Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. Hebrews 3:12-13 Team is an important concept in football. It is impossible to move the ball down the field into the end zone without the unique blend of individuals on the offense of a football team. It is also impossible to stop the ball o

You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Psalm 139:15-16 Do you ever make plans? Silly question, right? Of course you do! It’s just the way we are! It is one of the ways that you are created in the likeness of

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 When many think of freedom, they think of the “freedom to do whatever they want.” That is not the essence of freedom. It is also not realistic at all. If that isn’t freedom, what is it? Being called to freedom is being called out of slavery. It is being freed from the chains that bind. Freed from the confines of the

But God’s amazing grace has made me who I am! And his grace to me was not fruitless. In fact, I worked harder than all the rest, yet not in my own strength but God’s, for his empowering grace is poured out upon me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (TPT) This verse is one of the two that Courtland Sutton wears on his wristbands--verses that he keeps in mind as he tries to live his life. As a rookie in the NFL last season, he found this verse to be encouraging to him as he sought to carr

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 GAME DAY!!!!!! You’ve worked hard for several weeks in preparation for this day. You’ve focussed your mind and your muscles for peak performance, perhaps incurring some sore achy body parts along the way. But you’ve persevered. You’ve pushed

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 Men often feel that part of being masculine is being independent and self-reliant. (If this were not the case, all the jokes about men not asking for directions would not exist.) Men are typically prone to try to fix things. More often than not, they want to be the ones to save the day. God certainly created man to accomplish much. Even before the fat

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17: 20-21 One of the great feelings in life is being a part of a group of people who are unified to accomplish something meaningful together. More than likely, this is one of the reasons you have done what is necessary to be a

We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him. So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others. Galatians 5:25-26 The most effective and successful teams are those who play with confidence AND respect their opponents for their unique abilities. The most effective and successful teammates are those who are able to play with great confidence AND value the others on the