glory road

Fear not: for I am with thee.
Isaiah 43:5

Rugby Prayer
-For a Warrior of God-
Jesus
I stand before this battlefield
to which You alone have led me.
You planned this day before I was even born.
I see before me an enemy that is stronger, faster,
smarter, and better prepared for this battle than I.
I admit that I am afraid
of getting hurt of making mistakes.
I admit there is a part of me that wants to turn and
walk away and let someone else fight my fight.
Instead, I will do the only thing that I can do-
I cry out to You alone, Jesus.
Yours is the only name upon which I call.
Give me the strength to turn into this battle.
Give me the courage to charge boldly into this
fight despite the full knowledge of the weakness.
"For I have no power to face this vast army that is
attacking me. I do not know what to do.
But my eyes are upon You, Jesus."
I declare to all my reliance upon You only, Jesus.
I trust in the goodness of Your heart and therefore
the goodness of the outcome of this game because
I know You love me.
Yet still I must actually fight this fight.
I have to step onto the field of battle.
I have to play smart, run fast, stay focused, and hit
as hard as I can...
You have made me a powerful hitter.
My mind must be alert, my feet swift, and my
hands sure... You have given me great hands.
Jesus I need You to help me keep the eyes of my
heart focused only on You during every moment of
this great battle.
And when it is over and I walk from this field
-win or lose-
let me know that I stood back-to-back with
You alone in the fury of this great day.
In eternity that is all that will be remembered.
Jesus, let me know that I knew only Your strength.
And let it be known by all who gaze
upon this field of battle-
that the glory is Yours, and Yours alone.
My Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer,
and my Strength in battle-
Jesus

hills and valleys

Life isn't one easy straight road. It's got curves, hills, valleys, obstacles that challenge us and make us work harder. We can't always see those hills; sometimes we hit curves we're not expecting, but we have to take it all in stride. Those obstacles are there to teach us, to help us- even if we don't quite understand how or why. These hard times teach us to appreciate the better times, help us to not take things for granted.

I wouldn't know just how sweet this tastes now
No, if at first I did not go
The bitter times, the bitter places
I'll stay and learn the new battles
But, for now, we're here

We know that it won't be easy, but luckily we're not alone. We never have to face this life alone. When we take those around us and use their help we can make it through anything, we can be there for others as they are there for us. We just have to hold on together, stay as one and use each other and things will work out.

Say you're with me
There's gold ahead
There's golden dreams
And life's hills and valleys
Yeah, will you hold on with me?

good life

This could really be a good life, good life
Say, oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life.

This life is amazing. Maybe it's not always easy, but it is good. So many good things happen that we often forget about, that we take for granted. If we just took like 5 seconds to take a step back and look at how great we really have it, I think we'd all be a little amazed. I know I do it a lot, it's easy to get caught up in the stresses of school, work and whatever else we do, but there are so many amazing things out there. So many things that we need to learn how to appreciate more, so many amazing things around us.

the end where I begin

one thing ends, one thing begins. This life is a constant chain of successes and mistakes, joy and pain, beginnings and endings. Things have to end before something new and better can begin. We have to change and grow or we'll never learn all we can be. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes we don't want to forget the past, but looking back blinds us to possibilities. Remembering and looking back are different. We can remember all we learned or how an experience helped us, but looking back carries heavier consequences. We can't live in the past; we can't look back longingly wishing to be back at that time. Everyday is a new beginning, a new chance to learn.

"Now I'm alive
and my ghosts are gone
I've shed all the pain
I've been holding on
The cure for a heart
Is to move along, is to move along
So move along"

We all have the ability to liberate ourselves from the past, from what holds us back. All we have to do is move along and begin again. All we have to do is look forward. Look forward and find joy in the new adventures waiting for us.

just in time

timing is everything. We may not understand the timing of everything, but we have to make decisions regardless. We can't just think time will make the decision for us, it may not turn out as we planned, but at least we can say the decision was ours. Take control of your own life, take the reins and live the life you want to live. Who knows the opportunities you could miss if you wait too long. Make your decisions and own them, don't hesitate because things might not work out. Whatever happens, happens.

testing the strong ones

The hardest part was letting go

It's hard to think about the things you've put so much time into and realize it's the end. It's time to let go. Letting go means that you're done, you've begun to understand the futility of trying to catch whatever it is you're chasing. No one likes giving up, no one likes to admit they've been in the wrong, it's human nature to want to be right. Letting go undercuts all of that because you're acknowledging your mistakes and admitting defeat. That's why letting go takes courage, strength, and determination. It's easy to say you just won't think about something, but it doesn't become reality until you consciously decide to set yourself free. You don't need to think this means life is ending. When you've lived with something for so long it's hard to think that it may not be there any more, that there's a part of your life you won't have anymore. It's at times like this when you learn who you are, what you're made of. We're all capable of doing amazing things, you just have to believe in yourself. It's the good ones who come under fire, the strong ones who get tested. We didn't come here to waltz through life with no challenges. It may be hard, but take life as it comes, show the world that you know who you are.

Its testing the strong ones
Scarring the beautiful ones
It's holding the loved ones
One last time

what do i know of holy

it's easy to get into autopilot when our lives are going well, but it's at those times when we need to remember the most why it's going well. It's not out of our own good luck or skill, it's because we're not alone. Because we've been blessed with a network of friends and family ultimately backed up by the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't always know or understand how He affects our lives, but He is always there.

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame,
And a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of Holy,
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows your name
On earth and heaven above.
What do I know of this love?

It's amazing how much our lives depend on those around us, and it's ok if we don't always understand it. The only thing we need to understand is that there is a God above who loves us and is always there when we need help.