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IN PASSIONATE PURSUIT

4/27/2016

 
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Pursuit of anything requires on-purpose action.  From our earliest moments coming into this life to the final struggles of our last breath the pursuit of life is profoundly present.

​Pursuit is the verb that must follow the desire to do, have or be something.  It is IN PASSIONATE PURSUIT that our desires are brought to reality.


Steve Jobs put it this way, “People with passion can change the world for the better.” 

The operative word here is “can”… a decision must be made as to whether or not we will DO it.  Once the desire to change is decided upon, we PURSUE that change.  The intensity with which we pursue determines the effectiveness of the change. Moving forward IN PASSIONATE PURSUIT toward that change is both exhilarating and rewarding.


Productive sport teams are IN PASSIONATE PURSUIT of a win, a basket, a touchdown, a goal, a point, etc. This is the very fabric of competition.  Without players with intense passion for both the game and for their position, an otherwise successful season is greatly compromised.  Consider these five “passion killers” for sport team members:


UNCLEAR PURPOSE - misunderstanding our assigned role.
UNNECESSARY GUILT - beating ourselves up for mistakes…allowing our last bad move to define us.
UNRESOLVED CONFLICT – wanting teammates/coaches to do things our way results in unmet expectations and disappointment.
UNDERNOURISHED CONFIDENCE - depending on sought-after encouragement for our notable actions in order to fuel performance.
UNADDRESSED ISSUES - ignoring physical, emotional, or mental issues or creating a cold atmosphere by withholding oneself from team relationships.

   RID YOURSELF OF PASSION-KILLERS...AND PUPOSEFULLY PURSUE!


Similarly, there are spiritual passion killers that cause barriers in our Christian walk.  Our passion to follow Christ can be seriously compromised by unconfessed sin, unresolved conflicts, unmet expectations, under-nourished soul, or unaddressed life issues. The following scripture passages are just two of God’s directives for passionately pursuing Him…

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 NLT

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Romans 12:11-12 NET

“The only thing that our faith can't be is moderately important.“ C.S. Lewis

PRAYER:  Today, LORD, I once again choose to follow you.  I will intensely seek your will and your ways IN PASSIONATE PURSUIT of you.  Thank you for passionately pursuing me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                   PURSUE PASSION AND POSSESS IT!

©2016 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
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JOY IN THE JOURNEY

4/20/2016

 
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No matter what our path of life brings, the overriding theme can be JOY IN THE JOURNEY.  This truth is easily hidden from view if our focus remains on the mountains ahead rather than the scenery behind.

A child’s journey through their growth and development as an athlete is a joy to behold.  As parents we are present providing new opportunities along the journey and applauding each new endeavor.  

Coaches are present for their players. They teach, observe and encourage them as they attain new heights of accomplishment. There is JOY IN THE JOURNEY as a coach and team walk out their season experiencing both the wins and the losses together.

 

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success.  You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime,"  Babe Ruth

God gave a promise of His presence to His chosen people of Israel for their wilderness journey
…

​"My presence will go with you.  I'll see the journey to the end."
 Exodus 33:14  The Message

Just as God’s active presence was the key to entering the promised land, it is the key to our JOY IN THE JOURNEY.  As we trust God and count on His presence, we can say with the Psalmist, David, that God has shown us the way offering us much-needed comfort and refreshing joy… 


You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Acts 2:28, Psalm 16:11

...times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19b KJV

PRAYER:  Today, Lord,  I ask for the awareness of your presence in my life.  As each moment passes let it be filled with You.  And as the joy comes, may it reflect your glory into this world.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


               GOD’S PROMISE + MY PARTICIPATION =
                             A JOYFILLED JOURNE
Y


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


IN DUE TIME

4/13/2016

 
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​We can easily fall into the “what I do is insignificant” way of thinking.  It is an emotion that overtakes our sense of worth causing our significance to be hidden from us.  IN DUE TIME, however, our true value emerges as the emotion fades and the significance of our role is understood.
 
The sport world deals with the issue of hard work paying off IN DUE TIME.  A losing season or competition can cause tears. It can catapult an otherwise well-balanced athlete into the erroneous belief that it just wasn’t worth it.  This response can compromise the true value of the process.  In time, however, the intended value emerges and the truth of its significance is understood.
 
Here are a few scriptures that call out for an IN DUE TIME response:
 

God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. Luke 6:21 NLT
 
“…what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” Isaiah 49:4b
 
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time
.  I Peter 5:6 NIV
 
We are reminded of the intentions of our great God and our own significance within His plan. What are you feeling insignificant about today?  Has is overtaken you?  Use the IN DUE TIME scriptures above and pray them back to your loving and caring Creator.
 
PRAYER: Lord, your Word tells me that You want to bless me with the laughter of significance even as my tears fall. All that I have invested is in your control knowing that you will bring the reward when you see fit.  Bowing before you I put my trust in your hand to faithfully lift me up IN DUE TIME. In Jesus Name, Amen.
 

         “IN DUE TIME” IS FOR GOD TO PERFORM AND US TO EMBRACE!
 

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


ABOUND...in WORDS

4/6/2016

 
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"… abound in everything -  in faith,  IN WORDS,  in knowledge, in diligence,  in love toward one another – and remember always to abound in grace.             2 Corinthians 8:7 (paraphrased)

There are some moments in life for which there are no words.  One picture can represent a thousand words without utterance.  Conversely, words are necessary.  They are to be carefully guarded and wisely distributed for they are the outward expression of the inward soul.
 
"For words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within."           Alfred Lord Tennyson

What our mouth speaks our ears to hear.
  ABOUNDING in WORDS of prayer and praise uttered when only our ears and God's are listening paves the way for inner strength and healing.

What our mouth speaks other's ears hear
. An abundance of pleasing words offer hope and relationship.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:14 NLT
 
Our words, born from our own inner thoughts and feelings, are "the meditation” of our heart. When what we ponder what is of good report, our words will abound with pleasing Godliness.
 
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8b NLT

PRAYER:  May my words of hope be plentiful to those around me.  Let them come from a heart that is pleasing to you.  In Jesus’ Name,  Amen 
                                                             

                                       ABOUND … in GOD SPEAK! 

©2016 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.


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