“Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[” Ephesians 6:23-24
I was at the t-ball game last week and my grandson Miles is 6 and this year the coach throws 3 pitches to a batter and if they don’t get a hit, the ball goes on the holder and they hit from there. Miles really pounded the cover off of the second pitch in his second at bat and the ball sailed clear over the infielders and into the outfield and I complimented him on that great hit. He replied “thanks papa, but I didn’t get a home run.” In t-ball, the last batter in the batting order hits the ball and they get to run around all the bases and their side is done batting. The last batter could trickle a ground ball to the pitcher and it would be a called a home run. Many times we are like that and we want to be the one to hit the home run and have people cheering and shouting our name as we run the bases; look at me! Take a look at this child’s photo for a moment. If you were to put a quarter into an envelope and mail it to Trinity/HOPE you just hit a home run in this child’s life. It doesn’t matter how many quarters or dollar bills or checks you put in that envelope; it still a home run. And the credit for your home run is for our Creator, and not for us because we really don’t need to keep track of our hits as he keeps smiling at the victories that we are accomplishing through Him; and this child is a victory for Him. Keep your eye on the ball! I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Take my life and let it be’ that were written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all, for Thee.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay