In basketball every position on the floor is important, but if you have a good point guard it can boost your team to another level. The point guard position consists of many different roles: 1. They are the coach on the floor 2. They must fully understand the game plan 3. They are good communicators 4. They are unselfish 4. They are tough 5. They are good leaders and others want to follow them 6. They understand their teammates and know how to create shots for them 7. They are humble 8. They rarely receive the credit they deserve 9. They don't get tired 10. They must have great vision
So for any team to be successful they must have a good point guard. Just as a team needs a good point guard to win basketball games, we need a good point guard to help direct us in the game of life.
What if God was your point guard? He possesses all of the qualities that constitute what a good point guard should look like. What if He was directing your team? We should all want to be a member of His team, because He is the ultimate leader.
He is our life coach. When we need something we should always look to Him first. He always knows the right play to call, and if we execute, most of the time we will be successful.
He understands our game plan for life. We need to trust the game plan He has put before us. He knows what offense and defense we should run before we even are faced with our oppoenents.
He is the great communicator. Communication is the giving and receiving of information. We receive God's will through His word and we give Him information through prayer and the way we spread his word.
He is unselfish. The most unselfish act one can do is give up their life for another. He loved us so much that He sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I would say that's pretty unselfish..
He is tough. Think about all the people that betray Him? Yet He still loves us and forgives us. And He sent His son to be nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns. We are the nails in His wrist. Hanging from a cross to die for us...Now that's tough.
He is a leader. God sent us son to this world to lead and help others. Think of the many followers He had and the impact that he had in His short time here. People wanted to know who He was and see what He was about because He was different.
He understands us and creates opportunities for us to be successful. He knows the plans He has for each of us. He understands the struggles we must face, the failures that must happen and the trust we must embrace in Him to follow through.
He is humble. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."- Philippians 2:5-8
He rarely gets the credit He deserves. For every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Let us not ever forget to be grateful and give Him all the glory in everything that we do.
God never gets tired. He is always there waiting for us to call on Him and to pray to Him for guidance and hope.
He has great vision. God sees all. He is all around us. Everywhere we look, if we look hard enough, we will see God. He wants to be everywhere in our lives.
So just as a point guard is all over the floor, making great passes, knocking down big shots, creating that big assist, getting that key turnover and being that leader your team needs. Think about the game of life...Who is your point guard? Who is your coach in the office and at home? Who is the leader on your team of life and your family? I know who I want to be my point guard. Make sure you pick the right one as well..... He can boost your game of life to a new level.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
The Book of "You"
What if you had your own book in the Bible? I often think about this question. Life is really like a big book. We go through different chapters, different story lines and have to learn to change and adapt throughout our entire life. The Book of Job is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Job was an overcomer and his faith in God was so admirable. Through all the suffereing that Job endured, he always sought the kingdom of God first and to me is one of the most faithful servants that we should want to mirror our life. Job proved it was possible for us to love God unconditinally just as God loves us unconditionally.
I often speak to people that we may be the only Bible some people ever read. People notice how we handle difficult situations. People notice how we handle winning and losing basketball games. People notice how we handle ourselves when the waiter brings us out the wrong food that we did not order. People notice how we handle the person at Wal-Mart who has 100 items in their cart and you only have 5 and yet the fail to ask you to go in front of them. People notice if you hold the door open for the elderly lady who is walking into the pharmacy. People notice your tone on the other end of phone line fi you are having a problem with some type of service. People notice how you treat the kid in school who everyone makes fun of because they don't have as nice of things as you do. People notice if you say thank you and your welcome. People notice if you say yes sir and no mam. People notice how you treat others who can do nothing for you. People notice how you treat that stranger who drops their books in the library and if you stop and help them pick them up. People notice if you let them in your lane while you're driving down the road and they need to get over. People notice if you are sincere in trying to help them become better people and give them sound advice and when you genuinely care about them.
These are all small things that amount to big things when writing the Book of You. Who are you? What's in your book? Will people want to read your book? So many times, we live our life as if noone is watching us. One of the reasons why I always loved playing sports and why I love coaching is that people are constantly watching how you handle yourself. If I were a parent, would I want my kid to look up to these players? How do they handle adversity? Whether we like or not, someone is always watching us. We are a role model to someone out there in this world. Someone looks up to you and wants your guidance.
In our book, there will be times where we fail. There will be times where we don't like who we are. There will be times when we are faced with tough decisions. That's the core and the body matter of your book. For He tells us that we all sin and fall short of His glory. It's in this part where people watch you the most. Where you become the Bible some may never read, yet look to see what makes you different. And it is here where they will want to ask you and talk to you and God will use you. For it is in Him where we find our greatest strengths.
When people see you, what does your cover look like? Do you have a smile? The journey, the trials, the sufferings, the changes, the people that you meet and all of life's lessons will make up the chapters in your book. And on the last page of our book, may we all strive to hear our Master say these words: "Well done my good and faithful servant." For it is these words that we will know our story is over and we have lived a honorable and faithful life that served Him.
So write down your story. Write down your book. You will be amazed and how God has used you, how He has blessed you, how some of His greatest gifts are unanawered prayers and how much He loves us.
I often speak to people that we may be the only Bible some people ever read. People notice how we handle difficult situations. People notice how we handle winning and losing basketball games. People notice how we handle ourselves when the waiter brings us out the wrong food that we did not order. People notice how we handle the person at Wal-Mart who has 100 items in their cart and you only have 5 and yet the fail to ask you to go in front of them. People notice if you hold the door open for the elderly lady who is walking into the pharmacy. People notice your tone on the other end of phone line fi you are having a problem with some type of service. People notice how you treat the kid in school who everyone makes fun of because they don't have as nice of things as you do. People notice if you say thank you and your welcome. People notice if you say yes sir and no mam. People notice how you treat others who can do nothing for you. People notice how you treat that stranger who drops their books in the library and if you stop and help them pick them up. People notice if you let them in your lane while you're driving down the road and they need to get over. People notice if you are sincere in trying to help them become better people and give them sound advice and when you genuinely care about them.
These are all small things that amount to big things when writing the Book of You. Who are you? What's in your book? Will people want to read your book? So many times, we live our life as if noone is watching us. One of the reasons why I always loved playing sports and why I love coaching is that people are constantly watching how you handle yourself. If I were a parent, would I want my kid to look up to these players? How do they handle adversity? Whether we like or not, someone is always watching us. We are a role model to someone out there in this world. Someone looks up to you and wants your guidance.
In our book, there will be times where we fail. There will be times where we don't like who we are. There will be times when we are faced with tough decisions. That's the core and the body matter of your book. For He tells us that we all sin and fall short of His glory. It's in this part where people watch you the most. Where you become the Bible some may never read, yet look to see what makes you different. And it is here where they will want to ask you and talk to you and God will use you. For it is in Him where we find our greatest strengths.
When people see you, what does your cover look like? Do you have a smile? The journey, the trials, the sufferings, the changes, the people that you meet and all of life's lessons will make up the chapters in your book. And on the last page of our book, may we all strive to hear our Master say these words: "Well done my good and faithful servant." For it is these words that we will know our story is over and we have lived a honorable and faithful life that served Him.
So write down your story. Write down your book. You will be amazed and how God has used you, how He has blessed you, how some of His greatest gifts are unanawered prayers and how much He loves us.
Time to Flip the Switch....
What is light? It is a natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible, it can illuminate or it can ignite. When you wake up in the morning, do you switch your light on? Each day we are given is a gift from God. We need to learn to switch our lights on each day for life. Normally, when our house gets dark, or when we can't see in our car or when our phone goes off, we flip a switch and light comes on and allows us to see. Just as we turn a switch on in our daily jobs and lives, sometimes we need to flip that switch in our spiritual life.
Sometimes in life, our light bulbs burn out and need to be replaced. We get tired of "walking the walk." Many times in the dark and hard times in our life, we reach for escape routes or other people to fix our problems. Really, during our darkest hours, all we need to do is find the light switch and flip it on. Despite what is going on in our life, just a small beam of light gives us hope and faith that we see Him there wanting to help us see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are many verses about light in the Bible, but my favorite comes from Psalm 119:105 which says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." This reassures us that no matter what dark place we are in, no matter what hard time we are going through and no matter how frustrated we get, His word is always there for us to pick up and flip the switch to give us light.
Some of us leave our lights on longer than others. We leave our lights on during the night and when we are afraid of the dark. Some of us turn out our lights at night and flip them back on in the morning. Some of our bulbs need to be replaced more frequently than others. No matter how dark or how dim the light is in your life...remember He is always there wanting and waiting for you to flip the switch on so He can "Illuminate" your life and make you shine! Each day is a new chance to flip on your switch. So switch on things that bring light to yout life: kindness, a smile, a helping hand, a hug or even a small prayer for someone going through a difficult time. Don't keep your switch off much longer. It's time to flip the switch to shine like God wants you to and bless the path He has set out for you.
Is your switch on or off? Flip it ON!!!
Sometimes in life, our light bulbs burn out and need to be replaced. We get tired of "walking the walk." Many times in the dark and hard times in our life, we reach for escape routes or other people to fix our problems. Really, during our darkest hours, all we need to do is find the light switch and flip it on. Despite what is going on in our life, just a small beam of light gives us hope and faith that we see Him there wanting to help us see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are many verses about light in the Bible, but my favorite comes from Psalm 119:105 which says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." This reassures us that no matter what dark place we are in, no matter what hard time we are going through and no matter how frustrated we get, His word is always there for us to pick up and flip the switch to give us light.
Some of us leave our lights on longer than others. We leave our lights on during the night and when we are afraid of the dark. Some of us turn out our lights at night and flip them back on in the morning. Some of our bulbs need to be replaced more frequently than others. No matter how dark or how dim the light is in your life...remember He is always there wanting and waiting for you to flip the switch on so He can "Illuminate" your life and make you shine! Each day is a new chance to flip on your switch. So switch on things that bring light to yout life: kindness, a smile, a helping hand, a hug or even a small prayer for someone going through a difficult time. Don't keep your switch off much longer. It's time to flip the switch to shine like God wants you to and bless the path He has set out for you.
Is your switch on or off? Flip it ON!!!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Time to Fill Up
Many of us drive some sort of vehicle to get us where we need to go. Most of these vehicles require gas or to be charged up to help us reach our destinations. If our car gets low on gas, most of us will see a light pop up or hear a ding that reminds us it's time to "Fill Up." Or if you drive an electric vehicle, I'm sure that your vehicle starts to slow down a little or there is some sort of reminder that it is time to charge up.
Just as our vehicles require fuel or a charge to run, so do we. I often think of myself as a vehicle. I wake up in the morning, usually go for a run, shower and read my daily devotion and write in my quote journal...oh and usually drink my one cup of coffee to ensure for a burst of energy. I'm on the go most of the day and rarely sit down long or have any down time. I like to stay busy. Each one of us fuels our mind and body with some sort of routine each day. What are you filling your tank with each day?
As I get older, I look at my life and how I want it to be filled with positive energy, enthusiasm, encouragement and love. I try to keep myself in the best shape possible and fuel my body with the right things. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit that is within you. To live the life that God has planned out for us, I believe that when we get on "Empty", we need to start fueling ourselves with those things, people, words and thoughts that are pleasing to Him. Find those people that you can talk to that help fill up your tank with optimism, kindness and gratefulness. They can act as your gas station when you feel like your life is on empty.
Or I have found the best "Filling Station" is in a quiet place where it's just you and God. Talk to him, ask him to fill you back up and recharge your batteries.
We all have experienced those times when our tank is on empty. We feel hopeless, helpless and discouraged because of certain situations that have happened to us. It's crucial for us to ride on empty too long so we don't run out of gas. I believe one of our missions here on Earth is to help others fill their tank with hope, kindness, faith and love.
So think about what's filling up your tank? And when you get on empty, don't forget to stop by and see Him to fill up your tank.
Happy Sunday!
Just as our vehicles require fuel or a charge to run, so do we. I often think of myself as a vehicle. I wake up in the morning, usually go for a run, shower and read my daily devotion and write in my quote journal...oh and usually drink my one cup of coffee to ensure for a burst of energy. I'm on the go most of the day and rarely sit down long or have any down time. I like to stay busy. Each one of us fuels our mind and body with some sort of routine each day. What are you filling your tank with each day?
As I get older, I look at my life and how I want it to be filled with positive energy, enthusiasm, encouragement and love. I try to keep myself in the best shape possible and fuel my body with the right things. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit that is within you. To live the life that God has planned out for us, I believe that when we get on "Empty", we need to start fueling ourselves with those things, people, words and thoughts that are pleasing to Him. Find those people that you can talk to that help fill up your tank with optimism, kindness and gratefulness. They can act as your gas station when you feel like your life is on empty.
Or I have found the best "Filling Station" is in a quiet place where it's just you and God. Talk to him, ask him to fill you back up and recharge your batteries.
We all have experienced those times when our tank is on empty. We feel hopeless, helpless and discouraged because of certain situations that have happened to us. It's crucial for us to ride on empty too long so we don't run out of gas. I believe one of our missions here on Earth is to help others fill their tank with hope, kindness, faith and love.
So think about what's filling up your tank? And when you get on empty, don't forget to stop by and see Him to fill up your tank.
Happy Sunday!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Who is building your ark?
There are times in our lives when we all feel overwhelmed or that we are flooded with disappointment, loss or just feel like nothing is going our way. Those floods of life are often the trials and sufferings that determine our character and who we are and who we will become both mentally and spiritually. I know some days we feel like it's going to rain for days and that our hearts and minds get flooded with negativity, hurt and frustration. Just as Noah had no idea how to build an ark, sometimes we have no clue why we experience disappointments, trials or loss. But I do know that God is in control He will show and lead us in the direction in which we need to go just as He instructed Noah on how to build the ark.
So when the floods of life fall upon you and you feel you are going to drown, listen and call on the ultimate Lifeguard. He will send you a lifeboat, a life jacket or put someone in your life to help pull you to safety. He is always the safe harbor we should long for when we feel like we are going to sink. He is there to help you build up your heart, mind and soul so that when life throws you curve balls you won't strike out. No matter if its a light sprinkle, a steady rain or a flood God is our ark of safety. Just as He protected Noah, He will be a safety valve in our life and our security when we need Him.
So who is building your ark?
So when the floods of life fall upon you and you feel you are going to drown, listen and call on the ultimate Lifeguard. He will send you a lifeboat, a life jacket or put someone in your life to help pull you to safety. He is always the safe harbor we should long for when we feel like we are going to sink. He is there to help you build up your heart, mind and soul so that when life throws you curve balls you won't strike out. No matter if its a light sprinkle, a steady rain or a flood God is our ark of safety. Just as He protected Noah, He will be a safety valve in our life and our security when we need Him.
So who is building your ark?
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