Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Excellence

Life of Excellence

by Gabriel Downey

“How we do anything is how we do everything.”- Buddy Benson

Buddy Benson was a football coach for a high school team in Oklahoma, and he always told his team this at the beginning if each season. This was to motivate them to do their very best in practice because the effort they put in at practice would reflect their performance in a game. However, Buddy did not mean “play perfectly” he meant “play excellently.”

Luke 16:10 says, “If you are faithful in the little things, you will be faithful in the large ones. But if you are dishonest in the little things, you won’t be honest in the greater responsibilities.” NLT

Buddy was not, however, just referring to football; he was using this life lesson to demonstrate that being excellent in the little things, like homework, will make you excellent in the big ones, such as your marriage or career. If you choose to cheat in homework, then think of how your marriage will turn out or how your job will reflect your choices. The more you cheat, the more it becomes a habit in your life. Like Buddy told his team, excellence is about giving your best in all that you do. Therefore you must make it a habit in your life to be excellent.

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” NLT

Excellence is based on God. God is One who is always at His best, doing His best, and offering His best.

Excellence requires a goal.

Philippians 3:14 “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” NLT

Excellence doesn’t mean “without mistakes,” Excellence isn’t perfect.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Think

This morning I got up and started thinking about how much God loves me. One way I did that is I thought of someone I love a whole lot and someone that hates me. Then I thought of how much God loves everyone including the people who despise him. God loves everyone ten million times more than we can even imagine.

Bible verse

Proverbs 16:3

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Alone

Ever felt alone, discouraged, or dry? We all have, but Jesus encourages us to preserve. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Paul says to be glad for there is great joy ahead, and trials test and purify us like fire purifies gold. He encourages us to stay strong through the trials, for we will be rewarded when Jesus Christ returns. I firmly believe that that time is nearing soon, we as disciples have to be fervent in our faith. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Paul urges us to stay alert and be on our guard. The enemy prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour but take heart, you are not alone. Believes all over are the world are fighting the same things as you, and so did Jesus and He encourages you to press on. In Hebrews 10: 34-35, here Paul says that he accepted his suffering with joy because he knew there were greater things for him that would last forever. He encourages us to have patient endurance so that we will be able to continue God’s will for our lives, and then we will receive the eternal life he has promised. Remember this; in Hebrews 12: 28-29 it says, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is UNSHAKEABLE let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy FEAR and AWE, for our God is a DEVOURING FIRE”. The Kingdom of God is at hand, will you take it our let it pass you by? I encourage you to read the book of Hebrews, it’s a great encouraging book, and if you’re up to it take on Revelation. Take heart and push in deep! Choose joy, run after God with desperate pursuit, and lead strong this week.

Much love - Danielle