Blog Archives

DOOR TO ANOTHER by Janet Brown

4/30/2013

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

GETTING THERE by Janet Brown

4/26/2013

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

WINTER OF TRIAL by Janet Brown

4/23/2013

“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

ONCE IS ENOUGH!

4/19/2013

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

4/16/2013

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

REFLECTIONS

4/12/2013

Teams are a reflection of their coach. Whatever has been modeled, taught, encouraged, practiced or required of players comes from the heart of their coach. If you want to know what a coach is like, look at his/her team.

Dr. R.C. Sproul, a prolific author who helps Christians understand what they believe and why they believe it, offers thoughts on reflections. Referencing the moon’s reflection of the sun, he points out how the moon is cut off from the sun’s reflection as the earth moves between them. Then he likens that to what can happen in our lives. Just as the moon is made to reflect the sun, we are made to reflect the Son of God in all of His glory. When earthly desires move between us and the Son we become smaller, less effective and even unseen reflectors of Christ to those around us.

Keeping the desires of this world from crowding out the reflection of Christ in our lives requires constant attention. The Lord’s Prayer records Jesus’ desire for that reflection…

“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NIV

Paul also writes about this reflection in his letter to the church at Colossi...

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature… as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…Bear with each other and forgive one another…as the Lord forgave you… And over all these virtues put on love. Colossians 3:2,5,12-14 NIV

GOD DESIGNED US TO BE REFLECTIONS OF HIMSELF

PONDERING POINT :
If the world wants to know what God is like, can they look at me?

Instead of polishing and protecting our own image, we need to be guarding and reflecting the image of God, which is being perfected in us through Christ. Julie Ackerman Link

Blessings…as the Holy Spirit enables you to be a full moon REFLECTION of Christ.

©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

NOT - BUT

4/9/2013

Saavy sportmoms use the NOT-BUT solution to keep their children on the right path. Many-a mom has said the words ‘you cannot… but you can…’. Teaching our children about the “nots” of life prepares them for the “buts’ of what they will do.

Athletes often find themselves with NOT-BUT types of responses to their coaches. Thinking another way may be better, a team player makes the plea for another play then sets it aside acquiescing to the will of the coach. Team work is NOT about getting their way BUT about fitting in with the coach’s plan.

Jesus’ prayer the night before his death reflects the ultimate NOT-BUT attitude…

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet NOT my will, BUT yours be done.” Luke 22:42 NIV

Knowing his Father’s perfect will, Jesus still made the NOT-BUT plea for a possible change of plan before God himself. He then acquiesced to the will of His Father. The result is eternal life for all who will believe in Him as the Son of God…

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. NOT only because I see it, BUT because I see everything by it. C.S. Lewis

The light of Christ opens our eyes to God’s will for us. Let’s plan big …NOT because we are so knowledgeable BUT because we have a big God. As we allow his Holy Spirit guide us we will acquiesce to His perfect will.

With God as our partner, we make our plans large, record them in pencil and keep an eraser handy!

Jesus reminds us today with the same words as he told his disciples regarding their appointed work...

"You did NOT choose me, BUT I chose you..." John 15:16 NIV

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for opening our eyes to who You are and showing us the work you have planned for us. May we NOT promote our will in heaven, BUT reflect Your will here on earth. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings…as you accept the “nots” and live in the “buts”.

©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

SPOT-ON SPOTLESS by Janet Brown

4/5/2013

Spring cleaning is upon us. It’s the annual ritual of removing the unwanted blemishes of winter in an effort to present a spot-free residence. Sportmoms desire that their children maintain their bedrooms in this same manner…but rarely see it! In business, there are areas designed for scientific research or processes that require a “clean room” free from dust or outside pollution…they must be SPOT-ON SPOTLESS.

Having a position on a team and maintaining it requires an athlete to be SPOT-ON! If their assigned area is marginalized the result can be points for the opposing team. Knowing where to be at the right time makes the player a valuable asset to the team effort.

Christ knew the importance of SPOT-ON SPOTLESS - a church that was clean clear through…

Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT (portions)

Not only was the church as a whole given a SPOT-ON SPOTLESS standing before God through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, but we each have the opportunity to have a “clean room” before Him…

Meditate on the fact that if you’ve trusted in Him, His love covers your faults and failures and that you are clothed with His spotless righteousness. Romans 3:22-24

Just as the athlete maintains a given position, this passage tells us how to carry out our position as a Christ one. Trusting in Christ and His love for us cleans us up…making us SPOT-ON SPOTLESS before Him.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for going before me and picking up after me. I want to be spot-on spotless before you. Please help me to remember that it is my trust in you that covers my faults and failures making the rooms of my life clean before you.   In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

                       GOD GOES BEFORE AND AFTER US - THE KEY TO SPOT-ON LIVING

Blessings…as you let God show you the spots and trust Him to clean-up those you missed.

©2013 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

TO REACH...PLAN IN ADVANCE

4/2/2013

NOTE: The first issue of SPORTMOM E-votionals each month is dedicated to our word for the year - REACH!

To plan ahead is something we are taught early in life. It is a conditioned-response learning process that keeps us safe and takes us where we want or need to be. One of the first “plan in advance” decisions we make as a baby is to cry so that we can be fed. It’s the “do this so that I can have that” concept of living.

Coaches plan well in advance for their sport season. Before the season ends, most coaches have already scheduled a game or two for the next season. These are not randomly chosen…as in whoever wants to play us we’ll…but rather carefully chosen to benefit the team’s development. League game schedules are also planned in advance by a league committee. These ensure that all schools are scheduled for games that lead to a champion and ultimately a spot at the state tournaments. With the games in place, the coach plans each practice in order to REACH the goal of a win.

SUCCESS IN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PLANNING MEETS OPPORTUNITY!

A choice not to plan in advance paves the way for possible loss rather than rolling out the red carpet for the sought-after win.

“Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.” Chuck Noll, ex-Pittsburgh Steelers Coach

Planning is a part of God’s "in advance" character. The first book of the Bible, Genesis, gives an account of the orderly planning of this earth and its inhabitants. The Ten Commandments map out the plan to live by in line with God’s purpose. The sending of His Son to walk the earth as a man was God’s plan to bring us back into relationship with Him. He wants us TO REACH the goals He has PLANNED IN ADVANCE for you and me.

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. Ephesians 2:10

His plan for each of us is built into the very fabric of our being. The question is, are we taking advantage of the opportunity that God’s plan presents? Just as a coach plans and expedites team practices to reach the goal of winning a given game, God has an advanced plan for us. He has set our life schedule in place but it’s up to us to live our lives following it. As Paul the Apostle wrote…

“I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be…I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ…” Philippians 3:12 &14 NCV

Blessings…as you PLAN IN ADVANCE to REACH the goals God has designed for you.

©2013 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