The Ball was Jumpin', so was I

It was the craziest baseball game I've ever been to.

This last Friday, I had the great pleasure of taking our Youth Group to Texas Rangers baseball game in Arlington. If you haven't been following the Rangers (shame on you by the way :D), they have been doing really great this year, and this particular night they were playing the Boston Redsox, which is a particular fan favorite. It was a sellout crowd, and it had the feel of a playoff game (something rarely tasted by Rangers fans).

That night there were Sports-Center-catches, over 30 combined hits, and 9 combined home runs. The Rangers were down early 8-2, but they clawed there way back to tie it up at 9-9 and head into extra-innings. We were nervous, but there was this strange feeling we could all feel that the Rangers could win this game at any moment (In baseball the home team instantly wins in the extra innings when they score a run. They call it a walk-off.).  As we got into the bottom of the 11th, we were all on the edge of our seats. First pitch, BOOM! Hello Win Column.

In 2 Timothy, Paul writes his last known communication to his mentored spiritual son, Timothy,

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." - 2 Timothy 4:2

Now, we're not all preachers like Timothy and Paul, but we all have an area of ministry. It could be welcoming, serving, hosting, counseling, or whatever God calls us to.  As Paul calls Timothy to preparedness, I'm reminded that like the baseball game we should all be anticipating at the edge of our seats when God will lay an opportunity in front of us to serve as He has gifted us. I don't know when these "opportunities" will come up, but I do know that with as busy as my life is it won't be when it's convenient. That's work of the ministry though, and it's what we are all called to. Plus we get to all celebrate in the win at the end.