our blog
Sep
Tackling Your Opponent
To the chagrin of my wife, football is back and better than ever. Yesterday I escaped to my man cave and watched football from sunrise to sunset. There is just something about football that speaks to my heart. Like most men, as a little boy I dreamed of making it to the NFL. Unfortunately, my career peeked in middle school. My one shinning moment on the gridiron took place while I was playing Pop Warner football in 6th grade.
During the final practice before our first game, the team engaged in tackling drills. When it came to my turn, I looked up to see my opponent, an 11 year old, grown man-child who weighed as much as a grizzly bear and had the facial hair to prove it. Being less than 5 feet tall and a hundred pounds soaking wet, I attempted to sneak my way to the back of the line. The defensive coordinator would have none of it and gave me an earful about what he had taught us about leverage. Reluctantly, I got into my stance and ran full force at Goliath with my eyes closed fully expecting to get leveled. Yet, when I opened my eyes I was on the ground with my arms wrapped around my opponent. Glory was mine. Against all odds, I tackled the grizzly man-child.
Unfortunately, my mom, attending her first practice, bolted from the stands and quickly squashed any hope I had of a football career. Fearful that her baby would get hurt or killed, she forced me to hand in my helmet. This doesn’t take away from the moment or the truth that discipline produces results. My moment of glory speaks to our tendency to shrink away from the challenges before us. I can’t blame my mom for her reaction. Her motherly instinct kicked in. But, I have to be honest. Before tackling Goliath, everything in me was contemplating faking a leg cramp so I wouldn’t have to face my opponent.
Doubt about overcoming obstacles doesn’t just occur on the football field. It carries over to our own personal growth and having our One Word embedded into our character. When the coach calls your name, it takes you awhile to catch your breath and take that first step. All the questions of whether you are up for the challenge run through your mind. The voices of failure, condemnation and doubt are shouting loudly. The fear you are feeling is evident to everyone, including your coach so he grabs you by the facemask and reminds you that the question has already been answered: you have what it takes.
We can walk into the huddle with confidence because we already know the outcome: Christ has conquered death. Scripture, God’s word, speaks to this point time and time again. You have been bought with a price and you belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14). Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). You can be confident that the good work God has begun in you will be completed (Philippians 1:6). God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). If you beat your body, you can make it your slave (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 and 1 Thessalonians 4:4).
After trusting that God believes in you, the next step in penetrating your fortress of status quo and complacency is by creating disciplines that encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and begin to walk with integrity. Throughout the book of Proverbs, we see how discipline leads to wisdom (3:11-13), knowledge (12:1), understanding (15:32), and a way of life (6:23). The point of disciplines is to do something you can do in order to do something you can’t do. Disciplines must remain disciplines for a period of time. This consistency enables them to become habits and then reflexes. Eventually, they are dissolved into your character.
Becoming a person who embodies their One Word does not take place over night. It is a result of taking responsibility for your integrity and character. The key to growth is to be relentless in your walk with God and pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom keeps us focused while integrity protects our path (Proverbs 2:1-15). It is instruction and wisdom that produces this way of honor in us. This is how we glorify God and tackle the obstacles before us.
- If remaining connected to God is what enables character to take root in our lives, how would you describe your current connection? How would you describe your pursuit of wisdom?
- Our character develops more profoundly during difficult times where distress, pain and frustration are present. What challenging situation is God using to shape your character right now?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!
Sep
The Long Road Ahead
The leaves are starting to change colors. The kids are back at school. Summer has come to an end. Football season has already kicked off. Before you know it, Christmas and New Years will be upon us. With this in mind, I think it’s time for a little straight talk. If you’ve been going through the last nine months looking for the light at the end of the tunnel then unfortunately you are in for a problem. Truth is: there’s no end in sight….the tunnel has no end. Yes, 2011 will soon be over but your word will have to live on long beyond that.
Otherwise this project would be totally pointless. What good would it do to promise to be “patient,” if in January you returned to your rude and impatient ways? If God spent an entire year trying to mold a more “gentle” being, how much progress has really been made, if moments after the clock passes midnight, you get into a fist fight at a New Year’s party? What’s the point of spending twelve months trying to become a “humble” person, if you only plan on bragging about how well you’ve done once the project is complete?
The goal cannot be a short term character fix. We are interested in long term and permanent change. For that to happen your word must change from being a deliberate act, to something that comes more naturally.
You’ve spent eight months thinking about your word, organizing your life to be successful, embracing the struggle, celebrating the victories, leaning on friends and hopefully noticing change. In September we want you to focus on making that change a real part of your character.
Walk into any bookstore and you’ll see dozens of titles that promise the quick fix. In just thirty days you can master a new language, lose a ton weight, get out debt and become a “better you.” The Bible though teaches us that character building takes time.
God wants to do permanent work inside of you. This month let’s come to terms with the fact that there’s a long road in front of us, but if we stay the path he will use our word to teach us things like humility, love, compassion and courage. Rather than a quick fix on outward appearance, He’ll transform our heart and motives for the inside.
- How have the thought patterns, actions and disciplines that were awkward and unnatural at the beginning on this process began to seep into your character?
- Read 2 Peter 1:3-10. The passage speaks of qualities that complement your faith (good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, generous love). Which character quality has been most developed in your pursuit of your One Word? How does focusing on one of these qualities help develop the others?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!
Aug
Back To School
Right now many parents are rejoicing over the fact summer has come to an end and their kids are heading back to school. Some might even do an Irish jig as they watch the school bus pulling away from their house. They are delighted while I’m a wreck. Now, don’t confuse my reaction for me being the ultra parent who loves to spend every waking moment with their children. I love my kids, but time apart can be a good thing for both parties.
The reason why I dread the upcoming school year can be summed up in three words: brand new wardrobes. Thinking of the hit on my wallet makes me cringe. This has nothing to do with being consumed with name brand labels or designer clothes. We are bargain shoppers who head straight to the sale rack. Sadly, thanks to a summer growth spurt, our oldest daughter, Madison, literally has no clothes that fit her. Jeans we used to roll up suddenly look like Capri pants or that an impending flood is coming. Baggy tops now show her mid-drift. The only bright side is her younger sister’s closet just exploded with possibilities.
My wife and I sat baffled as we helped Madison try on her old clothes. We both understood the basics of biology and realized eventually our children would mature. But, someone please tell me…when did our baby girl grow up? When did she sprout up like a tree? How did we not notice this?
The Psalmist says our life is but a breath (Psalm 39:5 and 144:4). Other parts of scripture compare the days we have on earth to a shadow (Psalm 102:11 and Job 8:9) or grass that is here one day and gone the next (1 Peter 1:24 and Psalm 37:2). Coming to grips with the brevity of life should cause two different reactions to erupt within us: reflection and action.
In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” We have been there every step of the way with Madison, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the moment of the here and now and miss the growth that has taken place along the way. The same principle holds true with our spiritual transformation.
You might look at yourself right now and be confronted with struggles, frustrations and shortcomings. Letting this be your only perspective will inevitably lead to frustration. So, rewind the tape to a few months ago. Where were you back then? Chances are good you’ve grown, yet if you don’t stop and reflect, you’ll never have the opportunity to celebrate transformation and God’s faithfulness.
But, we can’t stop there. We can’t sit back and be satisfied reveling in the past. Life is short and we only possess a small window to leave an eternal mark. Without an understanding that our days are like a breath, it is easy to just sigh and put off sharing our faith, forgiving someone who hurt us or putting our One Word into action for another day. The reality is tomorrow has never been promised to us. Each day is a gift and the question we must ask ourselves is what are we doing with the moments we’ve been given?
- Coming to grips with the brevity of life should cause two different reactions to erupt within us: reflection and action. Reflect on the steps you’ve taken throughout the My One Word process. Which step toward growth reminds you that change is indeed possible?
- Without an understanding that our days are like a breath, it is easy to just sigh and put off things for another day. In terms of your walk with God and influencing others, what is one thing you have put off that you know you need to act upon? What is causing you to hesitate from putting your faith into action?
Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011. If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!