Blog Archives

EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE

9/30/2011

The principles we live by dictate whether we will have an EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE.

"If principle is good for anything, it is worth living up to." Benjamin Franklin

In the world of sports, college and professional athletes are often elevated. As examples for younger athletes, much is expected of them. Good choices will bring them to this place...not-so-good choices and they wind up in a place of rejection and loneliness. An EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE isn't always easy but it is always rewarding.

As sportmoms we also aspire to be EXEMPLARY in our lifestyle. One of the ways to do this is to be the #1 fan of your athlete. Here are a few important principles:

FEEL: EXCITED about the life of your athlete.
              The secret to success is enthusiasm...practice being excited.

DO:       EXPRESS your joy for their accomplishments.
               "If you want children to improve, let them overhear the nice things
               you say about  them to others."  Haim Ginott

BE:       ELIMINATE destructive habits that may be copied.
              A little action is worth more than a lot of talk.

An EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE is a sought-after component of our Christian lifestyle. Here are basic principles:

FEEL:  EXCITED about Jesus.
              "We annouce to you what we have seen and heard...so you too may be filled
                with  joy."  I John 1:3-4 paraphrased

DO:      EXPRESS your excitement.
              "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
               your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:6 NIV

BE:       ELIMINATE the old ways and ENTER the new ones.
             "...if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is
               here!"  2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

           AS OUR PRINCIPLES GO - SO GOES OUR EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE

Blessings...as your EXEMPLARY EXISTENCE pleases God, causes joy in others, and brings satisfaction to you.

FOR A CHUCKLE click on the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG for today's issue.UESTION.

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

WEARY IN WELL-DOING?

9/27/2011

"It went from bad to worse!" a young woman exclaimed as she chatted with a friend. This comment can be heard echoing through the city streets and farmlands, from the mountains to the valleys and from shore to shore in our land today.  The weariness that comes from bad-to-worse situations can be overwhelming.

During a sport competition, the score can rapidly go from bad to worse. Gloom can set in over both the team and the crowd as they recognize their plight and fight to turn it around.  The coach must always see what can be, so with this in mind the game plan is altered. As the players respond, the crowd begins to respond and soon weariness turns into well-executed play.

While busy doing-well what God has given us to do, we may experience discouragement too as circumstances around us seem to go from bad to worse. The family schedule may be in disarray along with our homes. A family member may be sick along with the dog. Lost wages along with lost opportunity may be all around us. The car may be on the blink along with the clothes dryer.  Dare I go on?

Situations like these may cause us to question what we are doing and why we are doing it ... we become "weary in well-doing". Julie Ackerman Link addressed this issue when she wrote: "This doesn’t prove that we’re doing the wrong thing; it just reminds us that we need God to accomplish everything."

Being weary in well-doing is going to happen. When it does, we can count the "Coach" of our lives to spur us on...He is in the "anti-weariness" business. He sees what can be.

"...But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up." Galatians 6:8b & 9 NLT

One more thing... will you encourage someone else along your way today too?

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" Hebrews 10:24 NIV

Blessings...as you take the TYLC pill for anti-weariness - Trust Your Life Coach.

FOR A SMILE - CLICK ON THE BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for "Too Tired To Move"

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

THE ASK

9/23/2011

What we ask for and who we ask determine the outcome of THE ASK.

WHAT we ask for reveals the intent of our heart...

"...my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." President John F. Kennedy

The game of golf is comprised of not only having less strokes than those you are playing with, but it is in having less strokes than the last time you played those same 18 holes of golf. One golfer reported asking the instructor this question: How can I cut ten strokes off of my score? The answer caught the golfer quite by surprise: JUST QUIT ON HOLE 17!

              ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION IS THE KEY TO HIDDEN ANSWERS

WHO we ask determines the outcome...

Recently my email malfunctioned. After extensive self-help, many unmet Internet Provider promises and 10 days later, I asked not only the right question but I asked the right person. Result? The problem was resolved within 1 hour! Dear me!

                     ASKING THE RIGHT PERSON IS KEY TO QUICK RESULTS

These ASK principles are also found in God's Word to us....

As an inexperienced and young king, Solomon asked God for the right thing. He asked for...       "...a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."
I Kings 3:9 NCV

Solomon's ASK was made to the right person...to God himself.  The answer was swift and immeasurable. God gave him the gift of great wisdom and more...
"I will also give you what you did not ASK for - riches and honor. During your life no other king will be as great as you." I Kings 3:13 NCV

Making our ASKS to the right person - our ever-listening God - and with a right spirit - intent of the heart - will bring awesome answers that we cannot contain.

Blessings... as you go for THE ASK.

FOR "MORE ON ASK..." CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above.

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

WISE GUY

9/19/2011

Have you ever met a wise guy? In American English the term "Wise Guy" is said to be "one whose expression includes flippant or casual comments while contemplating serious circumstances". Sometimes we chuckle at this behavior, sometimes we roar with laughter at the absurdity and, on the other hand, it can cause our blood pressure to rise. Whatever our response, we have just encountered a "wise guy".

                   A SMART PERSON KNOWS WHAT TO SAY...
                                                 A WISE PERSON KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT TO SAY IT.

Solomon, son of King David, was known as a "wise guy" in the truest sense of the words. Aware of his lack, he asked God to give him a discerning heart to govern God's people and to distinguish between right and wrong. God's response to Solomon's request included offering him the gift of wisdom.

"Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I'll give you what you've asked for—I'm giving you a wise and mature heart." I Kings 3:12 The Message

Solomon shares thoughts from this "wise and mature heart" in several books of the Bible. He opens the book of Proverbs with his reason for writing this book...

"...for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables,  the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:2-7 TM

This "wise guy" does not offer flippant and useless comments but rather he points us toward wisdom that is useful and Godly. We can be the beneficiaries of Solomon's gift if we so choose.

Will we seek after wisdom as Solomon did? Will we ask God for it as Solomon did? Are we willing to become "wise guys" like Solomon for the sake of the gospel of Christ?

PRAYER: I need the wisdom to raise, support and teach.  I ask You for a discerning heart to distinguish right from wrong  and the ability to guide by the power of your ever-present Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings...as you grow in the wisdom that only God can provide.

FOR MORE on WISDOM CLICK ON BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG at above tab.

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

"ON ACCIDENT"

9/16/2011

Often we hear someone exclaim, "I did it on accident!" These words usually mean that an unintended outcome resulted from an inadvertent action.

From wrong turns when we are driving to the "I-did-it-on-accident" food dishes that come from our kitchens, we find ourselves the victim of results that we didn't mean to create. One such result happened with a cheer uniform. The skirt was cut too short so an added piece was attached with opposite color stripes sewed on to cover the seam. This added the length that skirt needed and looked spiffy too. The result? The other members of the cheer team liked the stripes and wanted them on their skirts too. It all happened, "on accident!"

Here is a line adapted from the video link below.  It describes how we may feel about the challenges of life...

"I DO MORE THINGS ON ACCIDENT THAN MOST PEOPLE DO ON PURPOSE!"

Things done "on accident" may result in hurting another person or breaking of the law - .unwanted but natural consequences   In the Old Testament "atonement" was needed even if the "sin" had been inadvertently committed...on accident!

"The priest then is to atone for the person who accidentally sinned, to make atonement before God so that it won't be held against him. The priest will remove the sin of the person who sinned accidentally. He will remove it before the Lord, and the person will be forgiven."   Numbers 15:27b-28 NCV

As Christian sportmoms, facing up to the results of our accidental actions is necessary requiring forgiveness. Just as the priests of the Old Testament could forgive, so our High Priest, Jesus Christ, made atonement for all of our "accidents" when He died on the cross for our sins...the ones "on accident" and even the ones "on purpose" which all require an "I'm sorry".

Then there are the good "on accidents" ... like the one in the cheer uniforms story mentioned above. These are the happy surprises...treasures...gained from an "on accident" incident. There is a story told by Matthew in the New Testament that refers the Kingdom of God as an accidental treasure...

"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field." Matthew 13:44 The Message

Blessings...as you find the treasured "accidents" of life and forgiveness for the rest.

CLICK HERE for a MUST-SEE VIDEO of the McMinnville couple quoted above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcN08Tg3PWw&sns=fbhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcN08Tg3PWw&sns=fb

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.refer

AT HOME OR AWAY

9/13/2011

AT HOME OR AWAY
September 13, 2011

League sport games are traditionally held at home or away. Game schedules reflect which place the game will be held.  Both are necessary in League play.

Away games require the team, coaches, fans and game assistants to get to a designated place other than their own facilities. There are few advantages to playing an away game. Rather, a game "on the road" holds only pure challenge.

There are a certain advantages to game play at a home stadium, field or on a home court. With larger and louder fan support, familiarity of surroundings, and no team travel time before play, the edge is definitely with the HOME team.

Recently my sister commented, "When you're at home you want to feel at home." Playing "at home" feels good ... it is both comfortable and comforting.

HOME games do require special preparations.  Game officials are booked ahead and checked-in on game day. Team equipment is serviced so it is in top notch condition, in perfect working order and in place. The opposing team must be greeted and oriented to the facility.  The clock and scoring equipment require setting up ands programing. With the many volunteers organized, things are ready for the home game experience. Then with the home team decked out in white uniforms, the "home" game begins.

HOME games do require special preparations.  Game officials are booked ahead and checked-in on game day. Team equipment is serviced so it is in top notch condition, in perfect working order and in place. The opposing team must be greeted and oriented to the facility.  The clock and scoring equipment require setting up ands programing. With the many volunteers organized, things are ready for the home game experience. Then with the home team decked out in white uniforms, the "home" game begins.

Our eternal existence also requires time "at home" and "away".  Right now we are "AWAY" from the heavenly home designed for us. This "HOME" is promised to all those who believe that Jesus died for their sins sacrificing his life in their place. This brings us into relationship with our Creator allowing us to go "HOME" ... to live with Him forever when we finish our work here at the "away game".

The Apostle Paul writes about being "at home" or "away"...

"So we make it our goal to please Him whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV

Jesus has gone "home" before us leaving us with this promise...

"There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you." John 14:2 NCV

We can be sure that the preparations for our "home game" are in the hands of the One who knows us better than anyone else. While we are in this earthly body and not yet to our heavenly home, let's meet the goal of pleasing Him each day!

Blessings...as you live for Christ in your home away from Home!

CLICK ON the BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for a little more on "HOME"

Your comments are welcome by clicking on COMMENTS at this posting .



©2011 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.