Winning & Losing (Part 2)

How do we intentionally play to win instead of coasting and doing the safe things in our lives?

• Having tough conversations with our children that guide them through difficult ages and decisions instead of coasting through each day & assuming things are fine because there aren't any glaring problems
• Speaking honestly & respectfully with our spouses instead of ignoring problems and hoping they will go away
• Living with a spirit of financial generosity that benefits your church & other missions instead of limiting contributions to what seems safe
• Taking risks in our career (even if that means changing jobs) to find the fit of vision and passion that God has created in us
• Giving up our most precious commodity-time-to volunteer in a ministry that stretches you instead of just a comfortable place that allows you to not feel guilty
• Contacting someone you have held a grudge against for years and asking/offering forgiveness instead of allowing a past event to control your present spiritual state
• Choosing to take an active role in meeting the needs of people in our community and around the globe instead of assuming that someone else will do it
• Looking at baptism & following Christ as the first step in our journey of faith and not the finish line
• Realizing that having kids that obey us & get good grades, a stable financial status, a job we don't hate, and a turmoil free marriage isn't the end goal of our existence. We are called to make a bigger impact that actively & intentionally seeks out God and leads to taking risks of faith that probably scare us.

Choosing the safe route might get us into heaven, but it isn't a life that will change the world we live in. We've got to expand our vision, take risks of faith, and play to win.