My dad, Buck Gifford (1913-1995), was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team. Win or lose, he watched every game possible. In 1993, Ted and I, through the Lord’s leading, relocated Silent Word Ministries to Trenton, Georgia, our hometown. The Lord provided a house and office space just down the street from where my dad lived. Dad was a widower and alone so we spent as much time as possible with him. Of course, when the Braves had a game, he was watching. We began watching with him, and yes, soon enough we became fans. I remain a little upset with the baseball league because in 1994 there was a strike. It cheated my dad the enjoyment of that season’s games. Then in 1995, just before the season opened, my dad passed away. That was the year the Atlanta Braves won the World Series. They were winners! They were champions! My dad missed it, but Ted and I celebrated for my dad’s sake and in his memory.
Since 1993, because of my dad’s love of the game, Ted and I remain fans. This season, 2020, was shortened because of Covid-19. We watched every game possible, and it was a help for us to get through these trying times. The Braves had a great season, becoming their division’s champion. They went on to compete in the National League Championship only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers team who went on to win the World Series. We were disappointed but are already looking forward to the 2021 season. In every competition, there are winners and losers. There is triumph and defeat, celebration and disappointment.
Winners are soon forgotten and the losers get over their disappointment. They wait for the next opportunity, another chance to win. The Braves were not always winners, but we, as God’s children, are winners.
We are Winners! Amid the turmoil, strife, panic, worry, fear, disappointment, persecution, danger, hunger, poverty, distress, Covid-19, and yes, even a type of war, in our United States of America and the world, we can feel that we are losing the battle. We can be tempted to give up, and feel like losers. Our faith may weaken and we can be overwhelmed by disappointment. But wait, don’t give in or give up! Let’s look to our Champion and His promises: We are winners!
We are winners! No matter what we are facing, let’s keep going with faith and courage believing that Jesus has everything under control. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer (behave with courage); I (Jesus) have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We are on the winning side! Hallelujah!
We are winners through our Lord Jesus Christ! “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor.15:57). We may lose some hard fought battles in this life, but remember God will win the ultimate war. We are on the winning side! Hallelujah!
We are winners and nothing can separate us from the love of God! “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation (trouble), or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness (poverty), or peril (danger), or sword (war)? Nay (no), in all these things we are more than conquerors (winners) through him that loved us… neither death …nor principalities, nor powers (government), nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35, 37-39). We who know the Lord and belong to His family can live victoriously because nothing and no one can separate us from His love or remove us from His family.
We are on the winning side! Hallelujah!
Nothing Ever Can, Nothing Ever Will
by Ross King
We are well aware, we were orphans once, Bent
and broken in our shame
Then He sought us out and adopted us
And now we bear his royal Name
Every sin or crime we have ever done,
Is no match for Jesus’ blood
Nothing ever can, nothing ever will Overcome
the Lord our God
We are rescued out of darkest night,
Free from Satan’s evil hold
And the Kingdom of our Savior’s light,
Is our souls’ eternal home
Though the enemy tries to steal and kill,
What the death of Christ has bought
Nothing ever can, nothing ever will Overcome
the Lord our God
Our God is victorious He always wins, He always wins
In love He reigns over us, He always wins,
He always wins
We, the church, declare Jesus Christ is king,
For He conquered death, once for all
We will live in light of His victory,
Following His gospel call
And when the story ends, we know Jesus wins,
For his power cannot be stopped
Nothing ever can, nothing ever will Overcome
the Lord our God
We are Winners!
Let’s show that we are by expressing joy (Philippians 4:4), peace (John 14:27), trust (Proverbs 3:5,6), and contentment (I Timothy 6:6).
We are on the winning side! Hallelujah!
This is written because I care…Carlene
