FCA Larimer County Blog

Finding Jesus Through Every Season

kmiller@fca.org (Keighan Miller) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:36:57 GMT

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12

In my life, I have realized that I go through different seasons. Some seasons I will be going and going and going and some seasons I will have nothing to do. Through each of these seasons I have noticed that I am always stressed out. Through either the chaos or the calm I never root myself in the one thing that never wavers, never leaves, and never moves, Jesus.

This past year, I feel like I am in a constant state of busy. I was working three jobs, then decided to focus on one job and now I am working two jobs. Everything seemed to be going my way. I found joy in chaos because I was too busy to think of what was going wrong. Even though the surface and the outside of my life looked like I had everything going smoothly, stress and loss of control were creeping through the cracks.

I have a habit of making myself busy to distract that I am just not trusting or leaning on the Lord. My biggest weakness is that I never ask myself, "how is my relationship with the Lord doing?". Jesus is funny that way, because sure enough, before I could even ask the question, my "distractions" were not working as distractions anymore.

Sometimes it's hard to find the good in every season of life. Whether that be the chaotic or the still seasons. In the last year, I have lived in a constant busy season of life and The Lord is teaching me to find Him within this season. I took all those distractions and put them to my sole focus that I couldn’t see anything else. I did such a good job with distracting myself that I had no earthly idea what to do when all those distractions stopped working. I questioned everything and truly questioned if I was happy with my life in the way it was going. All the things I was afraid to face and to feel, I felt it like a wave taking out my feet from under me and I am trying to catch a break for air.

That’s the funny thing about distractions. They are meant to be there only temporary. You’d think that I would catch on by now that distractions should not be what I am rooted in because when that temporary fix disappears I am left...trying to catch a break for air. My whole life I let other people write my story for me because I was too fearful to let Jesus lead me. How do you be bold enough to take those leaps and let God be in control when you are not spending time with Jesus.

I know the title of this is finding Jesus in the seasons, but I am still trying to figure out what that looks like for me. This season that Jesus has brought me into is the season of finding Him. How to focus solely on Jesus and not my distractions. This is the season where I learn to depend on the Lord and to rediscover my joy, my happiness, and my light .

I Surrender All

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:19:04 GMT

Part of growing in our relationship with the Lord comes moments of recognition. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to various truths as we draw closer in relationship with God. One of the recognitions in this season of my life is who do I know God to be? Is my knowledge and relationship with God something that I have put together from a conglomeration of ideas, feelings, initiatives, other people's experiences, books etc. Or is it based on searching for and finding the Lord in my pursuit of knowing him? Who he is! The presence of God is where we enter into relationship with him.

The Hebrew word for presence is face. God’s Presence – Panah פנה Pei Nun Hei How about meditating on this...when we are in God's presence, we are having a face-to-face conversation with Almighty God. A relationship with God. Powerful is it not? Not through someone else but through Him! I would gather that most of our understanding of God comes from outside influences and little on our own intimacy with Him personally. It is humbling to acknowledge that many of my "understandings" have been from outside influences. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping in my pursuit of knowing God intimately and personally. To be seen and known by my creator is the most intimate and fulfilling part of our existence. My desire is to surrender all things for more of just God.

What gets in the way of truly surrendering so that I can enter His presence and have a face-to-face conversation? Let's surrender those things so that we can enter into His presence! This is our hearts' desire: more of Him from my seeking, and meditating, from reading His word and praying, to journaling and fasting. Jeremiah is told that when he seeks God, God will be found if we seek him with our whole hearts.

Jeremiah 29: 11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord."

I want to find the Lord every single day, I want to dwell in His presence, פנה! May we hunger for intimacy with God. May we not settle for other people's stories but desire our own stories with God intimately and personally. I pray that as we seek the Lord and know him, He will transform everything about us. I surrender all! All to Jesus, I surrender I surrender all!

Reunions

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 16:55:02 GMT

It’s been fifteen years since the three of us have been in the same place together. What a gift it was to see Jake (left) and Paul (center) during our recent family trip to Ohio. Whenever I think about Engaging, Equipping and Empowering people for the work of the ministry, whenever I think about the difficult work of discipleship, these are the two guys I think about first! Maybe you’ve read Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This process requires heat and pressure and that’s what God did in my life with these guys. God turned up the heat on me and applied pressure to me in the best sense of the word. All for the purpose of making me into the man I was created to be. Here’s the quick version of the “long haul” work God began that night.

I had recruited Jake and Paul to be in a discipleship group with me during my first pastoral job. After a few meetings, I was convinced that I needed to cancel our future times together. I didn’t think it was going as prescribed and wanted to salvage our friendship for the future. On the drive there, God impressed on me that I should open up to my friends and be honest about the hurts, hangups and habits in my life. It was an uncomfortable twenty minutes for me, but it was a clear moment of literally feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my life. I walked into the room scared to death! What would these guys think about me when I was done? I had never told anyone everything about me. What happened is something that we talked about even after fifteen years of being apart. God began a transformation in each one of us that night! Openness and vulnerability led to openness and vulnerability which led to openness and vulnerability. Stepping into the uncomfortable place God was calling me too, destroyed any and all barriers to our conversations from that day forward. In the freedom of the forgiveness of Christ and empowered by God’s Spirit, we began to hold each other accountable to living out our faith in ways that honored God and blessed others. Fifteen years later, each of us continues to live into that same space with others. Each of us more equipped than we would’ve ever been, had I taken the easy road and simply canceled our time together. Keep pressing on friends!

Don’t be Discouraged by Small Beginnings!

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 20:28:16 GMT

6  Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  7  Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’[ a ]” 8  Then another message came to me from the Lord:  9  “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.  10  Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

Who is Zerubbabel?

He is the grandson of Jehoiachin of Judah, therefore a descendant of David and ancestor of Jesus. He was the governor of Judah after the exile. (Haggai 1:1, Haggai 2:2, 21)

The foundation of the new temple had been laid prior to Zerubbabel and the people could see that it was much smaller than Solomon’s original temple and they were discouraged and saddened. ( 2  But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. Ezra 3:12) But God says in Zech 4:10, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” And in Haggai 2:4, “But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord…Be strong all you people of the land, declares the Lord, and work. For I am with you , declares the Lord Almighty.

So let us not be discouraged by the small things or small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin! Let us remember that just as He called Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple, He has called us to our work…”For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10 BUT it is not in our own power, but by submitting ourselves to God and letting His spirit lead us and work in us to accomplish His will, which is always better than our own! ( Zech 4:6, Eph 3:20)

The Power Of Today

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 16:44:18 GMT

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34

This verse says it all. We can so easily get caught up in worrying about the future we forget about taking advantage of the day before us! As followers of Christ – every day is an opportunity to make a difference in a world that needs “difference makers”. I feel so blessed to work in a ministry that serves coaches because of the impact they have on their young athletes. Recently one of my closest friends and mentors passed away and it caused me to reflect on the number of young people he touched. It also caused me to think about all the opportunities GOD gives us every single day. Mike Ditka (former NFL coach) once said “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why they call it the present”.

Scripture tells us:

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”. Psalm 118:24

Can you imagine the impact we can have if we just share the JOY of knowing JESUS daily? This alone will allow me to slow down and see who GOD puts in front of me right now! None of us are promised tomorrow but WE HAVE TODAY!

Blessings to you all!

Coach Bradley

Sabbatical

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:35:45 GMT

I had the gift of taking a Sabbatical at the end of January. It was such a blessing, but also a great challenge to cease work for 30 days.

I want to share a major revelation during that time for me. What got highlighted by stepping away from my normal rhythms and routines was the crazy and hurried pace of life that had become my norm. Being busy alone is not the danger-work is good and I absolutely adore getting to “work” in vocational ministry.

In our world today, so much is made of what we do, produce and accomplish instead of how we relate to others, who we are or are becoming. The quality of our work is celebrated at the cost of the essence of it. The other major component of that is the urgency with which we lead our lives. This was highlighted so clearly to me one morning as I’m sitting in traffic on the way to a beach in Hawaii and I started getting frustrated at having to wait. The ridiculousness of the whole situation was that I had nowhere to be at a certain time and I was sitting with a clear view of the beach and the crystal blue crashing waves. Could there have been a better time and place to pause and enjoy the present?!?! One small change I have made upon my return is to adjust the way my phone notifies me. I have turned off text message notifications (I’m not a very good millennial since it took me entirely too long to figure out how to do that) so that my attention isn’t led by urgency. I think this became so resonant to my soul because it’s a reminder that God is sovereign and He doesn’t need me to labor for Him ,but that He wants me to work with His Spirit.

I was just so reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 2:14. “ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” It is Him who has the victory and through us that His presence invades the earth. Today, as a byproduct of changing my pace and by being more selective on where my attention goes, I’m able to see the small ways the Lord is moving in the lives of people around me and in my own life more readily. The good news for all of us is that He is always moving, but I’m now more apt to notice. I pray that you too might be reminded to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, and to experience that in His presence is the fullness of joy!

A Word from Sierra

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:04:27 GMT

I have been reading the book Gentle and Lowly, The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund, for what feels like a year now. This book has challenged me in ways I struggle to put into words—and although I am already a slow reader, this is also why it has been so slow going. A brief description is this book depicts who Jesus is, His characteristics broken down chapter by chapter. “Who is he? Who is he really? What is most natural to him? What ignites within him most immediately as he moves towards sinners and sufferers? What flows out most freely, most instinctively? Who is he?”

Ministry within FCA is my life, but it is also a ‘job’. I will hope to make this clear- the best job in the world, my calling, a job for The Kingdom—but my job. Something the Lord has so clearly put on my heart is the importance of the distinction of preparing for work, preparing to disciple young ladies… this has to be second in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray this wording makes sense to all. This book points directly to scripture and it is imperative to read it alongside the Living Word of God, but I will also say the Lord has used this book specifically to help me focus on Jesus so deeply. How each chapter has a sole focus on Him- (some examples—Able to Sympathize, A Tender Friend, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Rich in Mercy), and has helped me grow in intimacy with the Lord. Through trials I have faced in the last year, I have felt my focus become more narrow—relying on the Lord for comfort, developing deep deep trust and this book has assisted in being gracious reminders of who God is, at all times, He is everything.

I really believe this could be a word for many, not just me. I hope this transparency in my walk with the Lord is a reminder that the word of God is living, a reminder that the creator of the universe knows every part of us and places people and things in our life to point us back to Him. I am gentle and lowly in heart.

Matthew 11:29 And this is the way to have eternal life- to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:3 We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness. Hebrews 4:15

With love, Sierra Peterson

Every Overview

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 17:25:54 GMT

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." - Ephesians 1:3

When you compete like EVERY game is your last, your purpose for playing changes. EVERY rep adds up. EVERY practice matters. EVERY play counts. You give all your efforts and energies in EVERYthing you have to your sport, team, coach and even fans. Your competitive drive fuels the enthusiasm and passion you have for putting on that uniform.

Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for EVERYone. In EVERY way of your life, on and off your field of play, He is with you. He protects you. He will never leave you. EVERY day, the King of Kings calls you to the highest honor: a relationship with Him. He equips you with EVERY piece of His armor. And He blesses you with EVERY good thing because you are united with Him.

FOUR STUDIES TO HELP YOU PURSUE EVERY

MEETING 1: EVERYTHING

"And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to his plan." - Ephesians 1:10-11

MEETING 2: EVERYONE

"But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)."

- Ephesians 2:4-5

MEETING 3: EVERY WAY

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church." - Ephesians 4:15

MEETING 4: EVERY DAY

"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." - Ephesians 6:13

IF YOU HAVE FEWER THEN FOUR MEETINGS

These four topics were designed to fit together for a complete message. It's not recommended to completely skip any of the topics. If you need to cover the contents in fewer than four meeting times, consider these options:

- Depending on your emphasis and group makeup, you may decide to focus a bit more on one or two topics while hitting the highlights in the others.

What Does Abundant Life Look Like?

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:05:04 GMT

I was asked this question a few weeks back and I will be completely honest a few things came to mind, things of the world that are “promised” to bring happiness and fulfillment like life without stress, abundant finances, job security, knowing all the things and winning all the games and so on. And other things came to mind maybe more spiritual like having peace, joy, and thankfulness in every season of life no matter the circumstances, which I think are still good things. But I thought back to a conversation I had with an athlete that stuck with me. We were discussing where we had seen God’s faithfulness in our own lives and what we were thankful for and she proceeded to share that she is so thankful to KNOW Jesus. What a simple and profound truth that is still ministering to my heart weeks later. How often do we thank Jesus for his grace and faithfulness in plucking us from our lives of sin and darkness and giving us a new life of abundance in following him and knowing him intimately? When pondering this question more I came to the realization that an abundant life simply looks like knowing Jesus as Lord because for the Christian the best is always yet to come! We can rest and trust that no matter what life brings, knowing Jesus and following Him is enough and He will sustain us in each season. Following Jesus and knowing him promises a life of abundance no matter the circumstance.

“The thief comes to steal kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Integrity

kmiller@fca.org (Keighan Miller) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:41:07 GMT

After getting back from a training trip in Kansas City, I came away from that trip reflecting on integrity. Integrity is a very important characteristic that I grew up always learning that it is something to value. Why is it so important? Is integrity relative? Was I any different than those I thought did not value integrity?

Needless to say, I had a lot of questions. I did some searching to hopefully break down the concept of integrity and to see if I could answer some of my questions. I found that there are three pillars of integrity that I would like to talk about today; What we do, What we say, What we say we do.

Before I dive in, I encourage you to read this quote and reflect throughout this devotion what it means to you:

“ One of the truest tests of integrity is the blunt refusal to be compromised.” - Chinua Achebe

The first pillar of integrity talks about what we do and ultimately it is asking, what do your actions say about your integrity? Proverbs 4:25-27 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” This verse can be a response to the quote. “The blunt refusal to be compromised” to not turn to the left or the right, but keeping your gaze directly forward. Naturally I asked myself, how does one do that? So, I reflected back to the times I could pinpoint where I did compromise my own integrity, the values that I had set before me. Some were small things and others were big things. When I was thinking about the question, what do my actions say about my integrity? I thought about what someone else told me a few years ago, where you spend your time will reveal to you what you value. Were my actions saying that I valued integrity or comfort? I know the right answer for my question, but was it the true answer? Sometimes the true answer is harder to come face to face with than just knowing the right answer and fixing it.

The second pillar is what we say. What do your words say about integrity? James 1:26-27 says, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” In verse 26, James gets specific about what it means to obey this freedom-giving law. James insists that we reveal the character of our religion. Most Christians avoid that word. In the modern world, the word "religion" tends to be associated with keeping rituals or rules in hopes of earning some divine favor. Those who are saved by faith in Christ understand that they have already received God's favor. We seek to use His power in us to live as Jesus would, to make good choices in response to the grace He has already given to us. In other words, while Christians tend to recoil at the modern meaning of the term "religion," we certainly embrace the concept James is speaking of in these verses. In verse 27, I got to be honest, I was lost. I did not know what James was talking about or why he chose orphans and widows. James is describing something for us, and in so doing is not being prescriptive, but descriptive. Orphans and widows—the fatherless and the husbandless—easily represented two of the most marginalized and pushed-aside classes of people in James’ culture. They carried no legacy and contributed nothing to society, so society pushed them away. James is using them as representatives of the most vulnerable groups of people we can come in contact with. In a sense, he’s suggesting that we become the kind of people who move towards, give intense attention to and visit those in our world who have been outcast, marginalized and pushed aside the most. And when we do—when we step towards the hard and broken, and not away—it puts the heart of God demonstrated in the gospel on display with a purity and cleanliness unlike anything else. As Christians, we are held to a higher standard because we know the grace that God has given us and his heart to make disciples to further the Kingdom of God. So why is it important to reflect on what we say? To protect others? To make ourselves look better? What happens when you are alone? What happens when no one can hear your thoughts? These are the questions I find myself asking to practice breaking my habits when I notice myself starting to compromise. It all starts with what I say and then I do.

The last pillar is what we say we do. What do your words about your actions say about your integrity? This pillar is the one that hits closest to home, for me. Matthew 6:16-18 says, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” We live in a culture filled with highlight reels. People turn to their phones to post all their good deeds and good acts or accomplishments for others to see. One thing that I am personally guilty of. It might not always result in a Facebook or Instagram post, but instead the words that I say to those around me. I find myself doing it most when I need the approval of others instead of the Lord’s. I know that sounds backwards, but in all honesty, I do it more than I am proud to admit. Why is it so important to me to tell others all the good things that I am proud of when in my head there are 10 times more things that I am not proud of. The question that I will leave you with here today to reflect on is, What would your life look like if the inside became the outside?

Keep Pressing On

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:48:52 GMT

As a new school year, Fall Sports schedules and FCA Huddles are in full swing, I can’t help but think of the potential impact we can have in the lives of kids this year. Proverbs 22:6 rushes my mind back to the locker room of a freshman football game.

As a new school year, Fall Sports schedules and FCA Huddles are in full swing, I can’t help but think of the potential impact we can have in the lives of kids this year. Proverbs 22:6 rushes my mind back to the locker room of a freshman football game. The pep talk that day concerned our effort as a team, but the application would have personal implications for me: “Someone younger than you is watching, and you have the opportunity to be a great example to them. Don’t let them down. Be a leader.” That wasn’t the first (or last) time I heard this truth, but it was the first time it started impacting my decisions. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, someone is watching you. The Book of Proverbs says there are only two ways a person can go: The way of wisdom and righteousness or the way of the fool and wickedness. It seems like a sharp divide, with little gray area, though I hope it would cause us to give some thought to how dangerously close we all are to the edge of disaster. One careless word, one foolish action or one vengeful moment and people can be impacted for a lifetime. The same is true about the wisdom of our words, actions and moments. Let’s win this day by setting a good example. Be a leader today. Someone is watching you, and they’re ready to follow in your footsteps. Keep pressing on friends!

There is a Time for Everything

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:24:27 GMT

As we approach fall, I am reminded of how all things in life have seasons. Some seasons we enjoy more than others. For example, I love all the seasons but would rather have more of one than the other, like summer so I can enjoy the lake with my family. Or spring so I can watch all the dried-up colorless plants come back to brilliance and life. Or fall so I can cuddle around the fire with my kiddos and watch the leaves turn into magnificent color. My least favorite is winter. Being originally from New Mexico, I don't think I will ever acclimate to the harsh cold winters here in Colorado, although there is something truly breath taking about snow covered mountains.

The ebbs and flows of life are so similar to the ebbs and flows of the seasons. There is a time of planting seeds, watering and nuturing. A time for pruning and harvesting. A time to lay dorment and rest. A time to spring to life and push through. What is key to success in any season is knowing. Knowing when to push through or when to rest. In a society where it is glamorized to never rest and to be as busy as humanly possible and then some, it seems hard to ever see the season of resting, waiting, and blooming. And is the hustle life passes by, and we miss its beauty.

In our own power, we burnout. We push and push until there's nothing left. One of the biggest lessons life has taught me, and the most amazing grace is how sweetly the Lord has taught me to seek him first in all seasons. It is when we seek him first, no matter the season that we can truly rest in knowing we are in His will. Anything outside of that is merely a miss. no matter how pure the intention.

Remember today, that God has already moved mountains for you. He has sent His only son in your place. And he so sweetly has created the seasons, for I like to believe as a beautiful reminder that we too have a time of blooming, resting, starting over, and at times pushing through. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Preparing For The Storm

kmiller@fca.org (Keighan Miller) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 16:54:21 GMT

It’s starting to look like that time again. The BBQ’s, pool days, and popsicles are wrapping up and the sun is setting on summer vacation. I wanted to talk about being able to thrive amid chaos and how it can reflect us living in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. This month, the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock, came to mind. Many of us are familiar with the story, but what I learned from this story is that life rooted and grounded in the Lord can withstand any kind of weather. In a nutshell, Jesus is trying to teach us in this story that there are winds and rains coming. And although we can’t know when the storm is coming or how bad it might be, but we can prepare for them. How do we prepare? Build yourself up! When life seems to be in a slow season or not so chaotic, that’s when you start to prepare. Read books, pray, have quit times, study God’s word, be building your house on Jesus’ firm foundation. When you do these things, you will be prepared and ready for the storm. Just like on a roller coaster, life is always going to have its highs and lows through all walks of life. As you train and prepare your heart in the good times, you’re ready to take on the chaos head on.

As school is approaching, faster than we all anticipated, I want to challenge you. Do not let stress, chaos, uncertainty, or doubt shake your foundation. Prepare for the inevitable storm that is coming and be rooted in the word. Build your house on the rock. We can never know what life may throw at us, but one thing we do know for sure is that if we are building our foundation rooted in Jesus, nothing can overcome us.

Today, I encourage you, throughout every season of life, to always be preparing your heart for what the Lord has in store for you. When life is good, build your life and grow in the knowledge of God’s truth. If you seek anything from Him, make it His wisdom; the kind that will enable you to withstand the toughest of storms. As you train yourself to desire the gifts of His Spirit above all else, you will bring the hope of His Kingdom to this crazy world in a powerful way, and outsiders will watch as you weather the deepest waters with peace in your heart.

For more resources, check out https://hourofpower.org/preparing-for-the-storm/

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

– Matthew 7:24-27

Managing the Drift

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:42:33 GMT

Over the last several months Angie and I have been enjoying the excitement and joy that comes with the idea of “big river rafting”. Our work life, family life, and married life has been very much like a class 5 river rafting trip. So much fun, laughter, fear, anxiousness, and the exhaustion is for real. As Angie and I celebrate our 30th anniversary this month I am blown away with how my wife can do all that she does. Not only teaching in person throughout the entire covid year, but the last several months she has jumped into the ministry of FCA with both feet. We finished up our Night of Champions, the golf tournament AND camp in South Dakota and my amazing wife was with me every step of the way. I am so grateful for her and even more grateful for the faithfulness of God walking with us each step of the way.

Reflecting on the last 8 weeks of our wild ride, I noticed that the weeks leading up to our big summer

events, Angie and I were up every single morning at 5:30am. We didn’t set alarms, we didn’t plan it.

We were just up every morning. We would grab a coffee, sit in our backyard and read the word. So

unusual for me personally that in the middle of the most crazy Spring I have had in a very long time we

had this moment, this sacred pause, this space of genuine peace. Then just as we caught our breath,

our schedule swept us up, tossed us around and filled our days with thoughts of “what just

happened”. Here is the weird thing though. We finished up with school, graduations, and our big

events and the rapids we were navigating turned into a giant slow moving river. We didn’t have to be

looking for the next big crashing wave, the next massive rock, the next sink hole….. we got to relax,

we got to take a breath, we had a time to lay back and shut our eyes. Guess what happened. We

began to drift. I slept a little longer, we made sure to share a coffee, but the time in the word became

sporadic at best. We began to drift because we did not have the urgency of dependance to navigate

our path. In some regards we had to pay closer attention to manage the drift away from our values.

What I learned is that I need to have a plan in place to manage the drift, and be diligent in following

through. The apostle Paul speaks to the results of a people who drift away. It does not happen over

night, it is not a quick or sudden change it is a slow movement away from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Verse 21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.” The

first indicator of drifting away begins with self focus (glorification) and entitlement (thanklessness).

Thank you Lord for the gift of your Holy Spirit who brings to light the things in our life where we begin

to drift away. The light of His word shines brightly on the drift. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would

continue to reveal these challenging times that on the surface look harmless and calm, but can lull us

into a pattern of drifting away.

Romans 1:18-24

“18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of

people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to

them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible

qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what

has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their

thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise,

they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a

mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the

degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and

worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

Scattering of Graduates

Wed, 26 May 2021 16:01:13 GMT

As we finish off this school year, my first full school year with athletes I can’t help but rejoice in the Lord’s faithfulness through the challenges that we faced this year. May might have become my new least favorite month of the year because of the reality of saying goodbye and sending off the seniors. It’s a weird balance of being amazed by the growth I’ve witnessed in each of their lives and mourning the strong relationships that have formed. Andrew, Sierra, and I have full and complete trust in sending the seniors out and know that they are ready. The Lord is teaching me a new way to trust Him by trusting Him in His pursuit of the hearts of these athletes and His sovereignty of their lives no matter what campus they might be heading to.

In this season I have been comforted by the story in Acts 8 of Stephen being stoned (not the specific stoning part) but what happened next. As a result of the horrific event of Stephen being stoned to death, we see first his faithfulness to his calling from the Lord but we also see the disciples being scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, and when the disciples are scattered the gospel is then scattered and we see many more come to know Christ!

Acts 8: 4-8

“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For the unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed, or lame were healed. So, there was much joy in that city.”

We know that our seniors are ready to be sent out into the world. We know that God has big plans for them and pray that they would keep their hands open to how God would use them on their campus’. We are so thankful for the time that we had with each of these students and praise God for the extra hour+ a week we got with them and the resilience they developed through all the challenges that 2020-2021 had for them! We pray that the Lord would provide them each with new community and that they would each desire to know the Lord more intimately every single day. Please join us in praying for our FCA seniors in Larimer County heading to college this fall!

Together Is Better

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:38:55 GMT

As a coach there is nothing better than seeing a team come together in UNITY for a common purpose! In contrast there is nothing more miserable than being around a team that is full of self-serving individuals. Unfortunately, I have experienced both. I would venture to say that the events of the last year and a half have done more to destroy the unity in the church than any time in modern history. Instead of looking for GOD amid this chaos, many JESUS followers seem to be focused on what we can’t agree on. GOD’s word is decisive when it comes to UNITY!

"12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

1 Corinthians 12 -26

GOD makes it clear that we are all different but “equally important” in the mission of furthering HIS KINGDOM! We are unified in these truths:

• JESUS died so ALL may be redeemed through HIS GRACE ALONE!

• We are ALL called to discipleship! Matt 28:19-20

• We are ALL called to LOVE one another despite our differences.

• We ALL have a role on HIS TEAM!

This is our “CALL TO UNITY”. You might have heard the phrase “TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK”! We are so blessed in Larimer County to have a TEAM that puts the mission “of leading every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with JESUS CHRIST and HIS CHURCH” above all else. This TEAM includes every one of you and our staff is so grateful that you have chosen to walk with us!!

Blessings and GO TEAM!

Coach Bradley

Becoming a Woman of God

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:56:52 GMT

What does it mean to be a “Woman of God”?

Every night I pray with my kids at bedtime and sing them one of their favorite songs. We often chat over their days; my son usually ponders some of life’s greatest questions (he’s a deep thinker). My daughter usually asks for “just a few more minutes or just one more song”. Once they’ve fallen asleep and just before I go to bed myself, I go back in and pray over them. I pray for their safety and that they always know the Lord, among other things. I almost always ask God to forgive me for my impatience with them that day, or perhaps being pre-occupied. In conclusion though, I always pray to be better, to be a better mom and example for them. To be a woman that I would want my daughter looking up to, and an example of what a woman of God looks like to my son.

This year it was that last prayer that really took on a whole new weight and meaning for me. God put the word, “RISE” on my heart at the end of 2020 and it has carried over with a heavier weight into 2021. As I look around, I see a huge movement of woman who are fiercely moving away from the word of God. I see woman who declare “freedom” in exchange for sin and disrespect of themselves.

I felt God call me to RISE. To boldly proclaim truth. To speak into the darkness and deception in the lives of so many. Please don’t hear that I have it all right. I am a sinner, and I don’t deserve eternal life with the Father. But because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, and His unending mercy and grace, I have the hope in life after this. It’s when I see women around me, broken and searching in the deceit of this world, that my heart hurts for them. You see, when I was broken and in need of saving, God reached into my darkness and pulled me out. The world is screaming lies into our lives and fogging our view of clarity. Lies that act as a temporary satisfaction to the void we so desperately try to fill.

This is not what God intended. He declared power over the grave and sin through Jesus Christ. Friend, WHAT GLORIOUS NEWS THIS IS!!! We can live in FREEDOM!!! Oh, how it breaks my heart to see girls and woman chasing after the emptiness of this life, living in the bondage of sin and manipulation.

We need a movement of women who want to stand for TRUTH and real FREEDOM. Women who want to come alongside one another to encourage and raise up men and women who know their worth. A movement of women who will stand for faith. In a time when it is praised to be self-serving and self-seeking, let us be a shifting in the sand. Let us RISE to be all that God has called and intended us to be. To be women who speak love and rebuke gossip. To be women who seek after Christ and his goodness. To elevate one another and walk alongside each other. To love unselfishly.

We were made to be different. Let’s start acting like it.

Let’s RISE.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

Choosing Risk

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:19:11 GMT

Mathew 25: 14-30

Risk is my word for the year. I believe that God put this on my heart through listening to how everyone was saying good-bye to one another this last year. Almost every time I would talk to someone or read an email, each conversation ended with, stay safe. So, I began to think about scripture and think if it says to just stay safe and comfortable, not taking any risks. As I reflected on scripture, I began to think of all the stories that involved somebody trusting in God and taking a large risk even when they logically shouldn't. We can look at Abraham, Noah, David, Jesus and the Disciples for starters. And then I came upon the passage in Mathew 25:14-30. This passage is the parable of the talents. The master gives his servants talents as he leaves on a trip. When he comes back, he asks the servants what they did with the talents. Two of the servants increase the talents by investing them. The 3rd servant stayed safe by burying the talent in the ground. When the master returned, he was well pleased with the first two servants that took risks, but he dealt very harshly with the servant that stayed safe. My big take away from this parable is that growth does not happen without taking risks, and in the end, it is better to take a risk than to play it safe. This year, I will be praying and asking God for wisdom in which risk He would have me take.

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

Surrender & Deny

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 17:37:09 GMT

One month into 2021, and the world around us feels and looks same as it did before.

This poses a difficult question: how do we continue to engage in ministry with all the crazy changes going around?

Over Martin Luther King weekend, the team did an amazing job answering this question. I was able to see the impact of my teammates who planned our January Captain's Retreat. We had 30 students from Fort Collins and Loveland come together and learn what it means to be equipped and to equip others to be in PURSUIT of our Lord.

During one of our huddles we began to talk through Luke 9:23, where Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me." As we talked through this verse, our student leaders and I begin to really dive in to what Jesus meant when He said to follow after Him.

For many, following after Christ is just doing the necessary things so that we can say it’s enough. For some, it’s saying a prayer once so that they don’t have to spend eternity away from the Father. For others, it's following the actions of Jesus in the Bible to try to live a righteous life.

In John 16:7, Jesus says, "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." Following Jesus is much more then doing the necessary things to call yourself a Christian. It is more than just doing good deeds and going to church. It is total surrender. Surrender of your whole life to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We do not just follow the example of Jesus in the Gospels. We allow the Holy Spirit to come and fill our lives, producing fruit that glorifies the Father.

The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is denying everything that this world tells us it can offer. What we get when we surrender our lives to Him fully IS Him. Which is far greater than anything else.

So, we happily deny ourselves of all the things this world can offer us, with excitement pick up our cross, and for the rest of our days we chase after Him with all we have.

God’s GOODNESS from Across the World

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 19:28:37 GMT

Right as I began to write to you all, an FCA teammate whom I met at support raising bootcamp in July of 2019 called me out of the blue. He is from the Philippines and when I met him last summer, he was trying to become the first FCA director in his region. It was 6am his time and he was up preparing to share with all of South East Asia FCA staff about his newfound ‘no fear’ in his fundraising and the affirmations the Lord has continued to give him. He is 50% fully funded as of today! I can’t begin to explain how much joy was in his voice. I strongly believe the Lord was speaking to me through him because fear has been so strong in my heart lately. I have been praying for a thankful heart, to take away fear—just to constantly recognize the goodness God IS and the goodness He continually provides to me. And I’m telling you my heart was transformed in this way during this call. Throughout our conversation this is all the scripture references that came through in his words... a true testament to what being rooted in the Word of God means.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

His unfailing love endures forever. Psalm 117:2

He has qualified us as ministers of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 3:6

We need people around us to fulfill the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20

Nes told me all about the vision he has for his region that he clearly got from the Lord one night, and how he just keeps sharing and sharing and asking the Lord to provide the volunteers and the people. This is nothing new—we do the same thing in Larimer County. We share the vision the Lord has clearly given, and we invite people to be a part of it. After all, nothing is ours, it is all from God. But how much comfort I just received to take a two second break from thinking about myself, Loveland Area FCA and Larimer County FCA... to remember we have teammates all over the WORLD on the same mission. Our mission is so much bigger than our small county. We are all THE CHURCH and what a blessing it is to have brothers and sisters in Christ who are so far away but so much the same, all with the heart and mind from Christ.

I just want to be more ‘burdened’ by the Gospel, because the more and more I understand the severity and grace of the cross, the better I can share Jesus. Jesus wants US. My prayer for all of us is that whatever ‘fear’ we might be facing, we let Jesus meet us right at that fear.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

And what a sweet season we are in...waiting for the birth of Jesus. I love to preach to the choir so...wait with him today. Goodness, wait with Jesus every day. Be immersed in His word, rooted in His love and like a fire, with the Lord IN us, let’s exalt His name together! Thank you all for letting me share this humbling story about my sweet friend in the Philippines.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love, Sierra Peterson

Game Time

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 20:28:58 GMT

“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,”

Matthew 28:19

This verse is known as the GREAT COMMISSION and is fundamental to all of those who claim the name of JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOR! In other words, it is not “Let’s Make a Deal” (thank you Monte Hall). We as followers of JESUS are “called” to disciple and to make disciples, regardless of our gifting or our circumstances. It would be so easy to ignore this call especially in a time of global pandemic while we are being told to isolate. People’s lives are being devastated every day and they are desperately searching for hope! WE HAVE HOPE IN JESUS! Discipleship is defined as mentoring or walking with someone. It can be challenging but a simple phone call, text message, or even an encouraging note can make a huge difference.

Another form of discipleship is living and loving as JESUS did. Just by loving others we will open doors that we never imagined would be open.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

If this sounds like a pre-game pep talk – IT IS!! We all need to step up our game because the enemy is not taking a COVID break! ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE MASTER COACH AND IT IS GAME TIME!! As the body of CHRIST, we are stronger together. Please know as a staff we are praying for each of you and love connecting with you.

Blessings!!

Coach Bradley

Psalm 127

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 22:45:02 GMT

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 17:42:52 GMT

Why God?

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 16:57:58 GMT

This is the question I have found myself asking GOD so many times in the past few months. We have faced by far the most challenging times in my lifetime. Never have I felt so helpless. As a coach I always felt like I had control over my program, my family, and even my life. Sure, there have been challenging times, and yes God was always present, but this COVID pandemic has forced me to seek HIM more than ever! Then when you throw in all of the racial unrest and tension with law enforcement in America it is overwhelming! As I mentioned before, I have been asking GOD over and over - WHY? The most frustrating part is I wasn’t getting an answer. Then I read Romans 8:28 :

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose”

It occurred to me that I had been asking GOD the wrong question. Instead of why, I should be asking what and how. What GOD do you want me to do so that YOU may be glorified? How am I to serve and honor YOU during these challenging times? This verse reminded me that the ALMIGHTY GOD works for good in all things!! I have my opinions about COVID and BLM just like everyone else. Our opinions are valid, but GOD’S plan is sovereign! So now my prayer is how should I respond in a Godly way. The answer is to seek HIM first!! Psalms 121: 1-2 says:

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help

comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

These are challenging times indeed, but our GOD is the true GOAT (Greatest of All Time)! Sorry for the football reference but it is hard to take the coach out of me. GO TEAM!!

Clinging to Jesus

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:57:29 GMT

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”

Proverbs 15:1

I have been focusing on this verse this month. One of the first indicators of my emotional well being is the words that come out of my mouth, which also reveals the status of my heart. Sometimes, when things get stressful and I feel out of control, my words become critical, harsh, and lacking in love. The past few months have been full of situations that have left me stressed and feeling out of control, but thankfully the Lord is always in control. By focusing on His words and His love I have noticed that my heart has began to change and thus my words have become more compassionate and grace filled. My relationship with those around me has also improved as my words and heart have changed. In the coming months, my family and I are moving into our new home (which God blessed us to be able to purchase) and I know that there will be more stressful situations and moments where I feel out of control. However, I am confident that by clinging to Jesus and rereading this verse, my heart and my words will be transformed, and they will be full of love rather than harshness.

Our Days Are Numbered

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:56:34 GMT

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne”

Hebrews 12:1-2

“If it is my time to go, then it is my time to go!” This is a phrase I have heard several times over the last six weeks. As we navigate this brief segment of history I’ve been considering the implications of some of these popular sound bites. The interweaving of God’s sovereignty on a micro and a macro level.

“When God is our Holy Father, sovereignty, holiness, omniscience, and immutability do not terrify us; they leave us full of awe and gratitude. Sovereignty is only tyrannical if it is unbounded by goodness; holiness is only terrifying if it is untempered by grace; omniscience is only taunting if it is unaccompanied by mercy; and immutability is only torturous if there is no guarantee of goodwill.”

- Ravi Zacharias

Being terrified by our circumstances can easily, and unexpectedly creep up on any of us. And yet, as I have spent more time in the word, more time in prayer, more time in meditation (wood working projects) I am filled with this unusual calm, observant awe, and genuine gratitude. As I work on a project for my wife’s birthday I have been thinking about this passage of scripture that I would like to encourage you to consider in your time of quarantine. His throne is eternal.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:25-33

How Brownfield’s Became Family

Tue, 12 May 2020 22:25:15 GMT

Support in Multiple Areas of Life

A little under a year ago I had plans to move out to Colorado and jump into support-raising for my new ministry job with The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I knew I had to get a job before being ‘fully-funded’ as you call it in the ministry world, basically just to pay rent. I’m a mountain town girl through and through, but living in Loveland was the most sensible for ministry. After vacationing in Estes my whole life, Brownfield’s had easily become my favorite store growing up, so of course this is the only job possibility that came to mind. My naïve-self thought: “Okay, I will work at Brownfield’s for the summer, then I’ll be fully funded and move on with my life”… The Lord has a sense of humor because (thankfully) just the opposite took place.

"We may make our plans but the Lord determines our steps."

Proverbs 16:9

I remember the first day of work going by in a blur, but after the first week I knew the Lord was already doing something so so sweet in both my sister’s and my life. How did we already feel like ‘family’ with our bosses? How did we already have such kind friends in our co-workers? Then when I found out the whole staff was FULL of believers, it all seemed too good to be true. I was so giddy to drive up to Estes every day and this was just the beginning.

"I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him."

Ephesians 1:19

Support raising is about 100 times harder than I ever expected and I found this out very quick. (For those who don’t know, being on staff with FCA you raise your entire salary, ministry budget, etc.). Sharing the vision of FCA and the burden God has put on my life to share the gospel with high school and middle school students is easy. Finding open-hearts to listen and simply the time last summer was challenging. I count it all as gain though, because relying on the Lord to provide those with faithful hearts is a lesson on patience I had been waiting to walk through. I noticed Don, Jamie and Anne intentionally cared for each of their employees in unique ways from early on and when questions started coming up about my ministry efforts and parts of my personal testimony I was elated to share. I felt at home and cared for in Colorado so much quicker than expected, which was an answer to prayers.

"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

Psalm 27:14

I get an email each time someone new joins my ‘Home Team’ or makes a donation to the ministry. The first four emails I got were all from my Brownfield’s family. Speechless would be a great way to describe my reaction—I hadn’t been in town for a month and the Lord was already showing me his sovereign hand through my steps towards ministry. Finances are a vital part to the Lord’s work, but it will never be about the money, in the end it’s ALWAYS about the people. It’s the fact that God had already planned each step of the journey. He hand-picked how I would be working at Brownfield’s in one of the most stretching times in my life and he hand-picked individual people to support me and partner with me in ministry whom I had just met. I believe this is God’s love on display in full force.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

John 13:34

Brownfield’s is the epitome of a partner. I am so grateful that they support me in a financial way but I am more grateful they believe in me and the work I am privileged enough to do for FCA. Ministry is simply not possible without servant leadership from people like Brownfield’s management. By the grace of God I got phase 1 fully funded last month and have been loved and supported by Brownfield’s each month since moving here. I started working at Brownfield’s for a summer job, I was eternally blessed by the unprecedented partnership in life and now I will continue to go back and work every chance I get because Brownfield’s is family.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

Have Hope

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:38:45 GMT

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23

During this trying time, it is hard to be hopeful. We can turn on our TVs or scroll through our social media feeds and constantly read bad news about what is going on in the world. Events have been canceled, school is being done online, and sports are on a total pause. The things each of us were looking forward to are all in jeopardy, and that disappointment is hard.

But as Christians, we are called to a greater hope. Not a hope in people, in healing, or restoration of this situation we find ourselves in, but of Jesus. We can look to Jesus as our solid foundation as we hope for life to go back to normal. We can have hope because God is faithful, and He can be trusted to keep His promises to us. During these times, we can trust Him because we have seen the character of God in His Word and even in our own lives if we look for it. He loves us, He sees us, He is for us, and He is with us; not even a global pandemic can change that!

Questions to Consider:

What is something in this season you had to let go of? What can you see God doing in you because of the change in your schedule?
What does hope mean to you?
How can we live differently in these circumstances knowing that Jesus is our hope? How can you share that with those around you?

Read More:

Romans 5:2-5

Hebrews 6:19

I Will Not Be Afraid

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:36:45 GMT

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”

Psalms 23:4

Wow, what an interesting time in our world and lives as we know it. Almost everything has changed in our daily lives and schedules, but I hope we can all see the blessing that can come from this time and cling to the eternal hope that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. During this time, we truly see God’s promise in Romans 8:38- 39 that NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE of GOD. We are reminded in scripture that what was meant for harm God used for good, and see this theme continue through out the Bible. As I sit back and find the good things God is doing in this weird time I praise Him for the rest, time spent in His Word and in prayer, time with family, learning to enjoy the little things in life again like taking a long walk, and of course finally being able to read the books I’ve been meaning to read for months. I hope you are all able to sit back and see God’s blessing through this time and feel His sovereign hand working all things together for good.

I am thankful for the ability to gather online with coaches and athletes from across Larimer County every week. It is a truly incredible to see the community come together during this time. This is a crucial time to come alongside coaches and athletes as disappointment and confusion starts to settle in following cancelled seasons, we continue to pray that they too would trust the Lord in this season and that they would find peace knowing their identity is found in Him. God is working in this season and it is such a joy to be apart of it.

Read More:

Psalms 23:4

Romans 8:38-39

Next Level

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:30:46 GMT

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.’”

Ephesians 3:20

Listen to athletes and coaches speak and an often repeated phrase you will hear is, “next level.” I want to take my game to the next level… Let’s get our team to the next level… Next level for a high school athlete refers to playing in college, while for a college athlete, it means playing professionally. Having vision, dreams, and goals are essential for individuals and teams to maximize potential.

What if we took the same approach in our walk with Christ? The verse above describes 5 levels and how God is at work to take us to the Next Level:

Status Quo – Things in my life for which I have not asked God’s help
Ask – Getting God involved through prayer
Think – Letting dreams of a stronger walk with God fill my heart and mind
More – God is able and willing to do more than even our thoughts and dreams and imaginations
Infinitely – Not just more, infinitely more!

This verse tells us that His mighty power is at work within us to accomplish Level 5 living! May we experience His power at work in our lives and may it result in Him getting all the glory.

Questions to Consider:

What things are you facing for which you haven’t even prayed (Level 1)?
What does God taking you to Level 5 look like in your daily walk? Your sport?
Who on your team will be impacted by your Level 5 living? How?

Read More:

Jeremiah 32:17

2 Peter 1:3

Philippians 1:6

FCA Larimer County Blog

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