You may read this blog and think 'Someone else is going through what I am.' I want to challenge you to read the comments as well. Coaches and their families are going through situations like this all over the nation. I want you to know "You are not alone." We are all in this together, and we as in you and I, our husbands, children, and the creator of the universe.
I learned a lesson awhile back and I hope it is one that encourages you too. Our spiritual enemy comes at us using two tactics: temptation and opposition. He will tempt you with weakness, trying to get you to stumble in your walk so that the name of Christ for who you stand for will be dragged through the mud. He will come against everything you are and stand for. If you are trying to do the right things and it just doesn't seem like you are, you are being opposed. When you are walking with integrity and their are rumors that you are not-you are being opposed. The lesson comes in how we handle these two tactics. The bible teaches us to flee from temptation and fight opposotion, but we, as humans, tend to do the opposite. We want to fight temptation and flee from opposition.
The enemy tries these tactics on me as a coaches wife all the time. I have been tempted a lot to say things to fans in the stands (nothing that would resemble coming from that of a person in ministry:)) and I think I am fighting that temptation, but once I realized I was to flee from the temptation, I don't sit in the stands anymore. Now, when it comes to being opposed I will fight, fight, fight! But we are not supposed to fight as the world does with more rumors and more hurtful words, no God says in His Word, "Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against people, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able stand your ground, after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13
I know I have a long ways to go for these lesson to mastered, but knowing that I am not alone in the fight gives me encouragement. Fighting with you. . .
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Round 2
The paper reads "Kingfisher makes a quarterback change." And so round 2 begins, the father is not real happy about this and my husband is just burdened. Not because he feels he made the wrong decision because he is very much at peace with the decision made to move the starting quarterback to receiver and start a different guy, but that this father is a friend and brother in Christ. We have dealt with parents being unhappy before but never has it entered into our safe place, Church. We are really praying for words of wisdom because what we really want to say are words of emotion and that can get you in trouble.
Being a coaches daughter, I called my parents to seek their words of wisdom and like always, God used them and their experiences to help us through ours. After my dad shared stories of similar situations he went through, my mom said something very profound. She said, "You can view yourselves as victims or you can conduct yourself in such a way that glorifies Christ through how you handle it." Thank you, God, for such amazing parents that lead by example.
I also was doing my quiet time this morning and read Matthew 15:10-20 and Jesus was talking about the words that come out of our mouth are a reflection of our heart. Lord, make my heart like yours. Help me to speak when I need to speak and be quiet when i need to be quiet.
Praying for God's direction for me and all of you out there who are facing similiar situations.
Being a coaches daughter, I called my parents to seek their words of wisdom and like always, God used them and their experiences to help us through ours. After my dad shared stories of similar situations he went through, my mom said something very profound. She said, "You can view yourselves as victims or you can conduct yourself in such a way that glorifies Christ through how you handle it." Thank you, God, for such amazing parents that lead by example.
I also was doing my quiet time this morning and read Matthew 15:10-20 and Jesus was talking about the words that come out of our mouth are a reflection of our heart. Lord, make my heart like yours. Help me to speak when I need to speak and be quiet when i need to be quiet.
Praying for God's direction for me and all of you out there who are facing similiar situations.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Husband I always wanted
So last week after my amazing visit with my parent I thought, could my week get any better. Yes, Yes it could. I get a phone call from my husband and he says, "I just did something a little crazy." Now, at this point this comment could mean anything-"took another job", "moving again", "bought a boat," it could have been anything. So I braced myself for what the next sentence held for the Roberts'family, I heard these words "I just signed up to get baptized at church on November 1." As I sat there and listened to my husband tell me why and how this decision came to pass, tears rolled down my face. He explained that God had really been working on him about this. He became a Christian in college, but never got baptized. He felt God was calling him to take a stand for Christ and this was an act of obedience. Let me just fill you in on our story in hopes that it will encourage yours.
We were high school sweethearts and we got married when I was 20 and he was 21. Yes, we were very young, naive, immature and really had no idea what marriage consisted of. Let me paint you a picture of our first two years of marriage. He was a college baseball player who was a rebel and liked to have his fun. I was a bible-beater, self-righteous, youth minister who read scripture over him as a conviction mechanism. He dealt with feelings of "never measuring up to my standards." And I agreed, not with my words, but with my actions. Where was the husband that I deserved and was a "man after God's own heart?"
I was given a book called "The Power of a Praying Wife." It was then that I committed to pray for my husband and pray and pray and pray. When I set out to pray for the change in him I recieved a change in me. God began to change my heart and in turn began to change his as well. I was making the mistake that I would argue, most women make. I was trying to make him fulfill that which only Christ can. There is only one man that can truly be the love of our life, one man that can be our best friend, one man that can fulfill every need-and it isn't our husband, it is JESUS CHRIST. Once I realized this, the bitter, nagging, resentful wife was gone and in turn God started to create a husband I could only dream of.
I have been married to a man that did not lead his family spiritally and I have been married to a man that has led his family spiritually-they just happened to be the same man. In order for him to lead, I had to get out of the way. Now, he gives his testimony to groups, he speaks to different FCA groups and team chapels, and now is getting baptized at the age of 31. Praise God!! We think God needs our help, just a little nudge every once in a while, but he doesn't. You may be exactly where I was, wishing and hoping for your husband to just pray out loud. When your responsiblity is to be faithful and pray! It is the least/most you can do for your husband. Pray expecting your miracle!!! Until next time. . .
We were high school sweethearts and we got married when I was 20 and he was 21. Yes, we were very young, naive, immature and really had no idea what marriage consisted of. Let me paint you a picture of our first two years of marriage. He was a college baseball player who was a rebel and liked to have his fun. I was a bible-beater, self-righteous, youth minister who read scripture over him as a conviction mechanism. He dealt with feelings of "never measuring up to my standards." And I agreed, not with my words, but with my actions. Where was the husband that I deserved and was a "man after God's own heart?"
I was given a book called "The Power of a Praying Wife." It was then that I committed to pray for my husband and pray and pray and pray. When I set out to pray for the change in him I recieved a change in me. God began to change my heart and in turn began to change his as well. I was making the mistake that I would argue, most women make. I was trying to make him fulfill that which only Christ can. There is only one man that can truly be the love of our life, one man that can be our best friend, one man that can fulfill every need-and it isn't our husband, it is JESUS CHRIST. Once I realized this, the bitter, nagging, resentful wife was gone and in turn God started to create a husband I could only dream of.
I have been married to a man that did not lead his family spiritally and I have been married to a man that has led his family spiritually-they just happened to be the same man. In order for him to lead, I had to get out of the way. Now, he gives his testimony to groups, he speaks to different FCA groups and team chapels, and now is getting baptized at the age of 31. Praise God!! We think God needs our help, just a little nudge every once in a while, but he doesn't. You may be exactly where I was, wishing and hoping for your husband to just pray out loud. When your responsiblity is to be faithful and pray! It is the least/most you can do for your husband. Pray expecting your miracle!!! Until next time. . .
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Are you serious?
OK, Let me just start off by saying "Are you serious?" As burdened as I was yesterday, I am on cloud 9 day. If you don't believe in the power of prayer and miracles then let me be a living testimony today. If I could jump through this computer and tell you in person I would because I don't feel I convey my true excitement over typing(If you know me, you know I am a very excitable person), but I will try. Well, after I shared yesterday I told you I was going to take my own advice and shut up and pray (which again, if you know me is very hard to do). I prayed for our friends and I prayed for us. I received a text from the parent last night wanting to know if I was coming to bible study. I was so excited for this text, but I couldn't go because it was the one Monday that my husband didn't have a JV game so we were spending some family time which you all know is rare during season. After being sad that I had to decline, but so excited for the invitation I invited her to coffee this morning. We met and let me tell you God was present in that little coffee house.
She first opened up about everything she was going through as a wife, mother, daughter, and worker. Her heart was just so stressed and overwhelmed and then here it came. . . "I am so sorry for how I treated you at the game." All this with tears rolling down her face and I just wanted to love on her. All I could think was "if I was going through everything she was at this point in her life I probably would have ripped someone's head off by now." I know it had to be so hard for her, but I am not sure she will ever know to the full extent what that did for me as a Christ-follower and a coaches wife.
This lesson has encouraged me as a coaches wife because it goes to show: First of all, God is bigger than any situation. Scripture tells us "to be anxious about nothing, but in everything with prayer and petition present your requests to God with thanksgiving." I should have went to God first instead of worrying about it for 2 days first. Second, we can never fully know what people are going through personally. She was my friend and I had no idea she was struggling as much as she was. Ladies, we have an opporunity to shine the light of Christ in dark filled world. I pray that this entry encourages you and challenges you to do just that!!!! Parents, administration, etc. are not our enemy. We have one enemy and he would like nothing more than for us to believe they were. Be encouraged when your husband goes through this. God is Great! Until next time. . .
She first opened up about everything she was going through as a wife, mother, daughter, and worker. Her heart was just so stressed and overwhelmed and then here it came. . . "I am so sorry for how I treated you at the game." All this with tears rolling down her face and I just wanted to love on her. All I could think was "if I was going through everything she was at this point in her life I probably would have ripped someone's head off by now." I know it had to be so hard for her, but I am not sure she will ever know to the full extent what that did for me as a Christ-follower and a coaches wife.
This lesson has encouraged me as a coaches wife because it goes to show: First of all, God is bigger than any situation. Scripture tells us "to be anxious about nothing, but in everything with prayer and petition present your requests to God with thanksgiving." I should have went to God first instead of worrying about it for 2 days first. Second, we can never fully know what people are going through personally. She was my friend and I had no idea she was struggling as much as she was. Ladies, we have an opporunity to shine the light of Christ in dark filled world. I pray that this entry encourages you and challenges you to do just that!!!! Parents, administration, etc. are not our enemy. We have one enemy and he would like nothing more than for us to believe they were. Be encouraged when your husband goes through this. God is Great! Until next time. . .
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tough game
First of all, I want to say thank you so much for your comments. Oh please keep sending them. It encourages me to know I am not alone in this adventure of the coaching profession.
I write today with a somewhat heavy heart. We had our game last Friday and lets just say it was a slaughter and we were the pig. Although I do not like losing that is not the reason for my heavy heart. The heaviness comes from the fact that there are some parents who are quite upset with the coaching staff which includes my husband. Now, I am somewhat used to this phenomenon or at least as used to it as you can be. But what I am not used to, is the fact that it is friends of ours. On one hand, I understand that it is personal because after all it is their son and my son is only 4 so I have never been their shoes. On the other hand, it is personal to me because this is my husband and it breaks my heart that football comes between friends when it shouldn't! They know my husband's heart. They know how hard he works. They know how much time he spends away from his own family. I just don't get it. Maybe someone can enlighten me. It's no wonder that coaches have so many walls built up around them and dont want to trust anybody. And I realize now more than ever that our husbands need us. They need encouragement, they need prayer, they need love, they need support, they need validation, and they need a friend-YOU!!
This actually reminds me of the second lesson God taught me in the story of Job. If you remember, Job's wife said to him, "Why do you insist on keeping your integrity. Curse God and die." Wow! Kick a man while he is down. He just lost his children, servants, everything he owns and that is the best she could come up with. As I reflect on this woman's harsh words I was reminded of how many times I myself have spoke equally harsh words and sometimes those harsh words came when he was down. Our husbands are torn down everyday by other people's harsh words they don't need them from us! Scripture tells us in Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, and our husbands need wholesome talk in their lives. Is this always easy?No! And believe me I
still fail miserably, but I am getting better and you can too!
As for these parents, what I would like to do is drive over to their house and defend my husband, but our spiritual enemy would like nothing more for that to happen so what do I do:PRAY!! Pray for them, pray for us! And above all: stand on the promises of God! I found this verse for all the trophy wives who go through times like these: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith. because you know that your brothers (sisters) throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9
Until next time. . .
I write today with a somewhat heavy heart. We had our game last Friday and lets just say it was a slaughter and we were the pig. Although I do not like losing that is not the reason for my heavy heart. The heaviness comes from the fact that there are some parents who are quite upset with the coaching staff which includes my husband. Now, I am somewhat used to this phenomenon or at least as used to it as you can be. But what I am not used to, is the fact that it is friends of ours. On one hand, I understand that it is personal because after all it is their son and my son is only 4 so I have never been their shoes. On the other hand, it is personal to me because this is my husband and it breaks my heart that football comes between friends when it shouldn't! They know my husband's heart. They know how hard he works. They know how much time he spends away from his own family. I just don't get it. Maybe someone can enlighten me. It's no wonder that coaches have so many walls built up around them and dont want to trust anybody. And I realize now more than ever that our husbands need us. They need encouragement, they need prayer, they need love, they need support, they need validation, and they need a friend-YOU!!
This actually reminds me of the second lesson God taught me in the story of Job. If you remember, Job's wife said to him, "Why do you insist on keeping your integrity. Curse God and die." Wow! Kick a man while he is down. He just lost his children, servants, everything he owns and that is the best she could come up with. As I reflect on this woman's harsh words I was reminded of how many times I myself have spoke equally harsh words and sometimes those harsh words came when he was down. Our husbands are torn down everyday by other people's harsh words they don't need them from us! Scripture tells us in Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, and our husbands need wholesome talk in their lives. Is this always easy?No! And believe me I
still fail miserably, but I am getting better and you can too!
As for these parents, what I would like to do is drive over to their house and defend my husband, but our spiritual enemy would like nothing more for that to happen so what do I do:PRAY!! Pray for them, pray for us! And above all: stand on the promises of God! I found this verse for all the trophy wives who go through times like these: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith. because you know that your brothers (sisters) throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9
Until next time. . .
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A day to remember
September 11, 2001, a day that can never be forgotten. I can remember exactly what I was doing and where I was when I got the news of the attacks on the twin towers. I was teaching Pre-K at a Catholic school in Edmond, OK. The cook came into our classroom yelling, "We are under attack." "The US is under attack." Not being able to comprehend exactly what she was saying, we all huddled in the director's office watching a little black and white TV and I just couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. My country, that I love, was being attacked by terrorists. The realization was we just arent safe anymore-anywhere!
On this day of remembrance I want to remind you that God was and still is with us in the midst of tragedies. The presence of tragedies does not mean the absence of God and the absence of tragedies does not mean the presence of God. As Christ followers, we are in the grip of God at all times. We are able to find peace that passes all understanding in the midst of tragedy. We are able to find hope that the mind can not fathom. We are able to stand firm when the world is crumbling around us. As wives, moms, friends, sisters we can know that in tough times such as this one, our faith begins to transcend between simply believing in God to believing God. When we just believe in God we don't get to experience that hope, peace, and foundation. Scripture tells us in James 2:9 "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shutter." No, in times like this or in your own personal tragedy simply believing in God will just leave you hopeless and empty inside. When you make that transition to simply believing in God and believing God you are opened to a whole new world. A world where you get to believe God when he says, "He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit." (Psalm 34:14) You get to believe God when he says, "He is faithful even when we are faithless."(2 Timothy 2:12) You get to believe God when he says, "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and future." (Jeremiah 29:11) You get to believe God when he says,"He works all things to the good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Promise after Promise that you can stand on when things happen that you don't understand and that you can't possibly see any good.
In coaching terms God is the offensive coordinator in a sense. The offensive coordinator sees things up in the booth that others just don't see down on the field. 1 Corinthians says it this way, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." So as we remember this day and all the lives lost and as you endure what ever trial you may be facing today. Know that you are loved and safe in the arms of your heavenly father because that is what the creator of the universe says and you can believe Him!!
On this day of remembrance I want to remind you that God was and still is with us in the midst of tragedies. The presence of tragedies does not mean the absence of God and the absence of tragedies does not mean the presence of God. As Christ followers, we are in the grip of God at all times. We are able to find peace that passes all understanding in the midst of tragedy. We are able to find hope that the mind can not fathom. We are able to stand firm when the world is crumbling around us. As wives, moms, friends, sisters we can know that in tough times such as this one, our faith begins to transcend between simply believing in God to believing God. When we just believe in God we don't get to experience that hope, peace, and foundation. Scripture tells us in James 2:9 "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shutter." No, in times like this or in your own personal tragedy simply believing in God will just leave you hopeless and empty inside. When you make that transition to simply believing in God and believing God you are opened to a whole new world. A world where you get to believe God when he says, "He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit." (Psalm 34:14) You get to believe God when he says, "He is faithful even when we are faithless."(2 Timothy 2:12) You get to believe God when he says, "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and future." (Jeremiah 29:11) You get to believe God when he says,"He works all things to the good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Promise after Promise that you can stand on when things happen that you don't understand and that you can't possibly see any good.
In coaching terms God is the offensive coordinator in a sense. The offensive coordinator sees things up in the booth that others just don't see down on the field. 1 Corinthians says it this way, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." So as we remember this day and all the lives lost and as you endure what ever trial you may be facing today. Know that you are loved and safe in the arms of your heavenly father because that is what the creator of the universe says and you can believe Him!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Game night
I did not intend on waiting this long to write, but life happens (as you all know). I have been wanting to write about our first game. It started with our usual rituals: putting Chloe in her Kingfisher cheer outfit (even though her daddy promises she will not be a cheerleader), putting Cale in the jersey of his choice for the week (this week was the OU jersey), popping pocorn to take with us and the always needed snacks, toys etc. My kids were so excited about the game that when I picked them up from Miss Tracy's it was not an option to go home before the game so this week I took them to Pizza Hut. A big treat to them! We arrived at the game 30 minutes early to get our corner of the field. We don't sit in the stands because as some one in the ministry it is best I stay as far away from parents as I can before I get kicked out of the ministry for my words:) (A topic to be covered later)
Here it comes, one of the best parts of my night. My kids anxiously waiting outside the dressing room not for the football players, but for a good luck kiss and hug for Coach Daddy! The players yelling and screaming, the excitement is in the air for opening night and out comes daddy. My kids yelling daddy, daddy, daddy! Daddy stops to kiss Cale, then Chloe, then momma! I would be lying if I said my excitement comes just from watching my kids. I am secretly and ever so anxiously waiting my turn for my hug and kiss just like one of the kids. I love it!! Has it always been this way. No! That is why it is such a precious thing to me. This act was just the end of many lessons that had to be learned, lessons for me and him. Although we are still learning how to be a coaching family this is just one act that will always been precious. Football season has begun. Yes, we did win! Yeah!
Here it comes, one of the best parts of my night. My kids anxiously waiting outside the dressing room not for the football players, but for a good luck kiss and hug for Coach Daddy! The players yelling and screaming, the excitement is in the air for opening night and out comes daddy. My kids yelling daddy, daddy, daddy! Daddy stops to kiss Cale, then Chloe, then momma! I would be lying if I said my excitement comes just from watching my kids. I am secretly and ever so anxiously waiting my turn for my hug and kiss just like one of the kids. I love it!! Has it always been this way. No! That is why it is such a precious thing to me. This act was just the end of many lessons that had to be learned, lessons for me and him. Although we are still learning how to be a coaching family this is just one act that will always been precious. Football season has begun. Yes, we did win! Yeah!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
We are one
So. . .we had a coaches wives nite out for the schools in the Oklahoma City Metro area. I started this last year and has really went over well. So to all my girls-love you! We meet quarterly and eat, have some fun, have a devotion and pray for each other and our husbands. These ladies are just amazing and I love our time together. We met for the first time of the year and you could definitely tell what wives were wives of football coaches. We were all in "game time" mode. The chatter among dinner was "so who do you all open up with this week?" "Do you all fill good about this year?" The usual coaches wives talk the week of opening day. After much laughter, the devotion and prayer time we all went on our ways knowing that this time next week there were probably going to be some husbands who won and some who did not. And I couldn't help my mind from going back and remembering the beginning of each football season, the fear of the unknown. What did the season have in store for us this year.
We are in our 8th year of coaching and I love being a coaches wife. I wouldn't have always described being a coaches wife with the word love. I am still learning. I had to learn to love being a coaches wife when we didn't have kids and then again when we did have kids. It was during one of these learning experiences God used the story of Job to teach me a valuable lesson about marriage. If you look at the story of Job it is not really your typical marriage story, but that is when God is at His best. In the story of Job starting in Chapter 1 you find that God and Satan are having a conversation (if I could have only been a fly on that wall) and Job, a servant of God, comes up in their conversation. Satan tells God that the only reason Job is a servant of God is because God has given him everything he could want. God tells Satan that he can do whatever it wants to Job, but he can't lay a finger on the man himself. Tragically we learn that Job's sons and daughters were killed, his servants killed, and his lifestock killed. The lesson comes from when we hear from Job's wife in chapter 2. His wife says,"Why do you insist on keeping your integrity, curse God and die." I ask the question, "Why is she still alive? Why was she not killed with the rest of the family?" I would argue that she was not killed because God did not view her as a part of Jobs' family, but as a part of the man himself. When God says as husband and wife, "we are one", He means we are ONE!
Coaching isn't just what our husband does, it is a part of who he is. And if coaching is part of who he is I had to learn to make it part of who I am too, after all, we are one. We win as a family and we lose as a family. As a trophy wife, that trophy is just as much ours as it is our husbands!And I don't know about you but I love gold just a much as the next girl:) Til, next time. . .
We are in our 8th year of coaching and I love being a coaches wife. I wouldn't have always described being a coaches wife with the word love. I am still learning. I had to learn to love being a coaches wife when we didn't have kids and then again when we did have kids. It was during one of these learning experiences God used the story of Job to teach me a valuable lesson about marriage. If you look at the story of Job it is not really your typical marriage story, but that is when God is at His best. In the story of Job starting in Chapter 1 you find that God and Satan are having a conversation (if I could have only been a fly on that wall) and Job, a servant of God, comes up in their conversation. Satan tells God that the only reason Job is a servant of God is because God has given him everything he could want. God tells Satan that he can do whatever it wants to Job, but he can't lay a finger on the man himself. Tragically we learn that Job's sons and daughters were killed, his servants killed, and his lifestock killed. The lesson comes from when we hear from Job's wife in chapter 2. His wife says,"Why do you insist on keeping your integrity, curse God and die." I ask the question, "Why is she still alive? Why was she not killed with the rest of the family?" I would argue that she was not killed because God did not view her as a part of Jobs' family, but as a part of the man himself. When God says as husband and wife, "we are one", He means we are ONE!
Coaching isn't just what our husband does, it is a part of who he is. And if coaching is part of who he is I had to learn to make it part of who I am too, after all, we are one. We win as a family and we lose as a family. As a trophy wife, that trophy is just as much ours as it is our husbands!And I don't know about you but I love gold just a much as the next girl:) Til, next time. . .
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Life's Questions
As I said before I work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Oklahoma. My ministry includes female coaches, female athletes, and coaches wives. And this blog entry has to do with two encounters I had with both a coaches wife and a female coach. The first encounter was in the kitchen of a fellow coaches wife. There were three of us who had gotten together so our kids could play while our husbands took their annual fishing trip. While we were chatting over kids, husbands, and jobs one of the wives brought up a situation at her work. This particular coaches wife is a nurse and she had a nurse she worked with that was pregnant and was told her baby had spina bifida. As imagined they were devastated, but they began preparing for life with a special needs baby. In the midst of their preparation they had family members telling them that by preparing for the special needs baby they didn't have enough faith because if they believed enough, God would heal the baby. As my friend was telling us this story I could tell where it was going and was honestly dreading the question. . .And here it comes. . ."So do you believe that?" I dreaded the question because as a person in ministry you feel as though you should have the answers, and I think on some level others think the same thing. Well, we don't. not even close. As I fumbled through some answer I never forgot the question.
Well, the question came back this week with the encounter with my female coach. This coach has fought an amazing brave battle with colon cancer for 6 years while coaching, while teaching, while being an amazing wife, and while raising 4 kids.And just found out it has returned with a vengenance in her lungs this time. I never have seen her waver in her faith or trust in God. My heart has just broke for this family because I know there is no lack of faith so why is God not answering our prayers. I know he can-He's God. He can do anything. Maybe you have had those same thoughts and feelings. Whether it be with prayers for a sick loved one, prayers for a changed husband, or prayers for a job change. So what is the answer. Well, after this question has lingered God showed me a story that helped me so maybe it can help you.
The lesson came from Matthew 8:1-3 "And behold a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out his hand a touched him, saying, "I will: be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. The key statement is: "Lord if you will, you can make me clean." Not can you-not indicating a lack of faith. We know he can do anything-but sometimes he chooses not to. For some reasons He says "I will" and for others for reasons we may never understand he says "I will not." Even though we don't know why we have to trust in the character of God that he does "everything to the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28) Even the "will nots." I will continue to pray for a miracle for Shena, but I know whether he heals her or not it as nothing to do with a lack of faith.
Til next time. . .
Well, the question came back this week with the encounter with my female coach. This coach has fought an amazing brave battle with colon cancer for 6 years while coaching, while teaching, while being an amazing wife, and while raising 4 kids.And just found out it has returned with a vengenance in her lungs this time. I never have seen her waver in her faith or trust in God. My heart has just broke for this family because I know there is no lack of faith so why is God not answering our prayers. I know he can-He's God. He can do anything. Maybe you have had those same thoughts and feelings. Whether it be with prayers for a sick loved one, prayers for a changed husband, or prayers for a job change. So what is the answer. Well, after this question has lingered God showed me a story that helped me so maybe it can help you.
The lesson came from Matthew 8:1-3 "And behold a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out his hand a touched him, saying, "I will: be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. The key statement is: "Lord if you will, you can make me clean." Not can you-not indicating a lack of faith. We know he can do anything-but sometimes he chooses not to. For some reasons He says "I will" and for others for reasons we may never understand he says "I will not." Even though we don't know why we have to trust in the character of God that he does "everything to the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28) Even the "will nots." I will continue to pray for a miracle for Shena, but I know whether he heals her or not it as nothing to do with a lack of faith.
Til next time. . .
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