HOPE?

With a blog handle of Gridiron Granny Football Fanatic, football will be a topic from time to time. This is one of those times ... in fact, for fantasy football, probably the last time (sob).

It is week four of the fantasy season and do you know what my record is?
0 - 4.  That's right ... after all my post-draft/pre-season smack talk against my opponents, here I sit - 12th place (out of twelve, by the way).

I've lost four (averaging one per week) top players, and replacing them has been difficult because all the good ones have already been scooped up.

Recap Week One:  Sackmaster Mike (1-0) (My husband no-less) beat me in a tight match:  107 - 105.  I was the first to put up points and actually reached 20-0. That lead slipped away like a wet spaghetti noodle.

Recap Week Two:  I had two great players score zero points ...  Zero, Nada, Zilch, and wound up in last place.   

Recap Week Three:  My extremely talented running back scored zero points....why?  He broke his ankle in the first quarter (I do feel bad for him, it was a season ending injury).  I'm proudly holding steady in 12th place with a 0-3 record. No one is even close to taking away my esteemed position.

This Week:  My regular quarterback is on a bye, so I had to use a back-up.  I wasn't concerned because last week that particular QB scored 35 points. This week:  5.  He decided it was more fun to throw to the other team. Right now I have 72 points to my opponent's 177....Monday Night Football is coming and I have one player left. Think it's too much to ask a kicker to close the gap?  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up ... just needed to vent a little.  Being one of strong faith, I know God would not want me to lose hope.  So.... I'm going to pull up my big girl panties and face my future opponents with head held high and boundless determination ... and if not successful, there is always next year.......

The Blank Zone

There's nothing more frightening for a writer -- staring at a blank page. Deep within our souls the words are there, but something keeps them from reaching the tips of our fingers and onto the keyboard.  It's the dreaded writer's block.  If I had a dollar for every time that has happened, I'd be able to afford Seattle Seahawks season tickets on the second level, fifty yard line -- plus the funds fly up there for every game.

When entering the "blank zone," I either stare at the computer screen hoping words miraculously appear or close my eyes, take a deep breath and pray. You'd think the latter would be automatic, but nooooo, not for me. I sometimes get a crazy notion I'm in control, and end up wasting a considerable amount of time frustrated with a strong desire to throw the laptop out the window ... and I know God is watching, shaking His head and smiling.

When faced with a blank page, be it while writing or waking to a new day, we need to look upwards and say, "Okay, God, it's all yours."  We will, at times, succumb to self-will; we're human.  Be comforted knowing all He wants us to do is try ... He expects progress not perfection.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;

In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NABRE)

A Subtle Warning

"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."

Matthew 6:31-33 (NABRE)

I've been overachieving in the "worry department" lately to the point of distraction and carelessness. In fact, I became so preoccupied I did something I'd never done before -- I lost my cell phone.  

After chastising myself for being so scatterbrained, it got me thinking (look out folks, here it comes):  Life is full of distractions, and if we are not careful, we will lose more than a cell phone. We'll lose focus on what's really important ~ Our daily contact with God.

I believe He was sending me a subtle warning … I was letting life rather than Him be in control.  Had I turned everything over, I would not have been overwhelmed in the first place. A cell phone is a small price to pay to avoid a detour on my faith journey. 

God works in mysterious ways....

I wrote the following post on August 20th:

"This last Saturday my husband and I were sitting in the living room, enjoying dinner and watching television.  The front door opened and in walked a scraggly blonde young man we'd never seen before.  He took off his jacket and hat and dropped them on the floor and said, "Hi."  Startled, the only thing I could mutter was, "Who are you, what are you doing and why did you walk into our home without knocking?"  He said he was sorry but was looking for his friends but couldn't remember where they lived. I advised him his friends were not here and politely asked him to leave. He looked hurt and hesitated for a moment, so I stood up and escorted him out.  It was the oddest experience I'd ever had, and it wasn't until a few hours later that I began to feel the fear. I reported the incident to the Sheriff and found out later the young man was arrested later that night for attempting to steal a car, and that he was definitely under the influence of drugs. God was watching over me and my family that afternoon. Had I reacted angrily or with fear, the outcome may have been disastrous."

~~UPDATE~~

Yesterday, I was totally immersed in my current work in progress when the doorbell rang. I bristled at the interruption and was tempted to ignore it.  Standing on the porch was the same young man. His clothes were clean, his hair cut and he was shaking. I double-checked the screen door lock, worrying that he was there to confront me about calling the police, but I was happily mistaken. He had come over to tell me he was entering a sober living facility to get clean ... which explained his shaking ... withdrawal. 

I unlocked the door and joined him on the porch. I told him I understood what he was going through and how happy I was that he was on the right path.  His face lit up when I shared my struggle with addiction (alcohol) and the fact I had been sober for almost seventeen years. He was obviously scared and I did my best to encourage him. I  grabbed an inspirational book on addiction (we have a large collection) as well as my book, "Moments with God", which includes my personal story of recovery.  Before he left, we hugged and I told him he would be in my prayers.

God works in mysterious ways ... Of all the homes that young man could have entered that night, it was ours. Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you...." 

Heavenly Father, please hold that young man in Your comforting and healing arms and give him the strength and perseverance to succeed.  Thank you for bringing him into my life, as a reminder of how You held me during my struggles. With a humble heart I pray my words to him conveyed what he needed to hear ... You are with him, he is loved and there is hope.   

Amen  

     

Complacency and Consequences

A.W. Tozar wisely said, "Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth."  I find it even more deadly for those of us who have made great strides in our spiritual journey after overcoming a godless past.

Once we reach out for Christ and walk with Him, our lives change. We rejoice in His mercy and finally come to terms with our failings and forgive ourselves. We commit ourselves to Him and our new lives.  Then, years later, it happens ... We are happy, comfortable and at peace -  but instead of moving forward on the road to spiritual growth, we pull off at a rest stop.  

At first we reduce our prayer time, then miss a few church services, and before we know it, progress comes to a screeching halt. We are oblivious to the fact Satan has been patiently waiting.  He smiles and says, "Aha!  It's time."  He tempts us with behaviors from our past by warping our memories. We remember adventure, fun and excitement and forget about the disastrous consequences - and we think, why not?  

If we do not remain steadfast in fighting complacency, we will surely return to the path of self-destruction rather than redemption. 

Matthew 7:26

"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not

act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand."

A Bittersweet Day

My birthday is coming up on September 5th, the first birthday without my mom. She always made my birthdays special growing up and did even up until last year, and I was 60!  

I consider myself truly blessed to have had my mom for 60 years, and doubly blessed to have her live with us for the last two.  I know on Friday I'll wake up, and for a split second, expect to hear her and my dad sing a rousing version of Happy Birthday and I'll tear up hearing my dad singing alone.

It will be a bittersweet day for me, but I can look back and remember the biggest blessing of all ... She held me in her arms on September 5, 1953 and said hello, and I held her on February 12, 2014 and said good bye.  And...if I listen hard enough I'm sure I'll hear her singing from Heaven.