Month: February 2018

Curling Anyone?

 

In keeping with the season of the 2018 Winter Olympics I’ve had a love hate relationship with the sport of Curling. Hate is really too strong of a word to use so maybe just a strong lack of excitement for it. Love it because it intrigues me why anyone would be interested in playing such a sport. Still wondering why it is considered a sport especially in the Olympics!

The first time I watched the sport of Curling it seemed almost comical. I thought, “is this really a sport?”. How do you train for it? Help mom sweep the floors. Practice pushing a stone across some ice, bending, sqauting, or long distance running?

Upon a quick search of the history of this sport I find that it has Scottish origins and is reportedly one of the world’s oldest team sports dating back to the early 16th century. In its earliest record the sport was played on frozen ponds or lochs in the winter. The Curling stones are made of special granite that is found in Scottland and Wales.

The sweeping helps clear the path for the stone to travel towards the target area called the house. Sweeping provides some warmth which helps keep the stone from veering right or left keeping it on a smooth straight path. I observe this as a very strategic sport which requires much patience and calculation.

Now knowing some background on Curling I can see how it could have been created; out of boredom. I still think that it is boring to watch, sorry, can’t quite get that loving feeling for it! I could understand how it could be fun and more challenging played outside on a pond or lake. I could see myself all bundled up from head to toe, trying to keep my glasses defrosted, sweeping the snow and ice so that some lonely stone can travel home to its destination. Then maybe it would be fun, invigorating and exciting!

Curling reminds me of a book a friend of mine mentioned to me a long time ago titled Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley. I never read it but she explained that it was about the people around you that cheer you on and give you encouragement throughout your life. I can picture myself as the Curling stone put in motion by God at the beginning of my life. The sweepers are the Holy Spirit and the Angels that want to sweep away the bumps and blemishes of life’s road and make it warm so my path stays straight, showing me the way home, the target area. I can picture those Balcony People cheering me on even when the path isn’t so smooth and straight. Cheering and shouting, “you can make it through the rough road!”. Home isn’t far away.

Something to think about.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1

 

 

Treasure Island

 

Today hope had become obsolete for me. I had remembered my mother describing it as a dark hole that she was sinking into. That gloomy feeling that makes it hard to cope on a day to day basis. A feeling of unworthiness and low self esteem.

As this feeling was coming over me the song by Steven Curtis Chapman titled Treasurer Island came to mind. Part of the chorus is the following.

“I’ll go sailing out to Treasure Island”
“The Treasurer Island that God’s word can be;”

When in the depths of despair. When making comparisons between myself and others. When self pity cuts me like a knife and life itself becomes gray and bleak, I need to take a trip to Treasure Island; God’s word.

It seems like such a hard task just to open up my bible and read it but when I do I find the treasures that God has put there for me. I feel better, am encouraged, and learn something every single time. I sometimes reason in my head that I’ve read that book of the bible over and over again what can I possibly learn from it now? But sure enough when I fight off those waves of doubt then God’s truth comes alive for me.

During these periods of emotional pain I like to submerse myself in the Psalms. I believe that David struggled with many types of emotional distress. Types that we call mental illness now. Depression, anxiety, and panic. He seemed to struggle with doubt in God’s ability to help him. He sinned greatly, yet, repented and found favor with God. So I can relate to David. His writings match the thoughts in my head very often.

The Psalms seem to have a pattern of a problem followed by a solution. Agony then peace. When he speaks of his enemies pursuing him and overcoming him he physically had enemies trying to kill him. Our enemy is Satan. He is continuously pursuing us seeking to kill us; to destroy our lives and to steal our hope and faith in God. When I read the Psalms I realize this reality of the Devil’s plans against me and other believers. I think of those that laugh at me and whisper behind my back. Then I see that God’s plan is to be with me and encourage me. He can protect me from the enemy and those that are used to defeat me and squash my testimony.

“We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18 NASB

A very good Psalm to demonstrate this truth is Psalm 13. I am going to put it here in its entirety for encouragement and strength in His truth. I want to encourage people out there that are experiencing the same kind of loss of hope that I am speaking of. Please don’t give up hope entirely. David didn’t. Ride through it. It may not be easily quenched but God can be the One that you lean on to get you through. Try very hard to lift your bible and thumb through the treasures that God has in there to encourage and strengthen you. If you can’t read or have the energy to open your bible then listen to it on your phone or a CD or DVD. Have someone read to you. It can’t hurt for sure.

“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, And my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13 NASB

 

Hold On!

If you’re like me you enjoy a good cup of coffee each morning.  I enjoy mine rich, strong, sweet, and creamy.  I like to fix my own coffee, adding my preferred amount of sweetener and creamer.  Sometimes I find the right formula that just makes me want to close my eyes and say mmm mmm mmm!  Even though caffeine is a stimulant a perfect cup can be relaxing.

A good cup of coffee.

A beautiful perfect summer day.

A day spent with a special friend.

A perfect date night.

A snuggle with your pet.

A quiet morning.

A satisfying workout.

A perfect football game.

A special day with your kid(s).

I could go on but I’m sure you get the idea, good things, things and moments that don’t always come easily.  We treasure these moments or “hold on” to them and wish for more.

I was reading a devotional recently and the scripture reference really stuck with me.  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.  In particular the words, “…hold on to what is good…”.  In the KJV it says, “…hold fast…”.  At first I didn’t care for the word “fast”, until I looked up the meaning.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary App on Iphone,

Fast

1 a: firmly fixed

b: tightly shut

c: adhering firmly

d: not easily freed

e: stable

All of those things that make us happy or that bring joy to our hearts we hold on to.  We don’t want to let go of these memories; we want to duplicate those moments.

Overall the world we live in is not good.  It is in defiance against God.  Man does not naturally get better in this world yet he naturally is more sinful.  So what are the “good” things that this scripture is alluding to?

We are to fasten ourselves to the good that scripture points us to.  Good is the Living God, Elohim!  Jesus The Savior.  He who died and rose again so we can one day be in a perfect world with the perfect Holy King!  Hold on to the promises of God that He has made in His word.  Promises of being with us through each trial and tribulation here on earth.  Promises to come again to restore things to the way they should be.  The promise that one day everyday will be even better than that perfect cup of coffee.

We are to fasten ourselves to these good promises and to leave alone the temptations of the world.

1 Thes. 5:21-22 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” NASB

Hold on to the memories of the good things that God has done for you.  Hold on to the promise that He will bring you to the other side of your suffering and pain.

Hold tight to these things.

Hold fast to these things.

Hold on to these things.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary App on Iphone

Fasten

1 c:  to fix firmly or securely

Fasten yourself because just as a hurricane can whisk away a ship on the shore our enemy will indeed try to whisk us away with seemingly “good” stuff.  Fasten, hold fast to what you know is true!  God’s word is true; the Holy Spirit testifies with your spirit that it is true.  Hide the Word in your heart, fasten it away tightly, adhere to it each day and that “good cup of coffee”, so to speak, is coming soon!