Godstruck Ministries 4 Kids August 2016 Newsletter

Blessings Blog: Exceeding Expectations

Olympic fever has been running high at my daughter’s home in North Carolina. Though my granddaughters are only four, two and newborn, we have been sitting down together as a family to watch events in swimming, diving, archery, and gymnastics. (The video of the pool has been an amazing pacifier!) We have used live streaming as the means to catch the action, thus the commercials are often longer than the video coverage, but we have still enjoyed viewing the competition and cheering for the athletes.

As have many Olympic fans, I have taken to the Internet to garner facts about present competitors and prior champions. I happened on a site called How Stuff Works. They had an article highlighting the stories of “Five Amazing Olympic Athletes.” Though Michael Phelps did not make their list, four solo athletes and one two-man team did. The piece included participants from games that took place over a one hundred year plus span. I was already acquainted with Jesse Owens, a black athlete competing at the games in hostile 1936 Berlin. Hitler’s hatred and pride did not squelch Jesse’s athletic prowess and determination as he took four gold medals and set some amazing records in running and jumping events.

An athlete named George Eyser received six gold medals in one day as a gymnast, competing with a wooden leg! This was forty-four years before the Paralympics came into being in 1948. Two female athletes made the list: Larisa Latynina for her skill displayed as a gymnast in three Olympics. She collected eighteen medals, nine of them gold. Apparently she also won a slue of medals in World and European championships, some while she was pregnant! A female athlete named Babe Didrikson Zaharias was so talented she qualified in five sports, but due to the rules for women athletes in 1932, she was only allowed to compete in three. Consequently, she took home the gold in the javelin throw and the eighty-meter hurdles and a silver in the high jump. The list of sports in which she excelled covers a wide range of events including volleyball, tennis, swimming, diving, cycling and golf. Then there is the duo of Thomas Bimis and Nikolaos Siranidis who competed in Athens, Greece on the Greek Diving Team. Though not expected to medal at all, when someone from the crowd crashed through to climb up to the diving board and splashed belly first into the pool, with other competitors flustered by the incident, this pair did not lose their cool, and they took the gold in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

One thing that may be said of all these athletes is that they exceeded expectations. For whatever reason, whether it was the era in which they performed, the odds they faced, or the circumstances surrounding their event, each competed far beyond what was anticipated. They have sealed their place in the records of Olympic history as the epitome of what it means to be a champion. They trained, they fought hard, they stayed focused, they gave their all. They stand as examples of the way to compete and win.

The Bible uses language that evokes images of competition regarding the faith walk of a believer in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said of himself, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV). He encourages us in 1 Corinthians 9:24 saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” He also said, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own [attaining to the resurrection from the dead]. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV). We receive further encouragement from the writer of Hebrews who said in chapter twelve, verses one and two, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV).

Clearly, we are in a competition, not to win a place in heaven, but to be the best we can be for the glory of God and for the sake of His kingdom. We train, we fight hard, we stay focused, and we give our all. The Lord Himself is our example as 1 Corinthians 2:9, ESV states, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” He always exceeds our expectations, and for those who desire to be good and faithful servants, it is important that we strive for excellence to champion the cause of Christ. May we be counted as amazing in the race to which the Lord has called us!

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen,” (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV).

References:
All Olympic facts were taken from the site How Stuff Works Entertainment
Olympic Rings picture courtesy of Public Domain Pictures

Family Activity: Get in the Game!

Watching top-notch athletes compete is absolutely inspiring! In schools, church and neighborhood circles children are talking about the latest medalist or the team scores from a particularly spirited competition. The kids are also all about competing against each other in pick-up games of basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Capitalize on this enthusiasm and host your own family or neighborhood Olympics.

There is still plenty of time to participate while the 2016 Olympic Games are in session; just make it simple. Pick a day and time, and decide what events will take place based on equipment and space you have available to you. Activities can be both indoors and outdoors. Use your imagination. There are many fun events in which your family can participate.

Have your family members choose a country or team to represent. Perhaps you would elect to use your family name, especially if other families are involved. Create paper designation signs with the chosen country, family, or team name and a number. The numbers can be random, or each team member can choose something with meaning for him. These can be attached to the back of each participant.

Just to give you an idea: we had our own mini-Olympic competition. We started by pledging the US flag. Our sports were: running, trampoline jumping, the standing long jump, free-form acrobatics, an attempt at summersaults, and balloon batting (keeping it in the air as long as possible). The girls were delighted to participate, and one would have thought they were in an actual competition as they showed serious commitment and determination to do well in each event. While Bekah, the two-year-old, could not jump, she actually ran a circle around the center of the trampoline one hundred times and likely would have kept going if I didn’t tell her it was time for the next event. The girls own a pretend microphone that has an echo sound, and they were thrilled that I used it to announce events and results. (You can find one at a party store, or create your own.) Our hour of Olympic competition was a huge success!

Create medals or consider purchasing some at a party store to award at the end of the games. To make your own, use US coins or special coins you may have and sturdy ribbon. Cut the ribbon to the appropriate size. Fasten coins to the ribbons with tape or hot glue. Be careful with these awards if you have very small children.

Make sure to reward good sportsmanship. Share a meal or snack/dessert time together to celebrate. Thank the Lord for the provision of a wonderful day.

Living the Word: Going the Extra Mile

A common characteristic victorious athletes share is the willingness to push beyond normal limits and devote themselves to hours of training, exercise and practice to be at the top of their game. The same can be said for stars in other disciplines as well. Raw talent withstanding, it is usually those who give a majority of their time and energy into honing their skills that see their efforts reap a great reward.

The analogy holds true for the Lord’s servants. Jesus said, “If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you,” (Matthew 5:40-42, ESV). It is something that can distinguish us from the world as we go beyond expectations to give into the lives of others.

So, the suggestion for this Living the Word is going to play out differently for each of us. The idea is to look for ways to bless someone beyond his expectations. For some of us, it may be providing an unanticipated blessing for a neighbor or a friend. For others, it may be to go beyond what another asks. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and your family to one who needs that unexpected blessing in his life. May your act of going the extra mile be a great reward for you!

Verse for August – Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

Update on CDs #3 & #4

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As the theme verse for Godstruck Ministries 4 Kids, Colossians 3:16 speaks to the heart and soul of why this ministry exists. Our mission is to help children hide God’s Word and principles in their hearts through His wonderful gift of music.