The Road for Me to Follow

Ask Him to help you see His activity as you seek to follow more fully.  And He will.

Rest assured God isn’t trying to hide from us.  He is waiting to be seen by us.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:12-13)

I find that I tend to make things entirely too difficult.  I am so daft at times.  I feel as though I can’t get over an obstacle.  I continually keep myself back.  I continually stumble. 

Follow me.  That is really all he asks?  Just follow me?  Why do I make it so hard.

I follow Faith Barista.  Her words always touch my soul.  I often feel as though I am not alone in my feelings when I read her posts.  During the month of October, she is doing a daily series  about feeding your soul.  Today is obviously day three, but this endeavor is wonderful. 

I am seeking.  I always feel ‘less than’.  I always feel like a failure.  Today she shared the scripture from Genesis about Hagar after she had wondered into the desert because she could not take the situation she was in and had decided to die along with her son. But God stopped her and her response was:

“You are the God who sees me,”
for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
~ Genesis 16:7-14

There have been times in my life when I could have said the same thimg.  Out of whatever was going on, God gave me a distinct time when I knew that he saw me, he knew me.  Those times are among the most special in my life.  I knew I was not alone in this world. 

Why is it so easy to forget those times and get lost again?  It isn’t as though God saw me once or only saw me on those occasions.  He is there with me everyday.  Why is it  so easy to forget?

If we give ourselves the kindness, patience and gentleness that we so often extend to others, we can free ourselves to speak more often — and more confidently — in our true voice

When I was flying to Reno last week, I watched a History Channel documentary on Islam.  I have had an issue with Islam for years.  It all started when I served in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 90s.  I am not proud of this prejudice that I have carried for years. 

I decided to download this documentary to get a better understanding.  I did learn quite a few things.  I can’t say that the viewing completely changed my perspective, but I am certainly glad that I watched it.  I came away with one thought that has nagged me constantly since; what if I were as dedicated to Jesus as many of these muslims are to their faith.

What if I understood completely, to the very depths of who I am, that everything I do is for Jesus?  What if I really understood that he was in control like the people on the documentary do about Allah?  And, what if I intentionally stopped five times a day to pray?  The lady in the documentary had such a wonderful explanation of these prayers.  It is an intentional time to stop what you are doing, to forget about this world and to focus your thoughts and your heart on God from whom you received all that you have. 

That is so beautiful to me. 

I can’t even get my butt out of bed to read my Bible in the morning and pray, even though I know that doing so will make me so much happier and connects me.  I have so many excuses; tired, sick, travelling, off schedule, etc.  But the real truth of the matter is that it isn’t that important.  I mean really, I don’t go without eating or drinking for the same reasons.  I find a way.  But, this very important thing that feeds my soul, I do without.

I feel the need for a change, but I keep holding myself back from making the commitment.  Why?  Because I don’t want to fail yet again.  I don’t want to “get God’s hopes up” that I am heading on the right path and then, walk away.  Fail.

I think this is a sickness.

I am not against capital punishment. But, the execution of Troy Davis was just wrong. You should NEVER rely solely on eye witness testimony. I watched a show years ago that stated you definitely shouldn’t when it comes to people of different races. The scientist’s view was that people “in general” do not recall the subtle distinguishing characteristics of someone of another race as they do with their own. I believe it. Now Texas executed a man that hands down committed a crime, I applaud that. Too bad the poor gentleman he killed didn’t know the time, place and manner of his death.

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