Thursday, May 6, 2010

THANKFUL THURSDAY...wearing true colors

It is baseball season again. Whether it is little league games or major league...it is fun to root for your team!Have you noticed how some sports teams emblems or logos make total sense? For example, the New York Yankees is Uncle Sam's top hat on the end of a baseball bat. The Dallas Cowboys have a lone star (which Texas is the Lone Star state) on their helmets.

But yet, other team traditions seem very strange to me. Like the Ohio State Buckeyes ... what is a buckeye anyway? And what about Penn State, their school colors are blue and white but their team, the Nitanny Lions colors are not even blue nor white.

And what about strange mascots that these teams have? Utah has a gorilla for a mascot? and Florida has a fish? Seems strange to me, but the strangest thing to me about these teams isn't even their colors or mascots ... what about some of the fans?

The fans go all out for their favorite teams. They wear hats, wigs and jerseys. They carry towels and Styrofoam hands with upraised index fingers indicating "We are #1!" Fans will paint their faces and their bodies the team colors, they wave pennants, they wear team pins, they chant team songs and they are clearly identified with the team that they are rooting loudly for.

You can go to any sports event and find all of the above and know exactly WHO is rooting for WHO. A sports fan can be clearly identified with their team!

I wonder how closely we are identified with God? How exactly do people know which team we are on? After all, God doesn't have "team colors" or a "team mascot". We might wear a christian t-shirt, or listen to christian music. We might even go so far as to carry around the team program (a Bible)...but none of this shows our true "team" colors.

Identifying yourself with God's team comes from the way we worship Him! We can wave pennants and even paint our faces with John 3:16, but the way we live is the true color of being a #1 fan of Christ!

EPHESIANS 5:15 "Live life, then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do."

Today is THANKFUL THURSDAY and I am so glad that GOD'S TEAM is the WINNING TEAM and I can proudly wear the true colors of Christianity. May those around me identify me as a dedicated, true, and responsible follower of Christ!

What are you grateful for today? Share your thankful heart with us today as we celebrate being on His team!!



24 comments:

Melanie said...

So thankful to be part of God's winning team! Happy Thankful Thursday, Laurie!

Rocks said...

Here in the Philippines, people wear colors of their candidates to show their support for them. (national election on May 10.

I hope I am always saying/identifying my self on the God's side :)

Happy Thankful Thursday Laurie!

Fabulously Chaotic said...

I am really excited about being apart of Thankful Thursday for the forst time. There is always so much to be thankful for whether in trying times or calm times. Thank you for allowing me to participate.

Denise said...

You definitely show the world whose team you are on sis, love you dearly.

Nancie said...

I am so thankful to be part of God's team too! And to be assured that we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us! Thanks for hosting Thankful Thursday, Laurie. Hope you have a most blessed Thursday!

Warm regards,
Nancie

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I to am grateful to be part of God's team. I'm glad we don't identify ourselves so easily though. I like to treat every one as if they are part of the team.

Joan Hall said...

Good post, Laurie. I was reminded of my days as a missionette. The colors were blue and white (I believe blue for loyalty and white for purity). Haven't thought about that in a long time.

Thankful to be on God's team! Happy Thankful Thursday.

Melissa said...

So true! What message are we sending to the world when we don't behave like Christ-followers?

Thanks for hosting TT!

Martianne said...

I was just reading in a devotional last night about the amazing, loud, united energy with which fans greet favorite sports teams and how we should be praising God with the same enthusiasm, both alone and together. Your post drives that home for me even more... How will I wear my colors and dheer for God's tema today? That is my mediation for the day, it seems. :)

tammi said...

"May those around me identify me as a dedicated, true, and responsible follower of Christ!"

AMEN!! This is my prayer as well. For too long I've been content to blend in ~ I've finally developed a desire to STAND OUT and be RECOGNIZABLE!

Michele said...

No better team to be on!!!!! And guess what U can never lose on this team. WOOOHOOOOO

Karen said...

Amen...so thankful to be on the winning team...all victories...no defeats EVER...

Great post!

Debbie said...

Yes, isn't it wonderful to be on the winning team? This was a great post as always...BLESSINGS

Joshlin said...

Very true! We need to show who we support to others in the way we act and the way we speak the Word. Thanks for that great reminder! Go Team!!!

Anonymous said...

The most recognizable evidence of being on this winning team is a quiet consistency of worship, love and grace. People forget about our bumper stickers, our Bibles under our arms, and our quoting verses left and right. They look for how we act consistently, especially when the fire is applied. May those times find me committed to the team of all teams. Great post. Thank you for hosting Thankful Thursday. ;)

Jerralea said...

Good post today, Laurie! I pray that everyone will be able to discern believers by their actions!

becky aka theRAV said...

Interesting post. Makes one stop to think. I can relate to the fans thinking of University of Georgia fans which I am! As well as Auburn University fans who are very zealous. This reminds me of something that happened to me. A friend's aunt once said people would pay anything to see a celebrity but how much would they pay & how far would they walk to see Jesus? Sobering thought. Mine post was a bit different than your's as it usually is! LOL It was one I'd been pondering all week.

Lady Claudette said...

I wear a cross on my neck to symbolize which team I'm on...and of course, actions speak louder than words, so we should all be acting like we are part of God's team.

What a great post, thanks! :) Thanks also for hosting Thankful Thursday!

bp said...

Hooray for the winning team!!
God bless you, Laurie.

Debbie Petras said...

Amen Laurie. May people know who we belong to by our love in action for others.

Blessings,
Debbie

Ladynred said...

I am also very thankful that I found God's winning team. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Jackeline Salva Cagas-Paraiso said...

i totally agree with you....

Dee said...

I'm thankful that I'm on the winning team too! God bless!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful to God (Abba) in being apart of this and my prayer is that everyone continues to remember our first love which is Jesus Christ...Blessings to all!