Got Fruit?

During our trips to visit family in South Florida, I always enjoy getting to see the orange trees on the side of the highway. During a recent drive I couldn’t help but notice some of the trees were overflowing with sweet, juicy oranges while other trees were unproductive and empty. I started to think about how we are called as Christians to use our spiritual talents to glorify God. I’m reminded of John 15:5 when Jesus said “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Now just about everyone has heard the saying “Got Milk?” but what about “Got Fruit?” I’m not talking about how much fruit you have in your kitchen or even how many serving of fruit you eat each day. What I am asking is if you have professed Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, are you actively pursuing being fruitful for the Kingdom of God? Is Jesus the vine in your life and are your branches being productive for His glory and honor? Look at what it says in John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” The whole basis of bearing fruit in our lives through actively pursuing our spiritual gifts is to bring the Father glory. It is how we actively live out our faith in Christ and offer everything to God as a big thank you for the sacrifice of sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins.

Notice what Jesus said in John 15:5 “for without Me you can do nothing.” That is something some people just do not like to hear but it is the truth. When someone is living their life apart from God, think about all that is being lost. Most importantly, their soul is not saved if they do not receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Secondly, think about the incredible opportunity that is being passed up to glorify God through the way they live their life. Our victories become His victories and when the going gets tough we have someone strong to lean on that will always be their for us.

When we bear fruit through Christ, we are becoming His disciples by putting feet and hands to our faith. We move forward with direction, intent and purpose to fulfill the very reason we were put on this earth. I have always been inspired, encouraged and motivated by Philippians 4:13 that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I wonder if you believe that today. Are people in your inner circle saying there are things in your life that are not possible? I encourage you to ask yourself if you are truly seeking God and His righteousness first in your life. If you are, the fruit should be evident and your branches should be full.

Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.

Whom Shall You Serve?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Joshua 24:15 that says “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This is a verse spoken by Joshua near the end of his life. He is declaring to all the tribes of Israel that he and his family choose to serve God. He is reminding his people of all of God’s blessings and asking them to make up their minds who they will serve. In verse 24:14 he says “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”

Have you made the decision to serve the Lord? What exactly does serving the Lord look like? Verse 24:14 gives us some excellent examples of how to serve. It says we are to have a deep respect for who God is and what He has done for us. We are to serve Him with sincerity instead of with ulterior motives. We should serve Him in truth meaning that we follow His will and not ours as we trust He knows what is best for us. False gods and idols should be put away and our focus should clearly be on Him as we serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

There is definitely much to be said about the life of Joshua. He was the next in command after Moses and patiently waited for his turn to lead. Verse 24:31 tells us about the effectiveness of his leadership during and beyond his life. It says “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.”

For Joshua it all started when he made the conscious decision to whole heartily serve the Lord. Joshua is an excellent example of someone who lived out Proverbs 3:5-6. He completely trusted the Lord, didn’t lean on his own understanding, acknowledged Him in all his ways and as a result his paths were directed and blessed by Almighty God. If you haven’t already chosen to serve the Lord, would you consider making that decision in 2010? What a blessing that would be to not only your life and family but also to future generations.

Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.

Kettlebell Meltdown 300 Workout

25 Hanging Knee Lifts
50 Snatches
25 Push-ups
50 Swings
50 Burpees
50 Clean and Press
50 Mountain Climbers

To view the youtube video on these exercises, google Kettlebell Meltdown 300 Workout. Please note I changed the V-Ups to Hanging Knee Lifts because it is easier on my lower back. Enjoy!

Living for the First Time

It has been said many times before that the third time is a charm. As my wife and I recently welcomed the birth of our third child and first girl into our family, I couldn’t help but notice many of her first experiences in the hospital. As soon as she was born, she took her first breath of fresh air and with that let out her first cry. As her eyes opened, she took in the many sights that surrounded her and her precious ears were without a doubt flooded with noise and busyness. She felt another human’s touch, probably had a foul taste in her mouth and even a grumbling in her tummy for some food. There must have been a multitude of thoughts going through her head with so much to take in at once.

That is the physical birth in a nutshell along with all the pricking, poking and touching that takes place in the first 48 hours of life but what about the spiritual birth. What in the world are people talking about when they say you must be born again? What does it really mean to be living for the first time? Even Nicodemus was confused when talking to Jesus in John chapter three. Nicodemus said in John 3:4 “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3:5 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

We all experience being born of water which is of the flesh; however, not everyone makes the decision to be born of the Spirit. Jesus goes on to share what is arguably the most significant verse in the Bible. In John 3:16 he says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Being born again occurs when you personally believe God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for your sins and accept Him as the Lord of your life.

Just like a child that is born into the world for the first time, a new believer in Christ will see the world in a different light. They are no longer shackled by their sins because they have been forgiven as so fittingly described in 1 John 1:9. You are filled with the Holy Spirit and are promised eternal life in Heaven. I really believe when a person comprehends their talents, time and resources are not theirs but the One who created them, they begin living for the first time. Doing all to glorify God and His Son while loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself. I dare you to fully embrace Christianity and not be forever changed. The void is finally filled with a relationship with Christ and your earthly purpose is ultimately discovered. That is what I call living for the first time!


Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.

What Do You Call Your Best Friend?

I love getting the opportunity to hear individuals share their personal testimonies or offer words of encouragement to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. There are always golden nuggets of information that can be extracted and utilized as we journey forward in this lifelong adventure of growing closer to Christ. This past Friday I got the opportunity to hear a gifted speaker share an incredible story about his thoughts on the judgment we will all face when this life comes to an end. Although there were many golden nuggets extracted from what he shared that day, this is what I feel compelled to share with you.

There was a specific point in the story where the arrival of Jesus was being announced and the heavenly angels started the introduction of all introductions. After all, He is the very Son of God! They proclaimed with all encompassing, heavenly resounding voices, “He is the First and the Last, The Beginning and the End, The Way, The Truth and The Light, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Yahweh, Savior, Messiah, Comforter, Friend, Great Shepherd, Mighty Counselor, Great Jehovah, Mighty Lord (Can you imagine the anticipation of His arrival?), Author of our Salvation, King of Israel, Bread of Life, Creator, Deliverer (Would your Spirit be overcome with joy or would you be fearful of His arrival?), Faithful and True, Chief Cornerstone, Faithful Witness, Morning Star, Our Holiness, True Vine, Only Begotten Son of God, Living Stone, Lamb of God, He is Jesus Christ!”

It is hard for me to even fathom the applause and rejoicing over His arrival after what would be without a doubt an incredible and magnificent introduction. Although there are many more names to describe “Almighty God,” how long would that introduction last? How many names would be used that we never even thought of before or even heard? Would our chests be pounding with fear or with exaltation over getting to see the Creator of the Universe for the first time?

I share this with you because it reminded me of the importance of never forgetting my first love and best friend, Jesus Christ. All these names to describe the only person in the world that can transform and save anyone’s life. When we pray to God, do we think of Him as only Jesus or God? What if we really made an effort to think of all the wonderful and fascinating names He has been referred to in the Bible? I think our faith would grow deeper as a result of not only learning His many names but also understanding why He is described in such a way. What do you call your best friend? I hope and pray it is Jesus Christ : )

Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.

Spirit Led Life

Quick! What are the nine fruits of the Spirit? I wonder if I just caught you off guard or if you were able to repeat them without missing a beat. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Why does it matter whether we know the fruits of the Spirit and whether they are applicable to the law? The answers to those questions have the ability to significantly impact the remainder of your life and your effectiveness on Earth as a Christian.

I once heard a story about a person who said they have two dogs living inside of them. Everyone can relate to dogs in one way or another. The first dog is gentle, obedient and a joy to be around. The second dog is ferocious, unpleasant and often unpredictable. This person said these two dogs were at constant battle with each other day after day. The question was posed to him, who usually wins and he simply said, “the one that I feed more.”

Those two dogs represent the constant battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Prior to a person receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior, all they have is the flesh. When a person makes the decision to profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they receive the very Spirit of God. From that day onward, the constant battle ensues between the flesh and the Spirit.

I just love the answer that is given to the question of who usually wins. He says, “the one I feed more.” Think about that for a second. Let it really sink it and ask yourself this question, which dog am I feeding more on a daily basis? In other words, if the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are two separate trails, do your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet closely follow the fruit of the Spirit trail? Are we indulging in our “self-centered human appetites” or acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit, desiring its leadership and following its lead.

When we are in tune with the fruits of the Spirit and choose a Spirit led life, those fruits can be manifested throughout each day which is against no law. Others will see them and catch a glimpse of Christ because He is literally living through us! You see, we cannot generate these fruits by ourselves. “They grow as the result of Christians letting the Spirit guide how they live.” Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Everyday we have the opportunity to become more like Christ (process of sanctification). What better way to achieve this than by focusing on consistently practicing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. That is a Spirit led life!

Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.

Marvelously Average

The word average is something people typically do not like to be called. When we refer to a sports team that is average, it usually means is has won just as many games as it has lost. When applying it to an individual we typically think of someone that is in the middle of the bell curve for whatever area being tested or evaluated. A common definition of average is “The usual or ordinary kind of quality.” That makes me think of eating a forgettable meal or watching a run of the mill movie.

Have you ever taken the time to think of what average looks like through the eyes of God? We are all incredibly amazing when pondering on these facts regarding humans. In “The Purpose Driven Life” Rick Warren says “the average person possesses from 500 to 700 different skills and abilities.” He also states “Your brain can store 100 trillion facts…Your mind can handle 15,000 decisions a second…Your nose can smell up to 10,000 different odors…Your touch can detect an item 1/25,000th of an inch thick…Your tongue can taste one part of quinine in 2 million parts of water.” That certainly sheds a different light on how we define average compared to God.

Let’s take it a step further and discuss His plans for our lives. Romans 12:2 says “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Are we really being conscientious of our time and using it to renew our minds with God’s promises instead of falling for the lies of the world? Let’s never forget He has a remarkable plan for each of our lives. If we could put Romans 12:2 in an equation, I believe it would look something like this:

Good + Acceptable + Perfect Will/Renewal of Mind – Worldly Conformance =
God’s Plan for Your Life

1 Peter 4:10 says “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” As the old saying goes “Use it or lose it.” How different this world would be if we took more time to use our gifts to bless others. I think Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” When we focus our attention everyday on becoming more Christlike, average in our eyes transforms into how God looks upon us as marvelously average.

Your Brother in Christ,

Miguel "The Hitman" Viera #40

"Committed to tackling souls for Christ"

Visit www.trafford.com/06-0375 to read about Miguel's book "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond." To learn more about Playing for Jesus Ministries, visit www.playingforjesusministries.com.