The Competitive Edge

Here we are in Broken Bow, OK at Beaver’s Bend – some of this group are avid, die-hard fisher people. There really isn’t competition between those who are – but, deep inside, I know that each one wants to catch the “big one”! I, on the other hand, enjoy the action for a while, some fishing, some photos-taking, but then I'm off for a run to town for something we need or preparing the next meal. No competition for my job! LOL! Then there’s the family competition around the game table – we’re talking serious game play!

But, speaking of “competitive", I remember last week when I was driving down Dallas Tollway toward home, my wandering eyes took a western-gaze at the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters near my home in Frisco. There was a billboard advertising the Sleep Number mattress that included this catchy slogan. “This isn’t your bed – it’s your competitive edge.” The billboard did what it set out to do – it caught my eye and sent my mind racing. “What do they mean by ‘competitive edge’?”

At home, I googled the Sleep Number bed and found that catchy phrase was right by the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters ON PURPOSE. Apparently, the NFL and Sleep Number Corp. have a multi-year sponsorship deal which puts the Minnesota-based mattress maker on one of the highest marketing platforms in sports business. Through their partnership, every NFL player was offered a Sleep Number 360 smart bed, plus received insights for improving their sleeping habits that could impact their performance on the field. Whew! I sure hope it helps our Cowboys! By now, during this pandemic, they will have had plenty of sleep in their Sleep Number bed.

That slogan, “It’s your competitive edge” made perfect sense. In a world of competition in sports (including fishing), speech and debate events, beauty pageants, award and game shows, and simply family game fun nights, it seems our world is all about having a competitive edge. Well, it once was before COVID-19.
Really for those of us in the family of God, there should never be competition among us – at least in the way of sibling rivalry. Oh, yes, I know that many families, including mine, take competition seriously – especially in board or card games. Like in fishing, some of us are more laid-back with the que-se-ra, se-ra mindset while others are in-it to win-it every time.

But when I think about “competitive edge, I think of one thing and that is the competitive edge that we should always have toward the enemy of our souls -- especially if we will use our God-given skills, talents and abilities. John 10:10 says “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and more abundant life.” I’m thinking, of course our competitive edge is far superior to the enemy – we just need to always be ready with our game face on and our spirit muscled up with the truth of God’s Word that will defeat the enemy every time. It’s time to realize who our real competition is with – certainly not each other. When we show up as a united offensive front, then we’ll win every time. There’s really just no competition because if we’ve read the end of the book, we win!

Time to get the winning, competitive-edge mentality and realize “If God be for us, who in the world can be against us?” Romans 8:31

You Are Loved, So Don’t You Dare Quit Now!

Some things just don't change.....but wouldn't it be great if they did? The first two kids, Cain and Abel, birthed from the first two parents, Adam and Eve, couldn't get along. In fact, their sibling rivalry led to the death of Abel. Fast forward to the dad, Jacob, and Joseph, his son (his favorite son -- okay, that's already screaming "TROUBLE"). Why would a dad ever favor one of his kids over the other? But he did, and little Joseph became the target of his 10 brothers -- to not just bully him but to kill him. Fortunately, their evil plot was thwarted.

Obviously, people issues -- judging, bullying, gossiping, jealousy, arguing, etc. have been a part of humanity from the beginning. It's unfortunate when we consider what all those "issues" do to people. That's why it's so important that we go to a higher level -- a place of love, concern, care, and compassion for each other. Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31. And He reiterated, in John 13:34, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

Maybe you're the one who is being judged and bullied or lied about. Maybe you feel like no one really cares about you and you think that you don't really matter. Here's the truth about MATTER:. YOU ARE LOVED! Don't let people get inside your head to make you think otherwise. You are loved. You are a one-of-a-kind original and no matter what you think and what others say about you, God loves you so much and you are His masterpiece. If you were the only person on earth, He would still have sent His one and only Son to pay the ultimate price for YOU. That's TRUE LOVE! He took the high road. It's time for us to take the high road, too.

The psalmist says that God formed you. Formed is defined as great care and special attention. It's the picture of a potter expertly crafting his art at the potter's wheel. You and I were formed by the Creator for a purpose. And everything God forms, He fills. He formed the seas and filled it with fish. He formed man and filled him with breath. God has filled you with unique gifts and talents. He filled your spirit with a longing for more. God has filled your life with a supernatural destiny. So don't believe for one more moment you have been overlooked or forgotten by God. Don't accept the deception that destiny and purpose are for other people and not you!

You really do matter! Don’t you dare think about giving up! YOU ARE LOVED. Now, get out there and own YOU and your place on this earth, at this time, to stand out and be the best YOU, you can possibly be!