ALWAYS HAVE HOPE

   

"But as for me, I will always have hope:

  I will praise you more and more." Psalm 71:14

   You know, today, it is increasingly difficult to maintain hope. Some reading this may be without work, a support system, missing their family members and friends. The isolation has, I am sure, kicked up plenty of old habits and addictions, drinking, drug use and more. It all makes the landscape look plenty bleak and unescapable - doesn't it?
   Some people, on the other hand, have found this time a source of renewal and reflection; even a time of great production! What could possibly be the difference? 

   For me, it is GOD. I know, no matter what ill winds blow, he has my family in His hands. We are well. We have enough food. Even if we don't have all we WANT, we have all we need, and MORE!

   I pray for YOU, this day, to have the peace of KNOWING. Of BELIEVING. YOU are special and loved.

   PRAISE GOD, who sits on high!

I Am My Neighbor's Bible

I am my neighbor's bible
He reads me when we meet
Today he read me in my home
Tomorrow in the street

He may be a relative or a friend
Or slight acquaintance be
He may not even know my name
Yet, he is reading me

So, I'll watch my steps where ere they go
And my eyes what they may see
And all the words forth from my lips
Because someone is reading me

I'll try my best to do God's will
And be what He wants me to be
An all seeing eye is looking down
And I know He's reading me

And so my God, who reads us all
Knows me from A to Z
And when I meet him on Judgment Day
He'll still be reading me

But if I do all of these things
Just so someone may see
And works not prompted by my love
I'll never be set free


© 1996 Dorothy Keeling
Dorothy Keeling

Getting Ready for Baseball

Essentials While Preparing To Play Ball

© Connie Newbauer

Mar 23, 2007

What can parents, coaches or athletes learn from baseball? Baseball player and author, Cal Ripken, Jr. may just have the answer!

The great American pastime is upon us. Spring Training’s call of “play ball” has echoed throughout the land and millions have heeded the call to play, coach and cheer!

Hopefully, those who answer the call to play, do so in the spirit of teamwork, those who answer the call to coach, do so in the spirit of wanting to show and mentor the love of the game and as parents, to support both the coach and the entire team with words and deeds of encouragement.

For those parenting student athletes competing in everything from baseball to rugby and track-and-field, Cal Ripken, Jr.’s book with Rick Wolff: Parenting Young Athletes The Ripken Way (Gotham Books, 2006), is an invaluable resource from preschool to high school.

PARENTS

Focusing on Chapter 3 (pgs. 43 – 78), The Elementary School Years, ages 6-11, Ripken tells in his no-nonsense way, what we should expect of everyone involved in little league play.

For parents, he encourages educating yourself regarding a wide variety of recreational leagues in your town prior to choosing the correct one for your son or daughter. Research these leagues through printed information, web sites and word of mouth to assure a good fit for your schedules and the temperaments of all concerned

When researching leagues, look for these key items prior to registration:

• Registration dates and information
• Costs
• Length of season
• Location of practices and games
• How coaches are recruited
• Familiarize yourself with league rules
• How teams are selected(Are they pre-selected, or are there tryouts?)
• Equipment you will have to provide
• Is there a medical physical requirement?

After Registration:

• Meet the Coach
• Reassure your child if uneasy playing for someone else other than you
• Support the coach and his mission
• Ask any questions of the coach you may have
• Advise the coach of any medical or special psychological needs of your child

After Season Begins:

• Listen to your child’s concerns and excitement for the upcoming season
• Following the game, resist the urge to explain to child “what he could have done better or differently”
• Have fun!

COACHES

A Sports Illustrated for Kids Magazine poll asked children what they most wanted from their coaches:

• 95% wanted a coach who could increase athletic skills
• 64% would rather play on a losing team for a likeable coach, rather than a winning team for an unlikable coach
• 62% wanted equal playing times for all teammates
• 61% said yelling was okay – as long as it was positive!
• 93% wanted and needed the coaches full support

What happens when the family's preseason excitement wears thin and mid-season, you find yourself in conflict with the coach?

• Above all, Ripken cautions, “maintain a sense of civility.” This, of course, is an excellent policy for any player or parent throughout the competing life of the athlete.
• DO NOT confront coaches directly after the game If you need to discuss something, either arrange to meet him later, or call – never in the midst of other players or parents
• You do not always have to intervene on your child’s behalf

LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE

Whether a coach, parent or athlete, watch your language – both verbal as well as physical! Ripken touts the advantages of “Silent Sundays,” when fans and coaches alike keep all yelling, with the exception of polite clapping – to an absolute minimum. These tips and many more like it, including performance improvement for your little athlete and sportsmanship are sprinkled through the remainder of the book.

For more on youth athletics on Suite101.com, peek into one parent's experience here!

The copyright of the article Getting Ready for Baseball! in Early Childhood Development is owned by Connie Newbauer. Permission to republish Getting Ready for Baseball! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Pebbles with a Purpose

   Yesterday, my middle son, Jason, whom is deployed in Afghanistan, called home. I look forward to each call, but for some reason, had him on my mind the evening before and. when I heard his voice, I  cried. I know he will come home. My fears are mother- fears. I want him to be happy. I want him to be warm. I want him to be full and I never, ever, want him to be lonely.
I rest assured he is in God's protective embrace.
   Prior to deploying, I made sure he had packed the Bible I marked for him to take to boot camp. It had the same passages I had marked for his eldest brother when he too, left for boot camp. Joseph had the occasion to begin a study group for recruits and I had high hopes for Jason and his Bible as well! Armed with these passages:
 ~ John 3:16
 ~ The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12
 ~ The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17)
  I also marked several familiar "children's stories" for the boys. Stories that when read as men, are much more than stories - they become promises.
   Jason is a corpsman and he is stationed in a remote region with a rather small contingent of Americans at a joint base with Georgians. It is not a glamorous base and because they are small in number, a Chaplain is not among them on a regular basis. It was important to me to remind Jason that the patients he saw might need much more than their wounds tended to - he might be called to provide succor for their souls as well.
  Jason is in an extreme situation, which we may never encounter, however, many ill winds swirl around us today. It is easy to focus on war and economics, crime and pollution, politicians and loneliness. There are no easy answers. Some days, I would like to withdraw completely, but I feel that each of us are pebbles. PEBBLES WITH A PURPOSE.
   While here on earth, we are called to be kind to each other - in minute and not so minute ways - making small ripples in our pond and sometimes large SPLASHES by our gentleness and loving. The catch is, we, for the most part, NEVER know when we ripple or splash!
  We just find the courage to carry on through the truth we KNOW about God's love that it is miraculously and flawlessly given to us to pass to others. It is a promise kept with no strings. Everyday. Just for YOU. Pass it on.

"I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE. I HAVE DRAWN YOU WITH LOVING-KINDNESS." Jeremiah 31:3

Respect For Authority

On our way again!

Today marks almost five years since I have written in this blog...FIVE years! I have appreciated all of the comments and questions I have received via my inbox regarding the previous posts and believe me...during my illness, they were a God send! So much of a writer's life is spent in the dark, wondering if anyone actually READS what you write, and if they DO, does it make an impact of any sort, so thank you, faithful readers.
In the last five years, I have collected grandchildren (7), pictures of grandchildren (millions), blessings (far too many to count), and many stories to share. Please join me once again on my journey and we will travel together!

Forgiveness

My Soul Waits for the Lord

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

- Psalms 130: 1-8

I am in mourning.
The morning of the Virginia Tech murders my first instinct was to call my daughter, away at school,and make sure she was alright - a move that made her laugh as only a college student can shrug off her parents delusional worries.
Yes, I mourn for the victims in this horrific incident - but I mourn for ALL the victims.
What about "the shooter's" family?
Even though the network news has run the tinist details to the point of mental exhaustion on the subject,we still know nothing of this family. The family who had no doubt sent their beloved son to school, proud, in the relaxed sort of way you get when your children go off to school - your work almost completed in a very difficult stage of development. What of them?
These parents who woke up one morning, probably in fear, to find there was a gunman loose on the Virginia Tech Campus.Did they call their son to see if he was alright? Did they sit by the phone, paralyzed with fear because they couldn't contact him? What of these parents?
..And what of Cho Seung-Hui, "the shooter"? (How I hate that moniker, used by network news agencies to discount the worth of this life, as well.) What in his background - his homelife, his childhood would lead to this?
I will pray again today for those lost; and I will also pray for Cho - for the demons in life that drove him to this end, he who was lost BEFORE the shootings;and for his grieving parents.

Liberation

FIRST STEPS OF THE DAY

As I take my first step,
My foot kisses the floor.
With gratitude to the earth,
I walk in liberation.

- Andrew Weiss

How many of us are truly grateful for what we have been given?
I have asked quite a few people lately if they feel they are an optimist or pessimist and I couldn't find one person who thought they were a pessimist - yet the negative language abounds!
If I had any influence over a day, I'd ban certain words and phrases -
along with their mindsets - phrases such as "I CAN'T," & "IF ONLY,"
"I'm NOT SMART (RICH, WHITE, BLACK, FEMALE, MALE, ) ENOUGH TO...,"
"It's Impossible!" Negative words such as stupid, bad,can't, never, etc. They all con notate a negative state of mind!
These phrases and words do nothing to benefit us, to make us see the possibilities instead of the imposibilities!
What you speak, you will think and what you think will become embedded
upon your heart.
If you make it a habit to speak & think positive,
happy thoughts, good and blessings will follow. The impossible will
become possible and your earthly load will be lightened in every
context of the word; Many stresses will be obsolete and your brief stay
on this earthly vessel will be filled with kindness and cheer.
What would you choose - a life filled with possibilities, or impossibilities? Lightness, or Dark?
A brief tale of possibilities:
While my mother lie in a hospital bed,with a cancer that had jumped from her lymphnodes to travel and invade almost every area of her body, most notably, it
had spread up her spine paralyzing her, I never heard a discouraging
word pass her lips.
Just the other day my sister and I spoke about a scene that had
imprinted upon our hearts: Strolling into her hospital room for a visit, both my sister and I were surprised to see a new addition to her room: Mom had a chart - one she had made to track her PHYSICAL THERAPY and roped out her journey to BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN!
I asked my sister what her initial reaction was and amazingly, it was
identical to mine - we had to squelch the rolling of the eyes and the teenager's monotone "right, mom..." that was on our lips.
Mom was smiling. She was
always smiling. She BELIEVED! I'd like to tell you that her belief
turned into a long and happy life, her children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren by her side. I can't.
What I can tell you is that although she had faced the reality of this spreading illness in her body - and knew the consequences only too well,she faced those consequences not with despair or futility, but with hope, grace and determination.
Mom inspired others, but non more so than her own daughters. She
made her life happier, more content because she stayed in charge of her
illness - it never defined her or limited her dreams. In those closing moments of her life, she chose to model a strength of character I've rarely seen since.
As Christians, don't we owe that contentment, that joy for life to ourselves and to those around us?
Today, be truly grateful, open your eyes wide and drink in the wonderful abundances you have!

The Good Samaritan

When Sympathy Isn't Enough
Sometimes, prayer and kind words alone don't cut it. We need to get our hands dirty to help others.
By Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

After completing my morning devotionals, I hopped on the computer this morning to find this quote with a short story attached to it, delivered to my inbox yesterday, but never opened. Reading the quote and story made me think about what we'd spoken about just the other day - good works getting us into heaven.
This reiterated the need for action on behalf of others by Christians. The beliefnet.com passage was quoted out of Romans, I believe, but I think maybe this brings us back to our early Sunday School teachings: The parable of the Good Samaritan.
If we, as professed Christians,see someone in need and quote Bibical platitudes, but travel on, our faith means nothing... it is empty.
Works and faith are so intrically intertwined that seeing someone in need, demands action.
Our faith calls us to action on behalf of others. Little things like stooping to pick something up for an elderly person, or visiting someone in mourning can mean the world to them.
Many clinics, food kitchens, shelters, etc. need volunteers to cut grass, man phones, check in patients, feed the hungry in YOUR area. Will you respond today? Make it a family affair. Let your children develop the sense of giving early and role model for them. We've volunteered many places as a family.The gift you give will be received with such joyous graciousness, it will make your soul sing!

Our Cross To Bear

Our Cross-To Bear

Remember, you are only an instrument.Not yours to decide how or when or where you act.I plan all that. Make yourself very fit to do my work.All that hinders you must be cured.
~A.J. Russell in GOD CALLING

I was reminded this morning while reading my devotionals that each one of us was commanded to pick up the cross and follow Christ.
Each one of us, in our own way, has our own cross to bear in life. It may be many things – but one thing is clear: The burdens we endure are all for naught.
Perhaps our biggest burden is one of conscience – we are unable to do as instructed – to leave all of our burdens at the foot of his cross.
What does it take to be able to follow – wholly – his commandments to let his love and wisdom shine through and guide each moment of our lives? Submission; the realization that we cannot bear our burdens alone; a complete loss of self in decision making.
Every day we make decisions based upon what we think is right – without taking it to Christ. Oddly enough, we then expect God’s approval on our decisions.
This Easter season, my challenge is clear: to honor Christ’s sacrifice by trusting in him fully and leaving all of my burdens at the foot of his cross once and for all.

Hands in Praise

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by
works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10

A controversy still brews over Christians and good works. Will good works get you into
heaven? NO. style="font-weight:bold;">
Ephesians 2:1-10 states outright that doing good deeds will not give you redemption for your transgressions. Only God’s grace is capable of giving you pardon and once that pardon is received, no amount of good deeds can keep you in God’s favor.
Why then do so many Christians do good deeds? Why the mission trips, the teaching in local Sunday School classes, small deeds such as taking an elderly neighbor her paper in the morning or stopping to help a stranded traveler?
If done as an out growth of our faith, these deeds come easily and naturally each day
of our lives; without fanfare, without reward, these are the tasks which bring joy. To the outside world in today’s society, many think it pointless to go out of their way for a stranger – sometimes even for family members, but this is a direct accusation of their character.
Good deeds preformed by our hands are our
daily praise to Our Father. With our hands, we worship him through our
deeds.