Blog Archives

THE "AND PETER" PRINCIPLE

1/31/2012

Have you found yourself in “out-of-the-loop” situations? You know, it happens when we are treated as an outsider or generally snubbed. Often generated by our peers, this act of judgment can leave us feeling both uncomfortable and peculiar.

Groups quite naturally form within our sport teams. These connections, as in any group connection, can become honorably inclusive or devastatingly exclusive. If the group reaches out to others drawing them into the shared team effort, the group becomes an asset to the team. If, however, the group snubs or berates others because of poor performance, the group becomes a deficit to the team – a clique.

It is in this kind of situation that the “AND PETER” PRINCIPLE needs to be applied. When someone around us shows weakness, fails, doesn’t perform well, it is time for us to follow the example set by the angel at Jesus’ empty tomb when he told the women this...

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.” Mark 16:7 NCV

The “AND PETER” directive broke through the barriers that had been formed by Peter’s poor performance . You see, Peter had betrayed Jesus going against the intentions of the group. Instead of snubbing him, taking him out of the loop or treating him as an outsider, the angel of God at the tomb made sure that Peter was included even though he had made some bad choices including collaborating in the death of Jesus.

Max Lucado writes about these two amazing “AND PETER” words..

  “What a line. It’s as if all of heaven had watched Peter fall—and it’s as if all of heaven wanted to help him back up again.”

                                       FAILURE DOESN’T MAKE A FLOP

It’s not every day that we find someone who will give us a second chance—much less someone who will give you a second chance every day! In Jesus, Peter found both and so can we. Jesus calls us to walk with Him today whether we performed well yesterday or not. He includes us again and again…truly the gospel of second chances!

. “ (Jesus) …wants to meet each of us at our point of need, offering forgiveness, healing, and hope. What we don’t deserve, He freely gives.” David McCasland

Blessings…as you practice the “AND PETER” principle helping others up when they fall the same way all of heaven helped Peter.

©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

DIVINE "TIME OUTS"

1/27/2012

Sportmoms everywhere will heartily agree that a time out can be both effective and productive. It can re-vitalize, re-invigorate, re-focus and re-ignite the spark within. Moments stolen away with their child or family from the regular routine prove to be remembered as special and meaningful.

The proverbial “time out” on the court or field of athletics serves as the same…re-focusing and re-establishing the course of the game. Led by the coach, the players gather with attentive attention to his every word while their bodies recover from exhaustion. They may not always want the break, feel they need any direction, or perhaps even consider it an interruption in their drive to the finish line. But the coach sees the big picture and knows how important the timing of the time out is.

TIMELY TIME OUTS ELIMINATE TOTAL TURMOIL

In much the same way, our Heavenly Father calls the time outs in our lives. We often view these as interruptions because they come on a different schedule than we have planned.. Because He sees the future, His call for a break is designed to re-focus, re-establish and renew His purpose within us.

“The Lord . . . makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever.” Psalm 33:10-11

Divine Time Outs come in many forms …an illness, a financial reversal, an accident, the end of a relationship and on. They provide cause for a pause in our existence creating a comma in the sentence of life that can seem like an eternity. But by the Lord’s grand design, they re-purpose our lives to successfully cross the finish line.

“A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.” Proverbs 15:9

Life interruptions have been experienced by the most notable men and women of the Bible. Mary the mother of Jesus experienced her DIVINE TIME OUT as she carried and birthed our Savior. Saul the persecutor of Christians was called to his DIVINE TIME OUT on the road to Damascus as he was blinded by the light of Jesus himself and then became Paul the Apostle leading many to follow after the Christ he had rejected.

These surprise interruptions changed history. The same is true for the DIVINE TIME OUTS of our lives today.

“…all too often we respond to the interruptions of our well-ordered lives with attitudes like frustration, irritation, fear, and doubt. God’s surprises in our day are full of opportunities.” Joe Stowell

Blessings…as your DIVINE TIME OUTS take you to the finish line that God has planned.

For more CLICK on the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for THE WHY.

©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

YOUR BUCKET LIST

1/24/2012

It is popular these days to have a “bucket list” of yet un-realized experiences that we purposefully work toward … our hope for the unseen. Having this “list” helps us to remain focused and faith-filled toward what is sought-after.

A fulfilling season may be on your bucket list for your athlete. Armed with a large measure of faith, we send our teams, children and husbands onto the courts and fields of athletics to vigorously compete. Confidence in their skills and assurance from the coach about what can be accomplished is certainly an exercise of faith.

How about adding “unwavering faith in God” to our bucket list? Once placed there, we will need to take it out again and again as we encounter times that require confidently looking beyond what we now see.

GOD GIVES THE PLAN AND FAITH ACCOMPLISHES IT

In Hebrews 11:4-10 we are told that faith was definitely on the bucket list of God’s outstanding people …

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2

By faith Abel brought an offering that pleased God even though it was not seen as the best.

By faith Enoch skipped death completely.

By faith Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land after he was warned about something he couldn't see.

By faith Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to take his people to an unknown place that would become their home.

By faith Sarah become pregnant as an old woman because she believed God’s promise to do what He said.

Now it is your turn to add your name to this list of commended ancients. Take a moment to consider the “by faith” experiences that you have had on your bucket list and completed.

BY FAITH ... (your name and experience here)

Blessings…as you fill your bucket list with “unwavering faith” and successfully empty it.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

GET OUT!

1/20/2012

It is a common response these days…GET OUT! While growing up, I would use this little exclamation when my siblings tried to come into my bedroom and other similar situations. Today it is commonly used as a response to receiving information that is surprising. For example: If someone tells me that they just found a $100 bill in the parking lot, my immediate response might be, “GET OUT!” quickly followed by, “Really? You’re kidding!”

Today we are going to talk about the GET OUT phrase in its most basic meaning … to move beyond where we may be safe but stuck.

“A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for.” John A. Shedd

As sportmoms we may find ourselves breathing a sigh of relief when the first half of a game is over and the team exits to the locker room. Now we can relax and ignore the scoreboard, the referees, and the continual movement of the ball. Using Mr. Shedd’s comment:

A TEAM IN THE LOCKER ROOM IS SAFE – BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT TEAMS ARE FOR

Sport teams are designed to compete, to play hard and to do it on a field or court…not in the locker rooms. So they GET OUT on the playing venue and do just that while we cheer them on.

The same applies to our Christian lifestyle…

CHRISTIANS IN THEIR CHURCH BUILDINGS ARE SAFE –
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE FOR

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives us what we have called The Great Commission ...

“Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life.” New Century Version

“So go and make followers of all people in the world.” The Message

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Let’s GET OUT of our harbors and go where we are designed to be.

And how will we do this? Two ways…

BY TAKING FIRST STEPS: “Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!”
Romans 13:14 The Message

BY THE INEXHAUSTIBLE, EVER-PRESENT, INVIGORATING POWER OF GOD: "Get out of bed … wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you.”
Isaiah 60:1 The Message

Blessings… as you move beyond your safe harbors into your God-inspired destiny.

For more…CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above to see BEYOND MYSELF.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

WANNA WIN?

1/17/2012

In the world of sports, DESIRE is key. A player or team can have amazing skills and abilities, but it is their clearly-defined and executed DESIRE that puts them in the winner’s circle. This cheer, that crowds have been known to chant, underlines this truth and has ignited many a team and fan alike ...

YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT TO WIN IT ... AND WE WANT IT MORE!

“If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It's in my blood." Coach Bear Bryant

Long before the crowd shouts out their defined desire, the coach has patiently and skillfully nurtured the desire within a team. Grooming of an athlete's individual skills and a team's knowledge of the game are important, but it is the WANNA WIN desire within the coach that spurs a team on. Once again, Coach Bryant:

"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."

God is our great life Coach who wants us to win clearly defines our desires. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to model “the plays” for us and His Holy Spirit to help us understand the desires that He has put within us…the ones He has placed in our hearts.

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 137:4 NIV

A closer look at this scripture reveals how our Lord responds when we delight in Him. David, the writer of this Psalm, does not stop short by simply promising us whatever we desire. Rather, he defines the desires God wants to give as those of our heart. Desires of the flesh come and go, desires that are from someone else may confuse us, and desires that come from our sinful nature destroy us. That is why God placed His defined desire within our very being – in our hearts and promising to see them through to “the win”.

God has placed key “want-it-to-win-it” desires at the very core of who we are. Below is a SHORT LIST of the desires that grip our hearts as believers along with some ways that He meets each one…

READ GOD’S WORD – He has provided a country where we are free to read His Word, There are Bible Study groups in churches, internet and television Bible studies, an array of devotional books, and many versions of the Bible for more complete and clearer understanding of His Word.

TALK WITH GOD – He wakes us up early or ignites our focus at night showing us the best time to share moments with Him. There are stop lights, waiting in lines or other places, and other planned prayer times when He meets our desire to thank, to ask, to worship, and to listen.

TELL OTHERS ABOUT GOD – Across our daily path He brings those who need the His touch on their lives…whether by word or deed it is our opportunity to tell them about His love for them.

RESIST SINNING AGAINST GOD – He offers a way to escape as we desire to get far from evil. The toughest tests always have the righteous which we desperately want. .

ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER BELIEVERS – As our hearts cry out for relationship with Him and with other believers, He provides the Church which satisfies a deep longing in our soul.

“Wanting to win it” means practicing God-honoring desires that prepare us for the win!

Blessings…as you do what it takes to “want it more!”

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURPOSE-FILLED PROVISION

1/13/2012

Coaching a team includes a purpose-filled focus. The sometimes unspoken but completely understood purpose of the games is to defeat as many opponents as possible. All practice times and pre-season games are aimed at this one goal. During this process, however, the coach spends little time talking about this focus. Rather, he provides plays and moves that the players will use during the games as they meet each opponent. The coach’s purpose is clothed in the provision of the tools to win.

Questioning the practice schedules or the choice of plays can also be heard. Why don’t we practice more or have more plays etc. etc. The coach’s eye is on the greater goal so the choices reflect the needs for the intended result. I like to say it this way…

SOMETIMES HALF IS MUCH BETTER THAN WHOLE- ESPECIALLY WHEN EATING A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE!

The Bible is full of accounts showing God’s provision bringing about His ultimate purpose. His PURPOSE-FILLED PROVISION became necessary for the exiled Hebrew people as recorded in the book of Jeremiah. When God allowed a Babylonian king to overtake the Hebrew’s land and take them away they had to wonder how this could be God’s plan. Perhaps they grumbled and wondered what the purpose was even though He had already told them the end of the story…

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

Then He reminded them what the greater purpose was…not only once, but many times as recorded…“…words that I sent to them again and again.”   Jeremiah 29:18 NIV

So what did God do? Did He sit them down and ask what’s wrong with you – just trust me? No. Rather, He provided them with a practice plan and moves that would take them through:

“…build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” Jeremiah 29:28b NIV

Like the Hebrews, God wants to us make the most of "difficult practice times" because His greater purpose is being formed.

                                  GOD’S PURPOSE IS CLOTHED IN HIS PROVISION.

The understood goal of being on Christ’s team is to ultimately live with Him eternall. We, like the team players, may question His purpose and wonder why we can’t have the whole piece of cake. The promise to lead us “home” is as real as the promise He gave the Hebrews.

Make a little mind-list of all your God-given provisions. These are reminders that He is carrying you through the grueling pre-season to the greater purpose … living with Him eternally!

Blessings…as you embrace God’s purpose-filled provision.

CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH tab above for SPEAKING OF...

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

DREAMCASTING WITH DELIGHT

1/10/2012

When the new year strikes, we are often also struck by thoughts of what it will bring. This month is a good time to take a look at what we hope will happen and begin to plan for it…DREAMCAST!

Each year during the summer months, Coach looks dreamily at his upcoming team for the school year ahead. While sinking his ever-present hopes into the potential he observes, he begins to schedule the games needed to realize the goal…for him it’s the ultimate in DREAMCASTING!

Looking forward is a vital part of coaching, playing and supporting the team as they live out their dreams. Yesterdays hold many fond and amazing memories but it is the hope of tomorrow that brings us into vibrant living…

             IT’S A BAD DAY WHEN YOUR MEMORIES OUTWEIGH YOUR DREAMS

God is involved in our dreams. No matter our age or station in life, it is His goal to give us the desires that He has set in our hearts. C.S. Lewis reminded us of this truth when he wrote…

                  "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

David, the Psalmist, underlines the process of DREAMCASTING with these words of encouragement and direction…

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV

Here he calls us to move forward in our DREAMCASTING. We can trust the desires of our hearts if we let nothing come in the way of our hope and trust in the Lord and His sovereign plans for us.

                                      DESIRE WITHOUT HOPE = UNBELIEF IN DISGUISE

And what are God's plans for us? Paul the Apostle gives us this DREAMCASTING answer…

With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 NCV

Blessings…as you cast your dreams with delight in the Lord and hope in your heart.

For more…CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for WATCH ME!

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

DELIGHT-FILLED DAYS

1/6/2012

Today we take a closer look at our new word for the year… DELIGHT! How can we measure it and how does it work?

Webster’s definition of DELIGHT as a verb is to highly please – give great pleasure - rejoice! A team will rejoice in the high expectations and grueling practices required of them by their coach when the win comes. Because they have prepared the benefits that await them are realized...a DELIGHT- FILLED outcome.

In the same way the Lord sheds His delight upon us in ways King Solomon knew well. They are recorded in the writings of this wise man found in the book of Proverbs. Here Solomon highlights three provisions that God delights in giving us…

SMARTS - We will be “in-the-know” with clear comprehension of the world around us.
“For the LORD gives wisdom-from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.“ vs 6

SUCCESS - We can expect productivity and return on our efforts.
“ He holds success in store for the upright …” vs 7a

SAFETY – We will be kept from harm.
“He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless…He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” vs 8

It is interesting to note that these come to us as we delight in Him and His ways. A closer look offers measureable pre-cursors to these promised delights…

SMARTS require seeking…“…call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding … look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” vs 3 & 4

SUCCESS requires right living… “…success in store for the upright …”

SAFETY requires faithful following…“whose walk is blameless…He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.”

We show delight in our Creator in this measurable, responsive, intimate, relational way. And when we miss this measured mark is His delight removed? No, for it is the power of the Holy Spirit within us that makes us delightful in our Heavenly Father’s eyes. His delight in us is so great that He gave His Son providing a way for our relationship with Him to continue even when we miss the measured mark. That is the good news … believing it brings DELIGHT-FILLED DAYS.

Blessings…as you happily serve the One who delights in you most!

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PURE "DELIGHT"

1/3/2012

A new year has dawned and with it comes a special word from my Heavenly Father - a word to ponder and prove through the moments and days of the year ahead. The word for 2012 is DELIGHT!

Pondering the meaning of the word "delight" brought me to a place of evaluation followed by resolution ... a good place to be at the beginning of a brand new year.  Delighting others is my heart's desire but my selfish soul wants to be satisfied, be pleased, and made happy...I want to be the object of delight! My resolution: to bring delight into my world.

GIVING DELIGHT: As sportmoms we take great delight in pleasing our children, our husbands and the teams we coach. To satisfy their longings, to please them with their favorite things and to make them happy is what delights our souls.

                       MANY SMALL DELIGHTS BRING ABOUT MUCH HAPPINESS

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:10

GETTING DELIGHT: But sometimes our selfish hearts get in the way and we find ourselves seeking the delight of others rather than offering it. To receive the delight of another is a precious gift. As we rest in the delicate delight of the Lord our God, our souls will be quietly satisfied...

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.   He will take great DELIGHT in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

LIVING DELIGHT: It is in graciously giving delight to those around us while gratefully getting God's perfect delight that we find the PURE DELIGHT of living.

Blessings... may this New Year bring delicate delights from your Heavenly Father.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

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.

About the Author... JANET BROWN

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN