The Weekend...

I've got a full day of work today then I plan to take a relaxing easy Sunday with the family... Last night men's group was pretty good. I'll be blogging about some of the things we discussed last night...

Today my focus is on giving good tennis lessons that glorify God...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord for my sweet precious family. Thank You for a strong group of Godly men at church to lift me up. Lord, every good thing comes from You. I consider that my life is VERY good. I give You the glory for it all, my King...

Lord I ask blessings on my day. Season my words to have great impact on those around me. Let me be Your witness today, Father. By Your Grace I will have no negative thoughts and no negative words will pass my lips...

Father God I love You and give this day up to You for Your Glory.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Another Praise Report...

Yesterday our day did not turn out as planned at all. Connor broke his wrist while playing a football game with friends early in the afternoon, and his mom and I spent the better part of the afternoon and evening with him at the emergency room in Brazosport Regional Hospital.

There was a tremendous out pouring of support and prayers from all our friends and family and we are greatly appreciative of that. Thank God that Monica's Mom just happened to be visiting and Elijah was well cared for and did not even notice an interruption in our normal daily routine.

And praise God that Connor's injury was not as severe as we first suspected. He experienced some discomfort but is in a cast now and he should heal just fine with no problems.

God is Good...


Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord You always give us just what we need right when we need it. Thanks for being such an awesome God. I love You, Lord.

I pray for a sweet day of rest and recovery for Connor (and Monica) today. Lord I lift up my tennis classes this morning and ask blessings in all my encounters with the world today. Lord, perhaps I'll be able to touch someone else's life today for the Kingdom. Use me as You will, my King. That is my hope and prayer this morning.

I give today to You Lord. All I do is for Your Glory and in Your Honor.

Father God, I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise Report...!

The first day of my busy week went very well. The tournament went well, the home school program went very well, and lessons went well.

And this morning I actually slept until 7:30 AM...! PRAISE THE LORD...!

I'm starting off the morning feeling much better than I did when I went to sleep. Honestly, I was exhausted last night...! But it was a 'good' exhausted from a day spent giving Glory to God...!

I hope and pray that today is as productive and God Honoring...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I look out the window this morning and see a beautiful day. Thank you Lord for making another day and giving me an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Father God I pray for grace, mercy, and wisdom.

Bless my efforts to bring the HPTA back on track and facilitate the new leadership for our organization. Help me to continue to 'shrink' my work load to allow me to be more useful to You.

Lord Jesus, I ask for wisdom as I decide to become more involved in a ministry that has been brought to my attention. I'm letting You lead me, my King. I've made far too many mistakes in my life running in to something under my own power. I'm waiting on You.

Lord I pray in the power of expectant prayer, not hopeful prayer. I KNOW You will be faithful to lead me.

Thank You my King for all the abundant blessings in my life. What a privilege and luxury to be able to sit on a couch with a warm blanket on my legs pecking away on a laptop connected to the Internet...!

Father God I love You. I do give every moment of my day for Your Glory. I'm very sorry and repentant for those moments when I fall short in my thoughts and behavior.

Lord bless my sweet precious family whom I love deeply. And I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayer For My Week

This is an extremely busy week for me. I'm helping out with some high school tournaments, I have a big home school presentation today, and I have my normal load of lessons.

I am in prayer right now for a special ministry that I might become a part of. Today I am just praying for God's discernment in that area.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord thank You for being a great big God. You amaze me every single day...! Thank you for blessing me with so many abundant blessings. Father God I seek Your counsel this morning. Would You have me become a part of this ministry opportunity that seems to be opening up before me...?

I am going to try to just be still and quiet and listen for Your voice. I love You Lord, and pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer for today...

Today the Houston Pro Tennis Association is hosting a big tournament in Katy. There is a good chance of rain but I'm praying that the rain holds off today.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I pray blessings on the weather today. I'm believing for a 'weather miracle'. Father God I know that prayer works when a person believes. I'm not hopeful that the rain will hold off. I'm expectant that it will hold off. I pray for safety for players and parents traveling to and from the tournament today. Lord I pray for good communication between the players and tournament personnel today.

Father God I also ask blessings on my lessons today. Help me to make a difference in other's lives through encouragement and positive reinforcement. I thank You Lord for allowing me to do what I do and make a living coaching a sport I love so much.

Lord thank You for my family. I love them and pray blessings on them today. I Love You, my King and pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Lifting Up My Sweet Wife...

Thursdays are always the most challenging days for Monica. I cover her in prayer this morning and all throughout the day today...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord for my precious wife, Monica. I lift her and her efforts up to you today. I pray blessings on her travel to and from school. I ask for special blessings on her classes. Lord I pray that Monica makes a difference in the lives of all her students this morning and afternoon.

My wife is a great blessing to me and it is a privilege and honor to pray for her. Lord You are Good. You supply all my needs. I love You and offer up today for Your Honor and Glory.

Bless me as well, please Lord. Help my day flow smoothly and allow me to accomplish much. Lord help me make wise decisions today and bless my encounters with the world.

I thank You for Your Grace and Mercy. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Loving Others With Christ's Love

Today's devotional material is not my own. It is the perspective and notes from a friend at church. We are part of a new men's ministry at Life Church in Angleton. My friend's thoughts gave me great insight and encouragement with some issues I am facing...

We know that the bible tells us that we should show love to others, as Christ did. We should demonstrate love in our actions, reactions and way of life. How often do we really do this? I can say that sometimes, when I think the other person does not deserve it, I should not have too. When I was in Jr. High there was this kid that I could not get along with. I must have fought with him every week, it seemed. I am sure, now, that it was not all his fault that we did not get along. I can tell you for certain that I did not love him as a Christian should. There have been people I have worked with that I have not shown Christian love when I thought they did not deserve it. Loving others is something that is not easy. It is especially difficult when the other person does not warrant our love. Knowing I felt that someone did not deserve my love was the trigger that made me turn around. I knew that I did not deserve GOD’s love. I knew that my life did nothing that gave GOD reason to love me.

-Charlie Davis, Men Serving God, Feb 2009

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

How can we show love to others? What should we do so we can be the type of example Christ wants? We need to know what love is. Here are some additional scripture examples:

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 4:10-12 (NIV)
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Remember to pray for GOD to help you show love to those you are around. Lives will be changed when we express GOD’s love. A great first step is to know that GOD loved us when we did not deserve it.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord for loving me when I did not deserve it. Thank You for strong Christian men around me lifting me up and sharing with me the benefit of their experience and walk with You.

Lord I thank You for the trials I face daily. If my life were 'perfect' I would probably not be drawing so close to You all the time.

Father God I do truly love You. It is my desire to please You in everything I do. Help me to not fall so short of the mark each day. I lift up those challenging relationships and circumstances in my life and lay them at the foot of Your cross.

Lord I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Flight 3407

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord my heart breaks for the families of the victims of flight 3407. I humbly lift up everyone who lost a friend or loved one in that deadly airplane crash.

Father God, an event like that reminds us just how fragile and precious life is. Every breath is a gift from heaven. Thank You Lord for life. I pray that I never take for granted a minute of this wonderful life You have blessed me with.

Thank You Lord for my precious wife and family. Thank You for the opportunity to make a living doing an activity that I have a great passion for: coaching.

Lord God I love You. I'm living for You, Lord. Everything is for Your glory. I ask for a blessing on my tennis event today. I pray for good weather, good sportsmanship, health and safety for all the participants.

i pray these things in the power and might of Jesus' name, Amen.

Psalm 22

This morning I read Psalm 22. The Psalmist David was going through a troubling time in his life when he wrote psalm 22. Indeed when reading the passage in full, at times you can sense a great anguish in his words. But Psalm 22:5 is a key verse that gives me hope:

In You they cried out and were delivered. In You they Trusted and were not disappointed....

In this verse, David is remarking about the heritage of the Jewish people with God. David's Fathers before him cried out and received God's blessings and intervention.

I love to read the works of David. He was an intensely emotional man, much like myself.

Like David, my hope is in the Lord. I will trust in Him...!

Father God I will keep my eyes on You. You are my Redeemer and Deliverer. I trust in You, my King.

Lord my plate is full today. Help me to swiftly accomplish the tasks before me. Help me to be a strong witness to those within my sphere of influence.

My Precious Jesus, I pray blessings on Monica as she prepares for her big teaching day today. I lift her up to You, My Savior. I pray for Holy Spirit power and protection for her today as she ministers to the needs of her students.

Lord I also lift up Connor and Elijah today at school. I pray that they would be salt and light to those around them.

Father God there are many requests on my heart and I will address them all throughout the day today as I commune with Thee. Search me and know my heart. Bless the sick with healing and give comfort to those in despair.

I love You Lord and I dedicate today to You. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Love My Wife...

My wife and I were up kinda late last night discussing some of the pressing issues our country and the world are facing. We are in complete agreement that we have to be more active in educating those within our sphere of influence about negative changes that are taking place in our society right now.

Americans are about to lose many of the freedoms that we have taken for granted for some time. Everyone is too busy it seems to get involved, or worse they are apathetic to issues of utmost importance.

I thank God for my precious wife this morning. She is a woman of strong faith and character and she inspires me to greater heights. I praise my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for people like my wife who are difference makers in this world. I don't want to begin to think of what my life would be like if I had not married my sweet Monica.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord You have blessed me with the love a Godly woman. Indeed, my cup runneth over. Thank You Lord for my precious wife. She means everything to this family. I lift her up in prayer to You this morning. I pray for her rest. I pray for the organization of her day. I lift up her health to You. Guard and protect my sweet bride today, Lord Jesus.

Bless her day with the satisfaction of many accomplishments. Father God I pray that Monica is able to influence many lives today with her great communication skills. Lord please enable me to be as much a help and inspiration to her as she is to me.

Father God I will pray about many things today. But the main item on my agenda this morning is lifting up Monica.

I love You Lord. I give this day to You for your Glory. I pray these things in the power of the Name of the one who can do all things, the Author of Life, and my Precious Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Miracle in Acts 3

I have heard two really good Sunday messages recently about the miracle in Acts 3 where Peter raised up the lame man at the gate of the temple beautiful in Jerusalem.

The first one was given by Pastor Greg at First Baptist Church Brazoria. Greg performed a solo dramatization where he acted out the part of the lame man who was healed. We got to see the miracle through the perspective of the miracle through the lame man's eyes. It was excellent.

Then, two days ago Cere Muscarella from life church really illuminated Acts 3 for me. Cere noted that the miracle in Acts 3 was different from other miracles recorded in the bible because it did not require any belief from the recipient of the miracle.

Peter says in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took the lame man by the hand and raised him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength and he could walk. -Acts 3:6-7

Wow... That's the healing power of the Holy Spirit. And there's no reason why ANY believer should not be able to perform that same miracle today except that We do not believe we can.

Peter Believed. After he said rise up and walk, he immediately grabbed the lame man's hand and raised him up. He didn't step back and see if the lame man could arise on his own. Peter knew the man was healed through the power of the Holy Spirit and in that way, God was exhalted.

Remember what Jesus said at the Last Supper:

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. -(Mark 16:15, 16, 17, 18, 19)

Jesus was speaking to the apostles in this passage but he was referring to ALL BELIEVERS in his comments. I believe God is still working miracles today, and people still receive spiritual gifts. With God all things are possible. I believe in the living God. I believe in HIS miracles and HIS power.

Fireproof

My wife and I watched the movie 'Fireproof' with a group from church last night. In this day and age where marriage and the family is under more persecution and pressure than ever before I heartily endorse this movie. If you haven't seen it yet You absolutely must see it.

Wow...


Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I lift up my precious sweet wife and my marriage to You. Bless us Lord to be a blessing to each other and our family and friends. I thank You Father that we have a good marriage with You right in the center of it.

Thank You my King for the testimony and witness of the movie Fireproof. I pray that it continues to impact relationships all around the world.

Father God I love You, and pray these things in Jesus' name.

Galatians 6:2 Bear One Another's Burden'

The Holy Spirit has really been prompting me to spend more time in intercessory prayer lately.

Galatians 6:2 is verse that has been jumping at me time and time again.

More on this topic soon...

Paryers for my Students

Dear Heavenly Father...

Lord I lift up all my tennis students who are playing the ZAT tournament this morning. I pray for a good day for parents and players alike. Bless everyone with traveling mercy, Lord. Whether in victory or defeat I pray that You will get he Glory You so richly deserve.

Father God I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Monica's Day

Thursdays I pretty much reserve for lifting up my sweet wife in prayer. Thursdays are her big teaching day. She has art classes all morning and then for a few hours in the afternoon. The opportunity to impact the lives of many, many young people is huge.

The problem that we have as a family is fighting busyness. We are typically so busy during the week that Monica has to stay up almost all night Wednesday to prepare for her classes. I try to help her as much as I can but there is only so much I can do. I'm not an art specialist so my role can only be one of a support system or helper.

The most significant area I can be effective in is lifting her up in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today is Monica's Day. Lord I lift her up to You. Bless her day my King. Enable her to impact her students in a most significant way, Lord. Father God I lift up my precious bride to You and ask special blessings on her health as she is pushing herself to dangerous limits of sleep deprivation.

I love my sweet wife and want to be a help and a blessing to her. Lord we give You all the glory for today and pray these thinks in the power of Jesus' Name.

Amen.

Asking Forgiveness

Matthew 5:22 says that 'anyone who is angry with his brother and does not try to reconcile that anger will be subject to judgement...'

Romans 12:8 says 'as far as it depends upon you, live at peace with all people...'

I have recently been inspired by the actions of a friend of mine who prompted by the Holy Spirit, went to a colleague who had offended her, shared her testimony and asked forgiveness for my friend harboring ill feelings toward her.

I am actually going to do the same thing to everyone who has offended me or whom I may offended over the years. I'm just carrying around too much baggage from past hurts. I recognize that it is very unhealthy both physically and spiritually to hold that stuff in.

Furthermore, I recognize that God can not use me as his instrument if I have anxiety and negative thoughts and feelings towards others.

I'm looking to 'clean the slate' as soon as possible with everyone. Romans 12:8 looks very good to me right now...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord Thank You for the inspiration of my friend and her courage to honor You with a pure life free of any resentment or any thing negative. I am inspired by her witness.

Father God I apologize to You for my part in any negative talk or negative feelings towards other people in my life over the years. As I go to apologize and seek forgiveness from everyone who has ever offended me or I may have offended myself, I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through me and right those many wrongs and transgressions that have occurred.

Lord I am seeking to live a life that honors You. I pray You Bless my efforts to reconcile those difficult relationships in my life. Thank You for forgiveness and for forgiving me of my sins.

I love You Lord. And in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Praising HIM...

Yesterday was a LONG Day for me. Mondays usually are. I teach a total of eight and a half hours of classes to over 75 students throughout the day and have a two hour commute on top of all that...

It's physically difficult for an over weight man to be on the tennis court and in the car for that length of time. I miss my family most of all. But I am grateful to be able to interact with that many people every Monday. God is Good. -And all my success on the tennis court and all the lives that are impacted in a positive way are not because of Sam Chadwell. No, any good that happens is the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Jesus.

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for blessing me. Lord I give You all the credit, praise and glory for a good day yesterday. It is my pleasure to teach, coach, and encourage others. Thank You for the many opportunities You give me all the time. Lord I am sorry that sometimes I take things for granted, or assign the credit to myself or my own efforts. I realize that I am nothing without a Savior...!

Lord I lift up my friend Todd this morning who is struggling with cancer. Father God I pray blessings on Connor and his day today. Thank you Lord for the positive changes we see in him. Lord I pray for my wife and baby boy Elijah. Bless them with an outstanding day today my King...!

Father God I lift up my dear sister who is under severe stress right now. She is under attack on many fronts. Help her to be discerning in her life decisions Lord.

Lord I lift up President Obama and the rest of the leaders of our country. I pray for Godly influences on this countries' administration. I pray that Christians everywhere will rise up and make their voices be heard regarding the many social issues thus country is facing.

Lord I love You. And for my part in today's history I am just going to walk as closely with you as I can today. Father God in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Covering the Day in Prayer: The First Step

I had a rough day yesterday, but God seems to continue to bless me in spite of myself. The Sunday morning message from Cere was very good. Every word seemed to be exactly for me and for me alone. He preached about faith and prayer. He preached in particular about the miraculous healing power of prayer.

One of the things Cere said that really jumped out at me was:

'There is no strength in being perceived as a nice person. -The power is in FAITH'

A witness for Christ MUST be made. We need to be God's Instrument, God's Agent.

Cere reported that there are 24 documented miracles by Jesus in the bible.

In John 14:12 Jesus says of these miracles: 'Greater things than these You shall do...'

Read this entire passage for a better context...

I have a long way to go before I can really be used as God's instrument or God's agent.

But the each journey in life, no matter how great the distance, starts with a single step...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I'm a mess. But praise You that You are good at cleaning up messes. Father God this morning I repent of my sins and walk forward in You. I pray for your miraculous Holy Spirit power today. Lord I don't want to just be perceived as a 'nice' person. I want to have the kind of Faith Cere spoke about yesterday morning. Lord help me....!

I pray a blessing over my family this morning, especially my sweet wife who is praying herself out over me constantly. Lord I love you and want to do Your will. I am humbled this morning.

Lord we have been given a mission to change the world in a very dwindling amount of time. I have been so ineffective up to now... Father God Heal me. Change My heart. Lift me up out of my pathetic crippling unbelief. Change my heart Lord. I am no better than any sinner out there. We all are lost except by your divine Grace.

Lord I believe in the Power of Your name. And I pray these things in your precious holy name, Jesus Christ, AMEN.