Thankful for Direction

Need direction today? Wondering which way to go, which decisions to make?

We learned early on to ask people if they have GPS when they are coming for a visit. After they answer that question with yes, we follow it with one simple instruction. Take exit 22. You see GPS would have them take exit 20 and there’s no way you can get here from there.

It amazes me how many times in my life I have felt that way. There’s no way I can get there from here. Personal growth. Marriage. Parenting. Managing a business. Graphic design (computer skills). Happiness. Joy. Peace. Trust.

“Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. 25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:24-27 AMP

God has practical instruction for each day. We just need to be willing to listen and obey!

Sitting here this morning while it’s still dark and feeling the cool of the fall air, I am enjoying the warmth of a good cup of coffee and seeking the Father for the day’s direction, I am very thankful.

Thankful that my Father is still in control; He hasn’t fallen off His throne and His omniscience is superior to the knowledge of the world’s wisest men and His omnipresence penetrates to the farthest reaches of the universe.

With everything He has before Him this day the Father has time for me. He wants to show me the best direction and bring me to a place of rest.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too. 28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:27-29 CEV

Jesus has taken the time to tell us about the Father and not only that, Jesus made a way for us to be adopted by the Father so that we can call Him “Abba Father” (Papa or Daddy). We can experience firsthand His love and compassion. I don’t have to have all the answers and I don’t have to learn by “hard knocks”. I can trust the Father and learn from Him.

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Enjoy your day. Let the Father lead. He knows the right direction and there we will find rest!

Just One Sip

Just imagine…We and some of our friends go to a wedding. Good music, good food, lots of people and a few dignitaries. We are enjoying the reception when we overhear our friend’s mother talking to him.

She tells him that the caterer has run out of wine. He can’t allow the bridegroom to be embarrassed at his own wedding by having people find out the wine is gone. “What do you want me to do Mom?”

His mother does what any mother would do – she basically ignores his statement and turns to the waiters and tells them to do whatever he says. Who is this guy and what will he do? Will he give them money to go buy some more wine or send them to his own home to get a supply of wine he has there? What?

We really haven’t known this man very long but we heard from a trusted friend that he is someone special. We’ve been told that this man is going to change the world. We’ve spent some time with him but this relationship is so new that we wonder what he’s going to do.
Our new friend turns to the wait staff and tells them to take the six large water pots and fill them with water. Simple enough – ok. Then he tells them to fill a dipper from one of the pots and give it to the wedding planner.

WHAT?

We see the apprehension from the wait staff – “I’m not taking that to the planner. I’m not either. Here you take it – you’re the newest and we have seniority.” Fast forward – as the attendant takes the dipper to the wedding host, knees knocking, the planner takes a drink and is amazed at the quality of the wine.

There’s a surprising look on the waiter’s face – ours too for that matter. Gasp! When did the water become wine? Was it when they filled the water pots or was it when they dipped it out or maybe it didn’t change until the governor took a sip? We have no answers.

Scripture tells us this was Jesus’ first miracle. I really think it must have happened something like that. If we had already seen Jesus heal some people, cast out a few demons and even multiply the loaves and fish then I’m sure it would have been easier to just blindly do what he said. But this was the first miracle. How would the governor of the reception react if all the attendant took him was a cup of water? We often over spiritualize the events of the Bible but these were real people at a real wedding!

“Jesus and His followers were asked to come to the wedding. When the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what is that to you and to Me. It is not time for Me to work yet.” His mother said to the helpers, “Do whatever He says.”…Six stone water jars were there. Each one held about one-half barrel of water… Jesus said to the helpers, “Fill the jars with water.” They filled them to the top. Then He said, “Take some out and give it to the head man who is caring for the people.” They took some to him. The head man tasted the water that had become wine. He did not know where it came from but the helpers who took it to him knew…11 This was the first powerful work Jesus did. It was done in Cana of Galilee where He showed His power. His followers put their trust in Him.” John 2:1-11 NLV

Image we were there. Jesus’ instruction to the wait staff was simple. What simple thing has Jesus told us to do. Are we struggling with it? Let’s walk in the shoes of the waiters. Our obedience could be life changing.

Do whatever He says. Our miracle is waiting!

An Empty Page

Each morning I sit with my laptop and before me on the screen is an empty page. My heart’s prayer is “Lord let me fill it with Your words. I want to make an impact for you”.

This morning was different, I sat here for the longest time wondering what to write or if I should write at all. Then I realized that ‘s exactly what the Lord wants us to do – He wants us to sit each day with an empty page and ask Him to fill it.

People constantly sought Jesus out. Most of them were wanting some kind of a miracle; healing, deliverance from demonic oppression, or help with an impossible life situation but others were wanting to criticize and entrap Him. He needed to know what the Father wanted Him to do each day so He would rise early and spend time in prayer.

“The next morning Jesus woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.” Mark 1:35 ERV

He offered the Father the blank page of His day and asked Him to fill it. There were times when Jesus’ disciples would say we should go here or there and Jesus would respond with a no or not yet. It’s important that we know which way the Father wants us to go.

“If you wander from the right path, either to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “You should go this way. Here is the right way.” Isaiah 30:21 ERV

A blank page can be intimidating or it can be exhilarating. If we feel that we need to fill the page on our own, without help or direction, we might become timid or immobile. But when we know that we can trust God to give us insight and instruction it brings a new excitement to what otherwise could be ordinary.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful,  we would have been destroyed. 23 The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, ‘The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!’” Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

When we start our day by bringing the Lord our empty page to fill we are in for an exciting and glorious day!

Travel Carefree Hwy

There is a town in Arizona named Carefree. Stop and think about that for a moment. People don’t think about the meaning in names or words much anymore but words are containers filled with meaning.

Care free. Free from worry, anxiety or care.

I woke up to a beautiful morning. Last night’s rain has left the air clean and fresh. In fact, I slept in. I think it may have been the soothing sound of the rain gently falling on the sky light in the next room. It was and is so refreshing.

However, I do not delude myself; some of you woke this morning weighed down with cares that seem overwhelming. Worries that plagued your sleep. Anxieties that gripped your heart and left you unsure that you even wanted to face the day.

“Please hurry, Lord, and answer my prayer. I feel hopeless. Don’t turn away and leave me here to die. 8 Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. 9 Please rescue me from my enemies, Lord! I come to you for safety. 10 You are my God. Show me what you want me to do and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. 11 Be true to your name, Lord, and keep my life safe. Use your saving power to protect me from trouble. 12 I am your servant. Show how much you love me by destroying my enemies.” Psalm 143:7-12 CEV

The best way to live in Carefree is to let the Lord guide you, He will give you hope, safety and peace. He is always there to protect us.

We can trust Him to be our strength and our peace. And when we hear the Lord speak to us from His word we need to be obedient. He will not lead us astray. He is faithful!

“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment.Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord  and stay away from evil.This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong.” Proverbs 3:5-8 CEV

Trust the Lord today; He will direct you down the road to “carefree”.