PRACTICE right... what else does it take a lot of?
It takes a lot of reps...
It takes our all...
It takes 110%
It takes maximum effort & focus
It takes as much as we have to give...
In fact it is all about our "Muchness"
But we fight thru the pain to find gain...
we tag others to assist us in the journey
Payton & Nathan have been on a quest:
the accumulation of years, disciplined in the exercise,
gets them ready for game day, but more than that
it provides principles for life.
How do we handle criticism?
How do we handle praise?
How do we handle losing?
How do we handle winning?
God intends us to learn, observe, and exercise
our faith & pursue godliness with the same zeal
that we buffer our bodies,
and run after things of this world...
1 Timothy 4
...nourishing on the truths of the faith and on the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with old wives tales; rather, train yourselves to by godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially to those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Until I come devote yourselves to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them , because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Hebrews 12
... God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Showstoppers: Tori & Ani Campbell invite us to Fill in the Blanks ____________ Resolving to be a Jesus Follower in every circumstance, predicament, location, and friendship...
What are ways we may resolve to be the same
Christ Follower - regardless of my location & who I'm with?
How do I consistently be who I really am - IN CHRIST!
GOOD QUESTIONS...
may we be guided by these passages
Romans 11:33-36
“Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God – this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.
Is there anyone who can explain God?Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?Everything comes from him;Everything happens through him;Everything ends up in him.Always glory! Always praise!Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Romans 11:33-36 (The Message)
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Corinthians 10:31
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.”27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
When Confusion's my CompanionAnd Despair holds me for RansomI will feel no fearI know that You are near - King and Country
QNR returns to the FSMwired Bunker 2.0 From the Diary of Ruby Blake Come the Contemplations of Unanswered Questions Ugh?
Today I have been WRESTLING.
What do I want to do with God? Do I believe that He exists? Do I believe that I need Him? Do I believe that Jesus is God? Is He accessible to me? Would a “relationship with God” be in my mind, or will I FEEL it at all?
To what point do I—try to imagine God, talk to Him, TRY to believe / picture Him? What will HE do, and what is my job? How do I know that He has chosen / taken hold of / found me? If I “just trust God,” well, what do I do in the meantime? How many people really have a TRUE, RIGHT relationship with Jesus?
Whom do I address in the Trinity? Do I pray to the Holy Spirit sometimes, God the Father sometimes, and Jesus sometimes? Is Jesus the MAIN one?
How do I know that it is God talking to my heart—and when is it Satan? When is it just ME? Is it ever? How much do I do (e.g. resisting the devil, “having faith,” I don’t know—situations where I try to CONVINCE myself of something or change my mindset), and how much will the Spirit do?
What does Jesus do, and what does the Spirit do? What does God do? Or can I not make distinctions because they are One?
Should I FOCUS on learning the Bible? How important is academic study, in comparison? How much speculation about Truth is healthy, and when should we stop trying to figure it out? What do people do who don’t have the Bible—how do they grow in TRUTH?
I could go on. Questions—these are good to put on paper, to release from cluttering, rattling in my mind. I WANT TO BELIEVE IN JESUS. I want to pursue Truth. I don’t know how to believe it in my SOUL, without doubts in my MIND
Psalms 42 As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: How I would go with the throng and lead them in the procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, My salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, From Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of the waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long Where is your God?" Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
I look up to the mountains
Does my strength come from the mountains?
No, my strength comes from God
Who made heaven, and earth, and the mountains
When confusion's my companion
And despair holds me for ransom
I will feel no fear
I know that You are near
When I'm caught deep in the valley
With chaos for my company
I'll find my comfort here
‘Cause I know that You are near
My help comes from You
You're right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help comes from You
You are my rest, my rescue
I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
You mend what once was shattered
And You turn my tears to laughter
Your forgiveness is my fortress
Oh Your mercy is relentless
My help comes from You
You're right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help comes from You
You are my rest, my rescue
I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help is from You
Don't have to see it to believe it
My help is from you
Don't have to see it, ‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it's true
My help is from You
Don't have to see it to believe it
My help is from you
Don't have to see it, ‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it's true
My help comes from You
You're right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help comes from You
You are my rest, my rescue
I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help is from You
Don't have to see it to believe it
My help is from you
Don't have to see it, ‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it's true
🏚
