WOW What A Game!

Football is by far my favorite sport.  The intensity by which it is played can, at times, have you routing for both teams simultaneously.  Tonight's game between Tennessee and North Carolina was just this kind of game.  The game was so intense the referees where calling, reviewing and then re-calling many of the closing plays.  Well, the closing of regular play that is.  Did I mention they went into overtime?  I sat on the edge of my seat yelling at both teams for mistakes, successes and flagrant penalties.  The starting quarterback for Tennessee is no less a freshman, and a local boy.  This young man was amazing to watch.  He played valiantly.  He played with tenacity.  He played with the heart of a champion.  In my opinion there was only one problem; he lost sight of what was ahead and focused on the success that was already behind him.  There was a point in overtime where he clearly was celebrating his touchdown throw into the end zone.  You could almost tell by his body language that he was sure that on this evening, he couldn't be beat.  But beat he was.  On the next drive by Tennessee this amazing quarterback threw an interception and North Carolina went on to win the game.  Disheartening...yes.  Disappointing I am sure, but never less valuable.  
Valuable in this; I have at times been so focused on my past successes that I loose sight of what is ahead of me.  Proverbs 4:25 says, "Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you."  I have thrown interceptions, fumbled the ball, and run the wrong way because my eyes were not focused on what was ahead.  There are times when I feel like my life has the intensity of a well played football game and then there are times when I seem to be ahead of the game somewhat.  In both times however I desperately want for my focus to be the end zone.  Or as Paul said in Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  
There is one major difference between the game of life and the game of football.  In football the win or loss is rooted in the performance of the players.  In this game that we call life the win is based on the owner of the team, Jesus Christ.  The game in fact is already won.  We are just waiting for the game clock to catch up with the scoreboard.  There is only one team that will win the Superbowl and there is only one team that will be given the prize of life eternal.  Go Jesus!


Blessing to be called His.

Drawing to a close.

The end of something is never easy for me. I am the kind of person who loves new starts but hates to have other things end in order for them to take place. As I sit here thinking over this last year I wonder what is yet to come over the course of time. Will 2011 bring a year marked by great struggle or will life just seem to ramble along at a comfortable pace. I know for the first time over the course of this next year I will be adorned with the title of grandma. What a joy to think on that new life that has already started. We are all waiting on the birth of this little one with the kind of expectancy that usually only comes at Christmas. Waiting to see the face that will remind us that all hope is not gone. In that moment when my son and daughter in-love hold that precious one, I will think back to how I felt holding my own babies. There is a realization that comes in that moment. It is a NEW understanding of just what love is. Love is not something earned or conjured up. It was never meant to be conditional or wavering. It has always been designed to be something that traveled across the boundary of mistakes, mess ups, and failures. It is not dependent on down payments, regular deposits, or payoffs. It is, by design, the single most treasured thing by all of mankind. In fact it is not only treasured it is desired, sought after, and longed for.

This year I will share for the first time the understanding of this kind of love with one of my own children. I also know that with this kind of love comes great risk. Didn't God risk when he created us?  He knew that some would never come to know who their true Father was. He knew others would deny the fact that they even had this kind of Father. He knew that some would turn their heads while other would turn their backs. He knew, and yet He took that risk.

Despite what must be disappointing at times, He continues to beckon us all. He continues to woo us to Himself. He calls to ones who were once traveling with Him and are now lost to a distant land. He calls to one who have worked so hard to find their own way to Him and have wondered for far to long. He calls to those who haven't even given as much as a thought in His direction. He calls and continues to call. He calls me...he calls you. In each effort to draw us closer He whispers but one thing..."Dear child, I love you. My love is not conditional...it is wavering...it is not earned. My love IS. Draw close to me and I will give you understanding of the extent of my love." What a joyous thing!

Blessed to be His!