“Greater” by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

January 16, 2021 No comments Article

I love watching movies, especially those with a powerful message, and this week, I found the movie Greater on Netflix. It’s a sports flick that has been out for a few years, but somehow I missed it. It drew me for a number of reasons. The story is about a young man of faith, Brandon Burlsworth, who had a dream of playing football for the University of Arkansas but was a long shot as a walk-on. My youngest son attended the University of Arkansas. Burlsworth started out at a disadvantage with an alcoholic father and was fat and too short to be a lineman for a Division 1 program. His family did not have the money to send him to college, so he desperately needed a scholarship after the first year.

While I wasn’t overweight, this scenario is eerily similar to my own. I had no father and a mother who struggled emotionally. There was only enough money for one year of college and I was first, a walk-on volleyball player but quit, then I walked-on to the basketball team and made the team. After my college money ran out, I did not know what I’d do after that.

No one thought Burlsworth would succeed, but he worked harder than others, survived the verbal abuse and taunting of his teammates, and made the Razorbacks football team.

What’s important to remember is that Burlsworth never wandered from his faith as he strove to reach his goal, and I believe God gave him favor because of his stand for righteousness. It was through that dedication, he drew his teammates to the LORD, then led the the University of Arkansas to a conference championship in the 98-99 season. He also made All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the NFL Draft. In addition, Burlsworth was an academic scholar and completed his Master’s Degree prior to graduation.

As I reflected on the movie, I thought of the verse that has replayed lately in my studies, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (NLT). It’s so simple. If we seek God first, all the other stuff will fall in place. He will provide the desires of our hearts. God is good like that.

However, Brandon Burlsworth suffered a tragic ending. On his way back to his hometown in Arkansas, his car collided with an 18-wheeler and he was killed before he could ever play a down in professional football. And like many of us when someone is taken too young, we ask, “Why LORD?” “Why would you take such a light for you in this world?”

I don’t have the answer except that Burlsworth’s legacy and story lives on, even in death. There’s a Brian Burlsworth trophy that is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on, and according to the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, since 1999, hundreds of Burlsworth scholarships have been awarded at the University of Arkansas. Each year $5,000 scholarships are awarded to 13 or more students who are characterized as “academic overachievers.”

Burlsworth’s life inspired me, as I am also a hopeless over-achiever, but confess I did not work as hard as he did when I was in college. He truly strived to be “greater,” not only in football and academics, but also as a disciple of our Great and Loving God. And my hope is that as Brandon Burlsworth’s legacy lives on, so will his testimony of faith.

Giant Slayer by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

January 12, 2021 No comments Article

I wanted some help this morning.

I have been bombarded with phone messages, mostly fake news, about things that are happening in the country. While there is certainly unrest, my mind is pulled in different directions by what appears to be fictitious scenarios. There have been rumors of martial law and warnings that we should stock our pantry. Last night we waited to see a certain television broadcast that never happened. False information.

This morning, needing to move back to center, I worshipped God through the song, Champion by Bethel. I placed the focus on the true victor, the one who holds our country in His hands, Almighty God.

You are our champion. Giants fall when you stand undefeated.

Things are a mess right now and what is going on is a giant, but I am trusting in the giant slayer.

And if we are shaking with worry or angst about anything, we have to move back to our sturdy foundation Jesus, who will provide what is needed to endure or defeat whatever giant we face. Scripture says we must keep “our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus says when we are thirsty for truth or peace, we can come to Him for a drink, and this living water, the Holy Spirit, will comfort us in the midst of uncertainty. He is our champion.

What is your giant that needs to be slayed today? Do you long for hope? Just remember that there is no other Champion like God and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He can take down any giant that threatens to defeat you. It’s a promise.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of Heaven and Earth” (Psalm 121:1–2)

What is the Truth by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

January 9, 2021 2 comments Article

What is the truth?

It’s the age-old question and it’s the question I’ve been asking after violent protestors stormed the United States capital building a few days ago.

Was it a hired group paid to disrupt?

Was it a peaceful protest that got out of hand?

Was it really incited by the President?

I don’t know the answer to any of these questions but this morning I was reminded that God knows, and in His good timing, He will take care of it.

Psalm 5:4–6 says, “O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies. The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.”

If we are confused about the truth, we have to move back to what we know represents truth and righteousness, our Holy and Righteous God. When we are feeling unsteady in the circumstances surrounding us, the presence of God is the only place we can find stability. He cannot tolerate darkness. Psalm 5 goes on to say, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.” With the state of the world like a heavy weight trying to pin us down, we can still lighten our load and feel joy and love when we turn back to God.

So today, instead of pointing fingers, let’s pray for God’s truth to prevail and that He will rise up and take action against any injustice.

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

A Word for 2021 by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

January 5, 2021 No comments Article

You don’t see as many bumper stickers these days but yesterday I was behind a car that had something written on its window. I got a little closer to see what it said and I read, “Do you follow Jesus this close?” I had to laugh because I felt like it was a confirmation that my word for 2021 is “close.”

Earlier that morning, I had worshipped to the song, Draw Me Close to You. I wondered at that time if me word for the year was “close” so God used a creative way to let me know.

Why “close?” As the world gets increasingly more unstable, we’re going to need to draw even closer to the only One who can provide the security we need, Jesus. Hebrews 4:14-16 says,

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

And I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m in a time of need right now. I want to cling to the throne of grace with confidence that my God will supply all my needs.

And God wants us to take the first step in moving toward Him. James 4:4 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. The Greek word for draw near means an “extreme closeness, immediate imminence—even a presence.”

What would it be like if we were so close to God that we felt His presence every minute of the day? Every decision. Every step. Every thought passes through the LORD’s hands. That is the kind of closeness I am seeking, so close that you hear His words of encouragement whispering in your ear when the world tries to take you down. So close that you feel His strong hands steadying you when you can’t take another step. So close that nothing can shake your faith because you know the Father is with you.

Have you ever super-glued something back together that has broken? You know it works. We’re in a broken world right now, and I desire to be super-glued to God in 2021—that’s about as close as it gets. What about you? How close do you want to be to God this year?

Should We Plan? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley

January 2, 2021 No comments Article

Like many others, I’ve been taking these couple of days prior to the start of 2021 to organize my schedule. I recently received a “virtual” speaking engagement for a women’s conference February 2^nd. Today, a conference that had been cancelled in 2020, reached back out with the new dates, and it felt good to place these events on my abandoned calendar.

I’m also praying for direction on a Pearls of Promise 2021 Level-Up Women’s Conference in the Fall. But as I look ahead, I still wonder, Should I plan? All of 2020 was cancelled. Even with the vaccine on its way, will we truly be back to normal?

These are legitimate questions, but before the Pandemic, we did not know what the next day held. James had a good handle on this when he said: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.’ You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that'” (James 4:13–15).

So keeping James’ words in mind, I say, “Let’s plan!—with the asterisk *God willing. I will speak at that event.* We will have a Level-Up conference.* We will plan family vacations.*

We should not remain paralyzed and fearful of moving forward. We have to continue to plan for the future with prayer as our foundation and God leading us with His pillar of light, just as He did with the Israelites. We are created in God’s image and He is a planner who desires to be in the center of our future endeavors.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28).

Today, let’s put some 2021 plans on paper, knowing that ultimately, our lives and our plans are in the hands of God. Let’s move forward with hope that the worst is behind us and that our plans will succeed and not fail.*

*God willing.