Against all odds (More than just the autobiography from Chuck Norris)

I love the underdog. I love teams and people that aren’t expected to do anything and they surprise the world. Kurt Warner was a minor league quarterback, a backup quarterback, at one point worked at a grocery store, but after the starting quarterback went down he stepped in and the rest is history.

Being a Michigan State, Lions, Tigers and Chris Kaman (He played for the Clippers a lot of years and then had to go to the Hornets) fan I get used to being the underdog. It builds character and courage to fight through the bad moments.

This happens outside the sports realm and into all aspects of life.

Paul was traveling as a prisoner to Rome. They were on a boat and things took a turn for the worst. A huge storm hit them and they were basically goners. They didn’t see the sun for three days and lost hope. They threw over cargo and almost everything including the ships tackle. Many thought they would die.

This wasn’t the case as Paul talks in Acts 27:23-25…

“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”

The people would be safe. There was less than a glimmer of hope, yet God took care of Paul and took care of the people. Keep up your courage. What do you need courage in? Courage goes beyond being an underdog is sports. The people on the boat lacked courage, yet God came through for them. Take courage even through the worst of times.

Some people that have amazing courage to me…

Single parents – For whatever reason, this is nearly impossible to go through.  Hailee and I were teaming up to feed Nolan, change and get Nolan back to sleep.  We both said the same thing, I couldn’t do this alone.

Those coming from poor situations – It’s hard to have nothing and to make something with your life, it takes a tremendous amount of hard work.

Those with physical or mental disabilities – the strength of what some people have to go throw everyday is beautiful.  When you see people overcoming and not being a slave to a disability and do something awesome it’s a masterpiece.

Kids of divorced families – Stats of shown that the kids of divorced families don’t usually fair as well kids with parents that don’t divorce.  If you are a child of divorced parents you can overcome and do so much with your life.

Paul was able to keep the men’s courage. If you are struggling through life right now, take courage.

Know that through much pain can come much joy. God is there for you even when you don’t feel like it. Take courage. What do you need courage in?

Stay strong, fight the good fight, do everything in your power to make things better and when you come up short, you can always rely on God and Jesus. If things are going good for you….encourage!

Help someone else out. Lift them up with your words, make this world a better place with how you treat other people. Life can get better. Take courage!

Have a great day!

Beat down one to many times

Sometimes when it rains, it pours.

Life doesn’t seem fair at times.

Have you ever felt like bad stuff just kept coming at you?

No matter what you did bad things just kept happening?

You could feel like you are in a tail spin.

I felt God was calling me to Terre Haute, IN.

I knew it in my heart and so did Hailee.

It was a big jump, moving to an area when Hailee and I never lived more than an hour from Lansing.

We knew this is where God wanted us.

As we were going to move from Lansing to Terre Haute, Nevaeh ended up sick.

We didn’t know what to do.

Hailee had insurance at her job that was supposed to go to the end of the month.

They cancelled it two weeks early and now Nevaeh was sick and we didn’t have the money to visit a doctor.

We had a Dr. friend that gave her a quick check and thought it was strep throat, but it could be more.

We didn’t have money or insurance and found ourselves having to go to the ER.

Thank God it just ended up being strep throat.

That ER visit cost us over $1300 of money we didn’t have.

We could question God.

God, we are doing this move for you and your kingdom and this happens?

The first week down in Terre Haute and my third day at Union Christian Church I get a call at 3:30 a.m. and my Grandpa just passed away.

I thought I was making the right decision and yet all this stuff was happening.

Sometimes with life it all falls apart at one time.

It happens when you have faith too.

Paul was arrested on false circumstances.

His life was on the line and he was told by the government he had to go before the religious supreme court (Sanhedrin).

He had a comment and was it across the mouth for it.

His life was constantly on the line after he made a decision to follow Christ with his life.

He was almost killed multiple times and after going through all these bad things in the Lord told Paul this in Acts 23:11…

“Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

What?

Paul, was beat to an inch of his life.  He was beaten multiple times and that is his story?

It doesn’t sounds fair.

After making a decision to follow Christ, he gets beat to an inch of his life and is under constant pressure and threats.

God offers him to take courage.

God was there for him through the best of times and the worst.

Just like God was there for Paul through the bad stuff he had to go through, he is there for us today.

Even when we feel beat down and question our faith or what we are going through, he is there.

He was there for Paul.

I know he was there for me and that I am in the exact place God wants me to be.

If you didn’t have any trials or tribulations, would you need faith?

Trust in God, he protects us in life and the bad things we go through.

God is awesome and watches over us even when we feel like he’s not.

If you are having a rough time right now, trust in God.

You can and will make it through the tough times.

Trust in God and he will come through for you, In God we trust is on our money for a reason.

Trust in God.

Have a great day.