Playing and practice

I just finished listening to the FBCLR message online from last week. It slightly disturbs me that I am now a good 30 minutes away from the church that totally revived my walk with the Lord and challenged me in so many ways, and then sent me to foreign soil to serve with World Gospel Outreach for three years. Not to say that I can't just get in the car and visit, because I can, I will. It's hard to let go of something so meaningful in one's life, especially when the only reason is distance.

Mark spoke on Daniel 6 last week at FBCLR. The book of Daniel and Daniel's life are powerful. I've always looked up to Daniel's integrity and conviction as a follower and believer in the Lord. Mark made a simple statement that should hit home with all Christians, myself included. Mark played football, so appropriately, his analogy related to sports (and maybe I'll use this one in class with my football players to get them to study some.) Mark said:

"You play like you practice."

That's so true. Take some time and think about anything for which you have practiced. Usually there is some larger competition and you practice and practice so that you can perform your very best.

How are we practicing with the Lord? Do we take intentional time each day, maybe just 15 minutes, or possibly up to several hours, to meet with Him? How many times a day do we stop and pray for the person/people in our direct path? How often do we repent and tell God that we're wrong and sorry for doing that or acting like this? Do we ask Him to reveal Himself to us thru His word? How will He meet us in His word if we are not in His Word, daily?

How are we going to play our best for the Lord if we don't set aside time to practice and listen to the coach?

broken bones

Ok, I have about 8 minutes to write this blog. Then I must continue with my morning so that I can make it to school/work on time.

Yesterday at chapel, the speaker spoke from Psalm 51. This verse, and the illustration that he used, really have made a profound impact on me:

"Let me hear joy and gladness

Let the bones that you have broken rejoice" vs. 8

The speaker told us that this is probably David (author of Psalm 51) relating to his days of shepherding when he spoke of the broken legs. When a sheep would stray too far, the shepherd would have to break it's legs, carry it back to the flock, secure the leg and let it heal. This was in hopes that the sheep would learn not to stray far and to allow it to suffer a bit from the broken leg and inconvenience of hobbling around.

I got to thinking today: has the Lord "broken any of my legs"? I think I would know, and yes, I think He has broken my legs before. Did I learn, maybe a little, and am I still learning, yes!

The more important part, I think, is being able to see the shepherd chasing after us with that threat in his eyes of "I'm about to break your legs, if you don't return to me!" I'm certain the Lord is chasing after me in part of my life and screaming this from behind "Shelly, turn around and come back before I have to break your legs and teach you a lesson the hard way!"

Ahhh!! Lord don't break my legs. That would be too painful and the recovery might take too long! Lord help me to hear you calling me back. Help me to turn around and see you right there, and then take me back into your arms and teach me without needing to break my legs.

There. Done. That's a 7 minute blog. Now time to move on with the day, listening for His voice and turning around before I get my legs broken.