Kwity Paye | My Mom Is Retired

Kwity Paye was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 21st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. After being drafted, Kwity told his mother, live on camera, that she was done working and that she was retired.

This is a special moment and chapter in the extraordinary career and life of Kwity and his family. 

Kwity was born in a refugee camp after his family fled Liberia, and his mother, Agnes, brought him and his brother Komotay Koffie to Providence to escape the war-torn country. As they grew older, Agnes signed her boys up for football at the Boys & Girls Club, and it became an obsession for both.

After middle school, Paye was accepted to Bishop Hendricken, but his mother couldn't afford the tuition to send him there. Kwity told his mother if she let him go, she wouldn’t have to pay for college. Agnes worked nearly 24-hour days putting Paye through high school, and Kwity understood the sacrifice and did his best to work as hard on and off the field as his mother did to pay for school.

By all accounts, Kwity is a great football player and an even better person. His work ethic and character enhance his NFL frame. When he works with kids at youth football camps, he doesn't just go through the motions to fill his volunteer hours, he interacts with the kids and sweats with them as he helps teach them the basics of the game. When the days are over, Kwtiy helps clean up the field by picking up pylons and other equipment.

One of the best parts of the NFL draft are the stories, and this story is a good one. I can't wait to follow Kwity in the NFL.

Read more about Kwity's story here: From Refugee Camp to Colts 

Handling the Storm | Deescalation

We have a saying that everybody is great and happy when the shots are falling or when the bats are hitting, but who can we count on when the storm comes and we have to navigate through and around adversity?

When the storm comes in a game and the coach has to call a timeout, it's interesting to see how the huddle, the players, and the coaches react and respond in the heat of the moment. Wins and losses aren't determined by our mistakes; they are determined by how we respond to mistakes.

An important word and concept to learn and live by is the concept of de-escalation. Deescalation is calming someone (or yourself) down so that they can respond appropriately instead of reacting emotionally. Something happened - it could have been a made or missed shot, a turnover, an injury, or anything else, and responding with empathy, even in the moment, will help respond in a way that shows empathy in order to get to the heart of the matter.

Dr. Bruce Perry is a researcher, clinician, and teacher who has worked with victims of America's highest profiled traumatic events, including the Branch Davidians siege in Waco, TX, the September 11th terrorist attacks, and the Sandy Hooks shootings. He said that anger leads to anger. He said, "If you are in an argument with someone and if someone is angry, you can't reach them through more anger. It's biology and the way that our brains work. You can't coach, reason, or think when your anger has hijacked your brain" (Dr. Bruce Perry).

When the going gets tough and the crowds get loud, and the fouls get harder, and the shots mean more, and the play gets more intense, do you react, escalate, and swirl through the storm, or do you take a second, breath, find your calm, and deescalate?

Coaches are teachers. Our gyms are our classrooms, and the games are the test. When there is a behavior issue or conflict in the classroom, we teach our teachers how to respond, not react, and how to invite escalated kids into their calm instead of walking (or running) into their storm. We then teach teachers how to teach kids how to recognize when they are escalating, and how to respond and not react so that they can deescalate themselves and find their calm in their storm.

Great players and great teams have great responses. When you are going through a storm, do you describe the storm or do you navigate the storm? Do you talk about, point out, and repeat everything that is going wrong, or do you respond with appropriate action or non-action?

Your responses to mistakes are created and manifested before you are in the storm. Ask yourself, "When I make a mistake, or when my athletes make a mistake, or when my kids make a mistake, what is my response going to be?"

Two questions to ask in the moment are:

1 - What happened or is happening?

2 - How do we fix it or make it right?

Two more questions that you can add in between are:

1 - What was the intent?

2 - What was the impact?

De-escalation and having a plan or thought process for handling adversity is a great way to guide your life proactively because you will face adversity.

References:

Winfrey, Oprah. "Dr. Bruce Perry." Super Soul, featuring Dr. Bruce Perry, 27, April 2021, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/super-soul/id1264843400?i=1000518893926

MJ Mondays | Lead By Example

Have you ever been on a team where a leader needed to step up or have you ever wanted to be a leader but you felt like you didn't have the voice to lead?

When Michael Jordan joined the Bulls as a rookie, they were a struggling team and a struggling franchise. They needed a jolt of energy and leadership, and Michael became that jolt and provided that leadership.

The culture of the team at the time wasn't what it needed to be and felt like Jordan needed to do something about it because he wasn't used to losing. The Bulls didn't handle adversity well, and they would put their heads down and give up when they faced challenges or got down in a game, but Jordan's character wouldn't allow that to continue. His teammates quickly learned that Jordan wouldn't let them lose. Within the first couple of weeks, MJ proved to his teammates that he was the best player on the team and a leader worth following.

Michael Jordan said, "My mentality was - whoever was the team leader on the team, I am going after them. And I didn't do it with my voice because I had no voice. I had no status, so I had to do it with the way that I played."

It didn't hurt that Michael Jordan was already a college champion and college player of the year, but he worked hard to prove himself with his work and his actions and he completely changed the culture of the Chicago Bulls.

We all don't have the talent, height, and athleticism of Michael Jordan, but we can all be leaders and impact our teams if we believe we can. Here are three things that you can do to help change your culture or become a better leader:

1 - Energy and Enthusiasm

Bring energy and enthusiasm to everything that you do. Very few things can be done at a high level without positive energy and enthusiasm, and as leaders, we have to model that for our teammates. We can't expect our athletes or teammates to be enthusiastic about things that we can't be enthusiastic about. Find ways to be excited about the things you need to be excited about - working hard, working together, competing, and getting better.

2 - Compete

In every drill, in every scrimmage, on every play, in every practice, and in every game - compete. Competing means striving to gain or win something. Strive to get better and compete with who you are capable of becoming. Have a competitive enthusiasm to get better every day.

3 - Connect

A connected team is a better team. Lead by bringing people together and keeping them connected. You can connect with your teammates by talking and touching. Make a goal to say something positive to every teammate, every day. Also, look to connect with teammates with high five, fist bumps, and pats on the back. Those touches can make a difference in bringing teammates together.

WEEK 17 DEVOTIONAL | BELIEVE

WEEK 17 DEVOTIONAL | BELIEVE

"All things work together for those who believe."

After feeding the 5,000 thousand people using five small barley loaves and two small fish, and walking on water to catch the disciples in their boat on the lake, Jesus was asked, "What must we do to do to the work God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to BELIEVE in the one he has sent (John 6)."

I always tell my team that it is easy to BELIEVE when everything is going great, but who can we count on when things aren't going great? When we are in a slump, or when our energy is low, or when things are starting to fall apart, who can we count on to help turn things around?

It is important to know that there is nothing that can happen to us that God will not work out of our good, one way or the other, as long as we keep BELIEVING (Romans 8:28).

As long as you keep BELIEVING, God keeps working. We can't let the devil take away our BELIEVING, and we can't let him take away our peace and joy. Satan has been working since the beginning of time to get people to live out of their heads and not out of their hearts; to get them to not BELIEVE in themselves, in their ability, and in the grace of God in their lives. 

All things are possible to him who BELIEVES (Mark 9:23).

The hard part about BELIEVING is that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. BELIEVING doesn't mean we never lose. BELIEVING is knowing that there are lessons in losses and knowing that everything will work out for good we keep BELIEVING.

One of the best parts about being a BELIEVER is knowing that no matter what is going on in this game or in life, God always has the power to make it right and work in a positive way for those who BELIEVE.

One of the responsibilities of being a BELIEVER is finding ways to serve and love others through the good times and bad. Being a BELIEVER means that you know that God will take care of you no matter what is going on around you. Being a BELIEVER means that we can and should live with the Fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - at all times (Galatians 5:22-23). Being a BELIEVER is showing others how to faithfully go through life. Being a BELIEVER is being a light on earth and like a city sitting on a hill that can't be hidden (Matthew 5:14).

This week, take pride in being a BELIEVER. This week, through the good and the bad, talk to God every day saying, "I know that all things work together for good for those that love You and to those who are called according to your purpose. I love you and I BELIEVE that you are working things together for me. Show me what you are preparing me for, and show me how I can love and serve others with peace and joy."

This week, model how to be productive, loving, and serving and doing good things and good work no matter what the circumstances are. This week, show the power that comes from BELIEVING in the one He has sent by praying to God, in Jesus's name, every day when you wake up, every day in the middle of the day, and every day at night before you go to sleep. When you BELIEVE and seek Him and the kingdom of God first, then He will extend the grace, power, and authority we need to be great (Matthew 6:33).

For a Google doc version of this, click here: Week 17 Devotional | Believe

Circle Up

A 9th-grade basketball coach was struggling with team chemistry and the relationships on his team. The athletes had formed cliques, and some felt excluded and bullied on the team. The coach tried running the athletes, talking to the athletes, and even threatened the athletes' spots on the team, but nothing made a difference.

A coaching mentor, Coach Josh, was brought in to help. He arranged the athletes in a circle. The coaches were also present. Coach Josh started with a quote from Pat Summitt:

"A champion is someone who is willing to be uncomfortable, but teammwork is what makes common people capable of uncommon results."

Coach Josh gave every person in the circle a pen and two notecards. He said, "Think about the best teammate that you ever had. What is one or two words to describe that teammate." 

Coach Josh gave them a few minutes to think and write, then he said, "I want to get to know a little more about you all. I have in my hand a talking stick. It's just a basketball, but the person who holds the basketball is the person who gets to talk and share. Everybody is going to have the opportunity to share, and we would really encourage everybody to share and be honest. If you don't feel comfortable sharing, you can pass, but a team has to be a space where everybody feels like they belong, valued, and safe to share their thoughts and opinions."

Coach Josh said, "When it is your turn and you have the basketball, I want you to say your name, what you like most about basketball and the word or characteristic that you wrote down to describe the best teammate that you ever had."

Everybody in the circle shared, and it was a great way to break the ice. Also, players and coaches were able to learn something new about everybody on the team. Everybody in the circle began feeling more comfortable talking to one another in the circle.

When the ball made its way back around to Coach Josh, he asked "Who are you listening to or what kind of music are you listening to?" This question led to some laughs and some jokes. The people in the circle were starting to open up more and get even more comfortable. When the ball got back to Coach Josh, he said, "I love how you all were able to open up and share, and I love how you were able to laugh with and not at each other. Now, who in your life has influenced you in a good way to help make you the good person and athlete that you are today. What did they give you?"

These two questions were a little more personal but they were still positive. Coach Josh was still building community and relationships while making sure that everyone in the circle was still comfortable enough to share. 

Coach Josh's next question went even deeper so that they could start addressing some of the issues that were harming their team. Coach Josh said, "I need to ask a more serious question, and I hope that we have built up enough trust to answer this truthfully. This is a safe place for us, and we all want to be the best teammates and team for each other. How do we treat each other on this team?"

The answers were short and honest. As the ball worked its way around the circle, you could feel the answers getting deeper and more honest: "Okay." "Could be better." "Clique-ish." "Mean." "Rude." "Selfishly." "Good to some, bad to others."

Coach Josh said, "Thank you for being honest. It can be tough expressing your true feelings, but I appreciate you doing so because that is how we grow. My next question is, 'How does this affect you personally?' The athletes responded that they felt alone, upset, frustrated, mad, intimidated, ready to fight, and ready to quit.

Coach Josh then asked, "Who is strong or courageous enough to admit that they had a part in this?" A few of the athletes were now confident, comfortable, and open enough to admit that they had played a part in this. Some even admitted that they played a part by not helping or addressing certain things.

Coach Josh's final question was, "Who needs to say something to make this right?"

Some of the athletes apologized to the team, some apologized directly to teammates, and some apologized to their coaches. There were a few tears in the circle, but you could feel the team growing closer together. By talking about their actions and feelings, they realized the impact of their behavior.

The team made a commitment in that circle to be better people and better teammates for each other. They promised to get rid of the cliques and to include everybody in everything that they do. They promised to look out for each other, and if they saw or heard of bullying, they promised to address it.

Coach Josh said, "We all have one more notecard. I want you to think about the best coach you ever had. I want you to think about what made them the best coach that you ever had, and write down one or a few words to describe that coach."

After they wrote their word down, they went around the circle sharing their word. Coach Josh finished the circle by saying, "I want you to keep the first card where you wrote about the best teammate you ever had close to you. I want you to commit to being the best teammate that you can be, and if you are struggling, pull that card out and think about that teammate. I am going to collect the second cards and give them to your coaches. Coaches, we want you to commit to being the best coaches that you can for your team. They have told you what the best coaches do. Can you commit to being that coach for them?"

This was a powerful experience for the team and their coaches. It was a moment that made them better that season and for life. For the rest of the season, the coach started each practice with a simple, short circle. It wasn't meant to go deep, and it wasn't meant to go long. It was meant for everybody to stay connected and close like a family. The coach's purpose for each circle was to learn more about his players, for them to learn more about him, and for them to learn more about each other.

1 - What is something you are excited or confident about?
2 - What is something you are not excited or confident about?
3 - What can WE do to help?

The ABC's of Change and 212 Degrees

Have you ever had teammate who had all the tools to be great, but they couldn't, didn't or wouldn't take that next step?

Below 32 degrees, water is solid.

Above 32, water is liquid.

At 211 degrees, water is hot.

At 212 degrees, water boils, it turns to steam, and steam can power a train. One extra degree can change the state of water. One extra degree of effort can be the thing to take you to the next level. One extra degree, in sports and life, can separate the good from the great. One degree can change your life. 

Consider the ABC's of change:

Attitude
Everything starts with your attitude. When you turn up the heat, water starts the process of turning into steam. A small change in your attitude can have a positive impact on your behavior. When you have a positive, growth mindset, gritty attitude, your behavior improves. When you believe you can do something, you attack it with more force. Approach everything with the right attitude.

Behavior
Growth and improvement happen in small, consistent acts over time. Show me your habits and show me how you are acting and behaving and I will show you how you will perform. Water changes when its temperature changes. We perform better when we make positive changes in our behavior and have better habits.

Consistency
You can't do something just once and expect to see change. If water touches 212 degrees, starts to steam, then drops back down to 211 degrees, it will return back to water. If you can't stay consistent, you will fall back to who you were.

WEEK 16 DEVOTIONAL | HATERS

WEEK 16 DEVOTIONAL | HATERS

Charli Collier was a star at the University of Texas, and she recently became the number one pick in the WNBA draft. At games this year, fans of opposing teams would chant 'overrated' at her, and she didn't let it get to her.

Charli was asked how and why she has such an intrinsic belief in herself that will not be shaken. She said that the same people who were saying those things are the same people watching her on TV being drafted number one. Charli said, "I was never one to listen to naysayers or listen to the noise. I am very good at blocking it out and just remaining focused and confident at what I do. I am confident and know that my work is paying off. I grind for this every day."

In 1st Peter 2, Peter wrote, "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." He also wrote, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He did not sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

There will always be haters and naysayers. No matter how nice you are or how good you are, there will always be people who don't like you and people who will voice how much they don't like you. In this world, you will face trials and tribulation but live with peace and joy because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33 ESV). You don't have to react to or respond to the haters and negativity. Work hard, live right, and your actions will speak for themselves.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (1 Peter 2:15 ESV).

CROWN | Week 15 Devotional

CROWN | Week 15 Devotional

Many people say that Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time, but as easy as he makes the game look, his road to greatness has not been as smooth as you might imagine.

While we know Steph as a back-to-back MVP and an NBA champion, there was a time when being an NBA All-Star was a long shot for him. Steph's dad said that no one could envision what he is now able to do on the basketball court. He said that Steph always had the work ethic, drive, and dedication, but you never know how things are going to work out, especially when you were almost completely unrecruited in high school.

The only major program to recruit him was his dad's alma-mater Virginia Tech, and they told him that he would have to walk on. He used that as motivation to work harder, and he kept the faith that the right college would come. Steph ended up starring at Davidson, a small liberal arts school close to home, but his college career started with adversity. In Steph's first game, he started and had 9 turnovers in the first half and they were down 18 points at half-time. Davidson ended up winning the game, and he scored 32 points the next game against high-major Michigan. Steph overcame that early adversity to become one of college basketball's biggest and most celebrated stars, but there were still doubts about his size, his game, and his ability to play in the NBA.

After having a great college career, Steph had his struggles early in his NBA career, especially with injuries. Steph had his struggles and he had to go overcome many obstacles to become the star that he is today.

Jesus had his struggles too. On Palm Sunday, crowds cheered as Jesus came into Jerusalem because they believed that he was the Messiah - the Chosen One of God - who was going to deliver them from their enemies. Just days later, the same crowds that yelled and praised Him were yelling for Him to be crucified.

Jesus was hung on the cross on a Friday but he rose days later. The message is that we have to carry our cross before we can wear our crown.

Sometimes, the only way is the hard way. If you want to go to med school, you have to take organic chemistry. If you want to run a marathon, you have to run your mileage. If you want to get stronger, you have to lift heavyweight. If you want to become a great shooter, you have to shoot a lot. There is no shortcut to success and there isn't a plan B. It is cross before crown. You have to be ready and prepared to persevere while on your journey and when things get difficult.

Fear is real, and the enemy wants you to feel the fear and quit. But fear doesn't have to control us. Adversity and obstacles don't have to stop us. Keep going. Don't quit before the end. It is natural to assume and believe that if things are bad now then that is how it will always be. But keep pushing to the end.

Jesus showed us that we can carry our cross.

He modeled for us that we have to suffer in this world, and the same people who cheer for our arrival might cheer for our departure. But if we stay true to our purpose, we will rise and receive our crown.

You can't wear the crown without carrying the cross, but you will get the crown if you stay with it.

This Week

1 - What is one thing that you have struggled with this week?

2 - What is one thing that you have learned from this struggle?

Taking Steps Toward Inclusion

If you want your team to perform better, create an inclusive culture and climate.

Research shows that when team members develop a shared understanding of the team's goals and align each team members' contributions to the shared goals, those teams outperform teams that don't. Research also shows that when all team members feel like they belong and when they feel valued for the uniqueness that they bring to the team, and when they feel safe, the team members are work harder, smarter, and more together.

When a team has the right climate and culture, it can outperform other teams. How do you know if you have the right culture, what do you do if your culture needs to improve, and what do you do if you already have a strong and inclusive culture?

Assess Your Current Climate

The first step to shaping an inclusive culture and climate is to assess the current levels of inclusiveness of your climate. Observe your team so that you can plan your strategy for how you can communicate inclusion standards and so that you can have the greatest impact. Look for evidence of inclusion and exclusion, and be willing to see the truth.

Ask yourself and your teammates, "Are we being inclusive enough? Are we including and engaging everybody that needs to be included and engaged? Are we leaving anyone out?"

Identify Barriers and Inhibitors While you are assessing and evaluating your current climate, identify inhibitors and barriers. Know what is holding your team back from everybody feeling like they are valued and belong. Three questions that can drive your assessment are:

1 - Does anyone feel like or look like they don't belong?

2 - Does anyone feel like or look like they aren't valued and appreciated?
3 - Does anyone feel like they don't get the same opportunities and chances as their teammates?

Once you find these barriers, ask yourself and your teammates:
- How do these inhibitors hold us back and keep us from doing our best work?
- How can we benefit from undoing or reversing these patterns?
- What can we do to break down barriers and undo inhibitors?

Praise and Reinforce Look for examples of inclusive behaviors because these are the behaviors and interaction patterns that you can and want to praise and reinforce immediately in our to grow and strengthen the inclusiveness of the climate and culture.

INCLUSION: WHEN EVERYBODY HAS A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING AND WHEN EVERYBODY FEELS VALUED FOR THE UNIQUENESS THAT THEY BRING TO THE TEAM

Evolving Climate

The way we act and interact with each other is a cyclical process so the experience of inclusion and belonging is an ever-evolving process. Stay tuned in so that you can notice changes in your team's climate.

How Does This Help Us Win

The goal of the leader is to motivate their team members so that they too want to change the climate because they see how everybody can benefit. Remember, when everybody feels like they are valued, appreciated, and belong, the research shows that your team members are happier, more engaged, and perform better.

TOOL: A CHECKLIST OF BEHAVIORS

Hard Things Come Before Good Things

"Hard things come before good things."

Over the weekend, I watched a really good Netflix movie called, Concrete Cowboys. A black kid named Cole from Detroit was expelled from his high school, and his mom sent him to live with his dad, Harp, in Philadelphia. In his dad's inner-city home was a horse, and the kid quickly realized that he was living in a different place at a seemingly different time.

Harp lived in a neighborhood where they still bred, took care of, and rode horses. Around a fire one night, the elders in the neighborhood told stories about how they created the neighborhood generations ago, and while most of the country transitioned from horses to cars, they held onto their love of horses. Harp lived in a community of Black horse riders at the Fletcher Street stables, where he helped maintain and care for the horses. The stables are the foundation and bedrock of the neighborhood, and they provide a safe haven from the challenges the people face in their everyday lives.

While Hollywood westerns have popularized the image of the sharp-shooting and fearless, white cowboy, this film touches on how black cowboys heavily influenced our country. Historians estimate that one in every four cowboys was Black.

When Cole moved to his dad's neighborhood, his dad told him that he had to earn his keep. One of the messages that was shared early in the film was, "Hard things come before good things." Cole asked his dad about the opportunity to ride horses, and his dad told him that he had to learn how to take care of them before he could learn how to ride them.

The people in the neighborhood taught him how to take care of the horses, and they taught him the importance of taking care of the horses.

We hear the idiom, "Don't put the cart in before the horse." This was a movie version of that quote. We have to earn our opportunities before we can enjoy them. Don't be afraid to put in the work. But also, it is important to know REAL history. Much of what we know about Western culture and 'Cowboys and Indians' are tales of real, black cowboys.

Earning Respect, Trust, and the Right to Lead | MJ Mondays

Michael Jordan said that when he first came into the NBA, his leadership came from action; all action. He said he couldn't be a vocal leader at the beginning. He was afraid to speak to veteran guys because they had a level of envy towards him to start with. He had to pick his friends very carefully because he was starting to steal some shine from the older guys on the team.

But he also said that he was earning respect and the right to lead with effort and work, and he wasn't asking for anyone to give him anything. His practice habits were great and he forced the other guys to improve their practice habits by how hard he worked.

MJ challenged his teammates with his play in practice because his coach challenged him. At the end of each practice, they would scrimmage, and the losers had to run. They would be killing the second team, and his coach would stop practice and put MJ in the second team and the second team, with MJ, would still come back to win.

There are a lot of ways to lead. When MJ came into the NBA, he led with his work and effort. He led by competing. By the end of the career, he had become a vocal, hard-driving leader, but he had to grow into that and prove himself first.

It can be hard being new to a team or being young and trying to lead. I played varsity basketball as a freshman at a big school in Texas, so I know what it is like being the new guy on the team and stealing minutes from juniors and seniors. But the best thing that you can do is show up early, work hard and compete, and stay late. Earn the respect of your coaches and teammates. Lead by what you do until they trust and respect what you say.

If the best player on the team is going as hard as they can, what excuse can you have? Tired today? Hurt today? You earn the role of being a leader by earning the trust and respect of your teammates. You earn that by the work that you put in every day.

FLOW | WEEK 14 DEVOTIONAL

Out of you shall flow rivers of living water.

Have you ever been around somebody that makes you feel better about yourself, feel better about life, feel more confident? I had a teammate in college who brought energy and enthusiasm to practice almost every day. Our coach used to teach, preach and emphasize the importance of us bringing our own energy every day to practice, and Dee did that for us all. Whenever we were down, tired, or negative, he was the guy that picked us up with his positive energy. When we faced challenges, obstacles, and adversity, he was the guy that helped push us through. He was always talking, always encouraging, and always looking to give someone an energy-boosting fist bump. Dee had good energy FLOWING through him, and he shared that energy with everybody on the team.

In Isaiah 44:3, God said, “I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendant.” Jesus later came and said, "Whoever believes in me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). Jesus also said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (John 4:13-14)."

Through Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. If we believe in Him, trust in Him, and rely on Him, the fruits of the Spirit [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control] will have the ability to FLOW out of us continuously. We should have a FLOW of joy, peace, goodness, love, and of all good things spilling out of us. When the right things are bubbling within us and FLOWING out of us, we can enjoy our lives and be a blessing to other people.

We can never get rid of all the obstacles and challenges in life, but we can still have peace, love, and joy in abundance, to the full, and till it overflows. What FLOWS out of us is much more important than what comes to us. We can easily get way too concerned with what we are getting or not getting in life. The fruits FLOWING within us are more important than what comes to us, because if we have the right things in us and we get rid of the hindrances in our life, then the right things will FLOW through us, out of us, and will bless ourselves and those around us.

When I was growing up, we would play outside all day in the summer. It would get hot in that Texas heat, but we weren't allowed to run in and out of the house for water, so we would drink from the water hose. There were two problems that would come from the water hose. First, the water would come out hot, and if you weren't patient and didn't give it time to cool, it would burn your mouth. Second, if your water hose wasn't rolled and stored properly, it would crease up and become clogged and the water couldn't FLOW freely. My teammate Dee was the type of teammate who would untangle the water hose for everybody and hold the hose so that everybody could drink before him. He was the type of person that would see what his teammates needed, and he would provide. He was a servant leader through which the fruits of the Spirit FLOWED. He couldn't keep us from running extra sprints, and we still had shooting slumps and losing streaks, but he provided the love, peace, and joy that we needed to get through the tough times. He made sure that everybody felt like they belonged and valued. He made everybody feel better. He was like a light in a dark room.

Your team and teammates could use a full FLOW of the fruits of the Spirit coming through and out of you. What is FLOWING through and out of you?

Verses to Remember and Memorize
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such, there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
John 10:10

Prayer
"I pray that the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, flow in me and through me, every day, through the good times and the tough times. In Jesus' name, Amen.

This Week

1 - What fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) do you have FLOWING through you?

2 - What is one fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that you can focus on this week?

3 - Who is one teammate that has the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) FLOWING through them?

4 - How does the FLOW of the fruits of the spirit positively impact your team?

Get a Google doc version of this devotional here: Flow | Week 14 Devotional