“People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.” – Ecclesiastes 9:12 Coaches and their families are not immune to tragedy. Life can change in a moment.

“My people have been lost sheep.  Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains.  They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.” – Jeremiah 50:6 Yogi Berra was a Hall of Fame baseball player with a Hall of Fame wit.  He had a gift for saying the smartest things in the funniest ways.  As a result, Yogi became one of America’s most beloved philosophers.  Berra played for a true dynasty in baseball history, the N…

“But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6 My faith was wavering. As I watched my unpredictable punter jog onto the field, doubt washed over me with every step.

“I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.” – Psalm 143:4 Spiders, flying, heights, storms and snakes are only a few of the fears that paralyze us. Others include loneliness, rejection, fear of the unknown and fear of failure. We all face fears of some kind.

“Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 Every one of us can recite the names of coaches that have had an impact on our lives. These men and women believed in us and instilled the confidence in us to attempt things we didn’t think we were capable of. If you were creating a Mt.

“Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them.” – Acts 6:8 Charles Blondin was a great French acrobat who became a legend by crossing the entire width of Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He did it pushing a wheelbarrow, another time blindfolded and yet another walking backwards. Blondin’s greatest achievement however, was crossing the falls with another man on his back.

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

 “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.” – Proverbs 4:25 Regardless of the level you coach, teaching athletes to minimize distractions is important. Anyone that has ever coached youth sports knows what I’m talking about. I remember a baseball game in which two of my 8-year old players got into a fight in the dugout arguing over who was going to put on the extra set of catcher’s gear.

“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 In the world of sport, each new season brings excitement and hope.

“Your reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” – Psalm 16:11 Can you remember the most joyful celebration you have ever witnessed? Maybe it was celebrating a State Championship or an unexpected win over a superior opponent. It could have been witnessing one of your athletes accomplish a feat that they, and maybe you too, thought was impossible.

“….love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” – Joshua 22:5 How many times do we see athletes who have all the physical tools fail to live up to their potential? Why do athletes with everything going for them so often miss the mark, while those with limited ability bring home the prize? What’s the missing ingredient?