Grit Ministries

Can athletes excel in their sports without coaching? Coaches are vital to the growth of athletes. They provide motivation, guidance, encouragement, and discipline. But it also takes discipline from the athletes to reach their goals. Long practices, hard work, and a healthy diet are just a few ways to do this. Coaches help athletes stay focused on the goals.

It's no different in our spiritual lives. 1 Timothy 4:7 says, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." To strive for holiness and a personal relationship with Christ, spiritual disciplines are essential. However, discipline without direction is drudgery. Jesus is our greatest model, as He pursued not His own will, but the will of the Father. Even as God in the flesh, He disciplined Himself to pray, fast, worship, and serve.

In the next several weeks, GRIT will share specific ways on how you can deepen your walk with Christ. Jesus tells us in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Next Wednesday, we'll cover Part 1 of the first discipline- Bible Intake. We'll refer to the book, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney.

In July, I had the privilege of taking ten high school boys on an incredible backpacking trip to Colorado. The goal was to get them out of their regular routines and focus on the Lord and each other. No phones or I-Pads!

We camped and hiked for six days. Over 30 miles of hiking up mountains with 60-lb backpacks. It was difficult and challenging, but what a fantastic experience.

Day three was one I'll never forget. We hiked 13 miles and 1,600 vertical feet. It began at 4 am. The boys had headlamps, but I asked them to turn them off at different points to see the difficulty of walking in darkness. When the lights went out, there was uncertainty and disorientation.

When the lamps were back on, we could see the contours of the mountains, the twists and turns, and the rocks and trails. Then, some verses we read that morning came to life. John 1:4-5 says, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

We challenge you to trust and follow this Light. Jesus is ALL we need in this crazy world.

GRIT Ministries is happy to announce we've moved into our new office! We are blessed to be in the Elevated Properties house just south of downtown Celina.

WHAT IS A COACH?

Most define a coach as a person who teaches and trains individuals or team members to learn strategies and achieve goals. Let's look at the etymology of the word. 'Coach' derives from 16th century Hungary and is defined as a wagon or carriage.

This is where we get the word, 'Stagecoach." Before the automobile, the stagecoach carried people all over the country and had to endure the tough trials of long journeys.

The STAGECOACH:
1) Protected people from the elements and surroundings
2) Traveled long distances at a much faster pace
3) Softened the blows of bumpy areas and rough terrains
4) Carried the passenger's baggage
5) Took passengers farther than ever before

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

In the athletic world, coaches are the backbone of the team. They provide structure, and a good coach will instill character, compassion and discipline. Now, look at the correlation between the old stagecoach and the athletic coach.

The ATHLETIC COACH:
1) Protects athletes from outside distractions and dangers
2) Goes long distances to ensure athletes achieve their goals
3) Softens the blows of life's hard knocks and bumpy areas
4) Carries baggage for those who struggle and guides them from adversity to victory
5) Takes athletes farther than they ever dreamed

Now, let's examine where the old stagecoaches received their power. If the coach didn't have power to advance, it was worthless. The power came from horses who were the source of strength and endurance. These beautiful animals were the catalyst that powered the long journeys.

WHERE IS YOUR POWER SOURCE?

We all need a source for strength, and coaches are no different. Coaches spend countless hours with athletes in training, teaching and encouraging. We ALL need a power source. Jesus is the perfect power source for us! Without Him, we're like a stagecoach without the horses. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing."

WHERE IS THE TRUE SOURCE OF YOUR STRENGTH?

GRIT hosted a gathering of coaches from Gunter, Whitesboro, Callisburg and S&S for the monthly Coaches Corner on April 5th. Ashby Porter shared his testimony along with an encouraging message from Genesis 1 about how we are all created in God's image.