All Glory to God

I’ve played volleyball for 10 years now and I’ve gone through some tough years, and some easy years. Looking back, I wouldn’t believe a single soul if they said my team would go from a 6-21 record to 26-3 the very next year and still climbing. Only God can take a group of girls from around the world and put them on a team and create a story like that. Only God can bless a group of girls with the determination and strength and love for a game to keep their spirits up enough from losing the last 3 years and still have hope. Only God can bless a team with amazing Godly coaches and staff and athletic family to help support them throughout the years. What else are you to believe in after years of busting your butt yet losing? For me and so many other girls on the team, God was the only one I could believe in through the hard seasons. Having faith that He was using all those losses for good kept us going. Every season he would renew our strength and love for the game, reminding us why we played and who we play for.

This year more than any, I have felt his presence guiding us every step of the way. We have such a big group of girls who are crazy about God on our team that I can't help but smile every time I think about it. He has blessed us with such a great opportunity and platform to show how great his glory is. Without him, I’m certain that half our team would not have been able to overcome injuries even if it was through his gift of great determination. Every win, every point, every grueling practice and workout has been a gift straight from God. This season and the past seasons everyone of my teammates have been through has been building up to this year. 

That’s the thing about God’s plans. You never know what he’s working you up to, or why he’s putting that certain situation in your life. To be honest, I have no clue why he’s blessed us with such a great season because no one ever deserves the gifts God gives us. But I do know that God’s glory and blessings should never be taken for granted or ignored. This team is something special and I would never change a single thing about it. No one but God could write a story like this, and we would never be here without the Holy spirit guiding us and I’m just in awe when I think of how powerful and loving our Lord is. Our conference tournament is this weekend and I have full confidence that whatever the outcome is, it is God given and all the glory will go to him. 

Be a Doer

James 1:22-26

We live in a world where we live by catchy quotes and flashy phrases. We take sentences out of context and whichever phrase fits our emotions at that time the best wins. We look for quick fixes which most of the time end up not really fixing any problem. Its no wonder that we have the same problem when it comes to God’s Word. As the church we’re notorious for taking scripture out of context in order to get a quick fix for something we’re struggling with. And the same struggle with the same sin keeps popping up and we question why. We read a devotional in the morning and say, “oh that’s a good point…” and go throughout the day the same way we would without reading it. Sometimes we realize this and we get frustrated because we think we’re spending time in the word and doing all the “right things” for a healthy spiritual life.

James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Let that sink in. Do you live out the scripture you read? Do you believe it’s God’s truth? Do you believe it’s the only way to live if you’re God’s servant? These scriptures aren’t just tips on how to live a better and moral life, and I think that we sometimes blur those lines on accident.

In verses 23 and 24 James talks about hearing but not doing when he describes a man who looks at himself in the mirror and as he turns away completely forgets what he’s like. We cannot forget who we are in Christ. We cannot forget that our actions and our doings are because God has saved us from the worst death possible because he loves us with a gracious love we will never be worthy of.

We follow God’s law not for our benefit but out of a response of pure joy and faith of the gospel. (Phil 27) We live in the world but not of the world so others can see what we live for. Who we live for in hopes that they will want the same joy and salvation from this broken world. 

When you read God’s word, read it and let it sink in. Understand that the Lord of the universe is talking to you, giving you a choice to follow him and love him. And understand that he knows your heart. We are so focused on our external changes, but as cheesy as it sounds it starts with the inside. Let his word take you over so much that it can’t help but seep out. Don’t just read it and go on with your day. Read it and let it guide you through your day. Be a doer. Remember who you are in Christ.