Earlier today during our devotional, Coach Steve shared a message about what it means to be a good man.
Many years ago one of the most popular television shows in America was Gunsmoke. One of the reasons people loved that show was the character Marshal Matt Dillon. He was known as a man you could always count on. A good man. A steady man. The kind of man people trusted when things got difficult.
And that raises an important question. What makes a good man? The boys did not hesitate when Coach Steve asked them who the good men in their lives are. Almost all of them answered the same way.
My dad.
Then he asked a second question. What makes a good man great? Their answers were thoughtful and honest.
Sacrifice.
Telling the truth even when it is hard to hear.
Leading by example.
Then he asked the harder question. What causes a man to fall short? Again their answers were honest.
Selfishness.
Lack of discipline.
Pride.
Hypocrisy.
From there the conversation turned to something every one of us eventually faces. Difficult people.
Sometimes we have reasons we struggle with someone. Sometimes we do not. But difficult people will always be part of life. The real question is how we respond.
Coach Steve shared a story about a time he was struggling with someone in his own life. His wife gave him advice he did not necessarily want to hear. She told him to pray for that person. At first he resisted. But eventually he did what she suggested. And what God revealed surprised him. The issue was not the other person. It was him. His perspective. His heart. His willingness to reflect God’s love.
He said the best way to deal with difficult people is often to pray and ask God to reveal what the real issue is. Many times the first thing God changes is us.
The challenge to the boys was simple. Be good men. Be men who love God. Be men who seek wisdom when facing difficult situations, just like Daniel did when he found himself in Babylon.
Daniel was placed in a culture that did not follow God. He was surrounded by difficult circumstances and powerful people. Yet he responded with faith, wisdom, and prayer. When he faced an impossible situation, he called his friends together and they prayed. When things get difficult, you seek God.
As much as I love a good heartfelt, Spirit led blog moment, I will be honest about something else. I am also extremely competitive. This will not surprise anyone who has ever sat anywhere near me during a basketball or baseball game. 🤣😜 I wanted the boys to win so badly today. I wanted the Disney ending. The triumphant comeback. Arms in the air. Spiritual victory and scoreboard victory wrapped together.
But on the flight tonight I started going through some of the videos I took during the game. As I watched them, I started to realize something. Maybe we saw something even better.
Will was hit by a pitch and broke his nose. Immediately his teammates surrounded him. Ty quickly came to the fence to give me an update so I could pass it along to his parents. Moments later Brock stepped into the box and had his brother’s back by launching a bomb that gave us the lead.
Injuries have left us short this week. Players who just a few nights ago talked about accepting their roles and being ready whenever their opportunity came suddenly found themselves in big moments.
Erik, a senior who does not always get many opportunities to play, was called on to pinch run for Parker. He came around third, slid hard under the tag at home, and scored a critical run. And when he stood up, he was smiling and cheering. If you were writing a Disney sports movie, that scene would absolutely make the final cut!!! ❤️
Maybe the scoreboard did not give us the ending we hoped for today. But the moments I saw, teammates supporting each other, stepping up for each other, celebrating each other, those moments say a lot about who these young men are becoming.
Tonight as I was thinking about your boys, praying for them, and listening to worship music, a song came on that perfectly captured what was on my heart.
Katy Nichole’s song "In Jesus Name." Here are the words that were playing as I was thinking about this team tonight.
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name 'cause it's all that I can do
In desperation, I'll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name, in Jesus name
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He's the God of possible
The song goes on to say this
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible! And all I can say to that is Amen!
Many years ago one of the most popular television shows in America was Gunsmoke. One of the reasons people loved that show was the character Marshal Matt Dillon. He was known as a man you could always count on. A good man. A steady man. The kind of man people trusted when things got difficult.
And that raises an important question. What makes a good man? The boys did not hesitate when Coach Steve asked them who the good men in their lives are. Almost all of them answered the same way.
My dad.
Then he asked a second question. What makes a good man great? Their answers were thoughtful and honest.
Sacrifice.
Telling the truth even when it is hard to hear.
Leading by example.
Then he asked the harder question. What causes a man to fall short? Again their answers were honest.
Selfishness.
Lack of discipline.
Pride.
Hypocrisy.
From there the conversation turned to something every one of us eventually faces. Difficult people.
Sometimes we have reasons we struggle with someone. Sometimes we do not. But difficult people will always be part of life. The real question is how we respond.
Coach Steve shared a story about a time he was struggling with someone in his own life. His wife gave him advice he did not necessarily want to hear. She told him to pray for that person. At first he resisted. But eventually he did what she suggested. And what God revealed surprised him. The issue was not the other person. It was him. His perspective. His heart. His willingness to reflect God’s love.
He said the best way to deal with difficult people is often to pray and ask God to reveal what the real issue is. Many times the first thing God changes is us.
The challenge to the boys was simple. Be good men. Be men who love God. Be men who seek wisdom when facing difficult situations, just like Daniel did when he found himself in Babylon.
Daniel was placed in a culture that did not follow God. He was surrounded by difficult circumstances and powerful people. Yet he responded with faith, wisdom, and prayer. When he faced an impossible situation, he called his friends together and they prayed. When things get difficult, you seek God.
As much as I love a good heartfelt, Spirit led blog moment, I will be honest about something else. I am also extremely competitive. This will not surprise anyone who has ever sat anywhere near me during a basketball or baseball game. 🤣😜 I wanted the boys to win so badly today. I wanted the Disney ending. The triumphant comeback. Arms in the air. Spiritual victory and scoreboard victory wrapped together.
But on the flight tonight I started going through some of the videos I took during the game. As I watched them, I started to realize something. Maybe we saw something even better.
Will was hit by a pitch and broke his nose. Immediately his teammates surrounded him. Ty quickly came to the fence to give me an update so I could pass it along to his parents. Moments later Brock stepped into the box and had his brother’s back by launching a bomb that gave us the lead.
Injuries have left us short this week. Players who just a few nights ago talked about accepting their roles and being ready whenever their opportunity came suddenly found themselves in big moments.
Erik, a senior who does not always get many opportunities to play, was called on to pinch run for Parker. He came around third, slid hard under the tag at home, and scored a critical run. And when he stood up, he was smiling and cheering. If you were writing a Disney sports movie, that scene would absolutely make the final cut!!! ❤️
Maybe the scoreboard did not give us the ending we hoped for today. But the moments I saw, teammates supporting each other, stepping up for each other, celebrating each other, those moments say a lot about who these young men are becoming.
Tonight as I was thinking about your boys, praying for them, and listening to worship music, a song came on that perfectly captured what was on my heart.
Katy Nichole’s song "In Jesus Name." Here are the words that were playing as I was thinking about this team tonight.
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name 'cause it's all that I can do
In desperation, I'll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name, in Jesus name
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He's the God of possible
The song goes on to say this
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible! And all I can say to that is Amen!