March 14, 2013

Good morning all-

Have you noticed all the changes happening?  The Catholic church just got a new Pope, the seasons are changing and life is always full of battles.  I, for one, love change.  I thrive on it and believe that it's the one thing that has kept me going.  Change renews, stretches and provides many new beginnings.  It gives us stamina to pursue our goals and dreams, leap over buildings and persevere rough waters.  It is the instrument of growth and destruction but always it is good.

As I've told you on numerous blogs, I'm not a risk taker.  I really like to know what's ahead, which is funny because I love change.  I guess I've learned that you have to take a few risks to see your dreams come true, so I have jumped a few buildings in my adult life.

Yesterday, I found out that my son's basketball coach resigned.  It was the worst season in city league.  We had zero wins!  I watched as a group of under talented, over passionate boys began to fade, loss after loss.  They really needed a champion but the champion was defeated too.  Their coach took a big risk taking over a program after their new coach got fired in July.  They had spent all summer with him only to have a minor technicality take him out and put this new man in.  He just wasn't up to the challenge and the boys knew it.  I am not doubting teens anymore.  They really know when you invest and when you give up and the boys knew long before the parents that this coach was biding his time.

It got me thinking back to Hunter's excitement when the season started and how he didn't even want to talk about basketball by the end.  He, as well as his fellow players, were defeated and not just on the court.  So, going into his Senior year, Hunter will have had 6 basketball coaches in 4 years.  Amazing!  He will have moved schools, gained diversity and persevered one of the toughest schools in the league. He will have had to prove himself once again and this time it means the difference between him going to college on a scholarship or not.  He will have to trust God in a way that I had to when we made this decision and he will have to change with the new regime.

What defeats us is not our circumstances, it's us.  I have often conquered my circumstances only to fall at the smallest thing.  I have let change rule me and then prayed about it and I embraced change.  I have wandered in the desert to find that coming out of it was for my own good and I have been on my knees asking for guidance because the change was too great.  My house shifts when I don't go with the change.  It always has, maybe that's why I like to change now.  I feel like if I change then the wind can't possibly blow me down.

Christ knew this lesson well.  Can you imagine how his life changed in weeks?  He went from being a prince to heritic. Interesting?  He was being haled by the crowds, women were pushing babies at him and men were pleading to be healed.  Fast forward and Jesus was being tried by the people He came to save, beaten and placed on a cross.  His change was great and yet, He bore the humiliated, persecution and death for us.  I wonder if we could do the same.  We're upset when we find out we have to change our diets, exercise more or take a pill.  We get mad when everything in our world isn't bliss and we get angry at our Savior because life just isn't fair.  And yet, He knew us and gave up His pride, His prestige and Himself.  I can't think of any other event in History with more change and greater passion, can you?

So as we embark on a new season full of blossoms, leaves and green grass, let's take some time to reflect on change.  Look back over the last 6 months and see what changed, how you handled it and where you're going now because of it.  Ask the Lord to reveal to you the things you need to learn and how to use them in the coming months.  Be grateful in this season because your still here and you have much to do.  As is the case with my son, his future is before him, what will Jesus do?  That's the question of the hour for all of us to consider.  Where is the purpose and when will He reveal it?

Stay true to your maker today and be kind to those around you.  You never know when a stranger is going through change and may just need a kind word of encouragement from you.  We are not alone for God has given us many brothers and sisters that love Him.  I encourage you to sit down and write some things that have changed and what changed in you.  I think you'll find it interesting.  As always, thank you for reading this blog.  I thank God mostly for bringing you to this site and I give Him all the glory for every word.  Have a beautiful day!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV:

     To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;


My prayer today:

O, Lord, You are my God and I worship You today.  Throughout History there has always been great change, whether it was parting the red sea, drowning the land or someone finding out that the world was round.  Great discoveries lay ahead on our journey with many changes.  Make those changes count for You and help us grow through every change.  Help us to be warriors instead of cowards and give us the strength to abide in You and for You all our days.  We embrace change today because we know there will be.  We ask that in the change we will have wisdom and a path straight toward You.  I can not see the future but I know with every day comes change, so hear me today, bring change to Your people and help us all be better at loving and caring.  We need You in our lives.  We need to feel Your Holy presence and we bow down to You, for Your life but more importantly, for Your sacrifice.  We are Yours!  In Jesus name, AMEN