Trusting the LORD – Page 3 – Deep Thoughts & Little Happenings

June 17, 2021June 16, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Be Alert to the Second D

Key Verse:

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

Today I’m going to share a thought I had about running the bases. We often see runners get tagged or forced out because they’re watching the ball while running. Runners do not need to watch the ball. The batter is supposed to run as hard and fast as he can toward first base, and as soon as he hits the ball. There’s no need to watch the ball. Why?

Right next to the first base is a First Base Coach. He’s there to make sure the batter knows whether to round the bag toward second or run through the base and stay on first (first base is the only base you can run past without getting tagged out). First Base Coach also gives the homerun signal which allows the batter to slow it down while running all the bases home.

There’s a Third Base Coach too. He’s there to make sure the base runners know whether to round second or third or hold up.

Watching the ball can mean the difference between reaching base, taking an additional base, making a run, or being out.

Watching the ball will distract and slow down even the fastest base runners.

Jesus-followers also have two coaches.

One is God’s written word, the Bible.

The other is Holy Spirit. Our spiritual life begins when the Spirit comes into our lives and seals us in Jesus. But our new life doesn’t just begin with Holy Spirit, following His guidance enables us to live fruitful lives.

There are many things in this life that can distract Jesus-followers, but I think the most insidious for me are the worries and cares of this world. Those little everyday worries that clog my mind with the “what-ifs” I can’t control (and may never even happen). Or those things I “need” to do, “should” do, or “have” to do.

Yes, those are the things I find myself struggling to turn my mind’s eye away from so I can just look for and follow Holy Spirit’s lead.

My worries reveal the places where I’m distracted by my own understanding.

Why do I get distracted? Although I would never say, “I don’t trust God’s word,” or “I don’t trust Holy Spirit,” I’m learning many of my distractions reveal a lack of trust.

My struggle to live in obedience to God’s word reveals where I don’t trust what He says is right. Times when I’m tempted to trust my perspective instead of His.

I want to be alert instead of distracted.

Alert to places where I’m in danger of trusting my own understanding.

Alert to times when I’m in danger of not trusting Holy Spirit’s lead.

Distracted is not who I want to be!

Take A Moment…

1 Pray. Ask Holy Spirit to help you be alert to what distracts you and hinders your ability to see and follow His lead.

2 While reading your Bible this week, be alert to verses you can claim, memorize, and remember when you find yourself distracted by the things of this world.

3 Be intentional. Be alert. Watch for Holy Spirit’s signals and don’t hesitate to follow His lead.

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 25:15, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33-34, Mark 4:18-20, Luke 12:24-26, John 3:5-8, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:6-8, Philippians 6:8, Hebrews 12:2 & 1 Peter 5:7

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

One more thing: Holy Spirit can be trusted. He will never signal us to do anything contrary to God’s written word. So, if you’re not sure, you can always do like the Bereans and check the Scriptures for confirmation. Acts 17:11

June 10, 2021June 13, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Alert to The First D

Key Verse:

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Outfielders are not close to the action and their minds can wander while they wait for the batter to hit the ball. Sometimes it takes a while. Not only do some pitchers take a longer amount of time between pitches, but some batters foul off a lot of pitches. The pitcher may have to make eight or nine pitches before the batter hits. Then the batter might strike out and another batter must come to the plate before the ball is ever hit. Sometimes the batters hit only to the infield. This leaves the outfielders in a place of waiting.

That’s when staying alert is extra important. If the mind wanders even a little bit, the crack of the bat hitting the ball will draw his mind back into focus, but the ball is already in play. Missing that moment when the ball comes off the bat means the difference between his ability to read the play, interpret its direction, and be there to either catch or field it cleanly.

The same is true for Jesus-followers. We must be alert at all times. If we let our minds wander, we will be caught off guard and in danger of misreading, misinterpreting, and not being where we need to be and doing what we need to do.

That’s how our opponent works. He lulls us into a place of complacency and then strikes. If we aren’t alert, we can be deceived and we won’t be ready for what’s coming our way.

Okay, there are a lot of ways Jesus-followers can be deceived, but we’re going to focus on one very basic and crucial truth. A truth our enemy does NOT want us to understand; a truth he wants us to misinterpret so our response is off and we create all sorts of hurt for ourselves and others. What is that truth?

God puts us in places of waiting to strengthen us.

Our enemy wants us to doubt the LORD’s love for us. He wants us to feel forgotten and forsaken. He wants to rob us of our confidence in the position we have in Christ Jesus our LORD.

Outfielders have a lot more ground to cover. The gaps between left field, center, and right are big. The gaps between the infield and outfield, and between outfield and the fence are big. He’s not there because he’s of no value to the team. On the contrary! He’s there because his manager knows he is able to accurately interpret the trajectory of the ball’s path, he’s quick enough to cover the ground, and he’s strong enough to return the ball with accuracy to the right location. His manager trusts him to be alert even while he waits.

This week…

1 Read Ephesians 6:1-18 and ask Holy Spirit to help you recognize any places where you have become complacent about the enemy’s desire to deceive you. Practice putting on every piece of armor. Notice the portion of your body each piece protects.

2 Read Isaiah 40:31. What is promised to those who trust in the LORD? Do you really believe those promises? Knowing your answer is crucial during times of waiting. Ask Jesus to show you the places where you struggle to trust.

3 Be alert! Pay attention to your thoughts during times of waiting and/or hardship. Do you struggle with feeling useless and/or forgotten in the outfield of life? Read Romans 8 (yes, the entire chapter). Pay particular attention to all the promises given to those who are in Christ Jesus. Choose one to memorize.

Digging Deeper:

Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 29:11-13, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:1-18

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Learning from Baseball: An Introduction to the Three D’s

Key Verse:

Stay alert and be clearheaded. 1 Thessalonians 5:6b (NLT)

Last week we looked at the importance of muscle memory. Remember, using our muscle memory doesn’t require thought. But, wait! Every baseball player deliberately develops good muscle memory so he can be alert.

For example, let’s say there is a runner on first and the batter hits a ground ball between first and second. The second baseman will field the ball and throw it to the shortstop who will tag second before throwing the batter out at first.

The shortstop isn’t thinking; watch the ball, run to second base, raise my glove, open my glove, be sure the ball goes into the pocket of the glove, close the glove, avoid the runner, transfer the ball from the glove to my throwing hand, pivot towards first base, spot the first baseman, step in his direction, bring my throwing hand up, release the ball.

No! All of that is done using muscle memory; freeing him to carry out the mechanics of his position while staying alert!

Before the first pitch of every play, the minds of the players on the field are already engaged. They’re aware of their opponents and their locations on the field and they’re already thinking about how they need to respond if the ball comes their way.

Not everyone on the field of play is an active participant in every play.

Look back at the example, the only ones involved in the double play are second base, shortstop, and first base. Excluding the pitcher and catcher who are part of every play, there are four other players on the field who are not an active part of this play.

They still have to be alert. They don’t know where the ball will go until it’s hit. Once hit, they must make split second decisions based on training and experience.

What if the pitcher tips the ball with his glove as it passes by? Or the ball takes a bad hop? Or someone makes an error? That’s when everyone knowing and doing their part prevents a bad situation from becoming worse.

What if the second baseman doesn’t field the ball cleanly and it gets by him? If the right fielder is coming in as soon as the ball is hit, he’s able to field the ball, hold the runner at second, or possibly throw the batter out at first.

Maybe the throw from second baseman to shortstop is missed. Who’s his backup? And who’s supposed to backup the first baseman if the shortstop’s throw goes wide? You get the picture, right?!

Everyone on the field must be alert…

–before the play,
–during the play, and
–until the play is complete.

As soon as one play is over, it’s time to think about the next play.

There is never a time when a player on the field doesn’t need to be alert and clearheaded!

So, what does any of this have to do with being a Jesus-follower?

There is never a time when we don’t need to be alert and clearheaded!

We have an opponent. He’s known by several names; Satan, the devil, the accuser, and the deceiver are just a few. He has an agenda and it’s not for our good. He uses every trick in the book to defeat us. Trickery (deception) is one of his favorites. Distraction is another favorite, but undermining our confidence in Jesus, each other, and our position in Christ is always his goal.

He wants to get into our heads.

He wants to deceive, distract, and disable us.

God’s word renews our mind and exposes the enemy and his tactics, and is one of the reasons reading our Bible is so important.

The longer we’ve been a Jesus-follower, the quicker we will see our opponent, recognize what he’s doing, and remember the correct response. Our previous training and experience help us practice good muscle memory which allows us to be alert to make right decisions no matter what our opponent puts into play.

Over the next three weeks, we’re going to discover ways to recognize and be alert to the three D’s.

Between Then and Now…

1 Notice the way you respond to the unexpected in your life. Are your responses based on what you know or what you feel? Talk to Jesus about what you learn and ask Him to help you be alert.

2 Use your Bible. Look up verses using the word alert. Notice the many different times and life situations we’re told to be alert. Watch for those same times and situations in your own life.

3 Be prepared. Learning new things requires practice, so be alert to the opportunities to practice making right responses to the situations you face this week.

Digging Deeper:

John 3:16-17, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, & 1 Peter 5:8

Reminder: Our enemy has already lost the game; he just refuses to admit it. Those who belong to Jesus can never be taken from Him (we’re permanently part of His team’s roster). Holy Spirit has sealed us in Christ (picture yourself being put inside an envelope and sealed inside with stamped wax). Our identity in Jesus and our eternal relationship with Him is secure!

May 27, 2021May 26, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Training to be Thoughtless?

Key Verse:

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

I first heard the words muscle memory when I played handbells. But muscle memory isn’t just for musicians.

muscle memory NOUN
the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.
Oxford Dictionaries · Cortana · Bing Translator

Trea Turner is the starting short stop (SS) for the Washington Nationals and was first called up from their Triple-A team back in 2015. Trea was already a great SS, but his muscle memory included what’s known in baseball as a double clutch.

double clutch
When a fielder – usually an infielder or a catcher – draws his arm back twice before throwing he’s said to “double clutch”. This hesitation often leads to a delayed or late throw, allowing runners to advance a base. The term is borrowed from a method of shifting gears on an automotive vehicle.
Glossary of baseball (D) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A double clutch can mean the difference between success and failure. Yikes! Trea was told he needed to stop double clutching his throws.

Remember, muscle memory is “the ability to reproduce a movement without conscious thought.”

Trea could no longer throw a ball without thinking or he would double clutch.

He had to unlearn the old muscle memory WHILE making a new muscle memory.

How? By paying attention and being intentional every time he threw a ball.

What does this have to do with Jesus-followers? A lot!

I’m learning there is a direct connection between my muscle memories and my ability to follow Jesus. I’ve been shocked by how much I say or do by muscle memory (without conscious thought). And I’ve discovered something else.

By pinpointing my muscle memories and their results, I’m able to draw a line between the two and see where I need to make new muscle memories.

So, if repetition creates muscle memory, you and I (we) must pay attention to the things we do repeatedly.

Practice only brings benefit when we practice doing things the right way. Does that mean we shouldn’t try if we can’t do something right the first time? Absolutely not!

Each time we practice something new, we increase our repetitions and strengthen our new memory muscles.

AND…

Each time we practice something new, we let go of (unlearn) a little bit more of the old.

This week…

1 Intentionally notice the things you do using muscle memory (those things you do without thinking). Begin drawing a line between your muscle memories and their results.

2 What muscle memory do you need to stop practicing. Ask Jesus to help you see what new muscle memory He wants you to begin practicing instead.

3 Share with another Jesus-follower. Ask them to pray for you to persevere as you practice. Yes, I realize this is scary to do, but do it anyway. You’ll be glad (later).

Digging Deeper:

Romans 12:2, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 3:13-14

In case you’re wondering, Trea no longer throws with a double clutch.

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Practice Makes Perfect, Or Does it?

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Every Major League Baseball team has a Field Manager. Every Manager has several specialized Assistant Coaches. Each assistant coach is responsible for helping the Manager train the team’s players. The Manager has other responsibilities, but we’re only looking at the relationship between training and practice today.

MLB players begin training in the spring of each year and they practice throughout the entire season and right on through until the last playoff game is played. They practice with one another and they practice during games. They never stop using what they learn or they lose their skills. They understand using what they learn wins games. They also know they will never be named Most Valuable Player of the game, series or year, they will not earn the Golden Glove Award, the Cy Young Award, or be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame if they do not practice what they learn.

Training happens when there’s a teacher and a learner.

training – NOUN
the action of teaching a person or animal a particular skill or type of behavior.
Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

Effective training involves both learning (understanding with the mind) and practice (use of what is learned).

learning – NOUN
the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught.
Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

practice – NOUN
the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use.
repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.
Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

Training requires practice.

What’s the spiritual parallel?

Jesus gives all of His followers Holy Spirit to teach us truth. Holy Spirit is like our Field Manager. And Holy Spirit has many assistant coaches to help Him train us in righteousness. Those assistant coaches are pastors, teachers, and other spiritually mature Jesus-followers. They can also be circumstances, challenges, and complete strangers. But…

We must be willing learners.

What does it look like when Jesus-followers are willing learners? We read our Bibles, pray, participate in worship (whether in person or on-line), and intentionally spend time with other Jesus-followers. We seek to know God’s truth. We do not turn our eyes away, change, or ignore truth. But knowledge is only half of the equation.

We must practice what we learn!

The early days of practicing something new will often result in errors.

Think about a baby who’s learning to eat. Babies see others eating. They know what to do, but making their eyes and hands cooperate is no easy feat. Take eating Cheerios. It usually goes something like this…

Someone puts two or three Cheerios on the highchair tray.

The baby knows he needs to pick it up, but his struggle is real. Cheerios are bumped and scattered around the tray and onto the floor as he tries to guide his hand to the Cheerio and open and close his fingers around it.

Once a Cheerio is in hand, his hand struggles to find his mouth. It waves all around in front of him while his head bobs and weaves trying to make the connection between hand and mouth.

Practice is not a once and done scenario. Just like the baby with the Cheerio, the process is repeated multiple times and for many days (or years) before success comes.

Patient perseverance when we practice brings success.

Later, that same baby will eat Cheerios off his highchair tray without having to think about it at all. One day, he will feed himself with a fork while enjoying a meal with friends.

The same is true for us when it comes to practicing what we’ve learned. Knowing what to do and doing it are two separate things. Perseverance and practice will bring success. But the only way to practice is to get on the field of play. Some of our practice will be done with other Jesus-followers and some of our practice will involve those who are not followers of Jesus. Both are crucial times of practice. Learning with and practicing alongside other Jesus-followers allows us safe opportunities for correction. Practicing with those who are not Jesus-followers allows us opportunities to share what we’re learning with them.

Repetition definitely creates muscle memory, but let’s save that for next time.

Between Then and Now…

1 Be an intentional learner. Spend time reading God’s word, the bible, every day. Start by asking Holy Spirit to teach you and protect you from misunderstanding or taking what you read out of context.

2 Practice what you learn. Ask Jesus to help you be alert to opportunities to apply what you are learning. Ask Him for boldness to practice what He’s teaching you. Do not allow your fear of making mistakes keep you from doing what you know is right.

3 Be gentle with yourself and don’t give up! Persevere with patience. You’ll never do those good things God’s created you to do in Jesus if you don’t practice. It may take time, but you will get your Cheerio if you don’t give up first.

Digging Deeper:

Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 15:14, John 8:31-32, John 14:23-26, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Hebrews 5:11-6:3, James 1:22 & James 4:17

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Training

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Last week, we looked at the spiritual parallel between every Major League Baseball (MLB) player receiving and accepting an offer to play and every Jesus-follower receiving and accepting The Offer to follow Jesus.

Did you know each new MLB player starts in the Farm System? They do! There are six farm teams that are Minor League Baseball affiliates for each major league team. Each of the six farm teams represents a division in the farm system and those teams are ranked from Rookie to Triple-A. The players on these teams play against other teams in their division.

Not every new player stays in the farm system the same amount of time. For example, Bryce Harper first signed with the Washington Nationals in 2010 and quickly moved through their farm system. He began the 2012 baseball season with their Triple-A team but finished that same season as a member of the Washington Nationals starting roster.

Did Bryce have more things to learn even after he started playing in the major league? Yes! Did he learn them? Yes! He learned some things quicker than others, but he definitely learned through the system and is continuing to learn today. Yes, Bryce still plays professional baseball. He is currently playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and continues to mature as a player and as a person.

What’s the spiritual parallel?

When we first accept Jesus’ offer of salvation and choose to follow Him…

We all start in the same place.

We all need training.

We will always be active participants even while we train.

Just like baseball players are learning through the farm system while playing other equally matched teams in the system, we will be actively following Jesus and intentionally learning from Him as we follow.

God uses several training methods as well. One is His written word, the Bible; another is Holy Spirit, who dwells within every Jesus-follower. Other Jesus-followers like pastors and teachers and other learners help us learn. We learn while we live. Living well requires practice and time. Some lessons we will learn quicker than others. Some of us will move quickly through the initial training, but none of us will ever quit learning or practicing or using our training.

We’ll talk more about practicing what we learn next time.

Between Then and Now…

1 Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Make it a priority to read some of the Bible every single day and discover the benefits of reading God’s word.

2 Read Psalm 119:11. Why do you think learning God’s word helps us make right choices?

3 Read Romans 12:1-2. Talk to Jesus and ask Him to help you see the areas of your life where you need to stop conforming and allow His word to bring transformation.

Digging Deeper:

Galatians 5:25, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 5:11-13 & 1 Peter 2:1-3

April 29, 2021April 29, 2021

Learning from Baseball: The Offer

Key Verse:

It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT)

What do all Major League Baseball players have in common? Each one received an offer to play for a team in the league. They all chose to accept The Offer they were given.

There’s a spiritual parallel. The Bible tells us God draws us and grows our desire to be Jesus-followers. And Jesus-followers telling others about the Good News of Jesus is all part of His plan.

You may be asking, “What’s the Good News?”

In a nutshell? Jesus is The Good News.

Why? Jesus is the One who bridges the gap between our sinfulness and God’s holiness. Jesus is the only way our relationship with God can be restored.

You’re probably wondering why the relationship was broken. Long ago, doubt in God’s word being right and His character being good grew into the first act of disobedience. That was the day sin came into the world and infected all mankind. Sin created separation between us and God because holiness and sinfulness cannot co-exist. (You can read all about God, creation, and the first sin in the first three chapters of Genesis.)

Jesus is God in the flesh. Yes! God clothed Himself in flesh and subjected Himself to the limitations of the flesh. But Jesus also had the same Holy Spirit every single Jesus-follower is given at the time of our salvation.

Salvation? What am I talking about? Okay, Jesus left His kingdom, came to earth and lived a sinless life in the flesh, willingly died a gruesome and undeserved death on a cruel Roman cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was resurrected again on the third day. The death and burial of Jesus removed the barrier of sin. His resurrection overcame the power of death which is the final penalty for sin.

Salvation is freedom from sin and its penalty.

All people sin, so there’s no finger pointing here. Jesus is the only person who has never sinned.

Jesus paid the wages of sin for everyone. Forgiveness of sins is a done deal, but we have to take what’s been so freely given. We cannot earn our salvation. But, we can choose to believe Jesus earned our salvation for us, and then live the rest of our lives by faith.

If you haven’t already accepted The Offer, you don’t have to wait for a “right” time. You can accept The Offer right now! The Bible is clear…

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

If you just accepted The Offer of salvation through Jesus, CONGRATULATIONS!

With your acceptance, you’ve been given the promise of new life. Yes! It’s true! A life lived by faith in Jesus creates change in us.

Believing in and following Jesus brings with it a progressive change in our thoughts and actions. Why? What we believe will always influence our choices and changed choices create changed lives. The changes may be less noticeable in the beginning, but no worries; change will come.

Let’s stop there for today. We’ll take a deeper look at living a life of faith and change next week.

Between Then and Now:

1 Read the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible. If you’re not familiar with the Bible, these are the first four books in the New Testament and their location is listed in the Table of Contents. These four books are called the Gospels because they’re about the life of Jesus.

2 If have not already accepted The Offer of salvation through Jesus, what’s holding you back? This is not a rhetorical question…formulating your answer will bring clarity to your questions or concerns about Jesus and salvation.

3 If you have accepted The Offer, why did you? Again, this is not a rhetorical question…formulating your answer will bring added clarity for those times when you’re the one sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.

A word of caution: Don’t get hung up on a prescribed timeline. In baseball, it may take someone until their high school or college years before they discover their love of the game. That’s why today’s verse is important. The Good News of Jesus is like a seed planted. It’s not a comparison game of how long ago the seed was planted or how few or how many people nurtured the seed. It’s about the seed being planted so it can grow. God will complete the work ! Just know…God has not forgotten you or the one you love. He hears all your prayers, and He wants them to accept His Offer of salvation even more than you do.

Digging Deeper:

Jeremiah 29:13, Luke 19:10, John 1:1-18, John 3:16-17, John 6:44, John 14:6 & 15-21, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16 & 22-25, Ephesians 2:8-10, Thessalonians 4:13-18, & Hebrews 11:1

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Who’s in Charge?

Key Verse:

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Today I’m sharing another spiritual parallel baseball season has me remembering. It is not a new truth, but it is a foundational truth for all Jesus-followers.

There are four umpires in each Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Home Plate Umpire is the one “in charge” of the game. The other three are called Base Umpires and are stationed near the bases. Home Plate Umpire says when play begins and ends. He’s the one who decides if a pitcher throws a ball or a strike or balks. He decides whether a batter checked his swing, foul tips, or is hit by a pitch. He’s also the one who calls the runner safe at home. **

Umpires know how the game is supposed to be played. They know the rules of baseball, and they’re the ones who determine whether the players are safe, out, have or have not committed an infraction, and everything in-between.

Okay, I’m guessing you’ve already recognized the spiritual parallel.

God is the creator of all life. The Bible is His written word, and He is the final authority on what is right and what is wrong. God is the only One who can say whether or not we have met the requirements to safely enter the Kingdom of Heaven (His home).

No worries! He’s made a way. Yes! He’s provided all we need to be on His team and get safely Home.

The way is Jesus!

But what about all the living we do between becoming a part of the team and going home? It’s right there in the middle of living where we learn and practice.

The middle of living is also where we are most susceptible to the danger of forgetting who’s “in charge” and has final authority.

We get distracted by our own point of view. In our daily relationships, conversations, challenges, praises, heartbreaks, surprises, and responsibilities, we forget to remember.

I’m definitely on Team Jesus. I have no worries about going Home. But…

Sometimes I resemble the batter who swings too late or too early and either misses the ball completely or makes a bad connection and pops up, flies out, or hits into a double play. Other times I’m like the batter who gets called out watching.

Either scenario puts me at a crossroad.

Will I argue or accept the call?

I’ve gotten better, but there are times I still catch myself trying to convince the LORD my thoughts, words, or actions (or lack thereof) were right.

Yes, I know this is the same as saying God’s wrong!

Yes! I know I’m not trusting Him or His thoughts and ways.

Yes! I know I struggle against His authority because I’m trusting my own understanding of the situation and focused on my own Point of View.

Maybe that’s why 1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1 are two of my favorite verses. They’re filled with promise and hope for those of us who forget.

And God is faithful. He always keeps His promises!

Next week we’re going to look at getting the call to be on Team Jesus.

Between Then and Now…

1 Practice daily the disciplines of reading your Bible (listening to God) and praying (talking to God).

2 Take some time to think about the situations when you are most prone to argue your point of view.

3 Ask Jesus to show you what you’re not seeing, what you’re missing, and how to correct the problem and get a hit.

Digging Deeper:

Proverbs 3:5-6, John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9,

Fun Fact: In 2014, the Instant Replay Review System was implemented – MLB Coaches are now allowed to challenge some calls of the umpire. Reviews are examined by umpires at the Replay Command Center in New York City who have the final decision on whether to uphold or overturn the initial call. ***

** Umpire (Baseball) – Wikipedia

*** Instant Replay in Major League Baseball – Wikipedia

April 15, 2021April 21, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Influence and Impact

Today’s Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 12

Key Verse:

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (NLT)

If you don’t follow baseball, you might not know the Washington Nationals did not get to play the first four games of this year’s season.

Why? Because four team members tested positive for Covid. And five more players, plus a staff member, were quarantined due to contact tracing.

That’s right! The disease created a rippling effect of impact on the entire team. And it didn’t stop there. It also affected the other teams they were scheduled to play.

Now please don’t misunderstand the point of this. I’m not implying Covid is the result of sin, and I have no idea if the team members’ choices played a part in them contracting Covid. That’s not my intent!

But…

I am thinking about how insidious sin is. Yes! Jesus-followers are not immune. We’re freed from sin and forgiven for our sin, but we must never allow ourselves to forget the dangers of practicing sin.

Sin will infiltrate every fiber of our lives and impact all those around us. Just like Covid infected one member of the team and spread to others. Our sin is like an infection in the body of Christ.

Jesus cautioned His disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

But Jesus also said the Kingdom of Heaven is like a little “yeast” that spreads throughout an entire batch of dough.

All I want us to think about and remember today is…

We are responsible for our choices and our choices determine what type of influence we are in every one of our relationships.

Are we going to be like the bad company that corrupts good character?

Or are we going to be the faithful companion whose life helps others rise up and become both healthy and beneficial members of the body of Christ?

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 101, Matthew 13:33, Mathew 16:5-12, 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 5 & 1 John 1:9

1 Pray before reading this week’s Digging Deeper verses. Ask Holy Spirit to help you understand what you’re reading and how each applies to your life.

2 Who are the people who influence your choices? Are they bad company or faithful companions? What about you? What permeates the lives of those around you?

3 Is there something you need to confess? If so, talk to Jesus about it today. Don’t wait! Forgiveness and cleansing are promised to all who confess their sins.

April 8, 2021April 21, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Be a Team Player

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Romans 12

Key Verse:

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Baseball season has begun, and I’m a fan. More specifically, I’m a Washington Nationals Fan. I chose them as “My Team” back in early 2008 after we returned to Northern Virginia with plans to retire in the area. Our entire family are sports fans, but I’d never had my own team. I deliberately waited until we were settled in one place, but once chosen, I quickly began calling myself a Nats Fan.

Honestly, the Nats were hard put to win a game in those early years, but I didn’t care. We went to games or watched on the local station, MASN. I got to know the players and which positions they played. I cheered for them by name.

I knew how to cheer. I’d watched George and the children play enough softball and baseball games to know a lot of the proper terminology; pitcher, catcher, batter, baserunner, infield, outfield, umpire, bases, pitcher’s mound, batter’s box, dugout, etc.

What I didn’t realize was how much more there is to baseball than hit the ball and run the bases, or catch the ball and get the runner out. I didn’t grasp just how crucial it is for each player to do their part and only their part. I didn’t understand the importance of each position and the part each position played in the overall success of the team.

Yes, I knew playing well won games, but baseball requires all nine positions to play their part well. Starting pitchers can help you win, but they can’t win the game singlehandedly. They need teammates who are fielding hits and getting outs. They also need those same teammates to get on base and score runs. Clutch hitters need others to be on base in order for their hits to have maximum benefit. A grand slam only happens if the bases are already loaded when a homerun is hit.

All team members must learn and practice regularly the work of their position. The same is true of every Jesus-follower, and today’s Scripture addresses this type of teamwork in the church. Each part contributes to the success of the whole. No one position has more value because each position is needed. How do we know this? Holy Spirit wouldn’t give us our gifting for the body if the body didn’t need it.

The body is all Jesus-followers everywhere which includes the local church where we serve and worship. Reminder, the church is not the building; the church is the people.

Holy Spirit assigns us our position in the body. The position may change as the body changes but what is required of each position is to do our part. My part will support the other parts. If I try to do the part of another, I will neglect my part. Neglecting to do my part is disobeying the One who has given me my position in His body.

Digging Deeper:

1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 5:20 & Colossians 1:18

Jesus Journaling:

1 Take time this week to read the Digging Deeper Scriptures.

2 Set aside some time to do a Spiritual Gifts Survey (if you haven’t already). If it’s been a while, you may want to take it again. Ask Jesus to help you learn and practice using your gifts and playing your position well.

3 Read Ephesians 6:18.