His Game Plan is Perfect

 My precious Daddy died almost 30 years ago, yet memories of my 6 foot 4 inch hero are perfectly clear.  His love and patience fill my mind and heart.

 Daddy coached the church softball team, and because I was the coach’s daughter, I was the official scorekeeper.  During those hours in the dugout I watched firsthand as my Daddy demonstrated the tenderness of Jesus.  When tempers would occasionally flare,  Daddy took players aside and explained the responsibility they assumed by wearing a uniform with the church name displayed.  That was the beginning of my understanding of 2 Corinthians 3:2.  We are letters read by all men.

 Daddy modeled for me appropriate responses to my heavenly Father.  He insisted that I be very detailed with the scorebook and took time to teach me the rules of the game.  He coached me with tenderness and consistency through each phase of life, and because he believed in me, I was confident I could do anything.

 My heavenly Father coaches me daily. When I feel pulled in many directions, I like to get away to a quiet spot and talk to Him.  Answers don’t always come quickly, but as I walk in the confidence of His love, I find that His game plan is perfect.  I can live with confidence in who I am in Christ.  I know Jesus has everything in control.

 Perhaps you did not have a father who modeled Christ’s love.  Your heavenly Father is eager to love and nurture you.  Spending time reading God’s Word will reveal His love letters to you.

 I like the way The Message describes Paul’s words to believers in Corinth.

 2 Corinthians  3:1-3

Does it sound like we're patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we're not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it — not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives — and we publish it.

(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

A Growing Faith

Matthew 17:19-20

19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"

20 "You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." 

Have you heard someone refer to "growing faith?"  Is it possible to arrive at a place where faith is completely mature and the growing cycle complete?  I know I haven't arrived at full spiritual maturity, but I do want my faith to increase. 

I sat this morning looking out the window and praying, asking the Lord for faith enough to trust Him to fulfill His purpose in my life and allow me to experience real growth in my spiritual maturity.  When I stopped praying I glanced around the back yard and found myself a little overwhelmed by all the work that needs to be done. We have been in our home a year and there has been so much work to do inside, the yard had to take second priority.  It is also too hot to work outside in the summer heat.

When we purchased our home it came with seven fruit trees.  Unfortunately the previous owners had not fed or adequately watered the trees.  Without proper care they were not producing fruit.  We have fed and watered the trees and they are coming back to life.  Interesting isn't it, struggling to produce fruit, but without proper care the end product was less than desirable.

I want the fruit of my life to be pleasing to God, and I know without constant attention to God's Word and sensitivity to His spirit my faith cannot grow and I will not produce pleasing fruit.  If Jesus told his disciples they didn't have enough faith, I'm certain He would want my faith to grow.

Share my prayer that we will cultivate our faith and grow fruit that reflects His beauty.

Lovingly,

Brenda