Facing the Giants

Last night I went to see the movie "Facing the Giants." It was a low-budget movie because it was backed by a church in Georgia; however the message was rich in faith. I don't know how long it will be out but if you can get to see it, it is inspiring and moving. It depicts a Christian high school football coach uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure. After learning that he and his wife Brooke (Shannen Fields) face infertility, Grant Taylor, (Alex Kendrick) searches for hope and a stronger purpose for his football team. Filled with South Georgia football and clean humor, Facing the Giants is family movie inspiring viewers to live with faith and love! Don't miss this chance to vote for a Christian movie with a good message using the power of your choice at the movies. If you want to read about it or check to see if it is in a theater near you go to www.facingthegiants.com.

Flyin' High

Some of you may know that I live out on family land. Way back in the 1960 my grandfather moved out here. After my dad got out of the Navy, he came back to teach at Baylor. My aunt and uncle retired from the air force and also built out here. They guys in my family have always flown planes...small 2 or 4 seater planes. I even took ground school from my uncle but never logged enough hours to fly solo. We have two grass air strips and two hangers. This is a picture taken yesterday from my front porch when my cousin was flying my uncle's Stearman Bi-plane. You might know it better as Snoopy's "Red Baron" Plane. It has a 400 hp engine and two open cockpits. The sound of planes taxi-ing, taking off and landing is a normal one around here. As many times as I have been in an airplane (commercial or private) the idea of flight never ceases to amaze me...defying gravity with a machine and aerodynamics. I makes me further understand the Great God we serve...because it is "through Him and by Him and in Him that all things are held together."

Bubble Babes

Well, here you go...a great reason to get excited about being an aunt....my nieces in my jacuzzi tub taking a bath after a walk and night of homework and some craftiness (a picture card for my grand mother - their great grandmother who lives in California). I put some bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub, turned on the jets and there you go....bubbles for my babes.

FIRE Power

This week as I went to Bible Study I found myself so incredibly encouraged by the truths found in the story of Daniel's three friends in Daniel 3:13-27. The three, you know them as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young men are brought into King Neb. without their leader. He fires up the furnace seven times hotter than normal. He gives them one more chance to denounce their God. They refuse and say, "We do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazig fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, on king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship your golden image." You know the story...they are thrown in the fire and no longer are their three - but FOUR...then King Neb calls them out and it says "there was not even the smell of fire upon them." So, there were four...just as there are in the midst of our fires...if you know the Lord then you are in the fire with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Beth Moore identifies three scenarios for deliverance from the fires in our lives:

1. Delivered FROM the fire - this builds our faith - God intervenes and shows his power to keep us from the fire (trials and tests).
2. Delivered THROUGH the fire - this refines our faith - God walks with us through our fires (trials ands tests).
3. Delivered BY the fire - into His hands for all eternity - this purifies our faith - very seldom will any of us be called to die for the glory of God; however, many of us know those who have died in their fire (accidents, disease, etc).

So, today as you encounter your own form of fire, be encouraged...Your Great God is able and will deliver you From, Through, or By your fire.

"BIG" trip. Different people - SAME God. Got Attitude?

The annual "big" trip. Last year the Spirit Squads went to NYC and then cheered in Westpoint when BU played Army. What a trip that was...canceled flight, all night layover in Dallas, lost luggage, delayed subways, delayed Staton Island Ferry, getting lost at 2:00 am on the backroads of NY, still no luggage 6 hours before gametime, cadet attack on Judge...but we got to see Ground Zero, shop Manhattan, Serendipity, and The Phantom of the Opera...now that is why we call it Higher Education! The picture of the "Fab Four" shows us in NYC after 12 hours on the streets and about 30 hours in our spirit shirts. This year we played Washington State in Seattle. This trip had so few glitches we were looking for something to fix. We went to Pike's Place Market, the original Starbucks, and at fresh seafood at Ivars Salmon House. We stayed downtown and played/cheered in the Seattle Seahawks' Qwest Field. We stayed at the Renaissance downtown with the Arizona Cardinals. The annual "big" trip.

But this year, as you can see by the photos, was different. Each year on a college campus is different. Students come and go...there are a few that come and stay. This year we transitioned from Elizabeth Williams being Spirit Coordinator to Jennifer Baker. Rachael Johnson in the first picture is a yell leader...and this year she is a coach. Bailey McKissack is in her final year of college. Things change. Seasons come and go. People move. But our God is a steadfast, everlasting, ever-loving God. He does not change. "He is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)

So the saying goes "Attitude is everything, so pick a good one!" The Bible says, "Have this attitude in yourselves which is also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5). So, what attitude is that? The one that does not take others for granted. The one that expresses love NMW. The one that values others and accepts them for who they are. The one that extends grace and demonstrates a grateful heart.

I will close this blog with a quote one of my students shared with me. It is from Mother Teresa.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Rejoicing in Hope

The old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness has several phrases that ever ring true..."strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow...morning by morning new mercies I see...all I have needed thy hand hast provided, great is thy faithfulness..." When I saw this sunset just outside my cabin, it reminded me that many times the Lord ends the day with a reminder of His power and love...then He turns around and starts the next day the same way. This morning, I read Romans 12:12 which says "rejoicing in hope" - so we ask the question, "How then should we live?" His answer is rejoicing in hope. That is the difference...we have hope...in Him, the creator and sustainer of life, the giver of all good things, the lover of our souls...the King Eternal. Rejoice in His "bright hope for tomorrow" today.