Excuse My Passion

The NCAA Women's Basketball tournament is going on right now. I have been watching it since about 1995. I can remember watching the Final Four for the first time, and how exciting and passionate the players and coaches were. It reminded me today of my first baseball game that I went to in Detroit. I didn't care much for baseball, but my mom and my brother were die-hard Yankee fans. I didn't understand their passion until I was on vacation and "spontaneously" went to see the Tigers play the Yankees while in Detroit.

It was a Monday afternoon game and not many people there, but those that WERE there amazed me. The fans were SO involved in the game! They knew all the players names and had little "antics" that they would do at certain times during the game. Long story short, the terrible Tigers came back in the 9th inning to beat the favored Yankees by 1 run! The Tiger fans went CRAZY! As we were leaving, I saw so many people talking and laughing and going over the different plays in the games- with such PASSION! Leaving that game.... I got it. I finally understood my mother and brother and their passion concerning the Yankees.

As most people know, that story ends with me becoming a monster baseball fan to the point of actually collecting my favorite players baseball cards. Not so much for the dollar value that it could hold or held, but because I truly liked those particular players. My mom has always liked sports. I grew up watching a variety of sports on T.V. with her. I remember her liking certain sports players and to this day she still does. Bart Starr.... Mickey Mantle.... A.J. Foyt.... just to name a few. But, in all the time that I was growing up, it never really clicked in me that mom had a passion for sports. Not until I was in my 30's did I realize it. Her passion was quieter than my brother and I's! He and I can be watching a game on T.V. and barely be able to sit still when the game would get exciting. I can remember my mom making up different little "cheers" when it would get down to the wire and she would chant them, hoping and praying by doing it would help them win. And more often than not... it would.

Passion- I have heard people tell me that I have it.  I could never deny that I do. I have alot, actually. About sports, yes but it doesn't stop there.

I sometimes forget that the Bible says that I was made in the image of God. My Creator gave me some of the attributes that He possesses. So in all fairness to Him, I believe my passion comes from Him, for He is a passionate God.

Exodus 34:6 says- Then the LORD passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth".

God's passion is for ME... for US... for ALL. I believe when He created us, He was excited and finessed Adam in every facet as a witness to His Love for humankind. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God began forming a plan of how to get us back... back in right standing with Him so we could be His children again as He had created us to be. His passion and love for us took Him from heaven to earth to become one of us, to show us.. in person.. His passionate love.

Jesus also had passion. In looking at what Jesus had passion for, it was obvious that it was what God had passion for- US. We are able to get a mental picture of what that looked like when He was here on earth by what the Bible says in the Gospels. He was passionate about spending time with God... alone. He would preach and teach in the temples and by the seaside, and then go away for awhile to rest and to pray. He was passionate about teaching and making Disciples, about showing the lost and the lonely that they were loved. His passion for humankind eventually led Him to His humiliating death on a cross. Even in that death, God did not do anything to save face, but passionately went through agonizing pain and suffering to bring us salvation.

God's ultimate sign of His passion for us to be reunited to Him was through Jesus' death and resurrection... so that we may know that He is Love... and good... and faithful.

Upon rededicating Christ as my Savior, I became more passionate in life than ever before ... about LIFE... LOVING OTHERS... and GOD. I cannot describe in words the way my heart feels when I truly commune with God. My passion for Him is something I cannot keep to myself, hidden inside, nor do I believe it was meant to be that way. I want my life to be seen as one who lived their life to the FULLEST (John 10:10) all because God so much passion to send His only son to die for me.

So.... if you see me smiling for no reason, or you're in the car next to me at a stop light and I'm jammin' to my God music (the dancing driver), or you read my Facebook status and it has a scripture there and nothing else..... just excuse my passion because God gave it to me and I can't help but live out my life for Him and show it.

Ponder this:
Sports is all about relationships: Coach to player, player to player, and then collectively as a team. So is Life all about relationships: God to us, me to you, and US collectively as one body of Christ.

THIS is where our passion should lie: loving one another as God loves us, and loving Him with passion.

Amen.

Precious time

As we set our clocks ahead one hour tonight and "spring forward", I always think of how it affects the daylight- more light, longer days. I have always liked that time of year. I like daylight. I spent most of my childhood outside when it was warm and daylight. Lately, March seems to be my beginning of the new year. Not just because of the time change, but because of Easter- the reminder of Christ's life, death, and resurrection here on earth. It was a moment in time that changed everything.

I am currently reading "The Purpose Driven Life" for the first time, and I must say it is a must read for all who are seeking God or just seeking answers for their life. I had never took part in "lent" before this year. I wanted to take part and really focus daily on these 40 days that lead up to Christ's crucifixion. His life, though truly humble, was relentless in truth about who He was.

As Easter approaches, I always tend to break out the old biblical movies that I grew up watching with my mom- Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Robe, and more recently The Passion of the Christ. Call it tradition if you want to, but to me, those movies give me a sense of closeness to the God of my childhood. I feel Him as my Best Friend as I watch. He knows how dorky I am sitting around on a Saturday afternoon watching corny old movies with huge orchestral music- and Charleton Heston in a toga- but He loves me like that. He loves my heart.

Time is really short. We "spring forward" tonight, but soon we will be "falling back".
How are you spending your time this spring?
Have you given any thought to this time of year that was 2000 years ago?
Do you ponder that God became a man to walk on this earth to teach us how to love each other, and Him?
Do you think about how He suffered, was beaten, and then was crucified on a cruel cross, all the while asking God to forgive us?
It is sometimes more than I can imagine.... maybe that is why I watch those movies, so I can try to get some kind of mental picture in my head to remind me what it might have been like. As I watch some of those scenes of his suffering, the blood that He shed and the pain He endured- all for me.... and for you.

What will you do with Him this coming Easter?
Will you breathe His presence in and out daily as He wants to part of every aspect of your everyday life?
Will you make Him part of your family, ask Him to be your Best Friend, and surrender to the purpose He has for your life?
Or....
Will you wait to "fall back".... and then to next year to "spring forward" and continue to let time pass by.

Lord Jesus, nothing is more precious than time. Show us what you would have us do with the time You have given us. Remind us of your time here on earth and the teachings You gave us that is written in your Word. Write it on our hearts and make it evident to us that we cannot put off making you Lord of our lives for always. Your resurrection has saved us and gives us a "full" life here on earth until we come home to You. Thank you for saving us and forgiving us of our sins.

Amen.