SPORTMOM E-votional

ALWAYS THANKFUL

11/3/2021

…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Finding ourselves in stressful situations doesn’t exactly produce a thankful heart. Yet, our scripture uses the word “always” in connection with being thankful.

Each year as November rolls around two things happen to me. First is the realization that the holidays are just around the corner and there are things that need to be done. The second is that this is the season to be grateful and recognize the blessings that have been ours over this past year. These two thoughts can easily come in conflict with each other. The first realization requires a “to do” task list. The second calls for grateful reflection and focus. As these collide, neither gets my full attention.

A number of years ago as I was standing in a long holiday line and loaded down with gifts to be purchased, I was suddenly hit with this God-inspired thought: “Instead of fussing over the long line, use this time tell me how grateful you are for those who will receive the items you are purchasing and be sure to ask me to bless them too.” I immediately began this thought-prayer and before I knew it I was at the counter paying for the items…and didn’t even get through my people list! A thankful heart brought me through the task at hand and continues to do it today.

PRAYER: May my heart always turn in gratefulness to You with each task ahead as the 2021 Holidays approach… for you are the Giver!

“ALWAYS THANKFUL” - A PROVEN STRESS-RELIEVER!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS WORSHIP

10/6/2021

ALWAYS

As a “worshipper” we adore, lift up praise, exalt, revere, glorify and honor. As a Christ follower we worship the living God who created all things. The question is: How and when do we do this? Commonly it is done in church services. It is also done when we are alone with our Creator and Lord in prayer and praise for who He is. In these common ways of worship we are caught up in pure joy and adoration!

BUT… there are other parts of life, parts that take up most of our waking time, that can also be offered as worship before our Lord. Recently, my husband and I took on the privilege of caring for my 95-year-old Mother. With it comes new challenges, schedules and responsibilities as well as time taken away from our familiar acts of worship. It was during one of these ho-hum times that my heart was opened to this truth…

THESE DUTIES CAN ALSO BE “ACTS OF WORSHIP”!

This reminder caused me to purposefully see these mundane tasks as opportunities to offer worship to my Creator. In doing this, the hum-drum daily tasks became more than a dutiful and loving daughter providing an act of service, they ushered in a powerful worship experience…a freeing wave pf joy particularly present when I become tired and weary.

Do you need a reminder to ALWAYS WORSHIP? Turning our lives into on-going acts of worship is what Christ taught us to do bringing glory, praise and honor to Him – it is why we are here. No matter our “calling”, we can do as the Psalmist recorded and what our scripture for 2021 says…

How to worship?…I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

When to worship…ALWAYS! Worship revives the weary!
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary. Isaiah 40:28

PRAYER: O God, I will build a house of worship for you in my heart…always keep my heart set firmly in you. (see 1 Chronicles 29:14-19 in The Message)

 MAKE IT WORSHIP… ALWAYS!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS LOOKING UP

9/1/2021

Scripture for the year 2021…

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Many years ago and after a particularly devastating experience, my husband and I heard these words from our Pastor…

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”

Our pastor was Dr. Robert Schuller from what was then known as Garden Grove Community Church to later be known as the renowned Crystal Cathedral. When these words were coined by Dr. Schuller, little did he know the tremendous highs and the very lows that were to come his way. Through him the Hour of Power world-wide television ministry blessed and motivated many, many church leaders and Christians. His sunset years, however, brought great disappointments. Both required ALWAYS LOOKING UP to the One who had called him into ministry.

It was this kind of inspiring encouragement and biblical teaching that prepared us for vertically living out life's challenges. From the lows of the loss of our 21-year-old daughter to the highs of great wins, the resolve found in Psalm 16:8 has brought us to know that truly tough times never last but people who are looking to the Lord always do!

As a nation we are collectively being brought through some very tough times. Let us resolve to live out this year’s scripture – on purpose and with pursuit!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I submit to your will and align myself with it. With you at my right hand I will not be shaken. My eyes will remain on you for strength, courage and understanding. Thank you for your ever-present help in the times of trouble and in the joys of life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

WE GET TOUGH AS WE LOOK UP!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS BECOMING

8/4/2021

This month I would like to share a writing that came across my desk. It fits nicely with this month’s “always” word for the year emphasis. Have you had conversations with God that brought new understandings and insights? Here is one that fits that category and captures my faith in an impacting way…

Me: Hello God.
GOD: Hello...
Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together?
GOD: I'd rather not.
Me: Why?
GOD: Because you're not a puzzle.
Me: What about all the pieces of my life that fall to the ground?
GOD: Leave them there for a while. They fell for a reason. Let them be there for a while and then decide if you need to take any of those pieces back.
Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking!
GOD: No, you don't understand. You're transcending, evolving.
What you feel are growing pains. You're getting rid of the things and people in your life that are holding you back. The pieces are not falling down. The pieces are being put in place. Relax. Take a deep breath and let those things you no longer need fall down. Stop clinging to pieces that are no longer for you. Let them fall. Let them go.
Me: Once I start doing that, what will I have left?
GOD: Only the best pieces of yourself.
Me: I'm afraid to change.
GOD: I keep telling you: YOU'RE NOT CHANGING! YOU'RE BECOMING!
Me: Becoming, Who?
GOD: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light, love, charity, hope, courage, joy, mercy, grace and compassion. I made you for so much more than those shallow pieces you decided to adorn yourself with and that you cling to with so much greed and fear. Let those things fall off you. I love you! Don't change! Become! Don't change! Become! Become who I want you to be, who I created. I'm gonna keep telling you this until you remember.
Me: There goes another piece.
GOD: Yes. Let it be like this.
Me: So... I'm not broken?
GOD: No, but you're breaking the darkness, like dawn. It's a new day. Become!! Become who you really are!!" (Author unknown)

“I know the plans I have for you – plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

STOP “NEVER ARRIVING” - CHOOSE “ALWAYS BECOMING”

2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS PREPARED

7/7/2021

Preparation for anything requires attention, planning and often many “to-do’s”. I love to plan ahead but always with the understanding that changes may come.

God’s Word challenges us to be prepared…

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Being ready to answer keeps us on our toes. The key, however, lies in the words “when asked”. We can find ourselves answering a question that was not asked which can cause our unsolicited answers to be unheard.

We can also feel unprepared when called upon to answer a question. God provides others around us to remind us of the truth that we already know and He will always equip us with the answer.

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 2 Peter 1:12

We can be ALWAYS PREPARED when called…

God doesn’t always call those who are equipped...but he always equips those He calls. (unknown)

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4

ALWAYS PREPARED BECAUSE HE IS THERE!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

LIFESTYLE PRAYER ...ALWAYS!

6/2/2021

Prayer is for asking, for thanking, for praising… and for ALWAYS! A little talk with Jesus eases our walk…it is Lifestyle Prayer!

There once was a judge in a town who neither feared God nor cared about people. There was also a widow in that town who kept coming to him with a request to grant her justice against her adversary. The judge refused her request time and time again. Finally, he decided that although he didn’t really care about the situation, her bothersome and continual insistence drove him to grant her the justice she requested and now he was relieved from the woman’s constant and insistent plea. Jesus used this parable to teach his disciples this: If an unjust judge can honor a request just think how much more our just God will honor our prayers requests as we cry out to Him. He will see to it that we who belong to Him get justice, and quickly. He then reminded them to offer their prayers of petition and to never give up! (see Luke 18:1-8)

This is Lifestyle Prayer – Always petition and never give up!

Many definitions of prayer have been given. One of my favorites is this prayer of cooperation from E. Stanley Jones: “Prayer is co-operation with God. In prayer you align your desires, your will, your life to God and work them out together.”

Further he offers this Lifestyle Prayer directive…

“To talk with God,             “To walk with God,              “To wait on God,
No breath is lost –             No strength is lost -             No time is lost -
Talk on!”                              Walk on!”                               Wait on!”

This is Lifestyle Prayer - Always cooperating with God.

And finally, Lifestyle Prayer always includes our attitude. The Apostle Paul gives us this key, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:4

This is Lifestyle Prayer - Always pray with JOY!

Jesus said, “Be always on the watch, and pray…”  Luke 21:3

LIVE OUT LIFESYTLE PRAYER – ALWAYS!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS ON MY LIPS

5/5/2021

As we make our way through 2021, we continue to focus on our word for the year, ALWAYS.

Memorizing scripture was a regular and vital part of my growing up years. Today I am especially grateful to my mother for those words that were put into my very soul all those years ago. They continually guide me, comfort me, and protect me…may they ever be on my lips.

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips … Jeremiah 12:2

This scripture ends with “but far from their hearts.” Tough times come and go taking our hearts away from these words of comfort. Even so, the words that come from my lips must remain fruitful. David, the Psalmist after God’s own heart, was driven out of his leadership position by those in power. In this tough time, David spoke these words from Psalm 34 as he left his kingly post …

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” Colossians 4:6

God makes a covenant with us today just as He did through the Prophet Isaiah…

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. Isaiah 59:21

And finally, as we speak words that are “scripture-filtered” we have this reminder from Jesus himself…
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Matthew 28:20

PUT YOUR LIPSTICK ON TODAY - SCRIPTURE-FILTERED WORDS!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

April 06th, 2021

4/6/2021

ALWAYS ALL
E-VOTIONAL 4-7-21

Then Jesus came to them and said,

“ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18

…go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... Matthew 28:18

…teaching them to obey ALL I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19a

This passage of scripture maps out the 3 ALL's for living a Christ-centered life…

Believe that Jesus had and has ALL authority over everything.
Give Jesus your all in all ways…give Him full reign over your life.

Receive Jesus’ call to go to ALL nations (people) with His message of love.
Give Jesus your all in all ways…saturate your world with His love.

Weave lives that reflect our attempt to obey ALL of Jesus’ teachings.
Give Jesus your all in all ways…let Him bring you into obedience with Him.

Jesus closes this passage known as “the great commission” with these words of encouragement…

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
The Holy Spirit remains with us to guide us and grow us into ALL we are meant to be.

PRAYER: You are my ALL, Lord Jesus. I will live my life with you and for you now and ALWAYS. In your name I pray, Amen

"NEVER THE TIME" prevents the ALWAYS ALL!

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS MORE...

3/3/2021

Our first Wednesday E-votional focuses on our word for 2021 - ALWAYS.

"I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

In this nation of plenty it seems that there is ALWAYS MORE to be gotten. Even with the current “slow down” we continue to find a way to get what we need and often more of what we want. Even though we may spend less time on the road searching for our desired purchases, we satisfy these desires with on-line shopping and door-step to door- step delivery services. The ALWAYS MORE lifestyle lives on meeting our needs while driving us toward our wants.

In the world of sports, ALWAYS MORE wins are a certain preference. Competition is built on this innate desire. This “will to win” is what counts even when the “skill to win” is lacking. In the losses valuable life lessons are learned. Handling defeats with grace builds strong character into the lives of players.

“Be MORE concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Coach John Wooden, UCLA

God wants the combination of His steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. Romans 15:4 The Message

The word “MORE” is used 542 times in the NIV Bible. It is used in the scripture below reminding reminds us that God is the author of the “MORE” in life. As we trust Him for our needs and leave our wants at his feet a balanced lifestyle emerges…

If God is for us, who can be against us? In all these things we are MORE than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:31 & 37 NIV

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to know you more as I grow in you. Thank you for reminding me that you are on my side. I put my trust in you to fill the “ALWAYS MORE” in my life as you build my character with your conquering spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

MORE OF YOU TO KNOW – MORE OF ME TO GROW…ALWAYS MORE!

As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you MORE and MORE. Psalm 71:14

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

ALWAYS DRAWN...

2/3/2021

This month we celebrate a day to express our love…Valentine’s Day. One of the first signs of love is being DRAWN to someone. While American English has one word for love, the ancient Greek language uses six words to describe different types of love. Today we will focus on Pragma which means longstanding love that draws us to and holds or bonds us together.

Being DRAWN together is ALWAYS a cherishing moment whether it is in friendship or in Holy Matrimony (male and female). As it grows we see one another more clearly and we love more deeply. God’s Word gives us a peek at what this kind of love looks like…

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV

We are also DRAWN to God Himself through Pragma love…

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have DRAWN you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

He faithfully draws us back to Himself when we are in distant places physically, emotionally or spiritually. He remains faithful to His longstanding love which goes beyond our faults to meet our needs.

PRAYER: I want to love with your love, Lord. Please teach me to live out the list of what love “always” does in my marriage, in my friendships and in my world. Thank you for your longstanding love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ALWAYS DRAWN – ALWAYS PURSUED – ALWAYS LOVED
BY CHRIST WHO FIRST LOVED US

©2021 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 1514 Segovia Circle – Vero Beach, FL 32966

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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.

ALWAYS THANKFUL

ALWAYS WORSHIP

ALWAYS LOOKING UP

ALWAYS BECOMING

ALWAYS PREPARED

LIFESTYLE PRAYER ...ALWAYS!

ALWAYS ON MY LIPS

April 06th, 2021

ALWAYS MORE...

ALWAYS DRAWN...

About the Author...
JANET BROWN

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About the Author... JANET BROWN

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN