Are you Coachable?

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:20 NIV)

I have enjoyed coaching students and athletes in my lifetime. I have had the great fortune of being around some really talented young people both through athletics and In the classroom. My fondest memories are with those young people that were coachable, those students that trust you enough to try new things. They let you push them into uncomfortable territory and are willing to fail to get better. I can't remember too many of the great ones that weren't coachable. 

I wonder how God would describe my coachability? Do I listen to God? Do I let God stretch me, push me into uncomfortable territory? Am I willing to fail to improve myself and further the kingdom of God? In education, I see so many of my colleagues unwilling to try new things, stretch themselves, and risk failure to grow. We either have an arrogance that we can't improve or we are paralyzed with fear of failure. As a professional educator or as a Christian, these two theories doom us to ultimate failure and missed blessings.

We all need to be coachable in all we do. We need to always accept instruction because we are not perfect and we need to grow.  God wants us to develop beyond where we are right now in ALL parts of our lives, jobs, faith, and relationships. I need to be open to the leading of his spirit and willing to be led by those coaches he puts in my life. Open your hearts, minds, body, and soul. Let Jesus coach you up!

Tough Talk!

Ephesians 5 (The Message)

 ^6-7Don't let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don't even hang around people like that.

Wow! This is some pretty tough talk.  What I like about the Bible -- it does not pull punches.  It is equally tough on Christians and Non-christians.  Just when I start thinking a little highly of myself, I read something like this and I start to shrink back to size.  Christians always make it all seem so easy and life is anything but easy as a christian.  If someone tells you that you need to devote your life to Christ and your life will be perfect, are giving you a BIG SALES JOB!  Ok, not too many people will tell you your life will be perfect, but even if they don't say it directly, they certainly leave you with that impression. How can you tell if you are getting a SNOW JOB?  Well, it's not always obvious!  As a matter of fact, if you don't work at building a relationship with God, it can be nearly impossible to tell the Smooth talking religious sales person from an honest God fearing Christian.  By building a relationship I mean by praying, reading the bible, hearing the word of God preached, and confiding in trustworthy Christian friends.  God talks to us through all of these ways.  The more you seek him, the better you are at discerning the truth and gaining wisdom. Also, if someone tells you they have that perfect life, or even if they lead you to believe it, they are lying.  God wants us to hear the truth and gets upset when we are deceived, especially by Wolves in Sheep's clothing.  Trust God alone!

Dear Lord, grant me discernment.  Help me to gain your wisdom in everything I do.  I know that life is not always perfect. But, I also know you are with me no matter what comes my way.  You want me to rely on you in the good and the bad.  Please Lord, give me the strength to Trust you and you alone! Amen.