March Madness ~ It’s Rebuilding Time

If you love basketball then this is one of your favorite times of the year. March Madness. It all begins with teams waiting to see where they’re going. Once they know, then fans have to decide if they can make the trip or if they are going to grab some wings and head over to someone’s house because not watching is not an option. I can’t tell you who’s still playing or who’s favored to win but my heart belongs to some small college off Victory Parkway. Yeah, I know.

One of the most moving parts of the tournament for me is when a team loses. I even make sure I watch the highlight video at the end to see the reactions again. No, I don’t want teams to lose and no, I don’t find it entertaining. I find it relatable. That after all of the hard work the game was lost and the tournament is over.

These players work hard. They train hard. They invest so much time and energy for their team to be the best. They all want to win. Some of these players have been practicing since elementary school for this moment. Yet, even when the result doesn’t go the way the team expected, guess what? They are still a team.

As a basketball mom I’ve seen some ugly loses. There were some tears and some disagreements but the team was still a team.

Just like in ministry there will be trying times. But after the ugly loses, the tears and the disagreements you’re still a team. Even when you’re mad, you’re still a team. Even when you want to quit, you’re still a team. Just like any athletic team, ministry is hard work.

When a team loses a tournament they get back to getting better. They get back to lifting. They get back to running. They go watch film and they build more team chemistry. It’s a rebuilding time.

I remember when Alex played at Concord and he received this bulky piece of mail. Inside of it was a detailed manual on what he needed to do in order to get ready for the next season.

We have a manual too and guess what? You don’t even have to carry it around if you believe it to be bulky because there’s an app for that.

Let me put some Bible on it

Don’t get weary in well doing you’ll reap if you faint not. ~ Galatians 6:9

Forget what happened before. Keep pressing for the mark. ~ Philippians 3:13

And if it didn’t work out, it still works together. ~ Romans 8:28

Keep in mind that the enemy isn’t after you. He’s after what you’re called to do. He’s after your purpose, your assignment. Years ago Joyce Meyer had a sermon series called The Battlefield for the Mind. There is a battle for your mind but you have to protect your gates. Be mindful of what you listen to, of what you read and of what you watch. Make time for God so that you can hear from Him for yourself.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬