Funny thing happened to us in the midst of a troubling day last week.  It was a day of problem solving, a day we didn’t plan, but never the less it came.  It was nothing earth shattering, just inconveniences that needed to be fixed or solved.  One of those problems was a very leaky faucet in the bathtub.  It required the shutting off our main water supply to the house so the leak could be fixed.  When we got into it, as go most household fixes at times, we saw quickly that more professional help was needed. 

We called a plumber that was recommend by family members, with the commentary, “he is a bit strange, but he is good”.  That was a correct evaluation.  This guy was likable, knowledgeable but lacked GPS abilities to get him from one job to another.  My husband had to go find him and bring him to our house, for example.  As our guy, who looks a lot like “Doc” in Back to the Future, is working on our leak, he discovers he needs a new part to fix the problem.  So, “Christopher Lloyd” leaves to get the part somewhere in the city.  He then calls from some unknown area that is unfamiliar to him.  He is lost.  Again.  My husband had to go find him and bring him back once more so he could finish the work.  By the way, this guy was a genius at his work!

We laugh about this now, but aren’t we like that with God?  I would answer, YES, and often!  “God, we are lost again, can you help us find our way back?”  “God, we are in unfamiliar territory, where are we?  “God, help me!”  Yes, we lose our way because we lay down our GPS…God’s Plan Secured…for our plan that leads to lostness and insecurity.  Just made that up, do you like it?  Better question, do you “get it”? 

We wonder why we end up in places that we shouldn’t be that lead to lostness.  We stop talking AND listening to God.  We stop reading and studying His Word.  We listen more to the world’s view of life than God Way of Life eternal.  We ultimately discover that we left the Lighted Path that leads to Life and went our own way, leaving our “GPS” behind. 

God has given us salvation through His Son, wisdom when we ask in conversation to Him, His Word to guide us in His ways, and His Holy Spirit to correct our direction when we make a wrong turn.  What more can we ask for in this life?  I really don’t know, is my answer.  God is more than enough.  God puts a smile on my face, too!

When troubles come, seek God.

When resolutions with peace abounds, praise God.

When we lose our way, ask God for correction in our Direction.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 43, The Message

^1-2 Clear my name, God; stick up for me
    against these loveless, immoral people.
Get me out of here, away
    from these lying degenerates.
I counted on you, God.
    Why did you walk out on me?
Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands
    over these outrageous people?

^3-4 Give me your lantern and compass,
    give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
    to the place of your presence,
To enter the place of worship,
    meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
    magnificent God, my God.

⁵ Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

TRUTH:  Fix our eyes on God.  He is our God of Direction to all things good and right. 

Proverb 17:9-16, The Message

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
    fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

¹⁰ A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
    does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

¹¹ Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
    won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!

¹² Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
    than a fool hellbent on folly.

¹³ Those who return evil for good
    will meet their own evil returning.

¹⁴ The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
    so stop it before it bursts.

¹⁵ Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
    are equally abhorrent to God.

¹⁶ What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
    They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!

WISDOM:  Shopping for wisdom in the world is foolish.  Asking for God’s wisdom gives life, abundant and eternal.

Abba Father,

Give me a map so I can find my way to You, God!  I trust that you will Light the Path that is right and good for me.  You have a plan that is unique and best for me.  I want to follow your will and plan for your purposes to be fulfilled in me.  Correct my direction when needed as I follow you.  Forgive my missteps and correct my course.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we sing…”Holy Water”…

God, I’m on my knees again
God, I’m begging please again
I need You
Oh, I need You

Walking down this desert road
Water for my thirsty soul
I need You
Oh, I need You

Your forgiveness
Is like sweet, sweet honey
On my lips
Like the sound of a symphony
To my ears
Like holy water on my skin (hey)

Dead man walking, slave to sin
I wanna know about being born again
I need You
Oh, God, I need You

So, take me to the riverside
Take me under, baptize
I need You
Oh, God, I need You

Your forgiveness
Is like sweet, sweet honey
On my lips
Like the sound of a symphony
To my ears
Like holy water on my skin
On my skin

I don’t wanna abuse Your grace
God, I need it every day
It’s the only thing that ever really
Makes me wanna change
I don’t wanna abuse Your grace
God, I need it every day
It’s…