LIVE Arete’

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you.  Take your everyday, ordinary life- your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life- and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. 

Don’t get so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You’ll be changed from the inside out.  Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.  Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity.  God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you.

–        Romans 12:1-2  The Message

Truth lives in the midst of deception – Friedrich von Schiller

Less than 2% percent of all high school athletes are good enough to play on a Division I level in college.

Every day I get to work with 2% ‘ers.  Some have, and some more, will go on to play on some professional level. They are elite athletes. 

However, they are surrounded and inundated by mediocrity.

My challenge for them is to be intentional in exercising excellence in their lives each and every day.  For if they don’t, the mediocrity on campus will seep in and effect their excellence on the playing field.  It will be subtle.  They will begin to compromise.  They will begin to quit when they are tired instead of quitting when they are done.  They will allow distractions to sap energy and focus.

As children of God we too are elite.  Not elitists.  Elite in that we have the power that raised Christ from the grave living within us; the Holy Spirit.

However, surrounded all around that within us is our sinful nature.  Which the enemy uses as an earpiece to get us to believe we are less than we are called to be and therefore LIVE like it.

It isn’t about acting like you are better than everyone else. 

It is to LIVE the best you are to live regardless of everyone else.

Write ARETE’ on your hand or a rubber band and put on your wrist.  Somewhere that you can see to remind you today to live it.  Arête’ is the Greek word for LIVE Excellent.  The ancient Spartans would not compromise by living like the mediocrity that was all around them.  They focused on living Arête’.

What does that look like?

Instead of complaining – take action

Instead on moping, be determined and focused and push through

Don’t be distracted by foolishness that keeps you from point of task.

Be trustworthy

Don’t quit when you are tired.  Quit when you are done; finished.

Do what you ought to do when what you feel like doing is less than best

Areas in our lives that we can have better discipline, better attitude’s, posture and demeanor.

Doing more with what we have where we are.

It creates a lifestyle of Arête’

It will help you to conform no longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. – Romans 12:2

Intentionally, today..…and everyday…LIVE Arête’!

Find Out There Is More

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

I tell you the truth, when you did for the least of these, you were doing it to ME! – Matthew 25:40

I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these, you were refusing to help ME! – Matthew 25:45

 It is estimated that roughly 50% of all food is thrown out, wasted.

Scientists say we use only 10% of the capacity of our brains.

I believe what is more of a shame is that most of us waste the gifts and resources that God has given us charge over to be stewards of.

 

Why do we waste so much?  I believe that first of all we are not aware of all the gifts and resources.

We also, focus too much on what we don’t have and therefore extend much energy, time and focus pursuing that instead of being engaged using what we have to bless ourselves, family and others.

 

What are some of the resources we have that we neglect to share with others:

Our words – positive and uplifting for others

Our smile

Our time – to listen and to encourage

Our money – God has created money to flow through us – CURRENTcy.  God designed it to fit our needs and the rest to flow thru us to bless those who are in need.

Our clothing – How much of your clothing that you haven’t worn in over a year hangs in your closet that can bless someone else?  Clothes also need to flow thru.

Our tools that sit unused – can they benefit someone else?

Our knowledge

Our physical abilities – helping those who are too weak, too old, to do certain chores/works.

Our belief – sharing the TRUTH , the gospel truth, when the opportunity is given to someone who desperately needs it.

 

The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26) and the man with the full barns who believed he would gather even more for himself by building bigger barns (Luke 12:20) are foolishly and tragically mistaken thinking all they had was their own.  It cost them their salvation.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it – Psalm 24:1

 

Even your very self is not your own.  We are not Our own.

You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you at a high price. – 1 Corinthians 6:20

 The more you give the more that will be given to you.  You can’t out give God, but it is worth a try.

 GIVE from yourself

READY?….GO!

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Eat Your Manna!

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

 Give me neither poverty nor riches!

Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

–        Proverbs 30:8

What do you need?

What is it that you feel that you really need for God to come through?

We search and seek that which the world and its advertisers tell us we need to seek and find.  We are a relentless people living in the ever consuming age. Consuming one luxury/ delicacy after another and still not finding what satisfies the cravings.

The Israelites were like that in the wilderness.  They wanted the pots filled with meats and all the bread they could want and more.  They complained when they didn’t get what they wanted.

And God gave them Manna.  Manna was a nondescript flat thin flaky substance.  God sent it down from Heaven to them.  They were only to eat what they could eat each day.  They were told not to gather leftovers and hold over till the next day.  Only to eat what they needed each day and trust God would provide fresh manna daily.

See, they were so fixated on what they felt they should have for food it distracted them from focusing on what they needed to focus on; making headway to the Promised Land.

God wanted them to see that He would give them the right nourishment they needed each day so that they can keep the focus where it needed to be.

Let that be a focus when you wake up every morning.  Asking and believing that you will receive God’s provisions of needs; fresh daily manna.

I know that at times you feel that God didn’t answer your prayer.  You might feel let down, frustrated, confused, let down.

A prophet prayed that he needed a huge sign of God’s presence to help him in trouble to be assured. God gave him a whisper.  God gave him rest.  God gave him his manna for that day.

Our minds have been so tainted by this world and our expectations of God.

I believe that every day God offers you fresh manna.  He offers each of us what our mind, spirit and body needs.  It might not seem to be enough to us, but it is for this day.  For if you are reading this He has sustained you to this very moment.

Seek God’s fresh manna, daily.  

READY?….GO!

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010713

TRUTH Information

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

 Three days later, after his parents frantically looked for their son, they finally discovered the 12 year old Jesus in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. – Luke 2:46

 We live in what is called the “information age”.  What you need to know about anything, anywhere within seconds at your finger tip of a TV remote, computer, Iphone , ipad, ithis or ithat.  Just look it up and it’s there.

I have heard the following from individuals who have received some “information”

– That’s what Oprah said

– That’s what they said on the view

– heard it from CNN

– That’s what FoxNews said

– I read it in People magazine

– That’s what I heard on TMZ

– That’s what my mom said

– That’s what my cousin said and she knows everything. She’s wicked smart

– I googled it

 

How to be more successful.  How to have better relationships.  How to manipulate..err, I mean, influence others.  How to lose weight and tone up. How to YOU NAME it

Ask Oprah or just google it or ask that dude’s cousin, she knows everything.

I would say we live in the “misinformation age” or the “wholelottajunkinfo age”. A whole lot of nonsense, stylish, but not much on substance.

When Jesus’ parents finally found Him after looking all over for Him they were upset with Him.  He answered, “But why did you need to search.  Didn’t you know that I must be in My Father’s house?”  But they didn’t understand what He meant.

Do we?

For years I have gone to a mentoring school that has a pronouncement.  We hold up the Bible and begin with – this is my Bible.  It’s God’s inerrant Word. It is my most valuable earthly possession.

If we truly believed that the Bible is our most valuable earthly possession we would stop our car down the street, you turn, and fly back into the driveway, run back in the house and retrieve it like we do when we forget our cellphone.

Jesus knew where to receive wisdom.  He went to those who had the “Bible” at that time.  Just as we can do when we read the Bible, He listened.  Just as we can when we read the Bible, He asked questions.

That passage in Luke 2 ends with that Jesus, upon leaving, grew in wisdom and stature.

Where are you getting your information?

Wisdom?

Secret of life?

The most important information that we ever need to know isn’t found anywhere but in the most valuable possession you have.  And you probably have sung it since you were little.

Jesus loves me this I know, for the BIBLE tells me so.

 Make His Living Word your most valuable earthly possession and receive THE information you need.

READY?….GO!

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Stay Plugged In

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

 Yes, I am the vine and you are the branches.  If you remain in Me and I in you will bear much fruit, apart from Me you can do nothing – John 15:5

My daughter found this huge golden brown oak leaf. It was huge!  She was so proud of it.  The next day she brought it to school; her own designated show and tell day.

But as we got in the car that morning we noticed that the sides of the leaf were curling in. By the end of the day it was curled up and lost its luster.

I explained to her that the leaf was no longer attached to the branch/tree and therefore it couldn’t get the nutrients it needed to stay healthy and vibrant.

The leaf wasn’t self sufficient.  It was totally dependent on the tree.

Human nature is to depend on God and then when we receive that which gives us life, enjoyment, recreation, family – we begin to become sufficient in them and take our focus off the giver.  The Israelites did it and so do we.  And in our focus on the gifts, neglecting the giver, He draws Himself away in order for us to come to the realization that all we cannot suffice ourselves.  We see it after horrible events (9/11, devastating hurricanes and tornadoes, economic recessions, accidents, illnesses, etc) that all the “stuff” we have is nothing without our dependence, faith and trust in the Giver.

To be intentional in being in the perpetual mind set of thanksgiving to God.   To continually acknowledge Him as the source.  Not your paycheck, not the doctor, but Him.  He is the SOURCE.

Make it a habit to publicly give God credit when someone gives you recognition, congratulations, compliments, etc.

Make it a habit privately prayerfully thanking God for all that He gives and blesses you with; most importantly your salvation.

Draw closer to the source of all you have and He will draw closer to you.

Make your intimate personal relationship with Him your priority. Out of it flows the LIFE ABUNDANT.

stay plugged into your source!

READY?….GO!

http://www.matttreppel.com/

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Choose Excellence

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

 It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. – Deuteronomy 8:8

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable.  Think of things that are EXCELLENT and worthy. – Philippians 4:8

Shalom – Hebrew for peace. Mind, body and spirit; nothing missing, nothing broken

The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame and in the cause and prevention of dis – ease.  – Thomas Edison

God’s will is for His Shalom over you; His peace.  This peace is for your mind, body and spirit; your COMPLETENESS

Mind, body and your spirit.  They are interdependent on one another.  One gets neglected the other two are affected.

We control, through decisions we make on a daily basis, much of us attaining peace; SHALOM

We choose foods that we eat and that we don’t eat.

We choose how much, or none at all, water, soda, caffeine, sugar we intake.

We choose how much sleep we get each night.

We choose what we will bring into our mind by what we permit, and how much, and what content, we watch and listen to.

We choose if we will exercise our body, strengthen our core muscles and feed more oxygen to our brain and vital organs.

We choose how much, or any, that we will feed our spirit the living word of God that it may prosper our soul and renew our mind that the poison of this world we let in can be drained out of our mind and soul.

We choose to listen to what God says is good for our body and deliberately sow goodness and health into our mind, body and spirit……or we choose not to.

Too many times we wait until we have neglected and hurt our mind, body and/or spirit and come pleading for repair, medicine, a quick fix.  Because we do not get to choose the consequences of that what we have sowed into our very being.

There is enough out there in this world we live in that can do damage to your mind, body and spirit – certainly we do not need to add to it.

I dipped smokeless tobacco for close to 10 years, when my wife was about to have our first child God spoke to me in prayer “there is enough out there that can hurt you, it isn’t worth lending to that which you have control over.”  And like that I chose that I wouldn’t in where I had control over.

Be honest with yourself.  What can you add, and what can you subtract, to/from your living ways that can allow you to live more healthy and prosperous mind, body and spirit?

YOU  have the POWER to CHOOSE!  CHOOSE EXCELLENCE!

Sow healthy living, and subtract out unhealthy living, that you may LIVE THE LIFE ABUNDANT in God’s Shalom

READY?….GO!

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110912

Love, Serve, Contribute

TRUE LIFE ABUNDANT

 

Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 12:31

 The greatest among you must be servant – Matthew 23:11

 Whoever sows sparingly reaps sparingly.  Whoever sows bountifully reaps bountifully. – 2 Corinthians 9:6

 

Love    –    Serve   –    Contribute

 

To love, serve and contribute; it is a mindset.

It is how we can make the biggest positive impact on the lives around us today and every day.

It is deliberately putting you second.  Wherever you are; whoever you are around.  How else to raise someone else up.  To be a blessing is the blessing.

The challenge we have is that our natural, carnal mind, is bent on self preservation; taking care of self, getting what is needed for self.  We have so many burdens and needs we focus on them.

God says it’s just the opposite.  Worry about lifting others up and God will take care of lifting you up.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. – 1 Peter 5:6

Trusting and obeying God; changing the environment for others around you.

Love, serve and contribute – deliberately make it a habit

God centered, other people focused

READY?….GO!

http://www.matttreppel.com/

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Sow & Reap

True Life Abundant

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with the word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.                       – Isaiah 55:10-11

 

Sow and reap

Cause and effect

You are what you eat

Every action – reaction

Input / output

 

Think about what you sow into your very being each day.

Which are not needed or excessive? Junk food, alcohol, tv, negative talk, worry, anger, gossip, internet, social media?

 

Which do you not sow enough of? Healthy food, exercise, reading, positive words, goodwill, love, peace?

 

You are planting seeds each day which take root and produce fruit.

Good and bad.

It continues to shape you.

Continues to steer your thoughts, belief, faith, ingenuity, attitude, perceptions, outlook, desires

 

We want to have more desirable outcomes in our lives but continue to sow the same seeds. We tend to think that the undesirable habits we have don’t really have that much of a consequence on our lives.  Believing that alot of our life is out of our control and is just happenstance.  And “it is what it is”

 

Mostly, it is the days, weeks, months, years of sowing and investing these into our lives and have shaped us to who we are now.  And, in that, it shapes our perceptions – which direct our words, actions and decisions. – which create our consequences. Creates our Shape

 

Take inventory of yourself. 

 

In that what you can control – what do you need to add or have more of?

What do you need to eliminate or have less of?

Physically, spiritually and mentally

 

Write it down. Keep in front of you.

 

The most important add, or have more of, is the one that will impact all the rest.  Being more in His Word.  That is what the enemy will keep you from more than anything in your life.  Why?  The scripture above, Isaiah 55:10-11.  Your enemy knows that it will have to have a great influence on you. It can’t return to God void. The Word is the great impact on all the others that shape you.

 

The word of God is alive and powerful – Hebrews 4:12

sow, invest, that which will reap a strong godly harvest within.

READY?….GO!

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091712

HE>I

LIVE INTENTIONAL

He must become greater and greater, I must become less and less. – John the Baptist.  John 3:30

 For our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:29

 

We must learn the art of losing, fading, yielding, surrendering.

And it is an art form.  It is something that we have to conscientiously intentionally seek to do.

 

My relationship with God wasn’t my choice.

The Holy Spirit grabbed a hold of me about 17 years ago and shook me. I have heard every once in a while “Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost” when I went to church as a kid, but I never really knew or believed of a God really truly being a Spirit that is active in and around you.  Kind of fairyland-ish.  Well…He is very real.  And it freaked me out.

But He led me to an incredible place reading, studying and praying.  I became so consumed by the Living Word, memorizing and meditating on It.  He led me into leadership and teaching positions at church. I was asked to come on and work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He started writing through me and I was being asked to speak other places and individuals were asking for my advice.

I got so busy with all of it that I got away from the personal time with God  that got me there and got focused on what I wanted to do and how I was going to increase in these endeavors.

I began to get dry.  I pulled away more and more from the Source.  It became less about the Holy Spirit guiding Me for His purposes and Will and became what I wanted to do and how.

What I learned was that God will allow you to make it about you – and then you, limited in the flesh, will become limited in what you offer to others.  It leads to frustration and confusion.

I had to lose self in order for His presence to take over once again.  I had to decrease me in order that He would increase through me.  And then again God flourished through me.

 

The question for each of us is – where, in our lives, do we need to decrease?  Where does it have to become less about us and more about what God desires to do through us?  Are there endeavors in your life where you feel that you should be doing but have been frustrated, road-blocked and stymied?

 

Have you surrendered it to God?

Has it become about you instead of Him through you?

Take your desire and surrender it to God today.  Tell God that it is all His and to guide you in it.

We must decrease in order for Him to increase.  In order for us to see the unlimited God produce through us, for us, what we have desired in our heart to achieve and realize in our life.

 

And HE….gets all the praise for it.

Intentionally, Today……and everyday…decrease, that He may increase; and you will be blessed because of it.

072012

Matter of Trust and Obedience

LIVE INTENTIONAL

One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh!  Preach to them.  They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.”

But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. – Jonah 1:1-3 The message

God desires [even] the least degree of obedience and submissiveness more than all those services you think of rendering Him. – John of the Cross, Spiritual Maxims

 

Jonah going to Nineveh was just as much for Jonah as it was for the people of Nineveh.  Even though Jonah was a “good” Jewish man there are paradigms within Jonah that God wants to change in Jonah to grow Jonah.  Jonah would rather do a whole bunch of anything than to bring a message of salvation to an evil people.  But that is exactly what God wants Jonah to do in order for Him to transform Jonah.

Jonah just sees pain for himself and goes the other direction as if God will lose his scent and let him be.

Have you tried to ignore the convictions that God has made you aware of?

 

It’s easier to justify other “good” things we are doing as being in place of what we try to ignore that God would have us do.  There is a reason that God won’t let it go even if it seems you aren’t hearing it anymore because you have put in enough noise to provide static.

He loves you so much He knows that whatever it is He wants you to confront is going to enable you to grow more in fulfilling His purpose in and through you. You may be continuing going around the same mountain over and over. A vicious circle that drains you.  God knows what you need that will bring you up and over. It will allow you to venture farther into achieving peace and contentment.

I want to encourage you to faithfully be obedient and allow God to direct you to where you THINK you don’t want to go; from where you THINK you need to stay.

Being obedient is faith.  Faith is trusting that God has your absolute best interest in mind.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding – Proverbs 3:5

 

Intentionally, Today……and everyday…trust and obey

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