At ballgames, the team has been rallied by the cheer-led chants that permeate across the gymnasium, traveling from the floor to the bench to the bleachers.  Chants.  Cheers.  Rally Calls.  A job to do when their team is winning and victory is imminent and a job tasked when their team is losing and victory might escape them IF the CHEER SQUAD fails to build the resolve necessary to win.

Before we go too far, I must share a truth:  I have NEVER been a cheerleader!

Before we journey on, let me be the first to say that I am NOT a gymnast!

Before we run into these thoughts too far, let us realize that we are all called to participate, to Cheer, to Lead, to Rally Others, to Clap our Hands As We Watch Others Find Victory in Jesus!

Last night, we had the privilege to attend a local basketball game.

Last night, we sat with the crowd on the “guest” side of the gymnasium.

Last night, we heard the chants of the student sections, one on THEIR side & one on OUR side.

Last night, we clapped whenever OUR team scored and some even booed when they thought a bad referee call was made.

Last night, we went to a local basketball game and enjoyed a Friday night of smiles, laughter, conversations, waves to others, clapping, popcorn & nachos, AND CHEERS.

Last night, I sat for a bit next to my best friend, a rare find.

Last night, I sat for the whole night next to my husband, another best friend & gift to my life.

Last night, I sat enjoying the sounds from the confines of a favorite gymnasium of mine.

Last night, we saw the cheerleaders take turns performing practiced cheers for the crowds at the middle point of the gym floor, &

Last night, we saw how (because of the tightness of the gym floor space) the opposing cheer squads took turns leading the crowds in on-going chants from their spot on the baseline.

Last night was great fun & Last night, our team was victorious & Last night we even left with smiles on our faces as the joy was extended as God gifted us with beautiful, falling snow as we exited the gym.

BUT—what stands most prominent in my mind this morning is the 8-year-old cheerleader who I spoke with as we stood together awaiting our turn in the concession line.

“Are you the youngest,” I asked, inquiring about her place on the cheer squad.

“No, I have an older brother; he is eleven, and I have a younger sister who is two,” she

replied, mistakenly thinking I was asking about her home than about her place with the cheerleaders.

“Oh, I replied,” filing away her comment as we continued to step forward, person-by-

person, until our turn came at the concession window.

Now, we need to get a visual.  We need to see this little girl dressed in her cheer uniform, dressed to blend, dressed to become, dressed to share in solidarity, and dressed to participate.

She looked like them (the older cheerleaders on the squad), &

They looked like her (the cheerleaders’ uniforms worn as they led their team & crowd).

“Will you participate tonight on the floor?”

She knew exactly what I was asking this time; there was no room for vagueness.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

“You should,” I returned, “because I have watched you cheer before on the floor, and

you do a good job.”

She turned her head to look at me after that comment and smiled, replying, “Thank You.”

We practice what we love to do.

We join the teams we hope will allow us to participate.

We perform to the best of our ability.

We bring an all-in attitude OR we show up, but know in our heart that others will be affected by our lackadaisical actions, words, and emotions.

We either stand and cheer as we are led to do OR we don’t.

We either participate, chanting as we are led, OR we don’t.

We either dress in our readiness as we should, OR we don’t.

We either LEAD others as we “cheer” them on to see the Truth, OR we don’t.

We either experience the excitement known in accepting the Truth, OR we don’t.

In reading the Bible, in studying the lives of those who are also on the same team, the same squad—Today we see that their life-struggles were real, just like ours.

We see how other believers need encouragement, a “cheering-up,” just like we do at times.

We understand how their lives (the lives of those who are spoken of in the Bible) were oftentimes comprised of daily battles, daily wins and losses, as they (the believers) journeyed through life, just like us.

I am on TEAM JESUS  &  so thankful He allows me to stand and cheer for others to join in with us.

I know others on TEAM JESUS  &  so thankful He connects us together into one solid Family of God.

TEAM JESUS.

See with me a Scripture passage that spoke of our struggles & our fellowship in the FAITH.

“Again I say, let no one think me foolish;  but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would,

but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you,

anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else is bold

—I speak in foolishness—

I am just as bold myself.

Are they Hebrews?

So am I.

Are they Israelites?

So am I.

Are they descendants of Abraham?

So am I.

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so;  in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys,

in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,

dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles,

dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness,

dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

I have been in labor and hardship,

through many sleepless nights,

in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Who is weak without my being weak?

Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.”

(2 Corinthians 11: 16-31)

It does not matter how long we have belonged; what matters is that we belong.

It does not matter if we are a small eight-year-old, maybe new to the cheer squad OR if we have cheered for years and years; what matters is that we stand together & “CHEER OTHERS ON” encouraging them toward the victory found only through CHRIST!

We hear their chants from the Scriptures, encouraging us to continue, encouraging us to not give up, to not stop in our struggle to win the lost despite the personal cost.

We stand with them & WE CHEER TOGETHER—

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SQUAD,

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM,

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME FAMILY,

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DRESSED IN A SIMILAR ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, &

BECAUSE WE ALL BELONG TO GOD AS BROTHERS  &  SISTERS IN CHRIST—

ONCE WE HAVE BELIEVED AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR &

ONCE WE HAVE RECEIVED JESUS AS LORD &

ONCE WE HAVE TAKEN OUR PLACE AMONG THE ONLY LIFE-TEAM THAT MATTERS—TEAM JESUS!

In writing, I paused to listen to a melody by the Christian band—All Creatures.  The lyrics to the song “wonder working” are worth hearing today.  Listen if your day permits.  Hear their “chant” as they sing the lyrics—

“I—belong to a wonder-working God/making a way like only He could.

And all I can say is “God is Good”

Oh, I—belong to a wonder-working God.

Trading  my chains for victory.

My God is working a wonder in me!

I’ve seen so many miracles I forgot what the word IMPOSSIBLE means!”

Cause you know my God is Working!

“Oh, I—belong to a wonder-working God/making a way like only He could.

And all I can say is “God is Good”

Oh, I—belong to a wonder-working God.

Trading  my chains for victory.

My God is working a wonder in me!”

ALL CREATURES (3:01)