Building houses is a noble endeavor. How they are built is even more important. Following a precisely prepared blueprint they will have a strong foundation, protect against the elements of nature, and provide for necessary sanitation, heat and water supply - safe havens in which people can dwell.
Sometimes houses are built in questionable places. I recently received an e-mail with photos of houses precariously perched in places that would not seem suitable for a home to be. They were on rock towers, between rock towers, suspended from rock towers, over water like a bridge, in an ice glacier and in other very unusual places. To live there would certainly alter many aspects of daily activity.
"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us" Winston Churchill
Building sport programs requires carefully thought-out plans. Building teams requires patience and knowledge. Building a game plan requires strategy and foresight. Building an athlete requires love and understanding.
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established" Proverbs 24:2 NIV
As sportmoms, we are in the business of building houses - temples in which Christ dwells - our children. With a complete set of blueprints in hand (the Bible), we purposefully lay the foundation one stone on top of another teaching them to trust God, the Architect of their lives.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:10 KJV
We do this by using a precisely prepared blueprint (The BIble). Next we establish a strong foundation - on Christ the cornerstone. Then one lesson after another the walls of character are established. Finally the roof of well-chosen relationships is put into place providing protection and safe haven in this up-side-down world. Our "house" (child) is ready to be occupied by God Himself.
Blessings . . . as you shape your "houses" into divine dwelling places.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
As confidence in leadership of nations throughout our world wanes, we took a day to celebrate the birthdays of two bold leaders of our nation - President Lincoln and President Washington. Their strong and unthwarted beliefs in the people of this country brought much-needed courage to our young and hopeful nation. We are grateful for their leadership and the lasting influence on our nation bringing us CONFIDENT HOPE.
Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President of the United States on the day before his 52nd birthday. The threat of civil war was his to face and it was with that in mind that he spoke these words of CONFIDENT HOPE to friends and family as he departed for Washington D.C. . .
“I now leave not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attends me, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care (I am) commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”
On the playing fields and courts of athletics it is this same influence that takes athletes to greater achievements. The root of this much-needed approach lies in the hands of the coaches that surround them. Instilling a sense of hopeful expectation, belief in their skills and abilities, and a reliance on the coach's directive brings both confidence and hope. The result? Just as our nation has become strong and unthwarted, so will a team that possesses CONFIDENT HOPE.
"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." Coach, Vince Lombardi
Jesus walked this earth epitomizing CONFIDENT HOPE. He became the hands and feet of his Father instilling in us hopeful expectation and a secure future. Just as Jesus brought eternal hope for humanity, President Lincoln brought hope to a nation as he lived out the words of the Psalmist David . . .
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Whether it is in the halls of Washington D.C, on the fields and courts of athletics, or in our daily lives, we can face an unsure future with CONFIDENT HOPE because it is IN GOD WE TRUST.
"Now faith is CONFIDENCE in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Blessings . . . as you bring the CONFIDENT HOPE of our eternal "Coach" to your world.
CHECK OUT the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG at the above tab to read about Janet's confident hope as the State Basketball playoffs approach.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Recently there have been a number of house fires reported on our local news. Each one has tragedy attached to it but through the fire there often comes a story of hope and help as a result. Although devastating and unexpected these kinds of events bring us into new understandings that otherwise would not have been.
As a young girl I was deathly afraid of fire. Perhaps it came naturally since there was a chimney fire in our house when I was very young. It left a lasting impression on me during those early years. I monitored the wood stoves that heated our house very closely ready to douse them with water or at least tell my mother if the flames were too high.
Then, when I was about 10 years old, we had a run-away fire in the burn pile behind our house. As the fire trucks roared toward our home with sirens blaring, I quickly decided to prepare for the impending disaster - loss of my possessions. Frantically rummaging through them, I chose my Bible, a few trinkets from our beach trip, my school picture and whatever else would fit into a very small cigar box. No clothes, nothing from the rest of the family's possessions - just me and my box off to our car which was parked near the road. Safely in the back seat I prayed earnestly for our house, worried a lot, and then attempted to get other family members to join me. The fire was put out, our home was not harmed and everything remained as it was as before - but I was not the same! This fear-filled, through-the-fire experience taught me about the courage I needed for life and that people's safety is more important than things.
"Fear is the father of courage and the mother of safety." Henry H. Tweedy About safety - God gave this promise to His people through the prophet, Isaiah about the fires of life . . .
"When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned." Isaiah 43:2
Our safety is of great concern to our Heavenly Father. In the rest of this Isaiah passage ( vs 1-13) He expresses this care over and over.
And about the courage we need - God provides us with the fire of His Holy Spirit to enable us - to guide us - to direct us.
"...‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6
So when (not if) we are called to walk through the fire where do we go?
WHEN THE HEAT TURNS UP... MY KNEES GO DOWN ... AND COURAGE SOARS!
May the flames of the Holy Spirit ignite God's purpose in our lives filling us with hope and healing, care and courage, safety and sustenance.
Blessings . . . as you beat the heat!
Select the BEHIND THE BENCH blog tab above for a hymn about the Holy Spirit written by our quoted author and preacher Henry H.Tweedy.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Have you walked through your house looking for something only to find it right in your hand or pocket? I have done this more times than I would like to admit with my reading glasses. I frantically search about muttering the "where are they anyway" question only to find them hanging on my shirt! Sometimes things are very near . . . right at hand.
Coaches are challenged with this responsibility each year as a new set of players come into their program. Each player has particular skills, abilities and interests. To be successful and productive the coach must carefully and purposefully use these players that have been placed in his hands.
Moses questioned his leadership of the people of Israel. God addressed him with this question: "What is in your hand.?" Exodus 3:4
God then showed his power and purpose to Moses by using what was in his hand - a staff. For the entire story go to Exodus 3. He wants to show this same power and purpose to us using what is available - what is in our hand.
What is in your hand today? Have you frantically searched for direction, or answers, or a solution looking here and there and everywhere but missing what is in your hand? God will use what He has placed in your hand to complete His purpose in your life. He is with you and ready . . .
". . . to save you. . . to rejoice over you . . . to sing and be joyful about you." (see Zephaniah 3:17)
Once we recognize what is in our hand, the next step is handing it over to our Heavenly Father. E. M. Bounds was a Pastor around the time of the American Civil War. God used the pen in his hand to complete many writings about prayer. It is said that he prayed daily for four hours before he put that pen to the paper. Here is what he wrote about the way to approach the work we have at hand, "Prayer puts God's work in his hands-and keeps it there."
Let's place what is in our hand into God's hands. Here is a simple prayer . . .
"Today I give you what is in my hand. Please use it for your honor, for your glory, and for your purpose in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen."
Blessings . . . as God uses what is in your hand.
NOTE: For another look at hands select the BEHIND THE BENCH tab at the top of this entry.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
As sportmoms we have watched the athletes in our homes make strong commitments as they prepare to play on or coach a sport. This commitment mirrors each facet of The Lord's Prayer. First, they must be willing to praise one another. To succeed they must understand and follow the will of the coach looking to him for the direction and experience that he will provide. Next, keeping short accounts with one another and accepting the decisions that are made bring harmonious relationships both on and off the court or field. And finally, guarding their hearts, mouths and actions during the stressful competition brings honor to them and their school . . . they finish strong!
For the past five sessions we have learned to live out the prayer that Jesus taught us to use when praying to His Father, God of the universe, Maker of heaven and earth, our Creator and the Lover of our souls.
We have come before Him with Purest Praise ... Welcoming His Will ... Pursuing His Provision ... Settling Up & Settling In while Guarding Against the temptations that surround us.
Every word of this prayer has had a lesson in it for us. Now it's time to finish strong with these words:
"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen." Matthew 6:14
Which in like manner is to say . . . "My life is yours, take control of me, I honor you forever."
This heart-felt commitment marks the beginning of a lasting relationship with our Father in Heaven. As believers it is also our continual prayer marking each day of our lives. Have you made this commitment? Have you made it again today? I hope you will . . . it never gets old.
Blessings . . . as you finish strong!
To read the final script of INTERRUPTED PRAYER CLICK ABOVE at the BEHIND THE BENCH tab.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:13
Guards in any sport are important. In basketball the point guard is busy making sure the ball is brought down the court safely and thrown in the proper place for the play to happen and the basket to be made. That is his offensive duty but his defensive duties are the same as all of the players - to guard his man becoming a barrier between the ball and the opponent's basket as the activity whirls around him.
Today we look at how to guard our lives as temptations whirl around us.
First, impress God alone. Religious temptations can derail us. This is to act as though we are perfect in order to gain the praise of others. Jesus recognized the pious, insincere behavior of religious leaders. The temptation that delrailed them was to act as though they were perfect in order to gain the praise of others.
This temptation is one that we all must carefully guard against. The Evil One uses it to deceive us into believing something that is untrue - that we are perfect. No one is perfect. We are made perfect before God not by our perfect acts but through the shedding of His Son's blood for our imperfectness. Will we become better people as we follow His ways - yes! Will we always do things perfectly - no!
Our great God promises to deliver us from the Evil One who desires to fool us...so we are given this heartfelt plea, "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil". . . and He will do it. Impressing God alone means living our lives in the recognition that He knows every thought, deed and motive behind our actions. It is His approval that matters.
Second, be aware of your areas of weakness. A Scottish writer from the 1800's recorded these words, "Temptations come, as a general rule, when they are sought."
Our daily living temptations can derail us too. Today's BEHIND THE BENCH blog suggests the kind of temptation experiences we Sportmoms may encounter. Call them out by name praying "lead me away from (you fill in the blank)". God will not take us by the hand toward that which will bring evil into our lives. As we put our hand in His and follow Christ's teachings in our hearts, we can trust that where He leads us will bring glory to Himself and carry out the perfect plan He has in mind for us.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
As we ask for his leading, His strong hand will guide us to places that carry out His plan.
Lastly, trust God to keep you safe from evil. Unexpected temptations can also derail us. Here we pray "and deliver us from evil". It is one thing to chase evil and it is quite another to have evil chase us. Sometimes the latter requires a quickly‐delivered, "on the run" plea for help. When we find ourselves in evil's ever-present danger, we can ask our mighty God will be there to deliver us from it and dismissing it's power over us.
Getting a bee sting is an unpleasant experience much like temptations. Sometimes we are where the bees might be but take our chances. Sometimes we know they are around but stay there anyway. Sometimes the bees come when we don't even know they are there and without warning we are attacked. No matter what, we can guard against the evils of temptation by honestly praying, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
Blessings . . . as God guards your heart against the religious, daily, and unexpected temptations of life.
To read today's "soap" segment of THE INTERRUPTED PRAYER select the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab at the top of this page.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
"Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12 NIV
Here is The New Century Version of this verse to help us get started today. . .
"Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us."
Feel fragmented - unsettled - half there? My quick answer is "Yup!" Life crowds in on us - sometimes because of our choices and sometimes from outside pressures. Since we have no control over outside pressures, let's take a look at our inside responses. Today's portion of The Lord's Prayer gives us the key to de-fragmented, settled and fully connected living . . . FORGIVENESS!
As a sportmom, teaching my girls to say 'I'm sorry' was always a challenge. One was quick to say it even if the situation wasn't her fault just to bring a quick end to unwanted conflict while the other found it very difficult to make her mouth form those daunting words. Nevertheless, we hung in there with the challenge and it paid off. As they grew a little older we added a 'will you forgive me?' phrase to their apologies. Of course this required an 'I forgive you' response the latter of which was much easier for them to offer.
The "forgiveness asked for - forgiveness given" process is the most freeing experience a human can choose. Yes . . . it is a choice. And it takes two - the forgiver and the forgiven . . . one asking for mercy and one granting it.
Asking for mercy involves an apology for causing hurt. Although the 'I'm sorry-it's okay" method of apologizing comes from a sincere heart, it can often short-change ourselves and others. Adding the 'will you forgive me?' question brings a spirit of humility to the apology...admitting a wrong and asking for forgiveness extends the hand of love to the wronged person.
Granting mercy (forgiving) can be quite natural when the humility of the perpetrator is conveyed in the ask. A certain gratitude wells up in the heart of the forgiver with a willingness to accept the hand of reconciliation. In that moment the words "you are forgiven" changes 'the perpetrator' into 'the forgiven' and things are "settled up" between you.
When there is no ask . . . no attempt to right a wrong . . . no forgiveness requested . . . a root of bitterness can grow deep within us. We long to have our injury recognized so we fill the emptiness by re-living and rehearsing the wrong done against us.
"As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind." Isabelle Holland
Good news! Forgiveness with all of it's rewards can be granted without being requested...Christ modeled this for us as he hung on the cross!
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24 NIV
As uncomfortable as it may seem, asking our Heavenly Father to forgive them brings a Hallelujah Anyway attitude - a renewed spirit and a "settling in". We have turne it over to the One who can take care of it... we intercede for our debtor.
TO FORGIVE BRINGS A SETTLED HEART -
TO BE FORGIVEN CREATES AN INNOCENT HEART
These acts of forgiveness make it possible for our Heavenly Father to forgive us in like manner. Here is the promise, if you forgive, your heavenly Father will also forgive.
Blessings . . . as you settle up with others and settle into God's forgiveness.
For more view the second segment of THE INTERRUPTED PRAYER - select the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar
"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11
Daily nutrition is so necessary for our athlete children. It renews and revitalizes their bodies readying them for the tough work ahead. Sportmoms are a God-given part of this process. We teach them to eat right, to get enough exercise and to allow sufficient time for sleep. These are basic elements of preparation and maintenance for all aspiring athletes. The frames that God gave them are made strong and productive as they submit themselves to the regiments of taking into their bodies and minds life-giving sustenance.
Today's focus on the power-producing Lord's Prayer asks for this same life-giving renewal. As we open ourselves to the great "supplier" we will find ourselves both physically and spiritually healthy. Let's take a closer look:
"GIVE US ". . . The ask! Right here in Jesus's own words He tells us to ask. John also records these words of Jesus . . .
" . . .ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24b NIV
When we go to our Heavenly Father for the ask, we show our constant dependence upon His Divine Providence. We beg of God to give it to us; not sell to us, nor lend to us ... but give to us.
"THIS DAY" . . . It's not complaining about what we didn't get yesterday or worrying about what we might need tomorrow but rather for what is needed today. This is the "gimmee enough" ask - only enough for this day. And even then sometimes I forget that He gave it! This prayer, prayed before a daunting military battle, pretty much says what my "this day" often looks like . . .
"Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, do not you forget me." Jacob Astley (a Royalist commander in the English Civil War who prayed this prayer before Battle of Edgehill in 1642)
Our God does not forget what you need this day.
"OUR" . . . what we need - not what another might have but what will nourish and satisfy our own unique soul and body. Some may even go after the food of another person before depending on God for complete supply - no place for copy-cat Christians.
"Stolen food may taste sweet at first, but later it will feel like a mouth full of gravel." Proverbs 20:17 NCV
"DAILY BREAD" . . . So what should we ask for? Our daily candy? No . . . our daily Bread. Bread is one of the oldest prepared food known and the base of our physical need. It may be Chibata, Tortilla, or fine Artisan Bread - whatever the form it is fresh-from-the-oven bread that is the staple of life . . . much needed to renew our bodies. Even the wafting aroma of wholesome bread baking is pleasant to senses drawing us to come take a bite as soon as it is out of the oven. God desires to revitalize our bodies with good food.
As our constant source of energy, our Heavenly Father also provides our soul food. As my niece, and fellow writer expressed, "He calls his Word 'Daily Bread' because he knows that our souls, like our tummies, get hungry every single day."
God our Provider delights in filling our plates with food and our souls with all of Himself. Now it is up to us . . . will we eat? It is as we consume the bread of the earth and take in the Bread of Life (Jesus) that we are revitalized in our bodies and renewed in our spirits.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good..." Psalm 34:8 NIV
Blessings . . . as you taste the Bread of Life!
See THE INTERRUPTED PRAYER at my BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG - click on tab at top of this page.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
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