Jul 2008
Nothing is Impossible with God!
July/19/08 Filed in: Soccer
Nothing Is Impossible With God!
Entering the Far East tournament this year, we had a good team but were definitely not the favorites. I challenged the guys to think beyond what they thought they could do in the natural and ask God to do the impossible in them. I believed that if that happened, win or lose, God would be glorified and they would be satisfied, whatever the result.
We talked about how God loves to do the impossible in us and that He is eager to do more in us than we could ever imagine. Furthermore, when God does the impossible, He gets the glory because everyone realizes that such a result could only come from God!
As the week progressed, we saw God move in exciting ways. Individually and as a team, CAJ played better than ever-- we hardly resembled the same team! We kept winning, and in the semi-finals we beat the number one ranked team, 4-0!
Praise Him in All Circumstances
Despite CAJ’s outstanding play, we were still underdogs in the final game. But the guys took to heart the words I’d encouraged them with, “Ask God to do the impossible. Seek His glory first and trust Him to give you a result you’ll be satisfied with.”
Before the game, the guys prayed, “Lord, we want to play this game for you. We want you to be glorified through us. We’re gonna praise you whatever happens—win or lose!”
An Unexpected Finish
CAJ played the game of their lives! At the end of regulation, the score was still deadlocked at 0-0. The game went into triple overtime. Finally, in the 104th minute, to our dismay, the other team slipped in a goal and we lost 1-0.
Despite our disappointment, I couldn’t have been more proud of the guys’ effort. I knew God was pleased too. The following is an excerpt that someone wrote in the Stars and Stripes newspaper that covered the game. It was so encouraging to see how God used CAJ to touch those in attendance, even in our defeat!
“One of the finest moments I have witnessed in my 22 years of coaching occurred in the Kadena HS gym about 30 minutes after Kubasaki defeated CAJ 1-0 in Golden Goal overtime of the boy's "AA" championship game. All of the teams (except a disappointed CAJ) were in the gym waiting for the awards ceremony, when Kubasaki coach Chris Kelly walked in and received a warm and well-deserved ovation initiated by the Kubasaki team and joined by the rest of the gym.
About 2 minutes later, the CAJ team began to trickle in to the gym in groups of 3-4 players...obviously disappointed in their loss...heads hanging down...and the "agony of defeat" on their faces...again, the entire gym erupted into the biggest ovation of the day, and as the cheers grew...as the entire gym rose to it's feet, you could feel the entire crowd trying to lift the CAJ players spirits as they cheered and clapped and whistled again and again.
The ovation lasted for almost 2 minutes until all of the CAJ players were standing together on the gym floor and were obviously overwhelmed by the appreciation that all of us showed for their efforts on the field all week. It was the finest moment that I have witnessed at a Far East tournament, and one of the most touching moments I have ever seen in H.S. sports…”
Thank you, Jesus, for doing the impossible in us.
Entering the Far East tournament this year, we had a good team but were definitely not the favorites. I challenged the guys to think beyond what they thought they could do in the natural and ask God to do the impossible in them. I believed that if that happened, win or lose, God would be glorified and they would be satisfied, whatever the result.
We talked about how God loves to do the impossible in us and that He is eager to do more in us than we could ever imagine. Furthermore, when God does the impossible, He gets the glory because everyone realizes that such a result could only come from God!
As the week progressed, we saw God move in exciting ways. Individually and as a team, CAJ played better than ever-- we hardly resembled the same team! We kept winning, and in the semi-finals we beat the number one ranked team, 4-0!
Praise Him in All Circumstances
Despite CAJ’s outstanding play, we were still underdogs in the final game. But the guys took to heart the words I’d encouraged them with, “Ask God to do the impossible. Seek His glory first and trust Him to give you a result you’ll be satisfied with.”
Before the game, the guys prayed, “Lord, we want to play this game for you. We want you to be glorified through us. We’re gonna praise you whatever happens—win or lose!”
An Unexpected Finish
CAJ played the game of their lives! At the end of regulation, the score was still deadlocked at 0-0. The game went into triple overtime. Finally, in the 104th minute, to our dismay, the other team slipped in a goal and we lost 1-0.
Despite our disappointment, I couldn’t have been more proud of the guys’ effort. I knew God was pleased too. The following is an excerpt that someone wrote in the Stars and Stripes newspaper that covered the game. It was so encouraging to see how God used CAJ to touch those in attendance, even in our defeat!
“One of the finest moments I have witnessed in my 22 years of coaching occurred in the Kadena HS gym about 30 minutes after Kubasaki defeated CAJ 1-0 in Golden Goal overtime of the boy's "AA" championship game. All of the teams (except a disappointed CAJ) were in the gym waiting for the awards ceremony, when Kubasaki coach Chris Kelly walked in and received a warm and well-deserved ovation initiated by the Kubasaki team and joined by the rest of the gym.
About 2 minutes later, the CAJ team began to trickle in to the gym in groups of 3-4 players...obviously disappointed in their loss...heads hanging down...and the "agony of defeat" on their faces...again, the entire gym erupted into the biggest ovation of the day, and as the cheers grew...as the entire gym rose to it's feet, you could feel the entire crowd trying to lift the CAJ players spirits as they cheered and clapped and whistled again and again.
The ovation lasted for almost 2 minutes until all of the CAJ players were standing together on the gym floor and were obviously overwhelmed by the appreciation that all of us showed for their efforts on the field all week. It was the finest moment that I have witnessed at a Far East tournament, and one of the most touching moments I have ever seen in H.S. sports…”
Thank you, Jesus, for doing the impossible in us.
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