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Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

I met two amazing people over the week, one on purpose and one by being in the right place at the right time. Both men are a part of the NFL, both have overcome large obstacles, and both have a deep faith in Jesus. I listened intently to both men as they told me their stories of being a good follower, overcomer, and leader. There is a process to becoming what God has called you to be. When God puts a mission in your heart, He will equip you with everything you need to see it through.
Mike Smith former Atlanta Falcons head coach ( current defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is a professing Christian who told me that connection and care were the most important parts of leadership. He told me that the struggle can be to continue to reconnect with the connections you make, otherwise they will find something else to fill that space, and in his words, " the thing that fills that space is almost always negative." About care, Smith said that if you don’t have care, you don’t have leadership. These words sound simple, but so profound. I found them hitting me in the heart. You see, when we have a connection to Jesus, He fills that space that Mike was referring to, and when we don't continue in that relationship, we can find ourselves filling that space inevitably with something much worse or negative. Think about it, when we are not consistently focused on our relationship with Jesus, that is when sin, fear, doubt, and lack show up. With Jesus, He always cares for us. Not in a way we care about whether or not Mike Smith was the best football coach in Falcons history, but in a passionate, loving way. He cares for you, me, and anyone who is connected to Him. When we focus on Jesus, there is no place we cannot go.
The second legend of the gridiron I met was former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmit Smith. Before I met Jesus, Emmit Smith was my hero, my idol, and so it was a life-long dream to meet him.
So here I was the lesser of all the Smith's this past week, one on an airplane, and one in a business meeting. Emmit Smith talked about how important it was to be a passionate follower. It is in following that you learn to lead. He was ridiculed for his massive goals. Smith recalled a day that he was watching a football game with his Dad, he was 7 years old. The game he was watching featured the Dallas Cowboys. He told his Dad that he was one day going to play for them. His Dad, laughing said, son it is always good to have a goal, but life is tough and you will find that it won't be as easy as just saying it.
He put his head down and excelled in football, and became one of the most sought after running backs coming out of high school, and eventually out of college. He was set to be picked in the first round by a pretty bad team. Dallas had the 20th pick, and so Smith thought there was no way they would pick him. But by divine intervention, he slipped to 17th where the Cowboys traded up to get him. His dream was realized! Not only did he play for the Cowboys, but he won 3 super bowls, and became the leading rusher of all time. All goals he wrote out and shared with others. There were people who laughed at him, but there were others who helped him get there.
Both men are now in leadership roles to help encourage others. Their testimonies of overcoming massive obstacles are incredible. I could not even go into detail about how much both men overcame. They both got up and dusted themselves off and moved forward in faith. They pressed into the call on their life, and spoke life into me personally. I encourage you today to seek whatever call you have in your heart.
Passion, desire, and perseverance are the overwhelming bond these two have in common. Smith as their last name is not even on the top ten. They share deep faith in Jesus and it is because of His grace these two received that success tracked them down, followed them, and carried them into greatness beyond what others had them pegged for. We all have that in us. We all have one important thing in common with these two, and that is Jesus. With Jesus, all things are possible (Phillipians 4:13). Look beyond what others say and MOVE into your race. Run with perseverance to the goal that is laid out before you. When others laugh, use it for fuel in your faith, and become an encourager of others. When Jesus is leading your life, there is nothing and I mean nothing in this world that can come close to shutting you down. You have all you need in Jesus.