The Thrill of Victory

I make my blog post and move over to my emails and, first thing, my eyes about bug out as I see that our Dallas Stars Hockey Team won their Western Conference Championship the night before. For the first time in 20 years, the Dallas Stars are heading to the Stanley Cup Final! Now they have my attention.

Isn’t it funny how we get lackadaisical to our teams when they aren't making their marks in their game seasons? As I walked my two Frisco grand-dogs a couple of weeks ago, I saw homes with Dallas Stars team flags in their front yards. I simply thought “loyal fans – wonder if they know someone on the team” – not once thinking that they may be doing well in their season. Suddenly, I am a fan! Suddenly, it feels good to have a win during this season when there have been so many loses. I am amused as I watch the final seconds of play, hearing the mega-crowd cheering with all out abandonment. Amused, that there are NO fans in the stands and what we hear is just a sound bite. Still, a win is a win is a win!!

In 2018, it was our Winnipeg Jets who beat the Nashville Predators 5–4 and clinched a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. Our Winnipeg cousins, Gord and Sher, brought me a Winnipeg Jet shirts that season and, suddenly, we are amped up and become loyal fans of their home team (and ours from when we lived there for seven years in the 80s & 90s).

Aw! The thrill of victory! We could use many of those days – right? And, there are “wins” happening all around us if we would but SEE them instead of the agonies of defeat that have seemed way too common in these last few months.

This season is just temporary anyway. It’s merely a season – and seasons come and go. I have friends and family members who saw the passing on of loved ones and I have friends who welcomed precious babies and new life into their homes. There were those who lost their jobs but found better ones. There were those who had some big wins by using their abilities to be innovative and creative. I have seen two churches in Austin merge and become one gigantic church that can reach the lost of their city in a greater way. I heard that some churches have thrived so much with online church that they have fed more hungry people, helped many financially and created more programming and outreaches than ever before. So many joys of victory – if we would but SEE.

Here’s an agony of defeat and thrill of victory story that changes the way we SEE our seasons. Jesus came to this earth for you and me – showed us the way to live in victory by following His lead, trusting in Him and His promises – showing us that even in times of defeat – we still win. He suffered the agony of our defeat on the cross and the joy of victory in His resurrection. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see defeat and failures. He sees victors who are made clean through the blood of Jesus. He won the victory for us and now we get to cheer on the “home” team. We get to show people how important our Savior (aka our Coach) is. We get to help others get ready. Because ready or not, Jesus is coming. We are all team-players when it comes to being devoted followers of Christ. We suit up daily, we exercise our faith by studying God’s Word, praying, spending time with our Coach. He has all the team plays and staying in His presence, we have the wisdom of our Coach. We will not know the agony of defeat because our relationship with our Coach assures us the thrill of victory that awaits us. Now, let’s do everything we can to spread the word about our TEAM so others can celebrate with us. Let’s do everything we can so they will never have to know the agony of defeat!

Only if Life was like a Hallmark Movie

I am STILL a Hallmark movie fan. Weekends, especially, you’ll often find me indulging in yet another Hallmark movie. Why, you may ask? So many reasons! They’re peaceful and calming. People are pleasant and kind. Their lives are focused on family, friends and doing good things. They’re wholesome and non-violent. The storylines revolve around love and happiness. But mostly -- because they always have happy endings. Who doesn’t like happy endings, especially when it comes to love?

We all do. But, the reality is happy endings aren't always guaranteed. Because of real life. Real relationships. Real people. Real problems. Relationships fail, friendships struggle or end, divorces happen, loved ones pass away, and true love often seems hard to find. When real life happens, we often feel disappointed and alone, especially during this month that is hyper-focused on love and romance.

Speaking from a gal who has been without the “romance” side for several years now, I know that earthly relationships should never be what determines our happiness. If our happiness hinge on earthly love or perfect relationships, we’ll always feel disappointed and, quite possibly, unhappy and lacking joy.

But, really I do know romance without a romantic lover. I experience that romance daily -- along with peace, joy, and even happiness through my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one constant that always assures my REAL life will have a forever after, happy ending. He shares about His unconditional and endless love for His children in John 15:9: “I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love.” Jesus calls us to realize how much we are loved, just as the Father loves His Son. Oh, let’s breathe that in and embrace the intensity AND the immensity of that love.

In John 15:11, Jesus explains why it’s so important to recognize, and abide in His love: “I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.” You see, it’s His love alone that can bring true joy to our hearts. God’s joy is the real love we all long for, but sometimes we look for and expect to find it in all the wrong places.

It would be oh, so nice if life were like a Hallmark movie and every relationship ended happily ever after. But I’ve learned it’s possible, each day, to be joy-filled and to feel happy no matter what’s happening in my life -- regardless of my relationships status. I know the true joy from God that is the “hallmark” of being a fully devoted follower of Christ. You can know this joy, too, if you’ll give your heart and life to THE ONE Who hears the desires of our hearts and Who fillls us with joy and happiness every day. His love is enough!

Disappointment or APPOINTMENT?

I’ve given it few days since CNN's headline: Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, pull off epic Super Bowl comeback”. Whether you are a 49ers or Chiefs fan or not a football fan at all, if you tuned into the Super Bowl game last Sunday night and watched it all the way to the end, you were amazed at such an incredible comeback by the 49ers. I was at my kids’ home and, when the 49ers were leading by ten points at the end of the 3rd quarter, I headed home. I wasn’t necessarily a quitter because I turned on the game as soon as I made it home and watched the final exciting comeback -- all cozy at home in my jammies!

I’ll admit, I was cheering for the Chiefs. I have lots of family that live in Kansas City, MO, so I was thrilled when they won. The 49ers had DISAPPOINTMENT written all over their faces when they couldn’t pull off the win. I was so inspired to hear about the players (on both teams) say they have leaned on their faith to help them with their careers and keep everything in perspective. After the victory, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, "I want to thank the Lord for blessing us with all these incredible people to bring this trophy home."

Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named MVP, carrying the ball into the end zone on his own for one of the Chiefs' crucial touchdowns. He says his faith in God is the source of his success. "Doing what I do every single day, and then knowing that as long I'm doing everything the right way, the way that He'd want me to do it, then I can walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I'm supposed to be. It's given me a lot of blessings in my life and I'm trying to maximize and glorify Him in everything I do," said Mahomes.

While one team and their stunned fans were disappointed, the other team and their fans saw their win as a divine appointment. I love when I hear anyone speaking about the goodness of God. They are helping to make HIM famous.

Maybe you don't care one way or the other about a Super Bowl game, but maybe some-ONE or some-THING has brought you tremendous disappointment. We can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. I know how easy it is to dwell on something or someone that hurt me. Wallowing there gets us nowhere. I remember times of great disappointment. As long as I stayed sad, the more miserable I became. When I would refuse to stay in that place and go to my Peace-Giver, I would snap out of the doldrums and find a place of joy, gladness, comfort and peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

God has incredible plans for us and the enemy of our souls would like to keep us from ever experiencing those plans and just stay "put" in misery. God's purpose for us goes beyond times of disappointment. In fact, that disappointment today may just be the set up for HIS APPOINTMENT where hope is found and a major comeback is on its way that produces successes and joy. There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today. God has your name on His appointment schedule. He'll be right on time. Don't be a minute late!