Family Friday 11/19: Your Identity Pt.2

Good morning, men!

I haven’t discussed this with Dustin, but I am going to piggy back off what he wrote yesterday. I too have a coaching background and have two sons that participate in athletics. My passion is baseball, but the process of cuts Dustin mentioned yesterday is applicable to all sports at one point or another.

One concept we are really big on with our kids is purposefully sitting them from time to time. Teaching them how to ride the pine, be a team player, and support their teammates is just as important as teaching them how to excel at a game. I would even argue that it is more important, because those skills transfer outside of the sport, which will come to an end for all of them one day.

Just like Dustin mentioned yesterday, where your identity lies is fleshed out when you are on the bench. If I am defined as being the BPOT (best player on the team)…how do I react to those around me when I am injured and unable to play? What about when I move up a level (college or pro) and suddenly I’m not the best anymore?!

This is where our foundation in Jesus Christ is most important. If we know He is in us, and our definition is in His acceptance…the bench isn’t so bad. Watching others succeed becomes a celebration instead of introducing envy.

Have a blessed day, men!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Your Identity

Ephesians 3:17-18 NLT

¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

I apologize for the late message today.

Yesterday, I was a part of something very difficult. At the high school that I am assisting with boys basketball at, we had to have our “cuts”. The tryout process was a 3 day period of early morning testing workouts and afternoon practices. I can honestly say, I was super impressed with the work ethic, attitudes, and comradery of all the athletes who came out and gave it their all. Unfortunately, there are times in life when we work very hard for something, think we are going to make the cut, and in the end do not find ourselves “on the team”.

Can I just remind you today, that no matter what, your identity is in Christ. He will make his home in your hearts, your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Some of the student athletes who were not chosen for the team, do not quite understand yet that this trial could be one of the best things that God has ever had in store for them! I am praying that all of them will see their identity in Him, and understand His plans aren’t always what we expect, but they are always GOOD.

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how WIDE, how LONG, how HIGH, and how DEEP His love is your you.

with love, dlp

M.I.T.T.

Who’s your one?

There is a national campaign going on right now, not tied to any one specific church, that wants to help you pray for your one.

I’m going to guess we all have that one person that we would call our “one” that person that you love, not a project, but a burden that you carry around in your heart. You think about during the day and go to sleep at night thinking about where they are with the Lord, that one person who you have burned into your heart.

This is a way to get others praying for your “one” along side you. It’s as easy as going to https://whosyourone.com/ and entering their name and geographic location. They aren’t asking for an address or anything like that. Would be Zach from Salina, and a prayer team will help you along in praying for your “one”.

I encourage you to think who your one is, I’m guessing most of you can list them without even having to think, and go put there name on the website. Prayer is powerful!

ZB

Muscles

Good morning men. This coming Sunday, I will get to run in the Little Rock half marathon. I have always talked about running a half and maybe a full someday. That being said, I finally committed to a half this year back in June/July. A good friend of mine from college has helped me by getting us a training plan. I committed to it and have stuck to the training plan. Since I started running back in the spring, I’ve lost around 25-30 lbs and have gotten into considerably better shape. I’ve ran my longest distances I’ve ever ran this year. Now, I feel confident and comfortable about the run this coming weekend.

Men, I saw all that because this relates to our Christian walk and strength. I mentioned I’ve lost some weight. How many of us are carrying around “extra weight” that we don’t need? Jesus can take that weight for you men. How do you get better? You have to commit to it. How does your faith strengthen? You stick to the plan that’s been laid out. Day in and day out, you do what you’ve set out. Eventually, it becomes second nature. Getting in the word for 30 minutes a day. Praying before each meal, being intentional about our walk is just as much an exercise as running.

Keep growing and strengthening men!

The suffering servant prophecy

This Sunday got to hear a very anticipated and excellent sermon on Isaiah 53. Keep in mind this prophetic scripture was written several CENTURIES before the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, yet it is very clear who it is about. Men, pray and be blessed with the good news of Jesus Christ in this passage as you read this. This is the gospel proclaimed again several hundred years before it happened. God is amazing and rest in that we can live and walk in Christ’s righteousness because of the Father’s love for us, the finished work of Christ leading to the provision and power of the Holy Spirit in us to glorify Him until He returns.

Isaiah 53 ESV

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:1-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sharing and Spreading Love

Luke 15:24
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Isaiah 61:7
7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

Pastors, today is the perfect opportunity to grow the kingdom. Make it happen.

Last May I moved back to western Kansas, a place I grew up and missed, throughout my many moves. When that happens for a person, they reconnect with people they haven’t seen for quite some time.

Through all of its negatives, I will say that Facebook allows people to stay more caught up with people from the past. There is a guy that I was friends with when I was in this area before, but life happened and our exchanges were reduced to communicating on birthdays and maybe a couple of other times a year.

This friend fell on some self inflicted hard times while I was away. I have seen him two or three times recently at some events and we still laugh quite a bit and enjoy stories from the past. I got to thinking about how that situation could be a Manly Message. We all know someone like that. In fact, maybe we were that person.

The scriptures above put it in perspective. God’s love for us is so vast that we cannot begin to decipher it. We can’t fathom His love for all of us. That being said, I feel like we should be returning the favor in loving our neighbors and helping those in need. We may be their experience with Jesus. Let’s be ready to do it the right way.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

A Window to the Heart

Romans 12:15
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a teacher and a basketball coach. We are actually very fortunate because we get to coach some young ladies who have experienced success at some higher levels in other sports and activities.

There are a couple of young ladies who’ve already won a regional championship in golf this year. In fact, one has already won an individual State Championship in golf. That same girl also made it to an upper level of honors band. Another player won her regional in tennis and was undefeated until the State semifinals. She started playing tennis two or three years ago. There is also a girl on our team who holds the middle school record in the javelin and we have a girl who signed to play college basketball at a D2 in Colorado just last week.

I say all of those things because some of those kids have talked about how there are just as many people looking to knock them off of their perch as there are that are happy for them. From what I have observed, these girls have worked really hard to get where they are now. They’ve earned their success.

So today’s scripture talks about rejoicing for those who rejoice. I would guess that there are times we all fit into the category of not being completely happy for others when they have certain joys. It seems that it is much easier to feel sorrow for those who are mourning and while that is important, too, I feel that the true testament is rejoicing for others. In all honesty, I sometimes experience struggles watching others have certain types of joy that I don’t get to have. I know that’s something to work on.

Perhaps several of us are in that same category and we need to get better together.

Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 11/12: Ask Yourself….

Good morning, men!

I saw this post on social media yesterday. Of course, I thought about my day ahead. Early morning, long drive, sports practice, food on the run. Not exactly the most ideal day.

Then, I turned the focus away from my wants and selfish desires for the day and I thought about what was behind my schedule. Providing for my family. Serving other kids/ families without financial gain. Giving gifts. Suddenly it didn’t seem so bad.

I guess the point of this post is this: If we place the value of our days in wether or not they serve our own selfish wants, they will seem lackluster. If we can find joy in fulfilling our calling by Jesus to server others and share our gifts, the days seem more worthwhile.

Have a blessed day and a restful weekend!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Show Honor

Romans 12:10 ESV — Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

I was posed a question recently that really challenged me! What if Jesus was coming to your house for supper, but the only food you had to serve Him was hotdogs?

Here is where my mind went. I would look up a video on YouTube of some of the best hotdog cooking techniques. I would make sure the internal temp of the dog was perfect, the grill marks were beautiful, and you know Jesus would want to “break bread” so there would have to be a bun….I would lather some butter on it, throw it on the grill for a few minutes to perfect the texture and the look…Cheese? Ketchup? Mustard? Relish? All side options to make the appearance look great, showing Jesus that I took the time to make sure He was offered all the options He might want, but not forcing Him into anything. I do not own any fancy dishes, but no Dixie plates and red solo cups for this guest, only the best that I have to offer, yep Pioneer Woman from Walmart.

Have I gone far enough? Are you understanding my point? If Jesus were coming to my home, man, I would show Him so much Honor. I would make the effort to make sure He understood how important His visit to my home was. Here’s the challenge:

-What if, as brothers in Christ, we showed one another the same type of honor?

Honor: “to give weight to someone”

When we show Honor, we make that person feel important, we make them know their presence carries weight. They are special to us, and we yearn to treat them the same way God does. We are willing to “go out of our way” to make them feel special.

Men, always remember this: The bible is very specific in how MEN can impact the Kingdom of God! It starts with each and everyone of us. We want to feel honored and we need to show Honor. Imagine how we can radically change the world if we are radical for the Lord!

with love,

dlp

M.I.T.T.