the thrill of victory

If you are my age or older, you most likely remember the sports commercial that talked about the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". (check it out here.) When I think about victory and defeat, I have a lifetime, almost 40 years, of experience with both of them. maybe more of defeat. Yet what is bigger in my mind is the fact that God has changed my definitions of victory and success.

You don't always have to win to be successful. Another real thought is this: you cannot win unless you compete. God tells us that success and victory are tied to us following and trusting God. When God blesses us, we will know the truth of what victory looks like, feels like and how it makes a difference inside of us.

God is building us to be people who are thrilled with victory. Read these God thoughts:

Psalm 92:4 (NLT)
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.

Proverbs 8:14 (NLT)
Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.

Matthew 25:21 (NASB)
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

The world says that victory has to do with the accumulation of wealth and trophies and such. God says that success and victory come when we walk into the arms of Jesus in Heaven hearing Him say "well done".

Tomorrow morning 26 of our folks from The Community Fellowship leave for South Dakota to serve on a mission trip. I am excited to see first hand what God does in the lives of our students and their leaders. I am especially excited about and praying for my girls who are on this trip to experience a move of God that will change their lives forever.

When we experience and trust God for the thrill of victory, our lives will never be the same. Victory may be the ARK (act of random kindness) you so for someone or the sacrifice you make to serve another person. Success may be in stopping what you are doing and spending some extra time with Jesus so you can do what He says it right. The thrill of victory is all about what God wants for us, His kids. The agony of defeat is simply this: when I do things without God.

I don't know about you but I am ready for the thrill of victory!

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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