Mr. Basketball and Me by Susan Shull

Excitement and anticipation begins to build at our house around the end of October, and it has nothing to do with Halloween. We get fired up when the official opening day of college basketball practice arrives. Our family loves Fighting Illini basketball!

When the boys were growing up, game days were almost like holidays. We arranged our schedules around the basketball schedule, and we tried to watch every game together. When they were small, Brady, Brandon, and Brock would put on their jerseys, grab their nerf basketballs and the laundry baskets, and they would play up a storm while watching their favorite players on TV. After the games, if it wasn’t too cold, they would run to the machine shed and shoot hoops, practicing the moves that they just saw Kendall Gill or Dee Brown execute. As the boys left home to attend college, we watched the games with our phones beside us, calling to talk about fabulous plays and last second shots.

Game Day has calmed down considerably now. Brad and I don’t put on our jerseys or shoot hoops during the game, but we still love our team. There is one well-known announcer though who tends to get my blood pressure up. If you are also a college basketball nut, you may know who I am talking about. In the past, it didn’t matter who our team was playing, the only thing this guy wanted to talk about was his favorite team, the Duke Blue Devils or North Carolina. Do you know who I’m referring to “BABYEEEE!” ?

This season he has aggravated me for a different reason. Instead of Duke, North Carolina or another team, it seems to be every sentence he utters begins with “I”. He only wants to talk about himself! I was griping about it to Brad one night during a game, when God used Dick Vitale to convict ME! How many times do my sentences start with “I”? How many times do others wish I would quit talking about what I want, what I think, what I want to do? How many times do I make every situation all about me?

Some of the ladies at our church have just begun a new Bible study on the book of Esther. Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve been convicted again! This time by King Xerxes, an ego-maniac showoff who passed an edict affecting all the women of his kingdom just because he was embarrassed by his wife. Everything revolved around him.

Conviction from our Heavenly Father can sometimes come from the strangest and most unexpected places, can’t it? When God “speaks” to me, I try to listen even though I hate that awful feeling of disappointment and shame. And once again, I am so thankful for grace, forgiveness, compassion, and the love of my Savior as he continues to do a work in me.

CRUCIFY HIM by Donna (Ensign) Woods

They didn’t sing, “How Great Thou Art”.
They didn’t parise Him with a joyful heart.
Instead, they screamed, “Crucify Him!!!”
As He prepared to die for all our sin.
Barabas was released from prison, and set free,
But Jesus was led away to die for you and me.
So many laughed, and mocked His name,
As He was nailed to the cross for all sin and shame.
I’m sure He shed a tear or two,
As He prayed to God for me and you.
Jesus prayed for believers to be united as one
As the Father is united with His son.
His love and compassion is so great,
Here in the midst of so much anger and hate.
His beloved Peter denied Him three times that night.
The number of times we’ve denied Him is a terrible sight!
They cast lots for His clothes and mocked Him with sneers
While Mary and the others watched with heart-felt tears.
A King with no jewels to adorn
Only a dirty…bloody crown of thorns!
From the sixth hour until the ninth, the sun refused to shine.
As Jesus died for all sin…theirs, yours and mine…
Close your eyes and feel the awesome power of it…
“Father unto your hands I commit my Spirit.”
We were all there, you and I…
For each of us… He chose to suffer and die.
It doesn’t matter how great or small our sin and shame,
The price He paid for it was still the same.
The sights and sounds of that crucifiction day
Should make us all eager to bow and pray.
The sounds of a nail, being pounded into His hand…
We should still hear it…echo across this land.
Imagine the blood…crimson upon His face
As He hung there…in YOUR place!!!
Joseph took His body to the tomb…His burial place
Later, they found only the cloth, He was gone…without a trace.
Can you imagine their horror and dismay??
They thought someone had stolen their Lord away.
The angel said, He is not here, but do not weep.
Jesus rose from the dead to fulfill the promise to His sheep.
Then, He went to Heaven, to prepare us a place.
Through Baptism, He blesses us with His saving grace.
You are the one He loves and adores…
But, It’s Heaven or Hell, the choice is yours!!!
Imagine…looking into Jesus eyes, as He died for you.
Then search your heart and ask…”WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??”

How Sweet the Sound by Vaneta Andrews

At the dentist … Are you kidding me?

I’ve never really been too nervous about going to the dentist. However after one painful visit I became apprehensive. At my next visit I decided to pray before going in. I also quote scripture and sing (to myself of course) worship and praise songs while in the chair. I don’t pick the scripture or songs. I just let the Spirit work.

My last visit had an ironic twist. The song the Spirit gave me … Amazing Grace how sweet the sound and that’s where it stopped. I just kept repeating that line over and over. I’m surprised Dr. Dill couldn’t hear me laughing it was just so comical. I mean, come on, we all know it is not a sweet sound at the dentist. But God once again provided just what I needed at the time, as He always does.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

So yes, I guess the dentist can have a sweet sound if God is with you! So take Him with you every where you go you never know when you just might need Him!