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Here is today's communion meditation.

In the book of Joshua, as the people were getting ready to move into the promised land God tells Joshua multiple times "Be strong and courageous." In order to take the promised land required being strong and courageous. In a similar way for us, being strong and courageous helps us lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us be strong and courageous so that we lay hold of his promises to us in Christ.  

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

In our workouts one of the most important qualities to train for is strength. Being strong makes everything else easier. 

 I am praying for you.

Daniel

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Here is today's communion meditation.

The other day I was putting some leftovers into a Tupperware container, and I was trying to fit it all in so I pressed it down so more could be squeezed in. While doing this, I was reminded that Jesus said in John 6 that if we give it would be given to us. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us understand that when we give, he gives back to us in a greater measure so that he fills all of the available capacity. And we are asking him to help us receive what he is giving back to us. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

In workouts many people take really long rest breaks, but I have found that compressing the workout and trying to get more work done in the available time usually produces better results. 

 I am praying for you.

Daniel

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Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately we have been talking about a college baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. And we talked about how he taught that if the beginning and the end of the baseball swing were in the correct position then everything in the middle would tend to workout. In the beginning of the swing the goal was to store up us much energy as possible, so that it could be released into the swing. Think of a golfer taking a backswing. He is turning his body into a stretched position that makes his body like a spring. 

The Scriptures tell us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, stored up in her heart what people were saying about Jesus. In a similar way we can store up God's word in our heart, so that it creates potential energy. In Christ, God has stored up unlimited energy and potential for us. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us tap into the unlimited potential energy he has stored up for us in Chris...

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Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately we have been talking about a college baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. And we talked about how he taught that if the beginning and the end of the baseball swing were in the correct position then everything in the middle would tend to workout. Part of his teaching was to always finish high. Rather than getting to the point of contact with the ball and stopping, the hitter was to hit through the ball and finish the swing long and high. 

I think the way we can finish high in our walk with God, is to set our minds on the things above, the things of heaven. We can set our minds on being one with Christ, who is seated at God's right hand. This is a place of resting secure in His unfailing love. 

In today's communion we are asking God to teach us how to finish high and set our minds on the things above. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

The way I like to finish workouts is by training the han...

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Here is this week's Yearly Cycle update.

This time of year is a reminder to run and accelerate. It's also a reminder of the refreshing we have in Christ. The Spring season when everything is coming back to life, is a reminder that when we turn to the Lord, times of refreshing come from His presence. 

I think of this time between Easter and Pentecost as a 7 week sprint. But in order to run fast we must stay refreshed. 

Here is our filter for this week... Refreshing

I am praying for you. 

Daniel

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Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately we have been talking about a college baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. And we talked about the principle of the beginning and the end, and the hitting coach taught that if the beginning and the end of the swing are in the correct place, that everything in the middle tends to work out. This applies into just about everything in life because Jesus is the beginning and the end. 

In Ecclesiastes Solomon said that the end of a thing is better than the beginning. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us be people who are great at following through and finishing, because Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

What is your plan for the days when you are out of your normal rhythm? Good ideas are bodyweight workouts, bands, jumprope, etc. 

 I am praying for you.

Daniel

Listen to the Podcast

Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately we have been talking about a college baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. And yesterday we talked about the principle of the beginning and the end, and the hitting coach taught that if the beginning and the end of the swing are in the correct place, that everything in the middle tends to work out. This applies into just about everything in life because Jesus is the beginning and the end. 

Another thing the hitting coach used to always say was, "trust your hands." 

At the point of contact with the ball the hitter needed to trust that his hands would connect with the ball. In a similar way we must learn to trust our hands in the things we do in everyday life. In Deuteronomy 28 one of the blessings listed for being in right standing with God, which we have in Christ, is that God would bless the work of our hands. But we have to trust and grow confident in him being with us and blessing the w...

Listen to the Podcast

Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately we have been talking about a college baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. One of the key things he taught was that if the beginning and the end of the swing are in the correct place, then everything in the middle would tend to workout.

Jesus said that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I think this principle holds true in everything we do, that it we will get the beginning and the end in the correct place, everything in the middle tends to workout. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us understand what it means for us that Jesus is the beginning and the end, and to apply this principle to our lives consistently. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

The beginning and the end of our workouts are important. I like to start every workout by training the feet/ankles/calves to increase circulation in the body and to end every workout with training for the grip/hands ...

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Here is today's communion meditation.

Lately we have been talking about a baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter very quickly. He had two plans for we used regularly.  He taught us that if we followed his plan we would hit for much more power, but we would also end up with two strikes on us more often than most hitters. Which meant we also had a two-strike plan. We had a regular plan and a two-strike plan. 

As soon as a hitter had two strikes on him, he was to switch to a completely different plan, and in certain situations we would use the two-strike plan even when we didn't have two strikes on us. In all of our practices we only practiced two things. We practiced the regular plan and the two-strike plan. 

I think this is very sound wisdom for every area of life... Have two plans. 

Have one plan for when things are going well, and you are in control but have a second plan for when things get tougher. 

In today's communion we are asking God to hel...

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Here is today's communion meditation.

Over the last couple of days, we have talked about a baseball coach I had who could transform a hitter almost instantly. He would do this by giving them a bigger goal, a precise plan of how to achieve the goal, and help them develop the mechanics to execute the plan. Everything was in alignment. 

A huge part of his system was setting up the filter of what the hitter was to swing at, and which pitches to let go. He would have the hitter focus only on pitches that he could hit with power. The hitter was to let everything else go, even if it was a strike, which was very counterintuitive. 

Setting up this filter in the hitters' mind had the impact of helping him make much better and faster decisions when pitches were coming at him. In our lives nothing happens until we make a decision. As long as we are wavering, there are no results. Once a decision is made things get put in motion. But the hitting coach used to always emphas...