No Age Limit

 

It was opening day for the Pony League baseball season.  Two teams, of seven year old boys, were in the dugouts getting ready to play.  Nineteen of the twenty guys were excited and thrilled about the upcoming game.  One little boy had his head down, said he wanted to go home, and burst into tears.  His teammates immediately came over, patted him on the back, and offered words of encouragement.  Still upset, his teammates walked with him out to the field.  Later in the game, the unhappy little boy hit a home run.  As he crossed home plate, the players on both teams came over and congratulated him. 

 

During the COVID pandemic, 11-year-old Cartier Carey of Hampton, Virginia, realized that times were especially difficult for the single moms in his city.  When interviewed, he stated, “They’re doing everything on their own so I decided to help.”  He set up a lemonade stand to raise money for diapers, baby wipes, clothes, and other necessities, with 100% of the proceeds going to purchase items.  Due to health restrictions, Cartier was asked to dismantle his stand and not sell lemonade at this time, but that didn’t stop progress.  Carey posted a video showing a large truck where people could donate items to be delivered to the single mothers.  Britany, Cartier’s mother, also helped set up an Amazon wish list and ways for people to contribute monetarily to help purchase the needed items.

 

John Lopez, Jr., is a 19-year-old from Princeton, Texas.  He is a cashier at the local Walmart, and saves his earnings to help pay for college.  John has a reputation for being efficient, upbeat, and courteous.  Laci Simms, a regular customer, told about a recent experience.  “I just witnessed this ‘kid’ pay for a cart of merchandise for a woman in obvious distress about her inability to pay.  When she had trouble paying her bill he stepped in and told her if she’d wait he would pay her total.  It was $110!  He just renewed my faith in humanity and the generation we are raising!”  John didn’t even realize he was being watched.  When he was interviewed by CBS DFW, he told them being recognized was not his motivation.  Usually his paycheck goes into savings, but this time he wanted to share his earnings with someone in need.  Lopez reported, “I just felt in my heart that the Lord told me I had to help her.”  He went on to say, “My parents basically taught me if someone needs help, you should be able to help them and if someone is down, bring them up.”  Simms concluded, “Seeing a stranger help another stranger is how we should act as humans…. The world would be a better place if we just helped others, just like John did.  He helped without reservation and judgement!”

 

Operation Christmas Child is an organization run by Samaritan’s purse.  The giver chooses an age group, boy or girl, fills the box with gifts, prays for the child who will receive the package, sends a request for a label, and then mails the box.  Missionaries give these to children and use the opportunity to tell the recipients about Jesus and invite them to learn more Bible stories.  Ira Miller is 104!  He has been packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child for years.  When Miller turned 100, he decided he wanted to pack and send 100 boxes.  Since then, Miller has packed almost one box a day, giving 333 each year.  He recently filled his 1,000th  box.  Ira Miller told CBN News, “The Lord has blessed me, and I still want to do something for the children who don’t know the Lord.  I return all my thanks to Him.”  Miller feels like packing and giving the gifts gives him a chance to be a missionary, too.  Debbie Welch, Miller’s daughter who helps with the packing, said, “These boxes are going to children around the world and they’re going to hear about Jesus.  I just focus on giving God glory for His faithfulness that Dad can still be a missionary at 100+.”

 

Ministry, giving, encouragement, thinking of others, and praying have no age limits.  Whether one is a child, teenager, young adult, adult, or 100+ years old, God equips and gives us each a heart to serve and minister to others.

 

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Philippians 2:3

Heart Warmers

 

Paul Scott, a 9th grader, runs cross country with the help of 4th grader, Rebel Hays.  Since he is blind, he depends on Rebel to hold on to one end of a rope, while he holds on to the other end, and lead him along the running path.  In order to run ahead of Paul, and keep up with the other runners, Rebel trains and practices with the older athletes.

 

Dale Schroeder grew up in Iowa.  He worked as a carpenter at the same business for 67 years.  Mr. Schroeder never married or had any children.  He only owned two pair of jeans.  During those years, he saved enough money to send 33 students to college.  The group is known as “Dale’s kids” as a way to honor him for changing their lives.

 

A young boy was riding his bicycle down the street.  When he tried to stop, the brakes did not work and he accidentally ran into a man’s car, leaving a dent on the side.  When the older man found out who the young boy was and what had happened, he knew the parents would not be able to pay for the car repairs or have the brakes fixed on the bike.  So a few days later the man decided to surprise the boy with a new bicycle. 

 

John frequented Aron Moxley’s place of business for years.  When he came in recently, Aron mentioned that he was going to Vietnam the next week to visit the country where he was born and lived in an orphanage.  Surprisingly, John told Aron he served as a Marine during the fall of Saigon.  One of his assignments was to help the orphans and babies get on the evacuation helicopters and planes for Operation Babylift.  With tears in his eyes, John realized that Aron might have been one of the children he helped.  Moxley thanked John, again and again, for his service and help.  John said he knew he would sleep better knowing he had seen a once small baby all grown up and living a better life in America.  John concluded his post, “No longer an orphan.”

 

Recently, brothers Jonathan and Stephen Full took their kids to lunch at a Chick-fil-A in Durham, North Carolina.  As they were eating, two soldiers walked in and then nine more.  Wanting to set an example for his son, Jonathan went to buy a meal for one of the soldiers.  He quickly decided to pay for all eleven meals and would buy more if others came in to eat.  Jonathan thanked the soldiers for their service, and then in memory of his brother asked them to please get help for any of their buddies with PTSD.  Besides blessing the soldiers, Jonathan taught his son and nephews, “to take care of the people that take care of us.”

 

May we all be willing to take the opportunity to do what we can to bless and ease the burden for others.

 

 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

Hebrews 10:24

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

The "JOY" Factor

                           Jesus                  1^st

                          Others               2^nd

                          Yourself             3^rd

 

Scott Drew, Baylor’s basketball coach, encourages a “JOY” lifestyle for his family, coaches, and players.  Not only is the concept taught, it is also modeled, on a daily basis, by Coach Drew. 

 

The current basketball players have chosen to make “JOY” a priority for this season.  That commitment is displayed in the unselfishness of the team.  If you watched a few basketball games the past few weeks, wanting the best for the team was displayed on both Baylor’s offense and defense.  The team win was more important than an individual’s points or record.  After a game, win or lose, it shows in the circle that is formed on the court, with players and coaches, and the prayers offered.  Jared Butler was recently named Associated Press first-team All-American, which he considers a team award.  Butler is known for his talent, abilities, work ethic, and intelligence, but being a team player is a priority.  He also makes a difference by teaching Sunday School to second and third graders.

 

The Baylor basketball players have Bible studies and also attend Chapel before every game.  Realizing the importance of keeping Jesus a priority, Coach Drew hired a full time staff chaplain, Scott Brewer, to invest in the young men.  There are other mentors who also give of their time and talents to train, encourage, and lead the athletes.

 

The COVID months have been difficult at times, causing many sacrifices to be made.  To help stay healthy, the players committed to not seeing family or friends, to stay in their room, or be in the gym, so they would be ready and at their best for the upcoming games and NCAA Tournament.  Taking care of business, team commitment, and support came before individual pleasures for a season.

 

Coach Drew acknowledged that past players helped to build the team that won the championship.  Many former athletes still send inspiring texts and messages to encourage the current team.  That’s why Coach Drew calls it a “we” thing.  KWTX reported that “Baylor’s men’s basketball coach Scott Drew sent all of his former players nets, t-shirts, and personalized letters to thank them for helping build the program to where it is now – a team that is about to play in the Final Four.”

 

On April 5, 2021, the Baylor men’s basketball team won its first National Championship by defeating undefeated Gonzaga 86-70.  For Baylor's coach, Scott Drew, this victory had been 18 years in the making.  For the Baylor fans, it’s been a lifetime of waiting and hoping.

 

What a difference "JOY" makes!  From this Texas Tech Red Raider, congratulations to the Baylor men’s basketball team, coaches and fans.  May “JOY” always be part of your journey; and may we choose it to be the priority of ours, as well.

 

 

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1

 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.

Matthew 6:33

 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4