If I Could Stop Thinking

Last night was a restless one. I'm not sure why, but I kept waking up in the middle of the night and thinking about tennis. Last Friday, headed into Sectional, that wasn't true. But tonight, moving into Regional on Tuesday, it was. I think there's probably a combination of things going on, like that I don't know who we play very well, I don't know if the guys will stay fired up and play well, and I'm not sure how to get them fired up to play well.

And there's this: I know that there is a lot more going on in my world than tennis. I wrote last week that in this time that we want to have intense self-focus heading into the state tournament, we really need to have intense others-focus. Tennis teaches a lot of things about life, but one thing it doesn't teach is that there's a lot more going on than you. So I wish I could stop thinking about tennis and begin to think about everything else that is special in life.

I do have to offer up my thanks once again. You answered prayer in a way of blessing throughout the weekend. Okay, sure, again that has to do mostly with tennis, and how You took bad situations and turned them good. But I feel like I must say that You were so involved in what happened, I don't want to claim any credit without acknowledging Your hands.

Thank You for my Sunday with Gideon as well, Sunday night it was fun to chase him and tickle him and hold him. I am going to miss him being a baby. Thanks for these memories though.

Thank You for my church. It does my heart very good to see everyone band together to help at Joel's house. So we didn't all get together for a hastily planned candlelight service at the school. We did all get together to provide for the needs of one of our members, and that is what is better, right?

I don't want to minimize the praise that You should get though. Behind the scenes and despite my frustration with people and situations, You're changing them. So that's what I'm asking this morning, keeping changing situations for the good. Keep changing people for the good. Be with me, change me to become more people oriented and not so self-focused. Keep bringing Exodus closer to You, where our hearts long for what Your heart longs for. Keep helping me "make disciples," that the people I teach will long for life-long relationship with God.

Thank You once again! I love You.