Our great King has given us a great commission to make a great impact by multiplying MANLY or Christlike men. Anyone who so practices and teaches (mentors) God's word to others, Jesus said, "will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" Mt.5:19. Jesus also said that a life of service makes a person "great" (Mark 10:43-45) and they will receive a "great reward" (Luke 6:35). Also God's word commends those who are a "great help" to newer believers (Acts 18:27). Thus, we wisely want to give our lives to what is great.
Using a scoreboard is not a new idea, but it's a great idea to keep us pursuing what is truly great in God's kingdom. Today we want to begin scoring on the first letter of GREAT- God's word.
Our G.R.E.A.T. Scoreboard
Why keep score? Because when you keep score, you always play better. Because we like to see how we did. Because we can spur and cheer each other on. Because we were built for challenges. Because it reveals where we may need to improve. Because it reminds us that there is something on the line. Because God does. Well, our scoreboard is not so great. It doesn't even work. It's what we are tracking that is great. As we devote our lives to GREAT things, our lives become great in his eyes and our progress shows up on our spreadsheet below. Note: Because of blog glitches on our first day and because I'm happy to bless you, everyone scored a goal and contributed to a team victory.
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| G=God's Word | R | E | A | T | |
| Monday | |||||
| Alvin James | Y | ||||
| Daniel Contreras | Y | ||||
| Dave Heidekruger | Y | ||||
| Eddie Morales | Y | ||||
| Gary Remson | Y | ||||
| Ismael Andrade | Y | ||||
| Israel Fuentes | Y | ||||
| Jack Rogers | Y | ||||
| John Pallozzi | Y | ||||
| Mark Estrada | Y | ||||
| Mike Pagan | Y | ||||
| Sam Vargas | Y |
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As a mentor or coach, if there was only one piece of advice that you could give to a protege, what might it be? I know what I would share- to daily read God's word. Then the Lord can mentor him every day on so many issues over time. God's word is so transforming!
1. Let's read Psalm 19 now. It begins by describing how God speaks to us through nature. Then v.7-14 describe how God speaks to us through his perfect word with it's many benefits. Pick just one verse or phrase and share what you like about it. ("Post a Comment" and then Publish below .) Also let me know that you wrote that on your 3x5 card or such.
I hope you're already finding this 3x5 card to be a simple but powerful strategy to help you meditate on God's word day and night (Joshua 1:8). It also gives you treasure to share with others. I just emailed my daughter, Mariah, at college my meditations from Joshua 1:8-9. Hope you find opportunities to share as well. God's army is advancing.
I would share that more is caught than taught. Leading by example regardless of the situation. 1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
ReplyDeleteI believe that words can make and break someone. We are called to speak into the lives that surround us. We must choose wisely what we say to them. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Amen brother! That is so true that more is caught than taught. I like that because specific to the believer it says to me that you can be taught something but when your heart desires to have intimacy with God you actually CATCH something much more rich
DeleteI wish this thing had "Like Buttons" , but I guess then it would be called Facebook and not Blogger. Anyways, good word both Sam and John. Let's be like a strong netting and catch many things of God, being imitators of him.
DeleteExcellent Sam! And I''m so pleased to see John and Eddie passing along encouragement. I'm lovin' this.
DeleteBut who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
ReplyDeleteI love the transparency of the writer in this passage. To desire such obedience to God and recognize that he may even be sinning unbeknownst to himself speaks volumes of his heart. May we show this type of obedience to God in our personal lives as well
Good eye John! It's interesting that there was a Levitical sacrifice for sins of ignorance, once the man became aware of such- Lev.4:27ff. But here we can rejoice in Christ that even those sins we aren't aware of don't cut off our communion with the Lord. He is faithful and just to forgive us the sins we confess and also to purify us from all unrighteousness- all that we had no clue of. Thank You Lord!
DeleteI wrote vv. 12-13 on a 3x5
ReplyDeleteGood! I went with v.14
DeletePsalms 19:14
ReplyDeleteMay these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Love this verse and is one I usually pray through before speaking or teaching.
I wrote down Psalms 19:1 (NLT) - The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.
It reminds me of the song Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtXwX4Gt1Pc#t=28
I picked the same verse Eddie. Thanks for the song/video I just enjoyed.
DeleteThe advice I would give to a protégé is to be in the word daily and pray to God for focus, understanding and wisdom before you start
ReplyDeletereading--also commit to following what you read. Going from never reading a word of scripture to becoming consumed by his word is a journey I will never turn away from--and encourage the protégé daily as we discuss versus read.
"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."
confirm logging this verse.
I like it most because it is only his word in its perfection that should be in our hearts and guide us as we follow the Lord, and that it constantly cleanses our soul as we open our hearts to it and live by it. The 2nd part of the verse hits home with me strongly as I remember how I witnessed 1st hand how men from all walks of life, as they gave themselves to the Lord as they delved deep into the word and it was such an encouragement to me to move forward. As I always continue to move forward, I pray that God guides me to have that same encouragement to many others. Thank you Lord
Ah yes Jack! Very good advice indeed and great reflections on his word.
DeleteAs a mentor I usually tell them not to put their eyes on me or any other leader because at some time they are going to be disappointed. But rather put their eyes on God who is perfect in every way and He will never disappoint but rather satisfy and bring peace to our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI wrote Psalms 19:13 on my card because it reminds of how weak and prone to sin I am without Him. It is only with His power that I can experience victory in following Him.
Oh Roger, you are so right.
ReplyDelete"Help us to be good examples Lord, but also help all of us to fix our eyes on Jesus."
Psalm 19:8
ReplyDelete"The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes;"
The verse here reached out to me because it reminds me that God essence is truth and that we can Joy in that very fact. With my changed heart the desire is now for Christ and how we can continue to be changed with His presence.
Yes Gary. When I am rightly relating to God and his word, it prompts joy and purity. Thank you Lord for changing our hearts to take pleasure in you and your word. What a sign of new life.
DeleteI'm selecting Psalm 19:13 to comment on. "Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression." Any sin is a great transgression before our perfect and holy God. And God's Word is clear in many places in His Word that we have all sinned to various degrees. I like how this verse shows the results of the awesome cleaning power of the redeeming shed blood of Jesus to the point of stating here in this verse, that we can be made virtually blameless and even innocent before God. What a great reward this is in itself. This impresses upon me even more me how I really need the daily powerful cleansing and regeneration of God's Word in my life. How foolish I am when I skip even a day without it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a deep thought Dave. Thank you Lord- Christ enables us to be blamesless in your sight since he bore all our sin and blame.
DeletePsalm 19: 6
ReplyDeleteIt rises from one end of the heavens and makes it's circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from it's heat.
I believe this verse is a metaphor for the sun which produces light. When we sin we try to hide from the light. God is the light therefore we need to help others to come into the light. We are all sinners but we have to strive to stop sinning. No one is perfect only God is perfect. We have to strive to be like God but don't think we are gods.
Thanks for the call Mike. We're reading you loud and clear. Good!
DeleteAlright, after some small burnt offerings to the tech gods, I am in! I had to donate some blood and promise my next born child but I am on the net. Please allow me some time to catch up as it may take me some time to navigate my way around and become familiar with the location of things and establish a rhythm.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me a good laugh Marcos!
DeleteHey, I talked to coach Bringe today. He has good memories of you. What a cool connection.
Psalm 19:8 NIV
ReplyDeleteThe precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Through half of my life I have made decisions that might have been rational or irrational choices, often being led by the heart or eyes that believed through what society has thought of... Now... knowing that we have a creator, author of our lives, Alpha and Omega, my God who's precepts are never wrong and definitely know that his Word always has a purpose in any season of my life.
You are right when you say that our heart can deceive us. Psalm 141:4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
Deleteso that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.
Before I was a believer, I did not even know that I was sinning. Most of society has been redefining "normal" since the beginning of humankind. Society embraces and accepts sin. I thank God He never changes. He is why I have hope.
Excellent Ismael! Great picture too!
ReplyDeleteI wrote down psalm 19:14 on a card as well. It speaks to me of purity, and the desire to please The Lord and not myself.
ReplyDeleteI love David H's interpretation on 19:13.... I will go to sleep meditating on that!
Excellent Daniel! You were the early bird one morning and now you're closing us out. You put in some long hours!
DeleteMy verse #14. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. " This verse reminds me of another verse, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." I know whenever I start talking foolishly in different ways, I know that I need a heart check and a Repentant cleansing. I also wrote out this verse.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Israel! And you also helped the team to achieve a perfect game- everyone participated! Thanx!
ReplyDelete"The Heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech. Night after night, they reveal knowledge. Psalm 19:1
ReplyDeleteDID IT!!
Udabest!
ReplyDelete