Baseball

The Lord's team was playing Satan's team in a baseball game. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, "He sure doesn't look like much!" Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.

But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."

"...For the Lord is good.  His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." -- Psalms 100:5

First vs Last

 

Lightning McQueen was a very fast, red race car.  He wanted to win the Piston Cup, and he got really focused on winning.  But what happened at that first race?  There was a 3-way tie...Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, and "The King" all ended up in a tie!

So, they all headed out to California for a tie-breaking race to see who would really win!  Lightning McQueen got so focused on winning that he didn't do a good job of being nice to folks around him.  He wasn't very nice to his race crew; he wasn't very respectful to his Rusteez sponsor; he made Mack work late into the night so much that he fell out of the truck; he tore up the streets of Radiator Springs...and the list goes on...He wanted to win!

What happened...He ends up having to fix the roads, but does a smash-up job and the road was worse than when he started.  So, Doc challenges him to a race, McQueen lets his pride get the best of him, and he goes flying into a cactus patch.  Around that point, Mater helps him out and McQueen realizes that he needs to do things right.  He ends up fixing the road and heads out of town.

Race day for the Piston Cup comes and McQueen is ready.  They all line up and tear out.  It's a close race, but what happens...

Chick Hicks plays a dirty trick on The King and bangs him up pretty good.  You gotta hand it to McQueen at that point.  He could have won the race, but he didn't... He turned around.  He went back and pushed The King across the finish line allowing The King to finish his last race and retire with dignity. 

McQueen learned a valuable lesson...He learned how to put others first and himself second.

That's what Jesus tells us to do too.

Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
With Valentine's Day around the corner, you'll see a lot of signs and cards that say "I love you".  But, one of the greatest ways to show someone that you love them is to be kind to them and put their needs before yours.  That means sharing, caring, and helping them, even if they don't ask you to help.  The King didn't ask McQueen to turn around and help him, but McQueen saw the need and helped him anyway.

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Lord, thank You for blessing us with these wonderful children.  May we all show love to our community by putting the needs of others first, helping others, and sharing Your love.  Show us where those opportunities are and how we can make a difference to someone this week.  In Jesus Name, Amen.