Week 43 - #Prepare “Evolve”

"To Unroll and Evolve"

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Proverbs 18:15 - 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Evolve comes from the Latin word ēvolvere, "to unroll."

I love pondering about this idea “to unroll.”

In my mind I equate “to unroll” with the anticipation of seeing things “play out.”

To unroll sounds a lot more fun than to evolve. However, if truly the same meaning, I can see the urgency to start preparing to evolve today.

One of my favorite John Maxwell quotes is “change is inevitable, growth is optional.” In our preparation to evolve, we don’t have to grudgingly accept it, we can learn to understand this necessary process, and welcome it, like the slow rising of a beautiful sunrise, or the sunset fading to its temporary resting place.

In our preparation to evolve, the status quo is the enemy.

Every day we have an opportunity to turn to a new page in our lives yet to be written. To unroll and evolve in all aspects of our lives.

What needs to be "unrolled," today? What facets of your life could use more intentional preparation to continuously evolve?

As it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Maybe it's time to change up our activities and move into the next season?

Perhaps it's time to evolve into a deeper relationship with Jesus, "to unroll" and receive all His love He has to offer.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul tells us how to prepare for this, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

I'm not sure when Paul shared those instructions to the Corinthians, he had the word evolve on his mind, but he was offering a way for new life.

And it is only through thoughtful preparation and acknowledgement of wisdom from those God sends our way, that allows us to fully "unroll" ourselves and perpetually evolve into a new life. Proverbs 18:15 describes how to obtain and stay on this path of evolution, "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out."

DADs, let us be discerning today, seeking out knowledge allowing us to unroll and evolve!

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Evolve” Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare to “bless.”

Week 41 - #Prepare “Respond”

"A Glimpse of Jesus"

Proverbs 15:1 - “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Ephesians 4:31 - “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

Acts 4:30 - “While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

There is little doubt, many of you reading this have heard the quote made famous by Chuck Swindoll, “life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react.”

As a former football coach I remember using this statement to my players often.

It is through our adversities and struggles of life that we find ourselves with a decision. Stephen Covey taught that between a stimulus and a response we have a "window of choice."

How well do you respond to coaching? Are you coachable?

My dad always said there are two secrets to success, number one, that you’re willing and number two, you’re coachable.

One of my professors once said, to become an effective leader you must be able to "adapt and adjust" to the circumstances coming your way.

Another one of my mentors added, in especially difficult times, your response as a leader should reflect "abundance thinking versus one of scarcity."

How we respond is directly related to our preparation. And our preparation will be influenced by "whom" we are looking to.

The Apostle Paul who spent much of his life in and out of prison, balanced his responses in his second half of life, because of his faith in God. Even in the midst of chaos and struggle, Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31, to “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

In our time when the world has become less inclusive, and every individual is fighting for a cause, with little listening, there is an urgency for us to prepare to respond. And to respond without the need to be the one who is always right.

In Proverbs 15:1, we are reminded, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

When was the last time your response to a passionate topic might have been served up better with a “softer” answer?

We can still find ways to communicate our ideas, without diminishing other’s legitimacy.

Just being the loudest noise in the room doesn’t make us right. If we can find ways to extend a little, allowing ourselves to go into a dilemma within our own premises, we might just acknowledge a whole new meaning our pride otherwise wouldn’t let us see.

Paul stated in Acts 4:30, “While you stretch out your hand to heal, signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Have you prepared to respond to heal or to hurt?

Maybe if we allow others to see a glimpse of Jesus in our responses, our world just might be a kinder and gentler place.

DADs, how do we respond today?

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Respond.” Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare to “Evolve.”

Week 41 - #Prepare “Renew”

"Don't Delay, Renew Today"

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." - Psalm 51:10-12

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” - Ephesians 4:22-24

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:31

Renew: to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor

No doubt my favorite season of the year for many reasons is fall.

The changing of the weather, the changing of the leaves on the trees, and the beginning of the holiday season. And of course I cannot forget to mention the pageantry and passion of college football!

Fall has it all.

Fall provides both a window for reflection of what has been discovered in weeks prior, along with a time to prepare for what is still yet to come, and renewal.

In this annual final quarter of the year, fall offers opportunities to renew my thoughts, my actions, and my relationships.

To “restore to freshness.”

Many might equate renewal as a “coming out of winter, and launching into spring.” True for many, but for me the preparation and foundation to renew starts right now…today and everyday, but especially in fall.

I say, why wait till New Years Day to renew.

In Christ no matter the season, if we truly prepare our hearts, we will experience a “restored freshness.” As part of our preparation, all we have to do is call out to our heavenly Father, saying, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” - Psalm 51:10-12

In this final 12 weeks of 2022, what needs to be made new with you?

What needs renewal today?

Maybe you need to renew a commitment; a focus; a direction? To renew a routine. To add some more vigor?

Wherever the preparation for renewing is calling you…do not wait or waiver. Heed the encouragement found in Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

DADs…lets not put off tomorrow what we can do today, putting on the new self, and suiting up without delay!

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Relent.” Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare to “Respond."

Week 40 - #Prepare “Relent”

“Our Resolve to Dissolve"

Malachi 3:6: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

Philippians 4:11: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

I have to admit to my faithful readers, I am not only struggling in my writing this week, I am struggling with this idea of preparing to relent as well.

Although we've had 39 weeks of preparation, I apparently am finding relenting is not my forte?

Reading through the many definitions of what it means to “relent,” my favorite one I found is to “dissolve.”

OK so let’s count the many ways that I need to practice my “dissolving" skills enabling my relenting.

Or maybe we just tackle one for now?

How about fear? Let’s consider the ways to dissolve those things causing fear.

I heard the famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once say that fear actually stands for “false evidence appearing real.” I love this (of course because it is an acronym) but more importantly because it’s so true.

So if true, why do we allow it to often hold us hostage?

Maybe it’s because it’s the way that we view things allowing our current circumstances to cloud our perspectives?

Dale Carnegie was once quoted as saying “two men looked out from prison bars, one saw the mud, the other saw the stars.”

So is it possible to be content and relent in all circumstances? Even in the midst of our fears? Paul shared in Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

So perhaps, part of our preparation this week, points towards our first learning to be content, while gaining personal peace, allowing us to “dissolve” and relent to our fears? And by this relenting we eliminate its power over us.

DADs, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that our God, the great choreographer of all things, inspired the writing and exhortation of "do not be afraid,” to be written 365 times in the Bible. A timely reminder for each of us every single day of the year!

So what is it that you need to relent today?

What needs dissolved in your world?

I end this week with this scripture found in Malachi 3:6: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

The enemy of relent is to be consumed. To be consumed by fear or boundless other external events or circumstances blocking our preparedness in this endeavor.

Let us acknowledge Gods never changing and steadfast love for us. A love so strong pulling us to Him, allowing us to dissolve and relent all fears standing in our way.

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to “Relent.” Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare to“Renew."