All Archive - April 2007
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April 30, 2007
Set:
The ultimate thrill for a baseball player is to see a ball he just hit fly over the ballpark fence for a home run. When we ask Jesus Christ into our lives, we can have that same feeling--one of exhilaration and liberation. We are free from our burdens of sin. But like the ballplayer who hits the homer, we have some "bases" to run in order to get the score.
The first base in our Christian walk is CONFESSION: a daily and initial confession of our own sins and mistakes.
The second base is SANCTIFICATION: becoming more like Jesus, loving and forgiving others as He forgave us.
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April 26, 2007
Set:
They sat there and wondered how they got there: one player, one coach. All the games played, all the games coached, all the teammates and coached athletes, all the labels that had been given to them by fans and media--those thoughts all ran through their minds as they prepared for their championship games. Peyton Manning endured this in January. Billy Donovan did earlier this month. And it's a situation I know I could only imagine.
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April 19, 2007
Set:
In yesterday's devo, we talked about our own personal desire to love and serve the Lord, and how that will keep us focused on His game plan. Today, we'll focus on what role desire plays in others. Specifically, what do your words and actions inspire in those around you?
If we are seeking to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20), then our actions should have specific results. We should see the hunger for God's goodness and the thirst for the things of Heaven grow and develop in those around us.
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April 18, 2007
Set:
A couple of weeks ago, during the 2007 Masters golf tournament, commentator Nick Faldo addressed the three character traits he believed were necessary to be a champion: desire, determination and courage. Faldo expressed that, in order to put on that coveted green jacket awarded to the Masters champion, a golfer must have the desire to win.
Faldo is certainly right about one thing: desire is necessary in becoming a champion. Why else would we put ourselves through the pain and agony of intense training, the discipline and focus of honing our technique? Why else would we spend hours upon hours studying our particular game? Is it not desire that causes great athletes to dig deep and find a way to win?
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April 13, 2007
Set:
Do you ever worrying about things you can't control? I find myself in a frequent state of anxiety, worrying about things that (more often than not) never happen. I often pray and "give" these situations to God, but then I unintentionally take them back, thinking I have the answer.
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April 09, 2007
Set:
In our daily lives and our athletic venues we face many giants. Maybe it is an opposing team that you are playing, and the critics give you no chance of competing with the "giants," much less beating them. Or maybe it is your job, your finaces, your past or even raising your kids. Regardless, the giants in our lives are there to do one thing: intimidate us and steal the hope that God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
David told Saul in 1 Samuel 17:32, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine." But still, many people ran from the giant, Goliath. It says in 1 Samuel 17:24, "When they saw the man they all ran from him in great fear."
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April 03, 2007
Set:
Back in 2006, the FCA staff in Florida suggested we do a story in STV magazine about the University of Florida Huddle President, Lee Humphrey. Lee was a starter on the Gators' basketball team, and apparently was just an all-around outstanding example of Christ. At the time we received the article idea, however, we were already finished with our college basketball stories for the spring and were unable to do the article.
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