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May 16, 2001 -- Issue #374
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AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE 
- Part 6

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me
 and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15

WE WILL SERVE THE LORD...BECAUSE HE'S A GREAT COACH!

Well, it's that time again. 

Time to head out to the baseball field and watch the youngsters play teeball. 

Teeball is kids' first experience with organized baseball...

...it's also a memorable experience for those who watch it.

Take the game between the "A's" and the "Phillies". A little boy stepped up to the plate and promptly hit the ball. His coach encouraged him to "Run!" And so he did.

Only one problem. He started running towards the wrong base. Then, he got mixed up and began running in a different direction. Now, he was really confused. You could see it on his face. All the while, the coach was encouraging him to run in the right direction. In fact, he was pointing towards the right base and doing everything possible to get the little guy's attention.

In all of the confusion, the little boy tripped and fell down, where he was immediately tagged out. He headed back to the dugout dejected.

I've got to hand it to that coach. He didn't lose his patience or yell out, "You blew it" when the boy was tagged out. He didn't say, "We've went over this before, why didn't you do what you were supposed to do?" No sir, this guy simply dusted the boy off and said with a smile, "You'll get 'em next time. I'll point you in the right direction and you just go the way my finger is pointing."

You know, many, many, many times in my Christian life I have felt like that little boy...

...misdirected. Confused. Not knowing which way to turn next.

I've ran in the wrong direction and gotten mixed up over and over again. Yep, I've tripped and fallen down and gotten myself dirty.

And I've hung my head in dejection as I headed back to my spiritual dugout.

But, my friend, I've got this Coach. Wow, He's a great Coach. He is unbelievable. He never loses His patience with me. He never yells out, "You blew it again, Jimmy!" Never has He belittled me and jeered, "We've went over this before, why didn't you do what you were supposed to?" No, my Coach is much different than that. My Coach dusts me off when I fall and get dirty. My Coach encourages me and cheers me on.

In fact, I can almost hear Him say, "You'll get 'em next time. I'll point you in the right direction and you just go the way my finger is pointing."

Christian, are you feeling a bit confused and mixed up? Have you stumbled in your walk with the Lord? Are your garments a bit dirty today? Don't hang your head...

...instead lift it up and look towards the sky.

If you do, I'd imagine you can see, between the clouds, the finger of God pointing you in the right direction. See it? Now, listen closely to His words...

..."you just go the way my finger is pointing."

It's not teeball, it's the Christian life...

...and it's your turn to step up to the plate.  

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!

Copyright © 2002 Jimmy D. Brown. All rights reserved.