like the team behind.

I was thinking about how games tend to look in their waning moments… where the team that is behind plays with a newfound urgency… (and at times the team ahead can flatten out to kill time and play with complacency.)

When playing with a sense of urgency there has to be an intensity on both offense and defense… yet there must also be good decisions being made. (I love sharing the old John Wooden quote to “be quick but don’t hurry.” Hurried is a frenetic state of mind…)

Well I could spend a lot of time discussing this but the point is to get to the mental mandate I found in The Playbook about urgency.

1 Peter 4:7 begins with a statement of certainty and of urgency: But the end of things is at hand;

The next word is “therefore”; this word is a word that simply means “these things being so…” and then gives the logical response.

The verse goes on to tell us what our mental state should be in these urgent end times: Be serious and watchful in your prayers.

In times of urgency we are not called to be frenetic but instead “serious and watchful”… or the idea of being of sound mind and sober or calm in spirit as we go to prayer!

Right now the call is to not panic but to pray!