Be Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving! All around the world today, people are celebrating and gathering with their families and loved ones. One tradition my family does every Thanksgiving is after we pray, we go around the room and say what we are thankful for. Normally, I will say I’m thankful for my family or health, something really general. But over this past year, one thing I am truly thankful for that goes overlooked is God’s grace that is given each day. Many times we take no notice of how we survive and get through each day and are blessed with every little thing we receive specifically for that day. 

Not everyone is as fortunate to share a memorable and pleasant Thanksgiving that is portrayed throughout the media and what we see in some people’s lives. When I was in college, one thing my coaches made a staple of was us serving the less fortunate around this time of the year. It humbled us, gave us the opportunity to help someone else in need, but also let us see different types of reality based on whose eyes it’s coming from. Big meals, sharing laughs and enjoying the company of people you care about are some of the best parts of Thanksgiving but for some people it is just another day here on earth. 

I think about my playing career now that I have played at all levels, and often I tell myself that one factor can change so many things down the line. I have seen many players become successful based on just a short amount of time of dedicating themselves or focusing. Also, I have seen many scenarios where players did not become as successful as projected just by doing the opposite or making just one bad choice to take away those chances of being successful. This also is true in our everyday lives. One choice or decision we make can have a positive or negative impact on our future. All it takes is one choice. The good thing that comes from this is, God gives you the opportunity to change whatever situation or scenario you're in around. If you know me, I love a good comeback story, but what people often miss is the route or help that caused that comeback to take place. 

So as we go on about our Thanksgiving, I encourage you to either be the light in someone else’s life that might need that comeback story or make the decision to get back on the right path to make your comeback a possibility for God to handle! 

“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”

 - 1 Corinthians 1:4

Look Up, Not Out

 When you are face to face with your circumstance, you have a couple options: run from the truth and find excuses, or make a divine change of direction. Overall in life, everyone faces something. Rather it be financial issues, loneliness, relationship problems or even addictions, there is always something to complain about that isn’t going our way. God allows trials we don't control and consequences to sinful behaviors to teach us a lesson. Biggest truth that we must first understand is that we are not perfect. So, there will always be something that happens to us or that we cause because of that. 

Not too long ago my friends and I did a bible study lesson on encouragement. How to stay encouraged through issues we face and how to encourage someone else through their problems. My biggest takeaways were:

• Do what’s right without wanting a reward. Your reward is your relationship with Christ.

• Stay rooted and grounded in God’s word so you know exactly how to handle issues when they arise. 

• Be someone else's support system even when they aren't asking for it. 

• Have a community/ group of people or friends you can talk to openly about problems. 

• Give effort and intentionally make time to be present with Christ. 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matthew 6:33

When I think about the playbook (bible) that Christ has laid out for us, it makes me think about my sports career. I played for a number of coaches, basketball and football and what they all had in common was how set they were on following that playbook. They spent countless hours developing it, tweaking it, adjusting it to fit their team’s personnel and teams we played against. I can honestly say, the most successful teams I've been on and the teams where I had the most fun, we followed the coaches playbook. No, every play didn't work out perfectly. And no, we didn't win every game. But we stayed true to the plan because we trusted not only the playbook, but the coach that created it. 

When we face tough times in our life, God is telling us to trust and follow His playbook (His word), So, I encourage you today to look up and follow what God is saying on how to handle whatever issue that needs handled in your life and do not look out in the world and into your own understanding to find the answer. God is the perfect coach, so if we are willing to trust human coaches, bosses, and teachers then we should surely put Christ in the head of our lives.