DEVO: Counting on God

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
-Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) 


My friend Sam is a promising, young basketball player. He has all the skills necessary in order to play varsity at his school, but recent injuries and other setbacks have gotten in the way of his hoop dreams. In fact, he just found out he has a stress fracture in his shin, which is news that, at 16, can be heartbreaking.  Even though Sam has an unbelievable support system at home, this setback has been incredibly difficult for him to handle.

In life, there aren’t many guarantees. We may have the best game of our life today and then have the worst tomorrow. The only thing we can do is obey our calling to be faithful and do our best for God’s glory.

But what happens when you don’t feel God in your life? You know He is there, but it sure doesn’t seem like it or feel like it. In the Proverbs verse above, we read that we can make our plans, but we don’t determine our steps. Who does? The Lord. But what if His way isn’t MY way? That is a big question in sports, especially when it comes to injuries. And, I wish I could give you all the answers, but I can’t. Everyone’s situation is different, and we aren’t all the same. The only thing we can count on is that we all are loved by the same faithful God who is always the same—today, tomorrow, and forever.

I’ve had my share of setbacks in life—from cancer, to problems with my heart and blood pressure. But one thing I have always been able to count on is God. We all are in a spiritual fight and taking part in a war not of this world. But like it says in one popular song, there is a light that is beautiful and we can have joy unspeakable that won’t go away—enough strength to make it today and the promise that we won’t have to worry what each day will bring. We can have a rock-solid faith.

Boy, does that sound good or what? How can we have this type of peace and faith? It starts by counting on God daily. No matter what life throws at us, we can count on God to determine our steps.

As for Sam, time will tell where his heart will go. These setbacks will either grow him or consume him. Our prayer is that Sam will be counting on God through the good times and the bad, and that when he looks back in years to come, he will know without a shadow of doubt that God was ALWAYS there. Just like He is for you and for me. 
 
1. What circumstances in your life are making you doubt God?
2. Have you had a major injury or setback that caused you pain and suffering? How did you feel about God during these times?
3. What did you learn about Him through that time? If you’re going through it right now, what have you learned so far, and what do you think He wants you to learn?
4. Pray today that you can find that unspeakable joy and that no matter what life throws your way you will count on God to help, comfort, and teach you how you should respond. 

Extra Verses 
Isaiah 55:8-9
Hebrews 13:8 

DEVO: Who's Running With You?

 

“…God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
-Hebrews 13:5b 

Last year, I volunteered at a 5K.  That basically meant that I stood at a certain place and made sure the runners went the right direction. The high school students had to make three laps, so I saw all of them three times.
One particular runner was fourth-from-last on the first lap. On the second lap, he was last, and I thought there was no way he would even finish. He was struggling to breathe with each step he took. On the final lap, as he approached me, a man from the sidelines joined him and completed the race with him. The man was definitely not dressed to run as he was in street clothes, yet he stayed with the runner to the end. Perhaps without the man running beside him, this runner might not have finished.
After the race was complete, I saw the man and asked if he was the coach. He said, “No, I am his father." As I reflected on his comments, I thought, "What a great example of what my heavenly Father does for me." When I am gasping for breath, struggling with each step, my Father is running with me to encourage me each step of the way.  

Questions: 

1. In life, do you ever feel like this runner?
2. Do you believe that God is with you at all times?
3. Do you have Christian brothers and sisters in your life who can encourage you in tough times? If so, how does that help you realize God’s presence in your life?
4. How can you encourage someone today who is struggling? 

Cool Verses:

Exodus 17:8-16
Psalm 86:15
1 Thessalonians 5:11

View from the Top

This summer I had an opportunity to go hiking with my friends. We spent some time driving through a national park, and at one point decided to take a break to get out and stretch our legs.
The park itself includes thousands of acres of desolate land with countless geographic features to hike and explore. We didn’t have a whole lot of time, but we decided to see the arch aptly named “Delicate Arch.” Because of our schedule, we set out to explore the arch from the more distant, lower view. From the parking lot to the viewing area was about a half a mile on an uphill, rocky, dusty trail. Mixed with the elevation and heat, it wasn't a simple walk to the overlook. You had to really want to see it.
Once we got to the top, I was able to spend a little time just standing in awe and worshiping our creative God before we made our descent. About a third of the way back down, I crossed paths with a family hiking up. I overheard a young boy complaining to his dad about being hot and tired and not wanting to go any farther. His dad asked if he wanted to go on or just sit there and wait until they came back down. “I don't want to go any farther. I'll just wait here,” he said.
“That's silly,” I thought. “You got out of the car, got a sneak peek, made it most of the way to the top, and now you want to stop before you've even seen the best part?”
Not even steps later I felt God speak to me. I turned around and looked up at where the boy was on the trail and his view of the arch. From the parking lot, a sneak peak of the arch was visible up a narrow canyon, but the best view was from the top. On the trail, though, the arch was hidden. He couldn't see it.
I think a similar thing happens to us often as Christians. We've given our lives to Christ. We've seen evidence of Him working in and around us. But as time goes on we put our heads down, and our view becomes obstructed. We sit down and don't want to go any farther.
As I thought about it, God assured me of something that He repeated many times in the Bible: He's still there and will always be there. Think about it. Regardless of whether or not the boy moved up or down on the trail, Delicate Arch wouldn't keep moving farther and farther away the closer he got to the top. And Jesus won't move farther away from us, either.
You wouldn’t sit down in a marathon at mile 20 because you couldn’t see the finish line, would you? And because you know the distance, you know there will be a finish line at mile 26.2. You know the line won’t keep moving farther away.
My prayer today is that, even in the times when our view becomes obstructed, we won't sit down. May we, instead, run to our Savior who is waiting for us. He’s not going anywhere, of that we can be sure. The very trail we've started on has been cleared by Him for us to see Him better if we just keep moving.

Checkout:

Deuteronomy 31:6
Proverbs 3:5-6
Philippians 1:6
Hebrews 12:1-3 

life

I'll tell you flat out
It hurts so much to think of this
So from my thoughts I will exclude
The very thing that
I hate more than everything is
The way I'm powerless
To dictate my own moods

I've thrown away
So many things that could've been much more
And I just pray
My problems go away if they're ignored
But that's not the way it works
No that's not the way it works

When I go down
I go down hard
And I take everything I've learned
And teach myself some disregard
When I go down
It hurts to hit the bottom
And of the things that got me there
I think, if only I had fought them

If and when I can
Clear myself of this clouded mind
I'll watch myself settle down
Into a place where
Peace can search me out and find
That I'm so ready to be found

I've thrown away
The hope I had in friendships
I've thrown away
So many things that could have been much more
I've thrown away
The secret to find an end to this
And I just pray
My problems go away if they're ignored
But that's not the way it works
No that's not the way it works

Any control I thought I had just slips right through my hands
While my ever-present conscience shakes its head and reprimands me
Reprimands me
Then and there
I confess
I'll blame all this on my selfishness
Yet You love me
And that consumes me
And I'll stand up again
And do so willingly

You give me hope, and hope it gives me life
You touch my heavy heart, and when You do You make it light
As I exhale I hear your voice
And I answer You, though I hardly make a noise
And from my lips the words I choose to say
Seem pathetic, but it's fallen man's praise
Because I love You
Oh God, I love You
And life is now worth living
If only because of You
And when they say that I'm dead and gone
It won't be further from the truth

When I go down
I lift my eyes to You
I won't look very far
Cause you'll be there
With open arms
To lift me up again
To lift me up again 

I'm a Part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit

Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has

been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow

down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,

and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight

walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,

mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or

popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,

regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by

patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my

way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,

or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the

presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the

pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of

mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed

up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a

disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,

preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My

colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the

power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

[so this is summer part deux]

its JULY 20th.....woah baby...this summer has been flying...so much has happened and just like I say each summer....this is the best summer I've ever had--lets hope this upward trend continues forever!

Aside from the fact I've been working at Mad Science and the UD Computing sites, which has been a real treat and doesn't feel like work at all, I took a week off to go to Kutztown with Meghan Morrow and Matt Brianik we worked at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sports Camp. Oh-Em-Gee is all I gotta say. I was given a group of baseball players to lead, which is a sport I know a LOT about but have absolutely NO skill in. I was petrified of whether my group of 11 high school baseball players would respect me as a leader because I all I could do was play volleyball--also I didn't know how I was going to lead and impact these guys when I was going through a lot of things back at home in Delaware... well God uses moments in which we are weak to showcase His masterwork! 

Over the course of the week I developed really close fellowship with my guys--we would spend all night talking about life, God's work in us, our struggles, our futures, our relationships....it was as if we knew each other so well. God was definitely working in each of their hearts, as only a handful came in knowing they "believed" in Christ, and about 3-4 more left the camp as "new believers". It was amazing seeing each guy seek and grow in their understanding of God, and then each finally let go of the chains of the past that bound them and to seek freedom in Christ. I had never been so moved, and put to tears over a group of teenagers in my life. Even more amazing was that each day, they served one another, broke bread with each other, and expressed LOVE with one other.... reminding me of Acts 2:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.....All the believers were together and had everything in common....They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-46 (NIV)

Even now that they are away from each other, they continue to seek fellowship with one another, sending one another messages of encouragement and of prayer, inspiration and accountability. Lets remind ourselves that these are 14-17 year old guys we're talking about!

About a week later a bunch of us met up at the beach and we went on an adventure of epic proportions and had the time of our lives! They have really been keeping up with me and I with them, and its amazing to see how much they're growing with God and on their own! Here is a video of our Epic Adventure. YOUTUBE

MORE TO COME!

[So this is summer]

So... Im graduated.... and what a ride that was! Interesting and the weeks before it were... interesting to say the least...definitely eye-opening and realized things I should've realized a long time ago, but better now than never I guess. Having this break is definitely well needed and glad its a change of scenery and a break from the norm from this crazy school year.

Since graduation, which has only been the last 2 weeks, Ive done quite a lot. Spent a couple of days at Spragg Lake in the Poconos with Bri, Kathleen, Lexi, Sean, Ryan, and Kelsey... one of the most relaxing things I've done in a while. Before that I was back and forth in Newark and Hackensack, with which I went to Six Flags with Jemar, Zandra, and James, just like old times(except not with Francis and Jeka :( 

I hung out with my homies from HS and got caught up... its weird how we're all graduated and moving on.. bitter sweet.

But now I've moved in to my new apartment and starting a new chapter in my life. Its beautiful to say the least and I've definitely been blessed with a cheap apartment! I've been hanging with a lot of friends and making dinners, and having movie nights and really enjoying life without school work or worries. 

One thing that God has blessed me with is giving me a number of meaningful accountable relationships with a bunch of close guy friends, something I've needed for a while now. People who can challenge me to keep the faith, and really seek God in my life, relationships, job, school, and living. These guys have come to me with their life issues, good or bad, and I've been able to share about mine in order that we can challenge each other to keep God in the forefront of our lives and not in the back burner as we sometimes fall in the habit of doing. A bunch of us are reading some good books and I love how we can all talk about it and share about what we've learned or how God has shown us something new and practical. I never really liked reading but having others read a long and learning more about God definitely makes me want to read. Currently reading Crazy Love and Wild at Heart, and its definitely been a rewarding read thus far.

So this is fellowship... I love it...