Christmas On Crutches

Do I want to be spending Christmas on Crutches and recovering from surgery? No, absolutely not. But am I going to? Yes, absolutely Yes. I mean I kind of have no choice. This, is not an ideal situation for anybody, especially around the holidays. But being on crutches and basically homebound has allowed me to work on different aspects of my life that I haven't really been paying as much attention as I should and developing relationships with people whom I've lost contact with.

First off, being injured, I've been able to truly clear my head of everything, and focus on Christ. As an athlete and high school student, I am always on the go and thinking a million different things at once. Unable to practice, run, hangout, go downtown etc, I've been able to really focus on the most important thing in life Christ. Do I question why this happened to me? Yes. But should I? No. In Jeremiah 29:11 (most relevant verse in my life. Applies to everything) it says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". My biggest struggle with this injury, is accepting this and trusting God with my future. Psalm 91:2 says I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” During this recovery time, I am remembering this and really trying to believe in it. It's not always easy. Watching everyone practice, go out, party, having fun, yeah it takes a toll on me. I want to be doing those things too. But being injured I have been able to finally slow down and appreciate everything.

Secondly, I've gotten to realize all the things that I take for granted. there's a saying that goes, Everything you have, someone else is praying for. I've gotten to see this as being really true. The little things I took for granted such as driving, going to the bathroom, bathing, walking up stairs, etc. have become very difficult to do if even possible. I'm not allowed to be driving or running and that is killing me. Those are the ways I clear my head and not being able to do them sucks. On the other hand, I've realized how lucky i was when I was doing them. Why don't we appreciate what we have until it is taken away from us?? Someone else in this world is praying for an opportunity to run or drive or go to school. I missed almost a week of school because of my surgery and while I was at home I was dying to be back with my friends. I used to always complain about school, how my teachers sucked, there was too much work etc. By not being able to go to school I realize how much I missed out on an opportunity to share God's word. In that little time away from school,I realized I took it for granted and didn't appreciate that dreaded building until I couldn't go because of being in the hospital and in too much pain.

Next, being injured has helped me see a life beyond Softball. Softball is also something I took for granted. Last season was the very first season where I started playing for HIM. However towards the end of travel ball, I would complain about practices and games dreading not to go. Instead I should have been using those practice and games to glorify the Lord with the talent he has provided me with. I really miss softball, and I truly feel the Lord was trying to show me something beyond my sport. There's more to me than softball, and I wasn't really showing it until after I got injured, when I was forced to show it.

Another thing that I've been able to see spending Christmas on Crutches, is how fortunate we truly are. God doesn't always give us what we want but we do get much more than we deserve. One of the posters above my bed says, What Would happen if you were to wake up with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? Well for me, a lot of the times I don't thank God for every little thing. So if I woke up with just the things I thanked God for yesterday, I would not have too many things. How fortunate are we that we are not one of those 20+ people who died in Newtown? Or who die everyday? How lucky are we to be alive and well? We're NOT LUCKY, we're BLESSED


I've gotten to develop relationships with people whom I've lost contact with. It really made me feel good when people genuinely would ask how I was doing. It was a rough time for me and when someone actually takes the time to stop and listen to what's going on in your life, it makes me feel really good as if someone cares about my well being. Kids in school have talked to me even though we haven't talked in forever. It's nice to see they still care. Once you get to hear what they're going through you see that maybe your situation isn't as bad as it seems. Imagine if people were always trying to see how each other are doing. The world would be a much better place. Brady Quinn after the suicide incident said "When you ask someone how they're doing do you really mean it?" When I was in the hospital, there were nurses who would come around and say how are you feeling? Some were just doing their job, while others seemed like they actually cared. Which ones did I like better? My challenge for you, is to just go and be nice to people, ask them how they are doing. Not just during Christmas, but all the time! You never know how great they will feel after! It might make their day! Matthew 25:40 says, " Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"

Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY spending Christmas on Crutches, has made me realize how Christ is like my crutches. Like I depend on my crutches to get around and do everyday things, I depend on Christ to get me through everything. He is my spirtual Crutch. Psalm 18:2 says "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Having faith in him during a crucial part in my career and during an injury is vital to my spirit. I struggle on a daily basis to hand over control of this situation and give it to the Lord. He has given me peace and knowing he has a plan for my life, leaves me content. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." I am thankful for this injury because of all the things it has allowed me to see.

Christmas on Crutches was not the ideal Christmas for me.On the news I've gotten to see far worse situations that I could be in, and crutches doesn't look so bad anymore. I am truly blessed and I need Christ to be my "Crutch".

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:1-4


Here's to all my friends who visited me when I got home. You are the best! I love you all!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and even if you didn't get everything that you wanted, Jesus gives us way more than we deserve!

My Relationship with Christ

My relationship with Christ for much of my life was me being a fair weather friend.

I went to him only in bad times. I used him to get things I wanted. Whether that be a new car, a boyfriend, a good grade on a test, an awesome play during my game etc. I was selfish. I only got mad at him when things didn't go quite my way. I was such a selfish person. I never thanked him when things went my way. I just felt like finally I had gotten something I deserved.

I blamed God for many things. I blamed him when I was heart broken, feeling alone by him not giving me a brother or sister, when I had a bad game etc. I didn't understand why he would test me like that, putting me through struggles. I got so upset at him all the time.

Since then, I've realized he puts me through certain things to test my trust for him and to give him control of my life. It hasn't always been easy, but ever since I've trusted him with my life, I have been such a happier person. Every trial of my life is a blessing from him. I continue to depend on him not only through bad times, but good times too.

For me, everyday is a blessing from him. He doesn't have to wake me up every morning, but he chooses too. I don't know how I was living before without a relationship with him. Ever since I've opened my heart to the Lord, I've seen things in a different light.

As much as I fail him, he still loves me. He is truly the only person who has been there for EVERY single event in my life. I no longer am a fair weather friend towards him. I am always seeking him in all I do, as said in Proverbs 3:6 "Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take". My actions are to glorify him and seek him more in my life.

I hope you will all develop a relationship with Christ. Once you discover all you truly need is Christ in your life everything makes sense

Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My Inspiration for Deep Tweets

A lot of people have asked me where I get my inspiration for my deep tweets, so I decided to write a little blog post about my DEEP TWEETS.

So first of all, my first deep tweet came on August 9th 2012. I know I tweeted motivational things before but that was the first time I actually hashtagged #deeptweet

I love things that make me think or motivate me to make a change in my life. So I thought it would be cool to share some of the things that cross my mind and come to my heart. I never expected to get the response I have.

As far as inspiration goes, I'd say my biggest inspiration is Christ. Most of my deep tweets come from what he has placed in my heart. I tweet alot of bible verses and I really enjoy sharing those because I feel it is the easiest way to get his word out. I love sharing verses from what i am reading in the bible that day. The bible tells us the way to live our lives and I think it is important to share the truth rather than just an opinion on something. I feel many times people just make up an opinion on how God says we should live our lives rather than just getting it straight from the word.

I read A LOT of inspirational athelete books especially Christian Athletes and a lot of my deep tweets are just ellaborations on things they say. I love to inspire people and make a difference in their lives. Maybe i'll end up writing a book of my own one day.

The feedback I have gotten from my deep tweets are both negative and positive:

The Negative: I have a lot of people who unfollow me because they don't like my deep tweets. I also have a lot people who make fun of them. I honestly don't really care what you think about my tweets. I am just trying to inspire and share what's in my heart. I also get mocked alot for it too. But being a Christian, you need to be prepared for this. Jesus was mocked for sharing God's word too. He was first hated so if I'm hated well.. John 15:18-20 explains what I'm trying to get across here.


The Positive: On the other hand, I also gain a lot of followers because of the inspiration I've provided others. I get a lot of tweets that say, Keep Your tweets coming, or you've inspired me to do this, or I started digging into the word after reading your tweets. That's all I could ever ask for. I'm just spreading HIS word and my goal for you is to seek Christ too. Trust me it changes your entire life. I love when I inspire people and cause them to seek Christ. It's truly a great feeling and I feel like I've done my job as a Christian.

So there you have it, I get my inspiration from CHRIST.

MY TESTIMONY

I’m a Christian or at least that’s what I told people. However unless I told you, you would never know. I was only a Christian when it was a convenient time for me. Yes, I did the normal Christian things. Church was never an option it was a must. I even went to a Christian school starting in kindergarten. You’d think my life would be way different growing up in an environment like this. Sadly, I was a faker. I acted one way in church and covered up being a Christian in front of my friends. To me being a Christian was just a word. It never meant anything to me. It was just another label I owned, shuffled along athlete, softball player, fast, Hawaiian, etc. I was an athlete who just happened to be a Christian.

I went through Christian phases. I’d promise to keep a daily journal speaking directly to God and then in a few months the phase ended. Going back and reading those journals, I realized I only did that to speak to God in hopes he’d give me what I wanted, a car, a boyfriend, good grades, a scholarship, etc. I started many nightly bible readings only to fail to continue a few months in. I confessed I needed him so many times and I would stop acting out for maybe two weeks. Then it was back to doing what I had just confessed I was wrong for doing. I used Christ ONLY when I needed something from him, when things didn’t just go my way, when I felt alone. I only went to him during bad times and never during good. I never thanked him for the blessings that he has continuously given me. I only got mad at him for the things that went wrong in my life. I knew some of the things I was doing such as lying to my parents, cussing etc. were wrong and I knew God would be upset, but I listened to the devil and still did them anyway.

Since I was 5 softball was my life. I used softball to glorify me. I used it to bring attention to myself. Thought I would catch guy’s eyes if they knew how good I was at softball. I would constantly brag about myself when in all honesty just made me look cocky and over confident. I craved the attention I’d get if I did well. I used softball as a platform to promote myself. I can’t remember an exact day where I started living as a Christian, but I can tell you when my relationship with God truly became real.

My junior year of high school was a rough one. Overwhelmed with Softball recruiting, school, ACT prep, training, I was always on the go. I barely even had time for myself, let alone Christ. I was always complaining to him, never thanking him for all my blessings. My dream since I was little, was to play Division 1 softball. So after coming off a very successful sophomore season hitting .410 on varsity and .525 during the summer, I thought for sure my dream was going to be coming true. However in November of my junior year I was sitting with many D2 and D3 offers but not a single D1 offer. If you know anything about softball recruiting you'd know that the scenario I was in was not very assuring. Most juniors have already committed to D1 schools by this time. I went on a visit and to a softball camp of my dream college. I felt pretty confident in myself, but after the camp I had lost all confidence. At the camp, the coach ripped on me the entire camp, said everything I did was wrong, my fundamentals needed a ton of work and I would NEVER play Division 1 softball. I was heartbroken. I was so mad at the world, mad at God. Why would he put me through this? I had worked so hard all my life for this game and to be told I was not good enough absolutely killed me. My confidence was shot, I was humbled. My prayers that night ended up just being complaints.

I tried to move on and not to listen but the words still stung. Maybe the coach was right, I wasn’t D1 material. After being played by a few D1 schools after that, in February 2012 my life completely changed. My travel coach sent me down to Charleston Southern University in South Carolina for a camp. I called it Bumble F*** because no one had ever heard of it. I was made an offer on the spot and I realized this is what God had in store for me all along. I realized getting humbled by my dream college was a blessing in disguise. God had wanted me all along to be going to a Christian school where I can share my faith with others and use sports for HIM. It was no longer about me.

I committed to CSU shortly after and I am so blessed that my dream came true. During this time, I truly realized God doesn’t want to see me hurt and he is GOOD all the time. I truly realized he was the only one who has been with me through good times and bad, he has never left me something I failed to notice before. Ever since then, my relationship with God has grown. I no longer complain or get mad at him when things go bad. I no longer brag about myself. I truly love playing for my biggest fan of all, Christ.

I don’t want to be known as an athlete who just happens to be a Christian. I want to be known as a Christian, who just happens to be an athlete. I want others to look at me and be able to see Christ. I no longer think of being Christian as just as word or label. It’s a way of living. By my actions, I want others to be able to say, she’s living for the lord. He’s done so much for me, and I want others to be able to know him as well.

I am so thankful that I will be able to pursue my dream playing Division 1 softball with the talents he has given me. I hope that I will fulfill his plan for me. I hope that I continue to use softball as a way to glorify him. Ever since I started playing for HIM, it’s been a lot more rewarding and has made me a lot more happier. I want to make a difference and impact others. Even though I’m young, I believe I can make a difference. He truly is a GREAT God. I am so blessed by all he has given me. No matter what I do, I do for him. I trust him with my plan and know he will never leave or lead me astray. Yes, I do get mocked and teased for being such an active Christian, but honestly I don’t care. At the end of the day, it’s not their opinion that matters, it’s the Lord’s.

There’s a difference between BELIEVING in God, and KNOWING God. I am so happy to say, I’ve gotten to know him so much better. He’s my rock and my strength. He is my EVERYTHING. Without him, I would not be me. He is the reason I am the way I am, I’m going where I am going, and I live the way I live. I am truly thankful for him never giving up on me. I hope my testimony inspires you. Dream Big and Never Give Up. Trust in God, he won’t lead you astray, I promise. Thank you for reading my testimony!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Much Love,
Amanda
@MandiMats95

Playing With a Purpose

I USED TO play for myself. I USED TO play for the media I USED to play for the recognition I USED To play for my parents satisfaction That was what I use to play for.

Now I play for HIM

Playing with a purpose- When athletes are asked “Who do you play for” many say for the team, for the school, for the organization, for their parents, coaches, for deceased loved ones, etc. Now there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great and all but along with playing for all that…I play for HIM. And that has given me more satisfaction that any newspaper article, media coverage, or recognition could ever give.

You see that’s what I use to play for: Media attention and peer recognition. I would put pressure on myself to perform well when the press were at our games. Of course this failed. When I had a good game, I would spend all night stalking the local newspaper websites waiting for an article to show up. When I would read the article and see my name shown, I would feel satisfied and glad someone recognized my accomplishments. When I would scroll through an article and not see my name, I’d be angry and wonder what more I would need to do to get recognition. I was so obsessed with getting attention from media and peers. I wouldn’t consider myself successful unless my name showed up. I was infuriated when my teammates got all the attention even though I did well if not better that game. I had this thought process of,” Of course no one recognizes the Center Fielder. Everyone just recognizes the pitcher and home run hitters.” An awful mindset to be in. I was the one with the full ride scholarship to play D1 softball. Where was my recognition? When people asked about our game, I’d say the highlights and usually throw in something I did well, hoping to impress someone. I would especially do this around boys hoping they’d walk away thinking damn she’s good. That was what I played for.

Now I play for the most important critic, Christ. I play for an audience of one. And even though it is just one person, that person is far more important than any big crowd. I use sports as my platform to glorify him. You see at the end of the day, his opinion and his judgment is more important than any recognition anyone could ever give me. If my performance is satisfactory to him, then at the end of the day that’s all that matters. I put myself in this mindset, that he is watching me every game and I need to give my best performance to make him proud. This has truly changed my game. He gave me this talent to glorify HIM and not myself. A saying that has stuck with me is “He gave you the talent and he could easily take it away”. I try to think about this while playing because it makes me give my best effort because I’ve been blessed with the ability to do something I love and he could easily take that away from me. He is also my biggest supporter and believing in HIM has made all the difference. Remember you can do all things through Christ who Strengthens You. (Phil- 4:13)

I hope that in ALL things I do glorifies him and through me, you can see Christ. Softball is my way to express all the good things the Lord has done for me. By Playing for Him it has given me the confidence to play well. It has also given me a good mindset that if he is satisfied with my performance, then no one else’s opinion is more important. He is the most important critic and hopefully I will be able to glorify him through Softball for many more years. I thank him everyday for my ability and talent in the game and his satisfaction is far more satisfactory than any Newspaper Article.

Try your best, you are playing for your biggest fan and your biggest critic. If you don’t play with full effort, you are wasting your gift. And if you have a rough day, there is always tomorrow 

Welcome to My New Blog

Welcome to my Faith Based Blog. I'm just an average 17 year old athlete trying to encourage others to turn to Christ through both good times and bad. I'm an imperfect person trying to tell you about my perfect savior. I'm a nobody trying to tell you about a somebody. I recently re examined my life and am working on developing a better relationship with the only person who has actually been there every single moment of my life, Christ. Thank you so much for checking out my blog. I'm hoping from my experiences you will be able to relate. Love Always, Mandi Mats