saluki downtime July 29, 2024

52 day challenge Foundation Story and Passage. 

Chapter 1. Nehemiah was notified the Jews had a problem because their wall had been torn down. 

What was the first thing you think he did?

Verse 5 and 11 Nehemiah prayed

Neh 1:5 Then I prayed this prayer: "LORD, God of heaven, you are the great and powerful God. You are the God who keeps his agreement of love with people who love you and obey your commands.

Neh 1:11 So, Lord, please listen to my prayer. I am your servant. Please listen to the prayers of your servants who want to show respect for your name. You know I am the king's wine servant, so please help me today. Help me as I ask the king for help. Give me success and help me to be pleasing to the king."

Chapter 2

Neh 2:2 So the king asked me, "Are you sick? Why do you look sad? I think your heart is full of sadness." Then I was very afraid.

 But planned through his fear.

verse 4 - he prayed

vesre 5 - ask to go rebuild the city

verse 6 - nehemiah gave him a time line

verse 7 - asked for letters to pass through certain towns

verse 8 - took what he needed with him to rebuild.

Neh 2:19 But Sanballat from Horon, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard that we were building again. They made fun of us in a very ugly way. They said, "What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?"

Chapter 3 they worked together

How hard can you go when you have a partner to do it with? Or if you get subbed out?

Thoughts of getting subbed out? If you are 80’percent or 60 percent is getting subbed out by someone who is at 100 better?

Chapter 4

When Nehemiah started rebuilding the wall he was made fun of right way.

vesre 2 - called weak men.

verse 3 - said they didn't have the skill

verse 4 - nehemiah said these men hate us.

who has had someone make fun of you for your goals?

what about called weak or couldn't do it?

How many of you have had someone just straight out hate. you?

Neh 4:14 After looking over everything, I stood up and spoke to the important families, the officials, and the rest of the people. I said, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful! You must fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters! You must fight for your wives and your homes!"

They changed the way they worked.

Neh 4:16 From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall. The other half of my men were on guard, ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The army officers stood behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall.

People started to complain in chapter 5

verse 2 - We have children and are hungry.

verse 3 - time of famine.

verse 4- pay taxes

verse 5 - content but have to sell our kids as slaves already.

Nehemiah was working hard on building the wall in Jerusalem and didn't abuse the people or take anything from them. They were fed and they used the governments money.

Nehemiah was Generous.

In chapter 6 the people around wanted to hurt him. They set up a meeting with him but Nehemiah sent messengers to get the information. It took 6 times.

Neh 6:9 Our enemies were only trying to make us afraid. They are thinking to themselves, "The Jews will be afraid and too weak to keep on working. Then the wall will not be finished." But I prayed, "God, make me strong."

Neh 6:15 So the wall of Jerusalem was completed on the 25th day of the month of Elul. It had taken 52 days to finish building the wall.

So the 52 day challenge has been created.

I want you to get where you want to get.

I want you to be who you want to be.

I want you to change what you want to change.

I want you to add and subtract things from your life because you want to.

This is for you.

52 days is a long time.

Through this journey you will realize through the ups and downs who you really are and where you really want to get to.

You will be frustrated when you don't do what you want to do.

Even through this journey you may realize that where you want to get isn't realistic or you don't want to do what it takes to get there.

That is ok.

But if you do, these prompts are a great way to be encouraged and reminded of just that.

This is not a work out program.

This is not a diet.

This is your plans getting put in motion every day.

every day do what you are supposed to do.

From going to bed to getting up. From workouts to what you eat.

It will help you make decisions in your daily routine.

Someone told me that they won't have many friends when this is over because no one wants to do what I need to do.

That is probably true. Most people don't want to do. Most people just want to wake up and do what feels good. Most people get lazy when things get hard. Most people can't focus for 52 days.

Don't be most people.

If you can do it for 3 days then do it for 3 days. If you can do 4 the next week do 4. When you fail don't worry. Start over.

Fear kept the people from building a wall to protect themselves that would have taken 52 days. It kept them from doing it for 140 years! Yikes. That is a long time.

If you are afraid of the price of getting started. Imagine the price of staying right where you are.

for some of you its time. It's time to commit to who you want to be.

Its not what you are doing but who you are becoming.

Freshman to 5th year senior. We are all in a different place in life.

Fear kept them from building.

What is it in you?

This 52 day challenge is just a way for you to commit to who you want to be.

Honestly nothing special. Just like Nehemiah. Some may make fun of you. Some may be angry with you. You may even lose some friends. But its for you. Do it for you.

We as a group have a responsibiiity to each other to be there for each other. We should encourage each other to be who we want to be. When we fail we should pick each other up. Hold each others hands. Sometimes even sub in for them when we can't do it on our own.

Saluki downTime June 10, 2024

James 1:5-8

 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Verse 5

Ok first of all, how many of us lack wisdom?

What areas do we lack wisdom?

Husband?

Dad?

Boss?

Business owner?

I mean come on! right. Where don't we?

It doesn’t say if we can get to a point where we don't lack wisdom in our life.

However it does say if you do you should ask God.

What should you expect after you ask God?

God gives it generously to all without finding fault. It will be given to you if you ask.

How many times do you ask God for wisdom? I mean for real? I'll start. Not enough for real.

verse 6 says but when you ask you must believe and not doubt.

1. Ask more

2. believe when you ask

3. don't doubt

Thats tough. All of those have to go together. I think sometimes we don't ask because we don't believe. We doubt what God is capable of. This isn't even asking God to do something big. We are just asking God to give us wisdom.

We should go to God for this more often.

because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. What does wind do to water?

The water cannot control what the wind does to it.

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

That person is the one who doubts. If you do not believe then you should not expect God to do anything for you. Stay focused on wisdom here. When we ask God for wisdom he will give it us.

8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

We cannot go to God and ask him and doubt. This is a double minded man and unstable.

Jeremiah 17:9

9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Someone tell me of a time when you thought you were so right. But ended up being so wrong. 

Our hearts are so hard to fight with. It usually wins. However it is deceitfully wicked. You can’t trust it. One of the most wrong sayings you know is “just go with your heart” or “trust your heart” You heart and god’s will will be in battle if you think this way. 

If you seek wisdom - use the wisdom that is provided.

So many times we think we know best but also ask. Once we ask we don't like the answer we are given. So God provides but we don't accept. Another step away.

1. seek wisdom

2. Don't doubt

3. take the advice we are given.

Saluki downTime - February 5, 2024

Competitive Greatness - Be at your best when your best is needed.

Enjoyment of a difficult challenge.

How many of you enjoy something the challenges you?

What is the most challenging moment of your life?

Without competitive greatness we won't be the best we can be.

Who do you think of when you think of competitive greatness?

Anyone remember Michael Jordan's flu game in 1998?

Anyone have a moment in your career where competitive greatness is all you had to use? You just wanted to win so bad you played through....xyz.

Do you run to challenges or run away?

What about difficult situations in life? How do you handle them?

In this room who is the most competitive? Why?

We don't have to be superstars or win championships to reach competitive greatness. All we have to do is learn to rise to every occasion, give our best effort and make those around us better as we do it. - 

John Wooden

All I ask out of my son is to sprint and be physical. Try your hardest is all. 

Read 1 Samuel 17:29-37

Don't worry about anything. David told Saul. I'll go fight this Philistine. 

1 Samuel 17:32

Ok so David, more than likely a teenager, was confident that he would be able to not only fight the philistine but also win!

What are some reasons this was a bad idea?

Ok so now why would this be possible?

Does competitive greatness mean you will win every time?

Goliath was 9 feet tall. David was not. Goliath was a philistine champion, David was a shepherd boy. Goliath's armor weighed 125 pounds. David weighed 125 pounds.

David was taught to be quick but not in a hurry. He chose a weapon to increase his chances of winning along with a weapon he was very skilled with. A sling in which he slung and hit Goliath right between the eyes.

Anyone remember what he did after he hit him with the sling?

David showed poise when rejecting Saul's armor because he wanted to be himself. He showed confidence when he said he would hit him with the sling and then chop his head off.

Where did this come from?      God.

God has demonstrated this throughout his life and in his family.

After David did this the offensive line of the Israelite army defeated the Philistines.

WE are in a battle and the enemy is trash talking God. If that doesn't tick you off, IT SHOULD! If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit has anointed you with power. You can take on giants. Think about what God has done for you in the past. It will give you confidence that He will also act in the future.

Lyrics

I'm calling on the God of Jacob - Whose love endures through generations - I know that You will keep Your covenant

I'm calling on the God of Moses - The one who opened up the ocean - I need You now to do the same thing for me

O God, my God, I need You - O God, my God, I need You now - How I need You now - O Rock, O Rock of ages

I'm standing on Your faithfulness - On Your faithfulness - I'm calling on the God of Mary - Whose favor rests upon the lowly - I know with You all things are possible - I'm calling on the God of David

Who made a shepherd boy courageous - I may not face Goliath - But I've got my own giants

You heard Your children then -  You hear Your children now - You are the same God

You answered prayers back then - And You will answer now - You are the same God

You were providing then - You are providing now - You are the same God

You moved in power then - God, move in power now - You are the same God

You were a healer then - And You are a healer now - You are the same God

You were a savoir then - And You are a savoir now - You are the same God

O God, my God, I need You - O God, my God, I need You now - How I need You now, yeah

1. What are some times when you rallied those around you?

2. Have you boldly stood up for God?

3. Is your boldness increasing or decreasing?

4. If you need more boldness, how are you going to  go about attaining it?

Love - Scared and Out of My Comfort Zone

Love - Scared and Out of My Comfort Zone

Love is something that we mess up all the time. It is not a real word to most people.
Let's look at how we get it wrong. We love our pets like we love pasta. We love a movie like we love watching a sport. We love our kids like we love our spouse. How do you love your parents or your siblings?

Love is not fake. Love should be real in your life. When was the last time you told an acquaintance you loved them. Why haven't you? Are you scared to love?

I believe we are scared to truly love because we have gotten it wrong for so long.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

I had an opportunity to speak to a Head coach. I walked with her back to her locker room after a game. My goal was to thank her for allowing Jesus into her program and allowing a character coach to be a part of it. I wanted to thank her for showing Jesus to her program.

God has a different plan. I asked her to pray for me and the program I was working with. I asked her to put basketball a side for a minute and pray that Jesus would be shown at SIU. God did something I could not plan or do on my own.

This lady's head was about chest high to me. She grabbed me and embraced me. She set her head on my chest and prayed for me and SIU. She prayed for herself and her program. With tears coming down her face and mine, God's love was shown that day.

I had never felt or seen God's love in this world like I did that day. As we let go of one another, while wiping tears from our eyes, I thanked her and said, "I do not know you but I love you."

Man! That was out of my comfort zone. But I want to know and feel the love of God. That day I finally knew why I was here. I finally knew the love of God in my life and how to share it with others.

True genuine LOVE. It was a great experience for me. It doesn't matter if it was a competitor that just beat you. Love does not care.

Love has to be real. Love comes from God. Love is in your heart. Love is in Christ and through Christ.

I was scared and out of my comfort zone but I knew I loved this coach that I had never met prior to this moment.

You have to love. You have to share the love of God with others. You have to tell others you love them. It's not a choice. People need to be truly loved.

Never stop doing this little things for people. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.

That is where love comes from. From God - Inside the Heart.

Tell someone you love them today. Not your spouse, kids, or family. People in your life that you do love.

Positivology

January 20, 2023

Let's think for a minute. In a 24 hour day how many minutes are negative.

First how many minutes are there in a day? 1440 minutes in a day. Wow! Thats a lot of minutes to think about.
You sleep for around 420 minutes a night. So good! How many of those minutes are negative?
For me, I don't sleep well or that much. I would day at least 60 of those minutes a night are negative. I wake up. Toss and turn. Sometimes I even get up to use the bathroom or who knows what else happens when I am technically asleep.

Wait??? Are you telling me that even some minutes while I am sleeping are negative? - YES!!!!

Ok Let's move on.

waking up - negative thoughts and even words to yourself. Hit the snooze - negative. Wake up - negative. I mean not for everyone but in general we think negative thoughts about getting up.

Then we have to decide if we will like going to work today or not. We have to think about if we like what the day has in store for us. Most of us don't think about the positive parts of the day. We dwell on the negative side of things.

Our kids, if you have them, or our spouse, if you have one, may be negative before you even get to work.

Man - this is tough to get through.

Ok on to work. Wait skipped breakfast. Ok negative thoughts. Either eat or leave. Leave or eat. This can be negative before we even get anywhere.

On to work.

It doesn't really matter throughout your day. It doesn't matter if you have a good boss or not. It doesn't matter if you work alone or with others. It doesn't matter if lunch break is at 10 am or 2pm. It doesn't matter if you get off after 8 hours of work of have a 16 hour day.

It is so easy to get caught up in the negative.

The people you work around or with. Customers or employees can be draining.

Why? Why do we do this?

We make a choice. We make choices all day long. There is. no one forcing your day to be negative. Yes there are some circumstances you cannot control but you can control how you view them.

Back to the photo that is posted with this. Dirty waters don't stop plants from growing.

It's your choice how you accept negative thoughts and actions in your life.

I think the biblical word for this is JOY! So don't let negative words stop your progress.

JOY - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

John 16:24 ~ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

God is very clear. God wants to fill our lives with JOY. Its a choice.
1. Did you ask God for it?
2. Did you accept it?

I pray that you take the circumstances you are presented with and count it all JOY.

Don't let the dirty water change how you think and act.