SPORTMOM E-votional

STRONG & MIGHTY

10/16/2018

We are surrounded by encouragement to buy, use or support the STRONG & MIGHTY. Advertisements quite regularly use these descriptive words to influence our view. Chevy trucks are strong like a rock, the “All” brand detergent comes in mighty pacs, Charmin says their tissue is ultra strong, the Mighty Max toy captures our children’s fancy, The Mighty Mouse superhero cartoon thrilled audiences from 1942 to 1961 and the list goes on.

STRONG & MIGHTY are words that describe the power to overcome odds. Sport teams face these odds on a regular basis. Coaches train and teach athletes to be strong in preparation so they can be mighty in battle.

The Apostle Paul wrote these encouraging words to the church in Ephesus while he was under house arrest in Rome...

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 NIV

Guarded by Roman soldiers, Paul used the armor that they wore to show us how to become STRONG & MIGHTY. Click here Ephesians 6:10–18 to read about putting on the armor of God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to be a STRONG & MIGHTY overcomer. Please strengthen me for adversity through your Word and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for igniting truth, righteousness, readiness and faith within me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. I John 4:4 NIV

BE STRONG IN PREPARATION
SO YOU CAN BE MIGHTY IN BATTLE!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

POWERFUL PRESENCE

10/10/2018

"Have you been in a room when someone walked into it and the whole atmosphere changed? Their very presence permeated the room with lightheartedness or sadness, excitement or calm etc. – an unspoken yet POWERFUL PRESENCE!

When a team takes the court or field for play, their presence says, “Here we are and we are ready to play.” Or it may say, “We wish we weren’t here...we’ll probably lose.” Either way they have an unspoken and powerful presence that is carried with them.

We enter the court of life each day exuding a POWERFUL PRESENCE. Will it be, here I am – ready for the day? Or does it come with wishing that this day was over? When we trust the power of Jesus to govern our minutes and hours His presence goes before us and His power shines through us.

"The name of Jesus is the powerful prayer that leads us into His mighty presence." Xochitl Dixon

Begin your day with a simple prayer of surrender to God’s plan for it. Then call on the name of Jesus in silent prayer throughout the day’s activities. Watch for God’s POWERFUL PRESENCE...it will be there!

My prayer for you today is in these scriptures...

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:5 KJV

May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father...
I Thessalonians 3:11-12 The Message

PRAYER: Your mighty presence, dear Father, is through your Son’s name – Jesus. Let His name be on my lips as I trust in You with all my heart...help my unbelief. Thank you for your amazing, room-changing presence in my life. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen

BE A ROOM-CHANGER...
LET THE POWERFUL PRESENCE OF JESUS SHINE THROUGH YOU!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURSUE JOY

10/3/2018

The pursuit of happiness is all around us. The ‘if only’ syndrome bombards our lives through commercial advertising, social media exchanges, and peer pressure. We are presented with endless opportunities that promise to make us happy and they very well could. But do they bring joy?

The pursuit of sports can bring great elation and thrill making the participant very happy. But it is the sense of accomplishment brings that brings about joy. There have been many happy moments in Coach Brown’s 50+ years of coaching but joy is rooted within because of the process - bringing a team to its fullest potential. Coach John Wooden answered the question of joy this way...

“Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.”

Happiness is a disposition we have when things are going well. Joy is an emotion that initiates exhilaration, delight or sheer gladness It can result from a great success or a very beautiful or wonderful experience. This definition of joy that the world holds is not nearly as amazing as the joy birthed in us through the Holy Spirit. Joy is an evidence of His presence providing strength to every weakness...

“...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

We can put on a happy face but it is the joy of the Lord that brings a twinkle to our eye and a settled spirit to our being...

A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart. Proverbs 15:30 TM

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for bringing your deep joy into my life. As I allow your Holy Spirit to fill my life, may my countenance reflect the joy you bring to me each day. I choose to pursue your joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

LEAVE THE ‘IF ONLY’ BEHIND -
PURSUE THE JOY OF THE LORD!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

OLD WORDS

9/26/2018

OLD WORDS are like old sneakers, they may be a bit tattered but they are oh so useful. Two old words are diligence and perseverance. Imagine how different our world would be if Thomas Edison (who invented the incandescent light bulb) or Douglas Engelbart (who gave us the computer mouse) had not practiced diligent perseverance. Their stick-to-it attitude makes this writing possible.

These two OLD WORDS are woven into the fabric sports today. A gritting commitment to practice (diligence) prepares a team for competition...

“It is the hard work you do in practice after you are “all in” that improves your condition. Force yourself when you are tired.” John Wooden

And not giving up when the chips are down (perseverance) has yielded more wins than can be counted. It takes diligent perseverance.

The apostle Paul recommends diligence and perseverance for great outcomes....

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

Let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued by all that is on our plate. Into our struggles God’s Word whispers this refreshing truth…

“Perseverance brings about character which, in turn, fosters genuine hope as the Holy Spirit pours God’s love and comfort into us.” Romans 5:4

PRAYER: You call me to DILIGENT PERSEVERANCE when I am questioning or exhausted. I trust you for the win - the blessing - the “well done”. It is by your strength and guiding hand that I move forward in hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

DO LIFE WITH DILIGENT PERSEVERANCE!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

MOVED AROUND

9/19/2018

Our family is currently in the middle of being “MOVED AROUND”. Our daughter and her family have just moved from Oregon near us to Florida. One of our grandchildren is in college in Arizona. Another grandchild is in college in Oregon, and my husband and I will be moving to Florida next year. With our houses sold and new ones on the horizon we are definitely feeling the effects of pieces being put together.

Play adjustments and player rotations are a necessary part of team sports. These “MOVE AROUNDS” can be challenging for a player who has honed their skills for a certain position or for a team who has already adjusted to the play that is now being replaced. Coaches are responsible for these changes which are often critical to a team’s success. During this process patience is absolutely necessary both on the part of coaches and players.

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." John Wooden, highly esteemed UCLA basketball coach

As children of God we can trust Him to bring it all together when the pieces of our lives begin to move around. Two well-known verses of scripture come to mind...

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

“For 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

PRAYER: As you move the pieces of my life around to fit your plan, please help me to trust your Word more completely, to accept your Word more readily, and to act on your Word more promptly, Thank you for being the author and finisher of my faith. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

OUR FAITH IS LIVED OUT...
DURING GOD’S “PIECE-WORK”!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11562 SW Royal Villa Dr - .Portland, OR 97224

THE 12TH MAN

9/12/2018

Texas A&M University has a large sign in their football stadium that reads “HOME OF THE 12TH MAN”. Each team has only eleven players on the field at one time, so who is this 12th man? It is the A&M student fans who stand for the entire game in support of their team and cheering them on to the end of the game.

It all began in 1922 when the coach called a student from the stands to suit up and be ready to play if one of the team members was injured . The student was never called into the game, however his willing presence on the sideline greatly encouraged the team.

We have access to God’s willing presence. He is ready to go into action when we invite him into our game of life. His powerful love takes on our struggles, rejoices in our wins and encourages us through our defeats. Along with Him is a stadium of believers who are willing supporters and die-hard fans.

God sent Jesus as our 12th man giving us this promise...

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

We can count on Him to go into action when we call out His name. He will step into the middle of our circumstances as our 12th Man.

Cast all your care on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I invite you to be the 12th man of my life. When I am injured you are ready and waiting to care for me. Thank you for your comforting Word that confirms your willing presence. It is in your name I pray, Amen.

MAY YOUR LIFE SIGN READ...
“HOME OF THE 12TH MAN – JESUS CHRIST."

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURSUE LOVE

9/5/2018

The first SPORTMOM E-votional of each month is dedicated to our 2018 word for the year…PURSUE!

We are born pursuing love.

The first whimpers of a newborn baby are calmed by the loving arms of a mother. The longing to be loved is a natural desire of human beings no matter their age, language, color or place on this earth.

Athletes love to compete. This pursuit is absolutely necessary for them to excel in their sport. As a team member the practice, games, wins and losses bring about a deep bond of love between the players. Loving camaraderie happens as together they sacrifice themselves for the love of the game.

Although we naturally seek the love of people, it is God’s love that truly satisfies our soul. He willingly sacrificed His Son to die on the cross so we can be in relationship with Him.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son. John 3:16 KJV

When we accept this unconditional and pure love our longing for love is satisfied.

God is love...as we live in Him, our love grows more perfect. I John 4:16 & 17 NLT

Loving others becomes second nature to us as we pursue God’s love and allow it to envelop our soul. It then gracefully flows through us and into the world around us.

And we know and rely on the love God has for us. We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:16 &19 NIV

PRAYER: I accept your perfect love for me today. May those who come my way feel your love. Thank you for pursuing me with your unwavering love. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

GOD PURSUES US WITH HIS UNWAVERING LOVE –
PAY IT FORWARD!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURSUE TRANSPARENCY

8/1/2018

Pretending to be something that we are not works well if we are on the stages of theater. Pretending to be something that we are not with those around us on a daily basis can only bring sorrow and disappointment. Transparency is the key to meaningful relationships and self awareness.

“We are the same people as we were at three, six, ten or twenty years old. More noticeably so, perhaps, at six or seven, because we were not pretending so much then.” Agatha Christie

Transparency is necessary for successful coach-player relationships. Coaches quickly learn that they can't fake it and athletes immediately see through a phony coach who pretends to know what they are doing.

Transparency drives out pretention. As we PURSUE TRANSPARENCY we re-discover the child within...the one God placed on this earth for a special purpose.

God’s Word speaks to us of transparency:

“What’s at the heart of the matter? I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” Jeremiah 17:9 TM

People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 NET

With both grace and truth the Holy Spirit gently leads us into transparency before the Lord and in relationship to others. God’s presence covers us...it was completed on the cross so we no longer have to hide our flaws from Him or others. His Church is designed to be a fellowship of believers that openly and unapologetically carry one another’s burdens and share each other's joys.

Are you keeping others from sharing your burden? Have you been transparent before the Lord about your fears and concerns?

Perhaps you have been hiding it from God even though He knows our every thought and intention.

PRAYER: I want to be transparent before you, Lord. Beginning today I will let you into both the lovely and the broken parts. Thank you for the cross that made this possible. Please guide me to those with whom I am to be openly and honestly transparent. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

RISK IT… BE TRANSPARENT WITH GOD AND OTHERS!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURSUE PEACE

7/4/2018

Our first Wednesday of each month SUMMER SCHEDULE focuses on our word for the year – PURSUE.

Peace is a commonly sought after outcome and is often sealed with a handshake. It can follow a struggle, disagreement or fight if those involved come to an understanding. Our country’s foreign affairs diplomats are given the job of seeking peaceful relationships with other nations. The desire for peace is in the hearts of mankind. How we get there is the burning question.

Shaking hands following a competition is considered a sign of peace. It is an outward display of acceptance between athletes. Coaches are often seen giving the handshake after a hard-fought game. Although not always an easy thing to do, it is done in the pursuit of peace.

Our lives are filled with opportunities to PURSUE PEACE. It may not come naturally but in doing it we live out God’s intentions...

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:15 NIV

To PURSUE PEACE we must take the first step toward it. This requires turning away from selfishness, pride, anger, resentment and hatred we may have targeted at others.

Then replace these old responses with good actions and thoughts toward and about the person with whom you are in conflict...

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building. Romans 14:19 NRSV

REMINDER: There is always something good to find in others.

PRAYER: Dear Father, I want to turn away from the evil found in my soul so your goodness can grow and flourish in me. Please help me as I seek peace and pursue it. Thank you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

THE HANDSHAKE OF PEACE IS IN THE PURSUING OF IT!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURSUE: GLORIOUS GROANINGS

6/6/2018

As June 6th rolls around, my husband and I find ourselves with unspoken yet deeply throbbing heart responses. It was on this date 26 years ago that we received the call of loss that no parent wants to get. “Jayme was in a car accident and she didn’t make it,” her older sister sobbed with groaning that were from the depths of despair. To speak any words was at best extremely difficult . Our daughter had gone from a horizontal relationship with us to one that was now vertical. The only glory for those tough days was in the knowledge of where she is and who she is with...in heaven with her Creator.

“Ugh” is the word that comes to mind after a close loss for sport teams. This sense of weakness is spawned by having no control over the situation and is naturally felt by sportmoms. Often our groaning is greater than that of our athlete child. It provides both empathy and the motivation for caring encouragement.

God’s Word speaks to us about calling out to our Creator in GLORIOUS GROANINGS.

...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 NIV

These expressions of an anguished or questioning heart are beyond words.

“We may not know what to say when we pray or even what to ask for, but when we belong to Christ, His Spirit within intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
James Banks

As the Holy Spirit intercedes for us we can be sure that agreement with God’s will is the result. What a GLORIOUS GROANING!

PRAYER: Without words I lay my heart’s groaning before you. Thank you that your Spirit intercedes for me in accordance with your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

MOVE FROM HORIZONTAL TO VERTICAL...
IN WORDLESS PRAYER!

©2018 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN

As a veteran coach's wife, Janet invites you to join her in "Changing the world for Christ...one athlete at a time".Through the language of sports and life experiences, Janet uniquely exposes the character of God and His desire for "sportmoms" to WIN BIG in life. Her behind-the-bench view invites us into a world of triumphant wins and tragic personal loss.

LIFE EXPERIENCE

From being a mother of 2 to a spiritual mom to many, the road of life for Janet includes these hallmarks:

- Gave her "heart to Jesus" at 6 years old
.
- Studied Education/ Psychology at a Christian College

- Enjoyed earning her wings and flying as a Flight Attendant

- Is the wife of Coach Dave Brown since 1967.

- Involved in ministry to women for 30+ years including: Retreat Facilitator and speaker, Bible Study leader, National Women's Ministry Leader

- Held an executive position in the corporate world for 35 years.

- Developed and taught Pre-married and Marriage classes with her husband for 12 years.

Currently is a writer, grandmother to 4 and a coach's wife.

STRONG & MIGHTY

POWERFUL PRESENCE

PURSUE JOY

OLD WORDS

MOVED AROUND

THE 12TH MAN

PURSUE LOVE

PURSUE TRANSPARENCY

PURSUE PEACE

PURSUE: GLORIOUS GROANINGS

About the Author...
JANET BROWN

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About the Author... JANET BROWN

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN