When Everyone Plays, We All Win

This photo on the bottom left is one of my favorites. It was taken four years ago in Suncadia, WA when my two youngest grandsons, Bryson and Brennan, were ages 8 and 10. Here we are in Austin, TX four years later and they granted my wishes for a “nana” photo opportunity before heading out to church yesterday morning.

I treasure the rare "brotherly love" moments in both locations. Not rare in the sense that they really love each other, but they are, after all, two normal boys that can easily get on each other's nerves if their buttons are pushed just right! But when push comes to shove, these two would be there for each other. No question. We all need each other – REALLY NEED each other for pats-on-the-back, high 5’s, accountability, encouragement, and especially praying for each other.

An X-Box commercial aired in December and was played last night as a Super Bowl ad. The true story is about two 9-year-old Texas boys who met in kindergarten and have been best friends ever since. Their friendship was captured in the Microsoft commercial where Owen, who has a rare genetic disorder called Escobar Syndrome that causes him to have tight joints and muscles plays with an adaptive controller. Owen has had 33 corrective surgeries to correct his ankles and knees and a lot more on his spine. Microsoft heard about the boys and put out the commercial that shows Owen's friend and other children from the neighborhood coming together to rally behind Owen as he plays a video game with the adaptive controller. He wins and the kids cheer for him as he stands up from his wheelchair to dance with his friends. We deemed it our favorite Super Bowl commercial last night. “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15)

Bottom line, each of us can be better because of someone else's influence. God purposefully created each of us with special gifts and insights. He made each of us with a need for each other. Despite our many differences, we have so much in common:
Each of us is God's child, made in His image.
Each of us wants to love and be loved.
Each of us has hopes and dreams.
Each of us has talents and gifts.
Each of us has joys and sorrows.
Each of us is a work in progress. (Please be patient with me -- God's not finished with me yet!)
Ecclesiastes 5:9-10 "Two are better than one...if one falls down, his friend can help him up."

God intended us to be “better together” -- caring for each other, reaching out to those in need and loving them — with our words, our time, and our resources. We are not meant to be alone. Truly, we are better together.

The Way Maker is Here to Help Us Find Our Way Out

This morning I join others with stunned disbelief and sadness that we could live in a world where hate is so rampant that a single person could inflict such horrific pain as we witnessed yesterday. I watched the news video of people struggling to find a way out of what was thought to be just fireworks at the end of a country music concert, when in reality people around them were dropping from the gunshots.

I heard President Trump’s heartfelt plea for prayer and unity for the victims, their families, the first responders and our country to come together for peace. In essence he was saying "The way out is through coming together in one accord to pray for our world." I know that our Heavenly Father loves His children so much and He feels what we feel, including our pain and grief (John 11:35). "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18).

God wants us to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), but He also wants us to do all we can to heal our broken world. If we give up, the criminals win. If we give up, Satan wins. He was "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44) who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus "came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

There’s a song that calls God “The Way Maker”. I love that name for God. He truly is a way maker. The song goes like this, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.”

God has proven this to be an accurate name for Himself throughout scripture and in my life. In Exodus 14:10-30 we read about the Israelites being led by God to the Red Sea. Just as they arrived to the sea, the Egyptians appeared on the scene. There appeared to be no way out. To the naked eye, the Israelites were sitting ducks, but God did the unimaginable and parted the Red Sea delivering them from the Egyptians.

As surely as the fans in that concert were looking for a way out of their terror, maybe there are those reading this post today who are also looking for a way out. Maybe you are one who feels like you are at a dead end -- hopeless -- unable to find your way out of a situation or circumstance. You’ve tried everything – from seeking counsel and pleading for help from friends and family. It may be something as severe as facing an arrest, a failed marriage, a bankruptcy, or a terminal illness. No matter what it is......there IS a WAY out!

That WAY out is spelled G-O-D. "And God is faithful; He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. When we are tempted, He will also provide A WAY OUT so that we can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

The WAY-MAKER, Almighty God, is on our side and He is everything -- our Guide, Confidant, Counselor, Healer, Peace & Strength Provider, and Source of Supply. I pray that, not only individually, but as a country that we shake off the negativism, the hopelessness, the spirit of hatred and turn to The Way Maker to direct and guide us through our mazes of difficulty to show us THE WAY OUT!
1 Corinthians 10:13 “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide A WAY OUT so that you can endure it.”