Rousey's Reflections

Praise the Lord!! This phrase has been my motto for this week. It is from the word of God in Matthew 24:13…

But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. — Matthew 24:13

After the third day of waking up at 4:45am to be at a 5am workout, you know that it has been a practice of patience and virtue for me. Besides that, still catching up on work, dealing with extended family tragedy, and somehow keeping up with the unexpected, life is never boring. I love to be busy, but there is a point of “ridiculous” that is reached. Well, I am practically there. But if I can endure to the end, I know that it’s all for the good. He has my affairs in the palm of His hand, and He will take me THROUGH the fire, with a testimony at the end!

Michael

In John 20:22-23, the NLT (New Living Translation) says:

Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

I had never looked at this passage of scripture this way before. We always focus on the part that indicates that Jesus breathed on them, and they received the Holy Spirit indwelling (infilling would come later at Pentecost in Acts 2), but what struck me is the part about forgiveness. If I forgive my brother/sister, then they are forgiven in heaven. But what power our words and will have in heaven if we say that we don’t forgive our brother and they are not forgiven in heaven??!! Jesus makes it very clear that not only are we supposed to forgive our brother, but we are to do it 70×7 = 490 times!! I would say that is even a low number, the obvious point is that we are to forgive our brother/sister without conditions.

Lord help me forgive all those who have done wrong against me and my family! You know what I need Jesus!!!

Michael

My daughter Hannah and her team last night won the 1st Grade league Championship game by the score of 13-11, sealing a Cinderella victory much like our beloved Hickory in the movie Hoosiers! CONGRATULATIONS to the Bloomington COLTS for their hard work and championship season! Hats off to the players who played as a team, and the coaches Greg and Jeff who believed in our beloved Colts!!

Congratulations Hannah!! Mom and Dad love you and are PROUD!!!!

Michael

Every single person that played in this 2010 NCAA National Title game played 100%. What a game!!! Butler, my favorite in this game, you may have came literally one shot short that about went in, but you are ALL WINNERS! Take a bow!!!

All I can say to end this night is watch this video.. Elvis, you couldn’t have said it any better…

Michael