"Oxygen for Your Soul" by Jon Gordon

Nate Sallee • Jul 06, 2020

The Power of Words

Jon Gordon
Truett Cathy asked, "How do you know if a man or woman needs encouragement?"
He answered, "If they are breathing."

With so many suffocating in pessimism today we need encouragement, optimism and faith to provide us with oxygen for our souls.

The word encourage means "To put courage into." We all need to encourage and put courage into ourselves and others.

Today let's:

Attack This Day with Enthusiasm - The word enthusiasm comes from the root word "entheos" which means filled with the divine. Let's tap into a greater power and strength to keep going. Faith in God doesn't make life easier. It makes you stronger.

Feed the Positive and Weed the Negative - Your mind is like a Garden. You need to weed the negative and feed the positive each day to create a fertile environment that produces amazing fruit. The more you feed yourself with the positive the more you can feed others. If you don't have it, you can't share it. Weed, Feed, Share!

Be Thankful - You can't be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are feeling blessed you can't be stressed. Think about what you are thankful for right now. Write it down. Think about it throughout the day.

Talk to Yourself instead of Listen to Yourself - Don't listen to the fear and negative thoughts that fill your mind with Doubt and Discouragement (two of the 5 D's). They are lies that try to hold you back and keep you from living your destiny and purpose. Instead speak truth to the lies. The truth is you are here for a reason. You are here to do great things and you have greatness inside of you. The truth is you will prevail through this time.

Live and Look Forward - Your vision is greater thank your circumstances and your purpose is greater than your challenges. Stop looking backwards. Your life isn't there anymore. You can't change the past, but you can find focus, optimism and peace in the present to create your future. Stop looking at the negativity on the screen and look up to the heavens. Then look out into your future and think about what you truly want to create. If you can see it you can create it. If you have a vision you also have the power to make it happen.

Someone told Zig Ziglar that motivation doesn't last to which he replied, "Neither does bathing. It's why you have to do it each day."

Encouragement works the same way. We are facing a difficult time. There's a lot of pain and suffering. The struggle is real but so is your power to overcome.

Remember to encourage and put courage into yourself and others each day. Don't worry about the future. Just encourage yourself daily and give your soul the oxygen it needs to be fully alive and thrive.  

Stay Positive,
-Jon

NKY FCA Blog

FCA theme logo
By Nate Sallee 11 Sep, 2024
NKY FCA huddle report form
By Marty Mayer 27 Mar, 2024
At 7'4" and 300 pounds, Purdue center Zach Edey is "the man in the middle." He occupies a lot of space for rebounds and scoring. Purdue's hopes for winning a national championship are weighing heavily on Zach Edey's shoulders. Long ago another "man in the middle" was nailed to a cross on a hillside outside Jerusalem. He was jeered at, taunted, spit on, and reviled by those passing by and even by those who were crucified on either side of Him. For six hours Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus Christ is "the man in the middle". The hope of the world was pinned on Him. He was dying for the salvation of the entire world. "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (I Peter 3:18) This Easter, Jesus Christ, "the man in the middle," wants to get in the middle of your heart. He wants you to accept His payment for your sins. You can receive that payment by saying something like this: "Lord, thank You for being the "the man in the middle", for dying for my sins on the cross. Thank you for your payment for my sins. Get in the middle of my heart and change me from the inside out. Amen For more infomation go to: https://thefour.fca.org/
By Marty Mayer 24 Jan, 2023
In the NFL draft, the final pick is tagged with the label "Mr. Irrelevant". Irrelevant. "Unnecessary. Not meaningful. Serving no purpose. Of no significance. Having no bearing on the matter at hand." In 2022 Brock Purdy was the final pick of the NFL draft. He was Mr. Irrelevant. Yesterday, Brock Purdy, was far from being "irrelevant". As the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, he led his team to a convincing win over the Dallas Cowboys and sent them into the NFL conference championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brock Purdy was not "irrelevant". He is not who the NFL draft says he was. And yet with all his relevance to the success of his team, there is another level of relevance for us all. Not what the success or lack of success of our teams tells us who we are, but who God says we are. And God says, "You are relevant. You matter. I see you. You make a difference." The cross of Jesus Christ spells out our relevance. Jesus says to you, "You are worth dying for. You are worth 6 hours on a cross with nails in my hands and feet. You are worth it." Coach, take your relevance as a gift from God. He gives that to you. Relevant because God says you are. A relevance of being, not of doing. Lord, help us remember to take our relevance from who we are in relationship to You and that is one of a beloved son or daughter. No matter how good it gets or how bad it gets. Even if we feel irrelevant. Marty Mayer Northern Kentucky FCA
By Nate Sallee 13 Dec, 2022
Sign up for the Coach and Spouse Getaway: nkyfca.org/getaway "Taking your marriage from stagnant and complacent to active and creative" - Brad Rhoads Coaching can be tough, and so can marriage...the two together can put even the best relationships to the test. This is why Brad Rhoads with Grace Marriage jumps on the podcast. Website: https://www.gracemarriage.com/ He shares his journey from a college tennis player to a lawyer, to a switch to full-time marriage ministry. He and his wife presented back-to-back years at our KY FCA Coach and Spouse Getaway and crushed it! Walk away with some great insights and tips on how to have a marriage that is full of life and fun Support the show Instagram: @nkyfca
By Marty Mayer 13 Dec, 2022
It's been around longer than you think!
By Nate Sallee 03 Oct, 2022
Coach Bill Curry gives us what Jeremy Sheetinger calls "audio gold" on this episode! Some of the topics include: - Stories from playing for Vince Lombardi and with guys like Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. - Coaching stops at Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia State. - "6 Characteristics of a Champion" - "Power of the Huddle" - Reflections on navigating coaching and personal life Follow Bill on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachbillcurry Bill's Website: http://billcurry.net/ ----- NKY FCA Website: https://nkyfca.org/
By Nate Sallee 02 Sep, 2022
Podcast episode with Rusty Parks.
FCA Challenge App - coaches challege, college athlete challenge, athletes challenge
By Nate Sallee 26 Jan, 2022
Information about the new app that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes developed.
By Nate Sallee 17 Nov, 2021
Episode Info Sign up for the FCA Coaches Challenge Here: https://fcacoacheschallenge.org Join hundreds of coaches as they study through the New Testament of the Bible together in 2021. A weekly reading plan, optional daily text reminders, and the power of knowing you're not alone in the journey! Sign up today! This is a unique episode where we hear from Mo Isom-Aiken as she shares with a group of local High School athletes here in NKY. Mo has an incredible athletic pedigree: LSU All-American Goalkeeper Sportscenter Top 10 Play for scoring a 90-yard goal SEC All-Freshman Team Trained as a placekicker for the football team LSU's all-time school record in women's soccer with 35 victories and 25 shutouts. Her family and faith are top priorities in life and it has led her to become an author of 3 books as well as fulfilling speaking engagements around the country. More info on her books and other resources can be found on: https://www.moisom.com/ The goal of this episode is to give a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Mo's story but also an increased awareness of a day in the life of an athlete living in 2021. We hope it's encouraging, inspirational, and eye-opening...and that it ultimately helps you grow as a coach!
By Nate Sallee 08 Nov, 2021
College Athletes Challenge - 2 Timothy 4
More Posts
Share by: