Off-Season Training

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The temperature has been over 100 degrees a record 51 times already this year.  This summer will probably go down as the hottest ever.  Nowadays, summer workouts take place in most Texas towns – for those getting ready for Friday nights in the fall.  When coaching football, the heat comes with the territory.  It was several degrees over 100 a couple of years ago one summer evening.  Golden sunshine tinted the trees and shadows lengthened, as a lone runner caught my eye.  He looked like one of the players on my football team.  He had already worked out earlier that day – what was he doing running now?

With football season still a couple of months away – his dedication to training impressed me.  Training this way in-season is common.  Training this way in the off-season is not as common.  There are so many distractions and other things to do that take precedent over working out for teenagers.  And yet the off-season warriors consistently push themselves to their personal best, out performing those who begin training in-season.  Readiness characterizes these highly trained athletes.  They are ready at a moment’s notice to face the next opponent.  Seldom surprised, they move with grace and confidence.  Their discipline pays off when needed most.  

I’ve watched this same principle lived out in the lives of godly men and women I’ve known.  They apply themselves to spiritual training, are committed to learning God’s Word, and pursue a life of faith.  Day in and day out, they discipline their minds and hearts to stay in alignment with the truth.  They strengthen their devotion to Christ in spite of circumstances.  They take false thoughts captive.  Then, when they least expect it, their training is called into action.  There’s usually no warning.  It’s a phone call, a medical test, an email, etc.  In an instant, their “opponent” is raging.  Fear, grief and despair threaten.  But they aren’t overwhelmed.  Shaken?  Maybe.  But not devastated.

These past few years I’ve faced events that have shaken me – same as a lot of you.  From losing a bunch of money to an unsettled job situation to death – life has rocked me a few times.  I’ve faced things I never thought I would face, and no one gave me a map to navigate the details of these circumstances.  In the darkness of these times, I’ve held on to what I know to be true in the light.  When my flesh wanted to panic and run screaming, God’s truth told me He will provide.  When I wanted to freak out about making mistakes, God’s wisdom reminded me that everyone sins.  Without training, I’d have collapsed on the floor in a confused puddle of fear.  

Being a person of faith is easy when life is smooth.  It’s easy to love others, be a good steward and make wise decisions when everything is going great.  It’s when there’s no warning and a storm hits that we need to be well-trained.  No one can do this for us.  We are the only ones who can study God’s word.  We are the only ones who can push through a dry season and spend time in prayer.  We do this in-season (when circumstances are rough) and off-season (when circumstances are smooth), so that when the battles of life strike, we are ready.

The good news is you can start your training today.  In fact, you already have by reading this blog.  Take time to read the Bible.  Pray and ask God what He wants you to learn.  Ponder the truths you find and let them burrow in to your heart.  Each time you do this, you’ll be stronger.  And when you face a battle, this discipline and training will pay off in peace, confidence, and joy in spite of your circumstances.

Father – I praise You as the source of all truth.  Help me to have the discipline to read and study the Bible on my own, so that I’m ready when faced with trouble.  I ask for more of your wisdom and discernment to build my life on a solid foundation.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Casey Dacus

Graham, TX

He’s mine, he’s precious – and I’m proud

I had a happy life before I was married. I spent almost 10 years after college as a SWM (single white male), but I never really knew happiness until I met my wife.  Our meeting is a whole other story, but suffice it to say, God had a plan, and through His guidance, we were married four years ago in June.

Marriage was and is wonderful, and God has blessed me with a wonderful, Christian woman to walk the road beside me, and for that, I am truly grateful. I was happy. Truly happy.

But I never knew happiness until I met my son.

It was 4:40 in the morning when the doctors delivered our bouncing bundle of joy, and I was now not only a husband, but a father. And I couldn’t have been happier.

But now, almost 10 months have passed and our little one is crawling, has funny expressions, loves to cuddle, has slept through the night since he was about a month and a half old, loves his food, loves to play, loves his mommy and loves his daddy.  I couldn’t be happier.

Recently, I was away from home for a day and a half, and when I returned, he wouldn’t let me out of his sight. He wanted me to hold him and play with him, and that made me happy, too.

My heart melts with joy when I see his smile and feel his love as he puts his head on my shoulder and pats my arm as I pat his back.  That makes me happy.

Then I start to think about my Father. No, not my dad who loves me deeply, but my Father who loves me unconditionally.  I know I mess up, and I strive to be a man after God’s own heart – as David was called. However, I still fall short of God’s glory.

When my son tries to pull on the doors on the entertainment system, or tries to play with my laptop or pulls on things he shouldn’t, we tell him “no-no, that’s not for you.” 

I wonder how many times our Heavenly Father has done the same, but we are deaf to his warnings. We fall anyway. We have a short memory and try the same thing over and over.  Yet, just like I still love my son, He still loves us. But more. Much more. Because He gave His only Son for you and me.

So, daily I pray that I live for God and that others can see that I subscribe to His teachings. I pray that by the way I act, the things I do and the things I say are a reflection of Him.  I pray that by doing so, God looks down on me and says, “He’s mine, he’s precious – and I’m proud.”

Heavenly Father,
Please help me to walk your pathway each day.  Help me to live so that those around may see your light shining through me.  May I be a living example for You and a reflection of You.  Help me to live so that someday you will say to me, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”  Through Jesus I pray, Amen.

Joey Roberts
Stephenville, Texas

Follow His Example

I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27

I realize I have exposed myself to the transforming power of Jesus.  Writing articles such as this one has blessed my life in ways I hadn’t expected.  Spending time meditating on God’s word has allowed Jesus to transform my thoughts and actions.  Allow me to share one example.

I am a nurse in a medical clinic.  Recently, during one of our busiest days, the front desk manager mentioned that she needed someone to make calls to a couple of hospitals to see if they offered a particular specialized treatment that one of our patients needed. There were four of us in proximity of her voice and I was secretly hoping someone else would volunteer to help her.  I knew the phone calls could take several minutes since many questions needed to be asked.   After a few awkward seconds of silence, I volunteered to take care of it.  My words said “Yes,” but my tone of voice and body language expressed exasperation (Ugh!  One more job to do.).  I immediately felt guilty for my selfish attitude.  Have you experienced similar conflict in your inner being?

When I got home that evening I was reading the Bible.  The Spirit put on my heart the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John13:1-17).  As I read the story I was reminded Jesus had a lot on his mind that evening.  His heart was heavy as he knew a friend was about to betray him and he was soon to give his life for all humanity. Yet, as the disciples gathered around the table there was something that needed to be done and no one had volunteered to do it.  Jesus began washing all 24 of the disciples’ dirty feet.  No complaining either. Oh, to be like Him!  The Spirit was teaching me and convicting my heart.  

 Jesus’ actions spoke clearly to his disciples that he came to serve and that he wants his disciples to follow his example by serving one another.  I realize that my actions speak of “who I am.”  I can make a huge impact on those around me by following Jesus’ example.  The Spirit has renewed my attitude.  It is amazing how fulfilling serving has been since my attitude adjustment!

I pray for all those who read this blog today, that God will fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Terry Diane Smith

Stephenville, TX

"I'm Fed Up...I Think."

It was Rudyard Kipling who penned the now famous line “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.”  

It takes considerable effort these days to read a newspaper, surf the web or watch 24 hour streaming news coverage of events in our nation and around the world and keep your wits about you.  I suspect it has always been difficult to do, but living in a Christian perspective of things is especially challenging in today's world. 

For years, I read Psalm 139 as one of those “get close to the Lord” texts.  It’s a terrific meditation text.  It reads perfectly beside a Colorado stream or sitting on a mountain as dawn is breaking.  Works great in retreat and church camp settings, too!  The first 16 verses are spell-binding.  The writer isn’t cynical.  He’s definitely not a skeptic.  Verse after verse he says the most fantastic things about God.  His thoughts eventually crescendo into the following statement:
17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
   I awake, and I am still with you.

That’s good stuff.  But he isn’t done.  He turns on a dime and lets his heart declare its pain.  He lives between the reality of God’s power and overwhelming presence and, his own pain in particular.
19Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

Oh men of bloodshed depart from me!

20They speak against you with malicious intent;

They take your name in vain.

21Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And, do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22I hate them with complete hatred.

I count them my enemies.

“Are these verses a ‘typo’?  What happened to the guy in the first 18 verses?  Something is wrong here,” we say to ourselves.  Or is it?  Not at all!  He is a believer who lives between what he knows to be true about God and the realty of the brokenness that is the world in which he lives.  He loves the Lord.  He wants to see righteousness championed.  He wants to see evil purged from the earth.  But, he is angered by the arrogance of evil in its many forms.  He’s fed up!  Ever felt like that?  

Then he says:   
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139 is much more than an inspiring devotional read.  It gives voice to our struggle to live as people of the gospel in a broken world.  Next to thoughts of God’s power, presence and care for us  is the call for us to bless and curse not; to turn the other cheek; to love those who despitefully use us; to love our enemies; to be ambassadors for Christ.  

Nobody lives on a mountain top or down by the river.  We live in life situations that challenge our ability to stay connected with God’s calling and to be the kind of presence God needs us to be.  The trick is not getting lost in the spirit of imprecation, drifting into cynicism, or perpetual anger, or a detached skepticism or, in the spirit of the sons of thunder - "Lord!  Send lightning on the hour every hour and, I’ll tell you where to send it!”  

We need the prayer in verses 23 and 24 to keep us engaged in a world that needs what we have to offer.  It’s why Jesus came.  And, we are his body in the earth.  

O Lord comfort our hearts.  We can get so anxious and disturbed by what goes on around us that we forget to hand things over to you.  We forget to trust you as The sovereign One.  Save us from bitterness, anger and cynicism by ministering to our hearts in ways that bring calmness and strength into our lives.  In so doing may be equipped to be in the world as people who truly speak and live the message that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.”  Through Jesus who had made all things new...amen.  

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

The Miracle of Giving

‘Test me in this,‘ says the Lord Almighty, ‗and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of 

heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.‘ 

Malachi 3:10 

I fully recognize and acknowledge that the miracles recorded in the gospels have to be accepted 

on faith, and that such miracles today are not to be expected.  Still, there are lessons to be 

learned.  The Feeding of the Five Thousand, for example, is the only miracle performed by Je- 

sus mentioned in all four gospels.  

Whether because of the pressing crowds, or news that His cousin John The Baptist had been 

beheaded, or perhaps a combination of both, a certain fatigue probably prompted Jesus and his 

apostles to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat to enjoy a little respite.  Sensing His move, however, 

a large crowd of followers (including about five thousand men plus women and children) impul- 

sively went around the lake, disregarding the cost in physical strain and lack of provisions.  

When both groups intersected at the other side of the lake, a dilemma presented itself:  A huge 

multitude of people was literally famished, it was late in the day, and there wasn‘t near enough 

food to feed so many folks.  Jesus, filled with compassion, took what meager scraps could be 

found, and miraculously fed every person with more leftovers than He started with. 

Imagine this conversation: 

The disciples:  "We see a really genuine need out there." 

Jesus:               "So...Fix it." 

The disciples:  "But we don't have the resources!" 

Jesus:               "What do you have?" 

The disciples:  "What you see is all we've got..." 

Jesus, filled with compassion:  "We'll make it work." 

This is where my curiosity sometimes gets me in trouble.  What if there had been 10,000 men 

plus women and children?  What if there had only been two loaves or only one fish?  Could Je- 

sus still have performed this miracle?  No matter how I try to stack the deck the answer still 

comes out the same, "YES!"  The Lord is not limited in what He is able to achieve based on the 

size of our contribution. 

Budgets and planning are a necessary responsibility and giving is a commandment, but that‘s 

not why we give.  We give because Christ's love compels us.  We give as an act of faith.  We 

give to put God to the test!  It is one of those unexplainable enigmas that the more we give, the 

greater exponentially the miracles are. 

The whole process works best when we, as God's handiwork and faithful servants, are a people 

who passionately look for needs that need to be met; who look for crusades that need soldiers; 

who look for broken hearts that need mending; who see wrongs that need to be righted.  We 

don't have enough resources to get it all done, but we DO have a Lord who is not limited by the 

constraints that bind us. 

Keith Morgan 

Abilene, Texas

A Condition of Readiness

…the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  (II Timothy 4:6, 7)

In the wee hours of a morning several years ago I made a terrible discovery.  With furry mouth, hair askew, and aiming my rumpled body toward the coffee pot I realized I was no longer padding purposefully in the direction of my kitchen like I used to.  I was shuffling!   

Sometime – it seemed like overnight – my youthful stride ran off and left me dragging my feet.  I knew something had to be done, and so began my years-long dedication to EverFit, a program designed to empower families to be “healthier in mind, body and spirit.”   This is not a reminder to exercise, and I promise not to meddle with your calorie intake.  I’m inviting you to ponder with me what this means: 

[FIT: A Condition of Readiness]

It’s obviously an encouragement about life, but it’s also a message about reaching the end of life in a “condition of readiness” for eternity.    

My favorite Christmas story, Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard H. Schneider, is about a small pine tree who, along with all the pines in the forest hoped to be chosen by the Queen for her castle.  While other pines selfishly work at staying beautiful, Small Pine sacrifices his branches for a frightened rabbit, an exhausted wren, and a hungry doe.  In the end, and despite his imperfections, Small Pine is chosen because, “in his drooping, nibbled branches the wise Queen saw the love of Christ expressed on earth.”

Keeping our minds and hearts in a condition of readiness is a life-long exercise in expressing the love of Christ on earth.  

Father God, we don’t want to shuffle toward eternity ho-hum and half asleep.  Open our eyes to see every opportunity to be like Christ in whose name we pray.  

Sandra Milholland

Abilene, Texas