​ Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NASU 

• Forget Their Past 

The apostle Paul was informing Christians how he lived and he says he forgets what lies behind or in other words he forgets his past.
 
I could not agree with Paul more. If you are going to be successful in life you are going to have to forget your past. If you are going to grow spiritually in Christ you have to forget your past sins.
 
The devil will try and bring up every past sin you have ever committed and try desperately to make you believe you are totally unworthy of salvation and you need to give up trying to get to Heaven.
 
He is correct we are totally unworthy of salvation that is why we have two great words we always want to remember from God's Word.
 
They are MERCY and GRACE.
 
God has shown us mercy and extends to us grace and in so doing He doesn't give us what we deserve an eternity in hell. He gives us eternal life in Heaven with Him. 

• Athletes Know You Have To Forget 

They say what makes a great quarterback in football is he can forget the pass that was intercepted before he throws his next pass. They say a running back can forget he fumbled the ball on his last carry.
 
What makes a great high school or college wrestler is they have the ability to forget their last match if it were a loss.
 
I would like to expand upon this idea of "forgetting" your last mistake and include in it forgetting your last victory as well.
 
If you're going to be really great you need to forget your last victory and start doing whatever it takes to secure your next victory. You can't stay thinking about what you have done was so great. You must start preparing to win your next match. 

• Journalist Have It Wrong 

I have read where some journalist have made the statement a certain wrestler who won his weight division is coming back to defend his title. No, he is not. This is not the WWE or the MMA.
 
Every tournament is completely separate.
 
I know if I were a coach I would be telling my wrestler you are not defending anything. This is a new year and a new tournament.
 
YOU FORGET WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR.
 
You stay focused on what you are going to do this year. 

• Christians Forget Your Past 

If you're a Christian I want you to forget your past mistakes and your past victories. I want you to stay focused on hearing those words "enter in my faithful servant".
 
What are you going to do today to help you secure another victory for Christ?
 
Think About This:
 
Most people would rather look backward than forward because it is easier to remember where you've been than to figure out where you're going.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

1 Samuel 25:32-33 - “Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.”  NASB 

• The One Who Changed Your Life 

In this story, David had sent some of his men to ask for some provisions from Nabal, who was Abigail's husband. David and his men protected Nabal and his sheep while they were on the run and when his men ask for remuneration for their protection Nabal insults them and sends them away empty-handed.
 
Some of Nabal's men heard their master insult David's men and went and told Abigail. She quickly had the men gather supplies to give to David for his kindness. They set out to meet David to repay him for his kindness.
 
Abigail saved her husband's life that day and she saved David from shedding innocent blood. 

• Who Is Your Abigail? 

Who has talked you out of doing something very stupid? Who has protected you from yourself and a very dumb course of action?
 
You may not have even wanted the protection but you needed it?
 
I am quite sure we all have had Abigail's help us in our lives. The question is have we thanked God and them for their kindness?
 
David said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed…"
 
David realized the LORD was protecting him and He sent Abigail to stop him from committing a horrendous sin. Have you ever wondered how many times the LORD has protected you?
 
Who was the Abigail the LORD used to protect you from yourself?
 
Today would be a great day to give Thanks to the LORD and the person He sent to help you.
 
Think About These:
 
Always remember that a man is not rewarded for having brains, but for using them.
 
Give Thanks for all the bad things that never happened to you. 
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
​

1 Sam. 24:7-10 - David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave… David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground …. David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'?  "Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.'    NASU 

• They Have A Way With Words 

All great leaders have a way with their words. They are able to lead by what they say. David is the leader and you can see his leadership ability as he PERSUADED his men with his words.
 
When you think of a leader you know personally I am sure they said something that resonates within your mind from time to time. 

• David Was The Influencer 

Leaders are able to influence those around them. David influenced his men by not allowing them to persuade him to kill King Saul. They were trying to convince David this was God's plan and he should kill the king. They would not succeed in convincing David to take King Saul's life.
 
Real leaders have a plan they believe in and will stick with it regardless of the opposition. They are not willing to be persuaded to change their plan even by those closest to them when they are fully convinced their plan is the correct one.
 
David proves to King Saul other people are lying about him and he is not the King's enemy.
 
In the cave, David cuts off a piece of the king's robe. Then once Saul leaves the cave David goes out and calls to the king. Bowing down before him to show respect he shows him the piece of his robe and says, If I were trying to kill you, you would be dead, but those who say I am your enemy are lying and this proves it.
 
David not only influenced his men he has an influence on King Saul. Look what Saul says, in 1 Sam. 24:16-17 - Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you." 

• Leaders Influence In Non-Traditional Ways 

David influenced his men again I am sure when he said, I am going out there and show the king I mean him no harm.
 
Now there isn't any scripture to support my thoughts here and I am not teaching it as truth or doctrine. I am merely speculating when I say I believe David influenced his guys once again when he said, I am going out there and talk with the king. You don't have to agree with me on this point, but at least consider it.
 
Can you hear those men?
 
David, you must be crazy. Have you lost your mind? You should have killed him when you had the chance but no you didn't want to do what every other leader would have done. (What about you- Would you have killed King Saul in the cave, if you had been in David's sandals?)
 
Saul wants to kill you. He has brought a 3,000 man army out to find us. We are stuck in a cave with no possible way to escape and you want to go out and speak with the king. Saul is a certified madman and you know it. We are all going to die.
 
David, please rethink what you are about to do.
 
Psalm 57 is a prayer of David's while he was in a cave. Was it this cave on this day?
 
I don't know but what I do know is David completely believed God would answer his prayers and rescue him from the caves where he and his men have been hiding.
 
David, as I mentioned earlier, goes out and addresses the king and the king rides home in shame. This my friends is Non-Traditional leadership at its best. You have a plan and you work that plan regardless of the opposition to that plan.

• Are You A Leader? 

If you answered, yes, that you are a leader then answer this question: Are you influencing others? A leader will influence others. Let's be leaders for Christ and influence others for our Leader.
 
Think About These:
 
An example isn't the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.
 
A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him; a great leader inspires them to have confidence in themselves.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
​

Prov. 24:16 - For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.   NASU
 
Prov. 24:16
No matter how many times you trip them up,
God-loyal people don't stay down long;
Soon they're up on their feet,
while the wicked end up flat on their faces. 
 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.) 
​

• They Don't Quit 

Solomon informs us about a righteous person and what they are made of. They have an "I don't quit" mentally.
 
I have included this verse from The Message translation also. I really love how he translated this verse.
 
No matter how many times you trip them up,
God-loyal people don't stay down long;
Soon they're up on their feet,…
 
I am sure we all have been knocked down by life, but the difference between us and others is we get back up and continue grinding it out until the victory is ours. 

• What Was It That Knocked You Down? 

Some of my readers maybe knocked down right now. Let me help you get up and back on your feet. Reread this verse in both translations. Eugene says, "God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet,…"
 
This is you. You are a God-loyal person and sure you are down now but you are not down for long because he goes on to say soon you're up on your feet.
 
Identify what it is that has knocked you down in life. Is it a health issue, or a financial issue or a work issue? Know this, whatever it is that has knocked you down the fight isn't over.
 
You will get back up on your feet and win this battle.
 
How do I know? This scripture tells us this is what God-loyal or the righteous people do. 

• Why Have You Been Knocked Down? 

Did you fail to listen to sound advice? Did you listen to faulty advice?
 
Whatever the reason there is only one thing for you to do, get back up, dust yourself off and continue in the fight until you secure the victory.
 
You can do this because God's Word says you can.
 
Think About This:
 
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength.”  ― Theodore Roosevelt
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word