Saturday, February 26, 2011

Hebrew Heat

Two scriptures that I'm feasting on right now...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that it set before us..." Heb 12:1

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Heb 12:11

That's all I got.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Where Does Your Identity Lie

What's up everybody? So, two weeks ago I reported to Spring Training. I came in better shape than I've ever been in (as baseball players we are genetically engineered to say that every spring even when we're fat). But, I truly believe I was better prepared to play ball this year than ever before. This was supposed to be my year. Everyone I know, and don't know, was telling me this was my year to win the Cy Young. I had thrown 7 bullpen sessions in preparation to face hitters for the first time, and everything was going great. I honestly can't remember a time where my delivery and overall confidence in my stuff was even close to where it is now. But, God had different plans than all that for me this year. While facing hitters the first time I felt a twinge in my elbow, and long story short I am scheduled to have Tommy John surgery on monday morning. Season over, no Cy Young, no competing,...nothing. But, let me say this. I have learned more about myself in the last two days than in the last five years combined. Here is what I've learned...my status/success in baseball doesn't define me, not even close. I have been amazed at how much peace i've felt through all this. My wife has made that easy, as she has kept her amazing positive attitude throughout. Another thing I've learned is that I have been EXTREMELY blessed with some of the best friends and teammates a person could ever ask for. Before I left the clubhouse my teammates all showed me so much support it literally has been eye opening. I have been so much in awe of how fortunate I am that I haven't even had time to think about being hurt. Praise God for that.
Another thing I know is that I could not have done anything differently coming in to spring. My ligament had been partially torn twice before so it has finally reached it's breaking point. I'm okay with that. I absolutely hate the idea of missing this season with teammates. I think we have a real good shot to win the World Series. The group we have is really special, and I'll have my pom pom''s out in full force. But here's the deal. This injury, the one that makes me miss an entire year of baseball, has allowed me to stop missing what is right in front of me. I am blessed with an amazing God. A God who continues to teach me lessons in mysterious ways. I'm blessed with an amazing family. I'm blessed with friends who really care for me, and I have felt it this week. And I'm blessed with teammates that started out as friends and have become family. I believe this to be a test from God, and it has opened my eyes. I believe I can still greatly impact God's Kingdom from this disabled list. And if any of you people who I just bragged about catch me slippin....please slap me around. Thanks for reading.

my identity?
-adam wainwright ...follower of Christ

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fearing God????

This is my first time writing for e fellowship. I was at our bible study tonight and shared this story with the guys and Adam told me I had to fill in for him tonight so here it goes…..

Anyone that knows me knows that I have a Golden Retriever named Cammie my wife and I love her more than anything. One of my favorite things she does is when we come home she runs to the door wagging her tail like crazy and loves on us for as long as we will stand there. Well, my wife and I went out for breakfast 4 days ago for about an hour or so. Our plan was to come back, get Cammie and take her to Petsmart so she could get some new toys. When I opened the door go greet her she wasn’t there. Then I walked in the condo I noticed that she had got into the bathroom trashcan and got out one piece of paper and chewed on it. Now this wasn’t like Turner and Hooch style where the blinds were tore down the kitchen cabinets were emptied and the entire house was trashed. No this was one piece of paper. When I looked around the corner I saw Cammie sitting up looking at me and shaking out of control. She was shaking like she had been stranded for hours in the Antarctica. When I looked at her and started to scold her she wouldn’t even look at me and before too long she slowly walked over to me still shaking and curled up at my feet and gave me the saddest look I have ever seen. She has done this before but this time it hit me different. I was so disappointed in her that I told my wife we weren’t going to the pet store and I literally didn’t talk to or pet her for two hours. I went on a run later that day and I usually take her with me but since I was still mad at her this time I didn’t take her. On my I pod the song International Harvester came on by Craig Morgan. Now I am a redneck and love country so I have heard this song a million times but never like this. Part of the lyrics go like this

I'm a God fearing hardworking combine driver

Then it all hit me…..

My dog knew that she had done something wrong and I can only imagine what she was thinking when she heard my truck pull up. She was so scared of me as her master that all she could do is shake because she knew she made a mistake. It didn’t matter to her if it was a big mistake or not she knew she messed up and let me down. I look at that picture of Cammie and I said to myself…… I have never been that dog. I don’t fear god.

Why is that??? How can I not fear the one that created me for crying out loud? The one that made the heavens and the earth and all other things. The fact is that I am so scared of so many other things that really don’t matter at all. For instance……

- giving up 2 runs and not getting an out

- having one of my teammate not like or respect me

These are just quick examples. The fact is we follow the rules and laws that people put in place but not the ones that our creator did. I will be confronted with a decision and I know that there is a clear right and wrong thing to do but I’ll quickly justify it by saying “well it’s not hurting anyone” or “nobody will know about it” or the go to is “it’s not like I’m the only one that’s doing it” and I will go ahead and make the decision that is in the wrong. And I don’t shake like my dog… I just simply go on about my life and put on the Christian face around the right people and “deal with it

I’m going to take a line from Fred our Chapel leader….Can I tell you something???? I’m sick of it. I’m sick of accepting the worldly view as to what’s right and what’s wrong. And fearing the people and situations that wont get me into heaven.

Dadgummit!!!!!!!! I AM WORKING TO FEAR GOD NOW.

Sorry it’s so long but hopefully it impacts you… I could get into why I’m really glad god doesn’t yell and put me it timeout when I screw up like I did to Cammie but that a completely different topic….

Here are some verses that talk about fear

1 Samuel 12:14

Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice and if you do not rebel against the Lords commands then both you and your king will show that you recognize the lord as your God.

Deuteronomy 6:13

You must fear the Lord your God and serve him

Hebrews 13:6

So we can say with Confidence “The lord is my helper so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?

Psalm 61:5

For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.