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A must-listen conversation with Clemson University football head coach, Dabo Swinney on today’s @JoelOsteen show. Tune in for insights on faith, family, and football. ONLY on @siriusxm app! #ChristianPrepFootballNews We Celebrate Coaches Who Celebrate Christ https://x.com/JoelOsteenRadio/status/1767573827586851076

https://medium.com/@coachmaj/coaching-football-jesus-style-592fee30e2ca In Matthew 6:30–34, we are instructed on proper priorities. I like the Message Bible as it expressed God’s Word in everyday language. Matthew 6:30–34 in the Message reads: 30″If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers — most of which are never even seen — don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. 32People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Put God first and as King James puts it all these things will be added to you. I will end this paragraph with a question; Where do your priorities lie and how will they be judged when Friday night lights have long faded?

I want to talk to you today about Dare to Pray Boldly. One reason we don’t see God do great things is we’re only asking for small things. We pray over our food, we pray for protection, we pray for wisdom. And that’s all good, but when was the last time you asked God to do something that seems impossible, out of the ordinary, you couldn’t accomplish on your own? If God answered everything you’re praying about now, would it be big enough, would you be satisfied? Are you asking for your dreams? Are you asking for something that’s over your head, those secret petitions he’s put in your heart? You know it’s from him, but you haven’t told anyone, seems too far out, unthinkable. Christian apparel Many prayers are not being answered simply because they’re not being asked. If you only pray small prayers, you’re not going to see the greatness of our God. If you only ask for little things, you’re not going to reach the fullness of your destiny. There are dreams that God has put in your heart that you can’t accomplish on your own. There are obstacles that you’ll face that are too big for you to overcome by yourselves. If you don’t learn to  pray bold prayers, if you don’t learn to ask God big, ask for your dreams, for things that are over your head, then you’ll get stuck where you are. “Well, Joel, I don’t want to be selfish. I know God has other things to deal with”. You are not inconveniencing God by praying bold. Bold prayers get God’s attention. Bold prayers cause angels to go to work. Bold prayers open doors you could never open. Bold prayers turn impossible situations around. When you pray boldly, you’re releasing your faith. You’re saying, “God, I know there’s nothing too hard for you. I know you’re the all-powerful Creator of the universe, that you can take me where I can’t go on my own”. God said in Psalm 2:8, “You’re my child, what do you want? Ask me and I’ll give you nations as a present, I’ll give you continence as a prize”. We’re asking for small things, “God, help me to make ends meet, help me to live with this sickness, help me to endure this job”. God is saying, “I have nations for you. I have something awesome in your future, something bigger than you’ve imagined, but there’s a condition: you have to ask”. You’re not going to see the nations, you won’t see the continents as a prize, if you’re praying small, weak, limited prayers. “God, help me to make my house payment this month. I mean with gas prices, inflation, the recession”, that’s an ordinary prayer. A bold prayer is, “God, help me to pay my house off. Help me to have overflow, so I can pay someone else’s house off”. A normal prayer, “God, my child’s off course. Help him to not get in trouble. Keep him out of harm’s way”. That’s okay, but ordinary prayer gets ordinary results. If you only pray small, then you’ll only receive small. A bold prayer is, “God, I’m asking you to not just protect my child, but help him fulfill his destiny, use him in great ways to make a difference with his life”. Or maybe you’ve been through disappointments, life has thrown you curves. Normal prayers, “God, just help me to survive, help me to endure”. A bold prayer is, “Father, you said you’d give me double for the unfair things that have happened. You said you have beauty for these ashes, so Lord, thank you that something awesome is coming my way”. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss”. The word amiss in the original language means sick, weak, miserable. This is saying, “You won’t receive when you pray sick prayers, when you pray weak prayers”. When we pray to survive, endure, make it through, that’s a sick prayer. “Oh, God, I’m so defeated, I’m under so much pressure, God, you’ve got to do something”. That prayer needs to go to urgent care, that prayer is on his last leg. Try a different approach: how about a bold prayer? “God, I have a lot coming against me, but I know you being for me is greater than what’s trying to stop me. Lord, I thank you the tithe of the battle is beginning to turn right now”. That’s a healthy prayer. That gets God’s attention. He responds to faith-filled prayers. Christian apparel And sometimes what we call prayer is really a complaining session, “God, you know these people at work are getting on my nerves. And my children don’t appreciate me. My back’s been hurting. My husband’s been rude. The dog doesn’t like me. The goldfish is depressed. God, you’ve got to do something”, that’s a sick prayer. You need to pray from a place of faith. You don’t have to tell God all your problems, he already knows everything that’s going on. Ask him for what you want him to do, ask him for what you’re believing for. “God, I’m up against all this trouble, but Lord I thank you that you are turning it around, that you are fighting my battles for me, that you’ll bring me out better than I was before”. John chapter 4, Jesus had traveled to the city of Samaria. His disciples went into town to get food. He was sitting at a well waiting. This woman came to get water, Jesus asked her for a drink. She said, “Sir, you’re a Jew, I’m a Samaritan, why are you asking me for water”? Jews and Samaritans didn’t have anything to do with each other back then. Jesus said to her, “If you only knew who I am, and how generous our God is, you would ask me and I would give you living water”. She said, “But you don’t even have a bucket, where would you get this water”….

“Todd Blackledge Leans on Iconic New Testament Verse During Game-Winning Drive” Penn State 27, Nebraska 24 (September 24, 1982) When Nebraska traveled to University Park, Pennsylvania for a non-conference game against host Penn State, the 85,304 fans in attendance most likely didn’t know what they were about to witness. Certainly there was the spectacle of numerous future NFL athletes such as Curt Warner, Gregg Garrity, Bill Contz, Walker Lee Ashley (Nittany Lions), Irving Fryar, Mike Rozier, Roger Craig, and Dave Rimington (Cornhuskers). There was also the first-class battle between two legendary coaches—Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne. But when the game was on the line, it all weighed down on the shoulders of Penn State’s senior quarterback Todd Blackledge. Trailing 24-21, the Nittany Lions offense took the field at its own 35-yard line with just 1:18 left in the game. Throughout the drive that followed, Blackledge calmed himself as he repetitiously recited one of his favorite Bible verses: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) For decades, that iconic New Testament passage has served as an inspiration to countless athletes and coaches. On this day, it was Blackledge whose play was bolstered by the apostle Paul’s words as he orchestrated an exhilarating 65-yard drive. With seconds remaining, he threw a long pass to tight end Mike McCloskey that resulted in a controversial completion call. Then, on the two-yard line, Blackledge faked the hand-off before tossing the game-winning touchdown to his other tight end Kirk Bowman. Penn State’s come-from-behind victory spurred an 11-1 finish including a 27-23 Sugar Bowl upset over Herschel Walker and top-ranked Georgia, and garnered the Nittany Lions’ first national championship. Blackledge, who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated following the Nebraska game, received much of the credit for his team’s success. “People ask me what’s been the key to my improvement,” he told People Magazine that same season. “And I talk about how I never worked so hard before, how I worked out all summer to improve my drop-backs, my agility, my delivery. But deep in my heart I know that the real key was my spiritual preparation.” For Blackledge, the result on the field might have been a big victory, but away from the game, the strength found in that biblical passage has been equally significant. Scripture Philippians 4:13   Source: College Football And The Bible – Day 1 of 10

Faith F.A.M.I.L.Y.® Football Challenge #2 by Jess Stainbrook Thanks for joining us in this 7 day reading plan. You may be joining us because you are connected to our Faith Family Football Celebration event live from the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, or perhaps a friend recommended it, or you just found us on the Bible App.  However it happened, we’re glad you could join us for this mini-journey that will give you some more insight and increase your understanding of how to grow your “faith” in your daily life.   Back in the 1990’s, lots of “church people” were wearing bracelets with, W.W.J.D. – What Would Jesus Do?  We always wondered – what’s the answer to that question?  My good friend Mike Manhardt and his buddy while hanging out in Jamaica came up with an acronym that I believe can be a great reminder of the answer to the ‘WWJD’ question. It’s F.A.M.I.L.Y.!  Now, I know the word family can have lots of meanings. Beyond just the standard dictionary definitions, it’s more than “parents and children” or “common ancestors.”  It can be those that stick with us through thick and thin, or our extended and new blended families. Family can be a mentor or a coach, those special people that care about us… dare we say “LOVE” us… no matter what.  Like Lilo says in the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch, “Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”  OR as Edna Buchanan, the American journalist said, “Family are the friends that we choose ourselves.” I give you the word F.A.M.I.L.Y.® as a mnemonic device (pronounced, new-monic). I know what you’re saying, “A Mne… what the heck is that word?!!!”  No, it’s not a new power tool from The Home Depot!  A mnemonic device is a way that that helps you remember something else. We use them everyday – probably without even knowing it, i.e., SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus; ASAP= As Soon As Possible; FYI=For Your Information, FAQ=Frequently Asked Questions, BFF=Best Friend Forever, or LOL=Laughing Out Loud.   In our case, it’s the individual letters in the word F.A.M.I.L.Y.® that will remind you every single day of how to live your life in that “What Would Jesus Do” way.  Plus, you can share it with your friends because while the concept might be straight out of the bible, it’s not overtly Christian and can honestly apply to anyone, anywhere. Hence, a direct response to Matthew 10:16, where Jesus says, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” We will officially start the F.A.M.I.L.Y.® stuff tomorrow. Right now, let me give you some parameters that will help you over the next 7 days: Three things you should know straight up: God made you and knows you.  (PSA.139) God loves you. (ROM.8.37-39)   God thinks you are very special.  (MAT.10.29-31) Sounds quaint, but it’s not.  Walking with God is real and I hope to help you discover some things over the next seven days so you have a better understanding of this thing called “Faith.” THE COMMITMENT Over the next seven days, find a quiet place that you can be for 5-10 minutes each day and prepare to do these four things in that time: ASK God to show Himself to you.  Invite God to make Himself known so that there is no question that the things you will experience are not just some coincidence.  And be ready, because I believe God will show up – for YOU! READ the short passages from the Bible that are part of this 7 day adventure. Reflect on them and how they might apply to you. (I recommend picking a translation of the Bible that is easy to read and understand like NIV or The Message. YouVersion has lots of choices!) WRITE things down – journal – during these seven days so you have a record of what you experience.  This will help you remember what happens as a launching pad for whatever else happens in life from here forward.   You’ll find these “notes” very valuable as the journey continues. If you’re using an old fashioned hard copy bible, highlight things that stand out to you and take notes in the margin. You can do the same in the Bible App. MEDITATE on the things that come to mind, on the stories from the Bible that you read. And talk to God like he is a friend sitting right next to you in the room.  We call this prayer, and there’s no magic way to do it.  It really just feels like a conversation with someone you can trust with everything. Tell Him what bugs you, what you’re happy about, who you’re concerned about, how you’d like help.  You might get immediate answers, you might not.  But you’ll be surprised how it affects who you are, how you think and what you believe as things progress. There will be a bonus video clip link for each day from one of our athlete friends that may encourage you in this journey.  You are welcome to watch that too. Today’s assignment is easy.  Find your quiet place. Then start with the following: ASK God to show up. READ: ACTS.1:8, PHL.2:3-4 WRITE down some thoughts about your expectations for the seven Source: Faith Family Football Challenge #2 – Day 1 of 7