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...SO BE QUIET

4/26/2017

With 5 of us children in our household growing up, quietness was not something easily achieved. Quiet times had to be initiated and monitored by our parents if they were to happen. If we were in a place where noise was not allowed they would explain why we couldn’t chatter and close with the directive, “So be quiet!”

Sport games are by nature very noisy and loud. But there are moments in a game or competition that require quietness like a free throw in basketball, the start of a race in track, and the moments of a golf drive or putt. These moments shout “So be quiet!” to the viewing crowd.

In the book of 2nd Kings we find this account of the prophets Elijah and Elisha just before the stunning moment of Elijah being taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha was staying near Elijah knowing that the time was near. Elisha’s response to the clamoring crowd was, “So be quiet!”

The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master (Elijah) from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 2 Kings 2:3-5 NIV

There are times in our lives that we are called to quietness. They often precede important and strategic events. We may be called away from the noisy clamoring world we live in into moments of silence. These can be planned times of renewal or they may be surprising moments when it is best to simply remain silent and quietly wait. Watch for these with anticipation and wisely take Elisha’s advice...

…SO BE QUIET!

©2017 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

IT TAKES TIME

4/19/2017

A member of the cabinet congratulated President Woodrow Wilson on introducing the vogue of short speeches and asked him about the time it took him to prepare them. He answered: "It depends. If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.” To offer a short yet impacting speech requires serious preparation…IT TAKES TIME!

Preparing for anything of condensed value requires focused effort and time. The practice time for a sport team and training time for an athlete are many hours longer than the actual competition event or game. Time must be invested to realize a wanted return.

Our day to day living is wrapped up in time. We are given a certain number of months to pay off car loans, weeks to complete classes, days to take advantage of sales, hours to email a reply, minutes to return calls and seconds to text back! It’s all about the time.

Chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes gives insight into the times of life…

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

PRAYER: My earthly tenure is all about time. You have ordained a certain number of years for me to complete my life’s work. Thank you for ordering my steps. I commit my time in life and times of life here on this earth to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

IT TAKES BUT AN INSTANT TO CROSS OVER INTO ETERNAL LIFE…IT TAKES A LIFETIME TO GET READY FOR IT!

©2017 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

CAUGHT IN THE THORNS

4/12/2017

Hearing loud cries for help that signaled pain, I rushed to the side of our 5-year-old daughter. She had been playing hide-and-seek with her neighborhood friend and was CAUGHT IN THE THORNS of some rose bushes. As her mother, I carefully removed each thorn from her legs freeing her from the entanglement and the pain.

Athletes can easily get CAUGHT IN THE THORNS of competition. Feelings of uselessness, bogged down by their mistakes, anxiousness about a certain competitor can overcome them and effectively paralyze their performance. Overcoming these thorns make athletes stronger and more confident than before as coaches, fellow players, friends and family reassure them of their purpose and value.

Thorns have purpose. The story of Abraham’s willingness to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to the Lord, was curtailed by a ram that was CAUGHT IN THE THORNS providing the needed sacrifice in place of Isaac.

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” Abraham answered, “Here I am.” The angel said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket of thorns. Abraham took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. Genesis 22:11-13

Thorns also were the crown that Jesus wore at his death becoming the headpiece of our salvation…

And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. John 19:2 NRSV

Just as thorns were part of God's salvation plan, we can take the thorns of life and use them to move forward by trusting this promise from our Heavenly Father…

“My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

PRAYER: Thanks for sweet roses along the way… and for their thorns too that bring pain in my day. Thanks for my home… and the clatter within. But most of all, thank you for removing my thorns of sin! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

LET JESUS REMOVE YOUR THORNS!

©2017 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

CONSIDER...THELILIES

4/5/2017

As the first E-votional of the month, we once again focus on our word for the year with this emphasis CONSIDER …THE LILIES.

The Easter celebration is around the corner with bunnies, egg hunts, the empty cross, pageants depicting the crucifixion and yes…perhaps, a lily or two. As I was growing up one of the signs it was Easter Sunday were the beautiful white lilies lining the platform at church. Their sweet fragrance and graceful elegance brought a sense of peace and comfort as we once again crowned our risen King, Jesus.

Lilies may not seem to fit well into sports, but the meaning of the white lily goes to the heart of both successful and honorable play. It symbolizes purity and virtue which is base to competition. A pure motive for participation and a clear understanding of the sport are central to achieving goals. Having a virtuous spirit requires remaining true to the game and honest participation with those around you …time to CONSIDER…THE LILIES.

Jesus taught his followers to CONSIDER…THE LILIES saying…

“Consider how the lilies grow; they don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.” Luke 12:27 NCV

As we crown our risen King once again, let’s devote ourselves to pure and virtuous living remembering that, like the lilies of the field, God gives us natural beauty without striving for it.

PRAYER: Lord, as I commit myself to honest and truthful living allowing your beauty to shine through me. Thank you for your Son, Jesus - his life, death and resurrection that bring peace and comfort to my soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CHOOSE A “NO STRIVING” LIFESTYLE TODAY!

©2017 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.

...SO BE QUIET

IT TAKES TIME

﻿CAUGHT IN THE THORNS

CONSIDER...THELILIES

About the Author... JANET BROWN

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About the Author...
JANET BROWN