Great Commission Churches

December 2008

Dear Sisters,

In the past few months, we have enjoyed some special moments with our children. Two of them were married and two others were key players in their team winning the Christian school league state championship game in soccer. At the marriage ceremonies John publicly honored our two children for their faithful love for Christ. And since our sons' team won the state championship nearly two months ago, we have not gotten tired of praising them for their accomplishment. Pouring praise on our children is what Barbara Wilson talks about in this article. I think your heart will be encouraged by her words as she paints a picture of God's character that many people do not realize. Our Heavenly Father is more loving and more giving than we can ever imagine.

I pray that we all can experience the love of Christ in a special way this Christmas season. The Lord bless you and your family in 2009!

Merry Christmas,
Sandy Hopler

Rejoicing Over His Children

by Barbara Wilson


I'm a Football Mom. Sarah Palin has popularized the title of Hockey Mom, but I'm proud to say I'm a Football Mom. Because one or more of my sons has been involved in football since 1994, I've been around the field for quite a long time. My husband and I have watched untold amounts of games, from Pop Warner (little league football) to Junior Varsity in high school and on to Varsity. So far, none of our boys have played in college although our graduating senior would love to do so next year.

If your children are in sports you know how it is to be a parent on the sidelines. You multi- task by watching your child with one eye while making conversation and eye contact with another parent on the sidelines, both cheering when someone on the team makes a good play. It's quite an art, but one we all can master. Usually the conversation centers around the team, the kids on the team, and eventually your own child. Who doesn't want to talk about their own child and how wonderful he/she is? So, having been in the football mom business for 14 years, I've had lots of opportunities to brag on my kids.

Recently, our senior was invited to an ACC school to watch a football game. He had done very well in this school's summer camp and one of the coaches invited him to a game. We had a wonderful time meeting other recruits, walking on the field to watch warm ups before the game, and even getting to hear the coach's speech in the locker room after the game. Actually, my son went into the locker room. God gave me the wisdom to know that's not quite the place a woman needs to be after a football game. So, I stayed outside the door in the tunnel waiting for my son to re-appear.

While standing there doing nothing, the touted quarterback from the football team, who will probably go on to play pro ball, walked out of the locker room, stood about 10 feet from me, and was immediately swarmed by reporters wanting the "scoop" on the game. All this seemed very normal to me until a stranger walked up to me and started talking.

The stranger turned out to be the father of the quarterback. He couldn't contain his excitement at the sight of a dozen reporters encircling his son wanting to hear what he had to say. In his excitement, he fumbled to get his camera out to take pictures all the while pronouncing that he couldn't believe the reporters were so excited to hear his son.

As I thought about the short scenario, I was surprised at the father's excitement. His son, obviously a great football player, surely played Pop Warner, JV, and Varsity football. His father spent many, many hours watching his son out of one eye while making conversation and eye contact with another parent on the sidelines. He had ample opportunities to brag on his son who probably made many great plays, won many games, and received many awards for his accomplishments. Yet, at this moment, he was just as excited about his son as he had been when the boy was young. He never tired of living in the life of his child and rejoicing in his accomplishments.

The Lord immediately reminded me that that's how our loving Heavenly Father is with us. He has watched us from birth and will continue to do so the rest of our lives. Zephaniah 3:17 says that He rejoices over us with joy. Not one day goes by that God doesn't rejoice over us. Not because we do great things, but because we're his children. He never tires over doing that. I can just imagine Him in Heaven nudging an angel, pointing to us and saying, "That's my child. Look at her, isn't she wonderful?" He gets excited watching us live our lives for Him. What a delight we are to Him!

Dear sister, we so often get caught up in doing and forget to just be. Just enjoy God loving you for who you are. Be confident that His love isn't based on your works, but on the fact He died for you and you have accepted that. May you be blessed!