Keep Your Eye On The Ball

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is wise counsel for excellence in life.  Have you ever been in a situation where you dropped the ball.  Maybe something at work, that you forgot to do, and it was important, and it came back to bite you?  Or something, the Holy Spirit prompted you to do, but you didn’t do it immediately, or write it down, so the opportunity passed.  And God got someone else to do it, or you lost the benefit of doing what God prompted you, that could have blessed others and blessed you?  Obedience is always a test.  God prompts you because He’s trying to help you!   He wants you to succeed!  He loves you!  He knows how to succeed, you don’t.  He knows what’s coming next, you don’t.  The more you ask Him, the more He helps you.  Wisdom is there for the asking.  And as long as you do it, He’ll give it to you again and again, He’ll give you more.  Have you ever been in a place where the ball isn’t in your court?  Trick question.  You’ve never been in that place.  Yeah I have, It’s in someone else’s court. I’ve done my part, now it’s on them to do their part.”  But their performance will affect you in some way, enabling you to deliver on your expectations, or causing you to fail to deliver…  So is the ball in their court? Or yours.   Here is a life rule to remember.  The ball is always in your court! Keep your eye on the ball, Always.  There is no such thing as the ball in their court.  Even when the ball is in their court – just know – the ball is in your court.  It may be theirs to do, but it’s your responsibility if it affects you.  Not saying you should micro-manage others, or constantly worry, just write it down, It’s why your PiVAT Journal, your Monthly Excellence Tool is so important.  So you ask God when He has assigned your follow-up.  Then focus on your job until then.  But if you’re expecting something by tomorrow morning 8:00 am to enable you to deliver your part by noon.   You better not find out in the morning, that you’re not going to get it until 3pm.  It’s your job to keep your eye on the ball, even if it’s in their court.   Ultimately – if one of your deliverables depends on others.  the ball is never in their court – even when it is.  That’s your responsibility.  You better find out before the night before – that they won’t meet their deliverable.  That means you can’t meet yours.  It’s not their fault, it’s yours.  Adam tried to get out of it.   The woman you gave me…  No Adam, God aint hearin’ that…  you’re not going to get out of this one.  The responsibility is yours.  If someone you’re depending on won’t deliver, you need to know that a week in advance of their failure to deliver, not the night before, or the morning of…  You need to know in advance, so you can ask God for His alternate solution to meet the deliverable for the ball that is in your court.  You cannot blame others.  The sluggard has excuses, “he cannot plow by reason of the cold, so at harvest he looks but finds nothing.”  He can’t go to work today, because his ride didn’t show up...  Some people always have excuses.  They don’t realize – the ball is always in your court.  Communication of any delays – is not their job, it’s yours.  Because if they fail, you fail.  So saying someone dropped the ball, doesn’t excuse you from delivering what is required of you, or what you committed to.  Watch the ball – no matter whose court it’s in.  God said He would give the Holy Spirit to show you things to come.  Ask Him, and be sure you communicate with everyone who has anything to do with you delivering on your expectations.  Excellence is proactive, not passive.  No passive person has ever been excellent.  And the Spirit of Christ is the spirit of excellence.  Make the phone call, find out how they are doing, ask if there is anything you can do to help them (even though they might be helping you).  If they ran into some obstacles, maybe you can remove one for them… Value and appreciate them, see if you can help them deliver the ball in their court, so you can deliver what you are responsible for.    It’s just good habit, and good business, help them succeed, value and appreciate those who help you, and help others every chance God gives you, even if you don’t directly gain from it.  You need to understand - your needs are not their priority.  Honor them, thank them, compensate them, but make sure you know that what you depend on from others, they are on track to fulfilling.  Find out early, so you can make other arrangements to be faithful to what you are called to do.  That’s excellence.  A simple life lesson to remember.  The ball is always in your court, even when it’s not.  Ask God, He’ll help you.  Communicate early, not late.  Love and honor always, thank them and reward them, so they and you can both succeed in serving God and others with excellence.   
 
Love you all,
dad