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.