Blog Archives

WIGGLE-WORM

10/30/2012

Sitting still in church was always a challenge for me as a child. Since we didn’t have children’s church or Sunday School during the adult church service, we were required to sit still for a good 45 minute sermon. It was difficult, however it prepared me well for school, for many long church committee meetings and for the never-ending corporate management meetings that were to come.

Sport activity requires maintained focus. Excessive movement wastes precious energy.
Conserving and managing energy for the duration of a competition is an absolute necessity.

“My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you'll win....Channel your energy. Focus.” Carl Lewis (Track and field Olympic gold and silver medalist)

Beyond managing game-time energy is taking full advantage of the time-outs. In 45 years of watching Coach’s basketball games, I have observed many teams hitting the floor with explosive action only to find exhaustion over-taking them in the 4th quarter. Hydrating and resting the muscles during well-planned time outs, quarter breaks and half time allow for re-focus and renewal providing the stillness necessary to finish strong.

In the same way, our daily lives require controlling our wiggle-worm energy. To do this we must…

MONITOR ENERGY EXPENDITURE – Remain tuned in to the required movements necessary to complete our daily tasks. Keeping our eyes fixed on the goal with a steady and controlled faith ensures that we will have the energy to accomplish what it set before us.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:2

TAKE REGULAR TIME-OUTS – To regain focus we take pause to remember who gives us our strength and how to hydrate our faith.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:19

The Hebrew word for still in this passage means “to cease striving.” Allowing God to speak into our day without our interference is a hands down sort of time-out. We generally use our hands for protection or to accomplish something with purposeful movement. Dropping our hands before the Lord says, “I am going to stop struggling and wait on You to do Your reviving work!"

Taking a "hope-in-the-Lord" type of Time Out provides the added strength necessary to complete our day with energy left over.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Blessings…as God's renewing spirit calms the WIGGLE-WORM within.

FOR MORE - CLICK ON TE LINK BELOW FOR TODAY'S BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG http://www.sportmomsandmore.com/behind-the-bench-blog.html

2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

INTENSE CALM

10/26/2012

It is a well-known fact that there is an INTENSE CALM at the eye of a hurricane. As the violent winds swirl relentlessly devastating all in its path, there remains a center that is eerily calm.

Nature teaches us the meshing of intensity and calm that create beautiful outcomes. The intensity of a rapidly flowing river along with the calm of a windswept desert created the Grand Canyon. The intensity of an ocean wave on a well-used beach creates a calm, smooth-sanded beach for another day of play. It's the intensity of autumn winds that prepare a tree for a dormant
winter of calm and ready it for the newness of spring. God had great outcomes in mind when He created the opposing forces of intensity and calm in order to display these wonders.

The ability to become a calm center in a potentially explosive situation is a necessary part of successful coaching. The opposite action would be to step out into the whirl of the fray and become part of its all-consuming power. Taking this action means the possibility of calm going out the window of despair. In contrast, answering the frantic questions of an intense player like "what's wrong?" or "why can't we get ahead?" requires a steady and reassuring response from the coach saying, "Trust me, and do what we have practiced."

Both an intense focus on the game along with a calm resolve to follow the plan are required of coaches and players. These two responses are equally important to successfully move the team forward.

Quite often I find myself reacting like an intense player regarding the storms of life. Frantic questions like “why this loss?" or "why this struggle?” invade my being and threaten my calm.

"They who have steeped their soul in prayer can every anguish calmly bear."
Richard Milnes, English Poet

It is in these moments that my Heavenly Father speaks these words of assurance to my soul, “Shhhh, child. You wouldn't understand if I explained it to you...just trust Me!” With this reassurance comes an INTENSE CALM and I move ahead with a confident and quiet spirit. David the Psalmist spoke of this when he wrote...

"I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself..."   Psalm 131:1-2

Are you in a hurricane today? May the peace of God bring you into the eye of the storm quieting your spirit with INTENSE CALM.

Blessings...as you allow the intensity of today to be subdued by God's calming spirit.

2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

RIGHTLY DIVIDE

10/23/2012

Growing up in a family of eight children and on a limited farm-worker’s salary, my father tells this story about his mother’s RIGHTLY DIVIDE approach: My dear mother would come home from grocery shopping with one Milky Way candy bar. Her next step was to divide it into 5 equal parts supplying a small “bite” for each of her 5 growing sons. Her sincere desire was to provide a special treat for us, but because of her long-standing need to be fair she was unwittingly driven to this well-intentioned decision. Why, I would have reveled in one of my brothers enjoying the whole candy bar rather than getting but a small little morsel and left wishing for more! At least that's they way I see it!

Coaches also have a responsibility to RIGHTLY DIVIDE. When it comes to setting the roster for the upcoming season of play, they must choose not only who will be on the team but who will take the lead positions for the team. This process is in place in an effort to present the strongest team however it comes with the tough decision of who to eliminate. Keeping too many players can severely limit playing time, while keeping too few can mean running short of players before the season ends. A wrong decision here can adversely affect an entire season of play.

When it comes to living out our faith, how do we RIGHTLY DIVIDE God's Word? Mishandling of scripture can result in unwitting misrepresentation if God's character.  The Apostle Paul challenged his protégé, Timothy, with these words…

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

As representatives of Christ, it is our responsibility to live out God’s Word. We prepare for this responsibility by faithfully studying His inspired Word. As His Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we gain the insight, understanding and wisdom necessary to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Word of truth.

Offering only a “morsel”of who God is, can take away important parts of His character. In the same manner, adding to scripture only serves to complicate who He is - two candy bars can be toxic!  Consider what John wrote in the book of Revelations…

If anyone adds anything to these words, God will add to that person the disasters written about in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away that one's share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are written about in this book. Revelations 22:18-19

What a sobering thought...a difficult challenge in today’s information-driven world.

                                               GOD’S WORD IS A NO SPIN ZONE!

Blessings…as you RIGHTLY DIVIDE the candy bars of God’s Word.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar -Portland, OR 97224

KNOCK-KNOCK

10/19/2012

The old knock-knock jokes come to mind today…knock-knock! Who’s there? Banana. Banana who? Knock-knock! Who’s there? Banana. Banana who? Knock-knock – who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn’t say banana! As a child, this was one of my favorites…what was yours?

The idea of letting others know that we are there by knocking is standard in our society.  We may knock on a car window, on an office door or on someone’s front door. It serves to solicit a response by letting those inside know that we wish to be acknowledged. We may be delivering
a message, just want to chat awhile or we may even find a family member standing there who we have inadvertently locked out.

THE KNOCK: There is a well-known depiction of Jesus gently knocking at a door.  The shading reveals the shape of a heart reminding us of His desire to be acknowledged. The exchange: Knock, knock – who’s there? Jesus. Jesus who? Jesus Christ...the one who loves you the most and wants to live with you now and forever. Will you let me in?

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 NIV

                         Letting Christ into the center of our lives completes everything.

THE LOCK-OUT:   Sometimes we may lock Him out by simply not keeping in touch or by daily duties that consume our attention. When we hear His gentle knock with our spiritual ears, let’s quickly answer the door with a heartfelt, “Oh, I’m so sorry – didn’t mean to lock you out!”

When we answer His knock, He enters to do life together. God offers the same
promise to us that He gave His chosen people of Israel…

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7 NIV

                                     Jesus stands at our door offering “opportunity” –
                          We stand on the other side with the “responsibility” to answer.

Blessings…as you hear Jesus’gentle knock and swing the door wide open.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar -Portland, OR 97224

ONE TOUCH

10/16/2012

“Touch with your eyes.” These words reminded our toddler-age grandchildren not to pick up items while perusing through grocery store aisles. It worked fairly well until they got a little older and a little wiser.

As a child there was a touch that I’ll never forget. It was cool hand of my mother on my feverish forehead…ONE TOUCH brought comfort and soothing relief. The first time I was away from home and became very ill with a very high fever was at youth camp. As a 14-year-old I desperately longed for my mother’s cool touch on my sweat-covered forehead.

Athletes know the importance of touch. The way a ball or sport instrument is held, positioned, caught and thrown is key to accomplishing the intended task. In baseball, pitchers are often
identified by their signature pitch- slow ball, fast ball, curve ball etc. An athlete’s reputation can hang on the kind of “touch” he or she administers during a game or competition.

The power of ONE TOUCH is referenced at the very beginning of time. God gave this directive to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden…

You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not
touch it…  Genesis 3:3

It was God’s way of saying, “Touch with your eyes!”

Upon hearing about Jesus’ healing power, the crowd around Him knew that even ONE TOUCH of His clothes was enough to heal those who were ill.

And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the
marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Mark 6:56

There are times when ONE TOUCH is all that is needed to bring comfort, encouragement and even healing to a hurting heart.

                                          A GODLY TOUCH HOLDS GREAT POWER!

Who needs your gentle pat on the shoulder, the squeeze of your hand or a simple touch with
smiling eyes? These actions quietly whisper care and concern to an often unreachable world. around us. They carry with them the affirming message of our Heavenly Father’s love.

“Jesus touched the untouchables of the world.  Will you do the same?” Max Lucado

Blessings…as you impact your world with at least ONE TOUCH today in the name of Jesus.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar -Portland, OR 97224

DANGEROUS DELIGHT

10/12/2012

Some measure of danger often precedes a delightful experience. It may be found in
acts as simple as when we hurriedly driving through hair-raising traffic to get to a game that we won. It may be found in putting on a helmet and pads for protection from the pounding by a formidable opponent and winning the game. Or it may be found in the simple risks we daily choose to take in order to more quickly get to the delight of attaining.

No matter the delight, there is usually a risk we took to get there. As the old saying
goes, “Danger and delight grow on one stalk.”

It may take some risky decisions that seem rather dangerous to arrive at the delightful place we are seeking. Weighing these against one another is our daily challenge.

When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax. Ecclesiastes 10:9 NLT

Here the writer, called "the Teacher" and showing connection to King Solomon, tells of the danger of cutting rock for good purpose - bringing delightful safety and protection to many. He also cites the danger of a sharp ax while chopping wood that provided fire for delightful warmth during long, cold nights or wood for strong buildings.

What dangers have you already faced today in favor of attaining a desired delight.

As Jesus walked this earth, He faced DANGEROUS DELIGHT. There were the dangers of breaking the rules of society. Whether it was when to heal someone – (certainly not on the Sabbath!) or who he should eat with (avoid the sinners! He made…

         DANGEROUS  DECISIONS THAT BROUGHT DELIGHTFUL OUTCOMES.

Bringing God’s kingdom to this earth was Jesus’ intention even when it meant negotiating His way through the danger of the cross. Why? To prove God’s never-ending love for us world…His greatest delight!

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger…?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.   Romans  8:35 & 37

We can be secure even in the middle of danger if the desired outcome brings delight to our Heavenly Father.

Blesssings…as you conquer the dangers that lead to eternal delight.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

ALL-FOR-NOTHING?

10/9/2012

Have you ever “put all your eggs in one basket”? I have, and then dropped the basket!   Mark Twain offered this ALL-FOR-NOTHING advice …

“Put all your eggs in one basket… but watch that basket.”

As sportmoms we experience the ALL-FOR-NOTHING feeling every time their refrigerator gets raided by our foraging athlete in the middle of the night. The seemingly well-thought-out plan for a 3-day supply of yummy snacks disappears instantly followed by the simple explanation, “I was hungry!”  That basket of plans was certainly knocked right out of our hands.

The warning to “not put all our eggs in one basket” was an often-heard reminder around our
house as I grew up. It regularly pops up in my mind as I face all kinds of life decisions. This simple warning has become a constant protection from ALL-FOR-NOTHING types of disasters.

Today’s economic environment has brought about a keen awareness of losing everything in ALL-FOR-NOTHING pursuits.  Hefty investments in high-risk adventures can bring about amazing wealth or complete economic devastation. Even with careful planning, we can find ourselves on the short end of an intended conservative endeavor only to discover nothing in return.

The Word of God speaks to us about ALL-FOR-NOTHING living…

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me…for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! Galatians  2:20-21

Here the Apostle Paul reminds us that if living within all the laws of Moses is our only investment, then Christ gave His ALL...FOR NOTHING. Our right standing before God comes from believing that Christ is the Son of God, that He took my sin upon himself at the cross…God’s basket of promise that will not get dropped.

… I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians
5:19

Christ in me has an ALL-FOR-EVERYTHING return-

                                              HIS ALL FOR MY EVERYTHING!

Blessings…as Christ lives in and through you yielding an ALL-FOR-EVERYTHING return.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

FOREVER-AGO

10/5/2012

The past is something we may run “from”” or “to” depending on the circumstance it represents.

                                                    MEMORIES CAN SEEM LONGER THAN TIME

Coach resists reviewing some of the lower moments of his long-standing and illustrious career. Ripping his sport coat in half at a crucial time-out during a nail-biting game some 30+ years ago is one of them…but then who wouldn’t try to erase that one? God forgave him and I’m working on it! The jacket does remain in our closet as an occasional reminder of a wish-it-hadn’t-happened memento…after all it was a FOREVER-AGO.

Recently my great niece posted this comment on her Facebook page … “Can't believe this was only a month ago?! Seems like forever ago!”

A FOREVER-AGO is so impacting that it seems like it began a lot longer ago than it did. Then there are the “it seemed like yesterday” experiences that happened long ago but time stands still between then and now. These defy earthly time frames and highlight eternity in our hearts.

Forever is both past and future.  Our“it-seems-like-yesterday” experiences reflect the “thousand years as a day”concept. Our FOREVER-AGO snapshots greatly impact our life path in a short period of time and bear out the “a day is as a thousand years” side of our Creator.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. I Peter 3:8

There is a FOREVER-AGO time that altered all of history. It began in a manger and concluded on a mountain. The manger held the Son of God – the mountain held all of my sins. Even though I wasn’t there, God’s Word continues to carry it into my life today – a true FOREVER-AGO experience.

Approximately 289 times the word “forever” appears in scripture. They are constant reminders of our God’s infinite presence and all-encompassing purpose. Here are a few ...

FOREVER THE SAME: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 3:8

FOREVER TO BE PRAISED: For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!  Romans 11:36

FOREVER LOVING:   His love endures forever. Psalm 136:24-36

FOREVER WITH US: Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Blessings…as you experience God’s FOREVER in your daily life.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar -Portland, OR 97224

ABOVE THE BELOW

10/2/2012

For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Psalm 97:9 NIV

Standing beside big, tall, strong athletes brings on a sense of smallness for me. The world they live in is much higher than mine. They see over the heads of many as they tower over the crowd. Viewing them on the athletic court or field their height is often deceiving. But come up alongside of them and the reality of their stature becomes evident.

As a child I regularly sensed a feeling of security when I was in a crowd. Why? Because my father was usually the tallest person there so he was easily spotted. Many times it was his towering above that enabled me to get back to my family.

Towering above us, our God provides the security of His presence and the beacon to get back to His side.

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. Colossians 1:18 The Message

“Our greatest hope here below is help from God above.” Joe Stowell

We may be striving for a closer relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Or perhaps this finds us making our way back to Him after years of self-inflicted separation. He stands above all the frays of life ready to fill us with His amazing purpose.

He (Jesus) that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things. Ephesians 4:10 KJV

We have this great hope...a lasting security…as we walk the earth below. God, from His place far above all things, waits to fill us with His presence.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NLT

Blessings…as you come alongside of God’s greatness letting Him shower you from above.

©2012 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