You Are Not Alone

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Goal!

Football (or soccer to those of you across the pond) is a funny old game. You may feel that we Brits take the game much too seriously, and there may be an element of truth in that. I still recall a quotation from Bill Shankly (the legendary former manager of Liverpool FC) on the topic. "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that".  That line that has become the ultimate summary of the sport's emotional grip on fans.

The ultimate aim of Football is to score more goals that your opposition. However, scoring multiple goals by one player brings with it a whole series of terms.And you know how much I like to delve into such words!

If a player scores two goals in a game:

The term used is the word brace, a noun which comes from Middle English and Anglo-French. It originates from hunting terminology, where it was used to describe a pair of hunted animals (such as birds or hares) caught in a single trip.  

If a prayer scores three goals in a game:

The word for this is hat-trick which actually is a term coming from British cricket. In that sport, when a player retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls, the club usually gave him a new hat to honour his accomplishment. Traditionally, a football player who scores a hat-trick is allowed to keep the match ball as a memento.

A little bit of Googling brings forward some other goal terms used (although of course these are increasingly rare):

4 goals by one player is a haul,

5 goals by one player is a glut,

6 goals by one player is a double hat-trick,

7 goals by one player is a haul-trick.

Remember To Be Kind

 

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

A reminder to pray

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Blackbird (part two)

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
(song by The Beatles - Writers John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. It's the day that I fly. 

The Greatest Lesson

James 1:5 (NIV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

A reminder ...

Does that make things clearer? 

 

To Be Like Jesus ...

To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me;

In every thought and deed,

This is my aim, my creed;

To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me;

His Spirit helping me,

Like Him I’ll be.

(written by General John Gowans for the musical, Spirit)

Our Job

 

A work in progress ...

Happy New Year!