It’s Amazing Grace

Scott Morgan and I have been having difficulties with the football coach not wanting his athletes to come out for track. It has been frustrating Scott to the point where he was thinking about quiting. After Sunday’s message I realized that we don’t have a Christian friendship if we can’t even pray together. So I asked Scott if we could have more of Christian friendship and pray more often. He was happy to do so. After we prayed, he looked at me and said, “Grace, I feel so much better!” In my heart, I was jumping for joy because my brother in Christ spoke directly to God for the first time in a long time. I always pray for Scott and that he will be able to let go of the bitterness and hurt he experienced from others at Sandal’s Church a long time ago. I would like for him to see that people make mistakes…even the most devout Christians. I told him once not to let the past affect where he stands with Christ today. He says that he knows he needs to forgive, move on and come back to church. I told him I agree that he needs to go back to  church, even if it’s not Sandal’s. My goal right now is to just keep praying with my friend and to let God do the rest. I believe God is working on his heart…remember God is in control.

How do I know God is working? This past week Scott went home early to watch his kids. So I had to juggle 80 athletes by myself pretty much. When I got to the track I forgot that some athletes leave there stuff in our classroom. So I gave a trustworthy student my key to go get their things out of the classroom. Security took my car keys and I was stuck out on the track with the athletes. Security came and I told them what happened and they said they would try to get my keys back for me. When one of them came back they said, Lupe wanted to see me before she gives me my car keys back. I was upset because she had my car keys and I was stuck out on the track. After practice was over I went to go see her and she wasn’t there. So I had a custodian let me in and he helped me look for my car keys. The next day Scott told me she was furious and wanted to talk to me and teach me a lesson. Now, keep in mind that many people have told me that she has a power trip. Scott said she has “short-woman syndrome” He said maybe because she is short, Mexican and a woman she feels like she has something to prove. Scott helped me out with what to say and what not to say. Before I walked out the door, Scott said, “do you want me to pray with you right now?” And we did. Afterwards, Scott said jokingly but truthfully, “remember…think of Christ being right there next to you, and say hi Jesus.” When I went to go see her I asked to have a third party present. She took it as me being more difficult and defiant. Don Nicholson, the athletic director/assistant principle came in with her. I thanked him for taking the time to be there. She spoke first and accused me of all this stuff and said I was being very defiant. When I spoke I let her know that I wasn’t being defiant. I told her that I made a mistake and that it would never happen again. I let her know that Security did not tell me she wanted to see me right then and there and they did not stay to relieve me from the field. Towards the end of our conversation, Don stepped in and explained to her a different perspective from a coaches standpoint. He also told her that he didn’t think it was appropriate that she take away all the instructional aids keys as punishment. According to him it was an athletic issue and not an in-school instructional aid issue. I eventually could not hold back the water works any longer. I apologized to them for crying and said I just get emotional very easily. Her demeanor changed. She handed me a box of tissue. When I left, Don told me that everything would be ok. I had to go watch this disable kid in his class for 30 min. while his aid had his break. I was trying to hide my face because I knew the tears weren’t done. This kid kept pulling on my arm playing with me. I was telling him to stop. I was trying to play it off. When I realized I left my things in her office I went back to get them after I watched the kid. And I have to tell you, everything evil people said about her and how conniving she was seemed to be non-existent. There were two security in her office. She went out of her way to go around them and hand me my newspapers. And then she said everything is fine. She asked me if I talked to Don, I said yes, I just ran into him outside. He said that everything was fine and that it was his mistake. Next time he would have help out on the field for me. She said, “Here, let me walk you outside.” She held her hands in front of her in a praying fashion and bowed and said she was sorry for the trouble she caused me. She said that she had one perspective and made a mistake. When I told Scott he was shocked! It was as if I wasn’t talking about the same person they all had described to me. Jesus was there with me…I must say!

You know, my worship time with good friends on Sunday nights never ceases to amaze me. I always get something out of it, and I’m always challenged to see what I can give back because of it. I have been seeking to know Jesus more in His word and through prayer. When I do so, I can sense Christ working in me and in the lives around me. It was intentional to have prayed last night with others at church for the strengthening of our worship through songs, prayer and relationship. It was imperative that we begin to take a stand for those in church who cannot yet stand for themselves against satanic attacks. If it is true that when we sing Satan and his demons tremble and flee, then it is right to sing praises wholeheartedly. In doing so I would like to believe that we are creating a safe place for those who come to worship with us. It may be the only safe place they have known.

Scott and I are trying to build a new track and field program at Roosevelt High School. This is a new school that just opened this past September. There are many things that are athletes are in need of…warm-ups for those cold and chilly days during the first half of our season, team bags and sweats to name a few. So, I am selling cookie dough to help our team raise the money they need this first year of our program. Now I am not a good sells person, but I can say a few things about cookie dough. First, you don’t have to break out all the ingredients, like flour and eggs, to make it yourself. It saves you time by allowing you to make as many as you need. Prices start at $11 for a tub (3 lbs.) and go up to $16, depending on what’s your liking. If you can help build our new track and field program you can call me at (951) 522-6710 cell, or (951) 359-1394 home.