2026 Carolinas Elite Team Recognition

2026 Carolinas Elite Team Recognition 

Tim has made the Carolina Elite Team for the second year in a row! His first time earning this recognition was as a Youth competitor, and this year he has earned his spot as a Junior competitor. It is so exciting to see him continue to grow and progress in his weightlifting journey.

The Carolina Elite program recognizes the highest-performing Olympic weightlifters across North and South Carolina, honoring the top-ranked athletes in the Youth, Junior, Senior, and Masters divisions. Being selected for this team is a wonderful accomplishment and a reflection of the hard work these athletes put into their sport.

Tim and his teammates have put in some serious work to earn their spots among the Carolinas' best. Behind every lift are hours of training, discipline, dedication, and a commitment to getting better. There is so much more to being an athlete than what we see on competition day. It takes determination to keep showing up, pushing through the hard days, and working toward goals that aren't always easy to reach.

As his mom, it is so incredibly awesome to see Tim's hard work, dedication, and performances recognized at this level. I know how much effort he puts into his training, and seeing him earn this recognition for a second consecutive year makes me so proud of him.

I am also proud of all the athletes who have earned a place on this team. They have worked hard for this recognition, and it is wonderful to see their efforts celebrated.

Congratulations to Tim and all of the 2026 Carolina Elite Team members! Keep working hard, keep chasing those goals, and never stop believing in what you can accomplish. I can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you!

Worship Music, Our Influences, and the Heart Behind Our Worship

Worship Music, Our Influences, and the Heart Behind Our Worship

Allow me to begin by sharing that this post was inspired by an article I recently read. While I believe the article contained some truth, I also felt it presented the subject from a one-sided perspective. Its overall message seemed to be a criticism of several well-known ministries and the influence they have on today's churches.

Many people have their own opinions about these churches, their teachings, and the ways they draw people into their ministries, beginning with the worship music they produce. I understand that people have different perspectives on this subject, but I also have a unique perspective because I've experienced both sides myself.

Before I go any further, I think it's important to recognize how much our culture influences the things we listen to, the people we follow, and the ministries we trust. We live in a world where people are encouraged to follow trends, personalities, and popular opinions rather than take the time to research things for themselves and seek out what is true. We can easily adopt someone else's beliefs without ever taking the time to examine them in light of God's Word.

And when everyone has their own version of what they believe to be true, it adds another layer to the discussion about worship music and the influence it has on our congregations.

Different Church Experiences

I grew up in a church where the Bible was taught line upon line. The music we sang came from hymnals, and the teaching we received was rooted in the Scriptures. There were few outside influences encouraging us to look beyond the church doors for additional teaching or spiritual guidance.

As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the wisdom in having that kind of foundation. I learned the importance of knowing God's Word, understanding what it says, and building my faith upon it. Looking back, I recognize how much that early foundation has shaped the person I am today and the way I approach my relationship with God.

Then there are these other sides of my experience: the Pentecostal church/non-denominational church/Assemblies of God church. 

These are sides of Christianity that some people question. Some believe that certain Charismatic practices fall outside the way church was intended to function, while others question whether those practices are truly guided by the Holy Spirit.

I understand that people have different convictions about these things. But I can only speak from my own experience, and I know what God has done in my life.

There have been moments when God has touched my heart so deeply that I couldn't begin to put the experience into words. There is a depth to those personal encounters with God that can be difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced anything similar. I can share my testimony, but I cannot fully convey what those moments have meant to me.

Those experiences have been real and meaningful in my walk with the Lord, and they have strengthened my faith in ways I cannot deny.

I don't believe we have to tear down one another's churches or question every experience that differs from our own in order to stand firm in what we believe. We can hold to our convictions while still showing respect to others.

For me, the central truth remains this: Jesus is Lord, and He is the way to the Father. Beyond that foundational belief, Christians and churches may differ in their understanding of certain teachings and practices. Those differences deserve thoughtful consideration, prayer, and a willingness to search the Scriptures rather than an automatic response of condemnation.

Appreciating the Foundation While Continuing to Grow

Let me give you a personal example.

I still have a deep respect for the church I grew up in. I value what I learned there, and I am grateful for the biblical foundation that was laid in my life. That foundation became the starting point upon which I have continued to build my faith.

The church I attend today has different beliefs and practices. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, and we sing contemporary worship songs rather than relying solely on traditional hymns.

Yet I am still being fed the Word of God. I am still learning, growing, and developing in my walk with the Lord.

The deeper beliefs I have embraced through my current church have not erased the foundation laid in me during my childhood. Rather, they have become part of my continued spiritual journey.

I can appreciate where I came from while continuing to grow in my understanding of God. One experience does not have to invalidate another, and differences in worship styles do not automatically mean that one group is sincerely seeking God while the other is not.

So why am I sharing all this background before getting to the subject I really want to discuss?

Because I believe it's important to understand where someone is coming from when they share their thoughts on a subject. My experiences have shaped my perspective, just as other people's experiences have shaped theirs.

And that brings me to worship music.

The Influence of Worship Music

I have always been a huge music lover. Music speaks to me in ways that few other things can. It can move me emotionally, reach places in my heart that words alone cannot, and bring things to the surface that I may not even realize I'm carrying.

Throughout my life, God has used music to speak to me. There have been times when a song has brought comfort, encouragement, conviction, or a reminder of His truth at precisely the moment I needed it.

That is one of the reasons the article I recently read troubled me. It criticized certain churches and worship music associated with ministries that God has used to touch my own life, despite the concerns and reputations surrounding those ministries.

I want to be clear about something: I don't believe we should ignore questionable teachings, excuse wrongdoing, or blindly follow a ministry simply because its music moves us. We are called to exercise discernment, and God's Word must remain our standard for determining what is true.

But I also believe we need to be careful not to assume that everything associated with a particular ministry is without value simply because that ministry has problems or because we disagree with some of its teachings.

I believe God can work in ways we don't always understand. When someone is genuinely seeking Him, He can use unexpected people, circumstances, and even a song from a ministry that has its own shortcomings to draw that person closer to Him.

God's ability to work through something does not mean He approves of everything associated with it. It means that His ability to reach a heart is not limited by human imperfections.

When God Uses the Unexpected

Let me share an example that has stayed with me over the years.

There was a Christian music artist whose song "In Christ Alone" touched my heart and life deeply. It affected me in ways I still find difficult to put into words. That song reached me at a time when its message made a profound difference in my life.

Later, I learned that the artist had been involved in adultery. His marriage ended, and, as I understood it, people and organizations that had once supported him distanced themselves from him.

Learning that was disappointing. Sin has consequences, and I don't believe we should minimize the hurt or damage that wrongdoing can cause.

But something about that situation stayed with me.

The song had already touched my heart. The truth it pointed me toward had already made an impact on my relationship with God. Learning about the artist's personal failures did not erase what that song had meant to me.

The artist was imperfect. I am imperfect. We all are.

And yet God can use imperfect people to communicate a truth that reaches someone else's heart.

That does not excuse the artist's actions, nor does it mean we should overlook accountability. It simply reminds me that the truth of God's Word does not become untrue because the person sharing it has failed to live up to it.

We see throughout Scripture that God has worked through people who were far from perfect. Their failures did not make God any less faithful, and their shortcomings did not place limits on His ability to accomplish His purposes.

Sometimes God uses people in ways we may never fully understand. We don't have to excuse their mistakes, nor do we have to tear down everything good that may have come through them.

We can acknowledge the shortcomings of people while still recognizing the work God has done in our own lives.

Does the Source of a Worship Song Matter?

I understand the argument that when a church sings a contemporary worship song and identifies its copyright or publishing information, people may discover the ministry or church associated with that song. From there, they may begin following that ministry, listening to its teaching, and embracing its beliefs.

That is a legitimate concern, particularly in a culture where people often follow an artist or ministry without examining what it teaches.

I believe churches should be thoughtful about the songs they introduce to their congregations. Worship leaders have a responsibility to consider not only the musical quality of a song but also its lyrics, its theology, and the message it communicates.

We should not simply assume that a song is biblically sound because it is popular or emotionally moving.

But here is where I believe we need to be careful.

Just because a church sings a particular worship song does not automatically mean that it endorses everything about the church, artist, or ministry from which that song originated.

A song can communicate a biblical truth even when the person who wrote it has failed personally or the ministry associated with it holds beliefs with which we disagree.

Should we examine the words we sing? Absolutely.

Should we be discerning about the influences we allow into our lives and churches? Without question.

But should we automatically dismiss a song that speaks biblical truth simply because of where it originated? I don't believe we should.

I have never automatically assumed that singing a song means I am endorsing every belief of the person who wrote it or the ministry that produced it. I listen to the message of the song and consider what it says about God.

I realize, however, that not everyone approaches worship music that way. In a culture where music and personalities can lead people toward particular ministries, I understand why some people raise concerns. Those concerns can be discussed without turning the conversation into an attack on entire churches or groups of believers.

We can warn people to be discerning without being unnecessarily divisive.

What Should Matter Most When We Worship?

When I sing a worship song, there are questions I believe are far more important than whether the song came from a church or ministry with which I personally agree on every issue.

Does the song draw my heart toward God?

Does it communicate truth that aligns with His Word?

Does it glorify Jesus?

Does it remind me of who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised?

These are the things I consider when I worship.

Music is powerful, and that power should never replace the importance of knowing God's Word for ourselves. An emotional response alone is not proof that something is true, and a beautiful melody cannot make an unbiblical message biblical.

But when a song communicates the truth of Scripture and directs our hearts toward the Lord, I believe we should be willing to receive that truth with gratitude.

The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to test everything and hold on to what is good. I believe that principle is important here. We should examine what we hear, hold it up against God's Word, and exercise discernment. At the same time, we should be careful not to reject something good simply because it came from an imperfect source.

Our worship should ultimately be about God, not about the popularity of an artist, the reputation of a church, or the style of music being played.

A Final Thought

At the end of the day, I believe we can stand firm in our faith without tearing down other believers. We can recognize that some ministries have legitimate problems without assuming that everything associated with them is without value. We can appreciate the foundation of our faith while continuing to grow in our understanding of God.

And we can be discerning without becoming judgmental.

My own walk with God has been shaped by different church experiences, different styles of worship, and moments when the Lord has used music to reach me in ways that I cannot fully explain. I am grateful for the biblical foundation I received growing up, and I am grateful for the ways I continue to grow in my faith today.

I know that God has used worship music to minister to my heart, and I don't want to become so focused on where a song originated that I overlook the truth God may be using it to remind me of.

That doesn't mean I will accept every song, every teaching, or every ministry without question. It means I will continue to measure what I hear against God's Word and trust Him to give me wisdom and discernment.

God is the One we worship. His Word is the standard by which we discern truth. And the condition of our own hearts matters far more than winning an argument about someone else's church.

I believe we can have these conversations with grace, humility, and a genuine desire to honor the Lord. We don't have to agree on every practice or tradition to treat one another with respect.

And when a song brings our hearts back to the goodness of God, reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus, or helps us hold on to His promises through a difficult season, I believe we should be thankful for the reminder.

Because ultimately, it isn't about the name of the church on the copyright line or the reputation of the person who wrote the song.

It's about the God the song points us to and whether the message we are singing is true to His Word.

100 Years of Winnie the Pooh!

100 Years of Winnie the Pooh!  

Everyone who knows me knows that Winnie the Pooh is my favorite character. ❤️

And this year, Winnie the Pooh is celebrating 100 years! 🎉🐻🍯

What has always drawn me in to Winnie the Pooh is the way he deals with life stuff. He's always such a happy bear.

Not because everything around him is always perfect. Actually, if you think about it, Pooh and his friends deal with all kinds of things. They have misunderstandings. They worry. They get scared. They have bad days. They don't always see eye to eye. Sometimes they get themselves into situations that could have been avoided if they had just thought things through a little better. 😂

But somehow, Pooh always seems to find a way to enjoy the little things.

A pot of honey.

A walk through the Hundred Acre Wood.

A visit with a friend.

A little conversation with Christopher Robin.

A simple day that doesn't necessarily have anything extraordinary about it.

And maybe that's part of what I love about him.

Pooh reminds me that life doesn't have to be perfect to be good.

There is something about his innocent way of looking at the world that makes me slow down and appreciate things I might otherwise overlook.

We live in a world that seems to constantly tell us that we need more. More success. More money. More accomplishments. More stuff. More recognition. More followers. More everything.

Pooh seems perfectly content with a little honey and good friends.

There's something to be said for that.

One of the things I love most about the Winnie the Pooh stories is the friendships. Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robin are all so different.

They don't always understand each other.

They don't always agree.

And they certainly don't always get along.

But they keep showing up for one another.

Isn't that what friendship is supposed to look like?

Sometimes you don't need someone to fix your problems. You just need someone to sit with you while you're going through them.

Sometimes you don't need an answer.

You just need a friend.

And I think Pooh understands that.

There is also something comforting about the way Pooh approaches the hard stuff. He doesn't pretend that difficult things don't exist. He just doesn't let them steal every bit of joy from life.

That is something I think we could all use a little more of.

Especially as I've gotten older, I've realized that life is full of things we can't control.

People get sick.

Plans change.

Our children grow up.

Things we thought would happen don't.

Things we never expected happen.

Sometimes we find ourselves walking through seasons we would have never chosen for ourselves.

And yet, there can still be joy in the middle of it.

There can still be laughter.

There can still be friendship.

There can still be beautiful little moments tucked into an ordinary day.

And for me, that's one of the reasons Winnie the Pooh has remained such a favorite.

He reminds me to slow down.

To appreciate the simple things.

To love my people.

To laugh when I can.

To be there for my friends.

And to not take life quite so seriously all the time.

Of course, as a Christian, I know that my ultimate hope, peace and joy don't come from a fictional bear in the Hundred Acre Wood. They come from Jesus.

But I also believe God can use the simplest things to remind us of something important.

Sometimes a little honey-loving bear can remind us to appreciate the life God has given us.

So here's to 100 years of Winnie the Pooh! 🐻🍯

Thank you for all the smiles, the laughter, the friendships, and the little reminders that sometimes the simplest things in life are the things that matter most.

And if you ever find me choosing between a fancy night out and sitting somewhere cozy with a good book, a cup of coffee, and maybe a little Winnie the Pooh nearby...

Well...

Oh, bother. 😉

I'll probably choose Pooh. ❤️🐻🍯

Our Worship Must Come From the Heart

(Aiden Wilson Tozer was an American Christian pastor, author, preacher, and magazine 
editor associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He became one of the most infl-uential devotional writers of the 20th century.)

Our Worship Must Come From the Heart

When I read this quote by A. W. Tozer, it made me stop and think about how important it is that our hearts line up with the words we speak to God.

It is easy to bow our heads in prayer, lift our hands in worship, and speak about the goodness of God. But are we allowing that same love we receive from Him to flow through us and into the way we treat others?

God knows our hearts. He sees beyond our words, our outward appearances, and what others may see in us. He knows what we hold inside, including the bitterness, resentment, anger, and unforgiveness that we sometimes struggle to let go of.

We cannot ask God to fill our hearts with His love while deliberately choosing to hold on to hate. Our walk with Him should make a difference in the way we see people, the way we speak to them, and the way we respond when we have been hurt.

Jesus made it clear that loving God and loving others go hand in hand. In Matthew 22:37–39, He tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Notice that He did not tell us to love only those who agree with us, treat us well, or make it easy to love them. Loving others can be difficult, especially when we have been hurt or disappointed. But as Christians, we are called to let God's love guide our hearts even in those difficult moments.

That does not mean we will never struggle with anger or hurt. We are human, and some wounds take time to heal. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that what happened was acceptable, and loving someone does not mean we must allow them to continue hurting us. We can establish healthy boundaries while still asking God to help us release bitterness and keep our hearts from becoming hardened.

I believe this is where we must be willing to look honestly at ourselves. Are we asking God to help us love as He loves? Are we willing to forgive as He has forgiven us? Are we allowing Him to work on the parts of our hearts that we would sometimes rather leave untouched?

1 John 4:20 reminds us that we cannot claim to love God, whom we have not seen, while hating our brother or sister whom we have seen.

Those are powerful words to consider.

Our worship is about more than what happens when we gather in church or spend time in prayer. It is also reflected in how we live when we leave those moments behind. It is reflected in our attitudes, our conversations, our compassion, and our willingness to extend grace to others.

If we truly desire to draw closer to God, we must be willing to let Him change us from the inside out.

This brings to mind Psalm 139:23–24, where David prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (KJV)

I love this prayer because it begins with our own hearts. It is easy to recognize the faults of others, to see where they have fallen short, or to remember the ways they have hurt us. But are we just as willing to ask God to examine us?

Are there things we are holding on to that He wants us to release? Is there resentment that needs to be surrendered, forgiveness that needs to be extended, or an attitude that needs to change?

When we sincerely ask God to search our hearts, we must also be willing to listen and allow Him to do His work in us. We cannot change our hearts through our own strength alone, but we can surrender them to the One who can.

I know I need His help in this, just as we all do. My prayer is that God will continue to search my heart, show me anything that does not reflect Him, and teach me to love others with the same grace and mercy He has shown me.

May our prayers be sincere, our worship be genuine, and our hearts be filled with a love that others can see through the way we live.

Because in the end, it is not enough to simply speak about God's love. We are called to live it.

Lord, search my heart. Show me anything that does not reflect You, help me release what I need to surrender, and teach me to love as You love. Let my life be a reflection of You, not just my words. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Tell Them While You Can

Tell Them While You Can

A close friend's aunt passed away last Friday. Although I didn't know her personally, my heart hurts for my friend and her family as they grieve the loss of someone they love so dearly. Over time, they have become like family to us, and when people you care about are hurting, you feel that hurt right alongside them.

As I was thinking about them and what their family is going through, I came across the quote above and knew I wanted to share it here.

Too often, we wait until it's too late to say the things we should have said all along.

Life moves so fast. 💨 We get caught up in our daily routines, our responsibilities, and all the things we think need our attention. Sometimes, we forget to pause and tell the people we love just how much they mean to us.

Don't wait for a special occasion. Don't assume they already know. Take the time to tell them you appreciate them, that you love them, and that they matter to you. We aren't promised tomorrow, and we never know when an ordinary day might become a memory we wish we could relive.

As I think about what my friend and her family are experiencing right now, I am reminded that any of us could find ourselves in that same place. But God! He has carried us through our own seasons of grief, uncertainty, and fear, and He has reminded us just how precious the gift of life truly is.

In 2024, we lost Pop. In 2025, we lost Nan. Then, in June of 2026, we came frighteningly close to losing two more members of our family. But God! He showed up in a mighty way, and we are beyond thankful that those two loved ones are still here with us today. And now, in October 2026, my friend and her family are facing the heartbreak of losing her aunt.

Life has a way of reminding us that none of us is exempt from heartache. It seems there is always something challenging happening in someone's life, and perhaps part of that is the stage of life we are in.

When we're young, we haven't experienced enough of life's losses and challenges to fully understand how quickly things can change. As we move through our 30s and 40s, our perspective begins to shift. But by the time we reach our 50s, something often changes in the way we look at life.

We begin to understand more deeply that time is precious. We cherish the moments we have with our loved ones a little more. We become more intentional about making memories, staying connected, and being present. We also find ourselves reaching out to others who are walking through similar seasons because we understand, perhaps more than ever before, how much it means to have someone beside you when life gets hard.

The older I get, the more I realize that love should never be left unspoken, and time spent with the people who matter most is never time wasted.

No matter what stage of life we're in, one thing is certain: the circle of life continues to turn. Life doesn't stop for our grief, our struggles, or our wishes that we could have just a little more time. We cannot control how many days we are given, but we can choose how we spend them and how we love the people God has placed in our lives.

So, please, don't wait.

Tell someone you appreciate them. Tell them you love them. Check on the friend who may be struggling. Make that phone call. Send that text. Give that hug. Forgive when you can, encourage when you see a need, and never underestimate the difference your words can make in someone's life.

We may never know just how much those little moments mean to someone else, but we don't want to look back one day and wish we had said more, loved more, or simply been there.

Life is precious. Time is a gift. And the people God has placed in our lives are not to be taken for granted.

Don't leave what you think about someone to their eulogy. Tell them while they are still here to hear it. ❤️

Carolina WSO Championships 2026

Tim wanted to go support his team as they lifted today, even though he wasn't able to compete himself this year.

What a day it was! We had so much fun watching the team lift. It is always so impressive to watch these athletes lift those heavy weights over their heads. One of the competitors, Eva Young, on the ALWC team made lifts that were Carolina Records across the board. We were so proud of her.

It was so thoughtful of them to give Tim an event t-shirt even though he couldn't compete this year. They also presented him with an award recognizing him as an Elite Carolinas Athlete! We didn't realize he would be receiving this award, and since we had somewhere else we needed to be, his coach graciously accepted it on his behalf.

But as wonderful as it was to watch the team compete and see Tim recognized for his accomplishments, one of the things that blessed my heart the most was watching my son encourage his teammates.

As a mom, it blesses my heart to see the man Tim is becoming. Being there to support his team, even when he couldn't be out there lifting alongside them, speaks volumes about his character and commitment. His love for the sport is about more than just lifting weights and winning competitions. It's also about showing up, encouraging others, and being part of something bigger than himself.

This year may not have gone as Tim had hoped, with his elbow injury keeping him off the platform, but that doesn't take away from the athlete he is or the accomplishments he has already achieved. Sometimes, the moments when we can't do what we love give us the opportunity to grow in ways we might not have expected.

His dad and I couldn't be prouder of him. We are proud of his accomplishments, but even more than that, we are proud of his heart, his dedication, and the man he is becoming.

The weights he lifts may show his strength, but the way he shows up for others shows his character. And that is something his dad and I will always be proud of. ❤️

(picture just before going into surgery)

Tim’s Elbow Surgery Update

We wanted to share an update on Tim and how things went with his elbow surgery.

First and foremost, the surgery went well, and we are thankful! 🙏

The doctor was able to get the fluid off Tim’s elbow and also took a sample of the inflamed tissue. Both the fluid and the tissue samples are being sent off to be cultured, and we should have those results in about two weeks. We are hopeful that this will give us some answers as to what has been going on with his elbow and help determine the best course of action moving forward.

While the doctor was in there, he also removed a bone spur along with some scar tissue and smoothed out the area. We are thankful that these things could be addressed during the procedure and are hopeful that this will help Tim as he continues to heal.

Tim’s first day of recovery has gone pretty well overall. Knowing Tim, sitting still and taking it easy isn't necessarily his favorite thing to do! 😂 He may have pushed himself a little too much today because he started experiencing some swelling earlier tonight. Hopefully, this is just a reminder that his body needs time to rest and heal. We will continue to keep an eye on things and follow the doctor’s instructions as he recovers.

As a parent, it’s hard watching your child go through something like this, especially when you know how much they love what they do. Tim has worked incredibly hard in his sport, and I know how much he wants to get back to training and competing. But sometimes, the hardest part of the journey is learning to slow down, be patient, and trust the process.

We are thankful for a successful surgery, for the doctor’s care, and for the opportunity to take another step toward finding answers. Now we wait for the culture results and focus on healing one day at a time.

Please continue to keep Tim in your prayers as he recovers, that the swelling will settle down, that the culture results will provide answers, and that his elbow will heal properly. Most of all, we pray for wisdom for his medical team and patience and encouragement for Tim during this recovery.

We know that God's timing doesn't always line up with our own plans, but we continue to trust Him through every step of this journey. We are praying for complete healing and looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for Tim.

One day at a time, one step at a time, and always trusting God!

He Knows What We Can Bear

(taken from the Bible App)

He Knows What We Can Bear

When I see this verse, I often think about how God knows how much we can bear.

How often have I been in the middle of something and thought, I can't bear this. I don't know how I'm going to get through this. God, please just take it away.

And more often than not, He doesn't.

Not because He doesn't hear me. Not because He doesn't care. But because He knows something I don't know—what's on the other side of it.

This verse reminds us that God is faithful. He knows our limits, even when we don't. He knows when something feels overwhelming to us, and He promises that we will never face temptation that is beyond what we can bear.

But there is another part of this verse that I think we sometimes overlook.

It tells us that when we are tempted, God will also provide a way out so that we can endure it.

More often than not, our way out of temptation may be as simple as saying NO.

No.

I don't need to go there.

I don't need to say that.

I don't need to respond that way.

I don't need to give in.

But sometimes saying no isn't enough. Sometimes the way out is to turn around and run in the opposite direction.

Joseph is a great example of this. When Potiphar's wife tried to tempt him, Joseph didn't stick around to see how strong his willpower was. He ran. He literally left his garment behind and got himself out of there.

Sometimes wisdom looks like running.

I think we can be guilty of believing that being strong means standing there and proving that we can resist temptation. But maybe sometimes the strongest thing we can do is recognize the temptation for what it is and get as far away from it as possible.

God promises to provide a way out. But we still have to choose to take it.

And that applies to more than just the obvious temptations. Sometimes the thing we need to escape is our own thinking—the thoughts that tell us we're alone, that we can't handle this, that God has forgotten us, or that whatever we're facing will never end.

Those thoughts can be tempting too.

When I'm in the middle of something difficult, I may not be able to see the way out. I may not understand why God hasn't simply removed the situation. I may even wonder how much longer I can keep going.

But God sees what I can't see.

He knows what is on the other side.

He knows what He is doing even when I don't understand it.

And maybe that's part of what faith really looks like—not always knowing how God is going to get us through something, but trusting that He will.

Sometimes He removes the temptation.

Sometimes He gives us the strength to endure it.

Sometimes He tells us to say no.

And sometimes He tells us to run.

Whatever the way out looks like, we can trust that God is faithful enough to provide it.

We just have to be willing to take it.

“God is faithful.”

Those may be some of the most comforting words in this entire verse.

Because when I don't know what to do, He does.

When I can't see the way out, He can.

And when I think I can't bear it, He already knows what I'm capable of bearing—and He is right there with me through it.

What Sports Teach Our Kids

What Sports Teach Our Kids 

I saw this in a post on social media and made an image for it because I thought it was such a great message for parents.

Take youth sports seriously. Not because your kid might go to the Olympics. But because it teaches kids what school can't.

I couldn't agree more.

We can't protect our kids from every hard moment.

And maybe we shouldn't.

I mean, right now Tim is dealing with an elbow injury that is keeping him from doing the sport he loves so much. This isn't the first hard moment he's had to work through in sports, either.

He spent 11 years doing TaeKwonDo sparring. Eleven years of practices, competitions, wins, losses, medals, disappointment, pressure, and learning how to get back up and do it again.

Then, after earning his 3rd-degree black belt, he made the decision to walk away from TaeKwonDo and start something completely different.

He went from being an experienced martial artist who had spent more than half his life doing the sport to being the new kid in Olympic weightlifting.

He had to start over.

And starting over isn't always easy.

There were missed lifts. Frustrating competitions. Days when things didn't go the way he wanted. Days when progress felt slow. And there were moments when I know he would have rather had a different outcome.

But that's one of the things I love about sports.

They give our kids a safe place to learn that not getting what you wanted doesn't mean you quit.

Let them miss.

Then let them try again.

The first missed lift hurts. The second one teaches them to keep getting after it.

I've watched Tim learn that firsthand.

Last year at Junior Nationals, he had a really hard moment on the platform. He actually passed out after a lift.

That wasn't how we wanted Nationals to go.

But he went home.

He rested.

He went back to work.

And he came back the next year.

This year, he returned to that same national stage and had the kind of day athletes dream about. He hit personal records, including a 130-kilogram clean and jerk and a 231-kilogram total, and became a USA Weightlifting Junior National Champion.

But honestly?

The championship wasn't the most important part of that story.

The most important part was coming back.

Because that's what resilience looks like.

Let them lose.

Then watch them shake the hands of the people who won.

Allow sports to teach them to respect someone who just beat them.

There is something powerful about watching two competitors give everything they have on the platform and then, when it's over, shake hands and congratulate each other.

You can teach resilience a thousand times with your words.

Sports gives them somewhere to actually practice it.

Let them sit.

Then let them keep cheering.

Being part of a team doesn't stop when you're not the one competing.

Tim is going to learn that lesson in a very real way this weekend.

He'll be at States, but he won't be lifting. His elbow injury has taken that opportunity away from him.

And I know that's hard.

He's worked hard. He's trained hard. He wanted to compete. He wanted to be on that platform with his teammates.

Instead, he'll be sitting in a chair watching them lift.

And he'll be cheering them on.

That's not exactly where he wants to be.

But there's a lesson in that, too.

Sometimes being part of something bigger than yourself means supporting someone else when you're the one who is disappointed.

Let them have the bad day.

Then let them come back.

Let them experience disappointment without immediately trying to make it disappear.

Let them learn that a bad day isn't a bad life.

Let them learn that a missed lift doesn't define them.

Let them learn that an injury doesn't erase everything they've accomplished.

Let them learn that sometimes the plan changes, and you have to adjust.

And sometimes, as parents, we have to learn to step back and let them do it.

There were certainly times when I wanted to fix things for Tim.

That's what parents do.

We see our kids hurting, frustrated, disappointed or struggling, and our instinct is to make it better.

But I've learned that I can't always—and shouldn't always—take the hard thing away.

Because some of the hard things we want to fix are the very things teaching our kids the most.

Sports have taught Tim things I couldn't teach him sitting at the kitchen table homeschooling him.

They've taught him how to fail in front of people and show up again the next day.

How to lose without quitting.

How to win without thinking he's better than someone else.

How to respect the person standing across from him.

How to be part of a team.

How to cheer for someone else when he's the one who wishes he were competing.

How to keep working when progress is slow.

How to handle disappointment.

How to get back up.

Missed lifts. Still showing up.
Losses. Still shaking hands.
Injuries. Still supporting his team.
Disappointment. Still moving forward.

That counts too.

And that's why I don't believe youth sports are only about winning.

I've said before that my goal was never to raise an athlete who wins everything.

Medals are nice. Championships are exciting. Personal records are worth celebrating.

But they aren't who our kids are.

One day the competitions will stop.

One day the medals will sit in a box.

One day they may not remember exactly how much their competitors lifted or who won a particular meet.

But I hope they remember what sports taught them.

How to lose without falling apart.

How to compete without disrespecting someone.

How to work hard when nobody is handing them a trophy.

How to be part of something bigger than themselves.

How to handle disappointment.

How to get back up after failure.

How to show up when things aren't going their way.

And how to keep going.

Because one day, life is going to hand them things that no coach can prepare them for and no parent can fix.

And when that happens, I want them to already know:

I've been here before.

I know how to get back up.

That's what youth sports can give our kids.

Not just stronger bodies.

Not just medals.

Not just championships.

Success. Failure. Resilience. Grit.

That's what sports teach.

And those lessons have somewhere to go long after the sport ends.

Update on Tim's Elbow

(This is not Tim)

Update on Tim's Elbow 

As you all know, Tim has been dealing with an elbow injury that has kept him from doing the sport he loves.

The last update I gave was that his orthopedic doctor had decided to take the path of physical therapy and see how things progressed. However, after consulting with the other elbow specialists on staff and discussing Tim’s case, the general consensus was that it warranted exploratory arthroscopic surgery.

The plan is to address several things while they are in there:

1. Remove the fluid that no one has been able to successfully aspirate and send it off for lab testing.
2. Remove a bone spur that is exacerbating the problem.
3. Address anything else they find that may need attention while they are in there.

So, surgery is scheduled for this Friday. He'll come home same day.

After surgery, Tim will begin post-op physical therapy with a specialist who works with this type of injury. The hope is that by taking this step now, we can get to the bottom of what is going on with his elbow, get him on the right path to healing, and ultimately get him back to the sport he loves sooner rather than later.

This injury has affected more than just his weightlifting. It has also put a halt to his ability to work alongside his dad in our family business. He hasn't been able to train, work, or simply live life the way he normally would. I know that has been frustrating for him.

So, pray. 🙏

Pray for God to guide the hands of the surgeon and that everything that needs to be addressed is addressed while they are in there. Pray for Tim’s healing to be quick and complete so that he can get back to not only training, but to simply living life.

We know healing will be a process. We know there will be recovery and work involved. But we also know that God has got Tim—and Tim knows it, too.

God has seen him through so much in his young life, and Tim trusts Him for his complete healing. So, as we head into Friday, that's where our faith is—not in the surgery itself, but in the God who is with Tim through all of it.

Please keep praying. ❤️🙏