Blog Archives

RAISED UP

3/30/2016

Looking out over the crowd was always a special moment for me as a small child. This happened when my very tall father would put me up on his shoulders. I was RAISED UP far above the crowd to see things that others could not.

Coaches experience the process of being RAISED UP. While they may receive accolades from the fans for their team's fine performance, they can also find themselves on the shoulders of team members being carried about the arena. These moments are both rare and remembered as the winning coach rides on the shoulders of the ones who made the achievement possible.

Having recently celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is fitting that we focus on our personal process of being RAISED UP. The Apostle Paul addresses this subject with these words…

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

We are RAISED UP with Christ to experience new life in Him – to see things that are far above this earth, to understand life from a greater perspective and to enjoy the view from the shoulders of our Creator.

“It is a wonderful privilege to live here in the light of there.” Joe Stowell

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for raising your Son from the dead so I can have life eternal with you. Thank you for raising me up to view life beyond this earthly existence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

BE RAISED UP… LIVE LIFE HERE IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY!

©2016 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

SAME POWER

3/23/2016

Power is an interesting concept. As diametrically opposed as submission appears to be to power, it is, in fact, the path to power.

As players on a sport team submit to the plans of their coach they become a powerful threat for their opponent. This, in turn, ignites the flame of accomplishment within the team. Submission is the key to a successful outcome.

The Son of God walked this earth with the full power of the universe available to Him…

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All power in heaven and on earth is given to me.” Matthew 28:18 NCV

Through Christ's submission to the cross this SAME POWER is made available to us. Fitting into His Father's plan brought about the power of the cross conquering death and offering us unobstructed access to our Heavenly Father. That submission calls for an Easter Hallelujah along with this renewed commitment...

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Phillippians 3:10

If, however, we seek to gain power through work, friends, family or any earthly place other than through the power of the cross it will enslave us. Christ submitted himself to the cross so that His non-enslaving power could be birthed in us. By submission to Him this same resurrection power dwells in us.

To ponder these thoughts CLICK HERE as Jeremy Camp sings SAME POWER.

THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD IS IN YOU!

©2016 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

STAY FOCUSED

3/16/2016

“Keep your eyes on the road,” my father would say as he began to teach me to drive. Distractions inside the car seemed to catch my attention and my imaginations of already being able to drive needed serious dialing back and re-directing. Learning to STAY FOCUSED on the road was essential to perfecting my skills and getting us to our set destination safely.

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” Mark Twain

Spring Track season is here and with it come the running competitions. Whether a 100 yard dash or a 26.2 mile marathon, runners must train to persevere. This requires pacing themselves according to the length of their race while they STAY FOCUSED on the finish line set before them.

As followers of Christ we are challenged to STAY FOCUSED on Him in the race of life…

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross…. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

How do we “fix our eyes on Jesus”?

1. Know what your goal is – study the person of Jesus who is God himself.
2. Commit to training – put into practice the directives given in the Bible
3. Set a pace to get you to the end – walk in communication with your Heavenly Father

PRAYER: I want to STAY FOCUSED on you, Dear LORD. Help me to persevere in life by fixing my eyes on You. Remembering your endurance on the cross, I will run the race your have marked out for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

GET FOCUSED ON JESUS…AND STAY THE COURSE!

©2016 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

GOAL FEVER

3/9/2016

Anxiousness and impatience are the fuel for GOAL FEVER. Getting to a set goal at all costs often causes unwanted or unnecessary consequences.

This truism played out for me as a child when my younger sibling went after a cookie in a cookie jar placed high on a shelf above the refrigerator. Hearing a crashing sound, I raced to the kitchen where I found my sister on the floor writhing in pain. Toppled over beside her were a small stool and a wood box with a chair strategically placed in front of the refrigerator. GOAL FEVER had set in and the consequences hurt!

Our athlete children can also fall prey to GOAL FEVER. Things like a rushed pass, an extra hard hit, an excessively thrown elbow or even an anxiousness to get on the field or court with unsecured or ill-placed gear can result in harm to themselves or others.

“Don't mistake activity with achievement.” Coach John Wooden

God’s Word tells a story of GOAL FEVER. It is found in the book of Numbers 14:31-45. Here the people of Israel decided to take over the Promised Land by force. Their leader, Moses, had not been given the go-ahead by the Lord so he tried to stop them…

Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! Numbers 14:41

Staying behind, Moses could only watch as the Israelites were pushed back and hurt by the inhabitants of the land. GOAL FEVER had gotten the best of them! In their anxiousness they had purposefully gone against God’s plan. The result? More lost time in the desert before they would inhabit the Promised Land.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What goal tends to make you push ahead more insistently than you should?

If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3b NLT

AVOID GOAL FEVER – WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD’S DIRECTION!

©2016 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

ABOUND...in FAITH!

3/2/2016

… abound in everything – IN FAITH, in words, in knowledge, in diligence, in love toward one another - also remembering to abound in grace.   2 Corinthians 8:7 (paraphrased)

Growing up we participated in many school fund raisers. One of the most popular was a fair with game booths and activities. A stand-out favorite was the Cake Walk where luscious cakes donated by parents, friends and local bakeries were the prize for winning. A circle of 15 numbered sheets of paper were masking-taped to the floor in a circle and one of the cakes was placed in the middle. Those who hoped to take home that cake would produce a token or two (usually purchased by a Father or Mother) which gave them a spot on one of the numbered sheets of paper with the opportunity to win the desired cake. When the music started the participants would begin stepping from one number to the next until the music stopped. Then one number was drawn from a jar holding pieces of papers numbered 1 to 15. The person who was standing on the drawn number won the cake! That person’s investment paid off – the other 14 just had a nice walk.

The Cake Walk resembles our faith walk. We turn in our faith ticket of obedience at the door of God’s grace often in hopes of walking away with the temptingly sweet benefits of knowing Christ. However, when the game of life brings no cake but rather disappointment, sorrow, or unhappiness we are tempted to quit investing...

"I like to think that I would have followed Jesus all the way to the cross—but I have my doubts. It’s easy to trust Him when He outsmarts the smart people and outmaneuvers the people in power. But when He begins to talk about suffering and sacrifice and death, I hesitate.” Julie Ackerman Link

When we choose to walk with God, our ticket of faith is purchased and we become invested in obedience to Him. However, unlike the Cake Walk, as life’s disappointing draws come our way our investment is still intact because our ticket of faith was purchased by Christ himself by His death on the cross. With it comes not only an awesome walk with Him, but the promise of our forever home with Him...that’s a win!

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

PRAYER: Today and every day I want to ABOUND IN FAITH. Please keep my eyes on your promises, LORD, and my feet in the direction of obedience to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“FAITH IS NOT CONVENIENT... IT IS DIFFICULT AND DEMANDING.”    Pastor Joel Dombrow

©2016 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.

RAISED UP

SAME POWER

STAY FOCUSED

GOAL FEVER

ABOUND...in FAITH!

About the Author... JANET BROWN

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN