Quiet Hearts

Image via Pinterest

It's not even December 1st yet and my heart is already in need of some quieting as we head into Christmas.  I know I sound like a broken record, but there is always SO much to do, especially this time of year.  I was so proud of myself for ordering Christmas cards for the first time ever weeks before Thanksgiving, but then I forgot about that whole address thing.  Shopping I can do, addressing them is another story!  I attempted to start while watching Elf, but fell asleep before Buddy even made it to NYC.  Hopefully they'll be mailed by New Year's!

So I was encouraged and grateful this morning when I hopped on my friend Caroline's blog, Growing in Grace, where she talked about Christmas music that prepares our hearts and minds as we remember God's gift to us this season.

Then I heard this, and for 3 minutes and 3 seconds, my heart was quiet:
(Email subscribers, click here for video)

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Unfulfilled Promises

Image via Pinterest

Yesterday, we talked about unwrapping the infinite Truths found within God's Word—whether we've heard it a million times, or it's brand new to us.

I love God's Word, but I especially love when our eyes land on a verse and we think, "How in the world have I never seen that before?"

Last week when I stumbled into Joel (a place I NEVER go), was one of those times.  Check this out:

"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten...you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you."

Joel 2:25-26

I mean, ya'll is that not the greatest??  I get goose bumps every time I read it.  "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..."  

In one way or another, I think we have all faced seasons where those dang swarming locusts have thwarted our dreams, eaten up our desires, or derailed us completely.  But God.  He sees that, He knows that, and He promises to restore it.  

One of the things I love about Christmas is that it's a time to reflect on unfulfilled promises becoming fulfilled.  The biggest way we see that this time of year is when we reflect on the promise of our long awaited Savior finally being fulfilled in the form of a precious baby boy.  

Are you waiting for an unfulfilled promise this year?  I pray that Joel 2:25-26 will be such an encouragement to you!  May we cling tightly to the promise that God will restore what the locust has eaten.  May He satisfy us and deal wondrously with us as we wait and trust in Him!  

Unwrapping Truth

Happy Monday!  I hope you had the most wonderful Thanksgiving!  We had a great time hunting, feasting, shopping and footballing.  The UVA game on Saturday was a tough one, but as you can see above, we definitely had the cutest cheerleaders!

Yesterday, we went into Christmas mode and pulled out all of the decorations.  Typically, I'm not really that quick to prepare for anything, but my motto is: if you're going to do all the work, you might as well enjoy it as long as possible.  This is very true when it comes to taking everything down.  I mean really, is it so wrong to have a Christmas tree double as a Valentine's Day tree?

My favorite part of yesterday's Christmas prep was decorating the tree.  In a giant tupperware were tiny little ornaments each individually wrapped, each telling a different story—-the "Baby's First Christmas" ornament that my mom received when she was anxiously awaiting my arrival (although I didn't make my grand entrance until January 11th), the UVA football I got the Christmas I was accepted to UVA, the tree angel we received from a dear friend for our wedding, and a little gingerbread ornament we received for our first married Christmas-—each special memories packed up in January only to be unwrapped and enjoyed all over again in December.

 Last night, I got to thinking about how sometimes God's word is like a box of ornaments.  Full of little truths to unwrap and remember each day.  Some verses we remember as lifelines that carried us through different seasons, others we memorized as children only to forget along the way, and still others are brand new Truths that fall freshly on our eyes.

The Bible is full of promise, hope, and direction, but so often my eyes are foggy as I idly turn the pages, missing out on SO much Truth.  

What if each time I opened up the Bible I treated it like opening up a box of ornaments—eager to unwrap every single part and quick to cling to the promise found within each word?

Christmas is full of lots of unwrapping—ornaments, Christmas cards, candy canes, and gifts—as we delight in the season, let's also delight in God's Word and be quick to unwrap His Truth.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path

Psalm 119:105

Give Thanks.

 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

Bridesmaids & Babies

Photo by Patricia Lyons

The ladies you see here were my beautiful bridesmaids, and in the past month or so, 30% have given birth to three beautiful little babies.  Together, these little mamas now have a total of 6 amazing children!  Thanks be to God! 

We have Jonah Capps:

Mary Tobin Ortega

And little Emma Rathbone

It is a joy to watch these dear friends expand their families and evolve from faithful and loving daughters, friends, and wives into fabulous moms!

So with one day to go until Thanksgiving, today, I'm grateful for the gift of life.  And I'm grateful that as teeny tiny as these little babies are, before they even entered the world, they were perfectly, wholly and so dearly loved.

The good news for us is that God doesn't just go for soft, innocent, snuggley babies, but He loves us that much too!  Even the tired, worn down, broken and weary.  From the day we were born, our God has been crazy about us!   

"I've never quit loving you and never will.
   Expect love, love, and more love!"

Jeremiah 31:3 (MSG)

"Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life."  

Psalm 23:6 (The Message) 

It's Coming...

Vail via Pinterest

This week, we pause to give thanks, but come Friday, Christmas is in full swing.  I don't know about you, but I refuse any and all Christmas prep or merriment until Santa Claus comes on his sleigh during the Macy's Day parade.  After that, it's game on—bring in the tree, music, wreaths, nutcrackers, holly, and mistletoe.  I LOVE Christmas!  

Lately, I've been thinking about how I can prepare my heart to usher in the joy and power of  Christmas.  I feel like I write about this every year, but so often, I get carried away and totally miss the point.  In my vain attempts to give the impression that I'm a fabulous holiday decorator, gifter, and baker, I miss Him.

I mentioned this before, but Nina wrote an amazing post about preparing to wait earlier, before things get too hurried.  And so, while technically, according to my very rigid schedule, it's not time to "do Christmas" quite yet, spiritually, it's always time.  While we still have a little time, before things get totally out of control, let's ask God, "How can I experience more of you this season?"

Not because we have to, not because it's demanded of us, and not because it's required.  But because there is SO much of God to discover, because Christmas is about God's fulfilled promises, and because Christmas reminds us that we are so incredibly loved—our sweet God sent us His Son in the form of a precious baby boy to save each one of us.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

John 1:14

I'm hoping to make Long to Love a peaceful place to come this Christmas to help us all prepare our hearts, but for those of you looking for something you can hold in your hands, my sweet mom is offering up her Advent book once again.  It's a short, daily devotional for the Advent season.  If you're interested, send me an email to elizabeth.r.williams1@gmail.com with your address and she will mail you one, free of charge.  

Thanks, mom!!   

Great Expectations

I don't know about you, but I'm a girl with a lot of expectations—I expect my favorite food from restaurants to always taste a certain way, I expect to always walk into Anthropologie and find something I love, and I expect that each time I watch a Real Housewife on Bravo to feel just a little bit better about my life. 

I'm also one who has expectations of people—I expect my friends to call me back and always be available when I need them; I still expect my parents to never let me down (even as a married twenty-something); and I have expectations about marriage—how I think it should look and how my husband should act. 

The problem with these?  At some point our wordly and relational expectations fail us, leaving us hurt, disappointed, and angry.  Like it or not, my friends schedules are busy and they can't always be there, my parents are imperfect and they still disappoint, and as wonderful as my husband is, he doesn't always fit perfectly into the "husband mold" that I think he needs to squeeze into.

So recently God and I have been talking a lot about expectations and where I place my hope.  I'm learning that above all else, He needs to be my Greatest Expectation, but I still struggle with making it a reality.  The fabulous truth is that when we allow God to become our greatest expectation, beautiful things happen:

• He won't disappoint.  
• He won't hurt us.
• He gives us some healthy perspective to see that He alone is truly the only thing worth hoping in, which helps us ease up on the people in our lives that we so easily hold to unrealistic standards.  

There have been two lifelines that I have been holding on tightly to as I continue to wrestle with this.  The first is Psalm 62:5 from the NKJV:

My soul, wait silently for God alone,
         For my expectation is from Him.

The second is another Paula Rinehart quote that I wrote about long ago from Strong Women, Soft Hearts:

"Hope that is pinned to God, rather than to people, has a buoyancy to it because it is grounded not in our own illusion of how our story should read, but in the character of God."

Don't you love it? 

So this week, as we think about what we're thankful for, I'm beyond grateful that we have a God, who calls to us, and says, "Let Me be your Hope.  Let Me be your Greatest Expectation..."  Talk about something worth pinning!   

Friday Faves!

UPDATE: The infomercial below didn't go through earlier, but I think I fixed it!   

Turkey Cake Pops from Bakerella

Happy Friday!  I hope your week has been wonderful!  Below are a few great links from this week:

8 Ways You Know It's Time to Take a Break from Chatting at the Sky

7 Ways to Change it up When There's no Cash in the Decorating Envelope from Nester

Nester also has a great post on (in)courage on decorating the table for Thanksgiving. 

Lastly, I just have to share my latest obsession: Cake Pops!  Have ya'll had these?  They're delicious, moist, gooey cake bites on a stick.  Yummy!

One thing I don't think I've ever admitted on Long to Love is my obsession with infomercials—they make me happy!  Check out this fabulous one for "Bake Pops" that my friend sent me.  My favorite part is when they show what a "hassle" normal cake can be in black and white. around 51 seconds.  Don't you just hate that?  I'm trying to tell myself I don't need the "Bake Pops," but with the "buy one, get one free" special, it's hard to resist.  How awesome is this commercial?

After doing a little cake pop research, I think this video might be more legit, but not half as amazing as the bake pop commercial. 

Happy weekend! 

He Has Much!

"God doesn't just have more for you.  He has much.  Much love.  Much fruit.  Much joy.  And the God of the universe derives much glory from one measly mortal.  Who can beat a deal like that?"

-Beth Moore, The Beloved Disciple 

No Pets.

I promise this is my last hiking post...can you tell hiking is kind of a rare thing for me?  As I shared yesterday, when we arrived at our trail, there was a "No Pet" sign, but since our dog is more of a person than a dog, we thought, "surely this doesn't apply to us!"

While little Neely handled it like a champ, the trail was far from dog friendly.  Each time we got to a difficult part, I would say, "I guess there was a reason they said, 'No Pets."  Eventually, we reached a point where we couldn't go any further with our fury friend, so we had to call it a day.

There was a reason the wonderful park rangers made the trail pet-free—not to ruin everyone's fun, but for protection from what we were unable to see.

All of my life, I've had problems with rules and authority.  Simply put: I hate people telling me what I can and can't do (just ask my seasoned mother).  But, what I fail to understand is that rules aren't made to hurt us, they're in place for our benefit.  (Except maybe signs in fountains that say "no swimming," I just don't see how that's helping me...unless they're saving me from public embarrassment). 

Similarly, God's authority in our lives is not intended to imprison us, but it's meant to equip, empower, and enable us to live the free and purposeful life He has designed. 

Though I tend to flee authority, I want to be a woman who embraces God's; eager to fall under His mighty, powerful, and loving dominion.  

His love for us is unquenchable and we can trust that when He calls us to do something, it's because He has our best interest in mind.    

"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."  

Psalm 119:32

Our Little Mountain Dog

Our Little Mountain Dog

As I mentioned yesterday, over the weekend, we went on a little hike.  It's the same hike we do on any special anniversary (this time we were celebrating 5 years of dating), but this time we had a special guest: the newest addition to our family, our sweet dog Neely.

When we arrived at the trail, there was a sign we never noticed when we were a party of 2: "No Pets."  We sat there and pondered our options: leave the dog in the car, or break the rule and bring her with us.  By then little Neely was SO excited and ready to go—if we left her in the car, it would have been as if we had invited her to the most fabulous party of the year, only telling her after 30 seconds, that she had to go home.  It would break my heart.  Since the majority of the park allowed pets, and there was pretty much no one else hiking since it was 30 degrees, we decided to bring her with us.

As we started hiking, it was smooth sailing, until we hit the part that involved the scaling of rocks (there WAS a reason for the "no pet" policy), but little Neely scaled those rocks like a champ; she was totally channeling her inner mountain goat.

As we began our descent, it was a bit more of a challenge.  At one point, Neely looked down at a rock and stood shaking in fear, unwilling to go down.  Then, I watched as my sweet husband cradled her in his arms like a baby and carried her down to solid ground.  At that moment, I was so aware of God's loving presence in our lives.

Often there are times where we're at a crossroads, frozen in fear because we're afraid to jump...but during those times, we can rest in the promise that we are not alone.  We're not jumping off into nothing, we're jumping off into the everlasting arms of God.  He is waiting to catch us and lead us to where He's calling.  And when we really can't muster the strength to jump, He scoops us in His arms, and carries us down the scariest parts.

We are incredibly loved. 

"He tends his flock like a shepherd:
   He gathers the lambs in his arm

 and carries them close to his heart."

 Isaiah 40:11

We Are Loved.

Happy Monday, friends!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!  On Friday, Bernie and I hopped over to Skyline Drive for a little hike.  I don't know what it is, but there is just something about being on top of  a mountain that makes me so acutely aware of God's love for me. 

I mean, the God who handcrafted each mountain and who created everything on this earth that is beautiful, also took the time to make each one of us.  We are wonderfully made by a God who's just crazy about us! May that truth freshly settle on your heart this morning! 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

1 John 3:1

Friday Faves!

Happy Friday!  I hope you've had the most wonderful week.  Here are a few favorites to carry you to the weekend:

My friend Trish has a fabulous new blog.  I so related to her post on jealousy. 

Last week Nina has a great post on Christmas...I'm the kind of girl who refuses to do anything Christmas-y until after Thanksgiving, but I promise it's worth a read! 

-

Lincee's post on Best Friends Rights and Responsibilities was hilarious!  She based it off of Mindy Kaling's new book, which I haven't read yet, but with all of the attention surrounding it, I did stumble to her blog and quickly added it to my reader.  It's a real gem.

And lastly, I know I already mentioned this, but yesterday I received my first Birch Box!  For $10 each month you get 4-5 fabulous cosmetic samples in an adorable box.  My box arrived with eucalyptus lotion, fancy face wash, holiday nail polish, and concealer—it made me so happy!  My inside sources tell me the December box is going to be amazing, so I highly suggest you sign up here (it's flexible, so you can just do one month). 

Happy Weekend!!  

Slow Down

Sometimes I just never learn...yesterday, after I wrote about my need to slow down, what do I do? I attempted to run, while holding a dog leash, and talking on the phone...great idea, I know! The result was another injury for my little cell phone as she tumbled to the ground, while I tried to add one more thing to the mix and get my iPod out. Thankfully, she still works, but she is currently being held together by some rubber bands (the next best thing to duct tape).

Rather than getting upset, I just started laughing...why did I ever think that combo would work? It was just another way to try and cut a corner. I was running late, and thought I should get moving while I made a 45 second phone call to meet my friend. Was it worth the 45 seconds saved? Definitely not.

Slow. Down. It sounds like such a serene and lovely idea, but it is SO much harder than it sounds.

Let be and be still.

Psalm 46:10 (AMP)

The Daily Grind

So yesterday, I made a series of mistakes at work.  Isn't that the worst feeling?  Thankfully, they weren't beyond repair, but I just hate making mistakes and turning in work that is less than excellent.  If there's one four letter word I hate, it's fail.

As I thought through them during the day, the underlying message these mistakes were telling me was this: S-L-O-W  D-O-W-N.  I pride myself on the ability to multitask and turn things around fairly quickly, but sometimes I get way too ahead of myself and let deadlines and end goals take the place of details and perfection.  

Is it just me, or does it seem like life constantly moves at a faster than fast pace?  I mean, can someone even tell me how we're already in November?  My sweet friend Josie just found out she's pregnant, and somehow she's due next week—where did those nine months go?

I try my best to keep up, but at some point, we stop and realize that if we're just trying desperately to keep up, we miss out on actually living, and if you're like me, it's much harder to do one thing, let alone a few things with excellence at 75 mph.

I don't want to be a woman who's constantly struggling to keep pace, but I want to actually live and enjoy the life I've been given. 

I don't want to be a woman who's always trying to do too much, constantly backtracking to fix her mistakes, but I want to do the things I've been called to with diligence and excellence. 

And I don't want to be a woman who thinks she can do anything on my own, because I have learned time and time again that apart from our God, we can do nothing (John 15:5).  

The plans of the diligent lead to profit
   as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5

She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks... 

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.

Proverbs 31:17,25

Better Than My Dreams

One of the many perks of living in Charlottesville is a new Bible study with a few girls on Sunday nights.  Still on a high from Paula Rinehart's book Strong Women, Soft Hearts (you can read those posts here), we decided to have Paula lead another study and are reading Better Than My Dreams.  Ya'll, I can't tell you how much I enjoy Paula!

She is a licensed counselor and I feel like each book I read is equivalent to about a year of therapy.  She understands women's hearts, fears, and struggles; she challenges, but never condemns; and she writes in a way that leaves you wanting more and more of God.

If you're looking for a new book to read on your own, or in a group, I definitely reccomend it.  Here's a little snippet:

  "God has designed the universe so as to push us out of our comfort zones.  We have to step off the side of the nest and fly, even if it feels like a free fall for a while.  That naked place of risky newness is the only place we learn to trust him.  As the Lord shares through the pen of Isaiah:

"I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, 

In paths they do not know I will guide them

I will make darkness into light before them

And rugged places into plains

These are the things I will do, 

And I will not leave them undone."

Isaiah 42:16

Sweet Laurie

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend!  Saturday I  attended the wedding of an incredibly special friend, Mrs. Laurie Miller.  As a bride Laurie was beautiful, peaceful, joyful, totally in love with her wonderful groom, and just "so Laurie."  I am beyond thrilled for Mr & Mrs Miller and just can't wait to see what God has in store for them! 

On my drive back to Charlottesville, I was thinking about Laurie and the influential role she has had on my life.  When I look back on my faith, there are many things that have helped support and carry me through the years—Christian camps, praying parents, Young Life, Beth Moore videos & Bible studies, and incredibly supportive friends; but I have to say that without question, one of the most valuable foundations for me has been the support and influence of older women in my life.

I'm beyond grateful for older women who took the time to spend with this loud, boy crazy, emotionally-out-of-control teenager.  Women who listened to me, valued me, prayed for me, laughed with me, cried with me, and supported me.  Without question, Laurie is one of those gifts. 

Since I was about 15, Laurie has seen me, and her other "chickadees," through high school, college,  first jobs, and into marriage.  Through cheese fries, movie nights, road trips, college visits, and eventually drinks with the girls, Laurie has been a faithful supporter and friend.     

She loves and understands people in a way that is refreshingly real and incredibly challenging.  Over the course of our friendship, Laurie has helped me to see and know God in a deeper and real way, and just by listening to her talk, I always leave wanting more of God.  

Laurie holds a very special place in my heart, because she has seen me through several seasons, but there are other women who have also taken the time to nurture me during various seasons—girls who drove me to the mall when I couldn't drive, invited me to their home in college for a cup of tea, tears, and prayer,  hosted a newlywed couple at their home on Easter Sunday for brunch, or continue to meet me early in the morning for coffee and career advice. 

There is something so special about older women teaching, encouraging, and supporting younger women.  And no matter what season you're in, or how old you are, there is always someone slightly younger who needs to talk to someone on the other side and hear that you will eventually heal from your first broken heart; there is life after college, even though the adjustment period stinks;  that adjusting to living with a boy you've pledged your life to gets easier with time; and that your child WILL eventually learn to sleep through the night.  Women who have been in the trenches but eventually through prayer and God's grace, made it through.

I think we all need to have someone older who can encourage us and remind us of God's truth during our current season, but likewise, we need to repay the favor and invest in someone younger.  Is there someone in your life God is calling you to invest in?  I have to tell you, if you ask most women if they'd like an older mentor, as a supporter and encourager, there are few I know who would say, "no thanks." 

Let's be in prayer about it this week, and if God brings someone into your life, be open to the idea of investing in them and sharing your life with them, I can't begin to tell you what a valuable gift you will be giving to them.

As iron sharpens iron,
      so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

They can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.

Titus 2:4 

 

Friday Faves!

Happy Friday!  I hope you had the most wonderful week!  Here are a few things I'm loving...

Dressing up:

Neely the Redskin

Royal Wedding Guest Gloriousness! 

 My sweet friend Ansley, who celebrated her birthday yesterday:

Carrie's craftiness at the Yuill Log, which inspired these fun fall wreaths:

Isn't Virginia's fabulous??

 Check out the step-by-step guide on her blog.


Wednesday night, thanks to Catherine, we made the most delicious risotto from Bella Eats.  Get the recipe here.

Photo from Bella Eats

And, I have recently become obsessed with Butter nail polish—an up and coming polish from the UK.   I only painted my nails once, and I'm hooked.  It's so smooth and it lasts forever.  It's kind of pricey, but still cheaper than a mani!  Definitely worth the investment!


Happy weekend!  

Whole Foods

Image from Great Harvest

Since living in Charlottesville for nearly three months, it didn't take me long to pick up on the fact that most locals are all about natural, local, organic healthy food.  Pretty much anywhere you live, fresh and local is totally hip, but Charlottesville takes it to a whole new level.  My friends warned me I would quickly pick it up, but I didn't believe them...I'm a processed foods girl through and through, give me some Doritos, Coke (with high fructose corn syrup), and Sour Patch kids, and I'm one happy girl! 

However, I do like to adapt to new cultures and so slowly but surely, I'm learning to bring my grocery bags with me to the store, stock up on my produce at the farmer's market, and get the fancy bread from the fancy bakery, even when it's not on sale.  I have to tell you, it doesn't really support my quest for frugal groceries, but fresh, natural food is delicious!  I don't think I can ever go back. 

I've always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I just thought that the phrase was coined by overachievers to make them feel good about themselves.  I mean, really, who even has time for breakfast?  I'm lucky if I can eat 3 flakes of Special K in my car on the way to work.  But, last week, I had an epiphany... 

Encouraged by my friend Virginia to invest in some Great Harvest bread and sunflower butter (yes, sunflower), I have discovered a new delicious breakfast routine: two slices of toasted "Cville Crunch" bread with sunflower butter on one side and fresh apricot jam from the farmer's market on the other.  It takes a little time, but it's delicious, ya'll! 

I didn't notice the results right away, but day-by-day, I noticed that I wasn't as tired during the day, I didn't need 5 snacks to carry me to lunch and dinner, and overall, I just felt better.  Please forgive me for stating the obvious, but this little novice is only just beginning to learn that what we put into our bodies matters. 

Similarly, what we nurture our hearts and souls with makes a difference.  In today's culture of information overload, there is copious amounts of information to devour—on the internet, email, facebook, twitter, cell phones, TV—it's everywhere.  But what are we feeding on first thing in the morning?

Like a good breakfast can set the tone for the day, so can feeding on a little inspiration from our God.  I know mornings are rushed and super busy, but spiritually, our hearts need nourishment.  We need the strength, refreshment, and perspective that only He can supply as we start our days.  Let's make feeding on His Word and Promises a priority.

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight."

Jeremiah 15:16 

 

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  

Psalm 143:8

Moneyball Part 2

Chris Pratt as Scott Hatteberg in Moneyball

On Monday, we left off talking about Moneyball.  If you missed it, you can read it here.  Before we go any further, I must apologize for my lack of sports knowledge...Brad Pitt's character is actually Billy BeanE, not to be confused with Bean.  Many thanks to the Kelsey family for keeping me up-to-speed on all things sports.  Love you guys! 

So, yesterday we looked at how Billy Beane wasn't afraid to step out and take a risk, even though many people went against him and were expecting him to fail.  Today, I want to talk about my other favorite theme that emerged in the movie: where others saw failures, Billy saw potential. 

In order to finance his team for only $40 million, Billy had to be creative.  So he scoured rosters for players that other teams had let go.  Even if they seemed too old, looked funny when the pitched, or were permanently injured, Billy offered them a second chance.  Where others saw failures, Billy saw unlimited potential.  

My favorite example of this was Scott Hatteberg (played by Chris Pratt from Parks & Rec).  Scott was formerly a catcher until he injured his arm and was unable to throw very well.  Scott thought his career was over until Billy comes to his house one night and offers him the chance to play first base.  All of a sudden, someone believed in him, and Scott was back in the game!  Scott went on to hit the home run that secured their 20th win in their historic winning streak and played baseball for seven more years.  He now works for Billy Beane with the A's.

I love stories where the underdog pulls through, because in a way, don't we all have a little underdog in us?  On our own, we're limited, weak, and lacking vision, but we have a Coach who sees unlimited potential in each one of us.  Even when we feel old, washed up, and useless, when God breathes His life into our dry and weary bones, the possibilities are endless!

Be ready, be willing, and be moldable, because our God has not given up on us; our God has plans—BIG plans for each one of us—are you ready?

"I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...Then you shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 37:5-6

"Get yourself ready!... Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land...They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD."

Jeremiah 1:17-19