Midweek Motivation 9/28/16: Jimmy's 1993 ESPY Speech

The Greatest Speech I Have Ever Heard!

This is far and away the best speech I have ever heard, bar none.  There is so much to be gained from Coach Valvano's thoughts given at the ESPY awards in March of 1993.  At this time he was ravaged by cancer and would die approximately 6 weeks later.  Take the 11 minutes or so to watch this and learn from the courage, the humor, and the indomitable spirit of Jimmy V.

Monday Morsel #26

Monday Morsel #26

The most rewarding things 

in life are often

the ones

that look like

they cannot be done.

Arnold Palmer

The golf world lost a great 

champion last night.  

Those of us who remain 

can learn a few things 

from Arnie.

Be a champion today!

Going Up(stream)

https://www.google.com/search?q=salmon+upstream&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=638&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_pqjjrarPAhUs6oMKHcTgBt4QsAQIKA&dpr=1#imgrc=FwOhqr9PCmIChM%3A

Most of us are familiar with the image of salmon swimming upstream.  It is a part of their spawning process that returns them to the place of their birth in an effort to reproduce a new generation to carry on the species.  This journey from the oceans upstream in the rivers to their origination point is an incredible journey and one fraught with dangers. (https://www.howitworksdaily.com/question-of-the-day-why-do-salmon-swim-upstream/)

This week will mark the beginning of a series of articles on how our Christian families live in a similar manner going against an often stiff current and facing challenging, if not deadly, obstacles in order to replicate.  We have been given the family unit by God and told to go forth and multiply, not only in the physical sense but in the context of our faith as well.

I look forward to putting this together over the coming weeks and feel that it may be a series of the most important writings I have written to date.  As we proceed through this national election season, the troubles and strife between so many in our communities and the seeming breakdown of our system of crime and punishment it is important to examine what we can do with the most basic building block, the family, to make our journey successful.  I hope that you will join me next Sunday as we begin to fish for our future in my new series: Salmon Families. 

I pray that each of you will think a bit about how your family swims upstream in today's culture, and how it is that you may Do Well in the future.

Midweek Motivation 9/21/16 Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado

What giants are you facing today?  If we put our focus in the right place we can face our giants with confidence and they can be vanquished.  When challenges come before you be a David and listen to that still small voice that is God.

Monday Morsel #25

MONDAY MORSEL #25
If at first you don't succeed, it probably means you have something left to learn.

All of us will face failure.  It is what we learn and how we use that knowledge that will take us to greater heights.

Decisions: A Biblical Model

Decisions:  A Biblical Model

Today I will have the privilege of teaching the combined Junior High and Senior High Bible class at our congregation.  When I was asked to fill in for the Youth Minister I really didn't know what I would share with them, so I set out to find something that could prove useful in their lives and hopefully stimulate some discussion. I then pulled the book pictured above (Lists to Live By: The Christian Collection) to peruse for inspiration.

What I found I will share also with you today (anything directly from the book will be in the royal blue print as the title above).

Tests for Decision Making

Scriptural Test

• Has God already spoken about this in His Word?
• "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."  2 Timothy 3:16
• I believe we would all do better if we would use the powerful prism of scripture to guide us.  The scriptural illiteracy in our world, and even in the church, today is handicapping us at every turn.

Secrecy Test

• Would it bother me if everyone knew this was my choice?
• "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3
• If you have to hide it, there must be a problem.  Many of the most prevalent sins adultery, drug use, or theft, to name but a few, are done under the cloak of secrecy.  We must remember that there is an all-seeing eye that sees us whether others do or not.

Survey Test

• What if everyone followed my example?
• "Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  I Timothy 4:12
• Whether we want them to or not someone is likely watching us, especially our kids, would we really want them doing what we are doing?  This can be pretty tough medicine for us all as we look at things such as the language we use, the way that we drive, or choices regarding alcohol, smoking, or drug use.

Spiritual Test

• Am I being people-pressured or spirit-led?
• "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? . . . If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Galatians 1:10
• This goes to our old favorite peer-pressure.  It is easy for us to get caught up in a herd mentality and just follow those around us mindlessly.  I read on Instagram a few days ago something that said, "Only dead fish go with the flow."  I'm not 100% sure this is correct but the visual it presents seems to be applicable.  Show a little life and when necessary (which is more often than we think) swim upstream against the currents.

Stumbling Test

• Could this cause another person to stumble?
• "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to be anything else that will cause your brother to fall."  Romans 14:21
• This also can go to the peer-pressure issue.  Am I being the reason someone else would fall?  This is dangerous territory and if we are attempting to live for Christ the warning bells should be sounding loudly when we are confronted by a difficult or questionable choice.

Serenity Test

• Have I prayed and received peace about this decision?
• "Do not become anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7
• It is my opinion that we don't give enough credence to this particular area in our decision making.  Are we really praying to God for guidance, or are we telling what we expect from Him?

Sanctification Test

• Will this keep me from growing in the character of Christ?
• "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness."  2 Corinthians 3:18
• It is said that if we are standing still we are losing ground.  I believe this old saying is quite true and very applicable to our spiritual life.  We have an obligation to move forward, seeking to grow in Christ.  If we look at the challenging decisions that come before us with this in mind things can become much more clear.

Supreme Test

• Does this glorify God?
• So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  I Corinthians 10:31
• In the end this is the ultimate test.  We know that God is sovereign and He allows us free will, but if we look back to Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 we will find:

   Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

 

For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.

NKJV from www.biblegateway.com

When we keep His commandments He is exalted, and glorified before the world.  The life we lead is a reflection of our faith in Him.  

Today I urge you to consider this model for a spiritual perspective in your decision making that you may DO WELL!

Midweek Motivation 9/14/16 with Jim Rohn | ASK WHY NOT? ᴴᴰ | Motivational Video

Midweek Motivation

9/14/16

I discovered Mr. Rohn earlier this year because his name kept coming up as an influencer to so many others I was reading about or listening to.  He like Zig Ziglar lays things out in a very simple way that we can all understand.  His why questions in this 3 minute video are excellent food for thought that we should all consider.

MONDAY MORSEL #24

"Lost time can never be found again."
Benjamin Franklin

I am a huge fan of Ole Ben.  Despite his peculiarities he is probably the quintessential American spirit of the founders.  How are you guarding your time?

Sunshine

Sunshine

What is it about sunshine that makes such a difference in our lives?  Each day our moods and attitudes can be bolstered or diminished by the presence or absence of sunshine.  The health of the plant life around us depends upon sunshine, even our very own health is impacted by sunshine.

The photo above was taken approximately a week ago as I had my morning walk, and the beauty of the morning with the sunshine breaking over the horizon gave us a glimpse of God's glory as he described through David in Psalm 19:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

and night unto night reveals knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2 NKJV

This morning as I walked again (earlier it was still dark) I looked out into the stars and was again struck by the vastness of God's creation and the intricate detail with which it is all put together.  As our most recent series of sermons at Center Hill Church of Christ has spoken about, AWE was all I could think on as I prayed.  We are servants of a great and mighty God, actually the only God that is real and active and who graciously reveals himself to us in so many ways.

One of those ways is sunshine.  The sun provides light to overcome darkness just as Jesus is light to overcome the darkness of sin.  The sun provides warmth and comfort (maybe a bit too much warmth the past few weeks) just as the Holy spirit provides warmth and comfort in our times of need.  The sun helps us to process Vitamin D which is essential to our health, a process that becomes more difficult as we age, much like The Holy Bible helps us to process our thoughts in the proper manner as we encounter difficulties, challenges, and temptations.

Today I am grateful for sunshine, not to the exclusion of rain which also is necessary, but because of the brightness and power of God revealed in its presence.  What are you grateful for today?  As my favorite author, Andy Andrews, tells us in his books GRATITUDE is one of the decisions for success.  If we will live with a grateful heart good things will come to pass, and this is a spiritual principle found woven throughout scripture.

Choose today to DO WELL, and live with a grateful heart, and try to spread a little sunshine as you go.

Midweek Motivation with Zig Ziglar

How is Your Attitude Today?  Can you be honest enough with yourself.to succeed?  In this less.than 10minute clip Zig Ziglar delivers wisdom we can all use in our lives.

Monday Morsel #23

"Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him.  You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours."  Psalm 128:1-2

In honor of the Labor Day holiday it is good to know that we are privileged to be able to work, and know that our labor does not go unnoticed.

What Does the Light Reveal About You?

The attached photo is a shot taken deep inside Blanchard Springs Cavern, in North Central Arkansas a few weeks back.  The lighting that has been added to the cavern splendidly reveals its beauty and the intricate design God put in place.  My question  is today's title, "What Does the Light Reveal About You?"

Few places on Earth would be darker than the unlit depths of a cave.  Yet when light is brought in there is great revelation.  The details of the structure, the evidence of life and other wonders are revealed.  Only in the light can these things be seen and studied.

Our lives can often seem cavernous and dark as well.  There is so much going on around us that we can be overcome by the darkness and lose our way.  Imagine going deep into a cave such as this and losing your source of light.  This would be scary and disorienting to even the most seasoned explorer.  We can look at our lives in this manner as well.  When we choose the dark paths of sin then we can become disoriented and unable to retrace our steps back to the safety and security of God.

He has provided a light for us:

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying

I am the light of the world,

He who follows me 

shall not walk in darkness,

but have the light of life."

John 8:12

NKJV

Why would we willfully walk into the depths and darkness of sin?  The answer to this has evaded man from the beginnings of time.  God, however, is the cure and if we put our lives up to that light it will reveal the blemishes, the wounds, and the scars that our decisions have brought upon us.  Each of us have these evidences of going off the path, and only in the light can we begin to treat them.  The Christian life is a healing process that we must follow to gain the full benefit of the cure.  

In the end the full glory of the light of God will be revealed in Heaven, and the fullness of our new creation in Him will also come to pass.  It is with that hope that we can endure the darkness around us, seeking the light He provides.  The more that we engage in the spiritual practices of our faith and turn from the dark paths that would seek to overtake us, the more we will see the light.  With each step we take closer to the light the more we will see the danger of the darkness around us and be able to move toward safety.

Choose the safety and the hope of the Light, which is Jesus Christ.  Walk with the Lord as David describes in the Psalms:

"Your word is a

lamp unto my feet

and a light

to my path."

Psalm 119:105

NKJV

In this manner we can all DO WELL!