GodStop Friday

It's Friday again...WOW, where does the week go???? I'm so excited to once again be participating in GodStop Friday.

Patty from Girlfriends in God has started this great Friday tradition which allows bloggers an opportunity to share have God is moving and changing their lives. To read more GodStop Fridays, go here!

I'm also so tickled to see the scripture verse Patty used for today's GodStop...it's SO fitting for my post.

Psalm 92:4~"For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the work of your hands."

In recent months I've shared many details about our daughter Ashley and all that God is doing in and through her life as she participates in YWAM; and often, that has left our second child, out of the pictures, so todays post is going to be about Andrew.


I'm a firm believer that God has a plan for our lives even though at times we face ups and downs. God's gone before each of us, making a way, and he's always ready and willing to lead, guide and direct our lives; and todays GodStop is an amazing testimony of how God DOES have a plan....and he DOES make a way.

Our son Andrew has been a HUGE basketball fan since the day he could walk. In fact, to this day he STILL has one of those silly little hoops hanging on his bedroom door, and any given evening, while my hubby and I are in bed talking, we can hear the thump...thump....thump...of Andrew and his mini basketball.

Basketball runs through Andrew's veins, and God has given him such a passion, and talent for the game. Andrew began playing team ball when he was 6 years old, and that soon ballooned into joining a traveling basketball program. Andrew's love of the game doesn't stop in March, but rather he's involved in teams year round as it is his hearts desire to one day play college basketball.

As many of you know (if you have young kids in sports, you will experience this in the near future so start preparing yourself) it is often difficult dealing with children in sports programs. Not so much from the stand point of the athlete's, but rather...dealing with parents/coaches. Trust me, we've had our share of concerns, and each time, God has brought us through and we've seen his hand developing character in Andrew.

High School, is NO different. Andrew's 9th grade experience with basketball was one of the most amazing times he had. He LOVED his coach...and the coach was a true coach. He knew when to yell...when to praise....and he was amazing at motivating Andrew to play 110%! At the end of the season last year, we were truly sad that Andrew would be moving on from this coach, BUT, we were also excited about the new opportunities that this year would hold.

We are now in the thick of *the new opportunities that this year would hold*, and trust me when I say things have NOT worked as we thought they would.

Sparing you ALL of the details, suffice to say, this year has been an ackward time for Andrew. He's experienced GREAT negativity from one of the coaches....so much so that it is frankly WRONG. Often the comments may seem petty and small...but to a young man, they become very degrading. The coach....(who by the way, isn't even Andrew's coach) will walk up to Andrew and cut him down in front of his peers for his style, or for his "this is me, and how I am" way of carrying himself. The comments have gone so far as to be very personal towards Andrew. (Here's an interesting note: this same coach, is the one who stroked Andrew...and told him he'd be bumped up to the varsity team this season. This coach went out of his way to encourage Andrew. But, now that the season has started and the coach CHOSE to NOT move Andrew up it's as if the coach is taking his frustrations for his decision out on Andrew)

Of course, our hands are tied as parents, as we did go to the coach, and things have gotten worse, as we thought they would because High School coaches DO NOT take kindly to a parent, raising issues.

Well, here's how God is SHOWING up for Andrew. The coach from his 9th grade season has developed an amazing relationship with Andrew and we see God's hand in it. This coach, has shared with our family that he is personal friends with a coach from a major Christian college......that has an amazing b-ball program....and Andrew WANTS to play for this team.

This same coach, is filling Andrew's heart with things that are helping to build his character.....and be a Godly man! (it's SO great when others come along side of you as parents and reinforce what you are teaching)

This amazing coach thinks SO much of Andrew that he was able to get tickets to take Andrew to the Timberwolves/Celtic game on Feb. 8th when Kevin Garnett plays here in MN. (this coach is personal friends with KG's sister)

All the negative things that have been happening to Andrew from the High School level, God is using to deepen Andrew's faith, and build his character.

We were even blown away a few weeks ago when we took Andrew shopping for some new dress clothes that he has to wear on game days, as the salesman who helped us in NONE other than a former PRO NBA player. He's sending Andrew personal notes in the mail, and he's giving such AMAZING advice to Andrew...on how to move forward...through the junk of High School sports, and dealing with a head coach who is chosing to treat Andrew is such a poor manner.

Today my husband and I were chatting about how AMAZED we are....that our Jesus, LOVES Andrew so much, that he's even concerned about such a small thing as BASKETBALL!!

God's given Andrew the love, and desire for the sport....and it's so wonderful to see Andrew play, and shine...for Jesus.

Not to sound as if I'm bragging, but Andrew is such a humble young man. Each year, he's been the go-to-guy for every team he's played on. His stat's are as follows:
Average points per game: 18
Average assists per game: 6
Average steals per game: 3
Average rebounds per game: 6
He shoot's on average 90% from the line

Yet....he's alway preferring his team-mates above himself, often giving them the ball to score verses scoring himself! He leads, he encourages, and he has such an amazing passion.

What satan has meant for evil.....God is using for good in Andrew's life. So today, if you are going through a difficult situation....LOOK for the small little miracles.......because they are there! So often we get our focus on the negative, and on what we see......when God would rather have us look to him.....and the amazing things he has in store for us!!!!

God cares about EVERY detail of your life.....trust him!