Keep It Simple Sister

Since Monday marks the beginning of October and the World Series will be upon us in a few weeks, I think the baseball lingo is appropriate. Since I’m from Ohio (NE) I’m in Cleveland Indians territory. It’s been encouraging to hear of the positive season that the team has had this year. Go Tribe!!…… However, I must admit, it’s not baseball that’s been on my mind the last few days. But it does have a lot with being “safe” at “home”.

I was reminded the other day while I dined on Spicy Buffalo Balls (yes, that’s what they’re called - meatballs made with Red Hot Sauce, butter and frozen meatballs - a tasty treat with garlic butter angel hair pasta - thanks for lunch, Beth!) with two of my accountability partners that life is much like a baseball game. There are games that go incredibly fast, “three up - three out”. There are games that go into extra innings and feel like they’ll never end. ……I’ve had days that have resembled both. How about you?

I really love the book of 2 Corinthians. It’s so rich. As the apostle Paul begins his second letter to this growing, yet struggling, group of Christ-followers, he encourages them with a greeting of grace. When we think about it, and I’ll quote my spiritual dad on this one, “grace is all that God the Father is able to give to us through our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.” Think about that for a moment. That’s very profound, isn’t it?

We all go through seasons of struggle. Some minor, some not. There are times when you get a “base hit” and it feels like you’re stuck at first base forever. There are times you totally “strike out”. Sometimes we hit a “home run” and it’s like “whew hew - can it get any better than this?” - Yes, I think it can get better than that.

Think of you and your friends…..you see your pals stuck on a “base”. Perhaps it’s a “relational” base, a “spiritual” base, maybe a “vocational” base. When I see someone I love “stuck on base”, I’d like to “bring them home”. When it comes to offering a helping hand, I so often feel like “what in the world do I have to offer them?” Sometime, I feel like I’m in a major “batting slump” and don’t want to “leave them hanging”,    as it were.

Well, the LORD has told us how to help. Through Paul, God’s speaks in 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5:

The Rescue

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. (Lisa’s comment - GRACE!)

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

Isn’t that fabulous? With the comfort that God has given us, He’s equipped us to comfort others in ANY situation. It’s doesn’t say that we “answer all the questions” or “we solve all their problems”. It says we can comfort with that which we’ve been comforted. The God of all mercies has invited us to “step up to the plate”, deliver the comfort and hope that can be birthed in our hearts through the power of God’s Holy Spirit within us. We can be used to help, “bring them home”.

 

Are you the kind of “team player” that uses what the “Coach” has taught you to empower someone else to

“cross the plate”?

 

Focus on the Coach for signals…..help your teammates to get home safely. Remember, the next inning is coming and you might be the one “stuck on base”.

 

Till next time, peace. 

On the evening of September 11, 2007 my life changed forever this side of eternity.  It became official at 7:56 PM that my friend, mentor and spiritual dad, Dan Meininger, was called home to heaven. He now stands were he always wanted to be….in the very presence of God Almighty.  Resting in the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ.

Dan and his wife Carolyn have been dear friends of ours since the mid 1990’s.  Little did I know what God had in store when Dan was invited to fill the pulpit for our vacationing pastor. WOW!!  Through his ministry, Dan touched my life, Bob’s, our children and countless others around the world.  His ministry was one of encouragement and intercessory prayer. The foundation of Dan’s calling was focused around Romans 8:26.  When he became burdened by the Holy Spirit to pray for someone, watch out!!!! God was gonna rock your world.  That’s a good thing.

I think I’m still in shock to think that I will never speak to him again as long as God calls me to remain here on earth.  Those precious phone conversations where both of us had our Bibles open and were visiting in anticipation of what God was going to speak through His Word.  You see, everything Dan did was based on what God’s Word says.  Whether is was to praise, rejoice, repent, forgive, love unconditionally, obey, trust, lament - well, you get the idea.

Few of us have had the gift of having a parent (biological, adoptive or spiritual) invest so much time and prayer in our lives.  I was blessed to have enjoyed this very unique and edifying relationship for over a decade.  God used Dan’s life to show me the unconditional love of Abba Father.  

O my dear spiritual dad, how I will miss you.  Thank you for loving me.  To God be the glory, great things He has done.