Two blind men...went right into the house where He was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told Him, “we do.” Then He touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” (Matthew 9:27b-29, NLT)

Well, it’s football season. I don’t think only men get into the spirit of football. There’s something exciting about football season. I prefer going to games and being a part of the atmosphere. Some of my fondest memories at UNC involved dousing myself in Carolina blue, putting on my pearls to add a bit of class, meeting up with my friends at the student gate, and blazing off toward the midfield section, grabbing a few pompoms on the way. The air is overwhelmingly dense with the ensuing battle that is waiting to take place on the field in front of us: a battle of good (Carolina) verses evil (everyone else).

Life is a constant struggle between good and evil. There is so much pain and suffering in the world that most people have to live their lives day to day. Some people are so hurt that they are too afraid to hope for anything because the past has taught them to always expect to get hit. Life is about defense versus offense. The defense on a football team is imperative to the team’s success. Its sole job is to protect the home goal from the offense’s attempts at crossing the line of scrimmage or the goal line. However, if the defense has to continually play in the game because the team has a weak offense, the game has a good chance at being lost. Unfortunately, even UNC has had this situation in a game. The offense could never get past the other team’s defense, and our defense could not last 45 minutes of continual play.

I see so many Christians, myself included, always on the defense. There have been so many days where I’ve expected the enemy to try to come into my territory. After a while, the other team knows your weaknesses and even anticipates your next move. The enemy strategically hits you where it hurts the most. For me, it’s my self-esteem. All it takes is for me to have one negative thought about myself that can turn into a downward spiral of worthlessness.

In the same way that the offense knows how to attack the weaknesses of the defense, at some point it’s time for the defense to see that the offense is attacking them in the same way every time. If the defense always leaves a hole up the middle, all the quarterback has to do is hand the ball to the running back and there goes the first down and or touchdown. After so many times, the defense better close up that hole, forcing the offense to either try another route or force them into a turnover on downs.

It’s time to get on the offense. The defense has finally closed up the holes. Practically for me, it’s learning how to automatically speak truth over myself. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This is your WAR CRY!!!!! God has equipped us with the necessary tools to not only affectively defend ourselves but strategically fight against the attacks of the enemy. He has given us His word, truth trumps lies. He has given us worship, praise trumps pain. He has given us His spirit, life trumps death.

The Christian life promises persecution, yet the Christian life promises victory. Romans 8:14-17 says, “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Hillsong’s song “Desert Song” says, “I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ.” Praise the Lord that we are indeed victorious over our current situations, victorious over the impeding attacks of the enemy and victorious over anything that sets itself up against the truth that is in Jesus Christ. We have strong offense and strong defense. We will have a winning season. We are victorious in Christ Jesus!

I was watching Oprah recently. The show was about beauty. The depths women in different continents would go to for beauty was unbelievable. In some countries women drank cow’s urine and in others, women jumped on snow, dressed in towels only, all this in the name of beauty. I could not believe the vanity in all this, but before I could cast the first stone, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a time when I was on a mission in Uganda.

After our mission team spent five days teaching and encouraging the saints at our sister church in Kampala, our mission leader graciously gave us a day off. Our host had planned to take us to Jinja, a city 54 miles (87 km) east of Kampala for the day. Jinja, is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile River (the longest river in the world) is found there. We were all looking forward to the trip until I remembered that in two weeks time I was going to be a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. At that time my hair was “misbehaving”. What was I going to do with it? Suddenly I had a difficult decision to make, Jinja or my hair? I am afraid that on that particular occasion my hair won the day. How could I, possibly, miss this kairos* moment? Back home in South Africa I swear by any Ugandan saloon.

Peter says, “ Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel –rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God,” 1 Pet. 3: 3-4. These verses do not negate outer beauty. Thank goodness! They exhort women to work harder on their inner beauty.

In their book Captivating, John and Stassi Eldredge describe a woman as the crown of creation. They go on to explain why beauty matters. It matters because;

1. Beauty speaks. It speaks hope.
2. Beauty invites. It invites us to enjoy it.
3. Beauty nourishes. It offers life.
4. Beauty comforts. It soothes.
5. Beauty inspires. It inspires us to excel.
6. Beauty is transcendent. It makes us long for heaven.

I wonder how the world would be if more women invested as much time, effort and money on their inner beauty as they do on their outer beauty. Mother Teresa’s inner beauty continues to speak, to invite, to nourish, to comfort, to inspire and to transcendent many years after going home to be with the Father.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says “... we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

I am convinced that the effects of our inner beauty will last forever. Let us co-operate with Him as He conforms us to the image of Christ. It is worth eternity.

*kairos – is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (Wikipedia).