Overcoming difficulties to succeed

Nothing is ever handed to us. Everything requires hard work and effort. Last night as Hailee and I were relaxing we had The Blind Side on. It’s based on a true story (Not the complete true story), and a great story. This was after watching the first Number 7 seed win the NCAA championship. With my ADD mind this changed my thought to how MSU was looking for next years team and what new recruits our team signed. I found a recruit with a remarkable story.

On sports writer Joe Rexrode’s blog, it mentioned how MSU signed three star recruit Marvin Clark. I didn’t know much about him. I read and it seemed like he was a pretty good player and a good find for MSU. Then near the end of the story their was a remarkable story about his life.

Check it out…

Such a great story to overcome. I have been reading through 2 Corinthians 7 for the past couple of days. It talks about how people were doing the wrong thing and finally repented as individuals and as a church. There have been plenty of times I have regretted an action I have done and have needed to repent. Clark could have gotten mixed up in a bad situation and his life would be going a different direction. He was able to overcome the bad in his life and turn his life to the positive.

Clark has a great story, but we each have a story. Maybe you are happy where your life is at right now, that’s awesome! If you have something you wanted to work on, maybe it’s time to move forward from the past. Do whatever it takes to make that happen. You can overcome.

Have a great day.

A greater good

Do we know what we are supposed to do with our lives?

We have some idea but what if there was a better idea?

Sometimes we have great plans and know what we are doing.

Other times we don’t.

From the age of 12 till I was 22, I thought I wanted to be a sports writer.

It was my goal from the time I realized professional sports were not in my cards.

I thought the next greatest thing was to go to sports watch the game and write about it.

It was what I thought I was supposed to do.

I did everything I could to make this happen.

In high school I was a member of the yearbook and newspaper staff along with being sports editor of the newspaper my senior year.

I went to LCC where I became a writer for The Lookout.

Within a month the sports editor resigned and I was now the sports editor.

A year later I was working for Lansing State Journal as a stringer/part time sports writer.

I went on to Central Michigan University where I worked for CMU sports information and the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun.

I wasn’t happy up at CMU and was in the process of transferring to MSU while working back at the Lansing State Journal.

During this time I was married and about a year from graduating with a journalism degree.

It was when I heard a sermon on priorities that I realize I wasn’t happy.

I was working a job in which I would not be able be at home during the night and as much as I thought was doing what I was supposed to do, I felt God was calling me to go into ministry.

I realize there was a greater goal in mind with my life.

How often do we realize this?

The disciples were wondering what they were supposed to do with their lives after Jesus passed away.

When Jesus came back he told the disciples this in Luke 24:46-47…

“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

The disciples wondered they were going to do with their lives and Jesus told them.

They found a greater purpose.

They were going to teach people about repentance and forgiveness of sins because of Jesus.

The disciples found a greater purpose.

Do you feel like you have found your purpose in life?

What is it that you are supposed to do with your life.

Going into ministry I went from having 84 credits to 30.

It was not pretty.

I tacked on three more years of schooling.

It was what I knew God wanted me to do.

What is in store for your life?

Are the sacrifices worth what you want to do with your life?

If not, what can you do to change this?

Brad Stevens graduated college and had a successful career.

At 25, he realized he wanted to try to be a college basketball coach and go all in.

He took an unpaid coaching job at Butler and less than 10 years later is leading them to their second Final Four in a row.

What he did took sacrifice and giving up a good career for the possibility of a great career.

I found a greater purpose just lie the disciples.

What is your greater purpose?

Have a great day.