My last post at the end, I said this blog would be about my next season after CGA. God turned things upside down again so next week will be a blog about my next season I promise! Thank you for your grace.
One of my favorite sports is basketball. I love going to games, watching games and following my favorite team which is the Charlotte Hornets. In December I was with a couple of my friends watching basketball at a restaurant in Gainesville, GA. While I was watching and hanging out with them my phone was following the Hornets game. My team had the lead all night long until about 2 seconds left in the game. The Hornets were down by 1 point. My mind was thinking if you lose in the end of the game like this that’s unacceptable! Y’all better win it’s 4th quarter time! Losing isn’t good enough in my book. Fortunately my Hornets hit a buzzer beater shot and won this game. I was happy because they beat a team that you shouldn’t lose to in my opinion.
Many of y’all know me today as ShakenBlake (at least in AIM world), funny, unique, intentional, witty, loving, and the guy who wears colorful bow ties and red pants! I wasn’t always like this in fact in my younger days I was made fun of because I was different. My talents were different than most people’s when I was younger. In sports I was picked last most of the time. My weight as a kid was chubby yes hard to believe now. People didn’t give me a ton of positive affirmation or wanted to hangout with me as a ten year old kid. Around 6th grade I decided enough with me being last liked in my class! Last picked for sports done! From now on I will outlast you, have the most heart, and I will win when the game is over! People will love Blake all the time. The girls will love him this was much of my motivation when I was a teenager and some in my 20’s is to receive my love and affirmation from women. Blake will the best. Even finish seasons in my life on top as the world defines success.
In some ways this is good wanting to do the best for God in everything! God desires excellence in our lives. This becomes bad when we become consumed with selfish motives and pride.
Last week here in Guatemala I was frustrated at myself. Some comparison and competition creeped in my heart. In our CGA meeting we share how our week was going personally. When it was my turn I really wanted to say I’m doing great but I couldn’t do it. I had to spill my junk out like spilled milk on a table. Being vulnerable at times really sucks because the world tells us that’s being weak. During this time I wanted to be strong one in the group. My time here I want to end well. My definition of ending well is defined by if I can say things are great or I’m doing all of this for Christ now He’s so awesome! Even telling others you can be strong also in the end!
Paul had everything from God. He was gifted as a powerful and fiery preacher. He was a great evangelizer for the kingdom and had great head knowledge of Christ. God turned the definition of strength upside down in His life. Paul boasted about his weaknesses and struggles instead of trying to be the strong one.
A couple of people said to me that God is turning what you define as finishing strong upside down. My CGA leader said to me “If you can be real with us in Guatemala about your struggles then you take this into next season and that’s a good thing.”
She also asked me How do you get rid of the scoreboard of comparison with others? I said surrendering the scoreboard to the Lord. Everyone is going through their own crap in their lives. No need to compare yourself and keep points with others. God doesn’t do that with us so there’s no reason why I should either! I’m done and surrendering my scoreboard to God!
