S3 Stories of Strength

1 Corinthians 15:33 

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

This is a commonsense warning not an exclusionary statement. It deals with your “buddies” not people you spend time with occasionally.

It is a fact, that the people we spend the most time with, influence us. They can make us better or make us worse. They can challenge us or make us comfortable in our mediocrity.

As a coach I used to say, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”.

Since we coached the same way every year, the differences in record reflected the differences in the team members. Attitude is contagious. You cannot spend a season with a group of people and not have them impact you. You need to pick your people carefully. You should have a group you intentionally spend time with that pushes you to improve.

You need solid friends, committed to Christ to encourage you and hold you accountable. Friends who are pursuing morality and integrity as opposed to those who would make you comfortable in lowering the standards. When iron strikes iron it sharpens it. You need a, “life group” that makes you better.

This verse can be misapplied and appear snobbish. Make no mistake, you are not too good for anyone. 

You love everyone – You exclude no one – But you should have a squad that you intentionally and methodically invest time with that makes you stronger, braver, more disciplined, and more focused.

Look at the people you spend the most time with and you will see your future. If you don’t like what you see redirect time toward a team you can train with. It’s important and is something you should do strategically.

This will not happen by accident. You must seek out people running toward the same goals you are chasing regarding your family, your career, and your walk with Christ.

When you stumble they will pick you up, and when they stumble you can return the favor.

Make a commitment to have each other’s back and to leave no one behind. Like a group of soldiers find some friends you can trust with your life. Because whether you realize it or not, that is exactly what you are doing.

“A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Romans 8:6

^“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

What about a mind governed by both? …. Contrary to popular belief, that can’t happen…only one of these forces can rule your mind. Darkness and light cannot occupy the same space. It’s an “either/or” decision.

That’s a problem in our culture. We seem to believe that our minds can be governed by the flesh on Saturday night – and governed by the Spirit on Sunday morning.  But that’s a lie…and it is a lie that deceives many.

We think we control our minds, but this verse says our minds control us. If that is true, then we need to purposely decide what influences our thoughts.

We must control what we meditate on… What input do you provide for the computer that God has placed in your head?  Just like any other system, the outcome will be directly related to the input.  Good data provides positive outcomes and bad data creates chaos.

If you listed the “fleshly” inputs that you allow in your head, and the “Spiritual” inputs you provide… which list would be longer?  This passage clearly says that one provides death, and one provides life…which do you prefer?

It is pretty simple, really. The music you listen to, the movies you watch, the language you use, the time you spend in prayer and scripture contrasted with the time you spend immersed in materialism, sensuality, and self-centeredness… all of this determines what governs your mind.

So, make a choice, and then make a plan.  But understand that this is a life or death decision, so be intentional.  Create an environment that will allow the Spirit of God to control your mind. Make some good habits and eliminate some bad ones.

You can’t have it both ways. You are either set apart for God, or you are living in the flesh for the world…and the deciding factor is what you allow to control your mind.

“A man’s mind is like a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth”.
― James Allen

An important word about the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton, from the S3 president and founder.

From my heart to our family:

El Paso, 20 dead, many others critical. Another shooting in Dayton; 9 dead and many injured. 

As a family, let’s love each other deeply from our hearts.  Be patient, be respectful, be attentive. We have no promise for another day or even another hour. 

Build up every person that crosses your path…. even if just  a momentary smile at a stranger. Call on the Holy Spirit throughout the day, so you’re equipped to do everything as an expression of love towards God.  If you truly love Him, as your words suggest, you WILL love others. 

Become one with the Father, thanking Him for His undeserved grace, kindness and forgiveness. The more our minds and hearts focus on His character, our natural  responses and actions will look more and more like Jesus. Our countenance will radiate a quiet peace. Our actions and words will be marked by kindness.

Most people we do life with have deep broken places in their hearts!  Enjoy fun experiences with friends and family….but love them enough to take time to listen and know about their  struggles and fears.   

We speak many idle, negative and  frivolous words that could be changed into a  life giving stream of hope!  

Selflessness helps us hear the “voice” of the Holy Spirit prompting us to step out of our mundane normality. We’ll be empowered to use our eyes to smile at someone we don’t know….wave at a child…speak hope to a teenager,  even if just a passing compliment…and listen to the story of one whose skin is a roadmap of their past journeys already traveled 

I believe loving people well helps them to love  themselves just a little bit more…and maybe in the future we won’t see so much hate.

We love getting the opportunity to hear from Boyd Brigman, our sweet friend of S3.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:18

Where is “kindness” on your to-do list this afternoon?

Our worship rightly consists of honoring God with our words. But that cannot be the end of it. That is simply vocalizing what our activities should constantly reflect. Our love for the Father should be visible in our actions toward His children. Let me challenge you to amend your schedule today.  As you prepare your calendar, intentionally set an action point to be kind to someone for no other reason than God told you to.

Be creative….Have fun with it.  Amaze someone today with your compassion and they will then be receptive to your truth.  We were created to love each other, and you will never feel more fulfilled then when you do so with your activities.

God didn’t just love us with words, He took action… difficult, expensive, sacrificial action. We should do the same.

It is your choice, today can be just another day, or you can choose to bless someone and make this day extraordinary for both of you!

I dare you to, be a blessing to someone today.  I guarantee when you bless them, it will splash out all over you.

What actions do you have planned today to show your love for others?

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams

For more devo’s created by Boyd Brigman, check out his site: http://bigosbibletime.blogspot.com/?m=1

Hi friends!

My name is Taylor Sandy and I am excited to share truth with you today! 

A little background…

I graduated from Grapevine High School in 2014 and participated in S3 throughout middle school and high school. I went on to play collegiate soccer for The University of Kentucky, then transferred to The University of Texas at Austin to finish out my degree and soccer career. From the outside, many people think that my life is picture perfect and Instagram worthy at all times, but that is far from reality! I have struggled with sports adversity, injury adversity, friendships, break-ups, disappointments and set-backs, but the biggest has been loneliness.

The Bible says in Leviticus 20:26 “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own”. We are not meant for this world; we are not meant to fit in and the best example I can give is Jesus. He was bold, spoke truth in love, and He was persecuted for it. He experienced betrayal more than once and yet is the MOST significant and important person in history. Being set apart is lonely!

The world tells us to live as we choose, live by the mantra, “you only live once”, do what makes you happy, etc.

God’s Word says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”” I have experienced moments where I don’t feel liked or accepted by my peers and I have to remind myself that the world hated Jesus first. If you feel like people don’t like you because of you, it’s most likely because Jesus lives inside of you, and not because of who you are! When you change your perspective of the criticism or judgement you may face, it frees your heart and mind to really LOVE those who persecute you.

So, if you feel like you’re alone here is my tip for you. Put yourself out there! Join a bible study if you’re not in one already, go to youth groups at church or to your Student Standing Strong meetings every week, etc. Finding like-minded friends and community who understand what you’re feeling is the key! The fact is that everyone is lonely. Every person you know, even the popular person, feels lonely sometime or another. Satan fills your mind with lies of self-doubt, lack of moral values, insecurities, sinful pasts and current sin to hold you captive and keep you in the state of feeling lonely and isolated. God wants you to know that you are loved just as you are and that He created YOU for a unique purpose that only He can fulfill. Stand firm in your beliefs, and know God’s Word. You are not alone!

With love,

Taylor Sandy (@thetayloredlifeblog)