Acknowledging Attributes

Starting on February 1^st, all six grandkids awakened to find a heart, on the kitchen door, with one of their attributes listed on it.  They immediately wanted to know what word was written on their heart.  I told them the word, but also made it a point to tell them why that attribute had been chosen.  We talked about it during the day as examples of that characteristic were displayed.  The hearts on the door were the first thing they checked on each morning.  The grandkids also wanted to see what was written on their siblings’ hearts.  During the 14 days we did this, the kids began noticing characteristics that needed to be added for a brother or sister.  We talked about it being a positive quality that was being recognized.  The hearts were made up until Valentine’s Day.  One grandchild mentioned that it would be OK to keep making the hearts every day.  The hearts will stay up, during February, as a reminder to look for and express gratitude for the positive attributes we see in others.

What a reminder of how much it must please God when we acknowledge His attributes, take the time to express why we recognize and appreciate them, and then take time to give thanks for the difference He is making in our lives.  And I’m sure He would like it and look forward to it if we did it every day. 

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:6

You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 59:17

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Psalm 79:13

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117:2

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145:3

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name,

Hebrews 13:15

Football Platform

Not formerly a Kansas City Chiefs fan, they were my team of choice for Super Bowl LIV.  Patrick Mahomes, 24 years of age and the starting quarterback for the Chiefs, also played for Texas Tech, thus my reason for supporting the team.  He seems to be wise beyond his years, humble, along with being successful.  I was also drawn to the team because Mahomes, along with CEO and owner Clark Hunt, punter Dustin Colquitt, offensive lineman Stefan Wisniewski, and others are men who are serious about making their relationship with Jesus a priority.  Clark Hunt encourages his players to put their faith in action.  At a CityFest East Texas Men’s Luncheon, Hunt expressed that he encourages his men to “make their walk with Christ a top priority.”  He further stated, “My identity is my faith in Christ.”

When Patrick Mahomes was in Junior High, he became very active in his youth group at church.  While in the 7h grade, he made the decision to make Jesus his Lord and Savior and chose to be baptized.  To this day, his faith continues to be very important to him.  Patrick attends Bible Study each week as well as the Saturday night chapel service.  Before each game, after walking the field, Mahomes pauses at the goal post to pray.  He says his prayer is not to win, but to play in a manner that brings glory to God.

The summer before his junior year of high school, Mahomes almost quit football.  He had played safety the year before and wasn’t sure he would be considered for quarterback, which is the position he desired to play.  Patrick decided he would concentrate on basketball and baseball instead, but his mother encouraged him to pray before making his final decision.  When interviewed, Mahomes’ mother, Randi Martin, said she continues to “encourage him to trust in God and his faith in him.  I want him to stay humble; that means a lot to me.  I always encourage him to pray and to thank God for his blessings that he has and his abilities.”

Mahomes also puts his faith in action.  For several years he has volunteered with Veterans Community Project, a Kansas City organization that helps build tiny homes for struggling veterans.  Patrick helped build the first 13 homes.  The 240 to 350-square-foot homes are one way to help the veterans get back on their feet.  Mahomes avoids the heavy lifting to protect from injury, but still has plenty to contribute to the community.  Patrick also has a personal charity “15 and the Mahomes.”  This foundation, which was established in 2019, “focuses on aiding underprivileged children by supporting 15 different local charities.”  At their gala in November, 15 grants of $15,000 each were presented to 15 local youth groups.

Jason Kander recently related another story about Mahomes that shows his generosity, thoughtfulness, and appreciation.  Patrick and his girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, stopped by a pizza restaurant in Kansas City to eat.  As they entered, all eyes were on them.  During the meal, no one came by to speak to them, take pictures, ask to take a selfie or request an autograph.  They let them enjoy their meal in peace.  After paying the bill, Pat and Brittany made their way to the exit.  At the door, Pat stopped, turned to the other patrons and said, “Thanks for letting us enjoy our dinner.  This is why I love Kansas City, and this is why I love you.  You guys are awesome.”  After they left, it didn’t take long for people to discover that Pat had paid the bill for every table.

Patrick Mahomes is a Christian who uses his platform as a football player to share his faith.  We may not all be professional athletes, the CEO of a company, or the top person at a certain career, but God has given each of us a sphere of influence and platform to share His love and message.  May we be willing to look for, make the most of the opportunity, and run with it.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:7

Making the Most of the Dash

Your life is made of two dates and a dash.

Make the most of the dash.

Everybody has an appointment.

Nobody knows the time.

Events and anniversaries these past weeks have been reminders of the dearness of life.  While some deaths were anticipated, others were unexpected.

Last Sunday, on a very foggy morning in California, nine people boarded a helicopter to fly to a basketball tournament.  On-board were retired Los Angeles basketball shooting guard Koby Bryant and his 13 year old daughter Gianna “Gigi;” John Altobelli, a baseball coach who had helped numerous athletes earn scholarships, along with his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa who played on the team; Christina Mauser, who was the assistant coach; Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, a teammate of Gigi’s; and the helicopter pilot, Ara Zobavan.  Before the helicopter could safely reach its destination, it crashed into a Southern California hillside leaving no survivors.

January 28, 2020, marked the 34^th anniversary of when the space shuttle Challenger exploded, after liftoff, leaving no survivors.  The Challenger crew was made up of Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Ronald E. McNair, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, and Teacher-in-Space Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe.  Their legacy continues to inspire space research, training, and travel.

The Coronavirus is spreading across China with almost 10,000 documented cases.  Other countries are confirming and reporting cases of the virus as well.  Unfortunately, there have been deaths attributed to the flu.

These past weeks, four friends, in their 80s and 90s, have completed their journey on earth.  I am grateful for the legacy they leave behind which challenges and encourages me to be more like Jesus.

“You have one life, don’t waste it.”

~ John Piper

Whereas some of the people that were remembered and honored had already made a huge impact on society, others were just beginning to discover their talents and abilities.  Not being guaranteed a certain number of days, it’s important to make our days count.  We each have a choice of the legacy we leave by the ways we invest in others, the words we speak and write, and our deeds. 

There is a time for everything,

            and a season for every activity under the heavens:

               a time to be born and a time to die,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14

A person’s days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Job 14:5

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

            let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39:4

Teach us to number our days,

            that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12