You messed up. You screwed up. You are a failure! How often have you and I had those words thrown at us? How often have you and I thought those words about ourselves? Those words can steal our joy and defeat our ministry. Jesus Christ has a solution! Jesus Christ gives you and me the victory!

Jesus has a good purpose for you and me. He designed our physical attributes, developed our personalities, orchestrated our meaningful experiences and called us to Himself. He placed us in a specific family, in a specific geographical location and He calls us unto Himself. Jesus makes no mistakes.

Paul’s information about Jesus

Ephesians 1:⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; ⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; ⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: ¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: ¹²That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

What does it mean to you to have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins?

How rich is Jesus’grace?

What does it mean to you that He works all things after the counsel of His own will?

Jesus makes no mistakes. He is our Shepherd. He protects us, provides for us, directs us and corrects us.

So let’s learn from each experience He gives us and resolve to keep on keeping on!

Paul provides an answer for our accusers

Romans 8:²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ³³Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. ³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Can you believe God is able to work your mistakes for good?

How can you and I condemn ourselves when God justifies us?

What does it mean to you that absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God?

Let’s look at your most recent mistake.

What did you do wrong?

Why did you do wrong?

What role did your emotions play in your mistake?

What role did interaction with others play in your mistake?

What did you learn about Jesus from your mistake?

What do you resolve to do about your mistake?

Do you know this song?

HE’S STILL WORKING ON ME By: Joel Hemphill

CHORUS:

He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.

1. There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
   Don’t judge her yet, there’s an unfinished part.
   But I’ll be perfect just according to His plan
   Fashioned by the Master’s loving hands.

CHORUS:

2. In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
   Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
   He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
   Remember He’s the Potter, I’m the clay.

CHORUS:

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti