Voices….

Last night I had the opportunity to go watch my 5 year old cousin play t-ball. If you are parents of small children who have come up through the sports arena you have a good visual of what that looks like. But, let me stir your memory again. As the team takes the field the coach gently guides and points the kids in the direction of the thing called a base and or position to play. While the coach is helping the first baseman to his base, the shortstop has already begun to dig and compose a pretty good dirt pile, which elicits a cry from a parent in the stands, “quit playing in the dirt!” which cause all the kids that were playing in the dirt to come to attention. Finally, everyone is in position. Again, from the stands, “pay attention”, “keep your eye on the ball”! And the game begins. The batter beats the rubber t-ball holder to death before finally hitting the ball, which goes maybe 5 yards. The batting team is yelling, “Run!” to which the batter and some of the fielding team respond. Honestly, it is hysterical!!! And might I add that only in t-ball can a player respond to a parent’s cry of, “Do you need to go to the bathroom” and have a coach respond with “Go to the bathroom, that is more important”! 

Well, as I sit and watch the kids be kids and the parents constantly yelling at the kids about what he or she should or should not be doing, the person who caught my attention the most in all the funny moments was the coach of my little cousin’s team. He was like a gentle giant next to the kids. He never got frustrated with the parents and all the coaching from the stands, the bathroom trips, the funny moments, etc. I jokingly asked him as he came into the dugout during one inning if he realized he had all these assistant coaches on board. He grinned and carried on with the game.

I like to muse at the idea that God looks down on us some days as if He is watching a 5 year old t-ball game. Watching us as we grow in our likeness of Him through all our playing in the dirt, bathroom breaks, running in all directions, and listening to so many voices from the stands. And like that coach, “the gentle giant,” He grins and carries on with molding us into the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28-35 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

The Message translation may be the easier to read….

Romans 8:28-35 (MSG)

 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So, what do you think?

With God on our side like this, how can we lose.  If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?  Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

Love you all,

His,

Vickie

P.S. We are praying through continuing our trip to Nepal in the fall. Please join us as we make decision guided by His counsel.