I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continuously be in my mouth. – Psalm 34:1

I’ve been bowling in a church league on Monday nights.  I never in my life thought I’d have so much fun bowling.  I love meeting the different teams and talking to the individual members.  Two weeks ago, one of them gave me one of the best lessons I think I’ve ever received.  It is a lesson that I believe I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

He told me that life was like bowling.  Sometimes you will roll a strike, which is what you are supposed to do.  A strike in life means you lived that day right.  When you get it right, you should look up and give God praise.  Sometimes you will roll splits, which can range from difficult to nearly impossible.  Even when we are in impossible situations, we should look up and give God praise.  Sometimes you roll it right in the gutter, which represents getting it all wrong.  Sometimes I run late and don’t hang out with God in the morning.  I proceed to just rush through my day not thinking much of Him.  I go to bed and think that I lived so poorly for my Lord and my Savior.  I used to beat myself up for days like that.  Do you know what I’m going to do from now on?  

That’s right!  Give Him praise!

Monday night, I was trying to put this into practice.  I had just come off three strikes in a row on the right-side lane.  I got to start the next game on the same lane.  Honestly, I got caught up so much that I didn’t give Him praise for the three in a row.  With all the confidence in the world that I would throw another strike to start the second game . . . I threw it in the gutter.  I couldn’t believe it.  So, I went to the ball return and waited.  While I waited, I looked up, and gave God praise.  I thanked Him for the lesson of the gutter ball.  

I don’t know what happened, but I proceeded to bowl the best game of my life after that.  Also, this would be my first ever league game where I acknowledged God after every single frame which, in my mind, now represents a day in my life.  From now on, if I get it right, I’ll praise Him.  If I get it wrong, I’ll still give Him praise.

Lord, thank You so much for the bowling lesson.  Help me treat every day of the rest of my life like a frame in bowling.  I want my life to honor You.  I want to hear the words, “Well done.”  I look forward to my faith becoming sight and being in Your presence forever.  So, Lord, whether I strike today or throw it in the gutter . . . I will give You praise!  You are so worthy!  Amen.

P.S.  I might as well show you the scorecard