Feeling hurt? . . . disrespected?

 

He must become greater!

He must become greater; I must become less.(John 3:30)

John the Baptist knew his role. He was to prepare the people for Jesus and then back away. That is exactly what he did. Oh, if I and others could just learn that.

What is my role for the Kingdom?

When do I lead and when do I play the background?

When do I speak and when do I sit quiet and listen?

Help me to know the difference Lord. Help me to live out Your will for me so You can receive glory!

You must be the focus! You must become greater in my life!

not me and my agenda

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

Day after day, if the believer is to really serve God and impact the world for Him, this has to happen. We have to think less about what I can do and what I can achieve and more about what I can do for Christ and what Christ can do through me. The focus must be upon Him and His Kingdom work and not me and my agenda.

Why did He put us upon this earth anyway? Do we ever really think about that? Is it really about the job, the title, the money, the scholarship, the degree, the retirement account? Boy, do we have to change our mindset. 

It starts with today! It begins with me. Think about our lives . . . . why does God put us in position to obtain a scholarship . . . get a career . . . earn money . . . be able to travel? All He gives us are opportunities to serve Him and His agenda here on earth . . . not me and my agenda! 

Starting today . . . He must increase and I must decrease!

Honor?

 Honor? Honor what? Honor Whom?

Today is an honor roll assembly where I teach. Many will walk away with a certificate, incentives and more. Some will wonder why they did not receive an award. Still others will believe they deserved better. Most will receive congratulations and smile and beam believing it was on their efforts and the efforts of those who support them. 

Few will sincerely honor God! What a shame . . . 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

Congratulations to all students out there who have achieved high honors so far this year. Keep pressing toward your goals and God's goals for you. Be sure to honor those who have been there long the way . . .and especially honor the Lord!

Not about me . . .

It is not about me, but others! Let's admit it, we live in a selfish and sinful world. Life is all about my goals, my plans, my job, my career, my life. Really? Is that was we learn from scriptures?

While Jesus was dying from our sins, He stopped with some of His last breaths to be sure to care for His mother. In fact, all He went through was not for Himself, but for you and me! What a lesson to learn this Lent . . .

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)

No matter our situation, there is always someone in more need than you or me. Just look around: 

• Who is hurting?
• Who is hungry?
• Who just lost a job?
• Who just lost a big game?
• Who just got turned down for a college offer?
• Who around us in more stressed than you or me?

Maybe we can hear Jesus saying: "Hey . . . behold the person near you. Care for them today!"

that they (we) may be one . . . . team

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:9-13)

Let's play name the best player . . . .

Brady, Lebron, Ohtani ? ? ?

Now, championship teams ? ? ?

Differences . . .? Well maybe one exception!

Many players are great and have great numbers, yet not al the best players are always on winning teams!

Most know I am a Baltimore fanatic . . . for my team and my city! I grew up with championship teams in the 70's and 80's (Orioles, Colts, and Bullets . . . yes the Colts and Bullets!) and even into the present with the Ravens and finally the Orioles. The key to all these winning teams is the word team!




Every player on a team has his or her unique talents. Some may be great defensively. Another may be the offensive star. Yet another may be the specialist . . . used for one specific task such as a pinch hit or a three pointer. Don't forget the field goal kicker!




The same is so for every team in and out of sports. As I share with my fellow school team this morning, the Lord is telling us to be a team . . . His team! We have a unique opportunity this year year to really win . . . win the souls of our students and their families! Yes, even the families.

We all have our specific talents and gifts, yet we all are just as important as the other. If one fails, we must pick the other up, much like the next batter in a baseball game or the sub for an injured football player.



We have our managers and coaches (Chancellor, School Board, and Principals), yet they also need the players (teachers, admin staff, maintenance) to play to the best of our abilities. We do not compete against one another, but for the team!




Great teams know how to win. Each player does his or her thing for the team. If accolades come, they are deflected to the team. They play one day (game) at a time and play with a next man up mentality. The locker room is a family.




This is what God wants from us here at RBS . . . from K-level through 12th grade . . . from the front office to the gym to the parking lot . . . know your role and do it each and every day . . . for the team . . . His team!




Our goal? That we may be one . . . and that we may have His joy fulfilled in us here at RBS! We want what God wants and that is for Him to be glorified and souls brought closer to Christ. Grades are important. Lesson plans are vital. Games are played to win. Yet souls are eternal!

The game is on and we have already won . . . let's play ball . . . uhh school!

It is all in the past...now it is HIStory!

The past is the past . . . heard that before, huh? Well, it is true. Despite how memorable or forgettable our pasts are, truth is, it is all in the past! So what do we do with the memories . . . the failures . . . the triumphs . . . the mis-steps?

Well. the past may not define us, but it tells our story. As we look back, we can see how much of it is my story and how much is God's story . . . HIS-story. I blew through 30-40 years of life as a sports fanatic. I played just about every sport I could from five years old and up . . . through little league, high school, college, and church league basketball and softball. My successes in sports covered up my failures in life. 

Along the way Jesus tapped me on my heart and told me there was more . . . way more! Yes, I still love sports, but I now realize my life is in Him and not me. I am living HIS-tory now!

What about you?

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)