Sometimes you win.. Sometimes you lose...

(pssstt, those are my snow angels, my grandchildren... hahaha)

Well, I wanted to continue with the Lord's prayer, and I will shortly, but, this week, athletically and professionally, I have witnessed somes losses and some wins, so I wanted to focus on these events from a spiritual perspective, of course.

The Camden County Lady Wildcats' season ended on Tuesday with a loss in their first post season game in Savannah. As Coach Ellis shared with me in an email, "This is disappointing, but not surprizing...." Man, it's disappointing to end the season earlier than you're used to.....

The Cardinal Spellman Lady Cardinals, my daughter Reilly's team, lost their first game of the season after going 17 - 0. The most disappointing thing was that it was to recent archrival, Archbiship Williams to whom they lost in the State tournament last year to end their season. During the post season, they will probably face Archies again down the road; gulp, gulp.

These are very disppointing ocurrences, aren't they? You know you wish and hope and pray that your team will win or that you won't be disppointed, right? But, life is repleat with disappointment...... why?

James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he (she) should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (her). 6 But when he (you get it, lol) asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

Man, it's a trial to lose!! I've heard; "I hate losing". Amen!! But, losing is a fact of life in sports and in daily living. "Consider it pure joy??"

"The testing of your FAITH develops PERSEVERENCE (a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement). Oh oh, we're back to this faith thing again, duh, Faith in God... belief in God, faith in God. Life is all about our faith in God!!!!

So, the trials produce perseverence and "perseverence must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." There is so much more here to focus upon, but in trying to keep this entry at a reasonable length, perseverence when facing trials and 'losses' produces a mature and complete Believer in God!! And continues to prepare us for eternity with Him.

I was sharing with my Mom yesterday that my life should be a book titled, "Persecution". I only shared with her two real incidences out of many of severe persecution in my professional life that resulted in God's will being done; the sharing of the gospel and the caring/love for another person. Those persecutions resulted in God's will being done and my becoming more mature in my faith for the benefit of others in the future and, I'm sure, in my being prepared for my eternity with Him.

Sometimes you win.... Sometimes you lose, but, the losses are really wins if we apply the lessons from above; We're more mature and complete if we persevere. There's always the next game and the next season and the next experience leading to our growth and preparation for eternal life with God.

Amen

Coach Bill