A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick Today is Memorial Day. It started as a way to commemorate Civil War soldiers and the countless ways they sacrificed for our country. We want to make sure that we stop to acknowledge and remember all soldiers who have fought for the tremendous gift of freedom we all enjoy. This is a very special day to remember. Remember all of those who gave their lives for our freedom. Remember those who potentially have died, yet came home. Remember those who continue to protect us today. Our Constitutional Republic guides us. Our Bill of Rights guarantees special freedoms. And all of these were formed by our Declaration of Independence – which was birthed from a desire for our nation to be one guided for the people and by the people. Today is a reminder that our government should work for us. We are the government leaders' bosses and they were historically put in place to represent and carry the hearts of the people. May we never forget the necessity of practical freedoms. The sacrifices made to live as free people; not under the bondage of oppression and the will of a godless government. In the midst of our appreciation for America's freedom, let's also remember the message of eternal freedom that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A freedom that can never be taken away. Jesus came to set us free spiritually from the yoke of the Law. "For freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). Our new identity and eternal salvation are now found in what Jesus has done for us and not in our performance. This is such good news, and a life yielded to Jesus and his ways releases us from the curse of sin! What a beautiful gift! Remember. Reflect. And remind yourself throughout this day of the precious gift of freedom we have as a nation. And as followers of Jesus!

by David Chadwick This is Memorial Day weekend. A time to enjoy family, fun, food, and friends. But don't forget the true meaning of this upcoming Monday: freedom. May we never forget the price so many have paid for us to be free. Freedom has a cost. Throughout the years, countless people have actually given or have been willing to risk their lives for our freedom. Freedom to worship. To speak freely. To assemble freely. And many other rights that many in other parts of the world don't have. God constantly admonished Israel to "remember." Mostly, he wanted them to remember that they were once slaves and God, by his might and grace, freed them from Egyptian slavery (Deuteronomy 6:12). This memory is now deeply engraved in the Jewish culture through Shabbat practices, feasts, and festivals – especially Passover. They make a habit of going back and remembering the provision and power of God in their lives throughout generations. Though flawed, America is still the brightest display of freedom in the world. Many still want to come here to find freedom. As you celebrate this American holiday, may you remember the sacrifice made for you and for your freedom. May you also remember the sacrifice Jesus made for your eternal freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." May you learn to cultivate a life that is close to the Holy Spirit. That leans on him and allows him to work in and through you. It is there that true freedom is found regardless of external circumstances!

by Marilynn Chadwick After I made the leap from unbeliever to believer in college, I began to catch glimpses of God's work all around me. The Bible calls these "signs." The word literally means "evidence, working, or even fingerprints." Signs reassure us that God has our life—including our problems—in His hands. This is especially comforting when we're fearful or anxious. Nowadays, smartphones make it easy to capture a photo when we notice a sign of God at work. A printed photo can easily become a reminder, or an "Ebenezer stone." A few special photos have made their way into my Ebenezer Box. One reminds me of a time years ago when I was feeling particularly worried about our youngest child. Michael had gotten his driver's license—that makes most moms worry. He was moving up to an elite division of his swim team to train with the older, more experienced swimmers. He had to drive across town every afternoon on our city's busiest interstate to a local university for team practice. He was young and an inexperienced driver. The afternoon traffic hour in our city was busy, and he would have to make the half-hour drive there from school each day, with an even longer drive home during rush-hour traffic. I prayed for the Lord to keep Michael safe. To keep him alert on the drive home each evening—especially when he was exhausted after a tough practice. I had let my imagination run wild with "what if'" scenarios. What if he had a wreck, or ran out of gas, or got lost? I worried all that day and must have carried my anxieties to bed with me because I had a fitful night sleep—still wrestling. An audible voice interrupted my sleep with these words: "I can be trusted." First person, singular. Who was that? I wondered, now half-awake. I drifted back to sleep but the next morning, I distinctly remembered the voice. During my morning Bible study, I happened to be reading in John's gospel. I was struck by Jesus' words to His disciples: "Trust in God. Trust also in Me" (John 14:1). There it was again. Trust in Me—first person singular. Suddenly, an inner voice interrupted my anxiety: "When are you going to trust Me?" It was a gentle, but stern, rebuke—the same tone of voice I've used with my kids. That evening, I went out for a grocery store run. I was still having the ongoing conversation. Lord, I need to know that I can really trust you with our son. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, like a beacon of light, a brightly lit sign flashed in front of a small chapel. I had to smile. The sign simply said: Trust Me - God. I stopped to snap a photo as a reminder. God must have a sense of humor. But His message was clear. It's very important to the Lord that I learn to trust Him with every aspect of my life—especially our kids. Such reminders help me hold onto my faith when answers to prayer are slow in coming. They remind me that nothing is impossible with God. You see, it's not enough to simply witness God's miracles. We also have to remember them. No wonder the word remember occurs about 400 times in the Bible! Maybe an Ebenezer Box will help you remember God's work in your life, too.

Today's Daily Moment of Hope is adapted from Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a copy of this book, please go here. An ordinary penny taped to a greeting card in my Ebenezer Box reminds me of the time God answered my prayer in a way that left me in awe. For months I had been noticing pennies in the strangest places. Sometimes I would discover one at my feet—just as I was praying about something. Funny, I thought. It's as if God wants to let me know that He hears my prayers. I was going through a spiritually dry season in my life. I can't remember the details. What I do remember is that I desperately wanted to believe God was still at work and that He cared about me. Could these pennies be little messages of encouragement from God? Perhaps it was wishful thinking. Still, I hoped. And there it was. Another penny. Found in the heel of my shoe. The last penny had been under a glass on the kitchen shelf. The one before that, right in the middle of my bed! I began saving these little reminders—pennies from heaven—I called them. I dropped each one in a jar in my kitchen. One day, I shared my "penny story" with my friend Kenna. I told her how these crazy pennies kept showing up. Pretty soon, she began finding her own pennies. A few days later, I happened to be reading in John's Gospel about the man we know as "Doubting Thomas." Jesus' disciples suffered terribly after the death of their beloved savior. But miracle of miracles—He appeared to them—alive! All the disciples saw Him. Except for Thomas, that is. Thomas had wandered away and missed the first showing. I could imagine how his face fell as the disciples excitedly told him, "We have seen the Lord!" Discouraged, Thomas vowed, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were…I will not believe." Jesus appeared again eight days later. This time, He singled Thomas out. "Put your finger here," He told Thomas. "See my hands." "Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas gasped and cried out, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:24-29). Could it be that God cares enough to encourage sincere doubters like Thomas, or even like me? If so, maybe all those pennies I'd been finding were truly God's way of speaking to me. Lord, I prayed silently, I do believe you're sending those pennies to strengthen my faith. Then, as an afterthought, I added, Lord, you showed your nail-scarred hands to Thomas. I want to see your nail marks, too! How could God answer such an impossible request? A few days later, I received a card in the mail from Kenna. "Dear Marilynn," she wrote, "I found this penny in my dryer. Perhaps the Lord sent this penny as an encouragement to us both." I caught my breath. Taped to her card was an ordinary penny. But as I looked closer, I saw that right through the center of the penny was a nail hole! And suddenly I knew. God had sent me my own nail mark, just as I'd prayed. As I touched that penny, I felt like Thomas touching the nail hole in Jesus' hand. It all became clear. God is powerful enough to rule the universe. But He's also personal enough to send a nail-pierced penny to another "Doubting Thomas" like me, in need of encouragement. Maybe you feel like a "Doubting Thomas" today. If you start paying attention, you might be surprised like I was when I started to find all those pennies! Start to watch for signs of God at work. They're everywhere. You just have to look for them.

by Marilynn Chadwick I don't know about you, but my faith grows when I hear stories of God's power. And when I personally experience a miracle, my faith seems to soar! Over the years, I've collected spiritual mementos to remind me of my victories—I call them my "Ebenezer Stones." Photos, small artifacts, scraps of paper, pages of my journal, little bits of "this and that" point me back to times when God showed himself strong or interrupted the ordinary flow of daily life with a miracle. When that happened, it seemed important to pause and thank God. Then, to preserve the evidence. These little reminders help me hold onto my faith when answers to my prayers are slow in coming or when life gets really messy. My "Ebenezer Stones" remind me that nothing is impossible with God. You see, it's not enough to simply witness God's miracles. We also have to remember them. No wonder the word remember occurs about 400 times in the Bible! Here are just a few examples. "Remember the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 8:1). "So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God" (Numbers 15:40). "Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations" (1 Chronicles 16:15). Clearly, remembering is important in God's eyes! I wanted to find a practical way to remember the amazing things God has done in my life. So I began to save my spiritual souvenirs in a special box I call my "Ebenezer Box." Not much bigger than a shoebox, it looks like one of my grandmother's old hat boxes. My Ebenezer Box holds treasured reminders that God is still in the miracle business. Some of my spiritual victories have been dramatic, such as the medically validated miracle that allowed us to have our three children. Those moments were like a roar. God was using His outside voice! Miracles like that get our attention. But God's wonders are often much quieter—more like a whisper—especially when He's working in the everyday details of daily life. And if I'm not watching, I just might miss Him! Why not start your own Ebenezer Box to help you remember God's work in your life?

by Marilynn Chadwick The Bible tells the story of how the children of Israel came back to God after many years of wandering away from Him (1 Samuel 7). They began to copy the evil behavior of the pagan people around them and even started to worship the demon gods of their enemies — sometimes even sacrificing their own babies! Finally, they'd had enough. They were sick and tired of the consequences of their rebellion. Sick and tired of fear and failure. Sick and tired of feeling like they were under a curse. Desperate, they had forgotten how to pray, so they asked their leader Samuel to pray for them. First, Samuel called them together to confess their sins. Then, he challenged them to commit, once and for all, to following God with their whole heart. Above all, he warned, they must stop their wicked worship of pagan idols. While Samuel was still praying, their mortal enemy, the Philistines, launched a surprise attack. But instead of fighting back, the people pleaded with Samuel to keep praying. I can imagine how they all began to cry out with the prayer that gets God's attention. "Help!" The Lord rushed to their rescue and brought fierce thunder and lightning from heaven that day. The entire Philistine army was terrified and thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them and won a thrilling victory. Samuel took a large stone and placed it as a monument in their town. He named it Ebenezer (which means "the stone of help"). "This marks the place where the Lord has helped us!" He wanted them to always remember how God gave them victory and never drift from Him again (1 Samuel 7:12 MSG). The word Ebenezer comes from two Hebrew words. Eben, which means "stone or rock" and ezer, which means "help or support." That's why an Ebenezer is a "stone of help." Even to this day, people sometimes use the word Ebenezer as the reminder of an important victory. What are some practical ways you can create your own "Ebenezer stones," or reminders of the spiritual victories you have experienced in your life? I believe as you collect your own Ebenezer stones, your faith will increase!

A marriage vow is made on a foundation of covenantal love. An unchanging, unbreaking, unconditional promise to remain faithful. "In plenty and in want." "In joy and in sorrow." "In sickness and in health." The final part of traditional, covenant vows is this: "As long as we both shall live." Jesus's covenant vow with us is forever. Nothing can separate us from his covenant love (Romans 8:38-39). A Christian marriage love should carry this same DNA. An unconditional love that defies emotions and circumstances. It is a forever kind of love that allows kids to feel secure in a home with a mom and a dad who are committed to one another. It is what allows a love to grow deep beyond words, where two very different people, a man and a woman, become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24) – a verse Jesus himself quoted in Matthew 19:4-6 when defining God's original intent for marriage. It allows collective memories to build up over a lifetime, memories that ignite laughter and joy over the years. It creates a foundation for memories shared with kids and grandkids, memories that sadly and suddenly vanish when divorce occurs. If divorce was a part of your story, I pray Jesus will minister to your heart and heal the wounds you have experienced. And still allow many happy memories to be embedded in your soul. If you're married, restate your vows! Regularly. To yourself and with your spouse. I know a couple that does it annually with their kids present to say to them, "Don't worry, mom and dad aren't going anywhere. We are committed to staying together forever." Marriages that take these vows seriously make stronger families. Stronger nations. And a stronger reflection of the kingdom of God!

Traditional marriage vows are full of covenantal vows. A Christian marriage union, while not perfect, is a beautiful display of the love between Jesus and the church. A marriage is rooted in a binding promise and agreement between two people, much like Jesus has with us. "In plenty and in want." "In joy and in sorrow." "In sickness and in health." Yes, every marriage has both: times when your beloved is in great health and times when he/she is sick. No matter what your health condition may be, you honor your covenant vow. You stick by your beloved. For over a decade, I watched my Dad care for my Mom as her mind slipped into the darkness of dementia. At times, I would ask him if he was ever discouraged, frustrated, or angry. He would always say, "No, and I made a vow to her." As he cared for Mom, his love for her only increased. And he gave glory to the one who created mom and marriage for him. If you find yourself caring for your spouse in vulnerable times, your love will increase, too. Remember the Gospel of Jesus. He loved us first (1 John 4:10). While we were still sinners, he died for us (Romans 5:8). He chased down the one lost sheep to save it, as he does us as well (Luke 15:3-7). The only way you can truly love others is by encountering the radical love of Jesus. It changes you and gives you the grace and strength needed to love others in spite of changing feelings and circumstances. As you allow covenant vows to define your marriage, you'll understand the love of Jesus like never before.

David and Marilynn Chadwick join Jenn Houston in a discussion about today's blog.

Marriage vows are rooted in the word covenant. It means a vow that cannot be broken. The significance of covenant is seen in the Old Testament through the covenant God made with Israel. In the New Testament, it is seen in the covenant Jesus makes with his church and followers. Whether you are married or not, the expression of covenant love and covenant vows through marriage is a real life depiction of Jesus's love for you, his Bride. It means no one can ever snatch you out of his hand (John 10:28). It means he will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). This is especially true in our wedding vows. Many of us start off saying, "I ____________, take you _____________ to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife…" Do you remember the next line? "And I do promise and COVENANT before God and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful husband/wife in plenty and in want…" "In plenty and in want." This means whether you have a little or a lot, you stay married to your beloved. Notice that LOVE here has nothing to do with circumstances. Circumstances are termites that eat away at successful marriages…especially in America. Many people, especially in our western culture, are overly focused on selfish ambition, greed, and things that build up personal dynasties of comfort. It is easy to love "in plenty." But the true mark of covenantal, unconditional love is to continue to love when you aren't getting everything you want from the relationship. When you live your life from a place of conviction based on covenant and not conditional love, you work through difficult circumstances together. And you will find that your love will grow as you do. Remember, let your yes be yes and your no be no. And always choose to love both in plenty and in want.

God takes vows very seriously. Biblically, a vow is a pledge, promise, or commitment. When made, God expects them to be honored. Jesus, in speaking of vows, said not to swear a vow by heaven, or earth, or on the name of Jerusalem (the holy city). He said, "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil" (Matthew 5:37). Jesus did not want people to emphasize the veracity of their vow. In fact, we fall prey to this when we say things like, "I swear to God," or even, "I swear on my mother's tomb." Jesus said to make our vows simple. Let our yes be yes and our no be no. Simply do what we say we will do. Doing so helps maintain a steadfast, unemotional, convicted lifestyle that does not need to embellish or overemphasize what you are trying to say. Apart from the covenantal relationship with Jesus that takes place in salvation, the most sacred vow that we make this side of eternity is in marriage. It is called a covenant vow for a reason. The word "covenant" means a binding contract, agreement and promise. It cannot be broken. However, in this broken world, sometimes marriage doesn't work out. People walk down the aisle fully expecting their marriage vows to last forever. But the marriage still breaks apart. Please know that God still loves you. There's still hope for your life and heart. God is able to bring redemption in Jesus to your pain and meet the deepest longings of your heart. But why is "covenant" so important to God? Because a covenant is intricately connected to God's covenant love that he displayed for Israel. Through Jesus, this covenant love was extended beyond Jews, to Gentiles as well. All believers in Jesus have access to an unbreakable, unending, unconditional love. Think of the Communion celebration. A grace gift that can never be broken. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). This week, we will look at marriage vows. Why are they so important to God? Why does he take them so seriously? Why should we, too, take them seriously? Marriage is the greatest display we have in this natural world of the love between Jesus and the bride of Christ, the church. Whether you are married or not, I pray that these principles and truths draw you closer to the heart of God. He loves you so very much.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Children are generally asking two questions: "Do you love me?" and "Can I have my own way?" They seem to thrive on love and limits. So, David and I would regularly say, "Yes, I love you" and "no you can't always have your own way." Focused attention, eye contact, lots of snuggles, a listening ear. There are many ways to say I love you. Limits are important too. Here's a little secret: If it's necessary to correct your children, give them consequences that are actually beneficial to them. For example, early bedtime; cleaning the bathroom; finishing a book instead of watching television; doing 50 jumping jacks to get the wiggles out. You get the point. I also learned as the kids reached middle school to go easier with eye contact. Chill out. Don't bear down too hard in serious conversations. That's probably why our best talks—especially the hard ones—happened while driving in the car. They'd tell me most anything I wanted to know if I didn't intrude. Conversations in the van seemed to turn into spiritual lessons—I dubbed our drive time "e-van-gelism." Faith is both caught and taught. I encouraged our kids to be on the lookout for signs of God at work—in big ways and small ones. We dared our kids to dream big and trust God with the results. But mostly, I wanted them to be able to hear God for themselves—to discern His voice from all the others.They didn't know it, but I continually watched to see if they were shaping their views according to what they were learning at home or what the world was telling them. We also tried to help our kids experience the laboratory of answered prayer. We included them in our faith journeys. When we were hoping for a third baby, we encouraged the older two to join us in prayer. It took years of waiting, but they prayed relentlessly. I finally told God I was going to be "really upset if you let these little kids down." And they were thrilled when their persistent prayers were answered with the arrival of their little brother! It really doesn't matter where I travel. It's the same in any culture—rich or poor. We can never underestimate the power of a strong and loving home. Home is where humans thrive and grow best. It's where children should be nurtured. Instructed. Protected. It's where they catch the faith. And where they're free to dream. Especially when the home is built on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ. When a woman is both warrior and nurturer to her household, when she seeks the Lord with all her heart, when honor and respect are present, a home can produce children who are likely to change the world. This is the conclusion to our two week series on eight great ways to raise strong kids. I pray these have been a blessing to you as you continue to lead the little ones around you.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1b). I want to take a minute to encourage you as a parent to take care of yourself. This goes back to our earlier discussion about building your spiritual house. Your relationship with Jesus is the foundation. Your marriage is next. Children love knowing their parents have a healthy marriage. And that they are strong as individuals. Your strength in the home will set a climate that somehow encourages your children to dream big. I remember one time our daughter asked me, "Mom, do you enjoy us?" Wow. I had to pause and reflect. In that moment, I knew I had gotten to a fragile point where I was not creating habits to help me sustain the joy of motherhood. I became more mindful to enjoy my children, and our family, rather than just "enduring them." A thankful heart is a happy heart and makes for a happy home where children, and their dreams, can grow tall. Remember, mothering is a marathon, not a mile run. So pace yourself. Are you taking care of your "temple"? Getting enough exercise, good food, and pure water? Do you have good friendships? Prayer partners? Now I sound like a mother, don't I? But it really is so important for us, as moms, to guard our mental and emotional health. Malachi 2 warns us to "guard ourselves in the spirit" as a protection against so many things, including divorce. So, be alert and watchful for the purpose of prayer (1 Peter 4:7). Then "throw off what hinders and the sin that entangles us," as Hebrews 12:1 encourages. Watch as God strengthens you and sustains you again and again.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). Train your children to hear God's voice. Find creative ways to teach them God's Word. Songs and memory verses are great. But they also need to learn how to apply biblical principles to the problems they encounter in the world. Toss out opportunities for them to think biblically. This will also help them listen for God's calling on their life—their dreams. A very astute older friend whose children were grown once gave me some advice I have always taken to heart. "I helped my kindergartners deal with the problems they faced on a kindergarten level. Then, each successive year, I taught them to learn to look at life from a biblical worldview for that age level. So by the time they were in high school, they were well-practiced at confronting a secular world view." And, I would add, our children learned to see the people around them who did not believe in Jesus as friends to be won for Christ. Not enemies to be avoided. Regardless of the educational direction your children take, whether secular school, Christian school or homeschool, they need to hear God's voice. They need regular, ongoing, consistent communication about Jesus and God's Word. I felt comfortable with our children being out in the world once I sensed that they had learned to hear God's voice for themselves. They accepted Jesus at an early age and were learning how to apply God's truth. I was always involved in their schools and their friendships, and set clear boundaries. At times, our rules were stricter than those of their friends—and that was okay. As I mentioned earlier, we included our children in our own faith walk. We encouraged them to pray for some of the issues we faced as a family. Children are realists. They pray in specifics and notice when prayers are answered. They're also honest about the pain of unanswered prayers. Jesus loves children for lots of reasons, including their unfiltered honesty. As our oldest grandchild Anna Grace once reminded me, "Jesus loves children because we are so fun to play with!"

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday (Isaiah 58:10). Whenever possible, David and I included our children in serving others. In fact, some of our most fond memories as a family were going to our sister church in uptown Charlotte and volunteering with their ministry. We would regularly feed the homeless and worship with their congregation. They became like family to us. It was one of the highlights of our kids' childhood. When Michael was around eight, I took him with me to work with some moms and children from a different fragile community in the Charlotte area where I volunteered. One little boy, also named Michael, happened to have a handicap. He couldn't walk on his own and had to be carried around by an adult. Our Michael wondered how he could help. The program director told Michael the little boy simply needed a special kind of orthopedic crutches in order to walk on his own. Michael persisted until I called our orthopedic doctor friend, who just "happened" to have some of those very crutches available. Michael made sure the other little Michael received those crutches. I told him the little boy's mom had been praying for some crutches for her son. To which Michael replied, "Cool…I answered a prayer." I agreed. It is very cool to find ways that we can actually be the answer to someone else's prayer. I know I keep saying the same thing again and again, but with good reason. We find life as we give it away to others. From my experience, this is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Find ways to serve with your kids. Teach them to give their lives away to others. Watch as God develops eternal fruit in their hearts by cultivating a life that is "others focused."

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24 AMP). We are in a two week series of how to raise great kids. Even if you are not a parent, there is a good chance that you play a role in someone else's life who is younger than you. I pray these eight great ways to raise strong kids will give you tools to lead the next generation. Every dreamer needs a team. Build a strong team around your child who will inspire them. Bring grandparents, coaches, friends, teachers and church leaders into your circle of friends. They can be some of your biggest allies in helping your children reach their dreams. Prayer partners are also key, along with the parents of your children's friends. It really does take a village. I supported our children's teachers and coaches and volunteered whenever possible. Coming from a family of educators, I deeply admired the many adults who poured their lives into our children. I prayed for them, encouraged them, even befriended them. But there were also times when I had to go to bat for our children. On a couple of occasions, I asked a teacher or coach to consider giving a second chance or a harder challenge to one of our children. In each case, I knew the child was ready. And in each case, the teacher or coach agreed, so I was glad I spoke up. I want to add a brief word here about what I call "dream killers." David and I were more intentional about protecting our children against dream killers than we were against drugs. Children usually recognize the stupidity of drugs. But they may not always see the subtlety of a dream killer. Dream killers can come in the form of peers or even adults at times. This is sometimes called "the crab-pot syndrome." When one crab tries to crawl out of a pot, the others will pull him back down. Not everyone will see your child's dream as clearly as you can. Again, that's why David and I prayed fervently for God to guard our children's dreams. To use those dreams to draw our children close to Him, and then to open doors for their calling to make an impact for Christ on this broken and hurting world.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for man. When our kids were younger, I made up a song based on Colossians 3:23 to help them remember this truth. We would sing it together all of the time. It was not just to remind them of these truths, but to remind me. I've had to learn some parenting lessons the hard way. I am not a naturally self-disciplined person. But I discovered early on that it was nearly impossible for me to take the kids beyond where I had gone myself. If I was undisciplined, it was hard to discipline them. If my schedule was inconsistent, it was hard to help them follow a schedule. If I quit before I reached the finish line, it was hard to teach them to persevere. When an airplane loses cabin pressure, we're told to administer oxygen to ourselves before we give it to our child. There are some lessons we have to "administer to ourselves" before we can teach them to our children. Hard work is one of those. We always encouraged our children to see all work as honorable—whether it was waiting on tables, doing weekly chores, or even folding laundry. Sometimes I would point out those who appeared to be "working with all their heart," like the guy who loaded up our groceries with an especially cheerful attitude. Hard work is vastly underrated in today's culture. We live in a culture that is easily distracted and chooses the path of least resistance more often than not. If you know me, you know how vital I think it is to talk about the importance of big dreams. But without plenty of hard work, they remain just dreams. What are some small habits that you can build into your everyday life that will be passed on to your children? Morning worship time? An afternoon walk? A time each day to practice gratitude? Daily time in your Bible? Ask God to show you small steps you can take to instill discipline into your life and watch as your kids learn the same.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Blessed are those who fear the Lord…Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (Psalm 112:1-2 NIV). Since they were born, I've prayed our children would be "mighty in the land." I believe God created us to dream and placed the seeds of those dreams in our hearts—even as children. Our children are who they are, in large part, because they followed the path of their dreams. I noticed over the years that around age ten, somewhat of a lifelong dream began to emerge. Other parents have told me they noticed the same thing with their children. So we took those childhood dreams seriously. David and I tried to identify, invest in, and protect those early dreams. We believed their dreams could be the pathway to God's destiny. After all, He's the one who gave them the gifts and talents to reach their dreams. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to believe in their dreams and invest in whatever you can in the development of those dreams. Dreaming is as natural as breathing for children. What's not so natural is the self-discipline it takes to reach their dreams. David and I helped our kids experiment until they found something they loved and were good at. Then we'd provide structure and discipline to help them stick with it for a mutually agreed upon length of time. At least until their efforts brought some measure of success. For example, all of our children loved sports. But at different times, each would have chosen to skip out on practice, especially those grueling early morning workouts. That's when our role was to provide that little extra push. As they got older and developed a passion for their dreams, their own self-discipline kicked in with a fierce determination. Dreams energize effort. And over time, we saw how small but faithful habits helped our children accomplish those dreams. Maybe you need to sit down with your kids and revisit some of their dreams. Ask them questions like, "What do you love to do?" "When do you feel most alive?" "What brings you joy?" You might even need to sit down with a journal and ask yourself some of those same questions. We all need to dream. Whether we are 9 or 99, we must always find ways to dream!

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 AMPC). Education should be a delight, not drudgery. It's the same with spiritual training. Every child learns differently. Research has shown that some of what were previously thought to be learning disabilities are often just different ways of processing information. The God of the Universe seems never to tire of creating unique humans. At birth, every person is "wired" differently from the nearly eight billion people on the planet—and from every other person who has ever lived! Astounding, isn't it? So as parents, it makes sense that in addition to discovering our child's unique beauty, we should experiment to see how they best learn. What makes them tick? The kindest way to raise our children is "in keeping with their gift or bent." Our best clues come simply from watching what they naturally love to do. Our three now grown children were all very different. Bethany was multitalented and loved to learn. She played volleyball and basketball, but she was also passionate about languages. In third grade, she chose to attend a French Immersion Magnet School where English wasn't even spoken. She learned everything from grammar to long division in French. It's easy to see why she now loves educating her children at home. David, our older son, was shooting wads of trash through lampshades at age two. It's no surprise basketball grabbed his heart at an early age. Basketball scholarships completely paid for both his undergraduate and master's degrees in college. We've watched basketball, along with his good math mind and strategic business acumen, open up doors to his career path in the sports world. Our youngest, Michael, was talented in a variety of sports, but gravitated to swimming. He carved his own unique trail as a standout collegiate swimmer and eventually, a professional swimmer and world record holder. Our determined Michael used to say, "Swimming found me!" His athletic gifts and work ethic, combined with his high "EQ," or emotional intelligence, have made him an effective leader who now expresses his gifts through a ministry calling. David and I tried to "grow" our three children "with their grain." By God's grace, as they've gotten older, they've not left the foundation of that training. More importantly, they've held tightly to their faith in Jesus. I pray each person reading this will discover your natural bent and help others do the same.

This blog series is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict (Hebrews 11:23). Seeing our child's beauty takes spiritual insight. The Bible tells us Moses' parents saw he was a "beautiful child." The word translated as "beautiful" in Hebrews 11:23 is used only one time in the entire New Testament. It means: "urbane, refined, and a city dweller." His mother and father risked their lives to hide Moses from the king's genocidal plot for three months. In that short time, they observed his unique design. Perhaps they sensed that he would be well-suited to be educated in the sophistication of Pharaoh's courts. It wasn't by accident that Moses's mother—a courageous woman of faith—placed him in a basket on the riverbank where she knew Pharaoh's daughter would find him. Moses would go on to lead God's people out of captivity in Egypt. God's dreams for your children often unfold as you learn to see their beauty. This reminds us of the importance of studying our children. And of the need to pray for insight into their talents, gifts, and character. God gives parents that special gift to serve as advocates for their children. I chose to be home with our children when they were young. Not because I was afraid they couldn't make it without me, but because my goal was to raise world changers. Discovering the beauty in our children was, for me, the most intriguing aspect of parenting. But it took time and energy… and lots of watching. I wanted to be the one to help launch their dreams. A well-known Christian psychologist once emphasized the importance of helping our children develop a gift or a talent. We should also help our children look attractive, he said. Sound superficial? Think again. Reasonably stylish haircuts and clothing are not a waste, he argued. Having a talent along with an attractive appearance strengthens our children's self-esteem. They may be rejected for their Christian faith, he acknowledged, but not because they're simply out of step with the world. I enjoyed looking for the potential in each of our children. God has given mothers and fathers special insight into their children's character and calling so that we can help them find their way in the world.

Our blog series for the next two weeks is adapted from "Woman of Valor" written by Marilynn Chadwick. To download the full book, please go here. by Marilynn Chadwick Over the next two weeks, I want to share eight great ways to raise strong kids. It's being written from the perspective of a mom, but has truths for dads as well. And if you're not a parent at all, keep reading. There are truths here that can apply to anyone who is leading, influencing, and discipling the next generation. You may be someone who is called to stand in the gap for someone who did not have strong parents. I pray these truths strengthen you and inspire you no matter where you are in life. Growing up, our children used to have a running joke. When watching a lousy performer on American Idol—the ones eliminated in the first round—they would say, "Where was his mother?" Their point being that any good mom should never let a child go out into the world without a grasp of who they are and who they're not. What they're good at—and what they're not. It's the job of mothers and fathers to teach, nurture, and correct our kids. To tell them the truth about themselves and the world around them. I've said raising our children was my master passion, and it's true. Nothing has ever given me as much joy, as many tears, or greater triumphs than the development of these three young people. Nothing I've accomplished compares with the exhilaration that came from pouring life into my kids and watching them flourish. But being a mother has also been challenging. Even gut-wrenching at times. I once commented to an older, wiser friend who had raised five great kids that I wished I was a little more relaxed as a mom. She shot back, "Are you kidding? Motherhood is not a relaxing job!" And she's right. But with creativity, patience, a supportive community, and persistent prayer, it can work. I often say prayer is vital to a good marriage. And praying for my children has been my "go to" method of mothering. Pure and simple. This is more than just lip service, coming from a mom who knows she has plenty of flaws. I have often pored over God's Word to see what He had to say. So, when the Bible promised, "Your children will be mighty in the land" (Psalm 112:2), I figured I was on solid ground in praying they would have an impact on the world. Surrender them to Christ, I learned early on. Fight for them. Develop their gifts and talents. Over the next several days, we'll explore eight great ways to help our children reach their dreams. But at the heart of it all is prayer.

by David Chadwick As we wrap up this week's focus on how to keep revival fires burning in our personal lives, remember the importance of the "daily" decisions. In a society that idolizes the big, the glamorous, the tantalizing moments, many of God's treasures lie in secret and hidden places. Think about the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46). Or the parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44). Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." Learn to seek out the daily, small, quiet disciplines that allow revival to burn continually. Daily desire to hear, "Well done." At the end of our lives, we will all face Jesus. What will he say to us? Jesus promised to those who have loved and served him faithfully, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). We all desire affirmation from superiors (coaches, bosses, parents, etc) for a job well done. Is this your greatest desire? To hear the Lord Jesus say this to you when you meet him one day face to face? We don't know when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36). But when he does, we should desire to have him find us DOING what he has commanded us to do. Sharing our faith. Serving the needy. Caring for our families. The dictionary defines "revival" as "coming back to life" or "the restoration of force, validity, or effect to something." Dear friend, may I be frank with you for a moment? If you will make the daily decisions to keep the fire alive, you won't always have to search for ways to make it come back to life. If you don't let something completely lose its force, validity, or effect, you won't always have to restore it. I believe with all of my heart that God longs to see the church, the bride of Christ, not only experience revival but come out of this season with tools to maintain revival. A church who walks in conviction, power, purity, and who knows how to remain daily connected to Jesus. If the "Well done" from Jesus is your master passion, it will keep your revival fires daily glowing in your heart as you wait for his imminent return.

by David Chadwick Yesterday, we talked about how in order to keep revival fires burning, you must daily choose to hate sin. You must kill it. Crucify it. Suffocate it. But there is another important step to this process. You must daily cultivate a deep love for God. With ALL your heart, soul, mind, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5). With every ounce of your being, LOVE Jesus. Desire him and his kingdom above all else. Any desire to crucify bad behaviors must accompany a deep desire to love God or it will not last. John Wesley was right when he said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth." A deep love and desire for God changes everything. We love Jesus because he first loved us (1 John 4:10). He took the first step toward us. In the incarnation, he became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). To know we are loved and forgiven of our sins prompts us to worship. Here is a great daily exercise. Sit down somewhere and contemplate the cross. Imagine yourself at the foot of Jesus's cross. Acknowledge that your sin put him there. You hate sin. But it didn't keep him there. His love for you and for me sent him on a rescue mission to bring back access to the eternal Father. What a great and wondrous love he has for us! Now, go spend a few moments thinking about the empty tomb. It's forever empty! And you are forever forgiven! These daily reminders of the meaning of the cross and the resurrection keep revival fires burning! Then you walk in the Spirit, a military term of daily, disciplined promenade in God's grace. And the fruit of the Spirit is produced within you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Crucify your sin, yes. But love God. Love him with every fiber of your being. Watch as revival fires burn brighter and brighter in the hearts of God's people, creating a unity that allows us to grow up and be a healthy and whole body, built up in love (Ephesians 4:13-16). This is the kind of revival that will change the world for Jesus.

by David Chadwick In the midst of so many recent conversations about revival, my heart is to see people maintain revival. How? I believe there are daily rhythms that can help keep revival fires burning in each one of our lives. Here is another way to keep revival burning within you: Daily hate sin. This is one area where Jesus gives those who follow him permission to hate. We are to love what he loves and hate what he hates. And he hates sin. Sin is what nailed him to the cross. How do we hate sin? By crucifying the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the lusts of the flesh: "sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these." Do you find yourself in any of these? We all see something in this list that applies to us. Choose to confess your sin regularly and nail it on the cross. When prisoners in Jesus's day were nailed to the cross, they would die from asphyxiation. Daily choose to suffocate the lusts of your flesh. Refuse to let them control you. How? Hate sin. Hate what it has done to you. When you find yourself even thinking about it, feel your stomach churn in disgust. Let it make you sick. Then you won't desire it any longer. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) teaches people how to be sober for one day. And then the next day. And the next day. And so forth. Over time, people find themselves free. But first they must hate alcohol. What it's done to them. Their family. Friendships. Then, day by day, comes freedom. Daily crucify sin in your life. Hate it. Kill it. Over time, it will lose its power over you. You will become free. Revival fires will burn daily within you. And can live in the flow of the Spirit. In the love of Jesus – which is tomorrow's "daily."

Lately, many have been discussing revival after the events that took place at Asbury University. Corporate revival experiences can be great, but I believe the heart of God longs to see his children maintaining revival day after day after day. I have found many of the ways to maintain revival come through daily decisions to obey and follow Jesus. How do we keep revival? Daily abide. Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). The word abide means "to rest or to remain in a fixed position." It implies always being connected to the power source, Jesus himself. If you want to keep revival fires burning, choose to make decisions throughout your day to abide in Christ. Remain connected to him. Stay close to the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that if we are his sheep, we will hear his voice (John 10:27). We will know him and follow him. Obeying what he tells us to do. Speaking words of encouragement to others when prompted to do so. Loving and serving those he tells us to love and serve. Imagine your heart being a plug and Jesus as an outlet. If the light in your lamp at home is not working, it may not be connected to the power source. Daily check the connection between you as the plug and Jesus as the outlet. Throughout your day, make sure you are always connected to him. This allows you to abide. Remaining in him. Every single second of every single day. Then watch as revival power and energy will flow in and through you each and every day to others. You will be ever ready to display to the world the reviving salvation that Jesus has placed in your heart.

by David Chadwick With all the recent talk about revival, here is one question we all must ask. How do we keep revival fires burning? Over the next week, I want to help you answer this question. I find the key to maintaining revival is in this one, simple word… "daily." A daily pursuit of habits can result in lifelong change. No one notices the significance of taking vitamins each day. In fact, it is quite a mundane task. But, over time, this simple, daily habit creates an arsenal of resistance against deficiency in the human body. And think about physical exercise and the health benefits when done daily. Think about the number of times the Bible talks about the importance of trusting God daily. For example, the manna in the wilderness for the Israelites was a daily provision that God gave his people. He supplied their needs for food daily. Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day, our daily bread" (Luke 11:3). There were no refrigerators in his day. People had to gather and cook enough food for just that day. Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worries of its own (Matthew 6:34). By inference, we are to seek first the kingdom daily and everything else will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). Jesus also said to take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). He is stating our need to face our problems, issues, and difficulties "daily" and to depend on him each day and in every way. To crucify the lusts of the flesh daily and they will have no power over us. It is a daily discipline to keep revival fires burning. A daily endeavor. There is no substitute for the daily, disciplined pursuit of following Jesus. Quite frankly, I have seen too many people who become overly consumed with the exciting moments after a dramatic spiritual encounter, but do very little to sustain the spiritual encounter. The truth is, Jesus wants us to live each day in a constant state of revival; being daily revived, washed, and renewed by his words and reality of his eternal presence. Throughout the rest of this week, I am going to show you four ways to daily stoke revival fires. Ways to know and experience Jesus every single second of every single day! Stay tuned!

by Marilynn Chadwick A revival known as the "Children's Prayer Revival" was ignited around December 28, 1707. The location was near the border of Poland and Czechia in an area where evangelical worship had been outlawed. Boys and girls, ages 4-14, assembled in the open fields outside the town to pray. They would sing hymns, read Psalms, and close with a blessing. Church leaders were furious that prayer was taking place outside the church building, yet it was as if nothing could stop these children from assembling to pray. One father, concerned about his children defying the church and governmental authorities, tried to lock his son and daughter in their rooms. Yet when he heard that they intended to leap out their window to assemble for prayer, he conceded and permitted them to go (as recounted by various revival historians). The Children's Prayer Revival spread and before long the adults joined with the children. When adults witnessed the children singing and praying, it "melted them to tears." The children's gatherings often numbered between 300 to 1,000. A city guard was sent with a whip to disperse the children. But when he saw them praying, he was so moved by what he witnessed that he could not do it. We have witnessed firsthand this same boldness among children while traveling to India. Just as the Children's Prayer Revival became the catalyst for more revival, children in India today are bringing entire families to Christ and leading the way for the explosive expansion of the Gospel. As you reflect on the powerful role of children in revival, watch this short 5-minute video (scroll to "Monika's Story"). Mission India is one of our MOHC global partners. Pray for the work of Children's Bible Clubs as they spread the Gospel throughout India. Children are a vital part of our church's prayer, worship, and ministry. Let's ask God to give us the bold courage of those with childlike faith.

by Marilynn Chadwick True revival awakens a heart for the least and the lost. Historically, revivals have occurred during times of cultural darkness. England, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, had plunged into moral decadence. Drunkenness was rampant and gambling so pervasive that historians described the nation as "one vast casino." Tickets were sold to public executions as entertainment. Many children died in workhouses. Conditions were dismal all around. Amid this degradation, increasing numbers of British grew rich on the African slave trade, causing one Anglican bishop to remark that morality and religion in Britain had collapsed "to a degree that was never known in any Christian country." It was into this dark culture that John Wesley's life and ministry helped spark the Methodist movement in Great Britain, which gave rise to the Eighteenth-Century Evangelical Revival. This same movement helped ignite the Great Awakening in the thirteen colonies in the 1730s. Methodists and Baptists took the lead in using revivals to expand the spread of Christianity into the frontiers of America. Wesley's revival methods gave birth to a small group discipleship movement. These small groups of five to ten people never exceeded one percent of the total population of Great Britain. Yet their influence swelled among the masses, eventually spilling over to the upper-crust English society. It's no surprise that this Revival had a powerful effect on social conditions in England, including child labor, prison reform, and later the abolition of slavery. Some even say the Wesley Revival movement helped England avoid the type of violent revolution which swept through France. One thing is clear. Throughout history, true revival brought societal reform wherever it spread. If God could use a small group of revived people to transform culture in one of the darkest times in history, just think of what he can do in and through you in these days.

by Marilynn Chadwick The First Great Awakening in America was ignited around 1730 by a scholarly New England minister named Jonathan Edwards. From there, a series of revivals rapidly spread, bringing about the most significant social upheaval to occur prior to the Revolutionary War. The dramatic, impassioned preaching of England's George Whitfield fueled these revival fires as he passed through the colonies. The strategic discipleship methods of John Wesley, also from England, extended the revival's power and impact in early America. The widespread salvation of unbelievers (that extended beyond the church) marked these Great Awakenings, along with renewed emphasis on holiness by believers. The "pattern" of revival often points to a period of spiritual decline and darkness in the culture. Collin Hansen and John D. Woodbridge speak to these patterns in their book A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir. In the midst of despair and hopelessness, someone steps forward to confess their sins and others follow their example. God often answers these humble, heartfelt, corporate cries with a sweeping move of revival. Confession of sin was also the very backbone of John Wesley's small discipleship groups and initially the vehicle for the spread of the English Evangelical Revival. This same "method" was the foundation for early Methodism in America - contributing to the spread of revival fires throughout the colonies. Wesley's foundational verse was James 5:16a emphasizing the healing that comes through confession: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." The Second Great Awakening in America occurred in the mid 1800s following a great spiritual decline after the Revolutionary War. Results were staggering. Revival historian Edwin Orr states that in the U.S., "a million nominal church members were reinvigorated, and more than a million converts were added to the membership of major Protestant denominations - out of a population of less than 30 million." Again, time will tell what might have been sparked from the events at Asbury University, but if we want to partner with the heart of God to move in our midst, repentance is key. Take simple steps to introduce rhythms of repentance in your life. You never know. It might create revival in your personal life.

by Marilynn Chadwick Fervent, persistent prayer always precedes revival. Revival historians consistently point to what is sometimes called extraordinary prayer. This is united, persistent, and frequent prayer - often for extended periods of time. The Moravian Revival of 1727 started as a 24/7 prayer meeting that lasted for over 100 years. A group of humble, simple servants who were hungry to see God move. This same Revival gave birth to the most wide-reaching global missionary movement in history. The Moravians' fervent prayer deeply affected the personal faith of John Wesley, who said his heart was "strangely warmed" while attending a Moravian Prayer Meeting in London in 1738. It was there he came to understand the true nature of salvation by grace alone and moved from what he called the "faith of a slave" to the "faith of a son." Historically, revivals were always sparked by prayer. A British pamphlet on Revival, dated 1859, states, "True revival breathed life into every sphere of society. The Church, the family, personal devotion, witnessed its intense ardor. Fervent, persevering, believing prayer marked these movements." Prayer meetings were reported as springing up everywhere from ships at sea to warehouses, marketplaces to workplaces. What is being called a revival on the campus of Asbury University bears some characteristics of historic revivals. Sparked by the reported confession of sin by one student, the prayer gathering eventually lasted over two weeks. News of the revival largely spread on social media, attended by about 15,000 people each day. By its end, the revival brought 50,000-70,000 visitors to Wilmore, Kentucky, representing more than 200 academic institutions and multiple countries. As with any revival movement, only time will tell the full story of Asbury. One thing is for sure. Revival always begins with prayer.

by Marilynn Chadwick There has been a lot of talk recently about revival. What is revival? Does it matter? How should it be stewarded? The dictionary defines "revival" as "coming back to life" or "restoring force, validity, or effect to something." An Emergency Room doctor might revive a patient whose heart has stopped beating. While the word "revival" doesn't appear in Scripture, "revive" does. Psalm 85:6 says, "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" Isaiah 57:15b says, "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." Clearly there are moments where God's people find themselves in need of restored hope, new life, fresh perspective. Episodes in the Bible and throughout church history, where Christians are revived, reveal a pattern. These movements were characterized by fervent prayer, repentance of sin, a commitment to holiness, and boldness in proclaiming the gospel. Unbelievers were saved in vast numbers and entire communities experienced the impact of God's grace. This often led to dramatic societal changes. Taverns emptied, crime decreased, and marriages were restored. Children were often found at the forefront of historical revival movements. These same marks of revival are present in the Gospel movements sweeping throughout the world today, especially in the Global South. Over the next several days, we will explore these and other characteristics of revival – a timely discussion in light of what is being called a revival that took place recently on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. We will be asking this question: If revival is real, then what does it mean for me?

Who moved the stone? Our last proof of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is found in this question. In fact, it is essential to answer this question. Let me ask it again. Who moved the stone? It wasn't the Romans. They wanted a dead body behind the one ton stone. It wasn't the Jews. They had the same motivation as the Romans. They wanted Jesus dead. His body in the tomb forever. It wasn't Jesus's disciples. The tomb was surrounded by Roman guards and there was no way they would have been able to bypass all of them and move the stone. So, who moved it? Here is the truth of what happened to that stone. The power of God pushed the stone away! Maybe it was even an angel. The soldiers ended up in a trance. Dumbfounded. And Jesus walked right out in resurrection glory! Politely folding his head coverings on the way out. Frank Morrison, a noted lawyer and spiritual skeptic, put the Resurrection on trial. He set out to disprove the Resurrection of Jesus. He knew it was the heart of the Christian faith. Disprove it and Christianity is proven to be false. After all his examinations, Frank became a Christian. Devoted his entire life to Jesus. He went on to write a powerful book entitled, "Who Moved the Stone?" to prove his findings. It's a worthy read even today. And always remember: God didn't move the stone to let Jesus out, but to let us in. He wanted us to see the tomb empty! To have marked evidence of the Resurrection. To always enjoy and celebrate our risen King. The King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Ruler over all. In Jerusalem today, there are supposedly three different possible tombs for Jesus. We don't really know which one was Jesus's, if any of them were! But they all have one thing in common: they are empty! That's because Jesus is alive. Forever and ever alive! If you have enjoyed this series and would like to hear David's full teaching on the 10 Proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/resurrection.

There are many proofs of the Resurrection. Proofs give evidence to the reality of something. I want you to walk in confidence that Jesus is God and is our risen Savior. Here is a significant proof to examine. Produce a body and Christianity dies. What do I mean by this? Well, it's pretty simple. If anyone could produce a dead body of Jesus, the game's over. Finished. Movement stopped. That is all it would have taken to crush the so-called "bogus lie" of Jesus's deity. One person could have stopped Christianity immediately by producing a body. The Christian faith is based entirely on the fact that Jesus's earthly body was raised from the dead. The Jews and Romans concocted a story that Jesus's disciples had come and stolen the body. But how? The tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. It could not be broken. There were Roman guards surrounding the burial place, knowing that the disciples might try to go and do something like this. They ruthlessly guarded the body knowing that if the body were to go missing, they would experience death on a cross like the dead prisoner within the tomb. And these were crack Roman guards. Their entire job training was to do this very job! Yet… the stone is removed. The body is gone. How did the disciples elude the Roman guards? Break the seal? Move the stone? The authorities never could produce a body. This one thing would have stopped the movement of Christianity, but it never happened. Why? This proof has to make you pause. Reflect. Wonder. Could the message of Jesus actually be true? Is Jesus really God? Why could no one produce a body? Because that body was raised from the dead! Jesus is alive and has a new resurrection body. We, too, will receive a resurrection body one day. Celebrate, dear friends! Jesus is alive! And Lord over all! If you have enjoyed this series and would like to hear David's full teaching on the 10 Proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/resurrection.

I love the many proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus. They provide evidence to the message that has captured my heart and changed my life. I want to share this proof with you today: Jesus received worship from those who saw him after the Resurrection. Why is this significant? Because only God is worthy of worship. Only God can receive worship. If any creature demands your worship, you should adamantly refuse. Yet when Jesus appeared to Thomas in his resurrection, Thomas fell to his knees and said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Note the personal "my." After much doubting and questioning, the reality of Jesus's Resurrection became personal to him. He saw the nail-marked hands and the scar in his side. He worshiped the risen Jesus. Jesus came to restore us to a relationship with God. He did not come to give us a set of rules and regulations. Jesus was now a personal Lord and God. And here's what's most astounding: Note, JESUS RECEIVED IT! There are other places in the Bible where angels appear to humans and they fall to their knees to worship the angel. But the angel always tells the humans to arise. Get up! The angels tell humans that they are NOT to be worshiped. They are creatures, not the Creator. Only the Creator is worthy of worship. But Jesus allows Thomas to worship him. Why? He has been raised from the dead. He is alive! Therefore, he is God! It's an audacious claim to deity! And is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise! If you have enjoyed this series and would like to hear David's full teaching on the 10 Proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/resurrection.

There are so many proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you look at them, it builds your faith and stirs up the reality of his message. These proofs give us evidence for the truth of the gospel and make us impervious to the influence of the enemy's lies. The change of Passover to the Lord's table is our next proof. Remember what I shared with you about the Sabbath yesterday. Well, the Jews also had celebrated the Passover for 1200 years. It was introduced in the book of Exodus and they faithfully held onto it for 1200 years. Suddenly, it changed. Christians now celebrate the Lord's Table. Communion. The Last Supper in its place. Jesus is the Passover lamb. A lamb's blood is no longer needed for protection and sacrifice. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. The Lord's Table is now the place to remember the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Christians can now look back at Passover and see how it showed whispers of grace that would ultimately be fulfilled through Jesus's life, death and resurrection. We can enjoy the beauty of Passover and even celebrate it. But it's no longer a requirement. Why? Because Jesus is alive! He has been raised from the dead. He is Lord over all. Jesus said to practice Communion regularly. So now faithful Christians do just that in remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection. Union life with Christ is one of the mysteriously powerful parts of the good news of Jesus Christ. We can abide in him and fellowship with him (John 15:7). We have been restored to the right relationship with the Creator of the universe. We can produce the fruit of his Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How? His life is in me. And mine is in him. That's the essence and meaning of the Lord's Table. Or Communion. Co-union. And every time we eat and partake of the bread and wine, we partake of Jesus. Our risen and living Lord - forever!

We are taking two weeks to look at proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Proofs give evidence to something being true. I hope these proofs will also help you share your faith with skeptics and see their hearts become alive for Jesus. Here is today's proof: the change of the Sabbath from Friday to Sunday. For 1200 years, the Jews had celebrated Shabbat from 6:00p Friday to 6:00p Saturday. Really let that sink in. 1200 years! Imagine the depth of history and tradition in this way of life. Then suddenly, seemingly without any planning, the day of worship changed to Sunday - beginning with Sunday morning. Why? Because the empty tomb was discovered early Sunday morning. The Resurrection occurred on Sunday! It's the heart of the Christian faith; "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). But it is true. Over 500 people saw Jesus alive. There were eyewitnesses galore - enough to change 1200 years of tradition and history! The Sabbath is now an invitation to remember the power of the Resurrection. It no longer has to happen on a specific day of the week. Ritualistic traditions don't hold the power. Jesus Christ does. May we live with the same radical obedience that Jewish people showed when they recognized the change of the Sabbath. May we be willing to lay aside traditions of man to stand boldly for Jesus. May we surrender our earthly methods and practices for the ways of Jesus and his kingdom. And may we see his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Why? Because Jesus is alive! Risen! Forever and ever.

The life change of Peter is the next proof of the resurrection of Jesus. My hope is that these proofs give you evidence for the Resurrection. And reasons to give to skeptics in your life who doubt Jesus's claim to be God and Lord over our lives. In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus called Peter to be one of his 12 apostles. Peter was a fisherman when Jesus gave him the famous invitation to follow him. He said that he would make him a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). Peter immediately dropped his nets and followed Jesus. But when Jesus died on the cross, Peter fled. He was nowhere to be found. He had even denied he knew Jesus to protect himself. Yet his life and perspective suddenly changed. Why? Peter saw a resurrected Jesus. Jesus appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:5). At that moment, Peter knew that he was alive! He knew everything Jesus said was true. He believed that he was God. That he really was the Messiah. That death could not hold him down. Can you imagine the wonder as Peter pieced together the reality of the resurrection? Peter goes on to be martyred in Rome for his great faith in Jesus. Legend has it that he asked to be crucified with his face closest to the ground, for he was not worthy to die as his Lord and Savior had died. How do you explain such a dramatic life change? Someone who lied like a little child to avoid getting in trouble goes on to be martyred for the message of Jesus! Seeing the resurrected Jesus changed him forever! The Resurrection of Jesus is the proof of his divinity. Only one person has ever lived, died, been brought back to life and never died again: Jesus. Others have been raised from the dead, but have had to face death again. Jesus emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and was born as a man (Philippians 2:7), but lived perfectly as God and became exalted and was bestowed the name above every name (Philippians 2:9). He now lives forever! Jesus is God! And worthy of all of our praise!

One of the most significant proofs of the Resurrection is the life change that took place in those who were initially skeptics. The life change of Paul might be the most profound of them all. He persecuted and killed Christians for a living. In Acts 7, Paul was the one who oversaw Stephen's martyrdom. Stephen was brutally and mercilessly stoned. And as it was happening, he fell to his knees and asked the Lord to not hold that sin against his offenders (Acts 7:60). A profound story! Absolutely horrific! Yet Paul sat by and willingly approved. God granted Stephen's request for the mercy of his offenders, at least in part, through the salvation of Paul. How did this happen, you might ask? On the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the resurrected Jesus and it marked him forever (Acts 9). Paul obeyed Jesus's command to preach the gospel to the Gentile world. And Paul even went on to write approximately two-thirds of the New Testament. Outside of Jesus, Paul may be the most influential person in Christendom. Paul was eventually martyred by Nero in the early 60's AD. A bold and courageous carrier of the message of Jesus. He equipped so many people who went on to carry the message of Jesus, even after his death. Paul went from major persecutor to major proclaimer of Jesus's gospel of grace. What happened to him that caused such a dramatic life focus and change? The answer is simple: Paul was an eyewitness to the Resurrection. Paul's life transformation carried tremendous weight to those who heard his message. How do you explain this apart from the fact that Jesus is alive? Risen? And Lord over all the universe!

I am going over proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. These proofs are evidence that Jesus is Lord. They should also help make you stand firm against the messaging that wants to convince this world that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is not real. There were many persecutors and critics of Jesus during his earthly ministry who experienced radical life change after they had seen him raised from the dead. These testimonies are most certainly proofs of the resurrection. Today, let's look at James, Jesus's half-brother. His life change was profound. James was a critic during Jesus's ministry. In John 7:2-5, he begged Jesus to return home. Verse 5 reminds us that his own brothers did not believe in him. Yet, he saw a resurrected Jesus and his life was changed forever (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). James went on to become head of the Jerusalem church and is found in scripture proclaiming the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus (Acts 15:13-21). He demanded the gospel be available to the Gentiles. He knew everyone needed Jesus's grace. He went on to write the book of James in the New Testament. How do you account for this life change? He would say that it was because he had seen a risen Jesus. His Lord and Savior. Ours, too. From skeptic to believer. From resistant to accepting. From questioning to proclaiming. James experienced a radical transformation after seeing the Resurrection. It marked him. Changed him forever. To the point where he ended up dying a martyr. May each one of us live in such a way that gives testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus in our lives. May the risen Jesus mark us like it did James. And may we share that message in a way that draws others to the heart of God. Jesus is alive!

We are looking at 10 proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus to help you stand against the lies of the enemy. Today's proof is that women were eyewitnesses to an empty tomb! In those days, women were second class citizens. They were not even granted the opportunity to be eyewitnesses at a trial. They were seen as less than. Their perspectives were rarely validated and often overlooked. Why is this significant? Well, if you wanted to fabricate a story back then, you would never dream of using women as your first eyewitnesses. In fact, you would go out of your way to use the most societally credible people as your eyewitnesses. Yet all four of the gospel accounts about Jesus' resurrection have women as the first eyewitnesses. Luke 24:10, for example, says, "Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles." This reality is shocking to say the least. And should give significant reason to pause. Women at the forefront of the story. The first eyewitnesses. Boldly leading the way in declaring the truth of the Resurrection. If someone wanted to sway an entire group of people with a false narrative, this would not be the most convincing way to do it. But that's the way God does things. He chooses the most unlikely evidence to prove his point. And it only makes his point more valid - especially to those of us reading it 2,000 years later. Hallelujah! Jesus is risen! He is alive!

Have you ever looked up the definition of the word proof? One definition is "the evidence or argument establishing or helping to establish a fact or the truth of a statement." When used as an adjective it is defined as "able to withstand something damaging; resistant." I am going to share ten proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For without the Resurrection, Christians are people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). Without the Resurrection, Christians don't have a faith! Each proof serves as evidence to the truth of his message. They allow you to give a defense of the hope that is in your heart (1 Peter 3:15). Here is the first one: People do not die for what they know is a lie. They may die for what they think is true. But if it is a lie, and they know it's a lie, they will not suffer persecution or lose their life for what they know is a lie. Think about 9/11. Extreme Muslim terrorists believed that by driving planes into buildings to kill infidels, they would be granted 70 plus virgins forever in paradise. Do you think they would have done this if they knew what they believed was a lie? Some have suggested the Resurrection was a legend, made up by the early disciples to keep Jesus's message of love going forward. But this suggestion does not make sense either. First, the disciples were faithful Jews, faithfully following the law which clearly states, "You shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16). Proclaiming a message they knew to be a lie would be in direct violation of the moral law they so faithfully kept. Moreover, these followers of Jesus were mostly persecuted, beaten and even martyred for their faith. No one undergoes this kind of pain for a known lie! Human nature is self-protective, looking out for #1. Wouldn't you think that if they were getting physically tortured and knew it was all a big game, someone would have spoken up and said, "Just kidding! It's a lie!" But the early disciples didn't. They died saying, "Jesus is risen." Why? Because they had seen a risen Lord (Mark 16:5-7). They were eyewitnesses to this fact. It proves Jesus is God in human flesh. The Lord over the universe. And worthy of our worship and obedience.

We are wrapping up our time of learning different leadership principles that I learned while playing under Coach Dean Smith. He was such a man of character, integrity, wisdom, and strength. The final principle I want to share with you is this: know who really is in control. After Coach Smith was hung in effigy the second time, he wondered about his future. Would he be fired? Would he ever see a successful coaching career? After experiencing many questions, he arrived at a profound moment. He learned how little he really controlled. All he could do was do his best and control the moment. At that moment, he gave everything to God, the One who does control everything. His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." There is a confident assurance that comes in recognizing we do not control the universe. Strength comes as we let God be God. I used to tell all of my kids as they were growing up, "Do your best and give God the rest." Leaders, how are you doing with remembering who is really in control? Are you walking in faith in tough situations? Are you leading well through the processes you must oversee, but giving God the outcomes? Are you expressing faith or fear? In leadership, you will always face a wide array of situations and emotions. Everything from joy to despair, successes to failures, acceptance to pushback, hope to discouragement. Learn to develop leadership principles that will help those around you thrive. Continue to trust the Lord with all that you lead. Don't lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). After all, God is the one who is in control of it all anyway. Trust him that he will deal with it in his way and time. He will. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

We have two more days of leadership principles that I want to share with you. I learned these while playing under Coach Dean Smith at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Coach Smith would regularly tell us, "Make failure your friend." He knew that we would only be failures if, after messing up, we never tried again. This is especially true in our culture when so many practice what is called "cancel culture". It is so destructive and is creating a world where even the hint of a mistake becomes a source of fear instead of an invitation to something better. Before succeeding, Thomas Edison tried multiple times to invent the light bulb. He failed over and over. He purportedly kept saying, "Now I know many ways not to do it." Coach Smith lost many, many games before finally succeeding. As previously noted, he was hung in effigy by the student body – twice! But he never gave up. He persisted time and time again. Jesus emphasized the importance of persistence in Luke 18:1, encouraging his followers to not lose heart and always pray. He knew that persistence in prayer would yield results. Friends, failure is not the end of the game. Furthermore, someone else's label of you being a failure is not the end of the game. These are simple pathways to success and learning. Leaders, how are you doing with failure? Is it destructive for you or a learning mechanism to make you better? Does it send you to a place of despair where you feel paralyzed? Or do you use it to grow? Learn from Coach Smith. And I believe you will see tremendous victory as you continually learn to make failure your friend. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

While playing for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Coach Smith always led his teams with a deep commitment to character. He knew the importance of being the same in public and in private. At the beginning of his coaching tenure at UNC, Coach Smith was hung in effigy not once, but twice, by the student body. If you don't know what this means, the student body took a large life-size doll of Coach Smith, hung it up, and burned it. He wasn't successful enough with victories for them. After it happened the second time, he came back on the bus and said to the players, "Your reputation is what others think of you. Your character is what you think of yourself." He knew that he couldn't control what others thought of him. But he could control how he lived his life and if he could look in the mirror each day with a sense of satisfaction. For those of us who follow Jesus, tough times are when we must find our identity: in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We know who we are in him, who he says we are: a child of God (Galatians 4:7). Fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). More than a conqueror because of his love for us (Romans 8:37). Coach Smith reflected the biblical teachings of Proverbs 22:1 – he knew the importance of a good name. But he knew that even if others misrepresented him, his character, who he knew himself to be on the inside, he remained untouched. Coach Smith never gave up. He persisted toward his goals at UNC, never compromising his character. Over time, his commitment to building a good name and a program of character paid off. He won again and again and again. And Coach Dean Smith is now in college basketball's Hall of Fame. Personal character is a key leadership principle that leads to success. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

Proverbs 18:21 says that "life and death is in the tongue." Words are powerful in general. But there is a power in positive words that can lift someone out of the darkest pit and set them on a trajectory of hope. My college basketball coach, Dean Smith, knew the power of encouraging words. How many games he would encourage us to victory through his words! Even in the most dire of situations, he would keep giving us words of confidence and victory. In 1974, Carolina was playing Duke. Down by 8 with 17 seconds left on the clock. With each timeout and in the huddle, Coach Smith would encourage his team. He would tell his players what he believed they could do, and each thing he told them actually happened! He was like a prophet foretelling the future. Walter Davis ended up hitting a jump shot with one second left to send the game into overtime. UNC won in overtime. This is just one of many illustrations of Coach Smith's words giving life… and ultimately victory. Ezekiel 37 tells the story of the valley of dry bones. The Lord brought Ezekiel into a valley full of bones. Dead, lifeless bones. He told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and call them to life as a real time display of God's power and divinity. Ezekiel did as he was told and as he did, "there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone" (Ezekiel 37:7). He goes on to prophesy to the breath and as he did, "they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army" (Ezekiel 37:10b). What an incredible biblical account of how life and death really is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). We are called as followers of Jesus to speak life over death. To release hope over hopeless situations. To encourage one another. This gives our broken world glimpses of the beautiful salvation that comes from Jesus. Leaders, do a word inventory in your current situation. How many positive words do you speak? Now, what about negative words? Have you created a culture of hope or one of despair with your words? May you lead in a way that calls dry bones to life, mobilizing a vast army for Jesus! Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

Coach Dean Smith instilled many significant leadership principles into my life. I am sharing some of them with you over these two weeks. I hope they are especially meaningful as we experience March Madness. One of his principles was, "As individuals improve, the team improves." I went into Coach Smith's office after my sophomore year for my annual interview. I wanted to know how I could get more playing time. In asking him, I used the mantra I knew he would appreciate, "Coach, how can I help the team?" He looked at me and repeated my question back to me. "You want to help the team next year?" he asked. I nodded affirmatively. He responded, "Then become a better player." He knew the whole is only as strong as the individual parts. If I became better, the team would as well. He went on to give me a list of things I needed to do. Get stronger. Quicker. Faster. I took to heart every word he said. I even got on a weight program to give myself accountability for my personal growth and strength. Guess what? The next season, I got more playing time. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Jesus offers the world an invitation to host his presence and to know his heart. If we accept this invitation, we become members of his team. But we must respond to his invitation. We have to open the door for him to enter! Leaders, are you extending invitations to those around you to improve? How are you helping them in their dreams? What are you offering them as resources to improve their work habits and personal goals? Remember this. As each individual around you is strengthened and improves, the whole team will too! It is an immutable leadership truth! Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

It is so important that leaders develop immutable principles to live by as they lead, love, and serve those around them. I gleaned many of these priceless principles from Coach Dean Smith while playing for him at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Today's principle is this: Success requires a flexible vision. Proverbs 29:18 says vision is so important that without it, people perish. Vision, however, must stay nimble because times change. Personnel changes. The game changes. Coach Smith understood the importance of having a clear vision. "Play hard, play smart, and play together." That was his vision for every team he coached. Those words are written on the players' entrance and exit in the Dean Dome. Yet, Coach Smith also knew that he needed to guard flexibility within that vision. He was always adjusting. He knew how to pivot as needed to maintain a strong vision under which his players could thrive. He could adjust to the 30 second shot clock. To the three point line. To the stronger and better athletes. This enabled him to be an incredibly sharp and astute leader. All leaders must have a vision. But it needs to be flexible as times and people change. Coach Smith was the master of a flexible vision. Without a shot clock, he used the four corners of the court. With the shot clock, he developed another effective offense to get the ball in the hoop. In all his decades of coaching, he remained innovative. And he won! Leaders, is this you? Are you willing to change to maintain a compelling vision for those around you? When playing "offensively," do you know how to adjust to what is happening so you aren't easily tossed by the defensive strategies around you? When on "defense," do you know how to remain alert and aware of how to stop hindrances that keep you from winning in the game called life? Take inventory of your life and ask yourself if you have a flexible vision laid out for you and those around you. This will help everyone around you flourish, and not perish. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

The team before the individual. This leadership principle was ingrained from Coach Dean Smith to every member of the UNC basketball team. In fact, if I had to choose one mantra that drove Coach Smith, this would be it. It was always about the team. About unity. Being of one mind together. Coach Smith knew that if the team wasn't strong, it did not matter the success of individual players. This simple principle by which he lived is rooted in biblical truth. Philippians 2:2 says we are to be "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." Ephesians 4:3 says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Under Coach Smith, if you scored a basket, you had to point to the person who gave you the pass. If you did not, you would be on the bench. Someone had to sacrifice the ball in order for the other player to score. Coach Smith wanted every one of his players, the fans in attendance, and all of those watching on national television to see who gave the pass and not just who scored the basket. To give credit where credit was due. To honor the behind the scenes role that led to visible success. To value the team before the individual. Coach Smith also said that if you dove on the floor for a loose ball, the closest player to you had to come and help you up. The one who sacrificed his body for a loose possession was to receive thanks and appreciation by the one closest to him. If Coach Smith noticed that someone did not do this, the entire team had to run the next day. As a leader, how are you doing developing a team? Are you thinking about the culture of the whole and not just the individual? In one-on-one interactions, are you considering how decisions affect the team and not just the person with whom you are dealing? Leaders are always intentional about creating a strong, unified, healthy team. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

Friends are forever. This is the next leadership principle I learned playing under Coach Dean Smith. When I first arrived on the campus of UNC as a freshman, there was a tremendous awe surrounding Coach Smith and the program. I will never forget the emotions I felt stepping onto that basketball court for the first time, hearing him blow that first whistle, and watching him lead a perfectly timed two hour practice. However, as time passed, and especially after I graduated, I moved from this awe to deep and abiding friendship. A friendship I could ask anything of. Let me share this story of a time when Coach Smith was a friend. My son David was 13 years old. He suffered a terrible knee injury. His dream was to play college basketball and, as you can imagine, this was a blow not just to his body, but to his heart. Trying to encourage him, I called Coach Smith and asked if he would be willing to contact David and give him hope that he could recover and play again. The next day, Coach Smith called David and spent around 20 minutes encouraging him that he could overcome this setback. Oh. By the way, guess what the first words were that came out of Coach Smith's mouth? "David, how are your grades?" He was always more concerned with his players' academics and with their personal character than athletics! That's how he began his conversation with David. David got off that phone call with a lift in his spirits, a renewed hope, and encouragement for the hard road ahead. As a leader, how are you doing being a friend to your co-workers? Do they feel cared for and valued? Do you make an effort to be a voice of encouragement to them outside of their role in your company or on your team? Jesus taught that we exist to serve others, not use them (Mark 10:45). Be a friend. Seek to serve. Give your life away. Use your gifts as a leader to bless other people. Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.

Over the next two weeks, as the nation enjoys March Madness, I am sharing some of the leadership principles I learned while playing basketball for Coach Dean Smith. I took so much of what he taught me and put it in a book called "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." Today's leadership principle is this: Loyalty best prospers in a family environment. In so many ways, Coach Smith was like a second father to his players, instilling wisdom and perspective into the young men he coached. He made us feel like a family, which is why the UNC lettermen who played for Coach Smith are members of "the family." Coach Smith was the surrogate father. We were brothers in "the family." Whenever his players meet one another, even if from different decades, we feel an immediate connection. We are all a part of "the family." James Worthy played basketball under Coach Smith and was a great All-American and NBA star. When I wrote the book on Coach Smith, I contacted Worthy for an interview. He immediately responded with this response: "Anything for a member of the family." The culture of family was woven into the fabric of Carolina basketball. Coach Smith knew that if he created a healthy family environment, everyone would prosper no matter what role they played. Let me ask you this. In the environments where you have been called to lead, how are you doing with creating a family environment among those who work with you? Do they love one another? Do they feel secure under your leadership? Do you see qualities of a healthy family? Things like grace and truth, forgiveness, and open communication. Do they see the fruit of the spirit in you? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Are you as a leader producing this fruit in them? Take inventory of your personal life and leadership. Seek to create a family environment. It's where loyalty best prospers! Our Leadership Principles blog series is inspired by David's book "It's How You Play the Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." If you would like to receive this book, please go here.