Baseball

Setting The Field:

Away team-16

Home team-16

It’s the bottom of the 10th inning. 

There are two outs. The next player up to bat isn’t the strongest player nor the weakest player on the team. This player has grown so much over the past season and has begun to grasp even more of their potential. It would be easy for some of the teammates to get ready to take the field again. For others there is hope. This could be the end of an incredible season. Oh yeah, did I mention that it was the championship game? 

Time out:

Wow, 16 countries in the last 10 months. What an absolute blessing it has been to travel around the world. Some would even say this is a journey of a lifetime. For me, my prayer is that this is simply the beginning of a lifetime of journeying. 

A Journey (n): an act of traveling from one place to another

(v): travel somewhere

That is what this whole year has been. Every country and every month held a new journey. So, I was a little confused why God gave me this word for this month. We have just entered our final country on the race and with that comes a lot of emotions. On one hand I am super excited to go home to see my people and just love them. On the other hand I’m comfortable with the race and this lifestyle. I am comfortable with my squad, the strangers I met in January, who quickly became family. 

Play ball:

The batter is ready; knees bent, bat gripped, staring down the pitcher. The pitcher watches the catcher for the pitch call. He nods his head to accept and takes a step back. He winds up and throws a slider just outside; ball 1. Pitch 2: fastball right down the middle. Swing and a miss; strike 1. Pitch 3: curveball outside; ball 2. Pitch 4: cutter outside; ball 3. 

Time out:

That’s the problem; I’m comfortable. Don’t get me wrong there are still really hard days on this race. Days that I am ready to just pack up and go home. Days where I feel like I just wrestled all day, it’s only 11 am, and I’m ready for the day to be over. But there are other days that feel like a dream, the type of day you wish would just last forever. We (the squad) have literally journeyed around the world facing the same challenges, being pushed to grow, and constantly being stretched. It has been a beautiful but rough process. I wouldn’t have wanted to do the race with any other people. It still crazy to me that it has only been 10 months. However, that wasn’t the only word He gave me for this month.

Sojourn (n): a temporary stay

(v): to stay somewhere temporarily 

Again, that is what this WHOLE year has looked like. The longest we’ve been in a country will be 5 weeks. We still have the freedom to travel all around the country so even then we are only staying temporary.

“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ,

a wrestling with the Lord to bless us,

a sojourn in the valley of death

in pursuit of a city we cannot see.”

– Kevin DeYoung

What I’ve heard God speak about my new words. A journey/ sojourn like the Israelites ends with knowing all His good promises have been fulfilled (Joshua 23:14). We have to remain VERY STRONG and carefully obey the Lord. It can be easy to give up hope for the future. That He is love. He fights for us because of His promise. 

Sojourner:

– a person who is willing to learn

and accept new spiritual truths

Play ball:

3 balls 1 strike. Pitch 5: change-up inside; strike 2. This is it. This is the moment. The batter takes a step out of the box, takes a deep breath, and steps back in. The pitcher and catcher decide on a pitch. The crowd is at the edge of their seat because they know the potential of the batter. The pitcher releases a fastball. The batter plants his foot and takes the swing; it’s a hit. It’s going, the batter gets to first when the ball flys over the wall…. HOME RUN!!! The crowd is going wild and the team rushes home plate. The moment they have all been waiting for, winning the championship game!!! 

Final score:
Home-11

Away-10

Post Game:

The future for me is still completely unknown. But what I do know is that God is calling me to continue journeying and sojourning. And if God is the coach (of the away team), Jesus is the catcher, and the Holy Spirit the pitcher then there is nothing I can’t handle. Here is the topper: 

“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you

with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of

everything—every moment and in every way.

He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.

Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him:

Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor,

his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten.”

??2 Corinthians? ?9:8-9? ?TPT??

All I know is They (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) have some exciting plans for me. It’s not going to look like what I expect it to. Darien B. Cooper writes in her book, “Hinds’ Feet on High Places,” 

“Don’t ever allow yourself to begin trying to picture what it will be like. Believe Me, when you get to the places which you dread you will find that they are as different as possible from what you have imagined.”

They know what I need and when I need it. They know when I’m ready for a challenge and They long to see how I handle all the fastballs, curveballs, and change-ups. With Them for me, nothing can stand against. When we call on God or God calls us: there is this urgency to meet with Him as soon as possible no matter what. Whatever season you are going through know that God is in your corner. You are never alone.