Real Dudes,
I reminded us a few weeks ago of the importance of who we give ear to. We all have been affected by the words that others have used towards us at some point in our lives…maybe even affected by our own destructive lies that we’ve convinced ourselves of in our own heads. How have we responded in the past and how can we respond better in the days ahead? In the song Voice of Truth below, you’ll hear and read these lyrics, “Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe THE VOICE OF TRUTH!” I pray that’ll be our own personal resolve from here on out. Please share this challenge with someone you know who has been affected by the choice of hurtful words that others have directed at them…words that have paralyzed them in life – words that have left such deep scars. At some point we’ll all need these reminders and truths. Also, let me encourage you to be slow to speak…keeping in mind that your words have the potential to have short-term and or long-term negative effects in the ears of your listener(s). If Jesus isn’t the voice of truth to them through you, then what other voice(s) will they turn to? Practicing His Presence, Nate Song: Mean Girls and heart behind the song by Leanna Crawford Song: Look What You've Done by Tasha Layton Song: Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns The Power Of Words Proverbs 11:9 “Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.” Proverbs 11:12 “It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.” Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.” Proverbs 15: 1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:4 “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 18:4 “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.” Proverbs 18:20 “Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.” Proverbs 20:15 “Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies.” Proverbs 25:18 “Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.”
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Huddle Update
5-13-21 One Degree Off! There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 Being a coach takes a lot of obedience to be successful. We know that there is a correct way to run our programs. The obedience I am talking about is defined as- Fulfilling instructions so that the one I am serving will be fully satisfied and pleased. That is a big task to attempt and complete. The coaching profession takes a lot of sacrifice of time and energy. You are trying to provide a positive experience for all of your athletes while at the same time trying to teach some life-long lessons. There are guidelines and rules to follow for our sports, additional rules from our athletic associations, and even laws from our state that govern out sports. You have the ethical responsibility to follow all these guidelines and rules. How many times have you thought about bending the rules? You know just a small tweak here and there. Maybe you overlook the players participation rule so that you can get a player some more playing time. Maybe it’s overlooking a team rule because losing the player would hurt the team. You know how you compromise yourself to stay away from problems. While it may seem that these are just little compromises, I call it being “One Degree Off”. While one degree may seem miniscule initially, as the lines are extended the gap becomes wider. In the sport of orienteering this can have a significant impact. At one degree off: At 90 feet you are off 18 inches At 1 mile you are off by 86 feet At 60 miles you are off by a mile At 600 miles you are off by 10 miles At 6000 miles you are off by 100 miles Another way of describing what happens if you are “one degree off” is if you are flying from New York to Sidney, Australia you would land hundreds of miles away in the outback. This is what happens when we stray from God’s plan for our life. Oh, I know its only little compromises like gossiping with our friends when we have something juicy to spread. Or maybe its just the little white lies that all people tell. Think about the impact all these little compromises will have on you over your lifetime. I know we are all good people and do good things. It won’t hurt to stray a little. There are times when God will use a close friend, or family member to challenge us in an area that needs to be addressed. It is never fun or easy to have our weaknesses and faults pointed out to us. It is necessary to search your heart and ask God to help you be obedient in all areas of your life. So be careful as being just one degree off can have a negative impact on your life. So, get connected with God so that He can search your heart and help you get rid of the compromises that throw you “One Degree Off”. Questions How do you feel about the “One Degree Off” illustration? Why is being off one degree a big deal? What steps are needed to get back into alignment when you get off track? Is your team obedient to your directions as a coach? Why or why not? What are the consequences of disobedience on your team? What are the ramifications of living obediently or disobediently in the context of your career, your friends, and at home and with God? Have a great weekend!! Rick Radcliffe | Central Iowa | Field Ambassador Follow-up Notes:
Nate 5 Prayers God Always Answers -
Kaylene Yoder https://kayleneyoder.com/prayers-god-answers/ This is not a complete list of prayers that God answers, but it is a good start to getting our heart right before the Lord and they are all supported in Scripture. Prayer #1: Thy will be done. We don’t always like this one, and we often have a hard time believing that His will is something we want. Jesus teaches us to pray this in Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. Jesus not only prayed this prayer, but He taught us how to live with an attitude of “Thy will be done”. It gives us a picture of a surrendered heart that it tender and pliable to the will of our Heavenly Father. Prayer #2: Forgive me, Lord. God never turns away a heart that is seeking His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we ask Him to. As we continue repenting of things that He reveals to us, the cleaner and more blameless we will become & then be able to grow in an intimate relationship with Him. Prayer #3: Teach me more of You, Lord. When we ask the Lord to teach us more of Him, He will answer and let Himself be known to us. He is delighted by a heart that is seeking Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 says that when “you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, “call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” You will “find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Prayer #4: Lead me in Your way, Lord. Psalm 139:23-24 is a great place to start when asking the Lord to lead your life. Ask Him to search you and know your heart. Ask Him to see you and hear your thoughts, testing you to see if there is anything that needs to be removed from your heart or life. And ask Him to lead you in His everlasting & perfect ways. He will always lead the one who wants to be led. Prayer #5: Remain faithful to me, Lord. This prayer shows a heart that wants to live in God’s presence. Psalm 18:25 says God will always show himself faithful to His faithful ones. Psalm 138 holds a beautiful outline for how the Lord remains faithful to us. It simply reminds us that when we praise Him with all our heart, unashamed to call Him our God, faithful to Him in all we do, then He will answer us when we call on Him. He will not abandon the works of His hands. He will not turn a deaf ear to our cries. Nor is He so far away that He cannot see us, hear us, or relieve us of our heartbreaks. He only asks that we seek Him and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Why Pray Scripture? https://kayleneyoder.com/scripture-prayer/
1. Praying Scripture places our focus on our Heavenly Father and His promises rather than our situations or other people. When we focus on how good and faithful God is to us, the enemy loses ground in our hearts & minds and has no more power over us. 2. In praying Scripture we know we are praying truth. Occasionally I don’t know how to pray, or I have no words. However, speaking & praying Scripture over our situations helps us know that we are praying in the right spirit even when there is little else we know what to say. 3. Praying Scripture grows our trust in the Lord. When we speak what is in God’s written word, we know He backs our prayers and petitions. James promises that He will not change like the shifting shadows, so when we pray a promise from His Word, we have the assurance that He hears us and will answer according to His Word. 4. Praying Scripture grows our love for the Lord. As we learn to lay claim to His Word with power and authority, we begin to love the Author of those words more and more. 5. Praying Scripture effectively evicts the enemy from your life and situations. When we speak the living Word of God, which is the two-edged sword of the Spirit, the enemy must flee. Praying God’s own words over our lives, homes, family and loved ones, will draw boundaries in the spiritual war zones that the enemy dares not cross. |
AuthorNate Smith is a college baseball and football coach, a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters, a police chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. #girldad including granddaughter
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