Lousy.

Hi all.

First off, remember when I told you to take a breath in, hold it, then let it out?....yeah about that. The other night, I’m lying in bed, I take a deep breath in, something gets caught in my throat. I gag. I cough. I nearly puke, and then I breathe out...I then died laughing as I recalled that only a few days earlier I had sent an email out telling you all to relax, taking deeps breathes in and exhaling out. Hope you had a better experience with your attempt to relax.

The other day I was driving through Standale. Some of you might know of it. It’s that little town, more like a villa, that if you blink you might miss it. Apparently I didn't blink because I got a glimpse of a sign. The sign (located in front of a bowling alley) read:

Lousy Bowler League
Sign ups Inside

Oh, I laughed. And laughed hard I did. (And yes, it's because I’d be the best lousy bowler on the lousy bowler league) So of course, I have to ask, "where you at in that one God?" Here's what I’m thinking.

Let’s just say I was to sign up for that league, which I haven’t (at least not yet, ha). But let's just say I did. No matter what, by participating/practicing I would become better. At least I would hope I’d get better. There may be games where I bowl higher scores, and others that I bowl lower scores but overall, my skills are going to get better.

In relation to racin’.

I think we should all have signs in our hearts that say things such as: Lousy with patience. Lousy with controlling my temper. Lousy with controlling my tongue. Lousy with pride…and so on and so forth. I think we should admit to our weaknesses. Yes, fully surrender to the idea that we are not perfect, that we are flawed.

And then sign up at the best "bowling alley in the universe," God's Kingdom. Trust me, you won't be alone. You'll have a whole team that is "lousy," or for the sake of being a little less harsh, struggling with the same thing. There will be teammates who will be able to help you. There will be teammates struggling with something else, and there will be fans cheering you on. The thing is that admitting to "lousiness" and signing up for help is the first step at getting better. There will be times where you will do really well (higher scores) and then there will be times you won’t do so well (lower scores). There will even be days you have nothing but straight gutter balls. But overall, you're going to get better and better with the help of our friend, Jesus, and with the community that surrounds you. And one by one, or strike by strike, you'll knock out those pins, those struggles. I'm reminded of this verse:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving"--Colossians 3:23-2

Just a little side note. None of you are really "lousy." Perhaps just a little "lousy at something." Each of you is a child of God, and I hope there's no confusion in that truth. And what you do won't really keep "score" with God. We all fall short. It’s just that the more we practice the better we'll get…make sense? Hope so...

So anyone signing up? For God's Kingdom, silly, not the actual bowling league. But if you do sign up for the actual bowling league, let me know. I’ll come and cheer you on, ha ha.

Cheering you all on as you continue to grow and develop your Christ-like "skills."

May you get your game faces on.

Kaylee