~Daily Devotion 9th~

THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME

Story Author: Unknown

1/9/2012

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.

The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love.'
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because "Love never fails."

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because, Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace.

Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace.

Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence . . . for a home run!

The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself.

Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home:

For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephestians 2:8-9

Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. "before my Father."

I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I am nothing, but with him: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."Phil 4:13

Blessings, Love and Prayers,

Pastor Pat Aman

Also, please know that: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with Joy. Philippians 1: 3-4

Church was wonderful this morning. God poured His spirit out to everyone. But as I think about it, how many opened their vessel, and let the spirit pour in on them. Fill them up and running over. There are a lot of people who know of Jesus, but how many truly can say, He is my personal Savior, in Him is who I believe.

(Isaiah 9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

John 3 tells us that Nicodemus first came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, a questioner: "Who are you really? How can a man be born again?" Jesus answered his questions, and raised more, but John does not say that Nicodemus believed.

Perhaps he mulled the questions and answers over, for John 7 tells us he defended Jesus when other Pharisees accused him; "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing, and learning what he does?" But John still does not say he believed.

Then, unexpectedly, John 19 shows Nicodemus performing an act of great faith. When Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross, Nicodemus came with expensive spices and helped anoint the body for burial. According to Hebrew law, this made him unclean... he could not celebrate Passover. Further, it publicly identified him with Jesus, when even the disciples had fled.

I wonder when Nicodemus decided to believe in Jesus; in a blinding moment, or by a slow process of growth? John's way of telling the story of Nicodemus shows me that when we first believe is not what really matters. What matters is that we, like Nicodemus, finally arrive at Jesus, to offer our wealth, our reputation and our service. That is when we finally, really and truly believe in Him. When we give him our all. In other words, we just do not know the name of Jesus, but experience Jesus in our hearts.

There are a lot of people who know of Jesus, but they truly do not know Him as their personal Savior.

Father God, I Praise Your Holy Name. I thank you that you loved me enough to die on the cross for me. I thank you for saving my soul. All that I have, I give to use to for your service. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen and Amen