Swimming for Her Savior

For a few months now, our daughter Katherine has been telling me that she has been praying and asking God to show her how to use her competitive swimming to glorify Him.  It has really started weighing on her heart that she has to make choices between church and swimming.  At the tender age of eleven, she is already starting to see how quickly the world gets in the way of leading a Christ-centered life. 

Seriously.  This kid of mine has such a mature relationship with the Lord – probably more mature than my own relationship with Him.  It’s the one blessing for which I am most grateful!

 As many of you know, Katherine is a competitive swimmer for a USA swim team.  She does well at her sport and has advanced more rapidly than we could have ever guessed was possible.  She swims her heart out whether at practice or in a race, and she absolutely loves every single minute she’s in the water.  She is dedicated, focused and determined to do her absolute best – and a truly loyal teammate.  She’s at it five days a week, two solid hours or more each of those days.  And 8am practice every Saturday morning.  Then there’s the summer 5am practices and two-a-days.  Very committed.

As much as she loves swimming, she loves the Lord more.  Way more.  And it has been a struggle for her to balance her church life with swimming.  She misses out on Wednesday night fellowship in order to attend practice.  She misses church at least one Sunday morning each month to compete in meets.  It has not been easy for her to make these choices.  God has blessed her with a talent, and she knows in her heart that He wants her to use her talent to reach others for Him. 

But she’s been waiting on a word from Him.  And waiting.  And waiting.

Until now.

Inspired by a few news articles and a photo of Tim Tebow’s eye black {quarterback, Denver Broncos}, Katherine is now determined to spread the gospel in much the same way:  instead of eye black {just wouldn’t look right on a swimmer J}, Katherine will have scripture written across her back at every meet she attends.  As she walks the pool deck, stands at the blocks, or is warming up between events, hundreds of people of all ages will be able to see where her heart truly lies. 

While her method may not trigger the 93 million Google hits for a particular scripture as did Tim Tebow’s, it is a way for her to possibly reach many others and share God’s word.  And maybe even lead an unsaved soul to Christ. 

At her meet this weekend, Katherine said several people asked her about the scripture on her back.  One was an adult that was timing at the blocks, the others were all kids aged 9-14. 

Katherine told us that she will continue to pray about how she can use swimming to honor the Lord.  She is prepared to do more, and wholeheartedly knows she can.

And why not?  After all, “nothing is impossible with God.”

Blessings to one and all,

1 Corinthians 13

The very first scripture Katherine ever memorized was
1 Corinthians 13. 

The whole chapter. 

Not only did she memorize it, but she fully understands the importantce of those 13 verses that make up the entire chapter. 

To hear her recite 1 Corinthians 13 brings tears to my eyes; she speaks with her heart and I can see in her face her willingness to learn to love like Jesus wants us to love.  I believe we should all live having this piece of scripture hidden away in our hearts.  1 Corinthians 13 means something real to my daughter; it is alive within her.

When we were browsing at our church's craft market earlier in October, we were both beyond excited to find that a new friend and fellow church member had a booth showcasing her amazing creative talent as a photographer and artist.  And boy did she have something special on display:

My photography skills stink and this photo does not do the artwork justice.  Hannah B. made this set of 1 Corinthians 13 canvases and there was no way we could leave without them!  In fact, the original set was the same color as the walls of Katherine's bedroom, so she custom made these for her.  The background of each canvas is pages from the Bible with the lettering hand painted over layered paint.  They are lovely and are going to be perfect in Kat's room.  {Hannah delivered them to us after church today and Katherine is currently pulling stuff off of her walls and rearranging her artwork to showcase her new Faith * Hope * Love canvases!}

Get to know Hannah B. at her blog Everything Sunny Always.  You can click on her silly blog button at the top right of my home page and it will take you directly to her site.  Hannah is also working on creating an Etsy shop, which is still in it's early stages.  But when she gets it up and running, you need to check it out because she has some wonderful talent that she will be showcasing.  Her photography is even more beautiful than her art pieces -- and she's available for booking!

The really special thing about Hannah B. is not her talent.  It's her trust in God and her willingness to be obedient to His will.  Hannah B. is a young woman with an amazing story of faith.  If you head over to her blog, you will be blessed, I promise.  I know she has blessed me tremendously in the very short time I've made her aquaintance.

I wish each and every one of you a week filled with faith, hope and love!

Blessings,

NICE Assignment: Hold a Gratitude Session

Now THIS is what I’m talkin’ about!

NICE Assignment: Hold a Gratitude Session

Blessings,