Stop Playing

Stop Playing

Andy Stanley wrote from his devotional; Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, “People yielded to God don’t attempt to play God. They don’t predict outcomes. Instead, they surrender. They obey. They follow. As much as they want anything they want to be able to lie in bed at night knowing that things are good between them and their Heavenly Father.” 

I know that we live in a world full of different people. I also know that some of our differences are all that some of those people are going to see. Some are going to embrace and appreciate the differences, and unfortunately, some of those people are going to reject and hate you just because of those differences. 

How you love or treat someone should not be dependent on how they treat you or other people, it should be based upon how God treats you and has instructed you. 

People may abandon you, exclude you from their lives, and become very cold towards you, but God will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV). Forsake... what’s does that mean? It means that He will give you the space that you ask for, but promised not to leave you, and then give up on, reject, turn His back on, or disown you. Even when we turn our backs on Him He has never stopped being their for us, especially when we call on Him wholeheartedly. 

So stop playing God, stop playing the victim. Stop playing like you can see things clearly when you aren’t even looking. Be true to Him, be true to yourself, and turn it all over to Him. The picture is much clearer when we look at it in Supernatural faith, rather than with natural sight. 

Peace, blessings, and joy... 

Remind Me Why...

Remind me why we celebrate... 

Celebration, creates celebrity. Celebrities are figured that we admire. We admire their services, we admire their abilities. The imperfect Christian is also an imperfect father. Therefore, he acknowledges the One that is worthy of being celebrated daily... our Heavenly Father. 

The imperfect one is grateful that He has blessed him with fine men in his life. The imperfect one's great-grandfather was a great Christian man, as was his grandfather. They taught him to respect all, especially his Heavenly Father. 

The imperfect Christian had great experiences with them. Fishing trips, baseball, and various sporting events, and some outings that words cannot detail, or do justice. Especially the old, "Suppertime Fart Story!" But the most memorable thing that the imperfect one carries from them is that they loved him enough to tell him and show him that at any time. They taught their sons that as well. They instilled family value, and it passed along nicely through the following generation. 

The imperfect one's uncles are selfless because of the examples they were blessed to follow. The uncles taught the inperfect Christian to open doors for a "lady," and to be respectful. We all disagree from time to time, but one can be respectful in doing so. With that said, how many are worthy of having a door opened for them, how many "ladies" are left? 

The uncles also taught him about sacrifice and priority. They also enforced such rules. They taught and enforced the "please and thank you," rules. They are/were great, great family men. They would lay their lives down for those that they love: 

What greater love does one have than One that would lay His life down for them? 

The imperfect one had three great examples to follow as far as uncles are concerned. Therefore, the imperfect one is grateful for the Christ-like men in his life. The men that inspired him to take the Deep Gap Trail trips back in the day, and take the BlurRidge rides now. He is grateful for the positive role models that stepped up when he needed a father figure. He is grateful for men not too proud to show affection, not too proud or timid to have hugged him even when he was undeserving. He is grateful for the men that talked with him when he deserved being shunned. He is grateful that they helped him when he didn't have enough sense to help himself. Thank You Lord, for the good fathers and father figures that step up. Because of that the imperfect Christian is a grateful and loving father himself. He may not be perfect, but he is caring and loves being a father to four of the greatest children God could ever bless him with. With that, to all active true fathers, Happy Father's Day, and thank You, Father. 

I Saw The Light

I was happy and somewhat eager to see the final score of the Lakers and Mavs. I had anticipated that the Lakers would play with a hunger that would lead to a blow out. Kobe had 32 points and Bynum, Odom, and Gasol all had double - doubles. The bench out played the Mavs bench, and the Lakers won by 19.

Then the Dodgers, Andre Ethier had another hit and extended his hit streak to 30 consecutive games! What a perfect sports night. All this is great because I haven't jynxed him yet, and I am believing in his surpassing D'Maggio's major league record by three (3) games. Yes, I called it here first! Fifty-seven straight!

Well in an imperfect world, an imperfect Christian realizes that the perfect nights sleep is calm and ends well with a joyful wake up call. I was up on and off all night concerned about a sick mate and then ridely awakened too early by reality. I picked up my phone checked the Dodgers page and Ethier had safely reached base for the 30th consecutive time! That was great news, then came the not so great. The Lakers had dropped Game #2 at home to fall behind in the series by as many games. Am I panicking? No. I feel that they can still win this thing, but next year will be a reconstruction like no other, and I think it will be ugly. Beginning with a replacement for Coach Jackson. But in the mean time will Pau come thru in this series against Dallas, and can Mr. Ego refrain from taking that one nasty momentum shifting shot that turns the game around in favor of the bad guys? You know the double coverage, off balance, man open in the corner - but I'm a selfish non- passing shooter - shot.

Time will tell. But what changed my whole outlook on the playoffs was something by far bigger than the playoffs. I really believed with my entire being that the Lakers would be victorious in the game last night. I was nearly sick at my stomach when I saw the score. Frustrated I moved on to check my email,and that's when I received a prayer request that brought me back to earth. A request for intecessory prayer. A friend concerned for another friend, and it all hit me... it was sobbering actually. This is just a game, but today is a day that you have experienced life in. It was not guaranteed, nor was it promised, but it is here and so are you. As a Christian and a sports lover we should strive to face each challenge head on and help someone else make the best of their day and challenges along the way. So, needless to say I got over the loss quickly enough, and prayed. However, I'd be a liar if I said that I wasn't thinking hours after the prayer request about Game 3. Thinking about it with confidence and hopeful for another victorious series both on and off the court. Life is not just a game, but we should make it just as fun!

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