Thanks be to God

Well, Thanksgiving is over and I have a lot in which to be thankful.

First and foremost, I'm thankful for God who sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins so that I could have life everlasting with Him.

I'm thankful for my beautiful and loving wife who God sent to me.  She is so amazing is so many ways, from her beauty and grace and trust in the Lord to the way she serves as a caring mom to our four children.  I thank her from the bottom of my heart for allowing me time for this journey.

I'm thankful for Coach Parsons, who back in early 2011 had the courage to follow God on this ministry.  There have been bumps in the road, the devil trying to trip us up, but we stayed the course.

This football team has come a long way.  In a few months, this season will be reduced to wins and losses.  This year wasn't decided by wins and losses, it was decided and measured by God.  I handed out 10 Bibles to young men who yearned to know God better.  The Bible studies we had at lunchtime averaged between 20 and 30 young men.  The Gospel message was preached to at least half of the football team.

Through all of this, I have found that my walk and desire to know the Lord has increased.  I have been blessed in so many ways.  I have seen God move in the hearts of these young men and I have seen them change.  Because of this, these young men have a special place in my heart and I will miss spending time with them hanging out and talking about God.

Do me a favor and please pray for this ministry.  Pray that it continues, so more and more young footballers can know the greatness of the King.

Until next year.

Fred (or as the fellas call me, Mr. Mac)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" Psalm 107:1

  

a little less talk

Wow.  Last Friday's game goes down as one of the best high school football games I have ever seen.  Clovis West on the road taking down the undefeated Clovis Cougars in a four quarter thriller.


But first, let's rewind to Thursday's Bible study.  The topic was based on a verse from 1 Corinthians.


"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" - 1 Cor 4:20


In Scripture, we find that when Jesus talked about something, action soon followed.  Jesus was a man of action.  When Jesus would announce he was going to do something, He would always follow through.  As followers of Christ, we should emulate this principle.


We have to be men who say and do.  If we say we are going to play with integrity, then we play with integrity.  We don't just give lip service so we can make sure we are saying all the right things.  We have to mean what we say.


So if we say we are going to give 100% in the game...
So if we say we are going to lift each other up...


We also talked about Proverbs 27:17 where it says as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  The football team needs to do that for each other.  The correlation between iron sharpening iron and football is huge.  When iron is forged, there is a great deal of pounding and hitting.  You get the idea.


So are actions should follow our words.  Zechariah 4:6 says "Not by might or by power but by the Spirit..."  It isn't by our might or strength or power but by the awesome power of God that we accomplish great things.  We must put His power behind our talk.


Fast forward to Friday night and we are gathered together in the Clovis High cafeteria for the team prayer.  I remind the team about what we talked about in the Bible study, about how God comes in power, and about how we need to strengthen each other, like iron sharpens iron.


Game time.  During the game, I was reminded from more than a couple of players that God was being glorified through their playing.  They were presenting an offering of their God given abilities through football.


In the end, God was Glorified.


"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10 

Chariots of Fire

It simply amazes me the way that God moves in the lives of His people.


Last week, all three football games were on Thursday because the varsity game was televised.  So this meant that our weekly Bible study would have to be held on Friday.


Earlier in the week, God reminded me of a movie I've seen many times.  It is Chariots of Fire.  The movie is a true story about Eric Liddell who was a Scottish Olympic track star and Chinese missionary.  It chronicles his life around the time he ran in the Olympics and won the gold medal in the 400m.  He was supposed to run in the 100m but the event was held on Sunday and he refused to run on the Sabbath.


There is a great quote from that movie that I shared with the guys before we prayed.  "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.  When I run I can feel God's pleasure."


God made you for a purpose.  Is that purpose to play football the rest of your lives?  Probably not.  He made you for His purpose.  


"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


Even though God made you for a primary purpose, he also made you to play football.  As crazy as it sounds, he made you to play football.  God isn't surprised or scared.  I explained if they went out and used their individual gift of football the way that God intended, He would be glorified.


And maybe they could feel His pleasure...


God delights in us.  Psalm 35:27 "God delights in the well-being of his servant" 


During the Bible study we also talked about the fact that there isn't anywhere you could go to be closer or further from God.  Likewise, there isn't anytime when God could love you any more or less.


What could be better than worshiping the creator of the universe with the talents He gave us and having Him be delighted.