There are times when a player and even a team loses it's fire. I-can't-do-this statements fly around like ashes in the wind as the burning desire (so needed to accomplish the goal) vanishes from view. Injury, losses and disappointments douse the burning flame of zeal within. This downward spiral can leave them not only in the basement of their league standing but in an ash heap of emotional compromise.
BUT THERE IS HOPE...
A tuned-in coach recognizes that the team or player is OUTA FIRE. His or her strong leadership kicks in re-kindling the fire...stirring up the embers...re-igniting their spirits - that's the coach's job. It rises up from a perpetual fire that burns deep within a dedicated coach. Players and teams who respond to this encouragement find hope.
"When you come into the presence of a leader... you know that you have come into the presence of fire." Woodrow Wilson - 28th President of the United States of America
Our daily lives can look much like the down-and-out players. An old testament prophet, finding himself himself OUTA FIRE, lamented about these same feelings...
“Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night!” Jeremiah 9:1
Translation: "I wish I could cry alot". Twenty chapters later in the book of Jeremiah the greatest "Coach" ever rekindles the spirit of this weeping prophet with these reassuring words...
"...I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
If your spirit is down today ... OUTA FIRE...come into the presence of our Heavenly Coach. Ask Him to renew your heart by His Spirit. He wants to stir up the embers of hope within you and re-ignite your zeal for the task ahead ... that's His job.
Blessings...as the hope of a rekindled fire burns within you.
CLICK at the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for today's post titled
FAN THE FLAME WITHIN.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Gift exchanges are lots of fun. Each person receives a name and perhaps a price limit and goes about finding just the right item for someone they may or may not know. Sometimes we GIVE a gift that took time and a lot of preparation only to TAKE one home that appears to have been hurridly grabbed from the local market's check-out stand. It doesn't seem right but it happens that way.
On the fields and courts of athletics there are also uneven exchanges. A team may GIVE all that they have but TAKE home a loss. It doesn't seem right but it happens that way.
Our spiritual journey mimics these scenarios as we find ourselves in a "gift exchange" of sorts with our Heavenly Father who says...
"I'll GIVE YOU MY PEACE IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR STRESS."
It doesn't seem right but it happens that way. He wants to TAKE our tattered baggage and, in exchange, GIVE us His amazing peace just as He promised.
HE TAKES - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." I Peter 5:7 NIV
HE GIVES - "I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the
world does. So don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:23 NCV
The greatest GIVE 'n TAKE exchange of all happened on Calvary's hill where Jesus TOOK all of our sins upon Himself and in exchange He GAVE us the opportunity for eternal life if we so choose to believe in Him. And yes, it doesn't seem right but it happens that way.
Blessings...as you participate in the greatest gift exchange ever.
CLICK at the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for ANOTHER SORT OF GIVE 'n TAKE
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 9722
Words can be our best friend or our worst enemy! Whether they are spoken from our lips or received into our ears from another's lips, they can bring hope or despair, smiles or snarles, a good day or one when we decide we should have stayed in bed.
Our society has set a very low standard of language and it's easy to go there. From the OMG's in our talk to not-so-truthful reporting methods, our words are often distributed without a second thought as to their impact...WORD POWER.
"... words can be short and easy to speak ... and their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa
Sportmoms everywhere gasp in disgust when a player blurts out a 4-letter explitive on the court or field in response to an unwanted call. Whether we are in agreement with the questionable call or not, we do not relish the experience of hearing these kinds of words flowing unchecked out of a player's mouth. Not only is the call in question but the character of the player who reacted with un-becoming words becomes questionable. Oh my... what a situation!
OUR WORDS REVEAL WHO WE ARE...
USE WORDS: that both please and honor God for they will act as a tongue-check.
“He who restrains his lips is wise,” Proverbs 10:19
GUARD: what comesout of our mouth for it will keep us out of trouble.
"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
Proverbs 21:23
AVOID: speaking untruths for they will become daggers to your soul.
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth...” Ephesians 4:29
PRAYER: As the words of my mouth reflect the meditation of my heart, may they please You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (from Psalm 19:14 paraphrased)
Blessings . . . as your kind and true words, waft into the world.
CLICK at the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above to read more...
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
An athlete or coach may be introduced as receiving an award because they are:
FROM ... a certain school or organization
BY... their involvement in a certain sport
FOR... their outstanding contribution
These FROM-BY-FOR prepositions act as a bridge providing us with pertinent information about the individual who is receiving the ovation.
In the book of Romans, Paul introduces God with the same ovation ...
"For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory..." Romans 11:36 NLT
Take a peek at our vast God through this same scripture in The Message version of the Bible... "Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Praise Him - Praise Him Yes-Yes-Yes!"
Christian writer Max Lucado sums it up this way in his book From God's Story, Your Story ...
"Above and around us God directs a grander saga, written by his hand, orchestrated by his will, unveiled according to his calendar. And you are a part of it. Your life emerges from the greatest mind and the kindest heart in thehistory of the universe: the mind and heart of God."
May the ovation of our lives reflect this simple formula...
FROM ... The hand of God
BY ... His design
FOR ... His glory!
Blessings...as you live out God's FROM-BY-FOR formula.
FOR MORE click on the BEHIND THE BENCH tab above for "DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT"
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
How far is it? Are we there yet? These words are commonly heard as we speed down the road toward a destination that is unfamiliar to our small children. It seems that around every bend these questions are repeated. We know what they don't. We know that where we are headed will bring laughter and joy to them. They know it is taking a long time to get around the BENDS to the END.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING THROUGH THE BENDS AND TO THE END!
Sometimes we see the BEND as an END! My husband's team was headed toward a possible state championship when they hit a BEND that looked like an END. One too many players were inadvertently included on the roster for a district play-off game. The END seemed to be in sight ... disqualification for state play-offs! It was a desperate moment and 24 hours that followed...but what looked like the END turned out to be a BEND. The team was allowed to participate in the State playoffs and they came away with the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP as well as the SPORTSMAN AWARD! Yes, there were consequences that followed but they were part of the BEND.
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn." Anonymous
For those who looked on, the END seemed in sight for Jesus too. As He hung on the cross He uttered the words IT IS FINISHED - in other words, THE END! But it turned out to be a BEND ... he arose from the dead, revealing that truth to those around Him and went back to a kingdom not of this world and back with His Father who had sent Him here. Jesus made the turn, negotiated the BEND thereby giving us hope for eternal life with Him beyond this place. He gave his followers a heads up when He said...
"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV
What BEND are you facing that looks like an END? Boldly approach it and discover the truth evebn though it may be an unfamiliar or unplanned turn that must be made in order to get where you are going.
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
T.S. Eliot
Blessings...as you get through the bends of life and to God's planned end.
CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for "BEYOND THE BEND".
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Athletes generally listen to what their coaches say during vital practice times. It is almost like a recording when they repeat back to another player or sibling what the coach has taught them ... word for word! Their ability to tune themselves into the coach's expressed expectations...aligning themselves with the coach's thinking in order to acquire a thorough understanding of the coach's ways...is uncanny. This ability and desire of our developing athletes to become ATTUNED to their coach can make us very proud.
Equally, amazing is our athlete child's ability to tune us out! This response can be at best, kind of disappointing and at worst, very disrespectful. Becoming ATTUNED to the authority over us is central to learning, achieving and successfully completing a task. Is there an easy answer? I doubt it ... but remaining tuned in to our child even after they have "DE-ATTUNED" themselves from us is both necessary and crucial.
As children of God, we can become disconnected ... tuned-out ... from Him. We first wonder where He went only to realize that like our children sometimes do with us, we have chosen to "DE-ATTUNE" ourselves from Him. The cares of today can effectively crowd out His voice leaving us no longer "tuned in".
No matter how much tuning out we may experience, our mighty God never tunes us out! He is forever listening to us and wants us to listen to Him.
“Come to Me and Listen! Attune yourself to My voice, and receive My richest blessings. Marvel at the wonder of communing with the Creator of the universe while sitting in the comfort of your home.” Sarah Young from her devotional book Jesus Calling
Here is a "tune in" prayer adapted from Colosians 1:8 in The Message that effectively expresses our desire to be aligned to His ways:
"... give me a wise mind and spirit attuned to Your will so I can acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which You work."
Blessings...as you ATTUNE yourself to His ways.
FOR MORE click on the BEHIND THE BENCH tab above for "Tuned In ..."
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
"Whadya mean 'where is my uniform?' ...it wasn't in the wash!", a dazed sportmom shouts out as it's almost time to leave for the game. "Get it and I'll do a quick wash!" she calls out...desperately trying to fulfill her duties. As she finishes a quick wash and heads out for the game the next dilemma arises...just where is the game today? "Oh no," the sportmom mumbles, "where is the game? ...the schedule is at home...oh well, we're playing Valley, right?There, right?" Half way to Valley she places a frantic call to a fellow sportmom only to discover the game is at home. Perhaps it doesn't happen just that way at your house, but some variation of this SHOUT OUT for help is probably familiar.
Letting others know what our needs are is basic to being ready. Whether it is getting a uniform washed or asking for directions to the game a SHOUT OUT for assistance is often the best way to get what we need or we may be out of luck getting it done.
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Coach Darrel Royal
We can find ourselves in this same predicament with our Creator. He says, "Whadya mean 'where is my peace'? ... it wasn't on your laundry list!" It's our responsibility to SHOUT OUT to Him for help - it's needed preparation for sought-after opportunity.
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy." John 16:24 NCV
Whether we need peace or another bit of assistance, Jesus came so we can SHOUT OUT to our Heavenly Father for help. Letting Him know so He can "wash it" or "get you there" ... it is preparation for the opportunities He has waiting for us.
FOR OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES - SHOUT OUT!
Blessings...as you shout for joy because you have asked.
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
With the car radio ramped up to her favorite music station, her bluetooth safely attached to her ear so as not to miss a single call, her iphone strategically placed nearby for easy access to return incoming texts and/or emails (as soon as she is parked of course), and her rear view mirror adjusted to see any crazy drivers or emergency vehicles (heaven knows she couldn't hear them!) this sportmom begins her trek to accomplish the errands of the day. This scene is repeated over and over in today's world albeit with a few changes perhaps, but definitely with the same outcome...CONSTANT CLATTER!
As a sport team takes to the indoor court, another noisy scenario often develops. The squeaking tennis shoes, applauding fans, belting announcer and reverberating echo of a gym permeate the air space. It is up to the coach to have masterfully prepared his players to hear his voice above the CONSTANT CLATTER. In the relative silence of the practice time, their ears become accustomed to the coach's verbal directives.
What a one says can be a form of CONSTANT CLATTER ... what is not said and kept silent can be vital.
"The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost."
George Schultz, Statesman
CONSTANT CLATTER may also happen in our spiritual lives compromising our times of communication with our Maker.
"Some of us use noise as a way of shutting out the voice of God: constant chatter, even when we’re talking about God, keeps us from hearing what God has to say."
Julie Ackerman Link - Our Daily Bread
SILENCE MAY BE WHAT WE ARE MISSING
The antidote, then for CONSTANT CLATTER that keeps us from hearing the voice of God, is silence. Will we be silent before Him? Prophets, Kings and Jesus himself found silence something to be sought after...something to be experienced.
"But oh! God is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!" Habakkuk 2:20 MSG
"...silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere." Psalm 19:3b MSG
"Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren't you going to say something?" Jesus kept silence—not a word from his mouth." Matthew 27:12 MSG
Blessings...as you quiet the constant clatter, enjoy silence, and listen for the voice of God.
VISIT BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG at the above tab for today's post titled 'NOISY SILENCE'
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
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