DADs...Who is in your huddle? -REFRESHER SERIES

Happy New year DAD!

DADs, as we turn the calendar to 2023, I ask you, do you have a huddle?
And if you do, Who is in your huddle?
Is it filled with people of integrity holding you accountable or do you surround yourself with those that might lead you astray? Evem worse, are you trying to run the race of life alone? 

It is a fact that most men have very few, if any, close friends. That is a tragedy!
 
DADs for your sake and for your family’s sake, again I ask, "Do you have a huddle?"

Most successful leaders will tell you, intentional men of substance include people in their huddle that will celebrate their walk with Christ and spiritual journey. The most successful people in business have an inner circle. A group of people who are close enough to hold each other accountable. Men who are vulnerable to others and in turn support others are stronger to withstand the attacks of life. 
 
Jesus had a huddle. Jesus’ huddle was His disciples. All men with different backgrounds, but all sharing in the same mission. 
 
 John 6:3: So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples.
 
DADs, you see Jesus understood the importance of not only having a huddle, but also spending time with them as well.

Who are you huddling with? Who are you learning from and who are you discipling? This is our responsibility from the Lord above. "¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28: 19-20. 
 
If you don’t have a huddle, ask God to give you one, then huddle up today. Suit Up Ministries has huddles around the area, OR better yet, you can grab a couple friends and start your own! We can provide you with all the resources to get you started, you just need to have a willing heart and an hour a week to invest in others and allow them to invest in you. 

CONTACT US TO GET YOUR HUDDLE STARTED TODAY!

In 2023 your huddle can keep you focused and remind you to press on towards the goals enlarging His territory and being the DAD God has called you to be!

DADs…“get in the game”…
Today is game day…and so is every day…
God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Week 48 - #Prepare - Delivering the Goods!

"and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" - Matthew 6:13

"Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy." - Job 29:12-13

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." - I Corinthians 15:3-4

deliver : to give results that are promised, expected, or desired

Why is it, no matter how old we are we can still get excited when we see the UPS truck on our street, just hoping the driver will stop at our house with a special delivery just for us?

There is something magical about getting a delivery, no matter a package or letter, big or small!

Even my dog Sienna gets excited every evening when I ask her if she wants to go to the mailbox with me.

Today as I’m writing this, I’m wondering with anticipation if the gifts I ordered online yesterday will be here in time for Christmas?

How contrary to the excitement when we are the ones receiving, compared to when we’re the ones doing the delivering. I wonder what would happen if our giving matched our receiving?

DADs, how is your delivery service? Do you deliver in the rain, sleet or snow? Through crisis and chaos at home?

At the height of the busyness, do you make what matters most your priority mail?

Or do you discover your “delivering” sometimes falls short of the customer’s expectations. Customers including your colleagues at work, and even more importantly your family at home?

Again, I ponder, why is it we have such high expectations like a kid on Christmas morning, receiving the long awaited presents, but sometimes fail to carry out those same expectations when we are the one to deliver?

When I think about our preparation to deliver I’m reminded of the maxim we were all taught as a child, “The Golden Rule.” The principle of treating others as one wants to be treated.

The most familiar version of the Golden Rule says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

During this time of year when we are in the middle of the holiday season of giving and receiving, I especially like to reflect upon this scripture found in Job 29:12-13:

“Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

Meditating on these words, not only prompts me to receive each day, as a new gift from God, but on the flip side, encourages me to approach my preparation daily to deliver, in such a way, that each receiving... “hearts sing with joy.”

Dads, what new approach do you need to prepare today, enabling you to "deliver the goods" which you have promised in a special way?

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Deliver" Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare for considering how to “Collaborate" in our lives.

Week 48 - #Prepare - REGROUP

Are you prepared to regroup?

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. - I Samuel 30:6

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - I Peter 5:10

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. - Psalm 23:1-2

To “regroup” can be defined as “to reorganize (as after a setback) for renewed activity.”

DADs, seeing the need to regroup can be half the battle. However, many choose to remain oblivious even when alarms are going off all around them.

I say many “choose” because, in their attempts to make their fields ready, in their preparation, they have not made themselves "ready" for life's detours.

In other words no Plan B.

Not having built-in alternative plans “just in case” alters our abilities to pivot in the process.

Some may look at the idea of regrouping as retreating and weak. But the ability to humble ourselves is essential, for seeing the need for taking "time outs" in your preparation to regroup.

Without a level of humility there will be limitations in your ability to regroup.

In the midst of our regrouping we must remain encouraged as David was in the example found in I Samuel 30:6,

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

Acknowledging the potential need to regroup, before the actual need to regroup, equips us as we prepare for the struggles of life, allowing us to persevere, and to clearly see our options.

In I Peter 5:10 we are reminded there will be setbacks along the way, but as we choose to regroup, we will also be renewed. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

DADs, do not deny the crossroads or avoid the areas of your life needing reorganized and renewed.

DADs, what in your daily activities, requires your acknowledgement of the alternatives along the way? Where do you need to regroup?

DADs, when needed, don’t delay, redirect and regroup today!

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Regroup." Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare for considering how to “Deliver" in our lives.

Week 48 - #Prepare - LOSE?

What Do You Have to Lose?

Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Psalms 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”

Matthew 16:25: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”

Little did I know last December when I prayed over the potential aspects of “preparation” I would write about for 2021…that this week’s (week 48) focus would land on the topic of preparing to “lose.”

This week’s writing comes on the heels of my beloved buckeyes defeat to the team up north (University of Michigan). I’m thinking this topic for me personally may have been better served up last week!

But, God definitely has a sense of humor.

One of my favorite quotes that works in both good times and bad, in winning and losing is “this too shall pass.”

Life…real life, is a series of ebb and flow. We all know this but are we ever really prepared for this?

As we seek consistency in our lives there will be highs, and lows. The lows are the struggles not always pleasant, but necessary for our growth. The Proverbial “growing pains” we face brings about new meanings around each encounter.

So how do we prepare for loss as we endeavor to strive in the midst of inevitable hurt, pain and sorrow to continue to see the big picture…to keep perspective?

Perhaps we start by losing self, kindling a desire to see others and their needs. As Paul wrote to the Phillipians,

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The reality is, we all have things in our life we need to lose. Things that hinder us, keeping us away from what matters most. Distractions from accomplishing kingdom goals.

In the gospel of Matthew 16:25, we are told,

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

DADs, losing will hurt. Especially if what you lost means something to you. And there are times in our lives when losing hurts even more. Quoting a friend of mine recently, in conversation about the buckeyes recent loss, he said “bad days in November are tough to rebound from.”

But DADs here is the good news found in Psalms 46:1:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

When we suffer. God suffers.

When we lose, God is right there beside you.

Are we ever totally prepared for all the opportunities to endure loss in our lives coming our way?

No.

But like the prodigal son, preparation for loss includes knowing we always have a home with God, who literally runs to us, to greet us, no matter what, with open arms.

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Lose." Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare for considering how to “Regroup" in our lives.