The Come-Back Cards!

The St. Louis Cardinals are the 2011 Baseball World Champions!

If you have not followed the Cardinals throughout the end of the regular season and into the post-season, you would not know that the Cardinals were not SUPPOSED to be in the playoffs.  They were not SUPPOSED to be in the World Series... and they certainly were not SUPPOSED to win.

Two months ago, as their regular season was coming to a close, the Cardinals were 10.5 games behind the Wild Card leader.  There was NO WAY they were supposed to make the playoffs.  For the Cardinals to make the playoffs, the Cardinals had to win nearly every game in September and the Atlanta Braves had to lose nearly every game in September... and that's exactly what happened.



There are several things that come to mind as I celebrate with this hard-working ball club.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21

But, I also remember:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize."
1 Corinthians 9:24

"Rejoice with those who rejoice..."
Romans 12:15

It is important to remember that God can and does use all things.  Who knows what kind of ministry he has planned for some of these Cardinals that the world did not know before this World Series?  It excites me what God can do and does do through things that humans enjoy -- like sports, like athletes, like come-back stories.

During the post-game show, in reflecting on how far the Cardinals have come, an announcer said these words:

"I don't know what destiny is, but I think I just watched it."

The journey is just beginning for some of these Cardinal players.  Please lift them in prayer to open themselves to God's purpose for this win; for the ways God can use this story to change hearts and save lives; and for the faith and walks of the players themselves.