Any Given Tuesday

We’ve all heard the term “Any Given Sunday”, which is derived from a quote in a book that bears the same title. The meaning behind it, is that on any random Sunday, any team has the potential to beat another team. It emphasizes the NFL’s unpredictability and competitive balance. 

While I don’t know much about the sport of football, my experiences in life have taught me the same…that it’s just as unpredictable. 

We often wait until the next Sunday, to go back to church. Monday, to start a new work out. Wednesday is a halfway point to get through the week. Thursday is for looking forward to the weekend. Friday and Saturday are when we plan to experience all we can of life, on our off days.

What about Tuesdays?

On any given Tuesday, we can have a major health crisis.

On any given Tuesday, we can lose a loved one.

On any given Tuesday, we can get in an accident that alters our lives forever.

On any given Tuesday, we can receive test results, that we have cancer.

On any given Tuesday, our house can catch fire.

On any given Tuesday, we can lose our job.

But on any given Tuesday.

God can perform a miracle in our bodies.

A new life makes its way into this world (I’ve had two babies born on a Tuesday).

We can obtain the keys to our very first home or the one our dreams were made of (both have happened to me). 

We can start a new job.

We can be cancer free.

As unpredictable as Tuesday, or any other day of the week can be, in this life, there is one thing that is constant. God is still God, regardless of our circumstance. His mercy, grace, and miraculous power aren’t confined to a specific day or time. He is faithful always.

My Champion

This week my daughter had a track meet, in less than desirable conditions. She was soaked and cold from the pouring rain. The long jump event she was trying to participate it, was a mess from the clumping, wet, sand. Volunteers were working endlessly, trying to move the puddles, before every race, without much progress.

By the time we made it to her she was covered in sand, tears, and raindrops. Her hunger and fatigue, were causing her emotions to be in control. She just wanted to get away from there and be someplace dry and warm, without any adverse elements.

But the rain still came, and the race still had to be ran.

We weren’t really enjoying it as parents either. Then again, that’s what being an intentional parent is. Showing up in all moments, whether it’s pleasurable or not. Being present is what’s most important. 

After she ran her race, and her team won, she said the only voice she could hear was mine. It made me tear up, just thinking about the fact, that come rain or shine my kids will never know what it’s like to not hear their parents voice, cheering them on.

This last year, has been a season of adverse conditions in my life. As most of us have those years. I have been so incredibly defeated. Each day seems like it brings a new challenge, that I haven’t prepared for. The words of encouragement I’m used to offering others, are now silenced by the fact that I’m barely able to open my mouth to pray for myself. I’m just holding on. Waiting for the storm to stop and for the sun to shine again.

As I meditated on my daughter’s confidence in my voice in the midst of the downpour, I started to realize how much more confidence I should have in the Lord. He isn’t a God of circumstance. He’s always there calling out to us and encouraging us, wherever we are…

He is my champion.

Giants fall when He stands (and speaks).

Undefeated.

Every battle He has won (regardless of our adversities).

I am who He says I am.

He crowns me with confidence.

I am seated, in a Heavenly place.

Undefeated.

With the one who has conquered it all.

He is a present father. He has never left us to face the challenges of life alone. May this remind you, as it did me, that we have that confidence in Him and that fact that He’s already conquered it all.

Our Guy

I can’t share my grandpa’s life with you, without telling you the impact that he had on mine. 

He took me to church every chance he could, encouraged me to pursue singing and acting in our church plays. He was best friends with a southern gospel group, that he always invited me to spend time with. He let me help with church deposits, when he was the treasurer, because he knew my love for numbers. He taught me how to fly and kite, and how to drive…although he didn’t have much luck with the stick shift (one of his favorite stories he liked to share about me). He let us help plant, and experience the blessing of the harvest. He brought us to Kings Island with him, whenever he was working, and allowed us make that amusement park our own personal playground. He educated me about business, by giving me access to his. He demonstrated how to serve others, by continually showing up to move my things, when I found myself in a mess . He gave love unconditionally, and forgiveness just as easy. He showed me who Christ was, by being His greatest example.

He was the hardest worker, I’ve ever witnessed. My aunt shared a story with me, of how during a blizzard and a few feet of snow, he drove from house to house working on peoples furnaces. He did this not just because he loved to work, he knew they were counting on him to stay warm. 

He once tried to donate his own eyes, to one of our cousins who was blind. And I know he would have done so, if he could.

He patiently restored a 57 Chevy, piece by piece. Exposing us to the beautiful result of patience.

He loved to play music. He loved to laugh. He even loved to cry. But most of all, he loved to love. 

He was my number one guy. And anyone who had the privilege of calling him family, would tell you the same. He was our guy. The guy, husband, dad, grandpa, and friend that God gave each and everyone of us.

He Will Again

There is no greater agony in this world than watching someone you love suffer. Knowing that you would willing take on just one ounce of their pain, to relieve them for a moment, but in reality understanding that isn’t possible. We do what we can that’s in our power. We pray, we hope, we trust….and we wait. We wait for God to do what He once did, again.

The waiting itself, can sometimes seem torturous for us. We’re stuck in a place of what was, what is, and the fear of what’s to come. Trying to remember if we cherished the moments that brought us completely joy, enough to get through the darkest days. Wanting so desperately to return to them. Holding tight to our faith, when it seems like our hearts are continually breaking. And believing for better days ahead.

The truth is, we all understand how impossibly it is to predict the future. We also know, that we serve a God, who has performed miracles before…and He will again.

~Cause if He told the sun when to rise
And it did, He will again
And if He told the storm to be still
And it did, He will again
And if He told the sea where to split
And it did, He will again
And if He told the walls when to fall
And they did, He will again
And if He told the chains when to break
And they did, He will again

And if He told the bones, come alive
And they did, He, come on, what else
And if He told the stone, roll away
And it did, He will again
And if He told the grave, let Him go
And it did, He will again

No matter what miracle it is we’re waiting on…

Our loved ones to be healed

Job opportunities 

Bringing a new life into this world

Financial freedom

Direction for our families

We can rest in the fact, even when it seems impossible, that He did perform them, and He will again.