Go get em slugger!

This past Friday night I got the opportunity to play softball for the first time since 1980. I was really excited to get out on Friday night with some friends and play ball. I figured that I would do pretty well except maybe when I got up to bat. I wasn't quite sure how that would go. I used to be pretty good as a kid, but remember...1980! That was like..29 years ago right? UGH. Anyway, it wasn't long before I was up to bat. Everyone knew that I hadn't done this in a long time and I knew that ALL eyes would be on me. I admit it.. I love attention. I'm born to be on stage and in the limelight..I am a singer by nature, but I was in unfamiliar territory and just knew that I was going to make a fool outta myself. My team was yelling for me.."take your time Christy, keep your eye on the ball...etc" I waited to swing until I saw the perfect pitch.. wham.. I hit it and took off running. I was shocked that I hit the ball!!! I made a base hit first time trying! Woo Hoo! Each time after that, I hit the ball and each time I got up to bat, I had a team cheering me on. I even made it to 3rd base at one point. We won both games that we played. Now that I think about it, it's our pastor that is all the time saying the words.."HOORAY, OUR TEAM WINS".
Isn't it just like God to give me a parallel between this story and my life right now. I am currently in unfamiliar territory. I'm facing all sorts of new things coming my way. I'm nervous because I can't see what's coming next. The cool thing in it all is that God has given me a "great cloud of witnesses", my peeps, who cheer me on when I'm scared. He encourages me to give it all I've got when I'm soooo unsure of myself. What is different from my experience above and my life right now is that I've been practicing this Christian life for a very long time now. I've been preparing for such a time as this for years, and I believe that my response to what is happening has been what it is (good for the most part) because of the practice I've received along the way. I'm in the middle of the biggest game of my life. I want to hit a grand slam! I know that I can with God on my side. What happens when we hit a grand slam?? Someone else gets inspired to do the same. I want my life to affect people like that.
Today I woke up discouraged. I asked a few of my friends to pray for me. I didn't feel like leading worship. I was tired and weary from playing this game of my life. I got an amazing response from my TEAM...You can do it Christy.. keep your eye on the ball...take your time..in Your weakness..He will be strong! I'm soooo glad that I don't play alone, but am part of an amazing team!
To those on my team. I cherish you! I hope that when you are in the middle of the biggest game in your life..you find me on the sidelines cheering you on too!
You are His favorite and He loves you because He loves you because He loves you because He loves you because that is what He is like!

I love you!
Christy