Be "Ful" for Fourteen

As 2013 comes to an end, I look back at the year at both the blessings and disappointments. The older you get the more you realize that the only constant in life is change. Graduation, marriages, children, jobs, moving, losing touch with friends or losing loved ones all become the changes that occur each and every day. We have all experienced highs and lows this past year. If there is one thing I learned this past year it is this: Every person we meet, every experience whether good or bad and every road that we travel down are all part of a journey that has been designed specifically for us. There will be people in your life that disappoint you, there will will be tough times that you may not understand and you will end up places you never thought possible. On the brighter side of that, there will also be unexpected "life lifters" I call them, there will be many joys such a becoming an aunt and you will begin to realize exactly what it is that makes you happy.

I was fortunate enough to get to meet and hear the famous author Jon Gordon speak this past year. His optimistic and positive outlook on life are contagious in the books he writes. When he spoke, he talked about having a word that you write down and look at every day for a year that has meaning for your life. Last year my word was "Spark." I wanted to be a spark to people that I came in contact with throughout my journey. As 2014 is drawing near, I have picked the suffix "FUL." Feel free to pick this word as well.

I chose this word quite frankly because it has multiple meanings: I encourage all of you to be "Ful" of something this upcoming year. The definition of full is a state of the greatest amount of strength. It also means that we have no empty space. So as 2014 rapidly approaches let's be "ful."
BE:
Beauti"ful" - be a person of good quality
Cheer"ful" - be noticeably happy and optimistic
Delight"ful" - be charming
Faith"ful" - be loyal, constant and steadfast
Grate"ful" - be appreciative
Help"ful" - be ready to help others
Insight"ful" - be understanding
Joy"ful" - be a great pleasure to be around
Meaning"ful" - be receptive to what is significant in your life
Merci"ful" - be compassionate and forgiving
Respect"ful" - be obedient in and attentive
Success"ful" - be a person who aims high and wants to be the best person you can be
Thank"ful" - be pleased with the family, talents and life in which you have been blessed
Youth"ful" - be young and be with those that bring out the best in you
Zest"ful" - be a person with energy and enthusiasm for life

I hope you all will be encouraged to be "Ful" in 2014. Understand that God's love for us should make us feel full. There should be no emptiness. If you feel lonely, sad or disappointed, pick one of these words to reflect about the journey that God has chosen for you. For every good and perfect gift comes from Him. The greatest gift is that He sent His son to experience and walk this world that we live in so that He could feel pain, betrayal, loneliness and also love. And lastly, be Boast"ful" in knowing that we know who God is and that he exercises kindness, justice and righteousness here on Earth.

Go be "FUL" in 2014!!

Elf on our Shelf..

It seems that The Elf on a Shelf phenomenon has taken off the past few years. Every morning for about a month the first task for a child is to discover where their elf has hidden that night. It's fun to check facebook and see the creative ideas that people come up with to entertain their kids. And for the most part the kids understand and believe that their elf reports back to the North pole every night to tell Santa who was naughty and nice. Every time I see one of those elves, I think to myself what a clever idea to make kids act right during the Christmas season.

As we sit and understand the greatest gift of Christmas is the birth of Jesus, maybe we should think about God as our Elf on a Shelf each day of our lives. From a distance, He watches over us day and night. Just as you can't touch the elf on a shelf or they will lose their magic powers, we can't touch God, however we know He is there every moment of our life.

Each day I believe God puts an elf on our shelf in some way. It may be a player we coach, it may be patient, it may be a phone call from a friend, it may be a client, it may be someone in line front of us at the busy department store, it may be a teacher, it may be a waitress, it may be a nurse, it may be a mailman or the list could go on and on. At the end of each day is our elf proud of us? Were we naughty or nice to the people we encountered that day? Regardless, God is watching our every move. Are we being imitators of Him and living a life of love?

So as Christmas is upon us, don't just celebrate love and cheer during this time of year. We should practice it all year round. God has given us all the greatest gift we could ever receive in the birth of Jesus. So when you sit down from all the hustle and bustle tonight, be grateful and thankful for the time with family and friends that you get to enjoy. And say a little prayer for those less fortunate than ourselves. We often want to complain of long lines, last minute runs for presents and groceries and having to clean the house for guests. Don't complain, say thank you and remember just like your kids' elf on a shelf watches their every move, God is watching our every move. And just as your kids don't want to disappoint Santa, We shouldn't want to disappoint God. Think about it...makes sense doesn't it?

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Better is one day in HIS Court

Better is one day in "His Court." So many times as athletes we forget that it is a privilege to be part of a team and not a right. You need to make sure your you know how fortunate you are to be blessed with a talent to play a game you love and are given an opportunity to experience and travel to places not many get to enjoy. And win or lose you are still blessed to "play" and be given a chance to be a reflection of what God has chosen and blessed you to be. It's not always about winning. It's about learning to compete and digging down deep to find out who you are. You see effort and being the best you can be is between you and you. Don't ever take for granted one single day. Give life your best every day because God gives us His best each and every day. 

As an athlete, you often take for granted being on a full scholarship, getting to travel to Hawaii or Las Vegas for a tournament, and not having to worry about money to eat. Not to mention that you receive shoes, numerous travel sweats, backpacks, travel bags and so many other little perks that most students never get to enjoy. Say thank you. Be appreciative. Have accountability. You are receiving a free education and will leave college debt free and all you have to do is give it all you have on the floor and in classroom. Don't cheat yourself. Be the best you can be. You will look back and realize that your coaches pushed you to help prepare you for life after the basketball court. Only then will you understand the lessons you learn while playing a game you love. You learn how to compete, how to overcome, how to work as a team and that it's not always about you. These will all be critical ingredients when you step out into the court of life. And speaking from experience, I can promise you it's harder out there in the court of life than on the basketball floor. So embrace the experience and treasure the journey. You will learn so much about yourself. 

The next time you want to complain about practicing, going to study hall or having to get on a plane or bus one more time, remember the opportunity you have to represent yourself, your family, your school, your community and the One who has blessed you with the talents you have been given. The hard work, long hours or practice, conditioning and travel are important aspects that help mold you into the person that you will become. When you graduate from college, you know what hard work is, you know how to persevere and you know how to handle adverse situations.

Most aspiring young kids will never have the chance to do what you get to do for 4 or even 5 years. Use your gifts and bounce high on His court and never take for granted the times you get to use your talents in which you have been blessed. Better is one day in His court than anywhere else...Give Him the glory. Never forget who you are because you know whose you are! 

What is your "Faith" Value?

One of my favorite words in the English language has always been "Believe." I used to write this word on my basketball shoes, I have it written in my car and my quote bookis filled with "Believe" quotes.To believe in something means to have a faith in knowing that every situation, every person we meet and the circumstances that occur to us during our lives happen just as they are meant to be.

At some point in our life, we have all believed in something. Whether it be Santa, The Easter Bunny, God, love at first sight or even yourself; We have all believed in something. I miss the enjoyment of believing and waking up on Chrsitmas morning to see what that jolly man left for my sister and I. I love the sounds, smells and lights of this time of year. As Christmas approaches, I challenge all of you to look inside yourself and believe. Believe in hope, believe in life, believe in love and believe in the real meaning of Christmas. As you are shopping, decorating and cooking, remember what this season is all about. It is about the joy and celebration of a birthday of the greatest man to ever walk this Earth. He is the reason we are all here. He is the greatest gift we can receive this Christmas season.

So many times we get caught up in buying presents and going to Christmas parties that we forget that the real meaning of Christmas is to cherish the memories, spend time with our friends and families and have faith in knowing that "For unto us a child is born and He shall reign forever and ever."So as Christmas rapidly draws near, value the important things in life:

1. Believe in something greater than yourself; This life is not about us
2. Believe in the spirit of giving: Give your time and give your love to things that really matter
3. Believe in forgivness: we have all made mistakes; Learn to forgive so that you can be forgiven
4. Believe in Good: Always try to do the right things and have courage to stand up for what is right
5. Believe in your journey: God's journey was a tough one to do what He did for us: Have faith that
    His plan is always greater than yours
6. Believe in the word Merry: Be joyful, happy and let people see the excitement of the season
7. Believe in Peace: Pray for our country and our nation: It's disturbs me that Christ has been taken
    out of Christmas
8. Believe in the Celebration of why we celebrate Christmas: renew your faith and understand the real
    meaning of the season

So what is your "Faith Value?" Do you believe? So many times during this time we struggle with the loss of loved ones, of not having enough money to buy presents, of not having a relationship with our friends and family. It's not about the gifts. It's about giving, forgiving, loving and celebrating the birthday of a why we are all here! So, stop and take a deep breath and pray for those less fortunate than you, pray for the little children that don't get a chance to ever believe, pray for our schools, pray for our country and pray for Faith, Hope and Love during this Christmas season. And don't forget when you celebrate with family and friends that every day we get a chance to "Believe."

Who is your "Contractor?"

Construction is a common word that we use quite often in our world today. Houses, athletic facilities and new buildings are always being built around us. Choosing the right person to build these new projects is an integral part of the process. Due to the time constraints, cost and design, the contractor will be your most valuable asset. You want someone who is honest, hard-working and eager to listen to your concerns and dreams of what you want the finish product to look like.

Buildings are an important part of our lives. They are where we work, go to school, play athletic contests, eat and sleep. Just as we need these concrete establishments, we also need the building up of ourselves in life. Just as it takes months or even years to build a building, sometimes it takes that long for God to help build us into who He wants us to be. Often times we rely on our boss, our friends, our coaches or even our parents to build our confidence. We don't feel like we are successful unless we make lots of money, live in a big house or win a championship. We depend on others to help build our reputations and tell us who we should be.

Who is your contractor? I learned a little song in childrens church years ago called "He's Still Working on Me." It has always been a favorite of mine and I often catch myself singing it from time to time.

"He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part
But I'll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands."

We should all remember that He is the potter and we are the clay. He can make a message out of our mess if we let Him. If you feel like sometimes you aren't who you want to be, pray for the constant builder to help mold you into His perfect masterpiece. In life, just as buildings, we get torn down, we get flooded, we get damaged and need to get rebuilt or fixed. You don't need to search for a contractor when the ideal one is always waiting to provide just the right materials to help you to become the best that you can be.

God's Treats

I've always had an obsession with Funfetti cupcakes. There is something about this particular kind that just make me smile. I've often related cupcakes to friendships. In our lifetime, we have many different types of friends. Some friends are there for a lifetime, others are there for a short time but leave a special place in our hearts and others are there in our time of need. God puts people in our lives for a reason each and every day. Some friends disappear and you never speak to them again, yet they teach us life lessons. New friends may appear out of nowhere and you feel like you've known them for years. We may not understand the role of some of the people that are placed there, but each has an everlasting effect on our life.

FUNFETTI CUPCAKE FRIENDS: These are the people that make you laugh. They are fun-loving and a pleasure to be around. We all have these friends that we don't talk to often, but when we do it's like you never miss a beat. These are people that come and go, but leave us with a little bit of sunshine that we never forget. 

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE FRIENDS: These are friends that you share your deepest, darkest secrets with. They are the ones that you meet in college that you become ultimately close to and keep in touch with the rest of your lives. They are your teammates, your classmates or who you call your brothers and sisters. Theses friends may be in your life for a long time or come and go, but these friends you cherish for a lifetime. 

VANILLA CUPCAKE FRIENDS: These are the life-long friends that you have known for almost all of your life. These are the friends you have had since grade school or high school.  These are the friends that you have been in their weddings, you have been at the hospital when their kids were born and friends that you miss every day. Very few of us have many of these, but the ones we have we need to cherish dearly. As you get older, you realize that real friends are hard to find. These are the people that would drop anything to come help you or be with you in a time of need. These are the normal, down to earth people who know everything about you and have walked through the not only the good times, but the hard times as well. 

So the next time you bake cupcakes or happen to enjoy one of these small, yet delicious treats; think about your friends both new and old and be grateful for what they have given you, taught you(both good and bad) and continue to bless you with for the rest of your life. The next time you want to make someone smile....bake them some funfetti cupcakes! 

The Real Deal

In our society today, most of us are constantly looking for the best deals in town. With many of us being on a tight budget and our economy in the situation it is in, saving money and finding the best bargains become important to us. As Christmas shopping is readily approaching and Black Friday sales already being advertised, we all look to get the best deal possible. As students, parents, friends and coaches we all search to find ways to save money and get the best bargain for our buck. We live in a society where we have smart cards, punch cards and rapid rewards in order to get a free meal, flight or gas.

As you think about shopping and preparing a feast for family and friends, don't forget the free things that are often taken for granted. The time spent with family and friends and the memories made are the deals that we will take with us the rest of our lives. So as you begin to get anxious about getting in line to get that toy, computer or popular item this holiday season, remember to enjoy the special times in this life that are the most meaninful. The best things in this life are free.

The real deal in this life, though, is the free gift of salvation from God. It cannot be purchased, but it is available free of charge. Jesus has already paid the price for all of us by dying on the cross for our sins. So as you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season , remember why you are here and be thankful for the free things in this life that we so very often take for granted. Hug and tell the people you love how much they mean to you. Be kind to strangers. Be patient standing in lines. Do something nice for someone you don't know that will never pay for back...Pay the "real deal" forward....

It is well with my "Sole"

When we wake up in the morning, we all put on some sort of shoe. And every shoe has a sole in which we walk each day. The more we walk, the more worn that sole becomes. In our lives we will travel many places, play many games and go through numerous interviews in those soles. We will all take different paths and our journeys will all be different, but we always will have some sort of sole that we depend on for our journey. We never look to see if our "sole" is there, we just trust that it will get us to where we are going. For we have all been told that we walk by faith, not by sight.

It has been said that you never really know a person until you have walked in his/her shoes. As we examine our lives and where we have been and where we want to go, it can be overwhelming to look back at our journeys and the different roads we have all gone down. Some have taken familiar paths and some of us have taken the narrow paths. Whether you have worn running shoes, work boots or high heels we all have had to experience different roads and paths to get to where we are in our life.

God has a purpose for each "sole" that we wear. It may be to hit a game winning shot or it may be to lose in the State finals. You may be meant to be the President of a big company, own a daycare or wait tables to make ends meet. He has a plan for you and wants to see you be successful and make a difference and live by His word. When you have to change your "sole" don't question His path paved for you. The roads we travel allow us to experience different joys and trials. No matter what path you go down, He is always there by your side.

No matter what "sole" you wear to work every day, never forget the roads you have traveled. Some of those roads may have been paved, some may have been rocky and some may not yet have been traveled down, but those roads have helped shape you into who you are. Some of us wear more than one "sole" and have different responsibilities. Whatever your "sole" may be make sure you enjoy the journey and are happy with where you are and who you are. Find happiness, for it is happiness that is the true state in which we know that God is in control and that we must trust Him. When you are happy and content, it is well with your "soul." And don't forget...sometimes you have to do some "sole searching."

Are you helping "Peace" the Puzzle Together?

At some point in your life, you will have to be part of a team. It may be a sport's team, a team at work or a member of God's team. When we are a member of a team, it is important that we all realize what our role is on the team. Just as a puzzle has many pieces that fit together, being a part of a team requires each member must execute his/her job in order for the team to be successful. Whether you are a point guard, a quarterback, a forward,  or a defensive specialist, all members have an integral part in using their specific skill set to ensure that the team is successful.

Peace is defined by Webster as a freedom from disturbance or disagreement. For any team, organziation or community to be at "peace", one must realize what their piece or role is to make sure that the operation is run smoothly. Each of us brings a different size, shape and uniqueness to the table that when pieced together correctly, forms a beatiful masterpiece.

Just as the body is one, it is made up of many parts. 1 Corinthians states that no part is more or less important than the other, therefore, its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. There is a dependence required from each part that makes our whole body function properly. If one part is injured, it hinders the movement and operation of the whole body.

This verse exemplifies so much truth about life and about being part of a team, family or organization. We all have a responsibility on our team, in our job or in our family that enhances our emotions if the role is done well. We win and lose together. If one person doesn't box out, we lose the game. If one person hits the game winning home run, we all celebrate the victory.

Whether in victory or in defeat we must know and listen to what God wants our piece of the puzzle to be. When we discover this, it's amazing the happiness that we create for ourselves and others around us. Enthusiasm, kindness and optimism are all pieces that we can learn to portray daily that will lead to the Ultimate "Peace" in the world we live in today!

Find your "piece" to help make "peace"!

The Buzzer

Often times in sports, we forget the importance of the buzzer. Most frequently, it is the sound that signals the end of a half or the end of a game. When that buzzer sounds and the clock hits zero, it's a known fact that the game is over. This is the time when the teams go to their respective locker rooms and discuss the outcome of the game. Post game talks usually consists of effort, execution and effectiveness. The coach will ask if you played to the best of your ability and did you execute the game plan that was planned for that particular game. Some games we give it our all, but still come up short.

Life has many similarities to that buzzer we often hear at athletic events. When the game of life ends and your final buzzer sounds, will you be satisfied with your performance here on this Earth? Each day is like a small piece in the game of life that all of us are playing. Do you give each day 100%? Do you compete with yourself each day to make you a better person, friend, spouse, co-worker or teammate? Are you prepared when God needs you to sub in to help one of your teammates?

There is an imaginary buzzer that goes off at the end of each day to signal that the day is over. When you hear it, I want you to think to yourself if you gave that day 100% effort? Did I win or lose that day? If i lost the day, what can I do tomorrow to make it better? Was I a good teammate today? Did I encourage or discourage? Encouraging words often tend to make us want to give just a little bit more.

We must focus on our performance as God provides us with a new opportunity each day. Did you hug instead of yell? Was I kind or mean to the lady in front of me at the check-out counter that had a buggy full of groceries and I had two items? Did I give up my close parking spot to the elderly lady who wanted the same spot I wanted? For it's these selfless, kind acts that help boost our performance to serve God in all we do.

Will you be satisfied with your performance when your final buzzer sounds?

Red Flags

As many of you know the beach is one of my favorite places. Occasionally, when you are at the beach "red flags" are out which means that there are extreme hazradous conditions and that you should avoid getting in the water. I want you to contemplate about life for a second and the "red flags" that we may experience.

Many times in this life we are selfish and want things done our way. We fail to see the hazardous conditions that may lie in front of the choices that we make. We want to get rich quick, find that perfect person and jump to quick conclusions on how we want our life to be.

I believe in "signs" that God puts before us to make us aware of the decisions that we face. For He tells us in the Bible that "He is always with us." These red flags appear to us when we are looking for a job, starting a relationship or making a hard life decision. Life is short so sometimes I think we feel rushed to make a quick choice instead of the the right choice that God has planned for you. We just have to put our trust in Him. That big promotion might not be the plan for you. That guy or girl may not be who God intended for you. As hard it may hurt sometimes, we must see the red flags that God puts in front of us. It's always important that we have faith that His way is much better than ours. So the next time you don't get that job you wanted, you lose a good friend or have a bad break up: look  for the red flags that were probably there and trust that those situations were probably not in your best interest in your life. Look at it as a blessing and not a failure.

There is a reason Satan wears red!


Jeremiah 29:11

The Ultimate Official

Officials, referees or umpires are a big aspect of the sports world. Their role is to preside over the game, have a neutral point of view and to keep the sport under control. They have a position of authority and keep a close eye on all the players in the games in which they officiate. Their role also consists of keeping the players in line and to practice good sportsmanship. 

We are all blessed to be players in this great big world. We all get the chance to compete daily and try to win each day. Each morning when we wake up we should be grateful that we have the "Ultimate Official" that is in charge of officiating our daily lives. We are fortunate that when we commit a foul or step out of bounds, we have someone in charge that is always there to pick us up. For He tells us that in this life we will all some point fall short of His glory. When we sin and mess up, that is when God is there to preside over the game. He is there to listen and to guide us. 

As he officiates over our lives, He has a neutral point of view.  It doesn't matter where we come from, how much money we make, how tall we are, how many points we score or how many strike outs we have. He wants to guide and help direct our lives in a way that is pleasing unto Him in this game of life. 

At some point in all of our lives, we have all competed in an event that has involved some sort of official or referee. Whether it be sports, pageants, spelling bees or even an awards banquet, there has been an authority figure to assure that the events are fair and go as planned. As we awake each morning, I want you to thank and talk to the Ultimate Official that has total control of our life here on Earth. Allow Him to lead your day and be your supervisor. Never lose hope that he is always there to help facilitate through not only the good games, but the tough losses as well. 

Who is officiating your game? 

Scouting Report....

Growing up playing basketball, one of the crucial aspects of being successful is developing a plan called a scouting report to put your team in the best position to win. Scouting reports are designed to determine another team's strengths and weaknesses to help adapt your team on how to win. Many times countless hours are spent on game-planning for the upcoming opponent. As a coach, I feel sometimes we spend too much time on what the opponent is doing that we fail to focus on our team and what we can do and how we trust in what we do to win the game.

Often I think about the game of life. We spend time worrying about what we don't have, for example time and money. We complain about being rushed all the time and that we just don't have time to make for ourselves to do something we enjoy doing.

What is our scouting report on ourselves? What are our strategies for living a fulfilled and honorable life in which we can be proud?

Personnel: Who are the best players are your team? Who can you call and talk to when the going gets tough? Who do you trust the most?

Starters: How do you start your morning? What is your routine to get your day off to a positive beginning?

Stats: What are some good things that you have done that you are proud of? How many people did you make smile today? Did you play by the "Golden Rule"?

Offense: Did you attack the day and make it great? Did you share the ball with your teammates (family, friends, co-workers, team)?

Defense: How did you handle those situations that happened today? Were you the bigger person? Did you have a positive outlook and attitude towards the negativity?

Keys to winning the game of life:

1. L.ove : Love God, Love your family, Love your friends and Love yourself
2. A.ppreciate: Count your blessings and remember why you are here on this Earth. Be thankful for your opportunities and experiences that you are given in this life.
3. U.nderstand: Be
4. G.ive: Give of yourself, your time, your talents to help make this world a better place. Always remember that "It is in giving that we shall receive.
5. H.ope: Never give up hope on your faith, yourself or your country. Trust that things happen as they were meant to be. How we handle adversity defines who we are and who we become.

As you can see, this spells out LAUGH. Never forget to laugh. As it has been said many times.."Laughter is the best medicine.
Sit down occasionally and analyze your life. Do a self-scouting report. Look at where you are in your life. Look at who you are and who you want to be.

What's the Game Plan for your life?

Eye on the Prize

As young kids, we all can remember getting rewarded for our good behavior. I can remember my parents telling us if we were well behaved at church, at dinner or at the grocery store we would get a prize.This is still true today in today's society. We tell our children to be good at school, for the baby sitter and for mom or dad while the other is away for work and in return they will receive a prize of some sort.

I can reflect having birthday parties at Show Biz Pizza, now known as Chucky Cheese. While you were at Chucky Cheese, you played games and the more tickets you collected the bigger the prize you would trade them in for when you left. As adults, we still enjoy going to Dave and Busters, reliving our childhood playing video games and skee-ball. And we can in return for our success, get a prize before we leave. What happens though when we leave this life? What prize are we wanting and searching for?

Most people in life get caught up in winning and being successful as being the ultimate prize you can receive in life. How many championships, how much money we can accumulate and buying name brand material things become the focal points in which we base our success. Quite simply, though, the ultimate prize is when we arrive at the pearly gaits and await hearing God say " Well done my good and faithful servant." We should strive each day to be the best person that we can be and keep our eyes on what is truly important in this life.  Look to have faith, hope and love and do not look for glory or fame. Concentrate on being a messenger for a positive outlook on life that God's in control and sometimes our greatest disappointments are mercies in disguise. Keep your head held high and keep your eye on the prize. Just as we are rewarded as kids for winning our tickets, we will be rewarded in heaven when our job here on Earth is done for our obedience, faithfulness, sacrifices, forgiveness, walking in love and for a renewal each day to give our lives to Him.

What prize do you have your eyes set on?

Are you Dirty?

Growing up, I always loved playing outside. My twin sister and I grew up in a neighborhood full of boys, so most of our childhood was spent playing tackle football, 5 on 5 basketball games, home run derby, bike races and summer water balloon wars. When it was time to come in for the night, my mom would always tell us to make sure we cleaned ourselves off and not to track any mud in the house. I often reflect on those fond memories of childhood friends and how many t-shirts, shorts and shoes I ruined over the years. When we played, we played hard.

As I get older, I reflect on these days where you had not a worry in the world and it was normal to play outside and get dirty. In our world today, I look at being dirty in a different way. When I think of the word "dirty" it reminds me of the things I've done and said that have not made me proud. There are times when we make bad choices, wrong decisions and get in the wrong crowd. Instead of our parents being there to make us take off our dirty clothes, we have a Father that can help clean us up from our dirtiness.

Are you dirty? Are there things in your life you are trying to change and disinfect? We all have struggles and disaappintments that cause us to feel dirty and unclean. Psalm 51:10 says "God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me." No matter what we have done or if we go astray God is always there waiting for us to come to Him. He wants to give us a clean slate and a new start. 1 John 1:9 says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

If you get to a point in your life where you feel you are settling for less than you deserve or making the wrong choices, remember that God is there for us. He is readily available to rinse all the mud from our hearts and souls. The mud could be jealousy, envy, greed, hate or anything that is hindering you from being the person you want to be. He is there to renew a right spirit inside of you. He wants to help us be a shiny, clean ambassador for Him.

G.L.O.W.

As a young child, I can remember always looking forward to The Celebration not for the donuts, not for the horses, not for the socializing, but for the glow sticks. I remember buying them and then tying them to the ceiling fan to give just a little bit of light at night. The next morning I would put them in the freezer as if that was supposed to save the light and help it to the glow for a few more nights. I've never really liked the darkness, but have always loved things that glow in the dark.

We can learn so much from that little bit of light that comes from  a glow stick. We, too, should have a glow about us that other people see. In this world full of darkness, we must put out a glow that portrays hope, faith and a caring spirit. How we glow in times of struggle and disappointment reflects our true faith. People look at how we shine in times of defeat more than they do when everything is going the right way. When life doesn't always go as planned, remember that the good Lord has given all of us a light inside of us to shine bright so that others can see it. He wants us to GLOW:

G. Give of yourself: Give of your time to help others. I realized a long time ago, it's not all about ourselves. We tend to be selfish human beings, when what we need to do is be still and listen to what God is calling us to do. 

L. Learn: Try to learn something new every day. Learn a new song, learn a new quote or learn a new verse. As we get older, it's never too late to learn. The more we learn the more confident we become in ourselves and our walk with God. 

O. Oomph: In sports some times we say to put a little "oomph" in it when making a good pass, swinging for the fence or hitting a golf ball as hard as we can. Such is our walk with God. Sometimes we get caught up in the negative and the hectic parts of our lives that we just need to add a little oomph. 

W. Witness: Sharing your faith is a command from God. I believe it is our duty to share with others what God has done in our lives and continues to do. Without Him in our lives, we are lost. 

Stop and think when you get up in the morning.....Am I Glowing? What will others see in me today? 

People will notice the good or the bad by your body language. So make sure you put out that GLOW! 

Are you Contagious?

Have you ever actually wondered if you would want your child, friend or anyone to be like to you?
Sometimes in life we get caught up in the wrong situations, the wrong jobs or the wrong relationships. Positivity and negativity are both very contagious qualities. Chances are if you hang around with negative, pessimistic people.....you will become negative and pessimistic. If you hang around positive, optimistic people.......chances are you will be a more positive person.

Most of us in our jobs are in positions of influence in some form or fashion. At some point in our careers, we must communicate and associate with many different types of people. Often times, it's all in the way we treat people that decides if we get their business, if our employees are going to work hard for us, if our team is going to play hard for us or if we are going to develop lifelong friendships.

When you wake up in the morning, do you like who you see in the mirror? Only we can change ourselves. We must be confident in who we are, what we stand for and the vibes we send to other people. God has blessed us with many different talents and personalities to help spread His love and His word.  We all have a different light that we shine in different ways. It is so important for us to let people know that there is something different about us. The way in which we live our lives should reflect God's love in our hearts. Our tone, our body language, how we handle adversity and the way we live our every day lives are aspects that people often take notice of when we least expect it.

What do others see when they see you? Do you attract people and want to help them be more positive?
Would you want someone to catch what you have? I encourage all of you to be a spark and help light a fire that will help others learn to burn and spread love, care and faith that this worlds need.

Focus on the next play..

Life, at some point during our time here on Earth, will present itself with challenges and hard times. Whether it's a break-up, a job loss, divorce, loss of a loved one or losing a game, we will all face many challenges and hard decisions during our life. In sports, coaches always tell their players to focus on the next play. If you commit a turnover or throw an interception, it's an imperative part of the game to move on to the next play.

Life throws us unexpected curveballs, we shoot and miss opportunities and we fall short of that first down marker so many times in our life. When this happens, we are faced with 2 choices. We can either get back up and keep pressing or we can stay down and live a not so happy life. We must learn to focus on what's important. People will let us down, we won't win every game and we will fail at something during our lives. Through these hard times we need to focus on the importance of standing back up. "God gives His toughest battles to His toughest soldiers."

The next time something doesn't work out the way you had planned, stay focused that God has something better in mind. Don't dwell on past mistakes and make them again. Get focused and ready for the next play in life. Train your mind to move forward and know that your "next play" in life is going to be the most important. 

What are you focusing on today? 

Romans 5:3-5

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

If we only have 100 years to live...?

My dear friend and avid facebook friend, Shelia Bobo, posted something the other day that I want to expound on a bit.

These were her words:

" Have you ever stopped to realize that all of us, or most of us anyway, will no longer be here in 100 years or even 50 years...some of us 20 years. Do we really understand how short that is? Time passes so fast, it is incredible. So what then do we need to do with this short amount of time left? For me...be close, no be very close to your family, cherish your best friends, tell those you love that you love them and forgive those who have caused you pain. After all, we would want to be forgiven. Please think about this and figure out your own answers. What is truly important for you to do with the time you have left in your life?"

So as Mrs. Sheila expressed, "think about this," well I did think about this....I thought about it a lot.
It's crazy how God can show up in any place. Quick story: One of my good friends here in Cookeville knows a girl who was helping with a benefit river float for a woman who had major complications with her pregnancy. She is now paralyzed from her waist down and in wheelchair. We all loaded up our kayaks and attended this wonderful event. When we finished our float, there was a meal, silent auction and live entertainment. As we got our food, there were no tables left, so we sat on the front row next to the stage. A young woman and her husband were seated to the left of the stage. When the band stopped performing, the young woman made her way to the stage. She and the woman that the benefit was for had met while they were both in Vanderbilt hospital. She began to tell her story:

She had a 4 year old and a new born baby. Her mom had come in town to help with the baby like most most mothers do after a baby is born. She, her mom and the 2 children were driving to the mall one day. A man driving, who was under the influence of marijuana,  hit them head on at almost 100 miles per hour. While she was talking about this story, it was so emotional. She then stated that her mom and the 4 year old did not make it through this tragic accident, but that herself and the baby survived. WOW!! This hit me like a ton of bricks. You never know when God is going to call us home. Her faith telling this story was unbelievable.

After driving home that night, I got in bed and began to think about this tragic situation. It made me realize how much my family and friends mean to me. So often we get caught up in ourselves, our jobs and every day life that we forget to let the ones we love know how much they mean to us. You can never say it enough. The older I get, the more I realize how short life really is.

I want to encourage all of you to do 3 simple things every day that will help make a difference and help spread God's love to all those we meet:

1. Call or text someone that you haven't talked to in a while. Each morning when I wake up, I look through my phone and pick out one person to text to have a great day.

2. Leave someone a little note at work, or a piece of candy or something to make them smile. Remember, we all have bad days, but we have a choice as how we handle it. Don't let circumstances determine if you have a good or bad day. Each day we have is a gift and another day to make a difference....never forget that.

3. Have a little devotion each morning. It's so important to start your day right. Be disciplined in doing this too. God wants our time so He can use us for his purpose. Pray! Shine your light!!

I hope this has challenged you to look at your life. Cherish each day because we never know if it could be our last. Be a Spark! Dream! Forgive! Love! and Pray!


****Thank you Mrs. Sheila for your daily words of encouragment! You have always been one of the sweetest ladies I know. Blessed to call you a friend! Thank you for letting me share this. We often forget the simple and try to make things complicated.

The World is Our Gymnasium...

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.

We have all at one point in our life questioned what our calling or purpose is for this short time we are here on this Earth. Why would God create such a huge world with so many different cultures and types of people in it if He didn't believe that we could learn to play and grow with each other?

The world is our gymnasium where we find out who we are, what we stand for, the hobbies we enjoy participating in, how to compete and get along with others and what the important areas of life will trun out to be. We have this huge playground that is waiting for us to discover it.

When we were little growing up, the playground is where we first met our friends, where we first fell off the monkey bars, where we first got picked last for kickball, where we snuck our first kiss on the cheek and where we first felt like we were able to run free without a care in the world. We learned failure, we learned how to get back up, we learned how to improve and we learned life lessons that we never really think about when we grow older.

God loved the world so much that he has provided us with this huge gymnasium to play in each day. We fall down, we win, we get rejected,we experience loss and we experience all the common emotions that help us become who we are and grow to become better people.

So use this world to grow strong in who you want to become. There is still so much hate and not enough kindness in this world. Sit back and analyze your life. When you look in the mirror, do you like who you see? Are you living each day to be the best that you can be and making a difference in someone's life? God made us all to be on the same team....His Team. He doesn't care about all the trophies and awards that we receive here on this Earth; He cares about how we live our lives for Him, on His team, striving to spread His word through love and kindness. Come together and work together in this beautiful gymnasium that He has created for us to show love and support to help everyone get to our final destination which is with Him in the ultimate gymnasium of life... heaven!

So as we continue our journey in this world, remember to:
"Play Hard, Play Smart and Play Together!"

5 Man W.E.A.V.E.

Our lives are sewn into many different pieces. Every person we meet, every heart break, every loss, every disappointment, every victory and every success are all fabrics of our life that make this journey of life our own masterpiece. People weave in and out of our lives, we spend our lives trying to find a purpose and we begin to realize the only constant in our life will always be change. I was thinking about 5 things the other day that should be some focal points for us to consider to enhance how our lives are sewn together. I call them the 5 Man W.E.A.V.E. A simple basketball drill to reflect some of life's toughest lessons.

W. Web: Who is in your web? It's so important to have the right people in your life. If you hang out with positive, energetic, optimistic people...chances are it will be contagious. Find people that believe in you and challenge you to be a better person each day. A spider's web is an intricate design that enables it to catch food and spend time. Such is your life. It's a very fragile and intricate design. Make sure you have the right people helping you spin your web of life.

E.  Errors: We all fall short and make mistakes. We learn from the past and we learn from our previous mistakes to help make us better people, better friends, better parents and better co-workers. Forgiveness is a big part of life. We must learn to forgive others in order to free ourselves. When forgiveness takes place, we naturally release those disturbing thoughts and emotions that drain our physical, mental, emotional and spirtual well-being. So learn to let go and move on and forgive. Noone is perfect and we all make mistakes.

A.  Attitude: Attitude, I believe is a defining characteristic of one's life. When you wake up in the morning, you can choose to have a good or bad attitude. There are always going to be bumps in the road, but our attitude about those bumps help define who we are and who we become. Having a positive attitude is much healthier and prevents stress. Be an optimist!!! Is your glass half empty or half full? Look around....you will see that you have much to be thankful for and be blessed for each day you receive here on this Earth

V.  Vitality:Vitality can be defines as a measure of the life force energy a person has. Eating well, exercising and getting enough rest are all key components to our vitality. I perceive vitality as having a love for life or having a mission to work towards and be passionate about what you do. Do you give off positive energy and enjoy life or are you negative and think of life as a drag? BE POSITIVE!!

E.  Encouragement:Throughout scripture, we see instructions in verses to encourage others and verses that encourage us. I believe encouragement is necessary in all walks of our lives. We all need encouragement in our jobs, in school, in athletics and to be the very best we can be. Without encouragement, we feel overwhelmed by the pain and loss. Without encouragement, we feel    unloved and unworthy. So encourage each other and remind each other that God loves us, He equips us and struggles often lead to blessings. Encouragement gives us the will to carry on. So be an Encourager!! You never know who is watching and what life you may touch.

Continue to allow God to weave your life as He wants it. Each of our lives are woven at different paces, in different situations to create our own journey.


Below is a great poem!! Stay strong, keep the faith and always believe!

Life's Weaving

My life is but a weaving
between my God and me;
I may not choose the colors,
He knows what they should be;

For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side,
While I can see it only
On this, the under side.

Sometimes He weaveth sorrow,
Which seemeth strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment;
And work faithfully;

'Tis He who fills the shuttle,
He knows just what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest
And leave Him with the rest.

At last, when life is ended,
With Him I shall abide,
Then I may view the pattern
Upon the upper side;

Then I shall know the reason
Why pain with joy entwined,
Was woven in the fabric
Of life that God designed.

Batteries Not Included...

Almost everything in our lives requires a battery of some sort or some way of recharging a battery.  Our Iphones, laptops and many other necessary items that we rely on all need to be recharged when they run out of juice. When we as people run out of juice, what do we do to recharge?

Recharging your batteries is defined as when you take a break from activities which are tiring or difficult in order to relax and feel better when you return to these activities. How do you recharge? So many times we get caught up in our jobs, in competition and even in our daily grind of life that we forget to take time for ourselves to regroup and recharge. Unfortunately, we don't come with  batteries to recharge us or come with an instruction booklet that explains how we operate.

The good Lord made each of us unique. We have all been blessed with certain gifts and talents. As we discover these unique gifts, we must always remember that we get run down and need to take a break from the daily grind of life. I believe it is equally important to find those activities that help us recharge. Whether it's going for a jog, listening to music, the beach, the lake or whatever activity that allows you to relax; it is imperative for our well-being for us to recharge our batteries so that we can give our best not only in our jobs, but with our families.

Have you recharger your batteries lately? Do you find yourself in a bad mood or getting aggravated easily? Maybe it's time to you find some time to recharge your batteries! A daily dose of devotion always helps me recharge each morning and get my day started off right. So make some time for you and get recharged!!

Are you on F.I.R.E. for God?

I was blessed to speak at the kickoff breakfast for FCA in Franklin Co. Just wanted to share a few thoughts:

F. irst - Do you put God first in your life? What are your priorities? Is it winning? Is it success? Be careful not to let the every demands and distractions of life interfere with your relationship with Him. Make Him a priority. Be Second!

I. nspire - We are all called to be role models in some way. Whether we teach, coach, run a business, a co-worker or a friend; we are needed in some capacity to make a difference in this world.
5 ways to Inspire: 1. Do things people wouldn't normally do
                             2. Listen and Act
                             3. Be Accepting
                             4. Take Risks
                             5. Make sacrifices

R. elentless - Be relentless in spreading His word and listening to what He is calling us to do.

E. nthusiasm - If there is something that catches people attention it's enthusiasm. Be enthusiastic so that others may see something different in you. Be uncommon! Stand out so that others can see what you have with God is far better than what they have without Him.

Get on Fire Today!!!

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others,  that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father on Heaven.

The Clutch Player

One day someone asked me how is it that you are always so happy, have so much energy and you never seem to get down?

I didn't have to ponder this question very long. With a smile, I thought about my answer. My secret is this: I've learned that in life there is very little that we have control over. There are things in life that make me truly happy, but depending on God and His journey to provide for my needs is the greatest happiness of all.  When a need arises in my life, I always trust that God will supply what I need according to His riches. I have learned over the past few years that I don't need half as much as I think I do. And in every circumstance and mountain I've had to climb, He has never let me down. Sometimes the results don't happen as fast as we would like or in the order that we would like....but I truly believe if we put our faith in Him, in the end He always comes through. He is the "Clutch Player." When the game of life is on the line...I want Him taking the last shot.

When you think about the game of life, it can be quite complicating because we tend to make it that way. We all have dreams that we feel like we are never going to reach. We all lose our direction at some point and have to get refocused on our true purpose that we have been called to do here on Earth. There will be times when our faith is shaken, but we have to keep pressing on towards our goal. Mountains and obstacles will always be there to face us, but we must remember it's all about this journey that God has blessed us with here on Earth. We are all here for a specific reason and purpose. We all get bent, but with God being our "Clutch Player" we do not break.

So keep climbing those mountains and keep pressing on towards your goals. Focus on living your life for Him and it's amazing how much happier your life becomes. Let your faith continue to grow and develop through your journey. And remember when the clock starts to run out at the end of you life......There is no other person that I want taking my last shot than the best "Clutch Player" I know.....The Good Lord. When you don't want to handle life's problems or have the ball in your hands in a tough situtation, put the ball in His Court and He will always provide!  Who is your "Clutch Player?"

Make Time for the MVP's in your life....

 In sports, most of the time our ultimate goal is to train as hard as we can to earn an MVP award. The Most Valuable Player of a team, a league or in a tournament is what we pour our hearts into to obtain this ranking. Do we put that same effort towards our family and friends who care and support us? Most of the time, these are the people that we forget about while we are so busy making a living that we forget about life.  During our lifetime there will be many people in your life that come and go and leave  a mark in some way that touches your life. So many times we forget to thank our parents, our grandparents, our coaches, our friends, our teachers or just a person who believes in us. We tend to neglect those people that mold, love and support our dreams and goals that we wish to use to benefit this world. These are the people that we usually, without knowing, get put on the back burner.

As I get older, I have come to realize that we have what I call "Most Valuable People" in our lives. These are the true MVP's that will have the biggest impact in our lives. When we lose that big game, when we fail in our first job or when life actually happens to us, these people are the ones that we know we can call, trust and lean on in times of need. Are you spending time with your MVP's? Do you call just to say hello and see how they are doing? Do you take time to visit them and make memories that last a lifetime? There will be times when you don't see eye to eye with your MVP's, but they are the ones that tell you what you need to hear. They are your voice when you don't know what to say and they are always there to lend an ear to listen.

Our greatest MVP in this life is the good Lord. He is our #1 fan and is always there to listen. We all get consumed so much in our jobs that we work our whole life away. I've heard so many people as they get older ask themselves "Where did my life go?" God has called us as Christians to do something special and extraordinary in this world and He wants us to take Him with us wherever we go. So take some time out of your busy schedule to put down your cell phone, turn off your computer and turn off the tv to spend time with those MVP's in your life. Live each day as if it were last. Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe. Live, laugh and love.

One of my favorite songs is Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink." It says this:

"When your hourglass runs out of sand, you can't flip over and start again. Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth." 

I encourage all of you to start putting the first things first.  Find out the secret to life is following God and listening to Him and the journey He has planned for you. He places those MVP's in your life for a reason. So cherish the friendships both new and old, appreciate those people who were in your life for a brief time that taught you important lessons and enjoy your family because they are the ones who love and adore you more than anything. "100 years goes faster than you think.....So Don't Blink."

Jump Ball

At the beginning of every basketball game there is a jump ball situation. This situation consists of 2 people striving to tip the ball to their team in order to gain momentum for the remainder of the game. It is a challenge to see who can jump the highest or tip the ball in just the right place to get it to a teammate to get the game started on a good note. Being a guard, I never had the privilege of being in that circle, but have often thought so much of how this relates to life.

Just as a jump ball begins a basketball game, each day is a new beginning of the rest of our lives. When we wake up, we are faced with being in that similar circle that contains challenges and obstacles that we will encounter every day. We want to knock the ball to our team which can consist of co-workers, friends and God. He wants to be part of our team throughout the day to help us "Win" the day. He is our best player and the most ultimate team player.

Every morning when we wake up, picture yourself in that circle. Think about tipping the ball to your team to get the day started off right. "Get Up" for God. In high school, one of my favorite cheers was at the beginning of the game...."Jump Ball- Get It Get It." So get that jump ball and go start your day out right each day with a positive attitude, a contagious smile and a mindset to make a difference.


"Be strong. therefore, and let not your hands be weak and slack, for your work shall be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

Recruitment...

Well, it's that time of year again.....July recruiting. Everyone hits the road for the next month trying to recruit the best possible players to enhance their programs. We all are trying to find those players that best fit "the system" in which we teach and the that share those qualities that are expected to be had in order to be part of the team. Each staff has a checklist of the qualifications that are required to join their team. Commitment, attitude and integrity and 3 important ingredients that add to the recipe of success in any program. Sometimes it's not always about the "best" players, but it's finding the "right" players that fit your needs. It's important not only to recruit talented players, but also to recruit good people that are unselfish and care about the team more than they do themselves. If you think about this idea of recruiting, it relates to almost all of us at some point in our lives. Recruiting is and will always be an important part of our journey in life....

We are all recruiters in some way. We recruit our friends, we are recruited to where we work, we recruit a significant other. Life is difficult enough as it is, but it is so crucial to recruit positive people in your life that are true, real and supportive. Being around positive people enhances your attitude and your daily outlook on life. It's hard to be around negativity and arrogance. It spreads and can be detrimental to your human psyche and your team. Are you recruiting good people in your life? Do you have people you can trust that will be there to support you no matter the circumstances. Do you have people that not only care about your status, but care about you as a person?

God is the "Chief Recruiter." He is constantly recruiting us daily to be part of His team and follow Him. He is always the same, and fortunately, for us we are all on his list. We don't have to worry about not making his top list. He offers all of us a scholarship to an eternal life in heaven with Him when we leave this world. To me that is an awesome Letter of Intent. All we have to do is sign up with Him and he keeps his commitment to us.

So this month, I encourage you to examine your life and the people that are in it.
Are you recruiting positive, beneficial people in your life that bring out the best in you? Don't ignore God's recruiting call to you. He is constantly calling us to join His team or wanting us to help mentor someone to join his team. So be a "Team Player" and help God recruit his players. He wants all of us to be successful on His playing floor.  Let's come together and form an awesome team on fire for God.

Happy Recruiting to everyone!!

Get stung by the "Humble Bee"

At some point in our lives, we have all been humbled by some situation that has happened to us. We all think that noting bad will ever to happen to us, yet when it does we tend to be angry with God and ask "why me."

Philippians 2:3-11 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

I believe that humility is one of the most important commandments that we learn in this life. How can we be submissive, gentle and patient without humility? How can we do the Lord's will if we are full of pride? We are all human and made in God's eyes. We all have different talents and abilities that make us unique. We are all hardworking people trying to make ends meet and give ourselves and our families the best life possible. So the next time you get quick to judge someone....remember we all fall short and we are really not all that different. We all laugh, love, hope, try, hurt, need, fear and cry. In a society that encourages competition and individuality it can be hard to learn to be humble. Below are a few ideas to help you get stung by the "humble bee":

1. Evaluate Yourself - With a bad choice yesterday, your whole life could be different today and in the future. But today could be the day your good choice changes you life. But know that God can take our bad choices and work them for the greater good for us if we have faith and believe in Him.

2. Appreciate the talents of other people - Challenge yourself to appreciate people for who they are. In the workplace, sports fields or out in the community everyone is different. Relish your chance to experience different people. Learn to separate your opinions from your fears.

3. Acknowledge your limitations -  Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Part of being humble is knowing that you will make mistakes.

4. Don't ever stop learning - Too often we think that we know everything and have life figured out. We are never too old to contemplate and get lost in humility. The more we learn, the more we remain coachable and teachable. Find humble people that you aspire to be like.

5. Help others - The most important part of being humble is respecting others and helping those in need that are less fortunate. Treat people as equals and always acknowledge the "Golden Rule." I always have believed that when you help someone that can never repay you, you have learned humility.

So I encourage all of you to look at yourself....Are you practicing humility? Are too prideful that you forget to treat others the way you would want to be treated? Be approachable and look for ways to pay it forward with a kind and gentle spirit. May you get " Stung" by the "Humble Bee" this week.

Happy 4th of July!! Remember to pray for those who fight for the freedoms that we get to appreciate daily. If that doesn't humble you I don't know what will.....

Let me tell you a secret about a Father's Love...

I apologize for not posting  the past 2 weeks. We have been in the middle of camps and then I took a few days to relax and recharge the batteries. In honor of Father's Day 2 weekends ago I wanted to write about one of my favorite songs. "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait. This song is very special to me because those of you that no me well know that I'm super close to my dad and he took Suzanne and I to see George Strait several years ago in Nashville. I remember him singing this song and dad looking at both of us saying how much he loved us....I'm so blessed to have not only my Father in heaven, but a father here on Earth that has been such a wonderful role model of how to live, to give and guide us in all we do.

In our world today, people may have many Father figures. Some are not fortunate to have their dads around, some have step fathers, some have men in their lives that they look up to for guidance and advice. We all have one Father, though, that is there for us no matter what. Our Father in Heaven who cares for us, forgives us when we fall short and as the song says loves us with no end. He never leaves us, His fellowship is free and He wants to spend time with us. Never doubt that love He has for us.

As I took some time off, I thought alot about life and how certain situations happen that enable us to remind ourselves of how great Our God really is. It's never on our time, but His time. He puts people in our lives, He directs us to follow certain paths and He is always there walking beside us helping us to discover the meaning of each of these. So as you go through your summer days, take time to enjoy your family, your friends and most of all your Father who loves you without end, Amen.

The best kept secret in America...

This topic is a little off the ordinary of my blog, but it's a place that's very dear to my heart.
As many of you know my family has been going to Orange Beach, AL for a long time now. It's a vacation spot, a place to recharge the batteries and a place my dad says will add 10 years to his life.
All of us need a place we enjoy going to relax and to get away from the every day hustle and bustle that we so often find ourselves in much of our lives here on this Earth.

I was recently was there for Memorial Day weekend. It was a great weekend. I participated in the Color Run, went to the Lady Antebellum concert and attended the Flora Bama Worship on the Water service on Sunday. If you have never been to the Wharf to a concert it's a must go. It's a unique little venue where you don't have a bad seat in the house. I've been to several there and always look forward to seeing who is performing while I'm there. The Flora Bama is mostly known as a party hang out, but they put on one heck of a praise and worship service on Sundays. I wish I lived down there so I could go every Sunday. It's so refreshing to go to church where everyone speaks to everybody they don't even know, they don't care what you look like and you walk away on fire for the Lord.

As I was driving home on Monday morning, I thought to myself what a great place this is. I've met so many neat people that live down there and have met some awesome people who own condos where we have one. If you've never been to "LA" Lower Alabama, you need to plan a vacation there soon. Great food, friendly people and beautiful beaches to soothe the soul. As my good friend and I always say when we are down there....."TITL" This is the life!!  Here's to OBA.....I hope to live there one day!
It truly is the best kept secret in America...And yes there is a beach in Alabama!

Do you need a Timeout?

This is usually a busy time of year with graduations, visiting family, weddings and making sure we have paid our taxes or better yet get a tax refund check. It's the time where hustle and bustle become a big part of our lives and often we forget to eat or forget what we have done for that week.

Just as in a basketball game, sometimes in life we need to call a timeout. In a game situation you need to call a timeout to rest your team or most of the time to regroup and get your team back on the task at hand. This to me is one of the best analogies between a game that I love and life. In life, frequently we need to call a timeout. We need to get away, refocus and reflect on the blessings in our lives. This is a part of life I feel like many people fail to fulfill. They get to the end of their lives and say "Where did my life go?" I don't want that to be me. We get so consumed with our jobs and being successful and making lots of money that we neglect the simple things in life that are free. Our families, our friends, our faith and most importantly...time. Unfortunately, these simple things are usually the ones that we put last on our priority list. We are so worried about getting that next recruit, getting that big bonus check or trying to impress some big shot that we neglect what really matters in the end.

So call a timeout if you feel yourself becoming exhausted through the rat race of life. Take time to escape to a quiet place to ponder your life and prioritize where you are. Are you making the  right decisions? Are you surrounding yourself with people that encourage and support you? Are you making time for your family? I feel this is so important to call these timeouts frequently. It's important to change up your game plan to make life more enjoyable and meaningful. I know I've had to call a few timeouts the past few years. I felt myself going the wrong way and becoming and surrounding myself with people that were not a positive influence in my life. It's important to refocus and regroup. I've been so blessed this year to develop friendships that will last a lifetime, work for a great university that contains wonderful people and have been able to spend quality time with my family.

The #1 reason for my timeouts are to look at my life and see if I'm "Who" I want to be. Am I living a life that is pleasing to God? For He is the reason all of us are here in the first place. So this Memorial Day weekend, take time to thank the good Lord for all of your blessings, for the trials that have helped you become who you are and for your family and friends that love you unconditionally. But most of all say a little prayer for all the men and women who have taken a "timeout" to protect us and give us the freedoms that we enjoy daily. I'm thankful for Granddaddy Jim (I miss him so much every day) that served in the Merchant Marines and for Granddaddy Vic that served in the United States Air Force. Hug a soldier and thank them for what they do.

I encourage you this week to take a timeout if you feel the need to refocus and recharge your life!!!
We aren't on this Earth very long and the older I get the more I realize how short life is. We aren't given an unlimited number of timeouts so use them wisely to create your game plan that will enhance your life situations.

Winning the "Right Way"

This past weekend I spent a few days in St. Louis at a coaching clinic. The people that attended this clinic have what I call the "Get It" factor (Which will be my next blog post). I had great discussions, learned lots of new ideas for the upcoming season and a "meaningful conversation" with a friend that understands the "why" we do what we do. I'm thankful for that late night conversation that helped me write this week's blog post. Thank you RP. 

I just finished reading the book "Lead...For God's Sake." Coach Davis bought us a copy and gave it to all of us to read. I finished it in 2 days. It's that good. I highly recommend it to everyone. Go get it!! 

I won't spoil the book for you, but one of the main points asks the question "WHY" we do what we do? It all starts with your definition of success and winning. What do these words mean to you? So many of us go through life with the idea that winning is how many games we win, making lots of money, living in a huge house, driving a fancy car, winning lots of awards and making a name for ourselves. Is this really what makes you happy? Or in the long run is this what ends up breaking you? We get so caught up in the "status" that we forget about what really matters in life. We forget that the kids we coach go to class every day, go through divorces, go through break ups and have situations in their lives that we can't imagine. They need our guidance and our influence. 

No matter what our profession, all of us are in a position of leadership. We have people that are under our influence. Influence is one of the key ingredients that make this world turn. Are you being a positive influence for those people in your life? Are you leading from the heart? One of my favorite quotes is God is 1st, my friends and family are 2nd and I am 3rd. Thinking about this, I realized that God wants to be first, but he also wants to be at the center of everything we do. He is too big to be put in a priority box. He wants to be at the center of all aspects of our lives. 

So I encourage all of you to examine your life and begin to embrace your position. Have meaningful conversations with your co-workers. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. This can help create a winning culture and make your team or business be a place of success. Maybe God wants to see what you can do where you are before He trusts to let you go where you want to be. Remember that you are where you are for a reason so learn to embrace that. Relationships are one of the most important parts of our lives. They are one of the keys to our purpose here on Earth. Are you making a difference? Are you leading with your heart? Do people see something different in you? You may be winning on the outside, but on the inside are you winning? Leading with your heart is much better and rewarding, but not always easier. It takes work and a willingness to commit to living out your purpose. God has a purpose for all of us. He wants to be a part of that so don't forget to listen to Him and follow your heart. 

Winning isn't about your wins and loss record. It's not about how many awards and honors you have. It's not about how much money you make or the size of the house you have. It's about your quality of life. It's about the values and morals you possess. Does your team feel like they are part of a winning culture? You have much more influence than you will ever know. Be willing to smile to help people and be the best that you can be in your situation. We all fall short, but we must be willing to change our hearts to make a difference in this world. 

God has put some awesome people in my life this past year. I have learned to understand what winning really means. For so long I had the wrong idea that winning was only about success and how many games you won. If you didn't "WIN"....you were a failure.  It took me a long time to come to grips with who I want to be and what my idea of winning is. I was wrong for so long but thankful for faith and help from above I was able to move on from my clouded view of winning. It's the impact you have on people in this life. It's how you treat people and encourage one another. So I encourage you to look at your life....Are you really winning? Learn to lead and win the right way! 

Have a blessed day! 

Are you Spreading your Leaven?

Sunday as I was home for Mother's Day, I attended the First United Methodist Church of Winchester. Reverend Randy Brown gave the most wonderful sermon in which I would like to share a few thoughts:
The sermon was titled "Spread Your Leaven." I'm sure many of you are thinking spread your leaven? Leaven is not a word you hear very often unless you cook a lot, which I do not. Webster's dictionary defines leaven as a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and rise.

We live in a society where we want everything to happen right away. Most of us are impatient and when we want something we don't want to wait. It's usually a click away or an app away. Instead of being grateful for each day and being thankful for our daily blessings, most of the time we find things to complain about or get discouraged about the things we don't have. As the saying goes, "good things come to those who wait."

Just as leaven takes time to make bread rise, God usually takes time to mold us into who He wants us to be. We go through struggles, heart breaks, divorces and losses that generate a faith in us that helps develop each of us into who we are. We often want a quick fix, quick answer or quick result. We must have faith that God's timing is perfect and in that we must strive to let our light shine not only in good times, but in bad times as well. A kind word, believing in someone, listening or a quick smile can change the  mindset and the way we live our lives.

So don't get discouraged when things don't go as you had planned. Just as leaven takes time to rise, our lives take time to transform into who and what God has planned. Do the little things for people that honor God in your daily lives. Leaven is one of the most important ingredients in making a tasty loaf of bread. Kindness and Generosity are 2 of the main ingredients that Honor God and it's the little things that help transpire into the big things that help bring about a positive change in this world.

So Spread Your Leaven to those in need.....Be persistent for sometimes it takes more time for wonderful situations to fall in place. Have faith that with God's love we will all eventually "Rise to the Top."

God Itineraries

If you think about it, most of our lives consist of an itinerary. Webster's dictionary defines an itinerary as a travel diary or guidebook. Almost everything we do involves an itinerary. When we are in school, we have certain class changes, lunch and then we go home. When we get to college, it is usually a good idea to be organized and keep up with due dates for assignments and other meetings, etc. When we get a job, it often requires a plan for each day that we must get accomplished. As a college athlete and now a coach, we have someone who is in charge of planning road trips: when we eat, when we go to practice and even times for wake up calls. When you really dig deep down into our fast pace lives, most of our waking moments are planned and we know exactly what we will be doing each day. As I was driving home today, I thought to myself, we all get so caught up making plans that we forget to live and enjoy the moment. 

This world is not about "I" or "Me." It's about "Us." We are all God's children. So many times we forget to make what is our most important itinerary...our God itineraries. What is on your God itinerary? What is you plan daily to spend time with God? There is 1 simple thing that I believe we can do daily that would be written on  our daily God itinerary:

 Please be kind and rewind

For those of you that remember renting VHS tapes, this was the phrase that was frequently found on those tapes. If you think about it, it can relate to our every day lives. So many times we get impatient waiting in a line at the grocery store, we get angry because we don't get a front row parking space or we don't leave our waitress a tip because it took too long to get our food. Sometimes we need to think and rewind in our minds. We all strive to do our best. Some people are better at things than others. Some are faster than others, but it's human nature that regardless of our situations, we all want to be the best we can be. So the next time you are quick to get angry or be rude, remember to be kind. You never know another's story or what their life situation may be. Be thankful that you can walk and that you can afford groceries. Some people don't have that privilege. 

So I challenge you to make a God itinerary. Have a plan each morning to spend time with Him. Have an afternoon time that you pray, read a verse or listen to a song. At night write down how God appeared in your life that day. I started doing this about a year ago. It helps you to appreciate those little, simple things in life we take for granted. So many times we get caught up planning our lives, we forget why we are here in the first place. Give thanks to Your CREATOR. He deserves so much more of our time than we give Him. Make sure you have a God itinerary each day. It makes your day more complete! 

Verse of the week: Proverbs 16:9 

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. 

Everyone have a great week!

Are you sailing your vessel?

One of my all-time favorite songs is Garth Brook's "The River." The lyrics say this:
You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows. And the dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store. Makes each day a constant battle, just to stay between the shores. And I will sail my vessel, till the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try, so I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry.

The good Lord gives us each a unique vessel that He calls us to use for our own purpose in this life. He sometimes has to send that vessel more than once for us to realize what He is calling us to do.
I truly believe that there are times in life when God sends signs for us to pull on our heart strings of what He wants us to do.

Last night I went to hear Dr. Donna Lopiano speak to all the female student athletes here at Tech. She spoke about 5 points that dealt with leadership. There were 2 points that really stood out to me:

1. Follow your moral compass.

In life we all lose direction at some period in our life. We feel that we are lost and that things just don't work out the way we envision them. God is there providing us with that compass. The compass may be a job, a friend, a stranger, a note or even a phone call. He knows what we need and He knows what direction He wants us to follow. Sometimes we forget to just be still and listen.
"When you feel down to nothing; God is up to something."

2. Believing that you have an obligation to Pay it Forward.

This might be my favorite view on life. So many times we strive to get ahead, we are selfish and we forget to give back of our time. When we fill ourselves with God's word and His direction, we become vessels to be set out for His use. So do some thing nice for someone each day. Be in a good mood. Life is too short to be angry and mean to people. Practice patience. Practice humility. Practice paying it forward. Give and you shall receive!

So I challenge you to let God use you as a "vessel." Be a vessel of good news, of cheerful spirit and spread His word through your actions. He is our compass and will lead us in the direction we want to go. Remember we are on His time....not our!

"There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
With the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all"

Don't sit upon the shore line. Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tides!

Sail Away My Friends......Who is your Captain?

Verse: 2 Timothy 2:21
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXTwImfEYLY

Are you having F.U.N. in life?

"Finding Ur Niche"

What is a niche? A niche is a key position especially designed to display an object of value. Your niche is that special place that you and you alone were made to fill. It is the place where your passion flows and you are positioned to display your God given talents and gifts. 

In life, we all strive to find that consistency in our job, relationships and extra curricular activities. It is human nature that we all want to be appreciated and praised. So why is it so difficult for us to find what we are truly meant to do? Some of us recognize our niche right away. Some of us wait years and years until we find out exactly what our niche may be. 

Your gifts and talents may be photography, cooking, sports, crafts or even starting a Bible Study. Let these special gifts be a positive light for those around you. Sometimes we get nudges to do something and ignore those nudges, but we know it is what we are called to do. As long as we listen and pay attention to what God wants from us then we know in our hearts we are doing the right things. Follow your heart and pay attention to God's details for you. When you find "your niche" you will be amazed at how your life will change and the happiness that will fill your heart. So go try something new and make sure to "Have F.U.N." in everything you do. Life is too short not to enjoy what you are doing. It's never too late to HAVE F.U.N.!!!

Verse: 2 Timothy 1:6-7
Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgement.

Have you had your Vitamin "N"?

On the plane ride home from the Deep South Classic in Raleigh, NC I pulled out my Women's Health magazine to read. After 2 days of watching the game I love, I came to an article in the magazine that caught my attention. It was titled "Are you getting enough Vitamin N"? The "N" stands for Nature. The past couple of years, a couple of my friends and I have started hiking trails in the great state of Tennessee. Today, we hiked one of the most challenging hikes in this state, the Honey Creek Loop. Today was Sunday, so we decided to attend church exploring God's beautiful creation. Through rugged terrain, caves, wading through rapid waters (which we had a near tragic accident when one of my friends fell in the waterfall), climbing down ropes and scaling up ladders the scenery today was captivating.
I'm a beach girl, but hiking has become one of my favorite things to do. The sights, smells and sounds are intriguing to me. I feel it's so important sometimes to just step outside and take a breath of fresh air.
At every turn today there was a waterfall or a beautiful landmark of God's amazing creation. Being outside on a beautiful Spring day just makes you feel better doesn't it? The best part of being outdoors to me is that His fellowship is free out there. So find a few friends, google a good hike and start getting your Vitamin "N". Turn off the tv, put the cell phone down for a couple of hours and load up for a refreshing journey. Studies show it's good for the brain, good for your heart and quite frankly, like the beach, I believe it's good for the soul.
We have been blessed to live in this wonderful state of Tennessee where there are so many fascinating sights to see. I'm thankful for a good friend that talked me into going one day a couple of years ago. It's just nice to get away sometimes from the hustle and bustle of every day life. We all need to recharge the batteries and breathe a breath of fresh air. Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time. Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God.
If you can't find anyone to go with you, give me a call and I'll go....

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.” 
― Susan Polis Schutz

Secrets from the Shore....

Everyone reaches a point in their life when it's time for a change, time to get away from reality, time to escape to that place of serenity where you "Recharge your batteries" as I call it. We all get caught up in our jobs and our routine lives. As I grow older, it has become apparent the importance of taking time for yourself to reflect and think about life. I have been coming to Orange Beach, AL for almost 20 years now. If you've never been it's the best kept secret in America. This is where I come to find peace and escape reality for a couple of days. It's a place to think and enjoy God's creation.

There's a warm, friendly breeze that blows in the Gulf of Mexico. In life we all need to go catch our second wind sometimes. My dad always tells me it's good for the soul and adds years to your life. I must say that I agree wholeheartedly. There is something about the salty air and hearing the waves crash down that enhances your faith and human spirit. Sitting on the shore, observing the vastness of one of God's most impressive creations, bring me to this conclusion: Our lives can be compared to that of seashell. There are many different types, colors, shapes and life spans. Some are beautiful with all pieces intact, while others have broken pieces and are washed up to shore never to be picked up.

At some point in our lives we have searched for those perfect shells to take home. Sometimes, though it's the unique, broken ones that catch our attention. Such is the case for me. A couple of years ago I began picking up broken shells. I brought them back to my house and made a LIFE IS GOOD portrait and hung it in my house. I was so proud because those broken shells, when pieced together, formed a beautiful picture. I also made numerous flowers and other things with those broken shells.

If you think about it, our lives are much like those seashells. We all go through times where we got washed up on the shore and feel like nobody will ever walk by and pick us up. Then we see those the perfectly-pieced together shells that everyone wants to stop and grab and carry home. So I encourage you to be a friend to those who get washed up and nobody wants to pick up. If we help piece them together we can help stop much heartbreak and brokenness in this world. Sometimes all we need is one person to come pick us up and encourage us and assist us in putting back the broken pieces of our lives.

There are so many people out there that need to be picked up and put in your bucket. So search for the broken pieces, and be the glue that can help them create their own masterpiece. Be a good friend, be a good teammate, be a good coach and  be a good mentor. Don't ignore the broken pieces.....pick them up, for they usually can become the most inspiring and teach us much more about life.
Do something nice for someone....God knows this world needs it!