I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

   Some of you may know that I was a soccer goalie. Throughout my goalie career I received many injuries, as I'm sure you can imagine. I have had minor injuries, like brush burns. And, I've had major injuries, like black eyes and boarder line concussions. No matter what injury I received they all had one thing in common: after each injury I received, I got up. As a goalie, it is vital that I got up after each play. If I did not get up then my teammates may have thought I had given up, I would not have made the second save if I needed to, and my team may have thought I was hurt.

   One time when I was playing an indoor game I went out to make a standard breakaway save. I got the ball and then I went to get up quickly like normal, but I couldn't. I started to panic. My body felt fine except for a few brush burns. Then I realized someone or something was touching my head. Turns out my friend, who played defense, was running back and was afraid she was going to kick my head. Instead of kicking my head she used her hand to hold my head down. I don't know how she got her hand down mid sprint but she did, and I've never been more freaked out in my whole goalkeeper career. You have to understand that when I want to get up I get up. I'm not used to something or someone holding me down.

   Maybe you have felt this way about a different situation. You may have been going through a tough time and you just felt like you couldn't get up out of the situation. You may have even felt like the devil was the one holding you down. It reminds me of the commercial where the older person has fallen and she can't get up. Like I'm talking this situation is so bad that it feels like it is the devil pushing you down and you cannot get up. Believe me I have been in that situation as well and it is 10 times worse than just your head being held down. I am talking major panic attacks, worrisome thoughts, and it seems like there is no hope.

   What can you do when it feels like you've fallen and you can't get up because the devil has pushed you down? Let's take a look at the ultimate example again. Jesus was pushed around by the devil. He was out in the wilderness, fasting for 40 days. Could you imagine not eating for 40 days? Let alone, being alone for 40 days? Satan knew this would be the time that Jesus was the weakest. He went to Jesus and tempted Jesus 3 times. He, in essence, tried to hold Jesus down 3 times. Each time Jesus  rebuked the devil. Jesus knew that Satan was wrong because Jesus knew scripture. Jesus kept his eyes fixed on God. In the end Jesus said to Satan: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Mat.4.10). Jesus used the ultimate take down: he used scripture. He flipped the script on the devil. He flipped the devil over and K.Oed him.

   Jesus gives us this power too, but we cannot do it on our own. Many people would like to think they can do it on their own. They think all of the sudden they are going to get hulk powers and rip the devil apart. Is that what Jesus did? Is that what God did? Ha, no the most powerful beings did not just flip the devil over. They could, Jesus could have that day, but instead he was an example for us. He used God's word to prove that we need him. Jesus comes and tag teams with us. We just need to be willing to call on him, tag him, and let him K.O. the devil. With his help, we cannot be held down.

   So, the next time you are held down what will you do? Do you believe that with Jesus' help you cannot be held down? What can you do to make sure that you grow in your walk with your wrestling partner, Jesus?

   Matthew 4:1-25 and Proverbs 24:16

   Image from here.

Tired

   To whom it may concern:
   I'm tired.
   I am tired of pouring my heart out only to get it crushed.
   I am tired of being taken for granted.
   I am tired of people not getting to know others and judging them.
   I am tired of people saying I have good character but then it doesn't seem to matter.
   I am tired of doing so much with soccer and school so that I become exhausted.
   I am tired of no one seeming to care about anyone except themselves.

   I am tired of feeling alone and like no one cares.
   I am tired of bad people succeeding and good people failing.
   I am tired of all the crap going on in this world.
   I am tired of this, and I am tired of that. I feel like I cannot handle all of it. I've been fighting for so long and I can feel the darkness closing in. But I have something that the darkness never will have, unless Christians stand up: light.
   God is with us even when it doesn't seem like it. When we accept him he gives us his light. Just like the song "This Little Light of Mine" we are to keep our light shining. That is hard to do on our own strength. But, we don't have to keep it shining alone.
   God loves us and walks through life with us. He carries us through the darkness. He was an example for us before we were even born. He rested one day as an example for us. Then he worked other days. It is good to take a break from the crazy of the world. But, then we have to get right back to it. While you are fighting remember when you are so tired that you are not alone. God is on the move on earth. We just have to look for him in the little everyday miracles.
   So, when you are tired who will you lean on? Will you choose to keep fighting no matter what happens? Do you see God in everyday miracles?

   Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 40:31

   Image from here.

When you are Weak you are Strong

   Strength: it's something we tend to ask for or work towards a lot. We want to be strong through every situation. We want to become physically stronger so we can beat the odds. However, is it good to always be strong?
   In times of trials we tend to do a few things: we break down when we are alone, we put on a brave face in public and say we are fine when others ask, or we tell others to the point where we complain to others. There are very few of us who actually open up to others when we are going through times of trial.
   Is that a bad thing? Is it bad to not open up to others when we are having problems? Let me tell you a quote and then you tell me: "If I don't fully share my own brokenness... there's never full communion? Maybe Communion can only happen when not only our strong parts are broken and given, but when our broken parts are also given" (Ann Voskamp, The Broken Way).
   In our times of strength we tend to tell others "it's all good." But when we are having problems we close off to others. That quote tells us that in order to have true friendship and a lasting impact on others we need to share our brokenness as well.
If people think we are strong all the time they are going to think something is wrong with them when they are going through problems. And, they may not be willing to share with you when they are going through a problem. It is only through sharing our weakness that we gain full fellowship, friendship, and communion with others. When you share your trials you are also sharing the story of God's glory and grace through you.
   Now listen, I'm not saying you should complain to everyone about your problems. What I am saying is that we should share with others so that we can walk with them, help them through their hard times, and show them what God can do through us.
   So, will you pretend to be strong even when you are not? Will you share your brokenness with others in order to be in communion with them? Will you reflect God's glory?
   2 Corinthians 12:9