Who's cheering for you?

I am an avid sports fan. I love football, Tennis, athletics, basketball you name it. I may not understand them fully but I like the buzz around games, the excitement before, during and after a game. I like listening to the analysis by professionals and amateurs, the bickering by fans, the seemingly fanaticism of sports never fails to amaze me.

I get in on the act too, when supporting my football team, my favourite tennis play or other sports stars, all these from the comfort of my couch. I have been opportune to attend a few live sporting events. Imagine what it’s like in a football field, you can’t be still in those matches, which is second only to a Holy Ghost filled atmosphere.

One thing is certain, the cheers of fans steer teams on. I have witness countless turn around in games. Where it was almost certain that a team or an individual is going to lose only for them to make a remarkable turnaround and win. When asked after a Tennis Match against Roger Federal, Del Petrol attributed his turnaround to the chants of the Argentina’s fans amongst the crowd. He said anytime he felt like he couldn’t carry on, their chants spurred him on.

This got me thinking: everyone of us has someone cheering for us, rooting for us to succeed in every area of our lives.
Who’s cheering for you? Who will be disappointed if you give up?

There is one cheer that dwarfs the cheers of sports fanatics, “The cheers of the saints who have gone before” the urging of the Holy Spirit to try one more time at whatever it is we’ve been tempted to give up on. It may be the urge to give up trying for that promotion at work, to give up working at a difficult relationship, the urge to give up on a desire or a dream, the urge to give up the wait for a spouse or the urge to give up on that difficult child.

Straight from my heart is this piece to encourage you, as we approach the end of another year to:

Tune your earring aid,
lengthen its cord,
stretch it wide to the frequency of the chants of those who have gone before.

Imagine them standing on the sidelines,
urging you to take one more step,
to continue on in the hope of achieving that dream.

Their cheers will give strength to your wings,
enabling you to stay in the race.

Envision yourself in the realm of the desired for many a soul has won, who sort to draw strength from the cheers of those on the side lines.

And when you are tempted to give up trying,
remember that you may be giving up on the chance to stand on the side lines,
to cheer on those who will come after you.

For you see,
only a winning attitude guarantees entrance to be a spectator on the stands,
to take your place with those who amidst the odds,
continued and obtained the price.

So stay in the race, because someone is cheering for you.

Pictures by "photobucket"

Hope

This year is rapidly coming to an end. As I look back on the last 9 months, I marvel at how swiftly time flies. It wasn’t long ago we welcomed this year, made goals and resolutions, with hopes of how we wanted things to go. Here we are, counting down.

This year holds different things for different people. Some can’t wait for it to roll by quickly so that they can start another one. Perhaps it doesn’t hold pleasant memories for them. They may have loss jobs, loved ones, houses, health, excreta. Things happened that have made them eager to see the back of 2009.

What memories do you have of 2009? In what way does it stand out for you? Have you loss a loved one? Have you been struck down by an illness, are you one of those who look back to the last months and sigh? Do you feel things are out of control in your life?

Here’s one peace of advice for you, regardless of the pain, disappointments, or sorrows you may have encountered this year, it could have been worse.

Do no dwell on the disappointments of the past so much that it hinders you from seeing the blessings in your life right now.

Perhaps things have been really bad for you this year, whatever can go wrong went wrong and you dread the dawn of another year even though you can’t wait for this one to end. Remember however good or bad a situation is, it will change. We don’t know whether it will change for bad or worse but that is where faith and hope comes in: we hope it will change for the better if it was bad and trust God to do right by HIS word.

So straight from my heart is this piece to ENCOURAGE you.

Hang in there my friend.
Though dark the night may be and fear overwhelms
Tales of toil and snare litter an uncertain horizon
and your heart palpitates as it anticipates the arrival of another season
Though visions becomes blurred by scary clouds
As hope wanes and dreams go cold
Though dawn waits on the shores of misery,
Look up, skies become clearer as the clouds roll back
See beyond the blur
Extend your vision
Let your hope be restored amidst the scares and tears.
Lay your cares aside,
Let faith be ignited again

As you stay the course and wait for the dawn of a New Year with Joy.

Hope