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 Given March 2010
Sports are all around us. From professional favorites to local youth programs most of us have some connection with sports. In my years of coaching and watching, I have noticed several similarities between sports and Christianity. Over the next few weeks, we will explore some of these.
The first would be the difference in a fan and a player. Of course, some choose not to be a fan or a player of Christianity so they’re involved with the other team; different coach, different set of rules, different goals. However when we choose to get involved and get saved we are a part of God’s team. But I’ve noticed there seem to be different levels of participation in this organization. We can be passionate about “our” team; go to all the games, wear the colors, have the bobble heads and bumper stickers. We know all the players and their statistics and the game schedule is on our fridge. How does this compare with a Christian? These folks are rabid fans but not really on the team. They go to church, wear the jewelry, talk the talk, read the playbook some, but isn’t there something missing?
On the other hand, there are those who choose to take the next step and actually join the team. With this choice comes added responsibility, work, dedication, and commitment, and the rewards are different. The players agree to give a greater part of their lives to the team. They submit to the leadership of the coach and are closely connected and bonded to each other. Who are the players on the Christian team? Can they be identified in our congregations? How are they different from the fans? Which one are you and are you satisfied with that role? Something to think about.
Now I’m not saying this is an exact comparison. Those who are a part of God’s team, in whatever capacity and make it to the end of the season will get the final reward. I hope this makes each of us think about our part and role on this team. “ If ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,.. I will give you..” (Deuteronomy 11:13,14). Which are you, a fan or a player?
 Given August 18, 2010
During my morning devotion and prayer time on this day, I read something about the Judgement seat of God and, as frequently happens, I got a different vision of what this may be like. Now, I don’t claim that what I will describe is what will happen but just what I saw and the way it might be. I do know it brought me to tears and I want to share it with you so you may be encouraged or at least cause you to think about what you’re doing now to prepare for that judgement day.
I saw a long line at the Judgement Seat of God and thought, as we step up to the front of the line and face God, we may see three reactions from God. 1) He may look at us and say, “Let me look and see if your name is here in the Book.” (Of course He’ll already know if our name is there.) 2) Your name’s not here; I never knew you”. (Matthew 7:23). or 3) “Hey Son, good to see you again. Many of those you sent ahead are already inside, go in and see them.” “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23). Then He looks back to the line behind you and says, “How many of you all are here because of this son of mine? Come on up here and go in with him.”
That’s when the tears came. I was so thankful that my name is in the Book and I spend time with my Father every day. I have led a few people to the Lord at the alter or somewhere else and they’ll be there but it made me realize I want many more to be there because of my obedience to the commands of God. I’ve got some more servant work to do, how about you?
 Given Summer of 2010
Vacations are great but at the end of the week, guess what; you’ve got to go home. The result of your planning, preparation, anticipation, and the stay is over and you must say goodbye to your vacation. It was nice, it was refreshing, and a good break in life but we have responsibilities at home. Many are doing what they were created to do and must get back to it. I’ve heard the comment so many times, “I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.” There’s just something about home.
But we have a Heavenly home and where we live now is not our permanent residence. “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” (Philippians 3:20). Our life here is usually no vacation so we should be looking forward to “going home”. If we think vacation is nice, wait until we get home! Sleeping in our own bed doesn’t even compare. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. (John 14:2-3).
Just as we plan and prepare for a vacation, how much more important is it to do the same for our going home to Heaven. Think about it, the anticipation of going home should be great.
 Given July 22, 2009
During my morning devotion, I was praying and telling God I wanted to be pleasing to Him this day. I realized that because I am a Christian, the people I know expect me to present myself in a Christ-like manner and people that don’t know me also may notice how I act if my behavior is noticable, either good or bad. So I made a declaration this morning that, “I am a representative of the Most High God; Heaven’s Agent”. Everywhere I go, everything I do, to all the people I interact with, I would do my best to represent my God well and be pleasing to Him. I would show the love of God in whatever circumstance I found myself in and to whomever was looking. That’s a daunting task!
Jesus told his mom When He was 12, “And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father’s business?” Luke 2:49. Even as a boy, Jesus knew He was supposed to be about His Father’s business. We are too. When we got saved, God became our father, we’re in His family, and have responsibilities in that family just like children do in their earthly families. However, just as in earthly families, some kids do not follow through with their chores but still expect all the benefits. It doesn’t work that way. The Father still loves them but they won’t get all the rewards of the, “good child”.
God is looking for a few good men, women, and young people who are willing to be Heaven’s Agent; those who will do their best to represent their Father well and be a positive witness to the lost and discouraged. These Agents will help God to accomplish His will on the earth. “If my people…will seek My face…then I will…” 2 Chronicles 7:14. Picture it this way; there is a big farm wagon full of God’s people and a pastor is up front trying to pull the wagon by himself. One saint in the wagon decides to be Heaven’s Agent and jumps out of the wagon and helps the pastor pull. Then another decides he/she is H.A. and joins them. Soon several are helping pull the wagon and it’s moving forward for God. Sadly however, many stay in the wagon and allow themselves to be pulled along.
I say every day, “Lord, what is my assignment today? How can I serve you?” Admitedly, I do not perform perfectly every day and fall down some but my Father is there to help me up as I repent and ask His forgiveness. I want to be a representative of the Most High God. How about you?
 Given July 31, 2010
Do you love the Lord? Usually when you love someone, you want to do things for them. So, what can we do for the Lord? He has certainly done and continues to do so much for us! One thing is to do what He says: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15). He has commanded lots of things in His Word so we need to find out what those things are, (read your Bible), then do what it says, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only…” (James 1:22).
Now, God doesn’t need His house fixed, He doesn’t need money, food, or clothes. He doesn’t need encouraging, consoling, or advising. He doesn’t need us to visit Him in the hospital…do you see where this going? So how can we do something nice for the Lord? Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40). So if we do these kind of things for God’s people, we’re doing them for Him. He takes it personally.
On the other hand, He also takes it personally when we harm one of his children. Remember what He said to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus? “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 26:14). Saul¸ (later, the apostle Paul), had been traveling around arresting and killing Christians and Jesus likened that to doing it to Him. He takes it personally. As parents, we know if you do something bad to our kids, you’re doing it to us too. And if someone does something nice for our kids, we like it. Father God is the same way.
So, how can we do something for the Lord? We can buy the Lord lunch today, we can pay His light bill, visit Him in the hospital; we can encourage or console Him. We can minister to His body by helping other parts of the Body; our fellow Christians. Look around you and see which one of God’s children needs help. Or maybe they don’t need help but you could just do something nice for them. God takes it personally. Let’s do something for the Lord today.
 Given June 2010
Well, we’ve planned our vacation and we’re looking forward to it and now the day has arrived. We begin the trip. We know our destination, we have our map or GPS set up, our vehicle is packed with the things we need, we know about how long it will take us to get there, so we pull out of the driveway and head out. Things go fine for awhile but, along the way, we encounter road construction, or we take a wrong turn, or we have a flat, or one of the kids gets car sick or we forgot something we will need. Has it happened to you? You have a delay or get side tracked from your destination and get frustrated. However, you wait, make adjustments, or take care of the problems, and continue on your way. You wouldn’t think of going back home and missing the vacation you’ve looked so forward to.
We are on a journey in this life as well. When we get saved, our destination, Heaven, is set and our lives are spent on the trip. We know about how long we will live and when we should arrive there so we head out. But sometimes, (actually always), we run into some problems along the way. Our enemy, Satan, will do many things to distract us and try to get us off track so we WON’T reach our destination. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Jesus is with us on the trip, (Hebrews 13:5), and He will supply us with guidance, (GodPositioningSystem), the supplies we need or may have forgotten, and encourage us by His Word as we go.
The Heavenly journey is not easy, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14. Many do get distracted and lost and some give up and go back home. But follow your GPS, go where He says to go, do what He says to do along the way, and have a good trip.
 Given June 2010
A vacation is meant to allow you to get away from the daily routine and experience something different. Hardly anyone takes a vacation in their own hometown. A recent vacation to the beach brought us to a chain grocery store. The young lady who checked out our items was very friendly and asked us where we were from. Upon hearing that we were from the mountains she stated, “Oh, I love the mountains, I’d like to live there. I’ve lived at the beach all my life.”
It surprised me to hear her say that because I’ve said the same thing every time I go to the beach, “Oh, this is great; I’d like to live here.” But this young lady was longing to get away from what she was used to and experience what we wanted to get away from! We think somewhere else is better than where we live; the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
But the apostle Paul said it this way, “..I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,” Philippians 4:11,12. The lesson for us is to be content where God has placed us but be in constant contact with Him so if He wants to move us, we’ll know it. There are people in the world who long to be where we are.
 Given May 28, 2010
Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Most of us a familiar with that verse. But God showed me something different this morning.
Ask - Pray and it will be given to you but probably not while you’re sitting on the couch or recliner.
Seek - After you pray, look for your answer; get up and go after it asking God for guidance as yu go.
Knock - Do something. Don’t just stand in front of the door and wait for it to open. Take your answer, it’s already been given to you.
I guess the point the Holy Spirit was making to me was to take charge of YOUR part in God’s plan. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22. When we pray, many times, God has something for us to do. We order something but we have to go to the post office or the mail box to get it. We pray for a job but we have to apply for it first, that’s our part. And many times when we ask for somethig of God, He will remind us of something He had already asked us to do. “Dad, can I have $20.00 to go out with my friends?” “Well Son, have you taken out the trash and picked up that pile of limbs like I asked you this morning?” Do you see what I mean? Let’s be active in our prayer life Ask but then go Seek and Knock.
 Given July 3, 2010
I saw a quote from a brother this morning that got my attention and thought I’d write about it for this Independence Day. He was talking about all the things we associate with the 4th of July; cookouts, fireworks, family gatherings, flags, etc. His quote was, “It’s about freedom won by war.” It made me think. We enjoy freedom in America but that right wasn’t free; it is a result of battles fought by our ancestors which continue to be fought today. But, as usual, I saw a Spiritual similarity in this.
Our freedoms as Christians didn’t come free either; they came with a price. But Jesus paid the price and we don’t have to. He gave His life so we could be free if we accept His sacrifice. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36). Jesus won the ultimate war against Satan at the cross but our enemy, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8), is still here with his fake power trying to trick us out of the freedom we have in Christ. The reason he’s seeking someone is because some Christians don’t realize they’re free from the devil’s bondage. But those who know they’re rights can stand against him, wave the flag of salvation, and watch him run away. Now that’s something to celebrate!
Are you trying to get free of something today? Are you a Christian? Well, claim your rights, declare your God-given freedom, and celebrate because you are free indeed!
 Given May 2010
In this second lesson, after we’ve decided to go on vacation and begun looking forward to it, it’s time to start preparing. You’ll need to decide when you’ll go, where you will stay, (depending on how much you can afford and you’ll probably have to send a deposit), how to get there, get someone to pick up your mail while you’re gone and maybe water your garden, who’s going with you, and what you’ll have to take along. Then you continue looking forward to the grand time you’re all going to have.
So let’s look at the comparison to Heaven which takes some preparation as well. After you decide you want to go to Heaven and get saved, you don’t get to pick the time you’ll go; only the Father knows that. And you don’t have to worry about where you’ll stay, Jesus has already taken care of that, (John 14:2), your mansion is ready. How you’ll get there is not a worry either because, “…we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:8). But there are some preparations you do need to look after.
Who’s going with you? One of the most important things we are to do here on earth is to witness to others so they can go to Heaven with us. So, in preparation, we live our lives so that others will see and hear and want to go to Heaven. We need to take as many with us as we can and there IS room in the vehicle. And, we don’t have to worry about the mail, the garden, or the job because we can’t take any of that with us anyway, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:7). But what we really need to spend time on and send ahead are Kingdom things; Spiritual things that will last and profit us in eternity. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul says that earthly things we spend time preparing will be burned up at the judgment but Spiritual things will last.
If you haven’t already, start preparing for this Heavenly trip now and look forward to it!
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