Basketball and Psalm 23

Lately, I have been captivated by Psalm 23.  


Also, I have to admit to being captivated by my hometown Murray State Racer basketball team.  GO RACERS!


 I have just sat here tonight and watched them win their 22nd game in a row.  They are the only unbeaten team in college basketball and are the ninth ranked team in the country!   Yes, Murray State!


The one thing that really jumped out at me tonight is how fearlessly these guys play.  They don't get rattled and nothing seems to scare them (even to be down by 11 points).   The commentators even talked about this very thing as the game was winding down to the end.  


They said that people will have to start believing in this team because they play with no fear.   


That got me to thinking about what David says in verse 4 of Psalm 23 "I fear no evil..."  How could David say he feared nothing? 


Because "You are with me..."   See, David could say that because of what he said in verse 1...


"The LORD is My Shepherd" and for that reason he did not fear.    Do we live fearless lives? 


Satan wants to keep us in fear and most people live their lives ... how else can I say it, but just plain scared.  But if the Shepherd is truly our Lord, what do we have to fear?


I believe if we start living fearless lives, then others will start to believe in the God of the universe.  


Right now we just look like the rest of the world as we let fear control our lives.  When was the last time people were blown away by your boldness and your example of fearlessness?


"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me".  (Psalm 23:4)


I am so thankful that God uses the simple things in life and makes them profound, like a group of young men led by a coach with tremendous character that have won 22 games in a row, to teach me that others will start to believe if I will live a fearless life.


"The LORD is My Shepherd"

A Life that made a difference..James Mceachern

My heart has been heavy the past few days since learning of the passing one of the men in my personal "Hall of Fame". Jim Mceachern was one of the founders of the Tom James Company and was a brilliant businessman. But that is not who he really was...he was a man who the Lord used to make a difference for HIS kingdom. Character is defined as "the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person from another" Jim's character is what made him stand out from the crowd because his charcater was rooted in GOD.
¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

Everything about Jim came from the core fact that you could tell he was spending time with Jesus. He was what I would describe as "scripture with legs" and he displayed this to his wife,kids,grandkids,friends and business associates in the corporate world. It is said that true wisdom is viewing life from God's perspective, so I would have to say that Jim had true wisdom. My wife found this qoute from Bily Graham about character and I think it says what Jim would want said about his life...."True greatness is not measured by the headlines a person commands or the wealth he accumulates. The inner character of a person--the undergirding moral and spiritual values and commitments--is the true measure of lasting greatness. THANK YOU JIM FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!
This was one of his final Facebook post before he passed way this week that tells us who he was...I'm grateful to God for giving me a wonderful family ... Arlene, Karen, Mike, Lynda, Angie, Jerald, Mindy, Michael McD, Jeff, Jonathan, Robert, Katy, Josh, Dan, Caleb, Melissa, James, Melinda, Melanie, Michael S, Michael T, Nathan, Mitchell, Micah, Mekaylee, Candace, Stephanie, Lylah, Tiffany & Juan. My greatest desire is to spend all eternity with God, with them and with all our friends in Heaven !

HE was never in a hurry

Many years ago I attended the funeral of the father of one of the mentors in my life.  My friend actually spoke at the funeral and I remember two impactful things he said about his father.  He said his father was never in a hurry and that he was the most innocent man he ever knew.  He said his father always had time for other people and never rushed along in his daily pace. He stated his father's innocence came from the fact that he believed in the promises of God. He never doubted them and found true hope in those promises.  In Mark 5, we see Jesus display that He was never in a hurry and that He would not be hurried along by the world around Him.

'Who touched me?'" ³²And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴And he said to her, "Daughter,^(I) your faith has made you well;^(J) go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
 ³⁵While he was still speaking, there came from^(K) the ruler’s house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why^(L) trouble^(M) the Teacher any further?" ³⁶But overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus said to^(N) the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

What do you think the father of the little girl was thinking about Jesus "not being in a hurry"?  Jesus takes time to focus on this woman. He displays the fact that God's grace has it's own schedule and timing.

I saw 60 year old men crying at this man's funeral because he had displayed grace to them by never being in a hurry just like Jesus. I pray that at my funeral they will say "He was never in a hurry!"

REFLECTION....an inner conversation

In 2 Samuel 22:2-51 we see King David starts to look back at his life,tracking the hand of God in his life.  This section of scripture is virtually identical to Psalm 18.  In the book of Psalms this song is employed as a pattern of worship for the Isrealites of old but is that same example to us.  David's message is really quite simple:

v.1-3  He praises God because God is the one who keeps him safe
v. 4-20  When he called on God, God rescued him. When he was in trouble, he called on God and God heard him and saved him  (many times from himself)
v. 21-29 God saved him because God had called him righteous
v. 30-46 God saved him by giving him the strength to fight and to prevail over his enemies
v. 47-50   He just praises God!!
v. 51  Because God had shown HIS lovingkindness, He would show it to David's descendants

David stops and takes time to reflect on what God had done in his life.  He looked back at every event, every human transaction and discovered the "oil and gold" from God's hand being on his life.  He didnt allow his present circumstances to rob him of the joy of the Lord in his life.    It is said that leaders that who dont take the time,who dont feel the need,who do not think they are capable of inner conversations (reflection) with God,put themselves in enormous danger.

Are you so busy that you arent "mining the oil and discovering the gold" from God's hand in your life?   Do you realize that helps ease suffering from trial and tribulations?   It allows us to start viewing life from God's perspective instead of the enemies.
It's said that.."All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber"

Are you learning how to be alone?    You cant have inner conversations until you do.   The more you are alone, the more you will crave to be alone.  Then HE will sit  patiently in that "loneliness" with you as you reflect om HIM and the grace HE has bestowed on you.   HE is so faithful!!!