Well, that game was a heart-breaker! As I was thinking about how much it hurt, I realized that the pain is all a part of being passionate about something! BECAUSE we care so much, we hurt with the failures, but those victories and winning games are so much sweeter, too! I believe that God desires for us to be passionate about the things we're involved in. He says as much in the letter to the Church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. KJV
He desires, first of all, that we love HIM with our whole being. The word for this week is "fervent". It's found in Romans 12:10-11:
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; KJV
"Fervent" is the Greek word "zeo". Strong's Concordance says this: to be hot or to glow. Our Father God does NOT want us to be lukewarm. Instead, we should obey this Word until we have a natural force of joy operating! I Love the Amplified Bible for verse 11:
11 Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. AMP
When we put the things of God as our top priority, then we are free to pour ourselves into our interests and be "aglow" about them! HE loves being around passionate people! I KNOW that He loves living at your house, where both you and Kristine are passionate about Him, about the Word, about your wonderful family, about your work, and about your interests! You are an example of His grace, in great times and not so great times. I am confident that HE will honor that where our interests are concerned, and the timing will be PERFECT! I love you both and your girls so much! Here is a song from Hillsong called "Love Like Fire":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
