July 2016

To See Females in Sport Win by Becoming All God Created Them to Be

Hope in the Midst of Emptiness: Part 2

Staring Hope in the Face

Ruth 2:19-20

"And her mother-in-law said to her, 'Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.'

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, 'The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.'

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!' And Naomi said to her, 'This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.'"

Sometimes what we hope for ends in disappointment, discouragement and frustration. Outcomes do not always come to pass as we desire. Bad things do happen and no one can escape it. A loved one dies or battles pain or sickness. We get in an accident. There's tension in a relationship. Weather isn't ideal for certain plans we make. Etc.

We just evaluated the empty, hopeless state Naomi was in from Ruth chapter 1 due to this "failed hope". Desperate in despair. Bitterness. Anger. Grief. Self-pity. You name it, she felt it and lived in it. Her mindset was in a negative, downward spiral.

In chapter 2, however, a glimmer of hope returned to Naomi. Ruth, a motivated and incredibly loyal daughter-in-law, went to work all day to glean in the fields for leftover grain after the reapers. When Ruth brought home a large amount of grain and leftover food and told Naomi it was Boaz who was responsible for the favor, we see hope renewed.

Naomi's mentality changed. Her outlook turned more positive. Something she wanted was now possible. Naomi knew Boaz was a close relative and one of their redeemers (someone who has the responsibility to rescue a disadvantaged family member). Through Boaz's kindness, she started to see hope for her family once again.

Hope is a beautiful thing. It motivates action, creates energy, and keeps a positive outlook on life. The question becomes, was hope for Naomi truly ever lost? Can hope exist in and remain through bad situations that seem hopeless and often lead to this very real state of emptiness?

Continue to stay posted.

Winning Women Spotlight

KATE BRAMLETT

Kate is an area representative for FCA in East Central Indiana. Formerly a diver for the Indiana University diving team, Kate has not only had experience in D1 collegiate competition as a Christian, but has also developed a passion for developing ministry opportunities within that environment and elsewhere. She helps open doors for ministry on middle and high school campuses as well as for mentoring relationships to develop between female athletes and older women who can encourage and help them along in their school and athletic career (an opportunity she had and couldn't imagine living without). Kate serves with a willing heart, dedicated to what she does.

Resources

Spiritual Runner: A runner after God's own heart

By Jolee Paden

100+ Devotionals with Scriptures, prayers and encouragements to make you into the runner God created you to be. Click on the picture below to visit the website and check out the book!

The Witness of a Coach's Wife

New blog post by Abby Tigulis, the wife of a high school football coach

Navigating the highs and lows while finding purpose in the role of being a coach's wife.

Upcoming Events

THE GATHERING

Female Athletes

Female Coaches

Coaches Wives

Moms of Athletes

Female Sports Professionals

"Connecting and Equipping the Female in Sport"

September 11, 6:30-8 PM

Fort Wayne, IN

Specific location and more details coming next month!

The Manly Minute:

Reconciling the male and female relationship

WE'RE ASKING MEN IN SPORTS:

How can we, as females in sports, better come alongside you in your role that brings glory to God and works for the good of His kingdom on earth?

From a Collegiate Male Athlete: Part Three

Modesty: The world view in our society for women fashion is the tighter the better. We are seeing women wear immodest clothing and it is beginning to enter into the Christian view as acceptable. Women can help men to guard their eyes by how they dress. When we dress, we want to make sure we have the right motives behind our dressing. Is it to attract a certain person, to fit in, or is it because we like it? More importantly, will it lead to someone's downfall? We want to have the mindset of will my dress bring glory to Jesus? This doesn't just apply to women. Men must be asking the same questions.

The topic of dress is a tricky one. It's a topic we cannot become legalistic over, but it is a huge factor in everything we're talking about. And as this young man shares, it's all in the motives and attitude behind our dressing. A girl can be in sweatpants and a t-shirt but still be "immodestly dressed" with the wrong motives and attitude.

If we are more focused on how we look to others (and spending tons of time in the mirror), rather than on loving and building others up in Christ, we're not helping anyone out - guys, ladies, or ourselves. If we're so confident in how we look that we think we're better than others, and in turn let that motivate our interactions with others, we're still off track.

Do we make sure we hate how we look then? Absolutely not. Show you care about the body God has given you. Enjoy getting dressed. But it cannot lead our thoughts and actions with others. More importantly, let's clothe ourselves with God Himself (Rom. 13:14), with His righteousness, justice and peace, and with His armor (Eph. 6).

Head to our newsletter archives to check out Part 1 and Part 2.

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