Don't Give Up: "A Lesson from Andre Ingram"

 

Life is not easy.  Life does not guarantee that after much work, we will see  results quickly or really at all.  That's life and that is the reason many of us quit before we get to see success.  That happens in relationships, in business and in our personal pursuits.  There are no guarantees.

But every so often we are encouraged and empowered by someone who stayed in the fight and got to see what they wanted.  This is true with Andre Ingram.  If you are a sports fan you already know his story, if you are not you need to. 

Mr. Ingram is a 32 year old man who just walked into what he has been working towards for years.  He always wanted to play in the NBA, but it was not happening.  He played in what is called the G-league.  The older he got, the less likely it seemed that his dream would ever come into fruition.  But after 10 years of playing in other leagues, watching his family deal with financial challenges , thinking maybe overseas was the plan, he stayed in his lane and kept pushing towards what he wanted.   It is hard enough to push towards something when the end result is in your hands, it is another thing to push forward when the decision is not on you, but on someone else; someone who is busy and may not even notice your work or your sacrifice.  But don't give up!   

After years of hoping, working and keeping the prize in mind, he was contacted by the LA Lakes and asked to play in their final games: and BOY DID HE PLAY!  You will have to look him up to see the scoring and game that he brought that day! It was as if he finally got to show people what was in him all along, and he did.  

Many times we get discouraged because it doesn't seem that people really see the gift in us, or the purpose that we are pursuing.  Don't be moved by that.  Be moved by the fact that you have the gift, and it will make room for you....eventually.  In the mean time, make room for yourself.  Find places to use your gift, create opportunities to bless others and when your time comes.... don't hold back!  That is not the time to get an attitude about how long it took, that is not the time to negotiate yourself out of an opportunity, that is the time to  LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!   Once you have been given your day on the stage, it is time to move over and give God all the glory!   I really was inspired by this story and if you look him up, you will be too.  In the meantime, here are a few lessons I got from Mr, Andre Ingram:

Lessons  From Andre

1) Don't give up on your dream or what God has shown you.
2) Keep your skills current by using them wherever you can, be a blessing every day.

3) When your time comes.... SHINE!  Stay humble but bring it all and leave it all! 

4) Always give God glory, in the good times or bad, because He is always WORTHY! 

As far as Mr. Ingram and his family are concerned, we don't know where this path will lead, how long he will enjoy this journey, but that's LIFE... there are no guarantees.  But one thing for sure, the lessons we can learn from this are epic.

2 Timothy 4:2  "Be prepared in season and out of season.." 

    Congratulations Mr. Ingram!   

Avoiding Identity Theft!

We have all been warned about our identity.  We have been told to guard our credit reports, keep our credit cards and pin numbers private and to avoid questionable sites when purchasing.  We know this, we do this, but sometimes, we still are subject to  IDENTITY THEFT.  

Criminals are getting bolder in their attempt to scam us.  They call the elderly and pretend they need personal information to help us. This can result in a scam that can cost us dearly.  Others pretend to be IRS agents calling to collect on a debt; but somehow... this government agency does NOT have your social security number or address??   Scams and identity theft are the new norm for people to gain a lifestyle they want, at someone else's expense. 

IDENTIFYING WITH CHRIST 

This thought of operating under an identity that is not yours is not new. The bible talks about the Seven Sons of Sceva- they thought they could benefit from a relationship with Jesus that they did not have.   

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”  Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.  One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding."  

Acts 19:11-16

There is really nothing new under the sun. 

Do you realize that every day we live a life that we have not earned?   A life that was paid for by another?  Every day we enjoy benefits of a debt being paid and we didn't have to lift a finger to pay, we just had to accept it.  The bible says that Jesus made Himself of no reputation and willing took on our sins.  So today my life is hid in Him, He has paid for all that I enjoy today.  My identity is now in HIM, the only difference is that I didn't have to steal it, He willingly gave it to me. 

IMPORTANCE OF IDENTITY 

Our identity is important, especially in Christ.  As believers we know that who we are is not determined by what we do, but what we do is determined by who we are.  If we don't know WHO WE ARE, we don't really know what to do!  Certain things we can avoid because of who we are.  Even when we mess up and find ourselves in a bad place, WHO WE ARE calls to us, it reminds us we are better than that.   Much like the prodigal son, even in his lowest point, he remembered.   I GOT A DADDY WHO LOVES ME AND HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH!  I am His child and He will provide for me.

SECURE YOUR IDENTITY!

So if you find yourself lost or living beneath your means, remind yourself who you are.  The righteousness of God in Him,  The head and not the tail, A Child of God, an Ambassador of Christ, His Beloved.   Don't allow the enemy to steal from you an identity that has been freely given to you and paid for by the One who loves you.  He only has good intentions for you and He has given us His identity as a child of God, we have access that we have not earned, don't let the enemy rob you of that.  Live your best life in Him!   

I Say "Arm Our Teachers!"

I know this may sound very different than you may believe, but I say "Arm Our Teachers!"  In recent years, we have seen the fear and uncertainty in the eyes of our children, and as parents... most of us will do anything to ensure they are safe, unafraid and well.  It is our job to ensure they make it in this world, physically, mentally, spiritually, and educationally.   That is what parents do.  After the school shootings that have flooded our news feeds and hearing the voices of children crying out for themselves... I say "Arm Our Teachers!"

NOT WITH GUNS! 

When I suggest arming our teachers, I am not talking about guns or gun control.  That is foolishness.  Why, because those same teachers are stressed with jobs, home circumstances, health fears, relationship challenges and anger issues.  Arming them could make our children safe, but it could also put a whole classroom in jeopardy of a meltdown; and we know it can happen.  We have seen videos of children going off on teachers, hitting them, disrespecting them.. and we get angry when a teacher does anything to defend themselves.  I have heard it said "But they are the adults."  Yes, but somehow some parents have 'raised' their kids to believe that they are adults, and they go face to face with their teachers and others in authority.  So arming the teachers with guns, is not the answer.  But I still say "Arm Our Teachers!" 

HOW TO ARM THEM

If we really want a change in our schools, let's arm them.

SALARY: With a decent salary for mentoring and molding the next generation.  If we are not happy with who we get, put the money in to get better.  Either way, value those who spend most of their day with OUR KIDS teaching them the things we are not equipped to teach.  Money answers a lot of things, it can help us arm teachers to be more effective.

SUPPLIES: Teachers should not have to pull from their already slim pockets to provide what is necessary to teach our children.  They should be free to be creative and productive in the classroom.  Again put money in a fund and make it available for those teachers who have ideas and skills to take our kids to another level!  Have incentive for those who want to think and teach outside the box, but the right now the box is empty.  Our children deserve to be updated with information  and supplies that are current.  That should be the norm.  I remember sitting in on a bond meeting for a school district right when they were introducing laptops for every child in their High schools.  The creative ideas they had to keep their students relevant were amazing, but costly.  In that district it passed because people understood the need.  We have to put things in place for ALL schools.

SUPPORT: Parents, teachers need more than just a PTA to do their jobs well, they need the support of parents, guardians and the powers that be, to do their job.  That support may be our presence at PTA meetings, it may also be our trust that they mean well for our kids.  Granted, I realize in years past we have seen some pretty horrible things when it comes to teachers behaving badly, but if you pay more, you can draw from a pool of better qualified candidates.  Have support for children  or teachers who need counseling or follow up during difficult times.  Provide mental health opportunities or classes that can assist those who need it and inform those who think they don't.  Listen to what the teachers are saying is working or not working for their kids.  Children learn differently, but they can learn.  That teacher should be empowered to ensure it happens. 

SPANK:  (Okay, that was extra, but it began with a "S").  

We are not supposed to 'spank" any more, but we do need to discipline our OWN kids!  If they do not respect us, they will not automatically respect other authorities.  Whether it is the teachers, law enforcement or even their future employers, our children feel they do not have to respond to anyone if they do not want to.   No classroom should be held captive by a student that insists on disrupting it, or a parent who refuses to intervene.  There are 'how many' children in the class that came to learn?  We owe them the opportunity to learn.  

SECURITY: Last of all, if we really want to see a change, yes arm someone.  Arm trained security officers to be present in the schools to assist with disruptions in the classrooms, to confront any person who should not be on campus, and for those instances that we have seen turn into active shooters.  Secure the facility with inconspicuous metal detectors, and have guidelines for what kids can bring or not bring to school.  When there is a problem with a child or teacher, don't ignore it, deal with it!  Have a forum where parents can confidentially give info if they are concerned about their own child possible acting out. 

I love teachers, I love that they continue to do a job that is often thankless, difficult and not always celebrated.  Sometimes the best appreciation they get is from the children they see years later - thanking them for being there, for being firm with them when they were hard headed, for believing in them when they didn't believe in themselves and for teaching them. 

Instead of arming our teachers to guard our children, 

we should  arm them so they can TEACH them.  

Discouraged? You Are Positioned to Win!

All of us have had trying times.  We have had to deal with all kinds of issues that leave us drained and feeling like we are not really as strong as we had hoped.  Many times our decisions can remind us that we really are not doing or being everything we claim.   I spoke to a woman recently who was dealing with old thoughts and insecurities that she thought she had overcome.  It was difficult listening to her describe how she had failed God, failed herself, lost her testimony and was now in a place that she felt everything she held to was obviously tainted by her recent decision.  Have you ever felt that way?  I have.

But isn't that what we do to ourselves?  One incident in our attempt to live for God, we make a mistake or make a bad decision, and we think  our living was in vain?  I heard once that DISCOURAGEMENT is the enemy's greatest weapon.  When he cannot cause us to walk away from God,  he tries to make the battle personal and attack us from within.   Discourage is his weapon of choice, but we are not ignorant of his devises.  

But we will NOT let him win!  Be honest if you have a bad moment, a bad day or a month that didn't go very well... you are just having a moment, a moment that will pass if we let it and we need to get back in our place and OWN IT.  

POSITION AND CONDITION

My pastor recently taught a message at church about our POSITION and our CONDITION.  We get the two mixed up more than we realize.  As born again Christians, Our POSITION is in Christ.  He has seated us in heavenly places, given us dominion and power.  He gave us this because we accepted Him, not because we deserved it.  Since we are carnal beings taking on a spiritual position, He provided for us by loving us, forgiving us and continuing to work in us.  In fact, He knows our weaknesses even before we identify them.  The CONDITION we were born with, can be seen in the things we struggle with, the fallen state of man and the temptations that seem to win more often than not.  But our CONDITION is defeated daily by our POSITION in God.  If we really know who we are, and what God has provided for us, we should pull on Him and the place He has for us in His kingdom, even when we fall short (especially when we fall short).  Meaning, yes.. you will make mistakes, but God is not shocked by them.  Remember Who you belong to and get back in place! 

In our minds that makes no sense.  We expect people to pay for their wrong doings and often we do pay for bad decisions, but it does not move you from your POSITION in God.  You have to choose to stay there, ask for forgiveness and continue to march.  

SIMPLE ENCOURAGEMENT 

Realize you are stronger than you may think, God has given His spirit to help you, His word to instruct you and His grace to cover you.  Surround yourself with people who mean you well and will instruct you in the ways fo God.  Continue going to church (another trick of the enemy is to isolate you) , continue studying and feeding your spirit man.  Regardless to what you find yourself dealing with, do not allow discouragement to take hold.  You are going to be okay, you really are stronger than you think! Your POSITION strengthens you, stay in place.  To some this may sound like a license to sin and just ask for forgiveness, no... this is the "Since you are not perfect and will make mistakes, don't give up on God because He has not given up on you!"   

God's CONDITIONAL Love?

God loves us.  If there has ever been a basic message in this world that is meant to draw unbelievers and encourage believers- that is the message; God loves us.  The bible describes various ways that we know He does.  God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,  While we were yet sinners, in due time Jesus died for us,  Nothing can separate us from the love of God...

So many scriptures remind us of the unconditional love of God, but does being in relationship with Him have conditions?

SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS 

I was talking to a friend the other day,  we have been going through a list of  relationship questions that we both answer.    One question was about what makes for a successful relationship.  They had a really good answer. When it was my turn to answer, I added a  traditional twist. "Accepting each other and unconditional love."  It sounded normal and even accurate but this is their response:

"I don't believe in unconditional love when it comes to being IN love.  I believe to have someone stay in love with you, is an earned privilege.  You can love someone unconditionally, but being  IN love costs."   -SM

By the time I finished reading their response, I understood something that I always knew, but never made mental consent of... Relationships cost!  We all know this, but it seems like it is easy to forget when we only focus on the love.  It is so much easier to love people on the street because you may never see them again.   It is often easier to love people at church because you don't  have to live with them.  But when it comes to the people we are in a relationship with.... it costs.  We expect more, we look for more and are often less patient with them because...well they know us and are supposed to be committed to us... for better or worse.   When we are married or in a relationship, sometimes we think we have the prize and now we can chill out a bit.  We think we can afford not to work on ourselves or pay much attention to the other person, because they should love us ...unconditionally; after all, we both said "I do."  The truth is it costs to stay in a relationship, to grow our love every day, to forgive seventy times seven, and still gaze in another's eyes.  Of course, I got to thinking and I realized this viewpoint  helped me, but it had to pass the ultimate test.  Does it measure up to what God has said?

GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

We like to talk about Agape Love:  That is what we call 'the God kind' of love, it is unconditional.  It does not matter what you do, how you act or who you are... God loves us!  The bible tells us if we choose to make our bed in hell, God will still love us.   Nothing can separate us from the Love of  God, not tribulation  or peril or sword... nothing.  That is a truth that gives us so much peace an assurance that there is nothing we can do that will change God's love for us.  

As a result of this information, many of us choose to assume that being in a RELATIONSHIP with God means that there are no conditions.  There is no cost for His love, it is unconditional; but to be in a relationship with God... there are  conditions.  The bible reminds us that nothing can separate us from God's LOVE, but our iniquities can cause a separation from God HIMSELF.  There is a price for being in a relationship with God, Jesus paid the ultimate price, we pay it daily to have fellowship with HIM. Here are a few conditions to have a great relationship with God: 

1. First: We  accept Him and the price He paid
2. We  love Him and love others
3. We feed on His word to stay strong  and learn of Him
4. We obey Him by serving others 
5. We communicate with Him and allow Him to communicate with us

I can go on, but those of us who know God and know how relationships work, you understand this.  It costs us to live this life even though the price has already been paid and the vows have already been said.  Love is free, but having a vibrant living relationship has conditions.  

I would like to encourage you, stay diligent in your relationships, whether with people or with God.  Don't allow time to go by that you don't examine the price or the input that you give to them both.  Don't ignore the things that need to be addressed to make your union stronger.  Knowing you are loved is great, it is liberating, but knowing you both are working to stay in a strong relationship makes the difficult times worth it.   

"When Kids Stand- Stand with Them!" #ENOUGH

I recently saw a field full of shoes.  Those shoes represented all the children who have died due to gun violence in recent years.  Shoes that should be filled by growing kids furthering their education, experiencing their first day of college, their first job, their first love.  But they are gone.  

There is something about a visual, it makes us think, and it makes us pay attention to what our other senses may not want to acknowledge.  Shoes, Kid's shoes...empty shoes.

KIDS TAKING A STAND 

After the most recent High School shooting things changed a bit.  The kids took on the cause for gun regulation on themselves.  In the midst of their stand the words were repeated:  "We don't need your thoughts prayers."  It sounds harsh to those who pray, but their sentiment was right- thoughts and prayers do not change things.  The bible clearly says that "Faith without works is dead."  If we are willing to pray for something, we should also be willing to do something about it. Today children across the nation are taking action where their prayers are, they are walking out of their schools for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 lives lost.  Though that action alone will not change any laws, keep your eyes on this group, they are aiming to make something change in their lifetime.  Their walk out is simply a glimpse of a young generation taking on politics and change.  I really believe these kids are going to make a difference that the adults have not been able to make so far.  But we have to be careful, if children are empowered opposite the wisdom of the older generations, it can be a mess.

WHEN KIDS STAND ALONE

The bible says "He chose the young because they are strong," the end of the scripture says "and the word of God abides in them".  We need to be sure our young people are empowered and empowered well.  They need us.

2 Chronicles 10 we hear the story about Rehoboam the son of King Solomon.  He was rightfully the king but he sought counsel from two different sources:

1) His father's advisers               2) His friends.  

With the influence of his peers, the young King Rehoboam disregarded the advice of the older generation and followed his friend's advice; as a result the kingdom was divided into the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom.  These kingdoms then fought against each other.  There is a balance we need to have when empowering our children to make a change.  We have to be able to talk to them and give them an understanding of the price of change, the work it takes and the consequences- good and bad that can come.   This is hard to do with a group of kids with a cause, their strength wants to just get the job done, but as adults we owe it to them to help them as they stand. 

WISDOM: STANDING WITH THEM

We should be proud of our kids for standing when others have not.  These kids can make a huge difference in this world, but they still need us.  They need our input, our guidance and our wisdom to help them make the great difference that needs to be made. But they will also need a standard higher than ours- they will need God's standard.  That is harder to pass on if we ourselves have not kept it.  But whether it is for gun control, life, college, or relationships, our kids need guidelines to help them make a difference.  Expecting them to do life without guidance is foolish because they are kids, and at one time or another the child in them will show up again. Taking time to talk to our kids and understand that they think differently than we do, but their strength and drive can get the job done.    I am encouraged that our young people are standing up for themselves when adults have not done it for them.  Now we need to stand too, and do our part to ensure that they are not standing alone. 

#ENOUGH

The TRUTH about Consequences!

Most believers realize how gracious God is.  We know and understand that He is a God who honors His word, so when He tells us He loves us, we believe Him.  When He tells us He will continue working in us, we believe Him!  That is what faith looks like, it believes regardless, and we know that faith is what pleases God.  But what happens when we trust what we know too much? Can we  actually know too much about God to our own detriment?

MY PROBLEM 

Recently I was talking to God about a decision I made that was not the best, in fact it was basically disobedience... Okay, it was flat out disobedience.  After making this decision, I realized that there were dire consequences to it.  Because I KNOW God, I was tempted to pray and ask Him to remove or soften the consequences of my sin.  Why was that the first thought on my mind?  Because I KNOW Him!  I know He loves me and cares about everything that concerns me. I KNOW His word says that if we confess or sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse.  I KNOW He has promised to perfect everything concerning me...  See faith is good, but when we use what we KNOW about God to disobey and get away with it.... a decision has to be made. 

When I admitted to myself what my prayer was probably going to be, I also realized that my relationship with God was better than that.  I saw myself in the mirror of His word and realized that I was my own enemy when I think I can do the opposite of His word and prosper. 
The bible tells us in Romans 6:1:

"What should we say then?  

Should we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How can we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"  

MY REVISED PRAYER 

I have been living and relying on verses in Romans 5 that tells us 'where sin abounds, grace much more abounds'.  But there comes a time that we need to grow up and change the chapter we are living in.  So with tears in my eyes and a tremble in my voice, this is what my prayer sounded like... as a maturing believer who knows better:

Father God, I am sorry.  

I have heard you, but I chose to do the opposite of what You told me.  I realize Lord that  I can pray for the consequences be changed, but not right now.  I will pray about that later, right now I know I need to deal with the immediate consequences so that I remind MYSELF later to obey YOU.  So today, Lord, I just want to be in good standing with You, I just want to continue walking in Your grace and obeying You.  I know You have not discarded me, but I owe You more than I have given You.  I know that Your promises for me are true, they are Yes, and Amen... but KNOWING You does not excuse not obeying You.  Yes I know You are forgiving, You are merciful, You are loving.  I value  our relationship so that makes me consider my responsibility to You, not just Yours to me.  I love You and thank You for forgiving me and thank You for loving me in spite of me.  

 In Jesus name, amen. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT CONSEQUENCES

As believers, we really like when God changes the consequences of our actions.  We like to 'do the crime', but praise Him because we don't have to 'do the time'.  But what happens when we have to live with consequences, what if He does not change them?  Will we continue to love Him, continue to serve Him, continue to reach out to others and tell of His graciousness?  Consequences help us teach ourselves.  Sometimes the worst thing you had to deal with, taught you more than the best verse in the bible.  So if this story of mine can help you choose better, then my consequences are already worth it.  See, really loving God does not always look like we do everything right, it just means our heart is right and when we are faced with our own error, regardless to the consequences, we side with God and His word....every time.