DADs,

Waking up early and testing positive the Sunday before Thanksgiving does not present the most hopeful view of my current world.

Especially when thanksgiving, which is my favorite day of the year and usually filled with family, friends, food and football, takes a slight detour. 

A literal time out in the game!

This unscheduled “pause” however reminded me of the scripture found in Matthew 6:10: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Maybe the pauses in our lives, either caused by our self or outside variables, are possible opportunities to reflect upon all the things that we already have and not just for the things we desire to experience?

DADs, not every holiday can be the perfect view of looking in the window and seeing family members around the table, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. That’s just another hallmark movie or holiday marketing. 

But many times it’s just looking at your wife who’s also tested positive for Covid and instead of having a household of people, you realize how greatly blessed at that moment you are to have each other for another day!

DADs, “pauses” like this in our lives that are unplanned and not on our calendar, happen because we are called to re-focus on what matters most. Time with our are precious children and just being present. Like being the DAD! 

On days like this, when Thanksgiving turns out, not exactly the way you planned, know that God can use every circumstance if we choose to see through different lenses of the struggle.

HOPE is this Dads… 

no matter our circumstances…no matter our situation…God is in control.

And, like the hymn of promise, reminds us 

“In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

- The Hymn of Promise

Happy Thanksgiving my brothers! It’s a great Day to be alive!

Today is game day and so is every day God’s gives us, so come on dad’s get off the bench and get in the game. SUIT UP!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

Recently I heard a motivational speaker ask the question; “What do you do with your 24?”

The speaker was referring to the number of hours each of us have every day.

I thought to myself, what a simple but powerful question.

If I take inventory of just the past week, it is easy to see that I have wasted a lot of the time God has given me. Often times taking each day for granted.

In one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 118:24, David teaches, “This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” 

Way too often as men and DADs we forge forward to the future without being present today. If we are truly going to maximize our brief time here on earth, then we must consider every 24 God gives us!

One of the ways we can honor our 24 is to love our family by NOT over scheduling our calendar with stuff, leading us to miss opportunities to fully live and be the man God has called us to be. 

Hebrews 3:13 - But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

DADs, let’s start each day remembering those God has placed into our lives, to be their cheerleader, and to practice our compassion each day.

Today…do NOT simply count days…Today...make your 24 count!

Suiting Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

There is nothing like the rush of finishing a race and cooling down after a great run. Maybe I like cooling down because it means that I am done with my workout. I think more than anything else it represents accomplishment.

When I am in the cooling down phase of a run or work out, I find myself reflecting on the work out itself. It never fails, the harder the workout, the better the feeling!

What I have found is that the feeling of accomplishment carries over into other parts of my life. Physically working out helps me see the blessings of each day.

Even beyond a physical work out is the importance of spiritual fitness. Reaching the cooling down phase with God usually means that you have just experienced a mountain top or life changing experience. Cooling down in the spiritual sense is the time to bow down and give thanks to God for the blessings of the day.

Romans 14:1: For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.

When was the last time you found time to cool down and give praises to God?

DADs, make time to "cool down” daily, giving thanks for the countless blessings you have already received and for all the plans God has in store for you in 2024!

Suiting Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

The first thing I learned during the first 5K race I ever ran was that the adrenaline would kick in at the start of the race!

I found myself getting caught up in the others pace. Instead of trusting the pace that I had practiced for weeks during my work outs. This adrenaline spike quickly wore off and I found myself highly fatigued and losing ground.

Amazingly, as I got back on my pace, I slowly but surely passed many of those that had sprinted past me at the start.

In our walk with God, it is the same. To be in flow with God’s pace is so important and God’s pace is different for each of us. 

With God it is not a sprint, but a marathon.

1 Corinthians 9:24; Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

What is important to God is not how we start the race. or even how fast our pace is. but that we are always moving forward. His desire is that we actually finish the race that counts!    

DADs, During this upcoming holiday season, be sure to pace yourself. Take opportunities to remember to “run in such a way as to get the prize."

Suiting Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer