The Hall

For every 2000 high school football players... only 44 of them will ever play in college.  Of those, less than 1 percent will ever make the roster of an NFL team.  The 1,696 players currently in the NFL are in a very elite group!  Out of all of veterans of the league... only 4 to 7 per year are inducted to the Hall of Fame.  Quite an impressive accomplishment!

When we visit Canton, Ohio...and the football hall of fame... it’s easy to walk past the statues and be awed.  But the Bible cautions us about having too much admiration for those the world considers great... 2 Corinthians 10 tells us to avoid comparing ourselves with others because it’s unwise.  Instead, we should remember that our value comes from God... and He made each of us on purpose and destined for greatness!  We may never make it in to a hall of fame... but our name is known by the Creator of the universe... we are valuable to Him.. and that’s what truly matters.

Already Famous

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”  Ephesians 1:4

Andy Roddick is a well-known name in the world of tennis...but it wasn’t always that way.  He started playing when he was three and a half years old.  As he got a little older, he never put down his racquet and played tennis in the garage for hours against imaginary opponents.  When he was seven, he was so certain of his future success, he gave his entire family autographed tennis balls for Christmas.  

Andy knew he’d make it in tennis... but so many think they “know” only to find themselves feeling unworthy and unsuccessful.  If that’s you today, I have good news... YOU are already a success where it matters.  In Ephesians 1, Paul tells us that even before He made the world... God loved us.  You are loved by God.  You are His child and He has a plan for your life.   No need to wonder if you’re important... you are.  You may never sign an autograph, but your name is written on God’s heart... and it’s for that reason that you should hold your head up and keep moving forward as the masterpiece you were created to be!

Signing Yearbooks

YOU MATTER

Matthew 25:40 “"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”

I recently read a story about a very unlikely hero…

“Steve Weidner, a custodian at Alan Shepard Elementary School in Bourbonnais, Illinois, said it made him feel great to see that each and every second grade student lined up near the playground in hopes to have him autograph their yearbooks. …

Last week, Weidner said he signed all 104 of the second graders' yearbooks after lunch -- in addition to 200 more from other classes. …”

Why did the custodian sign hundreds of yearbooks?  Why was Steve Weidner’s signature so high in demand around the school?  Was he a former TV star?  An athlete?  Friends with the ice cream man?   No.  Steve’s claim to fame didn’t come in the form you’d expect…

Steve was famous to the children because he cared.  When they hurt, he’d help them.  When they needed an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on, he was available.   He assisted with homework, cleaned up their messes, talked with parents, played games, and anything else you could think of that would help an elementary school-aged child get through their day-to-day. 

Steve was not a Pastor… or a principal… or a parent to any of those children.

He didn’t have to be.

He was just someone with a heart to help.

Steve loved people.  God’s people.  Young or old, He saw the value in God’s precious creations… and dedicated himself to serving them. 

Wherever you are today… be that person.  Rise above the disinterested and show God’s love, mercy, and heart to those around you that need it.  Help those that can offer you nothing in return.  Stop and pray with those that look like they need it.  Like today’s verse tells us, God calls us to serve others and when we do so, we are really serving Him.

Today you can change the world.  And it starts with changing your home.  Or your office.  Or your classroom.  Be kind.  Choose love.  Be compassionate.  Extend an open hand instead of a closed fist.  Turn the other cheek.  Again.  Forgive those that haven’t asked for it or deserve it.  Be patient. 

Your reward?  You may not be signing a bunch of elementary school yearbooks… but you’ll be leaving indelible marks on the hearts of those that don’t think there are any Godly people left in this world… and honoring God in the process.

(quote above originally posted in Yahoo! News via Good Morning America, June 8, 2015)

Dark Glasses

Comedian Fred Allen once quipped: “A celebrity is a person who works all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.”

While we may chuckle at this remark, many of us live our lives the same way.  We work hard to get somewhere…only to realize that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and try to change it.  Why does this happen?  I contend that the biggest mistakes we make in this area are in the very first steps.  We don’t consult God.  We don’t let Him in on the decision making process or ask Him to point us in the right initial direction.  And when our Creator is left out of the loop… we find ourselves careening off in the wrong direction… all the while thinking we are on our way to the top of the ladder of success.  

We may reach the top of that ladder… only to find that it’s leaning against the wrong wall.  And then what?  Do we blame ourselves for poor choices?  Sadly, many times we blame God.  The only way to correct this is to go to God first in prayer… asking Him what’s best… and then having the maturity and courage to follow His lead.  He will make sure that once we get to where we’re going… we’ll be glad we’re there!