For The Team

I'm sometimes amazed at the degree to which some sports fans take their enthusiasm. You've got your yellers. Your face painters. Your extra large foam fingers. Some fans are so dedicated they withstand extreme weather: rain, snow, blistering heat and freeze-your-toes-off cold are mere blips on the radar with these folks. They are unfazed. It's almost as if there is an unspoken ranking of fandom; the more adversity you endure the bigger fanatic you are.

Outward expression of these devotees is just the beginning. Batting averages, field goal percentages, handicaps, and player statistics flow easily off the tongue as if they were reciting their own birth date. It's typical water cooler talk, perhaps even dare I say, expected? Did you see that game over the weekend? How about that incredible play that team made? My team beat your team. Go team!

As moms our favorite team likely consists of players who aren't destined for the NBA, NFL, or PGA. But there we are, in our matching team t-shirt, wearing our giant button with the sweetest face. All of it proclaiming our loyalty to our little Johnny Football or Susie Soccer. We've got our game face on and a box of goldfish crackers to celebrate with. If only Little League had foam fingers.

How hard is it for us as Christians to have this much enthusiasm for God? Are we willing to go to the extreme for Him? What if the questions at the water cooler went like this:

• Did you hear about that great thing God did for me over the weekend?
• What about that incredible miracle God did?
• My God (and yours) loves you.
• Go God!

Heavenly Father,

Show me how to be a champion for you. Let me be bold in my exuberance for you. Help me to proclaim my love for you around others. Don't let me be sidelined by my own fears and reservations. I want to proudly share with others the blessings you have shown in my life. Open my eyes and my heart to those who need to hear you glorified. May my outward appearance reflect my loyalty to you, Lord. You deserve my praise, my adoration, and my worship. Give me the desire to study your word, God, so that I may learn all about you. Scripture reveals how your abilities surpass all others. When I feel defeated, show me all the ways you have overcome the enemy. Remind me that I cannot lose when I have you in my life. You are not only the coach but the star player and you make me better when I'm on your team.
Amen


"The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him - my father’s God, and I will exalt him!" - Exodus 15:2 (NLT)

On Our Hearts: Journey of Faith

This particular blog post and prayer is going to be a little personal. Here Micki will share with us an event that changed her life forever. Although Micki's circumstances may be a bit different from the rest of ours, I believe that we can all see a little of ourselves in her faith journey.

Ten years ago today, my life changed. At the time, most would have said for the worse given the circumstances, but I will just say it changed. On that day, I suffered many physical injuries as well as a traumatic brain injury. The memories I have are choppy at best. I had many physical injuries to deal with that left me at times unable to care for myself. Of my four limbs, only my left leg was un-injured, this made it hard to get around as you can imagine. The healing process was difficult and long. There were numerous surgeries, months and months of very limited mobility. I don’t have very many clear memories of the time, and have very fuzzy memories of my sisters wedding. I do remember laying flat on my back unable to care for myself and thinking ‘God, did you really need to get my attention that bad? Was I that lost that it really took you putting me here on my back unable to move, to get my attention?’ Now, I am not saying He created the accident to get my attention, but wow, it got my attention and I was in a position to do nothing but listen and seek.

The physical injuries and recovery took well over two years, but that was the easy part of the recovery as I look back. The hardest part was the brain injury. It is easy to describe to someone a broken arm, leg, or knee surgery, but it is hard to describe the mental and cognitive injuries. It is hard for someone to grasp the concept of not being able to read and comprehend what the words mean anymore. When I say my head felt like it was wrapped in cotton balls and I was trying to find my way out, not many can relate. The emotional volatility I experienced was so severe. I was unable to multitask, read and comprehend it, or hold a normal conversation. Often the words that came out of my mouth did not make any sense and I could not ‘find’ the words that I was looking for.

A few years ago someone asked me how I got through it. It sounded so ridiculous to me. Why would I choose to lay there and write my life off? Just because I had challenges didn’t mean that I couldn’t get some sort of life back. I basically had two choices: to lay there and let it get the best of me or try to be myself again. When I say get myself back it was more about accepting who I had become as a result of the accident and in a way grieving the loss of my old self. I had to realize I would not and will not ever be who I was, or have the exact same personality. But I know now that is ok.

During this time, I can only credit my faith for this success. I truly believe without it, I would have not made even one-fourth of the recovery I have made. Why? It was hard work. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Marine Corps boot camp was easy compared to the rehab and battle I did. It was day in and day out with no or very little progress. Week after week of the same thing wondering if I improved at all, days and days of crying because I couldn’t stop. ‘Brain storms’ where I was so overwhelmed I could not do, think, or function. Through the fuzz, I had to keep holding on to the fact I could ‘get better’. My then boyfriend, now husband was amazing. He accepted me exactly how I was. It was ok not to be the old Micki.

Before the accident I was lost, a bit of a risk taker, I had a career but no real commitments. I only had as many possessions that I could pack up the car and leave. If I felt like moving I could, where I ended up I would. Of course that is not what happened. I have been married for almost 8 years and we have 2 young girls. I am so thankful for my life; for my experiences. I still struggle and am reminded daily of my injuries. Many days with physical pain and every day the cognitive challenges that remain. I have recovered well and adjusted. I have been taught many modifications, but daily I have to work at them.

I am no longer bitter, I am not sorry it happened. I am grateful for my faith. I am grateful for my family. I am thankful for each day and the challenges they present. For the gift of my family and for my husband accepting me for who I am today. I look at the world with a grateful heart and I am grateful to my God for my second chance.


Father God,

So many of us have our story, our battles we have fought. Today I just want to say thank you for mine. At many times in the past I have not been as forgiving or compassionate as I should have been. I am now ready to give it to you. It has taken years of you working on my heart to lift some bitterness. You are my God. I thank you for standing by me and being my companion during this journey.


Amen


"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

On Our Hearts: God's Love For Us

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for loving us. You are constantly with us, loving us, guiding us and protecting us. You encourage us when we were down and rejoice with us when we are filled with joy. We are in awe of Your greatness, Lord. You know everything about us - the good and the bad - and yet You never leave us. Even the hairs on our head have been carefully placed by You. And when we were in our mother's womb You knew exactly the plan You had for us. Thank You for being with us when we turn our hearts from You, as You wait patiently for us to return to Your goodness. We cannot even begin to comprehend that kind of love, Lord. You know the words we are going to say before we have even formed them in our mouths. Our future has been carefully planned by You. You are magnificent, Lord. Thank You for never forsaking us, Lord.

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake I am still with You." Psalm 139:17-18

On Our Hearts: Praise

Heavenly Father,

Today we just lift up our voices to praise you. Your blessings know no boundaries. You comfort, teach and heal us. We are in awe of Your love for us. Thank you Lord for saving our souls and preparing a place in eternity with You.

Father we ask that we use our voices to constantly praise You today. Let our worship be in everything that we do. From our words to our actions, we want others to know just how much we love You and how thankful we are that You are our salvation. May we shout it to the world, 'Praise You God!'

Amen

"Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name." Psalm 18:49

On Our Hearts: Less is More

Heavenly Father,

In this crazy world we often find ourselves just going through the motions. We're running to the grocery store, leading the PTA meeting, balancing the checkbook, sorting the laundry, and shuffling our children off to their next activity. Where have we placed you, Lord? Are we shining Your light brightly or have we covered it with our lists and expectations? Who do people see when they look at us? Are they seeing You or are they seeing the wrinkled blouse we forgot to iron?

We praise You God for our Savior that has rescued us. Your work in us is not done, yet we how often do we claim to be the finished product? Lord, we ask for a renewed passion for You. Let our mouths speak of Your praise, our eyes be focused on Your glory, and our ears tuned to Your guidance. When others look at us, let them see You, Lord. As Your word tells us: He must increase, but I must decrease. We need more of You in us, Lord.

Amen

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

On our Hearts: Things That Matter

Father,

Giggles from the other room, siblings getting along, quiet moments of escape for a moment with You; the dishwasher is running, laundry is done, praise for the little things, the break. This quiet moment is a reminder that the busyness duing the day distracts us from You. We let things get in the way of turning to You, praising You, thanking You for everything during our day.

Father, help us to pause and enjoy these moments. Give us the wisdom to stop and decide whether something is worth stressing over. We thank you for the blessing that is our children - in the peace and in the noise.

Amen

"... to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." - Ephesians 1:6-8