Coach Hightower

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16

I love my husband. I love him for the man that he is, and the man that he is becoming. I have seen my husband grow so much this year, mostly through stressful situations. I have seen him pray for his boys, open God's word to search for advise, and do the best he can to lead them in a positive manner with unconditional love and encouragement. Now, I will admit it does make me a little jealous at times...I selfishly want him to not have practice on Saturdays or at 6:00 on Monday mornings, not watch film on nights he is home, etc. However those thoughts soon fade when I remember what is he is doing and what he is called to do. I have truly seen James 5:16 in Chris this year, and I know one day he will see something too.

Many people don't really understand the HOURS a coach spends working towards leading his/her team. I understand because I have two of them in my family. I can tell you there is not one night at our house where Chris is not working on basketball: reading blogs, books, things from other coaches, or scripture to find encouragement for his boys, watching film to make scouting reports or watching film to grade his own players, talking to more veteran experienced coaches to seek their wisdom, he is constantly doing whatever he can to improve his coaching in order to benefit his team.
Chris has seen many trials his first year as a head coach, but what he doesn't see are the things that I see and more importantly the things is Father sees.

As you can see from the picture his theme for the team this year was Colossians 3:23 and this is something he has tried to focus on not just on the basketball court but with their families, school work, and friends. I have seen those boys grow this year from the summer to now. I see them working harder, not quitting, persevering because they are giving it their heart.

I fall more in love with Chris every time I hear him encourage one of the boys, every time I see him discipline one of his boys, every time I see the Bible open, every time I find him seeking Godly advise for a situation, every time I see the smile on his face when he is so proud of something they have done. It makes me smile because I know that just as he is smiling because he feels proud of those boys, his Father is smiling because He feels proud of Chris.

I just wanted to take a moment to share publicly how proud I am of my husband and what he is doing. I keep reminding him of Galatians 6:9,

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Basketball is about winning, but in the bigger picture it's not about winning a game it is about winning for the Kingdom. Yes he may have 12 losses but that is nothing in comparison to the harvest that will be reaped in Heaven. All the circumstances Chris has faced this year have only made him stronger in his faith and the way he has chosen to handle each of them (very few people see or hear what happens behind the scenes of a situation) proves that he is planting seeds for the Kingdom.

Maybe you are going through circumstance after circumstance and can't find the good - remember Galatians 6:9 and do not give up. The victory will happen one day.

Beautiful

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." Psalm 45:11

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song from Mercy Me - it plays all the time I know, but it is just so good. I'm not sure if it is the pregnancy hormones or the big stomach I'm sporting these days that make me turn it up everytime I hear it.

As I was listening for the third time last night on the way home from a Super Bowl party I kept thinking about Rozlynn. I pray that she knows she is beautiful because she is a child of the King and no other reason. I then began to think about a long list of former students and current students (it it counts that I am still listed as the teacher) that need to be reminded of this simple fact: they are beautiful. My heart just breaks for these young girls who are searching in so many ways to feel beautiful. I think a lot of this is our fault, the more "mature" ladies in their lives. What sort of message am I sending these beautiful young ladies about what makes us beautfiul...or am I sending the wrong message about body image? Yes, we are to be healthy and I am 100% about promoting that, but I think I can stop the negative talk about myself and spend more time talking about how being healthy on the outside is a reflection of being healthy on the inside. It starts with realizing who you are and who you were meant to be, beautiful. If I'm being honest I need to remember that fact as well, as do many other ladies who I am lucky enough to call my friends.

Anyway, I'm not sure if that is even clear - my mind seems to be mush today. (Not having the best of days.) I do know that I pray that Rozlynn will learn what makes her beautiful and that I do my part to lead her in the right direction, to not focus on what other's think she needs to be. I ask you today to pray for many teenage girls, being in the school with junior high and high school students I can tell you they are searching. They need to know they are beautiful and what that truly means, the world and media send them the wrong message daily. These girls are beautiful, thank you to Mercy Me for this song.

Wishing you all a fabulous week full of many blessings. It will be a busy one for the Hightower family we have 3 away games, man I'm already tired. Hopefully I will start to feel better ASAP, I have to head to North Hopkins tonight for game 1 of the week.

(Have I mentioned how proud I am of my husband and what he has been doing this year? That's another post coming soon)

Doctor Knows Best...

Well, I'm back on the pump again. BOO! I was so loving taking a shower and sleeping without being connected and getting tangled in tubes,  but I'll survive. Don't take your showers and sleep for granted people!

I was a little sad about going back on the pump, but I trust my doctor, he seems to know me pretty well. A plus is that I can do so much more with the pump like get out of bed or off the couch and clean the kitchen or house a little without feeling so sick.

My doctor and his nurse say that I am really bad about not telling them or anyone how bad things really are, and I sound like everything is fine then they evaluate me and find things to be a little different. My sister, Katie, and Chris think they are exactly right, and I must admit maybe this is just a little bit accurate. I am just one of those people who doesn't want to sound like "a baby" I can just "tough it out" I mean lots of people are feeling a lot worse than me - I should be doing something for them not feeling sorry for myself. However, I do have a pretty high pain tolerance and I think that is some of it as well. They reminded me that it took me 2 years to tell them about my everyday pain - that turned out to be  Endometriosis and IC. Point taken.

So for now, I am listening to the doctor...he has proven to know what is best for me for many years, 9 to be exact. I trust him and know that he cares not only about me but my family. He always asks me about Mom and Katie, and he asks Katie about me. Maybe that just means he sees us too much...LOL - either way he does care about me. And, as his nurse reminded me yesterday, "you are his patient and he does not want you suffering at all."

The pump really isn't that big of deal, I'm just whining about the showers and sleep oh and the bruises, but those are SMALL sacrifices for a BIG MIRACLE! I would do it all a again if I was given the choice to get a healthy Rozlynn here safe and sound.

Most importantly, I trust my Savior! I know He is with me and His will, not mine shall be done.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

Hope you all have a blessed day! Stacy =)

Quick Prayer Request

I have so many people on my prayer list this week. Hoping that some of you can join in praying for many people who are sick, waiting for doctors, in need of rest, have children who are sick, needing strength, or just really needing God to direct their lives.

Thank you for praying!

Good News

I have been without the pump for 48 hours now! AND I have only vomited 2 times!!!

I can't do as much as I could with the pump on, but I'm hoping this is a good sign and hopefully I will not have to sport the pump at the wedding in March =)

Thanks for your prayers and please continue to pray for us. Not allowed to work until post baby but hopefully things are getting better.

Lauren and Clay

"I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself." Colossians 2:2

I am so happy for my brother-in-law, Clay, and his bride-to-be, Lauren. They are getting married on March 12, 2011. We are so excited to add Lauren to our family, she is a woman of God and I know she will live out Proverbs 31:10-12.

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."

I thank God for the marriage of these two incredible people. It is so evident they were meant to be and it has been amazing to see God at work in their pasts and now in their future together as one.

"This is my beloved and this is my friend" Song of Solomon 5:16



Please join in praying for Lauren and Clay as they start their journey together as a couple.

I love weddings and have been so excited by many people in my life getting engaged. Taylor and Jay and Christa and Brandon will both be getting married this summer =)

I would love to hear from all of you - what advise can you give to newly-weds or to people who have been married for almost ten years (like Chris and I)? What keeps your marriage alive?

I Lied...

How many times have you heard "God will not give you more than you can bear" or what I should say is, how many times have I said that to someone in need of comfort, I can think a of a few. I have really been thinking about that one statement and how often I hear it or unfortunately have said it. Through my experience (which is not much I realize) I have come to the conclusion that...

IT IS A LIE

I have been wondering why this is said, where does it come from...here is the scripture I think is the heart of this saying.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I Corinthians 10:13 

However, the more I looked and researched this verse I saw the word TEMPTATION - God doesn't TEMPT us, and He does not allow Satan to TEMPT us more than we can bear. But, this verse does not say anything about circumstance, stress, worry, pain, or grief - it is talking about being tempted. 

temp·ta·tion –noun

1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.

3. the fact or state of being tempted, esp. to evil.

4. an instance of this.

5. the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matt. 4

Temptation has nothing to do with the trials we face as Christians. Actually I have seen this "saying" to be the exact opposite - you can count on God given you more than YOU can bear or that YOU can handle, because being a Child of the King is about losing control, so as long as YOU try to handle a situation it will not get better. Sometimes we are so far deep in our stress, pain, sorrow that they ONLY place we can turn is to God. In that moment we stop trying to handle the circumstance and allow God to step in we receive some peace, some comfort, some relief. I even found this in scripture:

"We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety." 2 Cor 1:8-11

I am so sorry to anyone I ever told that "God won't give your more than you can handle" because yes He will! Instead I should have encourage you to "cast your cares upon Him" and to let God take control, not give you comfort in thinking that YOU could handle the situation. Because, the honest truth is YOU can't, but God can, and He will if you allow it to happen.

If you are going through a trial, don't take comfort thinking God won't give you more than you can handle...it's a lie. I know I have found myself many times thinking, okay I can handle this, and I fail at doing so, then I think well, if God won't give me more than I can handle, what's wrong with me...and it snowballs from there. Take the pressure off yourself...know from the beginning YOU can't handle it, but trust that God can, and be thankful that He is bringing you closer to Him.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1: 2-4

Now, I am not saying I go out praying for trials, but I do pray to be closer to God and sometimes I have so much standing in the way of Him that it takes a trial for me to move everything out of the way and focus on my Savior. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5: 6-7

The same goes for those of you who are trying to do good, but you cannot see the reward. Take comfort knowing you don't have to be in control, you don't have to be the one to handle the situation.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Instead, keep fighting the good fight, hold on to God's word, and trust His promises.

All this said to say that I pledge to never lie to my friends who are hurting, I promise to encourage them to seek God for He alone can handle the circumstance.