Life Above The Rim

Passing In Faith

Let's talk my friend ! I want to have genuine conversation with you throughout this short novel to help you reflect on your relationship with God and the content of your character. If you don't play any sport or play basketball you will be okay my friend. I will be with you throughout the short novel . Now let's begin in a situation that can change everything!

You are on the court with 10 seconds left to play and your team is down by a free throw. You have a good shot in the corner but a teammate is open at the rim with a great shot in the post.What do you do ?

A. Shoot the 3

B. Pass the Ball

C. Call Timeout and Setup a play

D. Freeze up /Turnover

What did you choose,
yourself or your team?

That is a stressful moment to be in if you ever been in it . You have limited time and limited moves to win the game so what if F. happens or you missed the shot . How will you react to yourself with:

A. Anger
B. Optimism
C. Understanding
D. Frustration

Team success is always a scarifice over individual play or stats. Alot of basketball players want to be that "guy ". What if being the" guy", cost you your success as well ;by always "stuffing" the stat sheet to feed your ego. Every game can't be won by a individual alone as the greats have shown like A.I., Derrick Rose,LeBron James and Chris Paul or John Stockton gave up individual success for team success by passing the rock or the shine .
Same thing applies in life as well .You want to be the man or woman scoring with the ladies or guys stuffing your pockets ,and having everybody know who you are because it's your life. So you feel entitled to be "the guy " or "that girl " in your life.How far does that get you watching out for you and your success.Something or someone around will suffer because of your idolatry of yourself. Your family will depend on you for something whether it's a dog all the way up to your wife or your husband or child.
Off the court you are still apart of a team and a team member has a role that she or he must flourish in as well for the team to have spiritual,mental and emotional success.Therefore ,how can that happen if you only watching out for your needs,wants and desires?Your wife will need a pass ,your children will need a pass ,your husband will need a pass and other relatives will need a pass. Let me explain ,see you are not passing a "basketball" around but you are passing your
faith ,love ,commitment ,time and attention around to your team.Unlike basketball where you will have a desire to defeat your enemy by the amount of points you score but in life you have to pray for your enemies as well.The "basketball " that you are passing to your enemies is prayer with a sincere heart . You are the "basketball" or the" pass" to help your "team" or family score everyday in life.To "score" in life is to help each other , those in need and those who hate you the most for any or no reason at all . Your actions matter ,your words matter and your decision-making matters therefore ,I will move on to my next point in being the "guy" or that" girl". Do you treat the poor or needy as your equal with such pride?! You seem to forget so easily that your life was a "pass" from Jesus Christ who gave you the ultimate "pass "of love by dying for your sins.He knows you will "score the bucket" ,because he has faith in who you are and he ordained it that way. When you see that the "guy" of all the "guys" passing the rock for a good shot by faith in essence you will pass the rock again for a great "shot" to your fellow enemy , sister, brother or teammate. Sometimes you will miss a great shot or a good shot but doesn't make it any less of a great or a good shot. You are not perfect in any way ! All Elohim asked us to do is love him , ourselves and our enemies with unconditional love no matter what . What happens if you miss the shot you can always catch the "rebound "and try again.A "rebound " in life is repentance and to forgive yourself and others for their mistakes against you. Prayer and forgiveness takes effort much like a rebound in basketball .To get a rebound it takes timing ,effort and grit when you want it bad enough it is already yours. How hungry are you for the love of God ?
A. No appetite .
B. Maybe a bite .
C. I could eat .
D. I'm truly hungry !

How fast are you willingly to forgive your enemies and pray for them ?Honesty is the key to true self-reflection.
A. I hold grudges
B. With a little time I will
C. Often but when I am ready
D. Immediately
If your answer wasn't immediately than you know that you have some work to do. Don't bash yourself or say anything negative about yourself . We have strength and weaknesses throughout life you will find these thugs out as you go. The answers to those weaknesses can only come from a walk with God . Day by day you are learning how to be more loving , forgiving and understanding of others to forgive them and move on with your life.There is compassion and peace in forgiveness that comes from the inside of your soul. Jesus forgave us by dying for our sins that holy day on Calvary which wasn't no easy feat to accomplish.
We all have enemies or "haters" who try to belittle us or hurt us just because of who we are . Don't be ashamed of being wonderfully and beautifully made by the King of Kings. Do you love yourself unconditionally?

A. I don't know
B. Only when I'm in a relationship
C. No
D. Yes
E. Sometimes
F.Never

What did you choose Yes ,Sometime or No? The truth is that your answer should always be a Yes! Yes! Yes! No matter if you are smiling or crying .

God loves you so much and never forget that he has you here for a purpose like no other my friend ! You have to have faith that God will show you in do time .
What is wrong with being patient when God will give you that time to grow and learn in how to be patient with your life, people and life situations.