What football taught me

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I enjoy American football. I enjoy the game so much my right knee required surgery to replace destroyed ligaments and tendons from playing football. Over the years the injury progressed until there was no choice but to call the surgeon. Even with my scars, I still love the game.

The goal of football is to win by scoring points. When a team has possession of the ball, they must keep moving forward. Successful teams work together, they encourage one another. Whether by way of passing, running, or kicking, their focus stays on the goal to win the game.

Time is never stagnant. A team can’t take as much time as they want, they can’t squander time celebrating a good play or bemoaning a bad one. Whether they were champions or losers last season or last game, they keep moving forward to win the present game by focusing on the current play.

I’m learning those truths in my own life. If I sit and whine about what happened, or even victory dance over glory moments, I may miss today. I may miss how God is working now and where He is leading. Paul reminds us, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So, run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24, NLT).

Keep moving forward. Keep your eyes on the goal. You’re not running alone. You’re not on the field of life without help. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Encourage your teammates, cheer them on, remember as Christians we are on the same team. So, keep moving forward, keep pressing in and pressing on, for at the end an eternal, amazing prize waits!

Mining for Treasure

Remember to stay in the game. Encourage those around you. You are not alone; God has a goal and purpose for your life. Keep your focus on Him, keep moving forward.

Who can you encourage today?

What glory moments or negative times have captured your attention?

Press into God and press on, for everyone in Christ will receive eternal rewards!

From Unfailing Treasures by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/2Ph3kWS

Photo by Lisa Buffaloe

https://lisabuffaloe.com

Fill up!

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Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 to “be filled with the Spirit.” The definition for the Greek word “filled” means to not only be full, but to be complete, filled to the brim, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to render perfect. We are to be filled to be permeated, soaked with the Spirit in every area, under the influence of the Spirit, fully controlled by Him.

The Spirit fills us through our willingness to be filled, as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to allow Him full control of our lives submitting to God’s authority, yielding ourselves as a willing vessel, the Holy Spirit liberally fills us in abundance to the brim. The more we surrender our lives, the more He fills our life.

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, for in loving God our hearts are opened to be open to the Holy Spirit. Be filled, overwhelmed, awestruck, awe-filled by the filling of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), He breathes life into dead souls (Ezekiel 37:1-14), reviving and firing new life within us (Matthew 3:11).

The Holy Spirit always glorifies the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Helper (John 14:16), the comforter (2 Corinthians 1:4), the intercessor (Romans 8:27), the One who speaks for you when you are too grieved for words (Romans 8:26).

The Holy Spirit gifts with skill (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), He stirs the heart (Ezra 1:5), teaches (John 14:26), reveals the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10), He gives power (Acts 1:8), equips, makes us bold and courageous and helps us speak and witness. His fruit gifts us with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

“When the Holy Spirit fills you, he will have the controlling interest in your life. It is ‘control by consent.’ Let me stop and make a critical distinction. Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean I have more of the Spirit, it means the Spirit has more of me. It doesn’t happen all at once any more than you get drunk all at once. Being filled with the Spirit happens as you continually choose to live under his influence.” ~ Ray Pritchard

“The Holy Spirit is beyond doubt the greatest gift which God can bestow upon man. Having this gift, we have all things, life, light, hope and heaven. Having this gift we have God the Father’s boundless love, God the Son’s atoning blood, and full communion with all three Persons of the blessed Trinity. Having this gift, we have grace and peace in the world that now is, glory and honor in the world to come.” ~ J C Ryle

“If we have the Holy Spirit, we virtually have all good gifts, for the Spirit is the earnest of God’s love, the pledge of joys to come; and He brings with Him all things that are necessary and good for us!” ~ Charles Spurgeon

 Now, when you think of being filled with the Spirit, rejoice, be open and willing, and let the Holy Spirit flow in you, revive you, and fill you to the brim with God’s amazing gift of His Spirit.

Fill up, friends! Be filled with The Spirit!

 

Fill up first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com

Photo by Lisa Buffaloe

 

 

Come to the well

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The Samaritan woman had many needs, and she found Jesus at the well (John 4:1-45). Jesus was waiting to offer her the living water of His merciful freedom. 

Jesus is waiting for you. Meet Him at the well. Go to the well with your need, the depth of your sin, the cavernous need of your sorrow. Go to the well of the unfathomable love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, for no death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

Go to the well of His mercy, the well of His grace, the well of His compassion, the well of His unfailing love, and the ever-filling joy of His living water. Do you have a need? Oh, come to the well and let His healing, merciful, freeing, waters flow.

Jesus beckons for you to come. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38, NASB).

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NASB).

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Psalm 147:3, NASB; Luke 1:37, NASB).

Emphasis added on scripture.

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