February 5, 2013

Good morning all-

Yesterday I took my son to school.  He can drive now but for some reason there are days he just would rather be with me.  I call it our teenage bonding time.  He really doesn't talk much but he's in the car and every once in awhile he will answer my questions.  His team has been struggling this season.  They have lost every game in their league and I can tell that he is down and so is the team.  The passion that I saw at the beginning of the season has dwindled and with it, his confidence.

I've also been watching him escape to his computer as he tries to shake the frustration and disappointment of the season he so anticipated.  It's really hard to lose and it's even harder if you give up.  Passion is a rare emotion.  It's pure adrenaline and excitement when things are going well or you're great at something.  But when the emotions start to move from passion to despair, that's when you really have to watch yourself.  The two emotions are at the opposite of the spectrum and it's never good to be so passionate you can't see straight or so depressed you're inactive.

Passion begins when we feel good, when we're confident and when we feel we're invincible.  If you watched the Superbowl this weekend you saw passion and you watched defeat.  No one likes to lose but there is always a loser.  I guarantee that for San Francisco the passion went from high to low in about 3 hours.  We love to be full of love, passion and hope. It's part of our nature.  We like to win and we like to triumph.  How then do we keep the passion when loss is in our wake?  I believe that's when we have to pick ourselves up and look for our maker.  Passion in a good sense comes from loving God, believing in Him and walking even when life isn't going our way.  Passion should be steady and not all consuming but we should never be lukewarm because to be lukewarm Christians means we're dead.

Whether it be Hunter's losing team or a Christian down on their luck, there is always hope.  Like I told my son yesterday, I have never given up on him or his brother.  I never will.  Why?  Because I know that God has a plan for them and I believe that God can do all things and He has given them talents that will help them succeed for His kingdom.  It won't always be easy that's for sure but if we keep going, try not to lose hope and focus on Christ we will see His hand every time.

I know what it's like to be in the pit of despair and I know how it feels to have great passion.  Probably like you, I prefer the passion but over time I have learned that whether I was down or full of passion, Christ was right next to me.  I have learned more in my down times but I have found glory and comfort in the passionate times.  It's kind of like this blog.  When I started this blog over a year ago, I was full of passion, high on it almost and over time I have come to love sitting down and writing but the great passion has been lost and in its place is a peace beyond understanding.  It comes from me being obedient and giving the glory to Jesus.  There are those that take the passion and fill themselves with glory.  We are not to idol anything, especially our talents.  We are to give credit where credit is due and all the credit goes to Jesus.

I'm not sure my son understands what it means yet to live for Christ.  I hope that as he faces trials and tribulations he will learn to see the talents God gave Him and that will help him overcome any obstacle.  It took me a long time to see God in my life and to relish the talents He gave me.  Maybe he will be wiser with the knowledge.  I hope so because this life is full of wonder and when we close our eyes we can find passion, not for things here on earth but for a God who loves His people.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still hoping my son dunks in this game and that he finds confidence in the talents God gave him.  I continue to hope that his team will become likeminded and work toward winning.  Isn't that what Christ asked of us?  We're His team after all.  Can you imagine a world united for Him?  It would be wonderful.  I guess we will have to watch and wait and continue hoping that the Maker of heaven and earth comes once again.

I hope today finds you well and I'm praying for all of you.  Please pray for the women in all nations.  We need to be likeminded in Christ and love those we don't even know.  For today, I wish you well and may God bless and keep you until tomorrow.

Romans 15:5 NKJV:

      Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another according to Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:2 NKJV:

      fulfill my joy be being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Acts 14:15 NKJV:

     and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things?  We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn form these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea and all things that are in them,

My prayer today:

O, Lord, You are merciful and full of passion.  You are a God who loves His people.  You came to die for us and You gave Your life so that we may know You.  Fill our hearts with passion only for You and when life gets tough, please get tougher.  We often get downtrodden because we want to win and then we don't.  Help us to see You in everything and to learn the lessons You have before us.  We are Your people, desiring our Lord to lead us.  We come before You today, women from every nation and we ask that You provide for us in spirit, health and mind.  Make us likeminded, one with You, for not us but Your people.  We live in a world full of despair but every time I look up, I see You.  Give us hope for our futures and for those that we are near too.  I give You all the glory today my Lord and thank You once again for saving a retch like me.  Bless us as we find You in our lives and love us even when we don't deserve it.  We need You Lord, come to us once more!  In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...