God's Got My Back, But More Importantly He's Gone Before Me

*****A moment of caution, I'm writing this post with a cup of coffee by my side, Hans Zimmer station on Pandora playing and fresh off a reading of the beginning of Joshua from the Bible. *****

It is always an empowering feeling when a friend says "I got your back!" I love it! You feel covered, you feel approved in whatever you are about to do. In the sport of wrestling it always felt good the moments before you are about to step out on the mat and your coaches and teammates give you a slap on the rear or back. It's the non verbal of "You've got this! I'm confident in you! Give it your all! WORK HARD!" Then you step out on the mat with a confidence that it's not just you on the mat against some guy. It's you and all your teammates, friends, family, coaches, all of them plus you going out on the mat. They've got your back!

But what's even better is when you watch one of your teammates come off the mat with a win and then you get sent out to do what he has just done.

I had the blessed opportunity of wrestling with some of the best teammates in the country: Hayden Zillmer, Steve Monk, Joseph Garner, Trevor Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Tyler Diamond, Evan Knutson, Josh Rodriguez, Kurtis Julson, Mac Stoll, Kenny Moenkedick, Justin Solberg, Will Johnson, Geoff Martin to name a few. Top shelf men on the mat and off of it. But one more wrestler I have not yet named always gave me the confidence that I could win any match because he always went out and did it before I was even on deck, Trent Sprenkle. Whenever he went out and dominated his opponent or won a tough match or even lost but gave his blood sweat and tears to win the match I had a confidence that was more than a friend having my back, I had someone going before me. Trent led the way, set the pace, went out before me and showed me how to attain the victory and win the match. It empowered me, made me fearless and confident in the gifts God has given me to compete.

God is much the same but even better. God's got your back, but even more importantly He goes out before you and gets the victory.

Joshua's (of the Bible) life represents this so well.

Joshua 1:5 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you
Joshua 1:9 for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 3:11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you
Joshua 6:2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands,

God always went before Joshua and led him to the victory. God wants to, will do, and is doing the same in our lives!

As Danielle and I move to Grand Forks and join the UND Chi Alpha staff when any fear comes in that I'm not good enough, I'm too young, I'm not knowledgeable enough, or whatever the enemy decides to attack me with, I will remember what God's Word has taught me: God's Got My Back, But More Importantly He's Gone Before Me. 

The UND campus is already won! The Chi Alpha staff and students there are amazing. But, just as Joshua had to go out and still fight the battle to win the battle, Danielle and I will go out an fight the battle as well. We will fight with a passion that we've never known for the UND students. Our mission: to love the UND students the way God loves us.

"Hell hath no fury....that can withstand the love that Jesus has put inside this heart."

Yours for the UND students.

The Adventure Continues North

We are so excited to announce that last night at NDSU’s Chi Alpha Mark and I finally shared that we are answering the call from God to go to Grand Forks, ND and join the UND Chi Alpha staff there. We are so stoked for this next adventure!! Let's be real, it takes a call from God to make two former NDSU Athletes go to the UND campus. 

We will forever cherish the memories & friends we’ve made at NDSU but are looking ahead seeking & expecting God to do the impossible on the campus of UND – for our God is a consuming fire!

UND here we come! 

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" 

-Hebrews 12:28-29