Get Out of the Penalty Box

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

The past two evenings I watched the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals. One of the unique features of ice hockey is the power play. A power play occurs when the member of one team commits a penalty. When a penalty is committed, the officials levy a 2 minute or 5 minute penalty against the offending team. During this time, the penalized team is required to play with fewer players on the ice than their opponent.
During the power play, the penalized team finds itself playing at a disadvantage, unable to play at a maximum level of potential.

In our lives, God has surrounded us with people who are necessary for us to operate at a peak level. Unfortunately many go through life without realizing this truth and penalize themselves and those unnecessarily. The reasons we penalize ourselves can vary. Perhaps it is feelings of unworthiness, guilt or anger that sideline us.

1 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NASB)
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

When we don’t recognize the importance of the roles that each of us plays in the lives of others, we can very easily hinder the potential of ourselves and others. When you don’t do your part, someone else is required to take up the slack. This creates extra burden upon them and may even take them away from their greatest strengths. Additionally, the group misses out on the gifts and strengths that you bring. This lack of people operating in their respective roles creates a loss of synergy within the group.

This week you may be sitting on the sidelines watching the action. I encourage you to get out of the box and back on the ice. Your team needs your skill, talent and giftedness if they are to operate at full strength once again.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Remembering the Covenant

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is an exciting week for my wife and me. On Wednesday we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Each year on our anniversary we go away by ourselves to reflect on our journey, dream for the future and remind ourselves of the covenant made on January 7, 1989.

Over the last 20 years things have changed. My hair no longer hangs down to my shoulders, nor does it completely cover the top of my head. My waistline left the 30’s years ago and now lives in the 40’s. Carol and I are no longer referred to as that “precious” newlywed couple, but instead we are “mom and dad” to three children ages 7 to 18. 20 years ago I sold water softeners in Wichita, KS today I plant churches and encourage pastors around the world.

Indeed, many things have changed over these 20 years, but one thing remains constant…the covenant. On that blustery day in January of 1989, Carol and I stood before God and man, pledging our commitment to one another through the covenant relationship of marriage. In that covenant we spelled out the lengths we would go to in expressing our undying love for one another. Words like “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part” were used to define this covenant.

God established covenants throughout scripture. They are His promises to His people. Our very redemption at the cross of Christ is the embodiment of our covenant relationship with God. It is no wonder that God was constantly instructing us to remember His covenants.

1 Chronicles 16:15
Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations

When my wife and I stood at the altar 20 years ago to exchange vows and make our covenant with God and one another, the only thing we could see was love and happiness. Eventually life brought the twists, turns, hardships and triumphs that we all face, turning the euphoria of getting married into the daily challenge of making it through another day. It is during the ups and downs of life that we often forget why we entered into that covenant in the first place. Each wedding anniversary becomes a regular time of remembrance that allows us to go back to day 1. In fact, we often will pull out the aging video tape of our wedding ceremony and reception to help relive the moment.

Taking time to remember the covenants of God remind us why we need those covenants to begin with. So often we get caught up in the crisis of the moment and forget the miraculous provisions of the past. It is only when we take the time to remember and reflect that we once again reconnect with the strength that is needed to face the challenges of today.

This week I encourage you to take some time to reflect and remember the promises of God for your life. Pull out the old photo albums, the long forgotten diary and remember where those promises have taken you over the years and gain strength for the places those promises will take you in the years to come.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl