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The Coaching for Life podcast with Monty Williams.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Welcome back to the Coaching for Life podcast with Will Davis and Monty Williams, a conversation that we pray encourages you to pursue the Christ-centered life. And it's always a highlight of the week to be with my good friend and co-host Monty Williams. And coach, today we're looking at the scripture once again. And when we turn to the Word, we see many references to athletics and how the Christian life is often compared to running a race. And so as we get into the conversation today about running your race, what are some key principles and lessons from the lifetime that you have spent around sports that can also be applied to the spiritual life?

SPEAKER_01 1:07

Yeah. Well, first, it's it's still weird to have co-hosts next to my name, you know, in any fashion. It's funny. But in in terms of your question, uh, Will, uh over a lifetime of uh playing sports, um you'd learn so many lessons. And some of them um are practical athletic lessons about you know discipline and sacrifice and pushing through, you know, tough times and you know, a ton of things. But uh two things that stick out that I wish I would have learned a long time ago is is uh who I worked for in terms of uh the sport, whether it was playing or coaching. And uh one of my anchor verses is Colossians 3, 23. And the Bible says, whatever you do, do it enthusiastically as something done for the Lord and not for men. Knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. And I I wish that would have been my focus from the start of my athletic career. Um when I started playing organized ball, when I played you know, outside with my buddies, whatever it was, I wish my focus would have been uh shaped around that lighthouse, uh that compass, if you will. And even even now, you know, I still as I coach high school, um, I find myself getting caught up in my own stuff. And I always have to like get right back to um the original uh focus, which should be the Lord, you know, making him uh the governor of my coaching, my playing, uh what I do, what I say, how I react. Um it's it's not always um done that way. And so I've learned over time when I do get off course, uh asking myself, like, what's going on? You know, why am I feeling this way? Why did I react that way? And then I think of that verse because it is one of my anchor verses to get back to doing what I do for the Lord. And then the the other um thing that I've learned over a long period of time, uh doing organized sports since I was 10 years old and now 54 is the people that I've met. Yeah. Uh the teammates, um, the coaches, uh, assistant coaches, head coaches, mentors, um, administration, media, sponsors, owners, like all of those people have had a huge impact on my life, and sometimes not always great, but it's still nonetheless a part of God's strategic plan because nothing happens in your career in your life that he doesn't know about to get you to be more like Christ. And the verse or verses that I would uh refer to are in Romans 16 uh at the end of Romans. You just see Paul uh commending so many people that have had a huge impact on him. And it starts with um uh Phoebe, uh Prisca, you read this list of people, um Pennidus, uh Mary, uh you just read all these names, Adronicus, Junia, Urbanus, you know, all these names have had a huge impact on Paul. Uh Narcissus, Rufus, you know, you just go from verse 15, uh Phyllogis, Phil Phyllogis, Julia, and then you get to the the end of the chapter and he talks about Timothy and Gaius and Erastus, and it's amazing um how no matter what we're doing, uh whether it's pastoring, coaching, uh being a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, um there's a lot of people that God uses in our lives, uh teammates, coaches, elder board, whatever it is, um, we don't do this thing alone. We don't live life alone. Yeah. And as we run this race of life, um having an awareness of of the relationship piece is such a huge deal. And it's had a huge impact on me.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah. That was well said in Romans 16. Paul is very intentional. It wasn't an accidental list. I mean, it's it's a list of twenty, thirty-something people that that he's he's thanking, he's greeting, he's speaking words of blessing because he realized that that his ministry, his life uh uh race was not possible without these people. And we see that race metaphor often in Scripture as it's applied to the Christian life. And it's interesting when you talk to someone who's run in a long race, like a marathon, like you. You never ask them, did you win? But you ask, how was it? And not even what was your place, but did you finish? Yeah. You know, how how did you have the endurance to to cross the line? And I think the same is true in the Christian life. It you know, it's not about the start, it's not about the accolades and awards that you gather along the way, but it's about finishing well for Christ, keeping your eyes on that finished line of eternity and and glory with the Lord. And when we think about that race metaphor and taking that path of the Christian life, sticking to the course that God has set before us, we see that in Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, which I know has been one of those key anchor verses in your life. Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. What stands out to you when you think about that idea of trusting and leaning?

SPEAKER_01 7:45

Yeah. I mean for me it's it's it speaks to so much um in terms of my growth, in terms of um surrendering my plan, denying myself, um, evaluating where I am uh in terms of a practical position in my life and then relating that to what God wants me to do. You know. Um the trust part is something that I think we think is easy. Not so much for men. Um whether you're type A or type H or type L, it don't matter. Like we we tend to, men for sure want to do stuff our way. Yeah. And and right out the gate, um, it says trust in the Lord. And it's like, well, okay, I that means I can't trust in myself. Yeah. The the toughest part for me has always been the lean knot on your own understanding, because many times in life, circumstances dictate your understanding and or an outcome, you know, a win or a loss, or uh getting the contract, not getting the contract, um, having a call not go your way, you know, those kinds of things dictate how we view certain situations. And so not allowing those things to dictate my focus, my faith, my surrender uh unto the Lord has been uh a 54-year work in progress. Yeah. Um probably less than that because I didn't recognize it early in my life. But we see this this part of it too, where it says, in all your ways, and that that speaks to the rate, the race of life that we're talking about. Like in everything that we do as we run this race with um the Lord, we are to acknowledge him. We are, and it's something that I I teach, you know, I have this pretty cool time with my boys at night and in the morning when we pray, and uh just talking to them about you know, Matthew 633 and Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, and just speaking to them at the age where they are. Um, guys, just keep God as the focus. You know, whatever decision you make, um pray about it first. Uh ask yourself what would God want me to do, and then then be open to the Holy Spirit bringing a verse to your mind, but also putting an impression on your heart to make decisions based on what He would want you to do and not lean on what you want to do. Because a lot of times we we lean on what we understand or we lean on um emotion or the flesh, and that can get us in trouble. Yeah. And so when I look at this particular verse, it it just speaks to like years and years and years of not being able to do what I want to do, and I'm thankful for that because I had the mindset when I was a kid. I wanted to be just like my granddad. I wanted to live in the same house for 40, 50 years. Uh I wanted to be a landscaper because that's what he did. And not that there's anything wrong with that because he was my hero, but God had a different plan. Yeah. And his plan has always been better. And I've shared the story with you. Um, when we were here in San Antonio in 03, 04, 05, um, I just started coaching and I thought I was gonna be with the Spurs for the next 20 years, just doing player development and rebounding for kids for, you know, for I just wanted to be with the Spurs. I didn't really think about much else. And God, in his, in his way, uh maneuvered some things in my life, and all of a sudden, um we're in Portland, Oregon, and I thought it was a basketball decision. And we get to Portland and we we're attending a church, and and a number of things happen, and all of a sudden, um we we start going to a church called Athe Creek Christian Fellowship. And it was so profound for me and my family, my wife Ingrid at the time, because that was the first time in my life that I recognized uh people who studied the Bible uh with intention. Yeah. And I'd never heard the word expository, or at least didn't recognize it. And I would see these men in Starbucks gathered around the table with their Bibles, and I didn't I didn't know what they were doing. I was like, these guys are, you know, not weird, but I was like, I've never seen that. And a buddy of mine told me they he said, hey man, those are Eighty Creek guys. And he was like, You need to check that church out. And so we left the church that we were attending and started going to AT Creek, and it totally changed my perspective on this and and what I needed to do as a man, as a leader of my home, and just as a child of God, to get in the word every day, to pray, to ask God for direction and many other things. I didn't know about DTS. I didn't know anything about any any of that stuff. I just went to church. Yeah. And so when you when you when I think of that verse, um leaning not on my own understanding and acknowledging God in all my ways, um, it is it has been life-changing because had I done things my way and based on my understanding, I never would have left Fredericksburg, Virginia. Yeah. I never would have left San Antonio to go to Portland. You know, the all those decisions that God kind of strategically had to move me to these places to see what he wanted me to see. And it was less about basketball and more about uh my growth um as a Christian. And that that's been uh the most important growth that that could ever take place.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Yeah. And that was very impactful time as as you began to look at the word with intentionality, really, for the for the first time. And for the listener, that's where we want you all to to be, just in the word. And this is a great verse to memorize. If if if you haven't memorized scripture before, this is a good place to start. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight. I I love that promise. If we want to walk the path that leads straight to the Lord, and all our ways acknowledge him, not just some of our ways. And it's more than just an intellectual assent or just a head nod to God, but knowing Jesus personally as Lord and Savior, completely aligning our priorities with Christ. And it reminds me of a lady that I saw in a race uh recently, and on the back of the jacket that she was wearing were the words visually impaired, and she was running while tethered to another runner. And this gentleman who was running right next to her was was giving her instructions along the way. You're doing great. You know, there's a water station coming up right up here on your left. And she was completely dependent upon this man for instructions. And I thought that's a beautiful picture of how we should lean not on our own strength, but completely rely upon Christ as we listen to his voice speaking truth, speaking those promises, speaking words of encouragement over us. You're doing great. Yeah. Keep going.

unknown 15:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:40

Don't stop. You know, don't worry about that person who may have just passed you. Run the race that I have for you. Yeah. Rely upon me, lean upon me and my strength, and trust in my word. So, you know, when you think about your own spiritual race, how has God's word helped guide you and lead you?

SPEAKER_01 16:04

I mean, it's I I think early in my walk, um, it was just a book. Yeah. Um, I was the typical kid who was dragged to church as as I thought. You know, we just we went to church. Um I've I've said I was a drug baby growing up because we got dragged to church. You know, it was just the way it was. Like it didn't matter, especially when I spent time with my my grandparents in the summertime. So it was just an activity. I think what changed um my walk or what God was doing in my heart was um when I got to college and things didn't work out the way that I wanted them to, I went to college and had my own plan, and God allowed some things in my life, and the breadcrumbs were just put out there, and it led me right back to a place of worship called New Wings of Faith. And we we were under uh solid teaching there, uh at least for the level that I was at. And and my wife Ingrid, who was my girlfriend at the time, we just went to church every Sunday and spent time with Pat and BJ Magley. And I was always mesmerized and and somewhat envious of people who could remember scripture. Yeah. Because I was like, I read the stories, but I didn't remember much. And then as I've gotten older, as you and I have have talked about so many times, um the the move to Portland later on in life in my in my 30s changed everything in terms of how I study the word, understanding what verse by verse teaching, uh not taking scripture out of context and and and diving into um the word every single day. And that wasn't something that I practice even later on in my my Christian walk. I was more of a Devo guy. Yeah. Um, and there's nothing wrong with Devos, it's there's awesome devos out there. But I was my heart was just wanting something more, and I did I just couldn't identify it. I was like, well, what like what more do I want? You know, and once God got us to Portland and I saw these men and women, uh young and old, studying the word, coming to church with notebook in hand, bible in hand, writing notes, and then it just connected to what I was seeing at home because that was what my wife Ingrid did. And so I just began to, you know, deny what I wanted to do in terms of just it was easy for me to to do devos, but to crack open the word and study was something that really changed uh my life, and it allowed for me, it allowed I well, I should say it allowed for the Holy Spirit to impress upon a number of verses that I call my anchor verses. And I I could just, you know, rattle them off to you. Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, Colossians 3.23, James 1.17, Matthew 6, 33, Genesis 1.1, Romans 5.8, like Ephesians 3.20. Like I can just go and go and go because of what God was doing in my heart in terms of the importance of the word. And and he went from he took me from just reading the word to having these uh pillars in my life that I could refer to. And and sometimes will um a verse would come to my heart and I didn't understand like why that particular verse was like on my heart so strong. Uh two verses were Psalm 46, 10 and Exodus 14, 14. And I was like, why are those be still and and and be quiet and I will fight for why are those two verses? Well, then once I started coaching and I would get fired, I was like, okay, that's what the Lord was trying to get me to see. He knew, and he was using his word to give me a reference and anchor for this tough time that was coming. Yes. And when you ask me about like how has the word impacted me, I shamefully, vulnerably, I did not take it seriously. Yeah. As a teenager in my 20s, I was just a Devo guy. I would go to church, I would take the piece of paper that people gave to me, I'd scribble on it, and I'd never see that thing again. Yeah. I didn't want to do home group, I didn't want to do any of that stuff. People would invite me to come to, you know, have coffee and talk about the word, and I was like, I'm cool. I go to church, you know, sometimes I go to Bible study and I pray, you know, as I got into the word, um, and God gave me anchor verses, and I started to read scripture in a different way, uh, with a commentary and a Bible and a notebook and and reading and praying and studying and allowing God to speak to my heart. I've come up with my own, not I've come up of God's given me a number of verses that have helped me in some really tough times, and they've also helped me in times where I just had to make a really good decision. Yeah. And so the I I don't know where I would be if I didn't have uh the word to lean on. And and not just bad times uh for anything. Uh knowing how to take care of my wife, I didn't understand that it was my job to lay down my life for my wife. I didn't understand that until I saw it in the word, and I saw it being acted out in in other believers' lives. And so that's pretty lengthy, but I I just I just had to like I God has done so much with my crustiness and and who I am, and he's pulled me out of so much, and and and much of that pulling. Out has been founded in many verses, but also in a lot of uh Bible study and people teaching me what the word is about and using it in proper context.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

And I love that term anchor verse. You know, you th you think about an anchor, you know, when we're tossed to and fro by by the storms of life. We need something to ground us. And in the race metaphor, we could also see scripture as those mile markers along the way that have been helpful to us as as we're running our race. One of those mile marker anchor verses for me has been Hebrews 12, 1 and 2. And there's a plaque on my desk in my office, you know, with that scripture engraved on it, which reads, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every hindrance or obstacle and the sin which can so easily entangle us, and let us run with endurance, the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. And just a powerful reminder, and that passage made me think of six F's that we need in the race of life. And I want to just walk through these briefly. But number one is faith. It all starts with belief in Jesus, faith in Christ. And as you said, you know, we look to the Lord as the greatest coach, and He is the one that we are living our life for and racing for. And then number two, as you mentioned as well, is those friends, having some godly friends around us. We talked about that in an early pod. And these could be your mentors, they could be fans, so to speak, who are along the course cheering you on. Yeah. And the writer of Hebrews talks about our great cloud of witnesses. And he's speaking of the hall of faith from Hebrews 11, these people, these heroes of the faith that have gone before us and have paved the way, and they're they're rooting us on. And then number three is fundamentals, the spiritual disciplines of the faith. Just like when you're competing or coaching, you prepare a game plan, you watch film, you're putting in the extra work, you're giving one more extra rep that no one else sees. Likewise, perhaps we're waking up before anybody else in the house just to get alone with God, get in his word, but it takes time. It's not something that just happens overnight. It's a discipline. And then number four, it's it's fuel that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit, from the Word. When we are weak, He is made strong in us. Number five, it's fun. You know, we can't take ourselves too seriously in this life. You know, we need to get over ourselves and live the Christian life with joy. And then six is fixed. We see that in this verse. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We can't lose sight of the finish line and the goal. We live in light of eternity. And then a quick bonus word is future. We aren't meant to dwell on our past, but look to pass on our faith, those in our family, those in our church family. I think about some of Paul's final words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4, 7 through 9. He's looking to hand off the baton to Timothy, and he writes, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. In the race of life, you know, there's going to be those twists and there's going to be those turns, and we have to trust that that's all a part of God's plan for us. And I know this verse has also been helpful to you along with Psalm 37. Yeah. And you're talking about the topsy-turvy nature of life. You know, we can we can cling to these promises. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

That that verse and verses in Psalm 37. Um, again, earlier in my walk, I didn't even, you know, when I thought of Psalms, I just thought of like poetry and and stuff that you know, some hymns, you know, came from. I didn't I didn't really like consider that it's the word of God, my, you know, read it and let the Holy Spirit show you um the power of it all. And and when you look at Psalm 37 at verse 3, it says, Trust in the Lord and do what is good. Dwell in the land and live securely. But it starts with trust. You know, you get this trust factor down first, the trust idea first, and then it says, Dwell in the land and live securely. And the security comes from us trusting in God. And like you said, like life is gonna throw stuff at us. It's not always this smooth ride. Yeah. It's it's a it can be a roller coaster at times, and sometimes you jump on the roller coaster at the top of the hill, you know, and then you're just taken off. And in those times, uh, we are to trust. Uh uh verse five has been um well, actually, verse four, take delight in the Lord. Like, how do you do that? You know, how how do I take delight in the Lord? I I've recognized that he is good, he is powerful, he is loving, and he gave his best uh for my future. Yes. That's something that I can delight in. Not just the blessings, not just the times where it's working out and I get what I want, you know. Like, no, like I take delight in the Lord because he loves me. I take delight in God because he sent his son to die for me. I take delight in him because he left his Holy Spirit to live in me. I take delight in him because that's what I should do. Yeah. End of, you know. Yes. And then you look at verse five, you know, commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will act. Like, there it is, you know. You could you could sum up a lot of life with that right there, like commit your way. Like whatever I'm doing, like God, you first. Yeah. Trust in him. And then it says, He will act. Yes. And it reminds me of uh one of my heroes, um, Dr. Stan uh Charles Stanley. Uh he would always say from time to time, he had all these Stanley-isms that I just loved. Uh he he would be, he would say, You be obedient and let God handle the consequences. And it's like you know, anytime I'm I'm like a little off course, I I could hear like Dr. Stanley, you know, just watching, because I remember him when I was a kid, he was on TV. My family would always have like a church program on TV. It would be a number of people, but I remember Charles Stanley. And um as I got as I've gotten older, um I've had a real life uh hero, uh Pastor Bill Gebhardt, who's like my dad, my my mentor, my truth teller. Um, and he has a number of billisms that I've I can remember over my time with him, and him, he and I having some really tough talks about what I should be doing, how I should see a certain situation, and it always came from the word. And uh he would say, you know, anytime I said something kind of stupid or was getting off course, he'd be like, Mott, there's a difference between a reason that sounds good and a sound reason. And I'd be like, You're right. I'll shut up now, you know. But getting back to Psalm 37, um that part, um, committing your way to the Lord, trust in him, but the the the part that's that sticks out to me and is so profound, and he will act. Yeah you know, waiting on God to act when we whatever mustard seed faith we can come up with and focus on him even for a millisecond, the Bible says that he will act. Yes. And and and trusting and resting in that is is so important to our walk.

SPEAKER_00 31:03

No, we thank God for people like Pastor Bill, you know, we thank God for godly wives like Kara for me, uh Lisa for you. We need those people because sometimes we do veer, of course. Sometimes we get sidetracked, we get distracted by by the things of this world. And we often hear this that the Christian life is not a sprint. And just like you said, you you were really growing in the Lord in in your 30s, and it's it's not about how you start, it's it's about okay, what are you what is God doing in your life now? Yeah. And how how are you trying to finish well? Yeah. It's a it's a gradual long obedience in the same direction. And in a marathon, it can be such a mental challenge because you cross that mile 26 mile marker, but you don't get a medal because you've got 0.2 left. It's 26.2. And that's one of the hardest parts because you you should be there. And it's so tragic as you and I hear about people in the race of life who drop out right before the very end, and they've had such a lengthy ministry and impact. And again, there may be some listening that are not quite in the race. And we urge you to get in the race. Place your faith in Christ, trust in him, who died on the cross for your sins and rose from the grave to give you everlasting life, and then start reading the Bible. Get connected in community with other brothers and sisters in Christ that can help you. And some listening may have started their race, but maybe they've gotten sidetracked a bit and they need to get back on course. And then others listening, you might be in that final 0.2 miles. You're in the fourth quarter or the overtime of life, but you haven't yet crossed the line. Yeah. And God still wants to use you. You're He's not done with you yet. So don't give up. Persevere in prayer. Yeah. Stretch out for that tape, finish the race well so that you can leave a testimony of integrity and faithfulness to Christ. But any words of encouragement to the listener who might feel like they're dragging a bit, they're they're weary, and sometimes they feel like dropping out of the race altogether.

SPEAKER_01 33:52

I would say you're not alone. Yeah. Um I think one of the things that we don't do well enough in the church, but in in as a man, is we don't talk about um the dark days. Um we don't we don't share uh the depression that we all have gone through. We don't talk about um our hurt in terms of you know times where we've we feel like we're walking this thing out and and trying to do what God has called us to do and it hasn't worked out. I think that's a long line, and and we're not alone. And that's why Bible study is so important because the Bible says, do not forsake the assembling of yourselves. We are to get together, uh, whether it's home group, at church, uh, we just had a barbecue after church where I got to talk to people that I had never met before, and we just started talking about life and how, you know, where we are in life, and and I I don't think we do that enough as men, but certainly we don't do it enough in the church. And anytime we can get together and share and talk about what God is doing in our lives, somehow God uses it to encourage, to uplift, and to bring someone closer to himself. Yeah. And as a corporate body, uh I I I would encourage the listener to get involved, but I would also encourage the person who's struggling to let them know you're not alone. Yeah. But you can you can stay alone. That's not gonna help you. Right. And if you look at the the some of the races that have been run, um, whether it's Abraham going from Ur to Canaan, you know, that that had to that had to be a tough, tough time when you look, when you study that. Like it wasn't a smooth ride. Yeah. And when you're in leadership, that can be really, really lonely. Yeah. And you have to open yourself up to others so that they can be a benefit to you. The Bible says iron sharpens iron. Yes. And so I I would encourage um the listener, if if you are someone who's struggling, um, walk in this thing out, get with a brother, get with a sister in a safe place, crack open the word, or just just hold hands and pray, or get or go have coffee with someone and just talk and ask God to lead uh you in that. Um and it may not happen right away. You and I have had a number of uh coffee, tea, breakfast gatherings where we just did this. And it's amazing how this that's where this pod came from. Just you and I sitting at what was the place we used to go to? I always forget uh Kirby Kirby Lane. Kirby Lane. Like we would just go there and talk about the Lord. And you have no idea how I would leave those uh meetings and be so uplifted. Uh nothing changed, but I just felt better after we, you know, talked about it, got in the word, and prayed. And so I would encourage anyone who's listening. Um, one, you're not alone, and two, um, don't stay alone if you are and get with other believers and ask God to lead you in a way that's productive, but also in a way that's going to make you more like Christ.

SPEAKER_00 37:11

Yeah. And I've heard some feedback from some folks about episode one, in which we talked about godly friendships and and your powerful testimony about Charlie Ward, you know, who was just there as this pillar. You know, he didn't have to say much, but in in your time of greatest need, it was somebody who was who was right there to lean upon. Yeah. And and you're absolutely right. You know, we need each other. And sometimes running the race can feel like an individual sport, yeah. But we know that it's not possible without other people. Yeah, that's right. Most of all uh the Lord were to trust and lean upon him first, but also lean upon others, and that's what we're supposed to be for one another in the church and in the family of faith. And you think about that verse again, Hebrews 12, and all in all your ways, and in Proverbs 3, fix your eyes on me, trust and lean. We can't see what the next mile is like. You know, we can't see what tomorrow holds, but God can, and He will lead you as you lean upon Him. When I had the experience of running in the New York City Marathon in November, it was such an amazing experience to run it with my two college kids. And but I don't know if I if I could have done it or if I would have wanted to do it if I wasn't running with my daughter Josie the whole time. And my favorite part was when it was over and the pain stopped. Actually, my favorite part was right near the end, and I was running with Josie, and with about 200 meters to go, she looked over and said, Dad, you want to finish holding hands? And I and I said, Yeah, I do. I would love that. We're not meant to run the race alone. You know, our Heavenly Father is with us. Christ is holding our hand, and and we can lean upon a few others who are there to support us. Any kind of final words of encouragement or or promises that that we can cling to when we're running the race?

SPEAKER_01 39:57

Even when I thought I was doing something by myself or I thought I was alone, uh he's he's always brought someone to walk alongside me. Whether it was a tough time or I had to make a decision. Um, God has in his strategic way at the perfect time brought along the right person. Um you know, if I if I was the Timothy, he brought along a Paul. Yeah. You know, someone like yourself, Pastor Bill. I could just name so many people from the start of my uh walk. Coach Westbrook, the person who invited me and my mom to go to church. Um I talked about Pat and BJ Magley. Uh my first wife, Ingrid, was the first person at my age that I saw walking this thing out. And she was the first example um of a of young a young person living it out for Christ. And I was like, wow, I'd never seen that before. Um and even now my wife Lisa just being such an encouragement, crazy enough to come in and help me with all these kids and deal with me on a daily basis, like God is so good that way. And and I think my encouragement would be to recognize those people, um, appreciate them, uh, take time to um tell them how much you care about them, but also pray for them. Yes. Um, because you know, when people come alongside you, it's usually for a reason. Yes. It's probably taking more energy and time and and emotion than you really want to dole out. But just the recognition of Kara and Lisa and uh in my line of work, having great assistant coaches. And I don't mean great from a tactical standpoint or a strategy standpoint, just great because they just want to serve and do what's best for the program or best for the kids, and they come alongside you and say, Coach, we're with you. You know, win or loss, we're with you. And so just the recognition of people in our lives that help us to run this race well is pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 42:06

Yes. Yeah, don't forget to thank those people along the way. Pray for them. Yeah. And to the listener, this is your race, Hebrews 12, 1. The race that is set before you, it's not anyone else's, so don't compare. That's right. Don't worry about someone else's pace. God has you where he has you for a reason. So trust and lean. And wherever you are in the race of life, keep running with endurance. Don't give up. And feel free to email us if there's anything that we can be praying for as you run your race. And again, the email address is Monty at coachingforthenumlife.us, or will at coachingforlife.us. And let me pray for our listeners now. Lord, we do ask that you would uh strengthen any who are listening today who might be feeling weary. Uh, Lord, would you fill them with more of your power and more of your presence? Help them to run this one race that you have given each one of us with great victory and not just crawling across the line, but we want to break the tape with great endurance and great joy that comes from you. So, Lord, fill us with your word and your promises that that strengthen us when we feel like dropping out. Lord, set our focus upon you and not those things that can easily distract us. And help us to finish well. And would you place a few people in our lives that we can not only lean upon for help, but also those that we can pass on the baton and leave a legacy of faith. And so, Lord, encourage the listener today in whatever it is they are walking through. For we know that you are with us. And we thank you that you will never leave us. You will never forsake us. And we pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you for spending time with us today. And remember, whatever it is that you're facing, know that God loves you, He has a good plan for you. And we'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_02 44:31

Thank you for joining us at Coaching for Life. And please subscribe wherever you receive this content.