Since I have taken up friends with the o so wonderful game of golf, I thought I might share some tidbits of life that can go alongside it as well.
1. There is ALWAYS room for improvement!
I've heard it said that not even the Pros have ever played a perfect game. I guess that means us beginners need not fret. As so in our christian walk with God, we always have much room for improvement. God is there to help us through each and every part of it. He is there strengthening and helping us to become all He has purposed us to be! Isaiah 41:10. "I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
2. There is always gonna be ditches/waterways to hit your ball up and over!
There is one such ditch at Walden that you must cross. So far it has got me each time! I'm still learning of course. But my David has given me the FAITH to believe that I AM going to hit it up and over that darn ditch .... in time. Perserverence will pay off! As in our spiritual life - we all come to ditches at one point or another. But in coming to that ditch we know that we are not alone and that God is there to help us to aim high and over it. For it is Christ in us that makes us strong and not we ourselves. Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Christ which strengthens me." Never give up!
3. Playing golf can be HOT and tiring!
Who hasn't noticed that it is just downright HOT out there?! Maybe we should've picked up this idea of being golfers a little later in the season. And sometimes playing can be tiring, but I guess it just goes along with the FUN. :) Serving God can be rewarding - but it has it's time of being "hot and tiring" as well. When we are tempted to say "What does it matter? I'm tired. This isn't fun anymore." We stop and remember the verse that says 1 Cor. 15: 58. "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
4. Playing golf requires hydration!
We all know that water is an essential must for our bodies to be maintained properly. Without proper hydration we become sick and are unable to continue on. David got me a nice big Bubba mug (in purple) to keep me full of water. Sometimes I simply make myself drink because I don't always get thirsty on my own and I know it is for my good. God has given us His Word - the Bible - to keep our lives hydrated and functioning as it should. But if the Bible (water) just sits there on it's own and isn't consumed by us how will it help us? God gives us hope through His Words in showing us how to deal with every part of life. But we must read it and consume it. John 4: 14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
5. The game of golf is played to KEEP your balls - not to lose them!
Ah yes, it's gonna happen, even on your good days the inevitable happens. . . you lose yet another ball. Ya know I'm not sure you should call it "playing" golf but rather it should be sometimes called "working" golf! There's alot to remember "working" this game including where did you last hit your ball. Trying to help your team mates watch for their balls AND keep in mind where yours are is tricky sometimes! I'm sure the home tenants must think "Yup...another beginner on the course. They are looking all over the place!" By the way, it feels really great when you do find that darn little ball! :) God assures us though that He NEVER loses us as His children! John 6: 39 "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose NONE of all that that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." John 10: 29 "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater that all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand."
6. Everyone has their own golf swing!
I'm sure everyone must have their own little peculiar ways of standing, setting up and swinging through the ball. I often wonder how odd I look myself as I'm trying my darndest best to connect with this little itty bitty round object laying on the ground. Though not totally comfortable with the idea of people watching as I am learning, I think I have improved! David and Levi try to give me helpful tips to manage myself. Sometimes their tips help.....and sometimes they just don't. But I listen and at least attempt to follow through with what they are saying. I know that I can take all these helpful tips, find which ones work for me, and in time become the O so wonderful golfer I hope to be! Heehee! It's just like in our christian walk. My walk (golf swing) with God may not resemble your walk with God. But it's MY walk with a God who loves me and relates to me right where I am at! I can know that God is putting all the "stuff" of my life together to make me into who He wants me to be in time. Philippians 1: 6 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you/me will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
(I see I am getting longer with each example. I will try to wrap this up!)
7. Lining up your ball and shooting straight takes time and patience!
One thing I do have over David and Levi, on most occassions, is that I can hit the ball straight! But a straight ball is only as good as the power behind it. David and Levi have a very sharp right hook once they have hit it. It is frustrating to say the least, but it is something they are learning to overcome with time and patience. Lining up our lives with Christ can be just as time consuming and requires patience at times as well. We need to watch and be careful lest we veer to the left or the right for temptation is all around us. In knowing that, we stand firm, trusting the One who knows us best to help us stay lined up with His purpose. Hebrews 12: 1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with the perserverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Philippians 3: 13 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
8. Last but not least. . . . HAVE FUN!!
Golf is challenging . . . but golf can be fun! There are people who love a challenge. I, on the other hand, do not. But I look past that fact and I see all the fun that lies in one simple game. It is time well spent with my very best friend. It can be a self motivator to get up and be active. It can boost self confidence in a positive way. And it simply can be fun to learn and accomplish something new. God also wants us to be active, have fun, enjoy and see the blessings in all that He has given us! Philippians 4: 4 "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again; Rejoice!" Psalms 144: 15 "...Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."
: - ) Enjoy life!
No comments:
Post a Comment