Monday Morning Devotion-March 17, 2025
The Shining Light
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good woks and glorify your Father, who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Can you recall a time when something really uplifting occurred in your life, especially
in the morning, that just made you feel so good, it brightened your whole outlook. It was so special it became a feel-good catalyst for the whole day. Each time you recalled it a smile broke out on your face, and you just felt happy!
This happened to me recently, so I want to share the depth of my feel-good experience with you. Maybe it will help you recall a happy experience that has occurred in your life.
Clint Purvis is unlike any one I have ever met. He is the Team Chaplain for Florida State University Sports. A few minutes of conversation with Clint and you instantly start feeling better about yourself---who you are, why that’s important and what you can accomplish with your life. How does he do this? Probably because He never talks about himself. The conversation always centers around you. How many people do you know like that? I’d venture to say none.
Unexpectedly, Clint gave me a call and said he had something for me, that he’d had for quite a while, and wanted to put it in my mailbox. Since we live in a computer dominant world these days, I expected him to send what he had for me on-line. But he actually drove out to my home to put an amazing “care package” in my mailbox on the street. Fortunately, I saw him drive up and was able to greet him out at the mailbox.
In this amazing package was a neat book and pen to do my journalling in and a collection of the most interesting 3by 5 cards. Each card had a picture of a Seminole helmet, front and back on it, and over it was typed a talk that he had given. Now, these were not just any talks. They were copies of Chapel Talks that he had shared with the Seminole Football team, before every football game in the 2024 season. And another batch had copies of the weekly devotions he had shared with the coaching staffs.
I’ve chosen a few ideas, at random from these talks, to share with you so you can see how they are used to challenge, motivate and encourage the players to be the best they can be. Perhaps some of these will speak to you too!
The following messages are posted in Clint’s own personal style!
The first football team chapel on August 17, 2024, was entitled :
NO RESERVES…NO RETREATS…NO REGRETS
Jesus said: “No procrastination! No backward looks! You can Not put God’s Kingdom work off till tomorrow. Baseball Legend Jackie Robinson said; ‘A life is not significant except for its impact on other lives.’
As Rick Warren, Mega-pastor and author of “Purpose Driven Life “wrote: “Without God Life has no Purpose ---without Purpose life has no Meaning and without Meaning Life has no Significance or Hope!”
The September 29, 2024, Team Chapel was:
“HAVE PATIENCE-GOD IS NOT FINISHED YET!!!
Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him. Don’t bother with those who climb ladder, who elbow their way to the top. Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes. It only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store.
“Patience is not passive! On the contrary it is Concentrated Strength.” Bruce Lee
“Patience is the companion of Wisdom.” Saint Augustine
“Patience is a Key element of Success! Bill Gates
On September 4, 2024 for the Football Coaches and Staff Devotional the topic was:
POWER
POWER: the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Have you realized that God has placed you in a position of Power? In the Old Testament account of Daniel and what he did came from God’s Power in and over His life because God’s Power is proven and found in: His OMNIPOTENCE, His OMNISCIENCE and His OMNIPRESENCE.
In his package Clint also enclosed the wisdom of Mother Teresa that I want to share with you today. It is entitled:
DO IT ANYWAY
“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive Them Anyway!
If you are Kind- people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be Kind Anyway!
If you are Successful-you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed Anyway!
If you are Honest and Frank people may cheat, you.
Be Honest and Frank Anyway!
What you spend years BUILDING someone could destroy overnight.
Build Anyway!
If you find Serenity and Happiness they may be jealous.
Be Happy Anyway!
The Good you do today-people will often FORGET tomorrow.
Do Good Anyway!
Give the World the BEST you have and it may NEVER be enough.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST you’ve got ANYWAY
You see…in the final analysis…it is between YOU and YOUR GOD!
It was NEVER between you and them ANYWAY!
Thank you, Clint Purvis, for unselfishly sharing the wise sayings and
Inspiring messages with me and now with all those around the world who
join us weekly on Monday Morning Devotions.
May God continue to bless your Kingdom work!
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for sending Clint Purvis our way with your uplifting messages of comfort and inspiration. Amen
!