God is Assembling His ALL STAR Teams!
I played softball from the age of 6 up until I was about 16. I played in a regional league that had about 7 teams in each age group, and we would play one another weekly for a short amount of time to see who would win “first place” in the league. At the end of the season, the coaches of the top 3 teams would form a whole new team, the “All Star” team, which consisted of a large group of hand chosen players from across the entire age group in each particular league. Each regional league would present their All Star team to play at state and national levels.
The All Star teams in my league would form using the best and most gifted players of each position on the field, as well as those who had potential, a good attitude and courage, even if they did not yet play at the level of some of the others. In most cases, the minute one player would try to dominate or micromanage the others, that player was benched for a few innings. The All Star team valued TEAM and unity as a team above all.
The first year I was chosen to be on the All Star team, I was probably one of the worst players in my age group. I was chosen, however, because I had potential, I had guts, and I was a wonderful and encouraging team player who always showed up. Although my team had come in 2nd place in the league that year, and I had spent MUCH of the season on the bench instead of on the field, the All Star coaches could see my humble, 8-year-old heart and they knew that putting me on the All Star team would benefit us all. I remember the awesomeness of getting to play with other players in my age group – some were from my own team, and were my friends – but the majority of these All Stars were from other teams, with other coaches, other values, other traditions and had quite different ways of being trained. I only got to play one inning as an All Star that year, but even as an 8-year-old, I knew that this was something special and not to be taken for granted. I tried to glean what I could from those who were from different teams, and I still remember the feeling of us all coming together in our differences, for one great cause. It stuck with me my whole life.
This week, as I was interacting in the wide world of social media, I felt the Lord stop me to speak to me about be pro-active into praying for His ALL STAR teams across the globe.
I felt Him want to remind the Sons and Daughters of the Most High....WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM! Regardless of our training, our networks, our music choices, the way that we minister or even some of our Doctrines, we are all IN THIS TOGETHER. Yes, even when our personalities don't quite mesh...we are still each an All Star in our own right.
My heart began to beat fast as I realized that many have been distracted from the real issue at hand. The biggest AWAKENING IN HISTORY is upon us, and we cannot afford to miss the fullness of it (on a personal level) because we disagree or discern differences. Just like my 8-year-old self on the All Star team for the first time, I may have not been the most experienced, most gifted, most mature or most equipped member of the team, BUT I had a pure heart and I loved both the team as well as the sport. I actually dropped the ball a few times and nearly lost us the game in that one inning that I got to play in right field – yet my mistakes fully helped to prepare me for being an All Star again two years later, when our team was unbeatable and I played nearly every inning.
We are all on a journey, and yet our hearts are all for KING JESUS. In softball, as long as you keep your eyes on the ball, you can hit it out of the field with a little confidence and courage. Likewise, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, the impossible WILL happen.
I feel the Lord say, let's gather in our differences and lead the lost into the fold instead of criticizing and fault-finding in one another. You don't have to be aligned in network to someone, but you can be on the same team! I believe that He is currently assembling His ALL STAR team to usher in massive souls. And how amazing that WE ALL can be a part of it!
REVIVAL IS AT THE DOOR!!!
For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love. – Ephesians 4:16, TPT
