My Best

I am not athletic, but my husband is--at least was, and now is a spectator. And I am one of those wives who decided to enjoy the game with him than be without him. Before we married, I already enjoyed football, and now I am into baseball too. And I try to stay current so I can have an intelligent conversation about what is happening in the sports world. I love to get points for my man because I like sports. When we lived in Cleburne, we were in the adult choir and one practice we were playing a game. One of my questions was, “Who are the Texas Rangers baseball announcers?” When I responded, “On the radio or TV?” and knew all four, Eric got Wow! Where did you find her? looks! I have to be careful though. Two of the brothers let me in on a fantasy baseball game because they planned on three people and the other brother couldn’t do it. Shh…don’t say anything, but I beat them! All of that to say, this girl really enjoyed the inspiring football movie Facing the Giants and that is where this is coming from.
In the movie the football coach has a change of heart where he decides winning isn’t everything and he will give God his best and praise Him no matter the outcome. He gets this concept across to his defensive line leader by asking him to death crawl (crawl on his hands and feet while carrying another player on his back) blindfolded as far as he can down the field. The player thinks he can go 30 maybe 50 yards at the most, but the coach says, “You just do you best and leave it all on the field.” And he starts. The entire way the coach is encouraging him. And when he wants to give up and it hurts, the coach is crawling right beside him encouraging him, “Don’t quit! Your best! Don’t quit!” And when he finally stops, the player asks, “Did I make it to the 50? I had to have made it to the 50.” The coach takes the blindfold off and says, “Look. You made it to the end zone. Don’t tell me what you can’t do. All things are possible with God. Give Him your best.”
This year (2008), God has asked for my best and praise Him no matter the outcome. And when I am in His Word everyday, I can hear Him encouraging me right beside me every step of the way!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will
call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will
seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found
by you,” declares the Lord…Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the
Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua1:8-9

Search for the Lord and for His strength, and keep on searching. Psalm
105:4

In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall….God arms
me with strength, and He makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:29; 32

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out, He offers strength to the
weak. Isaiah 40:29

You are their glorious strength. It pleases You to make us strong.
Psalm 89:17

As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.
Psalm 128:3

So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. For you
need endurance in order to do God's will and to receive what is promised. (New
English Trans.) Hebrews 10:35-36

For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians
4:13

I want to live in a way that I can say as Paul did…

I [Paul] have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but
also to all who have longed for His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

And don’t forget…

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1

That death crawl scene in the movie was just a test to prove to the player that he had more than he thought he did. Then later in the movie when the championship game was on the line, depending on him to lead the defense to hold the opposing team inside the 5 yard-line from getting a touch down, he was tired and weak. The coach said, “Four more downs. You can do it! We just need four more.” He knew that he had more strength than he thought possible. If it is hard, ask Him for help and direction! He promises over and over that if we seek Him, we will find Him. He wants to be found. He wants you to be in His will. He will show you. Be in His Word consistently and look for the answers. When SweetBoy was a baby, I had no idea how to be a mom. So I asked Him to show me what a good mom looked like. He did. He continues to. I was looking for the answer and when I found part of it, I wrote it down. Have a system of writing down the answers He shows you. You will need it for game time! There may be a pattern or theme that you can see in the answers that you might miss if you just read it and say, “Oh that is good.” Write it down! There might be more!

Whatever I may be carrying—my children, relationships, a difficult situation, job, health concerns—give God my best and praise Him no matter the outcome. My best. Because with God all things are possible, and He is with me every step of the way—through the test and through the game!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a
reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24