FOLLOW THE BLUEPRINT

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

In the construction world, nothing good is built without a blueprint. The necessity of a plan is a universally accepted assertion that you'd have to be nutty not to follow. Any time there is a problem or question, builders examine the blueprints. Every time there's an uncertainty or a perplexity, every time there's a question about what to do next, they go back to the blueprints.

Interestingly, though, the principle is not just true in the construction world but also in life. You can't build your finances without a blueprint. You can't build your family or your future or your faith without a blueprint.

It's amazing to me how professionals in the construction trades would never try to build anything of value without a blueprint, but all the time people try to slap together a sort of life without a pattern or a plan. Sadly, even a lot of Christians don't get the importance of operating from God's blueprint. God Himself authored all the manufacturer's specifications for our happiness. He knows how we're each put together; He knows how we work. He knows what will make us each happy and or miserable. He knows what will satisfy and give us joy. He wrote the blueprint for our complete happiness.

Just in case you're wondering, it's not too late to follow God's blueprint. Your life could be better. Some of the things you've dreamed about can still be yours. You don't have to be trapped in this cycle of failing and falling and fumbling all the time. You can rise up and be who God wants you to be.

Get alone, open God's Word, and start to read, the Scripture will wash over your mind. It will clean up your faulty thinking, set your feet on a rock, and send you out in a good direction. When I get disappointed with people and I get disillusioned about the way situations unfold, and frustrated with my own failures and weaknesses, I go back to God's Word.

• God's Word washes my mind.
• God's Word renews my spirit.
• God's Word cleanses my heart.
• God's Word is the blueprint for my life's direction.

Thank You for Your Word, Lord. Thank You for giving me "everything I need for life and godliness,"(2 Peter 1:4). Call me back to following it every day of my life. Amen.

• What area of my life comes to mind as needing blueprint correction? What's the first step I need to take?
• Has there ever been a time I was obedient to the blueprint and regretted it? Did my own thing and was sorry? When?

~ Dr. James MacDonald

For more from James MacDonald on "igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of the truth," visit Walkintheword.com.

The Mitchell Swaback Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the first Torch Scholarship Award.  This award was created in conjunction with the Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center and is awarded to two high school students at The Harvest Christian Academy.  Students are encouraged to apply for the scholarship which is based on their faith, character and athletics.  Each student applying for the scholarship fills out a complete application that includes essays and an interview by a three person committee selected by MSF.  Each student will receive a full scholarship to Harvest Christian Academy for the coming school year.

Congratulations to Alana Alston and Connor Kearns for being this year's recipients of The Torch Award.

Please read what Alana and Connor have to say about receiving their award.

To: The Mitchell Swaback Foundation

I would like to say thank you for the Scholarship to Harvest Christian Academy. I can tell you that this is an answer to prayer and I'm overwhelmed with the honor. This is truly an example of God's timing being perfect, I would not have been able to attend Harvest this year without this award. Praise God in all things large and small!!!. This is a huge honor and it will enable me to continue my Christian education and grow with my friends at the school. I also look forward to the upcoming Basketball season, this is my favorite sport, and the growth we will have on the court, as we compete under the banner of Christ and HCA.

Mr. and Mrs. Swaback, I am excited to be carrying on Mitch's legacy of helping people and being an athlete that shows Christ on and off the court. Once again I want to say thank you for the blessing, honor and privilege of receiving the first Mitchell Swaback Foundation Torch award.

In His Hands,
Alana Alston

Thank you very much for awarding me the Mitchell Swaback Foundation Scholarship. It has been a real answer to my prayers, and a true blessing. God is so good! He continues to work in my life every day. The Lord has been teaching me discipline, which I plan on using during the school year. Harvest Christian Academy has taught me academics, sports, and most importantly about God's word and my walk with Christ. The sermons that the teachers prepare and the different perspectives that my bible teacher explains to us about God's word are truly inspiring. I will try to use my scholarship faithfully. My family and I are grateful, and we appreciate the sacrifice that you are making. I pray that I will honor Mitchell's memory with a life that honors the Lord. Once again I thank you. I can relate to how much you miss him because last month my grandmother passed away. I think it is great that you are using this scholarship program as a way to remember him.

Colossians 2:6-7: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Sincerely,
Connor Kearns

Thursday 3/11/2004

Today God taught me about sin.  We can do something that causes us to sin with the mindset that we are Christians and that God will forgive us anyway.  We need to be careful about how we handle and treat our sins.  Yes, we all sin in fact we sin everyday.  If you have the attitude that I can sin and ask for forgiveness right away that’s not how we’re suppose to live.  It is not honoring to God.  Each day we need to become more Christ like and work to keep sin out of our lives.  When we are tempted by sin we need to focus on Him.

Mitch spent the last few months of his life not only living his life for the Lord but putting his thoughts in his journal everyday. How do we want to live our lives? Why don't we all try something radical today for the Lord!

> Visit Mitch's Story on our website

If you missed our Special Edition E-Newsletter on August 14th, please visit http://www.mitchellswabackfoundation.org/edevotional/2008/08/14/ to read a letter from Bob and Gaye Swaback as they remember Mitch on the fourth anniversary of his passing.

Would you like to share your thoughts about the Mitchell Swaback Foundation?

Feel free to submit your comments or simply read what others have shared regarding Mitch and the Mitchell Swaback Foundation. Your words inspire us and others as we continue our mission to impact individuals, organizations and families as Mitch has done so many times.

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