Glorifying His Master

 

“My buddies told me this morning that my victory was secure on the cross…and that’s a pretty special feeling to know I’m secure forever, and it doesn’t matter whether or not I win this tournament or if I lose this tournament.”

 

On Sunday, April 14, 2024, Scottie Scheffler, 29 years of age, won the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He became the second golfer to win the Masters twice, in his first five years on the golf tour, in 2022 and 2024.  When interviewed, Scottie reported, “Winning this golf tournament does not change my identity.  My identity is secure, and I cannot emphasize that enough.  I believe in Jesus.  What defines me most is my faith.  I believe in one Creator, that I’ve been called to come out here, do my best, compete and glorify God.  It’s a pretty special feeling to know my identity is secure forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament.  Ultimately, I think, that’s what defines me the most.”

 

Scottie Scheffler played golf for the University of Texas, from 2014-2018.  The UT team won three Big 12 championships during those years.  Scheffler earned the “Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year,” in 2015, and was on the U.S. team that won the 2017 Walker Cup.  He was the first player to win The Players Championship in consecutive years, 2023 and 2024.

 

Even with all his accomplishments, Scheffler’s main goal is to honor God in all he does.  When looking for a caddie, he chose Ted Scott.  “I really want to work with a Christian.  That’s how I try to live my life.”  Each year, Scheffler and his friend, Sam Burns, co-host a retreat for members of the College Golf Fellowship, a faith-based ministry.

 

Scottie Scheffler uses the platform of golf to share Jesus.  “The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life.  Whether I win or lose, my identity isn’t a golf score.  Jesus loves me and my identity is in Christ.”

 

May we, too, use the platforms God has given us to do our best and share Jesus, all for the glory of God.

 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Doing Right

“Do not let what

you cannot do

interfere with

what you can do.”

John Wooden

 

A policeman pulled into the fast-food drive thru line to order his lunch.  As he drove up to the window, he was told that the people in the car in front of him had paid for his meal.  They had written, “thank you” and drawn a smiley face on the receipt.  The family drove away, without waiting for a response.

 

Josh Wood was in line to pick up the order he had made to take back to the doctor’s office.  Wood overheard the man in front of him tell the lady behind the counter that he wanted to purchase food, but all he had was $5.  Looking up from his phone, Josh noticed the man was wearing a backpack and appeared to be homeless or having a hard time.  As the lady made suggestions, she also asked the customer what he wanted to drink.  When he hesitated, she told the man to order whatever he wanted because she was paying for his breakfast.  Wood commented, “It would have been so easy to turn around and ask the manager to step in or for help but she didn’t she just said hey it’s on me.  She could have just gave him water and took his money and went on to the next customer and again she didn’t she just did it.  I’ve been through some of the best trainings such as Dale Carnegie and yet a girl named Karina in a Chick-fil-A in Jackson, MS in a 3-minute conversation with a customer has managed to teach me the value of humility and taking care of your customers.”

 

Instead of first asking “How was school?” a mother, in Canada, has begun asking her children, “Who did you help today?’  They now begin their conversations with, “I held the door, helped a friend with math, or asked someone to sit with us at lunch.”  The mother has noticed that her children are also looking for ways to help, even outside of school.

 

May we, too, look for ways to help and then do it.

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

Generous Hearts

 

Meals on Wheels volunteers, from Rockwall County in Texas, recently served a special Easter holiday dinner to the senior adults in their community.  The meal was prepared and provided by managing partner Terry Roan and the staff at the Rockwall Texas Roadhouse.

Growing up, Fatima Anfig remembers her mother asking their neighbor for salt.  She knew they still had salt so she questioned why her mother asked for more.  Fatima’s mother replied, “Because our neighbors don’t have a lot of money and often they ask us for something.  From time to time I also ask them for something small and inexpensive, so that they feel that we need them too.  This way they will feel more comfortable and easier for them to keep asking for everything they need.”

 

In the first round of the NCAA Men’s Tournament, at Spokane Arena, Yale was playing Auburn.  When the band members from the University of Idaho learned that Yale’s band would not be able to be at the tournament, they decided to play for Yale for their game.  In appreciation, the supporters from Yale bought the band members a blue t-shirt, with a Y on it, to wear during the game.

 

Ryann Bauer, Misty Bridges, and Angie Rosenkranz, and their committee, have spent months collecting prom gowns for the Junior and Senior young ladies in Montgomery County. More than 1,000 dresses have been given for Priceless Gowns 2024.  Beginning March 20th, the girls can take their school ID, or homeschool paperwork, to First Baptist Church Conroe, where they are able to choose a dress, jewelry, makeup, and more for free. 

 

May we, too, have generous hearts that find ways to invest our time, talents, and resources to help and encourage others.

 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10