All of us know that it takes practice to get better at something. It doesn’t matter if it is sports of some kind like golf, football, or team roping it takes time and commitment to get better and better until you are able to compete and perform adequately. It takes practice to be a better guitar player or band member.  It takes practice to learn new skills or operate big machinery. It takes time and practice to even be a better parent. However, it also takes practice to become a better person.

I’ve always had a bad habit of opening my mouth and speaking when I should keep it shut.  I also have a bad habit of hearing but not really listening.  Regardless, like sports or anything else it takes practice to improve. It takes time and practice to be better at most anything.

Old habits are hard to break and it takes discipline, commitment, and courage to implement new habits and make changes. When we operate on bad habits alone it brings us down and creates stress and turmoil in our lives.

It doesn’t matter if your weakness is anger, frustration, lack of patience, being late for work–whatever you deal with that needs changing it is going to take practice. We must all work to perform better and focus on getting better and improving our lives. We have to practice learning to be patient. We have to practice at not getting angry or frustrated. I have to practice watching my mouth and learning to listen.

Sometimes practice is hard….just ask any football player or athlete who spends a lot of time on the practice field. A great deal of the time practice is demanding but the more you do it and the better you get the easier it is. Anything worthwhile takes effort, commitment, discipline and focus.

God says we must practice our faith. That involves learning to be kind, practicing patience, practicing listening and hearing what others say. It takes practice to “let it go” when someone steps on your toes or hurts you. It takes practice to overlook someone who is hurting and taking it out on you. It takes practice to get to work on time. It takes practice to forgive and forget. It takes practice to be kind instead of criticize. Good habits of any kind take practice to incorporate.

I’m practicing at keeping my mouth shut. I’m practicing not to cuss anymore. I’m practicing to listen more to what others have to say. I’m practicing being kinder and more forgiving. Sometimes it is so hard. Sometimes I take two steps forward and ten steps back.  The more I work at it the more prevalent it is in my mind. It is slowly getting better and easier. I don’t have it all down yet but hopefully I’m making some progress.

I did an interview with team roper Walt Woodward for a magazine article I was writing and I asked him what his game plan was going into the National Finals of Team Roping was.  His comment was he wanted to just make three good practice runs.  He wanted to rope at the National Finals of Team Roping with the focus and intensity he used in the practice pen. He wanted three solid runs with no mistakes; he wanted to utilize all the right things he had practiced.

You live your faith by doing the right things. A lot of our faith is all about how we treat and minister to others. It isn’t the easiest thing to do but it does make us stop and think and it involves changing for the better.

What are you practicing for? Are there some old habits that need changed? Do you need to start practicing some new ones? I know I sure need lots of practice. Thank goodness God hasn’t given up on me? He is a good coach and gives me the incentive and the time to practice and learn new and better things. He prompts me to change.  He never condemns me but convicts me to do better. I don’t always get it right but through God in me I’m slowly getting there. What about you?  How is your practice going?

Be Blessed This Day!
Melinda Clements

What God is Doing!

The hot breath of the horses left little puffs of vaporizing steam clouds as they pawed and brushed the gate wanting in under the shed. They were ready for breakfast.  The air was cold and crisp and I rubbed my hands together wishing I had grabbed gloves.

The dogs hunted west of the house and a coyote toyed with them but I could only hear him and couldn’t visually put my finger on him.  I poured grain in the troughs and made sure the metal wasn’t frosted with a film of ice.  I took a deep breath, sucked the cold deep into my lungs and thanked God for this morning.  I’m not a winter person but the clean cold air went right to my head and it was a pleasant change.

The horses filed past me and took their respective places under the shed row.  I had not really paid much attention but realized unexpectedly just how thick their coats had become.  God always prepares us for the days to come.  We may not realize it at the time but he consistently grooms us for our biggest hurtles and most difficult challenges.  He prepares us the same as he prepares animals and nature for the difficult times.  From his preparation comes the blessing and good in our lives.  Somewhere in all the difficulty he smiles and we realize there is purpose and intent to his plan.  We eventually come to understand greater and bigger things than we can grasp during our heartaches and tears.

Try as I might to ignore God’s promptings he is always there for me and continues to bless me even when I fail to realize or understand.  I listened to the horses cleaning their troughs, rattling chains and slurping water from the tanks.  I thought how dependent they are on us.  We could all take a lesson.  As we are the keeper and caretakers of our animals so God is our keeper and care taker.  I doubt we are as appreciative as our equine or canine friends. Our animals trust us explicitly knowing we will feed them and care for them.  They don’t spend much time stewing over it or worrying about it.  They love us even if we are late with their dinner or forget to bring them in out of the cold. I envy their faith and trust.

The dogs came running into the pens in a rush.  Hot from hunting their breath also vaporized into a mid air cloud of steam with each exhale.  They loved hunting on cool mornings because rattlesnakes were not an issue.  With all life’s challenges we all have one solid and stable rock; God, our Savior.  Trusting him and believing he is who he says he is it is our job. To trust him, to believe him, and depend on him is all he asks of us.  He will never force the issue and he always knocks first. Many times we get caught up in only the things we see and understand and we never see beyond our own perspective.  We never come to know or understand what God knows even if he is trying to tell us.

The horses finished breakfast and were anxious to be back outside.  The dogs took off again on another hunting expedition and I swung the gates open.  Assured by the fact all was right in their world the horses headed out the gate.  They knew I was where I was supposed to be, doing what I was supposed to be doing.  They understood it they believed it and they lived for it.

I should do the same for God.  I need to understand it, believe it and live for him.  I need to remember and believe in what God is doing.  What God is doing is what is best for me whether I understand all the intricate technicalities or not.  My horses and dogs don’t question me, they trust and love me; they believe in who I am and what I am going to do.  Who am I to question God and his plan?  I need to believe in who he is and what he is going to do and leave it at that. I need to take life a little slower-to walk with dignity and humility in light of who God is and what he is doing and let him take care of everything else.  That is why he is God. He doesn’t need me telling him how to do his job!

Be Blessed This Day!

Gifts of the Season

The scripture says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6: 19-21).

The gifts of the season include love, forgiveness, quality time, compassion, witnessing, sharing, and all those things for which you will be rewarded in heaven.  The gifts of the season are not the things you carry home with you but those you carry inside you that make you and others a better person.

The gifts of the season are not the things that will be discarded but those that will be forever cherished because they are a part of you and who you are in Christ.  As you shop this Christmas season remember Christ is the reason for the season and his gift to you is life everlasting.  Love, forgiveness, witnessing and quality time are gifts only you can give and they are things that cannot be purchased or boxed in brightly colored wrapping.

Pause a minute and examine who you are and the gifts you have to share.  Make sure the gifts you give are the gifts God has designed for you to share with those you love.

Be Blessed This Day!