Promise for Today - Where to?

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

Yesterday, I had to make a trip into downtown Houston. I hate driving down there, and it's worse now with construction on every road in Midtown. I used Waze, my trusted GPS, but thank God I had a friend with me who went to court reporting school in that area when she was younger; otherwise, I might still be caught in the surfeit of detours, opposite directional arrows, and road-closed signs. 

When my youngest granddaughter was little, we used to make up songs on how to get somewhere by singing about all the landmarks along the way. All the while, teaching her how to get to my house and back to hers.  It's important to know the way home.

Tonight, I felt like the Lord was reminding me that we're on our way to His house. Our heavenly home. Do we know the right way? Are we following His landmarks? Are we making sure to not lose our way?!?

God gives us His promise a few verses further down in Psalm 25:8-10. From The Message - "God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions."

We're on our way to His house. Are we going the right way?

Prayer:

Father,
            Show us the right path, O Lord; point out the road for us to follow. We want to be with You in Your house. Correct us and lead us in the paths of Your righteousness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Remembering to Rebuild the Landmarks

But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT

My Pastor taught about it today - I am struck by the importance of passing down to the generations what God has done. I am reminded of how precious memories become when memories of someone are all we have left. We tell ourselves we'll never forget, but we do.

We rarely build physical landmarks to remind us of what God did "in that place on that day." But the older I get, the more I think about who will tell the stories of what God has done for us. It's important for our children to know. It's more important for our grandchildren to know. It's most important that we remember and give God the honor and praise that's due to Him!

I have begun to ask the Holy Spirit to bring all things to my remembrance so that I may testify of God's faithfulness to me, to my children and grandchildren. I want to write them down and put them in a binder for easy access to all the generations of my family. I want my heavenly Father to get His proper due and I want the generations to know of His wondrous works in the history of their lives. We must remember the times...

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray Your Word* - Take us by the hand. Lead us down the path of Your Truths. Mark the milestones of Your mercy and love, God, and rebuild the ancient landmarks in our lives. Let Your Name and faithfulness be glorified in our generations. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

*Psalm 25:6 The Message

Where Are You?

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT

Have you ever been lost? Somehow, you got turned around and couldn't remember how you got there? Or you remember exactly how you got there, and you know where you're going, but you forgot just one of the directions - zigged when you should have zagged - so you think, "I have to go back to where I started..."  And you head back. Oh yeah, there's the library. Okay, there's the park. Un hunh, that's the post office. Now, you remember you need to go turn there. And we take note of the landmarks that identify the direction we need to go.

Sometimes, in our Christian walk, we zig when we should have zagged. We get turned around. We wind up in some deep water and are not sure how to get out. I encourage you to look for your landmarks to get your bearings.

See that? That's where God saw my desperation and revealed Himself as my Counselor, my Comforter. Oh yeah - over there is when I was falsely accused and He showed up as my Advocate. And there's the place where I stumbled and fell because I wasn't walking in His footsteps, and I was face down in the muck, head down...ashamed, then He showed up according to Psalm 3:3 and lifted my head. Oh, yeah, I remember now.

Look! There in the distance. There's the Cross. That's my starting place. I know exactly where I am now. I just have to follow the path He set before me to get where I'm supposed to go. No, don't worry about it - there are rest areas strategically placed along the way. Great places to eat and get re-fueled. Wait till you see where we're going!

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for the landmarks in our lives that help to guide us to You and back to You when we can't seem to find our way. You are a truly awesome God and we worship You! Please give us the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our lights burning so we can find home. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Single Track with Garbage

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT

Long distance trail horses do much better on a trail that is termed a "single track with garbage" than they do on an established wide trail or open field. (Obviously, single track is one horse passes at a time; garbage means lots of brush, rock, etc.) I thought that sounded illogical until it was explained that an established wide trail or open field can be a total distraction for the horse. Lots of things to look at and the horse gets competitive with the other animals. In addition, there is very little concern on the horse's part for how he steps because there doesn't appear to be any danger.

On a single track with garbage, the horse is very focused and carefully picks its steps. There are usually no distractions - or at least, very few. The horse is highly unlikely to break and run and is extremely responsive to the rider's slightest touch of instruction... and it was right there that God tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention.

Now, I don't know about you, but there are times, (even though I know I'm NOT) it feels as though I'm walking alone. I reiterate - I know I'm not alone, but sometimes, I can't see a clear path in front of me. I don't see the water source ahead. At times, the way is so close that it's hard to see at all. And I have to watch every step I take. There's the underbrush of life's debris and distractions to stub my toes or twist my ankle or cause me to fall and come up lame. 

However, I know it is in the tough spots that I am most focused on following His lead and the most responsive to His slightest instruction. God hasn't taken me on this single track with garbage so that I will be confined and alone. No, I may not be able to look around to see where I am or where I am going, but I am not lost. I am found. The Great I AM, the Omnipotent Way Maker has chosen this single track with garbage. He's brought me this way so I can know Him better and trust Him more. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and by Your grace, I will follow only You. Completely close my eyes, my ears and my spirit to anything that is not of You. Guide my every step, O God. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen