Merry Christmas DAD!
As the madness of unwrapping and eating and family calms down, consider this:
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…but 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…and 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…and 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…as you find yourself between Christmas day and a New Year…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 2019!
 
DADs…“get in the game”
Today is game day…
and so is every day…
God gives you! So…
C’mon men…Suit Up! 

DADs…the one thing I quickly learned the first 5K race I ever ran was that the adrenaline would kick in at the start of the race and as the runners all first took off...
 
I would find myself getting caught up in the others pace. Instead of trusting the pace that I had practiced for weeks during my work outs.
 
The funny thing that happened was that as I got back on my pace…I slowly but surely passed many of those that had sprinted past me at the start.
 
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…and that we actually finish the race that counts!    
DADs…this Christmas season sure to pace yourself…and remember to  "Run in such a way as to get the prize."
 
DADs…“get in the game”…
Today is game day…and so is every day…
God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

I want to remind you today that you are a masterpiece and you have immeasurable worth! Maybe, you don't feel that way today. I hope if you don't that will change after reading.

Dads you need affirmation!
Definition of AFFIRM - 1a: validate, confirm, to approve!

I want to share three affirmations with every DAD today. God placed these in my heart to first speak them as I was writing my graduation speech for the class of 2013…There was a time that I shared these affirmations every single day… 

Gentlemen…here is a secret about ladies… Women need to be affirmed that they…are precious…beautiful… and honored. I am still working on doing a better job with that after 37 years of marriage.
Men we need affirmation too. We need to know that we are good enough…that we have what it takes…that we are essential!
DADS need affirmation.

Acknowledge the people today that cross your path and offer a high five in the air and remind them they are a Masterpiece! 

Maybe it’s been awhile since you have been AFFIRMED. Today you will be.

Affirmation #1: You are valuable- No one is like you. He made you precious and unique when your life challenges you to give more effort than you think is possible, in the storms, in the darkness, in the quietness and in the loneliness.

When you question your self-worth remember that you are PRICELESS, you are VALUABLE, because you are a child of God.

Luke 12:6-7 - "6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Ephesians 1:5-6 - "He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us within the Beloved".

 WE ARE FAVORED!

“Favored” - regarded or treated with preference or partiality: 2.enjoying special advantages; privileged:

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was in 4th grade at recess playing kickball and I was the last one picked! I still remember that feeling. Why? Something changed in 5th grade, I moved to Texas. I was the new kid but something changed! I got faster. I became the favorite. I WAS NEVER PICKED LAST! 
16 years ago, when we first moved to Magnolia it was all new, new jobs, new schools, long drive every day. I was at the high school, Kay worked at the junior high, two schedules, two cars, daughter with me, son with wife. My wife came home one day and said she saw my son eating at the table at lunch by himself! It broke my heart and it breaks my heart every time I see kids alone even today.
Here is the Good news. You are in! You are always on Gods team, never the last one picked, always in His starting line up, always measure up, always fast enough, always smart enough, precious and beautiful. You are always invited to His table! DADS you will NEVER EAT ALONE!

God knows every hair on your head and he knew you before you were even born. You are valuable!

Affirmation #2 - You are complete - You are not lacking anything. You are good enough and you have what it takes. So many times, over my 34 years in education I have had students in my office that feel like they have been discarded, discounted, and unworthy of success or recognition because they do not see their completeness. 
Three years ago, a college football player went missing. Six foot eight, 280 pounds of fun-loving young man. Everybody loved him, but because of his feeling of being inadequate he took his own life. His body was found in a dumpster. It was later discovered he text his mom at 1 AM saying, "I am sorry that I am such an embarrassment."

Definition of complete…*HAVING ALL THE NECESSARY PARTS; NOT LACKING ANYTHING; NOT LIMITED IN ANY WAY! 

Genesis 1:31 "And God, saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." 

Colossians 2:10 "...and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

We often measure our completeness by what the world tells us is complete, a new car, new job, new wife, new family, many friends and popularity. God has a plan. He has given you what you need. The world will tell you something else but you were designed by Him. My passion as a coach, teacher, principal, men’s minister, and now the founder of Suit Up Ministries has been to help others maximize their completeness. Your job is to simply accept your completeness in Christ and to utilize it! To maximize it.
WE WILL NEVER MEASURE UP TO THE WORLDS STANDARDS!

You are NOT an embarrassment…You are valuable...you are complete…

Affirmation #3- You are loved!

Romans 8:35-39 - "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? In all these things, we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." 

I love football. In football, the ball does not always bounce the right way. In life it’s the same way. No matter how the ball bounces, God loves you. He created you and He loves you! I hope you have heard these words;  "I love you". I hope you have shared those words with others. Speak those words into other’s lives. Live those words into other’s lives with your actions. You are NOT an embarrassment. 

You are valuable...you are complete...you are loved...

Live today with confidence, knowing that God loves you and He paid the ultimate price for you and for me. My challenge today to you is when you write your notes to your loved ones tell them how precious they are. Let’s change lives starting today.

Let’s prepare our hearts STARTING TODAY!

DADS...You are a masterpiece and you have unlimited immeasurable worth. 
You matter and your wife and your children need you!
To God be the glory.
Suiting Up,
Jeff Springer

Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:26 , “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.”

Paul commands the Corinthians to consider or contemplate their calling.  The word “calling” refers to their position in the world when they first believed in Christ.  This issue of calling is important to Paul. He believes that in order to become a Christian you must respond to God’s call.
Likewise, if you are a Christian today, it is because you have answered God’s call.

DADS, have you forgotten your calling? Memory can be a blessing or a curse. In our spiritual life, it can be very healthy to remember what life was like before we met Jesus. If you remember where you started, you’ll appreciate much more the grace God that has offered you to where you are today.
 
Do you remember where you came from?
 Do you recall what you were doing when God saved you from yourself? 
 
A preacher I listened to recently told a story about how he met with an 8-year-old boy in his congregation to talk to him about his baptism. He asked him how he became a Christian. He told him that God called him. He said, “Excuse me?” The preacher was used to hearing a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them. As he probed further it became clear that, like Samuel, this little 8-year-old boy heard the Lord calling him. Because of God’s call, this young boy believed in the One who was calling him.
This is exactly what God does. He calls men, women, and children to Himself.

DADS…God is calling you to be the DAD! A DAD for the Lord!

How do we “practice” this calling?
In Ephesians 4:2 we receive great instructions...
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

DADS are His representatives, to be the light here on earth
How do we demonstrate this calling? Practice this calling? 

What is the natural outcry or fruit of the spirit? Service.
Our acts of service that are within the calling are those things that unite us.
Our acts of service that are within the calling allow us to see the different gifts we each bring to the table to further His Kingdom.
What often gets in the way of acknowledging other’s gifts and keeps us from service is the “danger of the single story.” The single story creates stereotypes, preconceived ideas based on our premise.
 
Paul continues in Ephesians 4:3-4 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." 
Paul again was being proactive. He is saying…these are the things that we must do as Christians so that we remain united in this body.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;"

DADS heeding this calling can be evident in your “Daily-Active-Devotion” to your kids and family.

I Corinthians 15:58 - NIV
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."