Tim Hiller's Blog, page 4

Preparation

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:6-7

For my wife and me, this year’s Christmas season has deeper meaning than ever before. We are expecting our first child in June. As we open our Bibles and read of the fear and stress, but also the courage and obedience of Jesus’ young, earthly parents—Mary and Joseph—we can’t help but reflect on our own life’s circumstance.

We are in a season of preparation.

We’ve moved my office and all its belongings down into the basement to make room for what will be baby’s new nursery. We’ve got a stroller in our living room waiting for its new occupant. There are suddenly onesie pajamas all over our house. We’re signed up for all our prenatal parenting classes. We’re reading books, making lists, and crunching budget numbers. We are ensuring everything is ready for this child we will treasure, teach, train and, many years from now, turn loose to live for Jesus in our fallen world.

We are in a season of preparation.

But preparation isn’t just for expecting parents like us. Truth be told, we are all in preparation mode, all the time.

If we closely examine our day-to-day living, we’ll find we are all preparing for something every single day. We are all hoping for something, looking forward to something, putting our faith in something, living for something. We just may not realize it.

Every choice we make says a lot about what we are preparing for. Every event on our calendar says a lot about what we are living for. Every conversation we have—or don’t have—says a lot about what we are hoping for.

If we step back and honestly reflect on our daily thoughts, words, and actions, and what they indicate we are preparing for—I think we’ll find most of our preparation tends to be:

Self-Serving

Our willingness to sacrifice for others, put in long hours, or go the extra mile is secretly rooted in a self-centered motive—preparing for the next promotion, recognition, achievement or bonus. We will do whatever it takes…as long as it benefits us!

Short-Lived

Our minds are constantly filled with the thought, “If I can just get __________, then everything will be okay.” Then the long awaited day comes—after all our preparation, planning, and pursuit, we finally get ___________— only to find ourselves unsatisfied and on to preparing for the next thing. The prize is short-lived, fleeting, and doesn’t fulfill our deepest desires.

Substandard

Even our most well intentioned plans of preparation fall short and miss the mark. Circumstances beyond our control change, our plans fail, we make mistakes. Even our best preparation is imperfect.

The decisions we make and actions we take each day are all preparing us for something. What are we preparing for?

Rest assured, we can correct the course of our preparation—and what better time to do it than in this sacred Christmas season? The prophet Isaiah implores us to prepare—not for things that are self-serving, short-lived, and substandard—but simply, for a child.  To prepare for Jesus Christ—the son of God. The Savior of the world.  To get ready for the one who is:

Praiseworthy

The coming Christ child is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He was meek enough for a manger, but mighty enough to save mankind. He is worthy of our love and praise.

Permanent

This Holy infant is eternally in control of everything in all creation. “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” He rules the world, and all that is in it, with loving wisdom and faultless authority. Forever.

Perfect

The reason for the Christmas season, Jesus, has built his Kingdom—in heaven and in willing human hearts—and he is “establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness.” Our unknown future is secure in a known God who loves us dearly and is perfect in every way.

It’s been a busy year. We’ve all been preparing for many things. This Christmas season, let’s slow down and set aside the things we’ve been pursuing that are self-serving, short-lived, and substandard. Let’s cast them down and prepare our hearts to receive a child—Jesus—born that we may have hope, love, and life. Let’s get ready for this praiseworthy, permanent, perfect king! He alone deserves our full preparation!

IT’S YOUR TURN: Add your comments! What are some of the ways you and your family prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus each Christmas?

What is Next Level Performance?

Almost on a daily basis I’ve been fielding the question…

“So Tim…what is this Next Level Performance thing all about?”

I’m glad you asked!

Exactly seven months ago today I found myself with a dear friend of mine on the sidelines of a practice field at one of the premier athletic training facilities in the world. One of the quarterbacks I’ve been training and mentoring for a couple years was attending a camp at this facility.  As I watched and listened to the instruction and the message being instilled behind it, the taste in my mouth grew more and more sour.

Everything was about the SELF.

“It’s all about ME” was the focal point of everything being taught.  “Put up the numbers you want to put up.”  “Get the scholarship you want to obtain.”  “Market yourself to the right schools and recruiting agencies.”  “Build your brand.”  “Be the star to carry your team back home.”  “Have the success you deserve.”

After a full day of hearing this continual message, my friend and I turned to each other and said, “We have to do something about this.”  Two weeks later, Next Level Performance, LLC was established.

What do we do at Next Level?  We build servant leaders, not just better student-athletes, because athletics will end, but leadership will not.  We do this in two ways: performance training and leadership development.  We attack and build the skill through services like sport-specific instruction and speed & agility training, but we also attack and build the will through our intensive leadership and character development curriculum.  We deliver this curriculum in two ways – in “modules” that accompany every on-field training session and through our leadership development conferences which have already touched the lives of hundreds of high school and collegiate student-athletes.

 

       

Right or wrong, our society is fascinated with athletics.  Athletes today have a platform and an influential voice.  We want to do all we can to help student-athletes excel in the classroom and on the field.  But, more importantly, we believe a purpose driven athlete is a force for positive change in the world.  We equip each Next Level student-athlete with tools and strategies to lead and serve others in their teams, schools, communities, and homes.  Building these skills in student-athletes is ultimately what will help them excel far beyond the field of competition – in their careers, in their marriages, in their parenting, and in whatever else they choose to pursue.

To learn more about the community of servant leaders we are building through athletics, click here or visit our website at www.nlathlete.com.  We’re also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  If you share our vision, we hope that you’ll spread the word about what we’re doing in the lives of student-athletes, and that you’ll consider sending your student-athletes our way.  We’d be honored to invest in their lives.

Next Level Performance Quarterback Academy

We have two premier events coming up for quarterbacks – Quarterback Academy – one December 19-20 and another March 6-7.  December 19-20 is for middle school quarterbacks in 6th-8th grade, and March 6-7 is for high school quarterbacks in grades 9-12.  Middle School QBA is filling up fast, but we do have 8 spots left!  We hope you’ll join us…all registration information is available at www.nlathlete.com/qba.

The Day After Thanksgiving

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

If your Thanksgiving holiday was anything like mine it was probably filled with lots of family, food, and football. And hopefully, at some point during the festivities, there was a moment of personal reflection for recounting God’s faithful work in our lives throughout the year past.

But today it’s over. It’s the day after Thanksgiving.  The family has gone home. The left overs are in the fridge. And the football is off the air, at least for a little while.

So…now what?

Is Thanksgiving something we gather to do once a year, indulging ourselves for a few hours, and then going our separate ways back to normal life? Or is there a way to take this special day with us every day, all year long?

In the fifth chapter of his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul boldly declares that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday—it is a day-to-day:

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As we move forward into the rest of the year until next Thanksgiving, there are two settings in which we must give thanks daily, and one strategy to help us do it. God’s graciousness demands our gratitude, in all circumstances, and this is not an easy feat.

Setting #1: Good Times

Good times present one of the most treacherous traps to giving thanks in all circumstances. When all is well in our world, if we are not cautious, the contagion of comfort and poison of pride can begin to creep into our lives. Rather than having an attitude of gratitude we can begin to believe the lie that we, not God, are responsible for our successes or well-being.

Setting #2: Hard Times

Hard times reveal our true commitment to giving thanks in all circumstances. When we find ourselves in times of desert drought we tend to focus inwardly, summoning all our strength to rise to the challenge before us, rather than resting in the power that only God can provide. Instead of thanking him for what he is teaching us through our trials, we tend to fall victim to frustration and complaint.

Strategy: Look Upon The Cross

There is only one strategy that allows us to give thanks, both in good and hard times—the cross of Jesus Christ.

In good times, when all is well, looking upon the cross creates humility—allowing us to give thanks for God’s saving grace. None of us are as smart or savvy as we think we are when we stare at what Jesus did for us at Calvary. We are simply sinners. We only have good times in our lives because of his pardon and provision. And coming to this realization produces praise—daily thankfulness for who God is and what he has done.

In hard times, when everything seems to be going wrong, looking upon the cross creates hope—allowing us to give thanks for God’s victory over sin and death. Even if our trial will not pass until we head home to heaven, we have confident assurance that it will come to an end, and that a surpassing glory awaits us with our Lord Jesus. This assurance also produces praise—daily appreciation for the celebration to come.

Thanksgiving all year long? Yes, it is possible—in good times and in hard times—if we will look upon the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the cross alone is the power of humility and hope—the source of true gratitude that will never fade away.

IT’S YOUR TURN: Add your comments! How do you stay thankful for God’s work in your life all year long? What are some practical strategies you use in your daily life to maintain an attitude of praise and gratitude?

Nothing Left to Give

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Philippians 2:17

As I reflected on Veteran’s Day last week, I took some time to think about those who served our country that also directly invested in me. Specifically, I found myself replaying memorial services I attended for veterans in my life. They were celebrations for the life of my grandfather and my great uncle.

As I went back to those moments in time, I recalled the most moving and emotional part of those memorial tributes—the military flag folding ceremony.

Deeply rooted in the faith-based principles our nation was founded upon, the flag folding ceremony pays homage to veterans who faithfully and honorably served their country. Each of the 13 folds of the flag folding procedure holds special significance and symbolism, honoring the deceased veteran, the United States of America, and our Heavenly Father.

When it comes to showing my feelings, my wife will be the first to tell you that I am not a very emotional person. I’m never too high. I’m never too low. In her words… “you’re boring.”

So what moves me about the folding of the flag?

I think it’s the beauty of a life lived in sacrificial service.

In the second chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul says he is willing to be “…poured out like a drink offering…” for those he lovingly served in that community. But what exactly does this mean?

In one of the Old Testament books of law, Leviticus, we see five offerings to God prescribed to the nation of Israel: burnt offerings, meal offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings and trespass offerings. The drink offering Paul speaks of in Philippians 2:17 was always linked to the burnt, meal, and peace offerings.  These gifts were fellowship sacrifices the people gave to The Lord in loving recognition of his sovereignty, provision, and goodness. The emptying of the drink offering was a voluntary gift to The Lord that required sacrifice on the part of the giver and that showed honor and glory toward God.

In similar fashion, some 1,500 years later, Jesus Christ modeled the living drink offering as he voluntarily died for our sin, requiring the ultimate sacrifice, yet eternally glorifying the work of our father in heaven. I’m confident Paul was thinking of Jesus the drink offering as he penned his letter to the Philippians.

Like our veterans, Paul, and the ultimate example—Jesus—we too are called to serve sacrificially each day, as living drink offerings. Consider how this plays out in our lives:

1. As living drink offerings, we must be filled

There is nothing to pour out of an empty cup. So too, if we are not coming to the well (John 4:13-14) on a daily basis, we will not be equipped to pour our lives into the lives of others.

2. As living drink offerings, we must have a place to be poured

A gift is not a gift unless given to someone else. We each have God-given things that only we can say, do, write, build, play, design, or make. Where will you give your God-given gifts?

3. As living drink offerings, we must be completely emptied

I was deeply convicted by Matt Chandler’s question in this video last week: “Why are you going to bed so strong?” In other words, why are we not giving our all? Each day we must give until we have nothing to offer. Then we should rest, rise, and request strength from God to do it all over again. And again. And again. This is the epitome of the poured out life.

This week let’s all dig deep in God’s strength and give a little more until we have nothing left to give. Let’s be living drink offerings for the glory of God and the service of others!

IT’S YOUR TURN: Add your comments! What veteran, teacher, coach, co-worker, friend, pastor, family member, or other person in your life has deeply impacted you through their selfless and sacrificial service? What difference has it made in your life?