The Underdog

I was watching the NCAA tournament this weekend and, like most people I know, my bracket has long since been destroyed. Since most of the teams I picked had already lost I found myself rooting for the underdogs. Its amazing how much people love the underdog. People will rally behind & cheer for a team they've never heard of before just because they're the underdogs. I began to ask myself, "Why is it that I, & others, so strongly root for the underdog?" As I thought about the answer to that this is what I concluded...

The underdog has nothing to lose. If they win that's great, if not then they weren't ever suppose to be there anyway.

The underdog has a relentless pursuit. They have nothing to go back to so they don;t give up - they "go big or go home".

The underdog has to believe for the miracle. All the odds, stats, & favors are against them & when no one else believes it they do.

The underdog is always described as having much/great heart, and that's what does it. The heart of an underdog captures attention and creates a buzz. & its the heart that God looks at (1 Samuel 16:7).

The bible is full of underdogs who God lead to greatness, but it wasn't just then, God still uses underdogs today! (I Corinthians 1:25-28)

The underdog is always a threat because he plays with everything in him!

Where is spring?

So we are now officially in spring, yet we still have the winter weather. "Hello spring", is what I said the other day when I looked out the window and saw all the beautiful snow coming down. When will it finally end? When will winter be over and spring begin? Why is it that we cannot dive right into spring? Why is it that winter will not end?

As I was asking myself these questions I came across a couple of verses.

Romans 8:24-25 - That is why waiting does not diminish us, anymore than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. - The Message

As I was reading that I began to think about life. What is it that's the "spring" in your life that you can't seem to get to? Every time you think you're about to break through to spring you get hit with another dose of winter. I was asking myself why that is and God just simple said, because you're not ready for spring yet. There is still work to be done so that when spring does arrive I'll be ready for it. 

Getting ready for spring,

Coach Luis

Repo!

Repo was great tonight! We took a brief look at the life of Samuel and how he heard from God. Then we posted a few questions on the screen and let the students spend time with God; and most everyone did! Students hung at the alter & all over the room for at least 30-40 minutes; it was amazing!

Praise God for what he's doing!

P.S.

You can check out a few of the things we talked about at... 

http://repolive.wordpress.com/

HE HAS RISEN...!

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ! Christ is alive! It shouldn't just be one day a year that we celebrate Christ's resurrection, everyday I should celebrate Christ being alive in me! All because of the cross there is an empty tomb and a full heart today. So I'd like to share a few thoughts about the cross...

The cross was pain and suffering for Christ,

But for me the cross was freedom and hope.

The cross was physical ending for Christ,

But for me the cross was the beginning of real life.

The cross was the darkest moment in HIStory,

But for my story the cross is the brightest spot.

The cross was the end of sin and shame

And the start of life and joy!

The Dream...

I've recently been reading about the life of Joseph; what an amazing story! There is something that really stuck out to me in this story; Things tend to get worse before they get better. See, Joseph had this amazing dream but in his dream he didn't see the pit he would be thrown into or the prison he would live in. No, all he saw was what would eventually happen once he finally made his way to the palace; which would end up being about 22 years later. Joseph had to go through all those things so he could be ready for the time when his dream would come to fruition. God had to prepare him; it would be in the pit that he learned humility, in the prison that he would learn patience, & in the palace that he would learn honor.

Wherever you are at in your journey don't forget what God has taught you along the way.

Coach Luis

Take A Chance...

I was talking to someone last night and I was reminded of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on the water.

Matthew 14:30 - Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

None of the other disciples cried out for Jesus to save them, only Peter did. We don't realized how much we need God until we step out onto the water. Taking a chance is scary but I'd rather take a chance and start to sink than sit in the boat and wonder "what if."

Stepping out of the boat,
Coach Luis

Working Hard vs. Hard Work

Have you ever found yourself working so hard that you ended up running yourself into the ground? I found that that's where I was at recently. Health wise this has been the worst winter for me that I could remember. I've been sick several times and when I get sick I get shut down for a little while. The other day I was thinking about why I haven't been so healthy and I realized that I was running myself ragged. There is a difference between working hard and hard work.

Working hard is giving your absolute best every time - its living out Colossians 3...

Col. 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

In another translation it says whatever your hand finds to do... whatever you do give it your best effort. But I must be sure that whatever my hands are doing that its what God wants them doing. I could work hard but if its not what God wants me working on then its nothing but hard work. When its just hard work I need to step back and get God's assignment. Its in working hard on my God given assignment that I can say like Isaiah that, "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..." (Isa. 41:31). 

With that said I must reevaluate and reprioritize some things so I can be sure to be working hard.

Coach Luis

Amazed...

God is so amazing! Earlier today I was looking outside and enjoying the sun; I'll admit I did consider taking a drive with the top down. I watched the weather go from sunny & about 60, to rainy & about 50, to snowy & about 30 in just a matter of hours. As much as I want winter to be done with I couldn't help but look up in awe at the snow & think about how incredible God is.

Amazed,

Coach Luis

 

Random Thought...

So I was talking with a good friend today and he shared a great quote with me in regards to the following verse...

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you...

"God doesn't give us the information we want, he gives us the power we need." - Jim Cymbala

I might not always know who, what, where, when, why, or how but I know that God said to so I've got to.

Trusting God,

Coach Luis