2 Timothy 1:3-7

³I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

So, now… let me set a scene for you. God has given me a platform: take a little yellow 12 inch ball, throw it really hard, make it move… now teach other’s how to do the same thing… only better than you.

My response: “Psshhh… I can do that.”

Only recently, I’ve been insecure about my “business” mind regarding GameSpeed Softball… how do I sell softball skill training now, when my ability to perform in the circle sold it before? I have been SO insecure about who I am. My faith in what God has called me to do… much smaller than a mustard seed. What does a mustard seed even look like?

Anyway…

I’ve been walking around with my head down. Literally… I walked into the FSU Softball Stadium on Saturday with my head down, avoiding eye contact, headed straight for the seats behind home plate, praying… “God, I don’t even want to talk to anyone.” I don’t want people to recognize me… I don’t ‘feel’ like talking about what I do now because well… I’ve had no faith. I do not say this with “boastfulness”. The last thing I do in the morning is wake up and shout, “Who’s gonna recognize me today?”

But I should. God recognizes me and He has given me a “…spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” And He reminded me THIS weekend of WHO I was IN Him:

As I was leaving the FSU Softball field, I was on a mission to my car, and a family of 5 stopped me… I was almost out of there (can you see my fingers, they are a half an inch apart right now). The dad asked me if I remembered his daughter, whom I had trained after a game day about 2 years ago. He called me T-mac and the little girl looked up at me… all she did was smile. Her dad started talking about how much they loved watching me play… and somewhere in the midst of his compliments… I lost the sound of his voice. This little girl was not only beautiful, but there was so much adoration in her eyes for me… I mean… it took my breath away. In one moment the Lord spoke… “can you not remember that this is how I look at you?”

Who cares what a mustard seed looks like? I don’t. All I know is God knows who I am and I have faith. He will remind me of who He is in very small ways. Saturday it took a beautiful little girl to remind me of who I am in Him.

Thank God for His spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

I’m so thankful to be home with my family – - enjoying Christmas traditions and GREAT food… all the while being reminded that Christ was born to save the world. Thank you GOD

Have a wonderful Christmas! God Bless you!

but my coolest job is GameSpeed Softball

My sweet reminder comes from working for GameSpeed everyday. I get to help equip young women who are passionate about softball… help equip them physically in fundamental skill development, as well as their character within the sport and off the field – - you  know, the hard stuff that no one wants to talk about: integrity, respecting authority, leadership… yeah, the hard stuff.

I love working with young women who are passionate about softball, and becoming great at what they do. It’s an honor to help prepare them for what they aspire to be, as well as what they desire for life… which is most important. Everyday, the Lord reminds me of why I played… not for my own selfish gain, but for this purpose – - to pour back into the lives of others. Everyday I get to speak into the hearts of young women who are trying to figure out who they are, while working through the flesh of being an athlete… in an culture that treasures selfishness and personal gain. Pushing through pain, practice, victory and failure… to throw and catch a little neon yellow ball. Performance based mentality… hard for young women to deal with. Hard for any woman to go through.

Sweet reminders everyday. Thank you Jesus, I love what I do.