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Even when I struggle and fail?
I spent much of last night trying to figure out how to answer a friend. I’m sure you can relate to her. Really, I can too. She is a Christ-follower, but last night was battling the thought patterns that call to her old habits. Discouragement.
You ever just get tired of fighting? You ever know that He loves you, but wonder why He would?
I turn inward. I give in. I give up. My friend was standing at this crossroads last night. We can’t forgive ourselves, so why should He? We think we can’t go to Him and say-
“Well, it’s me…again….I messed up…again…hope that’s ok.”
He forgives us when we come to Him because it is who He is. He is Love. Deep. Mysterious. Unfathomable. “Senselessly faithful even when we aren’t” Love. And I prayed. I begged…am still begging…that He show this to her. He’s more convincing than I am. Plus- when has anything with Him depended on you?
Then this story rocked me this morning. Read it.
So who did Jesus elevate? Which guy went away “justified”? It wasn’t the dude who had the conception that God was impressed with all he’s done for Him. It was the guy who realized his need for mercy. So thankful Jesus tells stories about people like me. And like my friend. And possibly like you.
May we realize that we can run boldly to God after we fall. And may we fend off the pride and lies that would sneakily claim that our failings are greater than the grace of God.
I Will Wait For You
Why? You ever find yourself asking that of God? It’s not a bad question. And I believe He can handle it. How often does our “why” have a whine-y tone to it too? 360 days out of the year, I’m content…really, I am…with my singleness. If you know me personally, you know I’ve been able to do things in the past 4 years that I NEVER could have had I been attached. But I’ve got my seasons of “whine-y-ness” like the next person. But here’s some truth that will help combat it in us both.
1- The other night was LADIES NIGHT!!! The fellas were off having man time and raising the bar for them as a community. Conversation ranged, but you know that the topic of singleness WOULD come up. How could it not?? One lady shared about a convo she had with God that sounds a lot like one I’ve had too! It goes something like this…
Us: Why am I still single? Where is he? This isn’t the life I originally thought I’d have… etc etc.
God: Well pray for him.
Us: in the middle of other things we ask of God for him, we say “thank you that you’re keeping him for me”.
God: “Do you suppose he could be praying this too? And you’d like that right? And I wonder if that’s why you’re sitting here complaining to me about your singleness-I’m keeping you for him?”
2- Another lady from that night sent this video to us. Can you handle it??? Ladies and Guys- Be Encouraged and Challenged
Tricksy Feelings
What it SHOULD look like:
Right Thoughts → Right Actions → Right Feelings
What it so often looks like:
Feelings → Thoughts → Actions
Now…feelings aren’t necessarily right or wrong…good or bad. They tend to simply be indicators or what’s going on “under the hood”. But they’re very tricksy, those feelings. And mine tend to lie to me and embellish things. Can I get an amen? We should wage the battle for our thoughts, knowing that they will produce actions and feelings will follow. But so many times, we let our volatile feelings determine our thoughts and lead us to actions that we will regret later.
So you gotta love a late night convo with a friend who shares what her coaching mentor smacked her with lately…this was my take-away from that.
Starting 2009
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Though it’s not scripture, there is something in the previous quote that just resonates with me! And I know I’m not the only one. Many of you may recognize some of this quote from the movie “Coach Carter”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0tHkivAHs0&feature=related
Now that’s just a random quote…but as one who is reading the Bible, I her familiar words in this quote too. “Let your light shine”…and reference to the “power that works within us”…and liberation too? Those are powerful words when you stop long enough to let their weight sink in.
So as you start a crazy busy January, getting back to the grind, the beginning of a new school semester or season, the beginning of a new year…I pray you each become people that will let your light so shine, knowing the freedom that is ours to enjoy, and the power that is ours to wield well.
If you wanna check the scriptures that came to mind as I read and watched this, they’re below. They both encouraged tremendously and challenged the butt off of me. Know that I’m behind you and praying for you as coaches and athletes, but also as people.
Matthew 5:14-16″You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Ephesians 3:14-21For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Christmas 2008
The end of the semester has come and most students are gone. Finals were a whirlwind of a time for our students…no surprise. A couple highlights over the past couple months are:
- I had an opportunity to speak at another school and took Julie, one of our soccer players. She did an amazing job!
- During finals, Evan Bryant (area FCA staff guy) and made around 500 cookies and took them to athletes and students involved in FCA to provide mini-study-breaks for them…some good conversations arose out of that.
Some Track girls we picked up along the way helped us deliver cookies and carol as we went.
- FCA partered with Men’s Basketball to bring in Bruce Crevier. He did a halftime show in the middle of one of our games, and we followed the game with a Rally. Over 25 people responded to the Gospel, 6 of them being adults. Some of our Women’s players helped.
- The audience responding to Bruce’s presentation of the Gospel
- Todd Steelman, one of our women’s basketball coaches sharing his testimony at the rally
One of our Women’s players helping Bruce at halftime
- There has been more conversation between the Student Body FCA and myself. I’m really excited about opportunities to partner with them this Spring!
Jesus wants it to be.
Think of how you came to salvation.
It was as easy as coming when He called.
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
It was as simple as drinking water.
“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ‘from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water…’” (John 7:37-38)
It was as simple as receiving a gift.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
It was as simple as calling for help.
“For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Do you ever look at young kids, and see the absolute care-free freedom they live in, and wish you could live like that? Not maturity-wise, but to be that trusting and alive. Not to be burdened down with business or confusion or drama.
He wants you to live your life with that kind of freedom and rest. And He tells us how.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Colossians 2:6)
There’s no striving. It’s simply trusting Him, with everything. You trusted Him to save your life, now trust Him with your life, and He will save you from your burden. He’s big enough to carry your sin, He’s big enough to carry you.
It really is as simple as reading and believing. Read what He has to say, what He says about Himself, what He says about you. And when you rest on Him and what rely on what He’s said, life is simplified.
If He made it so simple and easy to accept Him, why would He make it more difficult to live with Him? It takes the same kind of faith.
