GPS Ponderings
Have you seen an in-car GPS (Global Positioning System) that tells you how to get from one place to another? They give directions like:
“in 50 meters turn right”
“at the second exit turn right”
“turn right now”
A friend of mine was driving through western Australia and was quite amused when her GPS said “in 200km, turn right.” Wow, 200kms of straight road! I think it would get a bit boring after a while - and possibly a tad irritating when every 20kms the GPS interrupts with “in 180km, turn right” “in 160km, turn right”.
Wouldnt it be nice though if we had a GPS for life!?
“In 5 years, take this man to be your husband”
“At the second interview, take this job”
“Move here now” or “In 20 years, do this”.
I think in theory we might all like the idea of being told what to do instead of figuring it out for ourselves (ok, maybe just us girls!) but it would be a bit boring knowing that far in advance what is going to happen.
It certainly is an interesting journey taking turns wherever God wants you to go, whether it be sharing with a friend or making dinner for a family or spending time with someone who is lonely or quitting your job, selling your house and moving towns. And what would happen if we knew the bad roads? I’m not sure i would be willing to take some of those turns if i knew all that was to follow!
Well, it turns out that actually God did provide us with a GPS - it shows you where you are in the world, and which way you need to head next. And God has given us His own ‘global positioning system’ in the practice of prayer. When we pray, we are sharing with God where we are at, and seeking His will for where he wants us to be. When we position ourselves right before him, we are much more likely to be heading in the right direction. And while he doesnt give us details about the road ahead, he does show us which turns to make (or U-turns in some cases!). And he has given us some ripper road tips in the Manual (the Bible)!
Romans 12:12 is one of these -
Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer.
Or as another version puts it -
Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles and pray at all times.
If we follow those road rules our path is going to be a lot straighter.
Let your hope keep you joyful: Remember you are on this earth for a purpose - to glorify god and share him with others. You were separated from God by your sin - by going your own way. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and because he rose again, you have a relationship with God and can enjoy him forever into eternity! I know there will be tough patches and rough terrain but if I remember that truth, there is a joy in me that continues through the journey.
Be patient in your troubles: Have you ever been impatiently stuck behind someone and when you finally get the chance to overtake and give them a knowing glare, you realise they are totally oblivious to you and are happily chugging along? Or have you ever damaged a car because you have been rushing? Being patient both in the car and in life would save a lot of tension and a lot of damage being done. It is so much easier to find where you are going when you arent rushing. And it is easier not to rush if you are relying on the instructions from your GPS!
Pray at all times: Remember your GPS! Get right with God and you are going to be travelling in the right direction and you will be tuned in to hear when he asks you to make a turn. Have your GPS on all the time - ask for directions in the little things - say thankyou for a sunset or a wildflower, ask for wisdom when talking to a friend, ask that God would use you to encourage someone else, listen to see what he would like you to do for someone who is hurting or lonely. By using the GPS God gave you, you wont know what lies ahead on the road but it will be the most fulfilling journey you’ve ever taken!
And then right at the end you might hear “You have reached your destination. Well done, good and faithful servant!”
The Cheesecake Fiasco of ‘08
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)
I love cheesecake. Love it! Seriously, cheesecake and I are best buddies. Here is where the Cheesecake Fiasco of ’08 began. My family and I were dining at Atlanta Bread Company. After finishing a half-sandwich/salad combo, I was hankering for something sweet (that’s southern for wanted it real bad). The usual chocolate chip cookie just wasn’t going to satisfy. I wanted cheesecake. Not just any cheesecake. Not the one with fruit spilling over the top. I wanted a chocolaty cheesecake concoction of some sort.
With anticipation, I approached the dessert case noticing the condensation pooling inside the glass. Carefully studying each cheesecake, I mentally made my selection and headed to the table to get money. My sweet cherubs were whooping and hollering like the clowns at a western rodeo. As they ran around the table, the long arm of my husband reached out to snatch them. It was then I realized the glory of eating cheesecake would not be mine. It was time to go.
My husband offered to take me to Target, but I declined, with hollow thoughts of chocolate cookies and cream cheesecake. I rode in silence on the way home wishing, dreaming, yearning for just one sweet slice of creamy cheesy delight. By the time I reached home, I was mad.
The rest of the evening went by while I pouted, wishing for a dessert I did not have. Silly, I know. I missed the Target end-of-aisle clearance. I missed playing in the driveway with the kids until dark. I missed enjoying the coolness of a summer evening with my spouse because of cheesecake. Cheesecake! Okay, so maybe it wasn’t because of the cheesecake. It was because of me.
I was so caught up in the idea of having cheesecake; I couldn’t look past it and enjoy the rest of my night. I robbed my own self of good times. While reading my Bible, I came across Isaiah 43:18-19. I read, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” And the Lord whispered, “Remember the Cheesecake Fiasco of ’08?”
Dear Lord, I do remember the Cheesecake Fiasco. Forgive me for dwelling in the past. It’s so easy to become angry and disappointed when my plans do not come to fruition. Help me to look past them and look for the new thing you are doing. I know you are making a way in the dessert, I mean desert. Please do a new thing in me. Amen.
By the way, my husband took me to The Cheesecake Factory for our anniversary. What a good man.
Faith Lifts July News
Wow, July is already almost half over! Are you feeling like summer is all too quickly sailing by?
We have been going full swing again for a month and a half. We hope and pray that you have been blessed. Have you taken a moment to subscribe to Faith Lifts? If not, I encourage you to do so by clicking on the link in the upper right hand corner of the site.
I don’t have a ton of news this month, but I wanted to mention that quite some time ago we had a great award here at Faith Lifts called the Spotlight of Faith Award. If you know a blogger who’s faith has touched your life or blessed you, please Contact Us with the subject “Spotlight of Faith” and be sure to include a link to the blog you are nominating.
Blessings!
