AUGUST 12, 2016

“Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.” 
― William Arthur Ward

PSALM 93-95

The Psalmist praises the creator of all things...

1Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land. (96:1-5)

ROMANS 11:22-36

Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom andⁱ knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”^j

35“Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?”^k

36For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

JOURNAL 

Coaching is such an honor. I have been coaching my boys for the past 10 years. Football and baseball both teach so many lessons yet I feel like I am the one that is being constantly being taught. Yesterday was one of those days that I didn't want to do practice. I wanted to call it off and was looking for any excuse. Once I got out there though it brought me back to life and to God's heart. 

There is nothing quite like engaging and teaching and pushing 10 year old boys. To see the lights turn on in their minds. To see them muster up courage and work to do things they are uncomfortable doing, warms my heart. It reminds me that God sees me the same way. When I trust him and work to get better and do things that are hard...I know and feel that it warms his heart.

This morning I am a bit overwhelmed as I contemplate that the creator of all things, all people, the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, the oceans, all the smallest details of our amazing world...the laugh and tears of a child, the miracle of a created being...he is the author and creator of all and yet through it he whispers and pronounces his love for me, for all of his creation. It is in these moments that I both realize how small and insignificant I am, but at the same time how grateful I am to be a part of it all. I realize that he is all things...Father, Coach, Friend. He finds joy in his creation living, breathing and doing what he designed it to do...I experience that same joy when I cling to his instruction, his direction and know that he smiles on me, no matter how often I fumble, blow it or lose my way. He is always waiting, always hoping, always calling me back to him. 

What an honor to serve him and obey him as I am called to live this life to the fullest.

9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^a They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- JOHN 10:9-10