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STRIVE...to Freely Give
The release of Tim Hiller’s new book Strive is coming October 1! To get ready for the Strive release, we’re introducing “The Strive Challenge” – 6 weeks with 1 purpose – to help readers pursue what matters most in their lives. Join in at: https://www.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Isaiah 58:7
As we drove through the busy intersection we saw him. Sitting on a red milk crate, dejectedly leaning back on the street sign post sat a man with a cardboard sign.
“HOMELESS
Hungry. Please Help. God Bless.”
My wife and I both noticed him. But not enough to break the flow of our conversation as we sped by.
Two days later we found ourselves in the same area of town. As we caught up on the events of our day we approached the busy intersection once again. This time standing, the same man stood, wearing the same clothes he donned the day of our prior drive-by, one leg crossed over the other, holding his cardboard sign, staring down at the curb below him. We paused this time, both staring his direction in silence. As the light turned green we drove on, quiet as we both processed the scene. Then my wife broke the stillness with a question:
“What can we do to help him?”
That Sunday at worship our pastor played a role in providing the answer to that question by drawing our attention to Isaiah 58:7. Its poignant and direct words deeply moved our hearts:
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
In particular, we were grabbed by 3 segments of the verse:
- “…share your food…”
Sometimes it’s easier to donate to a cause, or to sign a pledge, or to like a movement on Facebook. But God says “share YOUR food.” Give sacrificially—take something that is yours, something you value, something that you need too—and give it away with no strings attached.
- “…when you see…”
When faced with an immediate need before us, that we have the power to meet—God says meet it. In the moment. “When you see”…not when it’s convenient. We shouldn’t wait—because often saying “later” really means saying “never.”
- “…your own flesh and blood…”
We knew nothing about the homeless man on the corner. But by God’s standard, he might as well be my uncle, my cousin, or my brother. If I saw my sibling on the corner, what would I do? Our call to freely give requires us to view those in need as our “own flesh and blood.”
Challenged, convicted, and directed by God’s word, my wife and I began a new practice. And I’d like to invite each of you reading this to join us. We call it “gospel gift cards.”
Here’s how it works:
- Make an index card with a bible verse on it or buy a pre-made flyer or card with a message or verse that shares your faith in Jesus. (For us, we use a gospel tract that outlines the Romans Road to Jesus. We get them through our church or online HERE)
- Buy a few gift restaurant gift cards, like Subway or McDonalds, to provide a meal to the person in need. The increment is up to you, but we typically do $5-$10.
- Insert or tape the gift cards in/on your card or tract and keep them on the console or in the cup holder of your vehicle.
- When the opportunity arises and you see a person in your community in need, take the time to stop and hand them the gospel gift card. We usually say something like: “Here is a gift card so you can get a meal and some information on the good news of Jesus Christ.” Or, “Here is a meal you want along with some good news you need.”
I admit, I’ve missed several gospel gift card opportunities—either because I was in a hurry, or was in the wrong lane of traffic, or because I was simply too timid to follow through. I’ve failed to make good on this effort several times. But my wife and I also had to restock gift cards once because we’d given them all away—so it seems we’ve found a way to meet both a temporary physical need, and hopefully, an eternal spiritual need as well.
Only God knows the outcome of the gift cards and tracts, but we pray we will be faithful in sowing seed to those in need that cross our path, and that He will do the rest in fulfilling his plan. And hopefully, along the way, He will train our hearts to freely give more and more!
Will you join us in sharing gospel gift cards with others?
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
The Strive Challenge™ by Tim Hiller
STRIVE...to Shine
The release of Tim Hiller’s new book Strive is coming October 1! To get ready for the Strive release, we’re introducing “The Strive Challenge” – 6 weeks with 1 purpose – to help readers pursue what matters most in their lives. Join in at: https://www.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-16
It was one of those typical nights of early parenthood. Our precious son was being a little fussy and my wife and I were exhausted. By the time we had a moment to think about eating dinner, it was already 8:00PM. We figured we’d quickly make a salad to share, but when we opened the fridge, we realized we only had orange juice and milk!
I headed out into the dusk of the late evening and pulled the car into the grocery store just as the lights in the parking lot turned on. I entered the automatic doors, grabbed a small cart, and started grabbing the ingredients to whip up our salad—lettuce, a tomato, an onion, a pepper, and carrots. As I turned the corner with my cart, my attention was grabbed by my sweet tooth.
The frozen food aisle. There is a reason you shouldn’t grocery shop when you’re hungry.
After a quick stroll along the series of glass freezer doors, filled with all kind of dessert delights, I found myself perusing the cookie and candy selection with a quart of vanilla ice cream in my cart. I mean, how can you eat vanilla ice cream without some toppings?
Alas, the damage was done. We were having salad. And dessert.
As I entered the checkout line, I waited my turn behind three other customers. The line shortened and I loaded my goods onto the conveyor belt. Approaching the cashier, I could see she was smiling at me as she began to ring up my order.
“You know,” she said with a smile. “The vegetables cancel out the ice cream sundae.”
From the perspective of an onlooker in either aisle, my cart was an array of healthy and, well, not so much.
HEALTHY NOT SO MUCH
Lettuce Ice Cream
Tomato Oreos
Onion M & M’s
Pepper Chocolate syrup
From the outside looking in, my order was confusing. Was I a health conscious person? Counting calories? Or a binge sweets eater? Unconcerned about what I consume?
The passive onlooker would be unable to tell. From looking at my grocery cart, no one could see what I believe. External actions are evidence of internal convictions. And my actions sent a cloudy picture of my dietary beliefs to those around me.
During the greatest sermon of all time—Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—our Lord and Savior emphasized the importance of our external actions and the lasting impact they can make on the lives of others. Our operation on a daily basis, leads to observation by others and an outcome that can make an eternal difference.
Operation – “…let your light shine before others…”
When boats sail into harbor in the dark hours of night, it is the lighthouse that they are drawn to—giving them guidance, direction, and a sense of hope that the destination is in sight. So too, when our world seems like a dark place, how we operate matters. It is the “light” of our words and actions that can “shine” as a ray of hope and encouragement into the lives of others.
Observation – “…that they may see your good deeds…”
Jesus’ goal here is not for us to gain notoriety but rather to be on notice. Others are observing us. They are watching what we do. They are listening to what we say. Therefore our daily operation through word and deed can either draw others to us and to the God we serve, or it can drive them away.
Outcome – “…and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Observation of our operation should lead to a wonderful outcome – God being glorified, not us. If we identify with Jesus as our Savior, then it as if we are wearing his team colors each day as we live our lives with one goal—to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Our external actions give us the opportunity to share our internal beliefs with others, and when we do, lives are changed and God gets the glory. Every day is a chance to shine for Him—may we take on the challenge of being his light in the world!
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
The Strive Challenge™ by Tim Hiller
STRIVE...to Go Farther
The release of Tim Hiller’s new book Strive is coming October 1! To get ready for the Strive release, we’re introducing “The Strive Challenge” – 6 weeks with 1 purpose – to help readers pursue what matters most in their lives. Join in at: https://www.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Matthew 5:41
It was the fall of 2012 and I had just entered our football coaches’ office after the end of a long practice. I plopped down in my desk chair and began to wrap up some post-practice work as our players finished putting away their helmets and shoulder pads and began filing out of the locker room.
As I began making changes to the offensive game plan based on my practice notes, I heard the door slam shut. I rose to my feet and turned around just in time for one of our players to crash into me, hurling his arms around my neck, sobbing uncontrollably. I hugged him back, still a bit dazed and confused by the rapid change of events in the last ten seconds. Then the words began spilling out of his mouth uncontrollably, over, and over again.
“My dad’s going to die coach. My dad’s going to die. He’s going to die…”
After minutes that seemed like hours passed, we finally sat down to talk.
The young student-athlete’s father had received a devastating diagnosis. He had a terminal illness and his days of health and life were numbered.
Two and a half years later, just a few weeks ago, I attended the funeral of my player’s father. And in the midst of sorrow, I learned about the life and legacy of a man who lived with radical commitment to the things that matter most in life.
In the eulogy, offered by my player’s uncle, he referred to the father’s disease as “The race he didn’t want to run.” Yet, it was during this painstaking race, when my player’s father was physically at his worst, that God equipped him with the ability to be at his best. In his illness, he went farther than he ever had before.
Despite the debilitating disease, my player’s father continued to go to work until he was physically unable so his kids could see the value of commitment and the strength that God can provide. Despite his voice beginning to fail him, he continued to mentor a young man he’d been meeting with, and led him to The Lord, despite his declining health. Despite his fatigue, he continued to rise early each Sunday morning to serve in various capacities at his church, always seeking to better the lives of those in the congregation.
Moved to tears by this man’s enduring faith and radical commitment, a thought dawned on me:
Perhaps it’s in the race we don’t want to run that we need to find the strength to go farther.
During his famed Sermon on the Mount, Jesus laid out what going farther truly looks like. But without some context, we likely won’t appreciate the level of service and commitment Jesus is asking for:
“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5:41)
In Jesus’ day, the Jewish people lived under the authoritative government rule of the Romans. If a Roman soldier was carrying his equipment pack and came in contact with a Jewish man, the military member was permitted to force the man to carry his pack for one mile (1,000 paces in that day). By law the Jewish citizen had to comply—a frustrating practice that further subdued the individual under the Romans’ powerful rule. For a Jew, this was a race no one wanted to run. I’m sure many packs and military goods were immediately dropped by resenting Jews after completing that required 1,000th step.
But it is here, in the midst of the scorn and shame of the race unwanted that Jesus issues what would’ve been an unthinkable challenge to a Jew under Roman rule—go another mile. Go farther.
Another mile? Go two miles? Go farther?
Yet, when we are all faced with life’s races we don’t want to run—dealing with a difficult person, facing the loss of a loved one, overcoming illness or injury, making a difficult decision—it is in this very crucible that Christ asks us to go farther. Though it may seem like an impossible request, consider the positive life ramifications of going farther:
- Love over legalism
The first mile was forced by law, but the second mile was a choice. A choice of love and compassion. When we make the decision to go farther we move from being cordial to the people we are supposed be cordial to, to a place of genuine love and concern for them.
- Servant over slave
The first mile meant the soldier owned the man, but the second mile was an act of service. When we make the decision to go farther we move from doing the things we have to do to doing things we don’t have to do, all in an effort to put others’ needs ahead of our own.
- Grace over grudging
The first mile was a reminder of being under authority, but the second mile was about forgiveness. When we make the decision to go farther we move from resenting people and circumstances to an attitude of mercy and a willingness to forgive.
All of us, in some form, are either finishing a race we didn’t want to run, entering a race we don’t want to run, or are in the midst of a race we didn’t want to run. Such are the seasons of this temporary life. But if we make the daily decision to take on Jesus’ challenge to go farther, we have the ability to love, serve, and extend grace as we live and move in the world.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
The Strive Challenge™ by Tim Hiller
STRIVE...to Have Perspective
The release of Tim Hiller’s new book Strive is coming October 1! To get ready for the Strive release, we’re introducing “The Strive Challenge” – 6 weeks with 1 purpose – to help readers pursue what matters most in their lives. Join in at: https://www.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
John 14:1-2
Several weeks ago a 17 year old young man from a high school in our community died tragically in a boating accident. The news hit home for me as I used to coach football at the school and also have a good friend whose husband is a faculty member.
I felt gloomy about the whole situation—here was a young, promising life, seemingly snuffed out before it could even begin. The Sunday following the accident I entered the worship service at our church distracted as the tragedy weighed heavily on my mind. But it was here, sitting stage left in the church pew, that I found what I needed. Actually, what we all need from time to time.
Perspective.
As our pastor began his sermon, he announced to the congregation that a dear, saintly woman of the congregation—a selfless servant for over fifty years in the church—was deathly ill with cancer. Gasps and moans broke out across the congregation as the somber headline registered in hearts and minds. But our pastor quickly rebuked the downtrodden reaction and explained why.
He too had moaned in sorrow at the news, and once he had gathered his strength, he picked up the phone to dial the woman at home. He planned to offer her assurance, but instead it was he who left the conversation assured.
As soon as he introduced himself and began to offer his condolences and “sorry’s” for her cancer diagnosis, she abruptly cut him off with a statement so profound, we should all take note.
“Oh, pastor!” she exclaimed. “I’m filled with joy! How I could I refuse an invitation from my Master?”
What marvelous faith! What perfect perspective!
Whether we are 7, 37, or 97, at some point unknown to us, an invitation is coming from our Heavenly Maker. And while the thought may be morbid to some, consider this, for a moment, in a different light.
Upon arriving at a luxurious five-star resort with your loved ones, you learn that your room is not yet ready for you. The host explains that the magnificent white marble lobby and ornate fountain area all around you are only for checked-in guests, so you must wait outside until notified that your quarters are prepared. As you arch your neck to look at the intricate mural on the hotel ceiling, you marvel at the craftsmanship all around. This is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen—and this is just the lobby!
Outside the resort’s lavish, red carpet front entry way you work to keep your excitable kids calm and your spouse patient. You look around at the lush, landscaped grounds. They’re nice, certainly well kept, but nothing like the extravagant interior you just got a taste of inside. You long to be permitted back inside to explore of the intricacies of this beautiful place. You can’t wait for your room at the resort to be ready.
Like a vacationer waiting outside the resort entry, so we find ourselves on this side of heaven, waiting for our room to be ready—but what is our temperament? Do we long for an invitation to our room? Do we see the physical pleasures of this life, like a sunset or a rainbow or a warm embrace, as just a speck of the Heavenly glory that awaits us? That the best things now are just a foreshadowing of the glorious invitation from our Master to come home to him?
Or are we living for something else? Something fleeting? Something temporary?
When we find ourselves stuck in times of doubt or sorrow, struggling to have perspective, John 14: 1-2 invites us to make two exchanges:
- Trade in fear for faith
When we find ourselves “troubled” and unable to find perspective, Jesus asks us to renew our belief in God and also in Him as our Savior. We’re invited to put our unknown future before our known and trustworthy Heavenly Father.
- Trade in temporary for timeless
Our circumstances and challenges, no matter how much they pain us, will one day cease. Our joys and celebrations, no matter how wonderful they are, will one day end. But there is a permanent residence, specifically prepared just for us, that is ready and waiting if we place our faith in Jesus—and it has no expiration!
When we struggle to find perspective—in good times and in bad—let’s shake off our fears for faith in Jesus. Let’s set down what’s temporary for the timeless gift of grace. Let’s accept our Maker’s invitation and reserve our room at His resort today! In him, and him alone, is the proper perspective.
CLICK HERE to download and complete today’s Strive Challenge Tracker!
The Strive Challenge™ by Tim Hiller
Strive: The Book
In Strive, former collegiate and NFL quarterback Tim Hiller leads you on a year-long journey, taking small steps each week on the path to making your life matter, developing into the person God designed you to be.
Our lives are short. Together, let’s pursue what matters.
Speaking
From his platform as a champion, Tim has a natural gift for connecting with a wide range of audiences—from schools, youth groups, and churches, to student-athletes and business leaders. Submit a speaking request to invite Tim to inspire your group, team, or organization.
Next Level Performance
Co-founded by Tim Hiller, Next Level Performance develops the total athlete through elite sports performance training, club teams, and Beyond The Game™ Conferences. NLP’s proprietary leadership development process helps student-athletes succeed, both now and in the future.
