 As children we spent endless hours searching for HIDDEN TREASURES. Sometimes it was in the sands of the ocean where the tides could carry in shipwrecked treasure as seen in the movies. Often it was searching for the illusive end of a rainbow for the coveted pot of gold. Longing for these unearned windfalls of wealth and searching for them in places of our imagination was regular childhood play. But deep within our souls were treasures yet unrealized.
Just a 6 foot 7inch dunking center, a 4-minute miler, or a spot-on quarterback with an amazing passing game is all I need to win. These are the illusive treasures that coaches dream about. The real treasure, however, is hidden within their current team and waiting to be discovered.
It has been said that realizing the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child is a treasure to be unlocked.
Our children are our treasures, losing them for even a few minutes is heart-wrenching. Hidden in the storyline of Jesus’ childhood is a situation that no parent wants to face…
When Jesus was twelve years old, his family traveled to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. After the festival was over, his parents left for home with relatives and friends thinking he was in their company. They traveled for a day but when they looked for him they couldn’t find their treasured son so they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days of searching they found him and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
WHEN OUR TREASURES BECOME HIDDEN IT IS TIME FOR PURPOSEFUL SEARCH
Jesus was found sitting in the temple courts among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions – that amazed everyone including his parents. The HIDDEN TREASURE of who He was, God’s Son, was revealed in his response…
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49 NIV
The response of Mary, Jesus’ mother, shows her perspective and intention…
But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:51-52 NIV
Our children, athletes, and those we are in charge of are HIDDEN TREASURES waiting to be discovered. Putting our time and energy into this search may be heart wrenching at times, but is also the epic heart-warming story.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21 KJV
Blessings…as your God-given HIDDEN TREASURES hidden in your soul become realized.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Choosing what to GIVE AWAY is part of each day. We regularly give away things like gifts to friends and family for special occasions, items we don’t want anymore, our time helping others, our energy and enthusiasm to support a common goal etc.
"Unless we give part of ourselves away, unless we can live with other people and understand them and help them, we are missing the most essential part of our own lives."
Harold Taylor, Canadian Politician
To coach is to GIVE AWAY a part of yourself to each athlete. Whether by transferring skill knowledge, imparting the art of cooperation, modeling toughness and tenderness, or instilling their expectation, a successful coach lives a life of giving.
CHRIST’S GREAT GIVEAWAY: As our ultimate example, Christ’s life was a total GIVEAWAY! Since we all need to be rescued from our sin-filled nature, Christ’s purpose was to give his life so we could get life.
He came …to GIVE AWAY his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage (by sin). Matthew 20:28 The Message
OUR GREAT GIVEAWAY: To give is an essential part of the Christian lifestyle
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6:38 TM
A recent advertisement announced a company’s latest promotion as A “SHARE IT TO WIN IT” GIVEAWAY! It is a fitting goal for us as well. Sharing what God has given us brings worthwhile meaning to what we have.
Regularly giving our money to God through tithes is an honorable act of worship. God’s Word also tells us that our giving to Him is worthless if we fail to supply the needs of those closest to us. The religious leaders in Jesus time ignored those needs demanding that certain monies be given at the temple no matter the need surrounding the giver. Jesus addressed this issue with these words…
In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition.” Mark 7: 12-13 NLT
CHOOSING NOT TO GIVE IS CHOOSING DEFEAT.
Blessings…as you choose to GIVEAWAY in Jesus Name.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Ever had to “eat your own words”? It's a difficult spoonful to swallow. Announcing an opinion as fact or questioning a promise and being proven wrong is the antithesis of embarrassment. We’re usually left having to take it all back.
Athletes and teams sometimes promote themselves by announcing how great they are going to be. If it turns out to be true they don’t have to eat their words. If, however, things don’t go so well, any future announcements will be questioned at the least and most likely not believed…a bad “eating” habit. Descriptive words will follow a proven performance.
LET THE PERFORMANCE DO THE TALKING
We can find ourselves announcing what we feel as if it is true and end up having to eat our own words. The prophet Jeremiah, a mouthpiece for God, found himself having to take it all back. In the 15th chapter of his writings, he opens by whining about his situation after believing God's Word...
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)
By verse 18 Jeremiah is questioning whether the Lord is even there for him…
I don’t understand why my injury is not cured or healed. Will you be like a brook that goes dry? Will you be like a spring that stops flowing? (NCV)
In another version of the Bible Jeremiah boldly announces what God looks like to him…
You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. (NIV)
Verse 19 brings a response from the Lord answering Jeremiah’s cruel accusation …
“Take back those words, and I’ll take you back. Then you’ll stand tall before me. Use words truly and well. Don’t stoop to cheap whining. Then, but only then, you’ll speak for me. Let your words change them. Don’t change your words to suit them.” (The Message)
PRAYER: Lord, let my words be those that I won’t have to eat. I will eat of Your Word daily so my words and thoughts can be Your words and thoughts. In Jesus Name, Amen.
FEASTING ON GOD’S WORD SAVES US FROM HAVING TO EAT OUR OWN.
Blessings...as you speak truly and well with words that reflect our God.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
We are all vulnerable to fantastic offers. Television, internet, the newspaper and radio are all full of them. The END RESULT of these offers is most likely something that takes from us more than it gives to us. Seeking this immediate gratification, we often win for the moment and lose in the end.
“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” Oscar Wilde
To compete for the best END RESULT that can be obtained is what we teach our athletes. Whether the final score shows a win or loss, the greatest impact is how they played the game.
LOSING WITH INTEGRITY IS FAR SUPERIOR TO WINNING WITHOUT IT.
As a favored disciple of Christ, Peter experienced an END RESULT that was far beyond what his well-known denial of Christ would seem to have produced. Christ used Peter as an integral part of building His church. This powerful first-generation evangelist offers these words of encouragement…
Though you have not seen him (Christ), you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the END RESULT of your faith, the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:8 & 9
It has been said that ‘seeing is believing’…but this passage of scripture clearly shows us that in believing who Christ is without physically seeing Him brings about the desired END RESULT.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 N
Let’s chart our course for the END RESULT by setting aside our desire for immediate gratification and walk by faith in the unseen Christ. This, my friends, brings lasting joy while we are here and the forever return of an eternally saved soul…real riches and a fantastic offer!
Blessings…as you fix your eyes on Christ for the best END RESULT.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
NOTE: The first issue of SPORTMOM E-votionals each month is dedicated to our 2013 word for the year - REACH!  April showers bring May flowers! The lilacs and apple blossoms emerge and REACH for the warmth of the spring sun. Their triumphant explosion brings bright hope to winter’s barren branches.
Sport teams and individual athletes also emerge. After the difficult and wearing days of training, they REACH for the goal set before them displaying their abilities through competition. They are ready to rise to the heights.
"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." Pamela Vaull Starr
Our scripture for the year calls us to triumphant explosion…an exclamation of what is and can be.
Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives…full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19b The Message
To REACH for what God has intended is both a promise and a pronouncement.
#PROMISE- WHAT IS!
Hidden in the passage of scripture above are these descriptions of our Creator: He is far beyond what our eye can see, He has no end, His knowledge is deeper and His love is limitless…He is above all, in all, through all…and He REACHES for us.
#PRONOUNCEMENT – WHAT WILL BE!
We will experience the fullness of God Himself as we REACH FOR Him…take advantage of the vast opportunities He puts before us, push ourselves to go further relying on His power, probe the depths of His faithfulness, go to the highest possible reach with His strength…and live complete and fulfilling lives …REACH for Him.
All this and more is available to us as followers of Christ. A college classmate of mine put it this way…
“I don't want to get to Heaven and have God show me all he made available to me here on earth that I didn't REACH FOR.” Joy Liedtke
PRAYER: Thank you for your tender reach…I reach for You today. May my life bloom in triumphant explosion as I live in Your fullness. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Blessings…as you REACH for all that God is and all that He has for you.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
 Another new dress, another new place to eat, another new house, another new vacation spot, another new iPhone…there always seems to be an “another” of something that we cannot live without. The quest for something more and better seems to attack our senses regularly through friends, television, radio, internet, movies, etc. It comes upon us while shopping, exercising, riding in the car, watching commercials… wherever we are it seems to catch up with us.
Coaches and golfers are notorious for constantly looking for ANOTHER way to win. Whether it is a new play, new practice scheme or a new golf club, the insatiable desire to find the secret weapon is in their DNA.
It’s easy to find ourselves longing for better way out of life’s circumstances. The feeling of despair comes over us and we long for more direction, a clearer answer, another voice to satisfy our decision…ANOTHER way to learn and grow.
IT’S NOT ABOUT GETTING “YET ANOTHER” … BUT ABOUT POSSESSING THE “RIGHT ANOTHER”!
Jesus, our advocate before the Father, opened the door for ANOTHER advocate to walk with us as He left this earth…
I will ask the Father, and he will give you ANOTHER advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you...But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:16.17 & 26
We do need ANOTHER to guide us in the right direction, to answer our heartfelt questions, to assist us in our decision making and to comfort us in our time of need. Since the role of the Holy Spirit includes teaching and reminding, we can set aside our self-reliant quest to find yet another way.
Dwelling with and within us the Holy Spirit opens the door of our hearts to the mind of Christ. Walking through this open door is our choice.
When one door closes, ANOTHER opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
Helen Keller
Blessings…as you choose the open door by relying on who Jesus promised us ANOTHER Advocate.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
Are we there yet, are we there yet? These are familiar words to Moms of young children and even older ones! Trusting us to know the way, children just want to GET THERE!
Knowing how to GET THERE is basic to both traveling in cars and traveling through life. Coach has always had a great sense of direction and an almost uncanny ability to follow his nose to the destination. Having said this, being of the male gender stopping to ask for directions is not #1 on his list when his nose fails him. This comment came across my desk from another member of the male species who gives this account:
“Don’t worry. I know right where I’m going,” I said to my passengers. Then an almost-human voice ratted me out: “Rerouting . . . rerouting.” Now everyone knew I was lost!” Randy Kilgore
Even reassuring comments from a driver can now be squelched by the new “passenger” in our vehicle - the GPS! We may look like we know where we are going and act like it too, but the proof is when we GET THERE!
Teams can look good when they take the field or court of sports with their shiny new Nike’s, cool new uniforms and “bad” (meaning good!) haircuts! But we all know that it is arriving at the end of the competition with the greater score that matters…the ability to GET THERE!
Our driving directions for life are contained in God’s Word. He offers written directions for the intended route to heaven that tell us how to GET THERE!
 START In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6
This firm truth sends us on our way with the right people in our life car.
Depending on God to lead us is a non-negotiable as we begin our travel to GET THERE
 PROCEED “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Following Jesus leads to an eternal relationship with his Father – our
Creator!
 FOLLOW “…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to
you.” John 14:26
The Divine GPS is ours applauding our progress and warning us to “re-rout”
when we get off track.
 ARRIVE "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
When we GET THERE it will be a road worth traveling…forever with our
God.
Blessings…and have a great trip!
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
“Faith grows best in the winter of trial.” Rutherford
As spring comes into full bloom, we sometimes see remnants of winter and flowers that persevere despite the cold with endurance and staying power. The strength of spring is tested by a WINTER OF TRIAL.
The staying power of any athlete is the willingness to persevere. This quality alone puts them in a category all by themselves. It takes them through the winter of grueling workouts, rigorous practices, and challenging games. At the culmination of competition is the reward of spring - conquering at their highest ability.
About a year ago I wrote about a young mother who had been recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in one breast. As a Christian she immediately asked for prayer and purposed to find God’s plan in all of this. Her WINTER OF TRIAL included unexpectedly finding out it was stage 4 and in both breasts, dealing with many severe set-backs following a radical double-mastectomy, and withstanding months of chemo and radiation. Today, a year and 3 month later, she is recovering following her final scheduled surgery for her permanent implants. A joyful season of spring is upon her as she faithfully and patiently trusted God during those cold "winter" months of her life.
The above account is severe, but in reality all of us live in a society today that perpetuates winter. Our unstable economic and social environment causes our collective stress level to rise. Whether it is an individual or a national WINTER OF TRIAL, peace and soothing calm can be ours.
“Learn to calmly endure the stress (or as the Bible expresses it, “trials and tribulations”) with genuine patience and faith instead of anger and frustration, and an amazing thing happens: The stress, rather than making us sick and debilitated, actually serves to make us stronger, more at peace and more whole.”
(from a commentary by David Kupelian, April 2013 issue of WND’s Whistleblower magazine)
Having staying power or the ability to endure is the definition of patience. In our WINTER OF TRIAL it is faith in the One who made us that results in a staying power that is sure to bring spring.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
Blessings…as your winter becomes a perfectly complete spring.
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
 Many years ago I stayed with a family in Michigan while attending a Women’s Ministry conference. During those few days I was amused by the use of the word “once”. Their sentences consistently ended with this word such as: we went to visit- once! Go borrow some sugar – once! The word “once” was not being used to indicate the number one or that the task was to be done once, but rather as an exclamation point at the end of a sentence.
Today we will use the word “once” as a number meaning “one time”.
When a team or athlete faces an opponent at the scheduled time, they have only once to prove their current superiority. During that short time-span one or the other will be the victor…the final score is posted with no possibility of changing it. Win or lose, that particular game is history - no re-play or do-over…the score forever on the books.
Each day of our lives is like that game…
“Once. That's all we get. No dry runs. No do-overs. This day you're living now is not a dress rehearsal or a practice lap. You're on the stage. You're in the game. Start playing.” Coach Joe Gibbs
We speak of once-in-a-lifetime experiences – highlights of our lives that cannot be duplicated. But each day, no matter how mundane, is ours to be lived once. What will the final score be?
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom…"
Psalm 90:12
May we realize how short our lives really are so that we may be wise in how we use each day.
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. I Chronicles 16:23 NLT
AS OUR DAYS ACCUMULATE THEY SOON BECOME A ONCE-IS-ENOUGH LIFETIME!
Ninety-year-old, Winston Churchill gives us this wise perspective…
"Life has been a grand journey—well worth making once."
ONCE IS ENOUGH to live on this earth and once was enough for our sins to be covered on the cross - our bridge to eternal life.
“…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV
Blessings…as you live each day knowing that ONCE IS ENOUGH!
©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
ALL-IN-ONE products are common. Google lists all-in-one washer-dryer combinations, fitness programs, insurance policies, real estate opportunities, various types of stores, calendars, cereals and a myriad of computer items! Short-cuts to any task are attractive.Anytime a sportmom can get anything that will assist in multi-tasking she goes for it! With time and energy are at a premium, if she can accomplish more than one task with one trip, one phone call, one text, etc .then she considers her ALL-IN ONE effort well-spent.
Recently a very busy sportmom with 2 high school athletes to attend to shared this story: I didn’t know how I was ever going to do it…take my kids to each of their games (one right after another), be at both games, pick up supplies and the pre-ordered food and cake for a birthday party that evening, prepare the house for the party at 6:00 and all after working my morning part-time job with my husband gone! My thought-prayer was, “Oh Lord, please show me!” Okay, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Trusting Him I sat down with a pencil and paper and it took just a couple of minutes to map out a way to get it all done. I would leave the house just a little early to pick up the cake on my way to work since the bakery opened early and the cake didn’t need to be refrigerated. After work I would pick up both boys at school and go to each of their games altogether. The party shop is right between the two games so a quick stop for napkins and plates could fit in there. As soon as the second game ended we would take only a slight detour to pick up the food and be home by 4:30 in time to get the boys started on homework while I prepared the house for guests. Guess what…It all happened just like that. With just a little God-inspired pre=planning, all of the seemingly impossible and over-lapping tasks were accomplished and I feel like a super-blessed wonder woman! This fully-equipped Mom found great satisfaction in accomplishing the good work that was set before her. It became an ALL-IN-ONE effort as she depended on God’s Word. We too can be ready for whatever tasks we are called to do.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word equipped means to “furnish or fit completely”. We will experience this as we know God’s Word and lean on it. The scriptures are active ingredients that make us mentally and physically furnished and fit …ready to tackle the God-given roll set before us with ALL-IN-ONE solutions.
GOD DOESN’T ALWAYS CALL THOSE WHO ARE EQUIPPED... BUT HE ALWAYS EQUIPS THOSE HE CALLS!I am very grateful for this promise as I look to accomplish all that is on my plate today...And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 Blessings…as you are fully equipped with ALL-IN-ONE solutions from your ALL-IN-ONE Creator. ©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
|
RSS Feed