Saturday, March 8, 2008

Football

Brent is headlong into football season once again. The team's first flag football game was last Saturday and I as I type this we are preparing to head out for game #2. Brent loves coaching the team and the boys... well they will be boys as you can see from the picture. It is hard to organize and concentrate the efforts of 9-11 year old boys towards the common goal of winning.

It is through growth and maturing that they have come to realize that they need the structure of repetition and strategic play to win a game. That truly is the Christian walk as well. It is not all fun! There are time that the repetition of prayer and trusting in God is what is needed to keep going. Knowing that victory does not come merely by being the best or the fastest, but by the patience and hard work of following instruction and plan.

I Corinthians 9:24
" Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."

Friday, March 7, 2008

Tired

As corny as it may seem, "I am TIREd"! Brent took this photo at Daytona last month and I love his eye for the unusual. He knows how I think and what I like when he takes photos for me. This has been one of those weeks when I have taken one step forward and 10 steps backward and as I reflect on what I have and have not accomplished; I find myself feeling like a car that is missing a tire (almost useful, just one tire short of getting somewhere).

I know that things were accomplished this week and I do know that I have such high expectations for what I think I should be able to, that I will never feel content as I reflect on the day. That is what I am learning, to be imperfect, imbalanced and okay with being that way. I have to remind myself that only God is perfect. It really isn't my job to be perfect, it is my job to trust God and glory in his perfection. If I make a mistake, I recognize my fault, pray, deal with it and enjoy what God has for my life.

Psalm 27:4-5
" The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock."

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Dreaming



Tyler dreams of being a Nascar driver. That is what he thinks about everyday and all times. He spends a lot of his time concentrating and scheming how he can make it happen. Of course me being the mom, I give him the "stay in school and do well" and you can go to college and learn about cars in order to being the best driver he can be. And let's just say I have never heard a "Mom you are right, I will study hard" in return.
I love that he has a dream and I love that he is determined. To tell you the truth, I believe that he will accomplish what his heart longs for. I do know that it will take hard work and he is starting to realize that after a wake up call from his teacher regarding some bad grades.
Just like Tyler, I get my heart set on lofty goals and start to panic when I realize how much work it is going to take to enjoy the dream at a later time. I want results now, but know that waiting and working towards a dream will bring much more satisfaction than getting the desires of my heart without cost.
I have said this before, but I really do believe that is why Jesus came to us as a baby. It would of been so easy for him to appear as a man and die for our sins the next day. Instead God gave us a baby (his son in a helpless state) that would have to grow and mature physically to make a way for us to come to Him by his sacrifice. It took time and it cost Him his earthly life. For that I am thankful. What better example is there but Christ Himself?
God listens to the dreams of our heart and will do what is best for us in His time. His timing is the beautiful gift to us.
I don't think impatience is a new thing, I love the examples in the Bible that remind us that we are not alone in our hurried thinking:
Acts 1:6-8
"When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"
He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Goodbye Favre


The whole family is in mourning with the news of Brett Favre's retirement from the Green Bay Packers (some family members are taking it harder than others). It is sad to see the end of something so familiar to our family. Brent has watched everygame he has played for the Green Bay Packers. It is amazing how someone that really doesn't know us can be that important to our family.
I am reminded of the human desire to belong to something and to be secure in routine. No matter what kind of week Brent had during football season he knew that when he turned on the Packer game that Brett Favre would be playing.
The thing about God is, He is always there and will not retire....ever. He won't miss a game or a moment of my life, so why do I have more faith in Brett Favre being there to play football than I do for God taking care of my daily life?
James 1:16-18
"So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession."

Monday, March 3, 2008

Alone

Sometimes you can feel alone in the middle of life. I know that feeling. There are times I feel that there is so much going around me, yet I feel as if I am the only one in the stands. I know this is a selfish feeling that God does not generate, but still I feel that way. Sometimes it is a good thing, though. I know that I need to be alone at times to hear God's voice above the crowd. I can get so busy in everything that I do, that I neglect to hear His voice of encouragement.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-9
"I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself,
“Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?”
It is all so meaningless and depressing.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. "

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Vacancy


There are times that I feel that my heart goes through a period of vacancy. Seems like my whole soul can get lost in the chaos of everyday life and I so easily forget the reasons I have to exist in my life. The last few weeks I have felt this way.


I think of the desert often, (this is where I grew up). It is barren, and even the smallest plant can stand out miles away for its contrast of green against the drab brown dirt, rocks and sand. It is amazing how even a small word of encouragement can stand out to me during these times. Don't underestimate words! They can be very powerful to those who so desperately need a little green in their brown.
Job 38:25-27
“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?"