game

Three Strikes and You’re Still Safe

I love baseball; always have. I suppose it is because of the rich history of the game along with the fact that I played baseball frequently when I was a child. Baseball history dates back many, many years and is filled with stories of great games and great players. In fact, I have many collectible autographs and other memorabilia which remind me even more of the history of the game.

Baseball was a game I enjoyed playing as a child, although I wasn’t great at the game. I suppose I was average, but was never a superstar by any stretch of the imagination. I usually ended up playing in the outfield and occasionally even had a fly ball land in my glove—purely by accident. I don’t ever remember running and catching a ball; the ball would simply find my glove. As far as batting went, it was a success for me if I managed not to strike out. If I happened to be walked by the pitcher it was really deemed a success because I had the rare opportunity to run the bases.

Baseball has a strict set of rules. There are a minimum number of required innings to play. There are rules for batters and fielders and there are umpires present to insure everyone and every team complies with the rules. Whenever I batted, it didn’t matter how much I might argue, I was never given a 4th strike. I was only allowed three; three strikes before I was called “out” and sent back to the dugout in humiliation. It didn’t matter what I did to get more strikes, my efforts were futile. I could practice harder. I could be more of a team player. I could help my teammates more. I could be more polite to the umpires and coaches. None of that mattered. I was still only allowed three strikes.

I am so glad God does not and has not viewed me that way. How many times have I failed Him? How many “strikes” would I have if God were keeping score? What would happen if I only had 3 chances to “get it right” or God would never accept me? God’s word says that it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried and failed, or what you’ve done in the past, He still awaits you with open arms. I remember vividly how disappointed my coaches were in me when I struck out and failed to deliver. The good news is that God is never disappointed in us no matter what we’ve done and no matter how distant we’ve been from God. He awaits you with open arms.

With God, your 3 strikes only mean you have another opportunity. Your 4 strikes or 10 strikes only mean that God is still waiting for you. He will never be a disappointed coach in the dugout. He will be on the field encouraging you to come home.

Never Doubt That The Loser Takes All

Faith

I am a very competitive person. It doesn’t matter what game I’m playing or what contest I’ve entered, I want to win. I want to win badly. If it was a game of Tiddly Winks, I want to stomp you decisively. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a sore loser if I happen to be on the losing side of things, but I’ll do everything I can to win in any situation.

I suppose most people are competitive to some degree. Our Society and way of life forces us to be this way. We’re competing against others for employment opportunities. We’re competing in our businesses against other businesses. We’re competing against other students for the best grades in our schools and universities. We’re competing against each other on the roads and highways to get to our destination faster and faster. Our Sports World is driven by the desire to win the next Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup. I could go on and on, but you get the drift. We’re taught and conditioned that second place is for losers.

In Luke 9:23, the Lord says “….if anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (NAS). In another translation of the Bible, “The Message,” the same verse reads “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.” I have to confess that I’ve always struggled to follow this verse. Not because I didn’t believe it or because I didn’t want to. My competitive nature to win left no room for anyone else, least of all God. There were times when I just didn’t want God to lead. Quite honestly, I was afraid where God might lead. I felt like I knew what was best for me and I would just let God catch up with me at some point. Afterall, HE had more important things to worry about. I was always confident that God would ultimately approve of my direction. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

God always wants me to be second to HIM. HE wants me to allow him to lead, even when it makes no sense to me. Obviously, this is where trust comes into play. I can’t let anyone, God included, lead me if I don’t have confidence in where they’re leading. Without question or hesitation, I can honestly say that God has always shown me the right path and led me in the direction I should go, even when I’m being dragged kicking and screaming and not understanding why, where, or when. It’s at those times when I’m truly allowing God to lead that I’m at that perfect place God wants me to be.

I’m still competitive in sports and activities, but as for my Christian Walk, I’ve learned that losing isn’t so bad afterall. It’s at those times of letting God lead, that I’m actually a winner because only then can I tap into the everlasting resources of our Heavenly Father.

Where are you today in your Walk? Are you allowing God to lead in all you do, or are you wanting to lead God instead? Remember, losing is actually winning when you recognize God is in the driver’s seat, not you.

Playing Hide and Seek With God

Encouragement

When our children were pre-schoolers, they loved to play “hide and seek.” I’m not sure why they loved the game so much. I guess it was the thrill of hiding somewhere and, then, having Dad become frustrated trying to find them hiding in some obscure place. My daughter, especially, took the game to its most extreme level. She took hiding serious. So serious, in fact, she was disappointed if she was found.

I remember one particular occasion we were playing hide and seek indoors and she hid in some small space between two dressers in our bedroom. A space so small, I wouldn’t have even thought she would fit. I searched and searched and searched. In closets; under beds; everywhere. She was as quiet as a mouse. I was actually beginning to think she may have gone outside or gotten hurt. I searched continuously for several minutes until, finally, I saw her wedged into this small place that no one would have thought to hide. As soon as I found her, she burst out laughing knowing that she had “won” this particular battle.

This morning, I was reading Colossians Chapter 3, Verse 1. It says: ” Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ” Of course, the logical question is, what are the things above we should keep seeking? I continued reading through versus 12-17 in the same Chapter and it was there I found the answers. The Lord lists such things as putting on a heart of compassion; kindness; gentleness; humility; and patience. But beyond all these things is love. It was a true blessing this morning to be reminded of these “things above” and my responsibility in finding these “things above.”

Speaking from experience, I sometimes just expect the Lord to pour these “things above” on me in a mighty way, without any effort on my part. I lose sight of the fact that it is I that should be seeking those things. And, I should be seeking those things continually. Not just once or twice, but continually. Seeking these things in Christ is a Goal, not a destination. I’m always working toward the goal, but I’ll never fully reach it.

I never stopped searching for my daughter all those years ago until I found her. In Christ, I am reminded to never stop seeking those things above.

Three Strikes and You’re Still Safe

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