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STARTING STRONG

9/27/2017

 
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With a hearty breakfast in their stomachs, freshly washed clothes on their backs and loaded down backpack on their shoulders our children step out the door and into a new day.  Our goal is to begin their day STARTING STRONG.

How an athlete approaches their sport is a critical component in the outcome.  STARTING STRONG requires an unrelenting determination to perform and a tenacious spirit to prepare.  These qualities are honed as they are encouraged by both parents and coaches.

Recently, I ran across this account of a mother who lived out her STARTING STRONG goal: 

A mom who was committed to STARTING STRONG decided to pray with her own young son.  As he went out the door for school, she stopped to pray for him. Five minutes later he returned—bringing kids from the bus stop with him! His mom was taken aback and asked what was going on. The boy responded, “Their moms didn’t pray with them so I brought them back for you to do it.”

As sportmoms, we can start our children’s day by modeling our own faith in God. A special prayer with them will give them the assurance that He is always with them —continually loving, guiding, and protecting them.  STARTING STRONG will also create in them an unrelenting determination to do their Heavenly Father’s will along with the tenaciousness necessary to do it.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 NIV
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PRAYER:  Lord, please show me how to provide a STARTING STRONG experience for my children.  Let my faith in you be a transparent witness to them and my dependence on you be captured by them.  Thank you for guiding me as I nurture them in your ways.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

   STARTING STRONG BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP!

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

WHOLESOME LIVING

9/20/2017

 
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Breads are often touted as wholesome.  They usually contain an ample amount of seeds and only a small amount of sweetener.

Wholesome foods are known as those that are healthy, nutritious, nourishing, natural, uncontaminated and organic. For WHOLESOME LIVING we are encouraged to eat foods like this.

The most revered athletes are those who practice WHOLESOME LIVING.  They are often described using adjectives such as good, ethical, moral, clean, virtuous, pure, uplifting, proper, correct, decent or squeaky clean.

Jesus referred to himself as “the bread of life”.  Uncontaminated and pure, he was God’s food given both to satisfy our hunger for wholesomeness and to bring us into a right relationship with our Creator.

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NLT

Here are some pathways from God's Word for WHOLESOME LIVING:

WHOLESOME TALK…
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 KJV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.             Ephesians 4:29 NIV

WHOLESOME THOUGHTS...                                                       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 4:8 NLT

WHOLESOME “OUGHTS”…                                                    
Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Cor. 14:40 KJV                                                                      
The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.  Proverbs 21:29 NLT

PRAYER:  Wholesome living is what I desire, dear LORD.  Please guide my talk, my thoughts and my actions.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A CHRISTLIKE HEART NURTURES WHOLESOME LIVING!

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

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OVERWHELMED?

9/13/2017

 
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Ferocious wildfires on the west coast, hurricanes pound Texas and Florida,  anger spewed in the streets of our cities, political wars, international threats along with personal challenges all concern us...perhaps even overwhelm us in our weaker moments.
 
When an expected win turns into an unexpected loss sport teams can be OVERWHELMED by the outcome.  That is until a wise coach takes that loss and makes adjustments laced with abundant encouragement. As sportmoms we add our encouragement when our down-hearted athlete comes home from one of these episodes.
 
Circumstances of life can certainly overwhelm us as David expressed in this Psalm...
 
Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. Psalm 55:2 NLT
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Note that in the scripture passage above David was calling out to God yet again after he had penned the grateful words in this prior Psalm...
 
I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. Psalm 30:1&2 NIV
 
Like David, one thing we can be sure of is that being OVERWHELMED is part of the ebb and flow of life. Another is that our loving God is there to bring us through each time we call out to Him.
 
“ ...what feels overwhelming today will one day be part of a greater story of His healing love.” Monica Brand
 
               OVERWHELMED?  CALL OUT TO GOD...                               & WATCH FOR THE GREATER STORY!
 
©2017 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

CONSIDER...HERE A LITTLE-THERE A LITTLE

9/6/2017

 
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A new school year is here!  Last year’s clothes don’t fit the kids anymore so new clothes must be purchased.  Old shoes are replaced with new ones along with last year’s backpack while old cell phone and iPads are updated.  One thing that remains is what our children have learned in prior years.  The rules of grammar, mathematics, science, etc.will definitely regulate their thoughts as well as their behavior. Here a little and there a little they learn each year - a building block for the one to come.

Coaches follow this same pattern.  Preparing teams for a new sport season requires using the behaviors of returning players as a base for developing new team members.   Here a little and there a little the rules (aka precepts) already instilled become building blocks for  another strong team.

The Psalmist David offered this prayer of commitment regarding following the rules God set before him...

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.   Psalm 119:15 NIV

 Our faith in God is built one block at a time as we consider His ways and understand His precepts...

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.         Isaiah 28:20 NRSV

Just as each new school year builds upon the last, each new day brings the possibility for a deeper understanding and knowledge of our Creator.  Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little we come to understand His plan and purpose for our lives.

PRAYER:  Thank you for the precepts you have laid out in your Word.  I choose to build on them daily so I can more fully know and honor you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                          GROW IN GOD'S WAYS...
               HERE A LITTLE AND THERE A LITTLE!

 
©2017 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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