Women of Faith:
We took several members of Stan’s volleyball team to a college game yesterday. Not wanting the girls to miss the opportunity to attend a Sunday church service we invited them to attend with us before the match.
The priest gave a coaching homily for team players –although I am sure that was not really his intention when he prepared it.
He spoke first about “doing your best”—and how we feel when make excuses because we didn’t win.
He spoke about “investing” –toiling and laboring and how we feel when we let the team down, or don’t get the best grade.
He spoke about “trusting”—and how we feel when a team member lets us down.
He spoke about “teaching and sharing”—so that our teammates will grow with us, so that we can win together.
And the priest suggested that instead of asking God, “Why haven’t You answered my prayers?” and “What will You do for me?” We should ask, “What more can I do to give it my all?”
Should God be doing more for me, or should I be doing more for God?
We know what we want and we make our wants very specific. And typically we pray for what we want.
But do we pray for what God wants?
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4: 6-7
The priest said that we should be kept awake by the question, “Are we giving it our all?”
Do we have the qualities of an MVP?
Do we always do our best, or do we give up on ourselves, the team, or the coach when the going gets tough? Do we pray even when our prayers aren’t being answered the way we want?
Do we invest and practice hard; all the time, not just when it is convenient to us—even when we are tired—even when Sunday church service is not at the most convenient time or place? Do we go the extra step?
Do we treat our bodies with respect; eating, exercising and being nourished by the greatest food of all—the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist?
Do we trust God’s plan? Do we look for and follow the coaches He puts in our lives? Or do we follow coaches who have the easiest way?
Do we teach and share; so that in all of our relationships helping our teammates is a priority, so that we can get better together? Do we become a coach to others and share our God given talents, or do we just use them for our own purpose?
Jesus calls us to follow his example on the cross and to lay down our lives for others. Hopefully we are giving our all, especially to our spouses, children, parents and friends—our teammates in marriage, family and community.
Heavenly Father: ”Help me to do: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4:8-9 Amen
God has given us the gifts to give it our all and to be his MVP’s—praying for HIS Will (investing); following HIS coaches (trusting); and serving HIM always (sharing).
Make your team better by making yourself better this week. Be God’s MVP!
Blessings, Charlotte
Showing posts with label team building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label team building. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Getting Things Done
Women of Faith:
Last night was our second Couples of Faith date night. Conversations there are always enlightening and thought provoking. At some point the discussion always turns to “how do you do all the things you do?” This is how God, not I, answers: “Why did God make me? To Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him.” Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 27-32, 46)
Today’s reading from Ephesians, also points to giving in love, sacrificing and working for God, acting within God’s commandments, finding light in the truth.
“Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Eph 4:32–5:8
My theory is like Father Mike’s: “Don’t sit if you can stand, don’t stand if you can walk, don’t walk if you can run.” “It is a blessing if you can get things done.”
I am only doing what God made me for. If I do less than that, I am not answering His call. If I put something or someone ahead of God, I am not answering His call. And this is a TEAM effort, God is my/our coach. He wants the WHOLE team to succeed. That is the plan for marriage and for our families.
One of the other comments I have heard said is: “I wish “____” would have heard this.” That too is our call, to let others know what we have heard about God’s truth. Not what we think, not what society thinks, but what God has given us in the Bible and thru the Church teachings. It is our duty to spread that Truth, to invite someone to attend Church with us, to share God’s message by our living example, to express joy in our lives, and not “whine” but to show acceptance and embrace the burdens and sufferings we might be given—just as Jesus accepted the cross for us.
That is where prayer comes in. Many are not willing to listen. Many are not choosing the “narrow path.” It is so much easier to follow what has come to be the majority (only 1 in 4 Catholic’s attend mass on Sunday). (I don’t know statistics for other Christians.) What does “Keep Holy the Sabbath” mean? Can we afford to sin against a commandment so carelessly?
Our first job, whether we are sitting, standing, walking or running—is to pray! Pray to open hearts, to allow God’s spirit into conversations, and into the actions that we model for others.
If only 1 in 4 (or less) are doing God’s call—knowing Him, loving Him, serving Him—then will only 1 in 4 be allowed into Heaven?
What will we do, what will we give up, who will we pray for so that they, and we, are 1 of those 4?
Dear God: With joyful hearts we sing your songs of praise. Let Your Spirit guide us in paths of righteousness. Continue to bless us with the abilities, knowledge, courage and patience to “get things done.” Help us to touch others with Your word and light. Amen.
Go in faith, to build your team and “His will be done” “Good and faithful servant.”
Charlotte
Last night was our second Couples of Faith date night. Conversations there are always enlightening and thought provoking. At some point the discussion always turns to “how do you do all the things you do?” This is how God, not I, answers: “Why did God make me? To Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him.” Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 27-32, 46)
Today’s reading from Ephesians, also points to giving in love, sacrificing and working for God, acting within God’s commandments, finding light in the truth.
“Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Eph 4:32–5:8
My theory is like Father Mike’s: “Don’t sit if you can stand, don’t stand if you can walk, don’t walk if you can run.” “It is a blessing if you can get things done.”
I am only doing what God made me for. If I do less than that, I am not answering His call. If I put something or someone ahead of God, I am not answering His call. And this is a TEAM effort, God is my/our coach. He wants the WHOLE team to succeed. That is the plan for marriage and for our families.
One of the other comments I have heard said is: “I wish “____” would have heard this.” That too is our call, to let others know what we have heard about God’s truth. Not what we think, not what society thinks, but what God has given us in the Bible and thru the Church teachings. It is our duty to spread that Truth, to invite someone to attend Church with us, to share God’s message by our living example, to express joy in our lives, and not “whine” but to show acceptance and embrace the burdens and sufferings we might be given—just as Jesus accepted the cross for us.
That is where prayer comes in. Many are not willing to listen. Many are not choosing the “narrow path.” It is so much easier to follow what has come to be the majority (only 1 in 4 Catholic’s attend mass on Sunday). (I don’t know statistics for other Christians.) What does “Keep Holy the Sabbath” mean? Can we afford to sin against a commandment so carelessly?
Our first job, whether we are sitting, standing, walking or running—is to pray! Pray to open hearts, to allow God’s spirit into conversations, and into the actions that we model for others.
If only 1 in 4 (or less) are doing God’s call—knowing Him, loving Him, serving Him—then will only 1 in 4 be allowed into Heaven?
What will we do, what will we give up, who will we pray for so that they, and we, are 1 of those 4?
Dear God: With joyful hearts we sing your songs of praise. Let Your Spirit guide us in paths of righteousness. Continue to bless us with the abilities, knowledge, courage and patience to “get things done.” Help us to touch others with Your word and light. Amen.
Go in faith, to build your team and “His will be done” “Good and faithful servant.”
Charlotte
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