This is a perfect example!

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

This verse is a perfect example of what I've been talking about. 

For years I've fought and argued with God about the direction in my life. I thought because I was a Christian my life would naturally be Gods direction. I was wrong. I made decisions thinking God was guiding me, but it wasn't God I was listening to, it was my own prideful, selfish, sinful heart. Ah, a flaw in my thinking. I blamed the trials of my life on Gods will. I claimed the suffering was just God teaching me some valuable lesson. Ah, another flaw in my thinking. 

God does have a plan for my life AND it is the best plan! BUT, I have to listen to his advice. When he speaks I need to listen. I need to act on his guidance. God has never and WILL never force his guidance upon us. We need to take that advice and act upon it. Even as christians if we are not communicating with Jesus, if we are not listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, if we are not acting on that guidance, we will not see the best pathway of life. I truly believe the greatest barrier to life is ourselves. So often we suffer, not because of God teaching us some lesson, but because we refuse to listen and act on Gods wisdom. Christianity is more than just turning your life to Christ. Sure, that step is critical and is life changing in that we are promised eternity, but we miss the rest of the blessing if we stop there. Even when we make the wonderul decision to follow him, we need to keep pursuing him. We need to earnestly search for truth. We need to dig into his word, and we need to begin a lifelong two way relationship filled with debate, support, and love. When we pursue God with all of our heart, Gods blessing overflow!

Dear Lord, forgive me for ignoring your word. Forgive me for thinking I know best . Forgive me for blaming you for my trials and struggles. I know you have this wonderul path laid out for me, if I will just trust you fully. I love you Lord and the older I get the clearer that pathway becomes. I am awed by the wonder of your grace. I am amazed by the depth of your love. I promise Lord to seek you more every day. Thank you Lord in advanced for what you are going in my life. Amen!

Fantasy Island

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

Do you remember the TV show "Fantasy Island"? Tatoo is well know for his line, "De Plane! De Plane!", when the weekly visitors came to live out their fantasies. To have to admit, I watched the show. Looking back, it was a pretty strange show. So many people are caught up in "fantasy". The premise of most popular video games are centered fantasy. We are fascinated by "reality tv" when in fact it's closer to fantasy than reality. Our lives are run like an episode of Fantasy Island. We aren't very realistic about our friendships, jobs, marriages, and even God. We expect our politicians to fix all our woes with the signing of a bill or enactment of some legislation. We expect God to do the same when we pray to him. We really don't understand the heart of our Lord. Case in point:

Stephanie and I prayed before we left on vacation. We prayed for protection, safety, relaxation, and time away from the hustle and bustle of our lives. The first night Stephanie fractured her elbow. We had to come home. I was greatly dissappointed, I still am. So, did God not answer my prayer? My vision, my fantasy, of what vacation would look like didn't happen. God had different plans. He could have been protecting us in ways I'll never understand. The reality is I have turned my life over to Jesus. I have given him full authority to lead me, daily, weekly, monthly, and for the rest of my life. I can't take that back just because God's plan doesn't fit my fantasy. I'm not happy about canceling a vacation in the works for the past 6 months, but I trust the Creator of the universe knows more than I do. His plans are perfect. 

I don't understand God. It's not realistic for me to believe I could fully understand him. My faith does not require me to understand. My faith requires me to trust God and to let him lead me through life. My fantasies have no power over the realities of a savior that loves me and knows what is best for me and my life. Praise God for his love for me, his protection, and his grace are wonderful. Amen!

God hear the prayers of the weak!

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. (Psalm 53:1 NIV)

Who is they? We are the "they" of this verse. As a Christian with the confidence where I'm going, it would be easy to be pompous. I could always refer to "they" as those sinners who have not committed to Jesus. But, I have to constantly remind myself that I am not as great as I think I am. I am a part of THEY. Today brought that to my attention.

I was called on to visit a family whose mother is near death in a Fort Wayne Hospital. They asked me to pray for the mother like I was someone special. I'm not. I felt so inadequate. Yet, I do know someone who has the complete power to heal . They were so gracious and worried about there mother. We prayed for a miracle. We prayed for healing and I know the power of my savior. I know if it is in his will, he will heal this woman. Yet, I also know his will is perfect and he does not always choose to heal here on Earth. I just don't understand,but I love him and I know he is in charge. His ways are beyond me and I'm more than okay with that. In my narrow vision, I would love to see a complete healing that will bring a Glory to God and this family to its knees. It's ideal, I know. But God says to bring it all to him, so I did and do again tonight.

I also have one of my early spiritual mentors fighting a brain tumor. This man has brought so many to know Jesus. He counseled my wife and I as we were teenagers planning to marry. He and his lovely wife brought me through my teen years and were key in the development of my relationship with God. This wonderful, God filled man was also instrumental in the early faith of my own children. I feel so powerless in calling on Jesus for him.

Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I ask for healing for this woman and Ted for your Glory, for your purposes and for your kingdom. I pray your love will be revealed through this entire situation that these family members would draw nearer to you. I pray for the doctors, surgeons, nurses and hospital staff that you will guide the treatment and miracle healing. I praise you God for your power, mercy and love. I love you and trust you. Thank you Jesus for loving this terribly inadequate person and making something out of nothing in my life. Amen!