Being joyful at midnight...

**This did not post for some reason last night, So I am posting it now.. as yesterday's (Sunday) Challenge**

Today has been a ridiculously horrible day.. well only athletically.. I woke up with only one thought on my mind.. the SEC championship game.. I went to church with Sharon and Beth to a new church (for me) called Biltmore Baptist.. it was very big, but the service was pretty enjoyable and worshipful.. While there the preacher spoke on being strong in your faith and joyful even at "midnight", he used the example of Paul and Silas being arrested, and thrown into the depths of the prison only to begin singing psalms (he mentioned theologians think the Psalms were 118-123ish) , so the gist of the sermon was no matter how upset/mad/down/in trouble you are remember your faith and where it comes from..

OH MAN, did I not know he was preparing me for my day.. You probably know if you follow college basketball at all what went down today.. 1st we lost to UK (with some sketchy calls!?) in OT (again) to lose the SEC Championship game, and after beating UF, and Vandy and lets be honest.. practically UK on a neutral site, we get snubbed by the NCAA tournament committee.. yeah, we had some bad losses earlier in the season.. but you can not tell me that 23 wins and being one of the hottest teams in tourney play in the country doesnt make us better than say.. Houston or Cornell or East TN State to get in the tourney.. ugh.. ok enough about that..

The point of this blog is not to vent about today's happenings.. although i just did a little, it is to say I was reminded, after getting so upset, almost to tears after the game today, that I remembered where it lies in the grand scheme of life... Don't get me wrong.. Mississippi State and Sports rank high on my life priorities list, of course behind the important things, but I do have to remind myself, I am blessed to even have the opportunity to cheer for that team, God has given me so much to be joyful about in this world, there is no reason for me to sulk about not making the NCAA.. I will praise him through this small time of frustration.. it is almost silly now that I have calmed down and thought it out..

Psalm 118:28-29
"You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His love endures forever!"

P.S. -- I hate the NCAA and UK right now

P.S.S-- Lets win the NIT

Love God. Love People. STILL Hail State.

Grace and Peace
Seth