Month: September 2014

Navigation System

Jesus, prayer, leads, inspirationI’ve just returned from a conference in another city. This is a city I don’t normally drive in so didn’t know my way around. While there I had to find my way to three destinations, all in different parts of the city. This was accomplished with the help of a navigation system.

I had gone online and printed out directions, but since I was traveling alone it was difficult to read them while driving. The navigation system took much of the stress out of driving in an unfamiliar area. In a calm, clear voice, it would let me know when my turn was coming up and which way I would be turning. All I had to do was enter my destination into the system and it took care of the rest for me.

On my drive home I reflected on this navigation system and realized that I have a constant one in my life. Jesus not only guides me, he knows the destination before I do. My role in this is to stay tuned into him and to follow the directions he gives me. By coming to him frequently in prayer he will lead me in the best route from my life. He constantly watches over me so I know that even if I make a wrong turn, he will navigate me safely back to where I need to be.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 NLT

Fruit Flies

God, forgiveness, inspirationMy husband and I love the fresh fruit available at this time of year and had both peaches and plums in fruit bowls on the kitchen counter. Within days our kitchen was teeming with fruit flies. “Where did they come from,” we asked? It seems they had appeared out of nowhere.

I decided to learn a little about these insects and found out that they can detect the smell of ripe produce from quite a distance away. They are so tiny that they can get into the house through window screens or crevices around windows or doors. When they want in, they’ll find a way. Once inside they start to reproduce and before we know it we have an infestation of fruit flies.

This reminds me of things that I have let into my life that aren’t good for me. They enter when my defenses are down. Since they start out as little things they can sneak in without me even realizing it. Then they multiply and soon my life is teeming with attitudes and actions that are not pleasant. Once they get a hold of me it isn’t easy to get rid of them.

On my own I can’t keep the negative things out of my life or eliminate them once they have become an infestation. I’m thankful that when I bring everything to God, he forgives me and rids me of the wrong I’ve done. The closer I stay to him, the less chance there is of these things becoming problematic again.

God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. 1 John 1:9 GWT

Taking Time

God, rest, peaceful, natureIt was one of the last official days of summer. My husband and I both had many things to do that day. Instead, we decided to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather while we could.

Our trailer is only an hour away so we made our escape and headed to it. After a quick lunch we went for a long walk along the shore of the lake and through the trees. The sun warmed our backs as we enjoyed the stillness and the variety of bird songs. It was very peaceful and I stopped several times to capture the beautiful surroundings with my camera.

Other commitments called, not allowing us to spend the night in our little piece of paradise. However, the few hours we enjoyed away renewed us. We headed home better equipped to step back into our busy lives.

Taking the time to rest with God is biblical. This is the example we followed as we walked and talked with God in the late summer sunshine. I understand what the psalmist meant when he said:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Psalms 23:1-3 NLT

Idling

rest, inspiration, Jesus,A friend and I were making the long drive from Calgary to Vancouver. We enjoyed the majestic mountain scenery and lively conversation. We also encountered several areas of road construction which slowed us down. In one of these areas we idled for 30 minutes, waiting for the backlog of traffic on the one open lane to clear, so we could take our turn. We had been moving again for mere minutes when I spotted a sign that struck me as very amusing. It said “BC is Idle Free”.

The sign was there prior to the road construction but its placement now in the middle of this work zone, where we had no choice but to idle, struck me as very ironic. It also made me think of times in my life when my schedule was so full that I longed to be idle for a while.

When I stopped to think about it, I realized that what I needed was rest, not idleness. Rest recharges and rejuvenated. Idleness wastes time.

The Bible promotes rest. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to rest. In Proverbs, we are also told us that idleness and a productive life don’t go hand in hand. If I want the life God has planned for me, there will be no idling allowed.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NLT

Choices

inspiration, Jesus, Bible
image from depositphotos.com
While my husband and I were driving I checked the weather app on my phone. Curious as to what the temperature gauge in the car was showing, I asked Brian. When he told me I replied, “That’s two degrees warmer than what my phone showed. I like that one better.” In his wisdom, Brian asked, “Is that what you do when faced with two options; take the one you like best?” I asked, “Wouldn’t you?” He then proceeded to tell me that he would take the one that was most accurate.

His words sparked an interesting discussion. It isn’t always easy to determine which is the most accurate. Research is required in many cases. I can’t always rely on popular opinion. The best two out of three isn’t necessarily the way I should make a decision!

If I were to be perfectly honest, there have been many times when I have chosen the option that suited me best. This seems to be the way of human nature, to look after our own interests first. That is one of the ways that I know Jesus was more than just a good man. The Son of God laid his own life aside for the good of all those who follow Him.

When I am faced with the choice to put my trust in Jesus or take my life on my own terms, the decision is easy for me. All of the research points to the accuracy of the Bible. By aligning myself with this truth, the choices I make will not be based on my selfish desires, but those of the common good. These are the accurate choices that the Lord guides me to make.

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Proverbs 3:5-6 GNT

Imperfections

shells, God, photos,No matter how hard I try, I always seem to write on an angle. It has also been pointed out to me that I don’t hold a camera straight when I take a picture. More than once I wrote in the sand, dotted the i’s with shells and took a picture. The glare of the sun made it difficult to see what the picture would be like before I took it.

This picture was important to me as it was something I wanted to share. My efforts were not what I’d hoped for and I was disappointed. Wondering if there would be another opportunity, I sensed God telling me not to worry. He is not looking for perfection from me.

The two words I was writing were inspire and inspiration. For reasons I will never understand, God has chosen to inspire me and has given me the task of passing this inspiration on to others. This is nothing I earned or deserved. Many times I have been uncertain about sharing my thoughts. The words often don’t seem polished enough to pass on.

What I have learned, is that God wants me to share what he has put on my heart. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just authentic. I have heard that God does not call the qualified; he calls the willing and then qualifies them. I am living proof of this. When I allow him to use my imperfections, it inspires others that he will do the same for them.

But he said to me, “My grace is made sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Mushrooms

contasct, God, attractive lifeAs a friend and I were walking along a path in the woods, we noticed a few mushrooms growing nearby. Once we started looking for them, many more of varying sizes and shapes were seen.

My friend leaned closer to take a picture of one of the larger mushrooms. Wanting an unobstructed shot, she carefully moved a few blades of grass that were resting along the top of it. I was surprised to see the marks that the grass left in the surface of the mushroom. The light contact with the grass had left an impression which had changed the mushroom’s appearance.

This made me think about things that I come in contact with in my life. Everything has the power to leave a permanent impression. It doesn’t have to be something large to alter the way others view me.

Knowing this, I need to be aware of the influences in my life. Is it the positive or negative that will leave the impression? The more time I spend with God, the more His impression will be seen in me. His impression is what will make my life attractive to others.

Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants – what is good, pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 GWT

Weeds

attractive, distraction, prayer, JesusThree of us were walking along a pathway. One, a visitor to the area, pointed to a large white flower that resembled a lily. “That’s a pretty flower,” she said, “what is it?” The other friend, a native of the area, quickly answered, “That’s not a flower, it’s a terrible weed.” She then went on to explain that the vine producing this lovely bloom was deadly to other plants around it. As the vine grew, it wrapped itself around other vegetation nearby, eventually choking the life out of any other plants. My first friend replied, “Well, I think it’s pretty anyway.”

This conversation made me think of my life. There have been things I allowed into my life because they looked good on the surface. How could it be bad when it looked so attractive? Once allowed to take root, the blossom distracted me from the fact that it was slowly choking the good and positive things in my life. This happened so gradually that I was completely unaware. One day I realized that I was ensnared in a way I had never thought possible.

Fighting to be free was not easy, nor was it a onetime fix. Temptation is always there and is usually clothed in something attractive so I won’t recognize it. The safest thing for me to do is to pray about every situation. Jesus sees the whole picture and can guide me safely through the dangers.

Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Luke 7:7 NIV

Cowboy Boots

inspiration, sizeRecently I purchased my first pair of cowboy boots. My husband and I had talked many times about getting some of these western boots. The push needed to actually shop for them came when we were invited to a Western theme wedding.

One thing I quickly learned was to disregard everything I knew about the size I would need. These boots didn’t fit the same as any other footwear I had ever had. Both my husband and I purchased boots one full size smaller than our regular sizes. Without guidance from a knowledgable person, neither of us would have thought to try on something so different from our usual size.

We talked about this and wondered if there was a life lesson here. Opportunities sometimes come that I automatically disregard because I don’t think they’re the right fit for me. Sometimes it seems like things are too big for me to handle. Other times it doesn’t seem that they are big enough. If something looks too limiting I don’t want to even try it.

What I need to remember is that with God’s guidance any circumstance can be made the right fit for me. He may stretch me in ways I never thought possible. He may also ask me to become smaller in order to serve Him. He is the one that sees the entire picture and will mold me to fit the plan He has for me.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares The Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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