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1 Thes. 5:11, 14 - Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing…. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. NASU
"Encourage one another and encourage the fainthearted," Paul says. There isn't a person alive who doesn't benefit from encouragement.
After the exchange of the greetings between the coaches and a few questions back and forth. Mike said that Coach Shula would lean in and whisper words he would never forget. Coach Shula said, "Listen, Mike. I need you in training camp in July, on the field and ready to go. We're going all the way this year." Coach Westhoff recovered from his bone cancer and was on the field at the training camp ready to go. The encouragement that Coach Shula gave him was all the encouragement he needed. Mike would further say, "Coach Shula treated me the way I could be, not the way I was."
Proverbs 12:18 - "… But the tongue of the wise brings healing. NASU We all like to believe we possess some wisdom. According to this Proverb a wise person uses his tongue to bring healing. One of the best ways to help someone heal is to bless them with some words of encouragement. I am sure you know someone today that needs to hear some encouraging words from you. Think On These: A pat on the back, though only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, is miles ahead in results. The best thing to do behind a person's back is to pat it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
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Luke 15:17-21 - "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father…. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' NASU
He chose to leave his father's estate. He chose to squander his inheritance in a distant land. He chose to believe he could have more fun not living around his family. He chose to learn lessons at the School of Hard Knocks. He chose to make one poor decision after another and then it happened. He woke up. He had an aha moment. He came to his senses. He did some quick deducing of the facts and came to this conclusion: My father's hired servants have it better than I do. If you are suffering because of poor choices you have made in the past. Here is a novel idea: Come To Your Senses and Own Your Mistakes.
How many times have you done something wrong and kept it to yourself until finally you just had to confess it? Once the deed is confessed a great feeling of relief comes over us and we say to ourselves, "I don't know why I didn't do that sooner." There is a remedy for a guilty conscience and it is called "confession" of your mistakes.
What about you? Have you made some mistakes that you need to own? Is there a person you need to confess your mistakes to or maybe you simply need to confess your sins to God?
The father said it this way, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' NASU So have you made some poor choices in your life? Do you need a second chance? Then let me suggest you follow the plan of the prodigal son by coming to your senses, going to the person you need to see and make the confession that will bring about the healing you so desperately need. By making the confession you will open up your life to forgiveness and a time of celebration. Think On These: There's more hope for a confessed sinner than a conceited saint. Few things in life are more difficult for some of us than admitting a mistake. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Luke 15:3-7 - So He told them this parable, saying, 4 " What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. NASU
The team was preparing to leave for the 1982 Big 10 Wrestling Championships in Michigan when it was discovered that Barry wasn't going to make the trip because of a weight issue. Dan sent the other coaches and wrestlers on ahead of him as he went to search for one missing wrestler. Dan found Barry in a convenience store at 7 am. Dan was able to convince Barry to come with him. Barry went with Coach Gable and lost 8 pounds in two days, made weight, and won his 2nd of 4 Big Ten Championships. Two weeks later Barry would wrestle and win his 1st of three NCAA Championships. Barry won the Olympic Silver medal in 1984 and has been the head coach at the University of Wisconsin for 22 years. One can only imagine how different Barry's life would be had Coach Gable not left the Nine wrestlers for the One.
Look at all the lives Jesus has changed while He was on earth. Look at all the lives He is changing now that He is alive in Heaven. I can tell you He has changed my life. I would venture to say I would not be alive now if Jesus hadn't changed my life in 1975. Some of you who are reading my Pump Ups may not be alive today if Jesus hadn't changed your lives also. So, who is that One lost sheep that you want to bring back to the fold?
In the parable of the lost coin we get a clearer picture of who is rejoicing. Luke 15:10 -"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NASU The "joy" is in the presence of the angels. I believe God is the One with the "joy" who is in the presence of the angels. If you ever wanted to bring joy into the life of God here is an opportunity, bring one back who has lost his or her way. Has one of your co-workers, teammates, or Christian brothers or sisters gone AWOL? Here is a chance for you to be a Great Leader like Jesus: go find them and help them return to active duty. Think On These: A fault which humbles a man is of more value than a virtue which puffs him up. Virtue has more admirers than followers. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Exodus 18:17-20 - “Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.” NASB
We all need someone that cares for us. We need to know there is someone who has our back. Someone who will confront us and let us know that what we are doing is not good. Do you have that type of person in your life? Jethro was this type of person. He didn’t want to see Moses wreck his life. There was no way that Moses was going to be able to keep up his grueling schedule and Jethro possessed enough wisdom to see he was traveling down the wrong road. Moses was setting himself up for failure and Jethro knew it.
Now they may not be familiar with Jethro so share with them this Pump Up and ask them if they would be like Jethro with you? Whenever they see you doing something that is not good they would meet with you one on one and say, “Hey, the thing you are doing here is not good for you.”
You need to be someone’s Jethro and in so doing a Jethro will come into your life. Hence, you will have reaped what you have sowed.
The correct answer is GOD. God called Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3. Then why didn’t God give Moses the same brilliant instructions that Jethro gave him? Jethro gave Moses a plan that is spoken about in just about all “Leadership” books or seminars and that is the importance of “Delegation.” Jethro’s plan for Moses was one of “delegation.” Delegate to others what they can do, so that you are still alive to do what you can do. No one can do exactly what it is God has called you to accomplish, but God will not give you every minute detail. He has given us a brain and we need to discover the best ways to accomplish what it is we believe God has called us to fulfill.
We all need a friend who will tell us the truth even if it hurts us. So, if Jethro inspected your life for one day like he did Moses what advice do you think he would give you? Think On These: The only way to settle a disagreement is on the basis of what’s right, not who’s right. It is better to keep a friend from falling that to help him up after he falls. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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