Winter Olympics: Get in the Game

Dear Friends,

I saw this article: Share in the Glory of the Winter Games.  The author calls us to view the games with spiritual significance.  The “how to” list includes:  (1) hear the voice of God, (2) see the grandeur of God, (3) fight the fight of faith, and (4) appreciate the greatness of Jesus.  We should consider that “The grandeur of the Games points us to an even greater grandeur… everlasting enjoyment – together with people from every tribe and tongue and nation.”  But I find this thought sadly incomplete.  We should not just ponder these things (as much as I love pondering).

As the most outstanding athletes from 88 countries ski, skate, or bobsled across our TV screens, we have a responsibility beyond pondering.  We are responsible for praying earnestly that God’s Kingdom would come, that God would receive praise from every nation in every language.

Pondering is selfish and passive.  Prayer is selfless and active – a rebellion against the status quo.  Let’s get in the game!

Sincerely,

Katie

PS – Flashback to postcard from London 2012:  Olympic Faith.

Olympic Faith

Dear Friends,

Greetings from London 2012!!!  Oh wait, that’s right… I’m in my living room.  The sights and sounds on TV are so up-close and personal I forget I’m 4757 miles from the action watching a replay.  Team USA is just fun to watch.  But as always, I was thinking…

What if we asked the athletes to compete in an event not their own?  Let’s have Gabby Douglas try the 100m butterfly and Michael Phelps on the uneven bars.  I love it that Gabby gives God the glory for her gold medal win in the All-Around Gymnastics competition.  But what if God asked her to go for 100m butterfly gold in 2016?  She could start swimming hours a day  to train for this event, but she would need a miracle to get to the Olympic level in 4 years time.

The crazy thing is that sometimes that’s what God asks us to do.  To compete in an event that is not our own.  To do something we are naturally incapable of doing.  In these times, we must depend totally on Him and He gets all the glory.  As for me, I am an introvert.  Thinking is my specialty, my event.  But God asks me to speak sometimes.  I can practice conversation like Gabby swimming in the pool, but God has to provide words for me to see victory.

Spoiler alert:  God provides!  He answers prayer and makes us victorious!  It is such a joy to depend on Him everyday.

2 Cor 12:9-10  Psalm 92:4

Sincerely,

Katie