All Things Work Together for Our Good

All Things Work Together for Our Good

I was thinking about my mother’s quilts yesterday morning as I was headed back to work. She managed to get three more quilts made before she passed away – one for each of my kiddos. My youngest daughter’s quilt wasn’t quite finished when she had to quit working on them. I finished hemming the binding after my mother was gone. Quilts were originally born out of need and frugality. No cloth was ever wasted. The string quilts amaze me the most because they use every little snippet of cloth, sown together with other snippets. On their own the pieces are too small to do a thing with. But sown together and then bound in the backing, filled with batting – they are incredibly warm and just right. Each quilt is made to fit the bed it belongs on. 

Life is a lot like a string quilt. Pieces of things here and there – pain, sorrow, betrayal, rejection, shame – seem so useless and wasted. Left in a pile they look like tiny rags and we revisit them. Turning them over in our hands we feel fresh the pain of every agony we’ve ever experienced. Stripped of our dignity, the enemy wants us to remember each event that has brought us any kind of pain. If we remain at that stage, we are destined to live in a heap, bedraggled and falling to pieces again and again.

God wants you to know that not one single thing in your life is ever wasted. He uses it all for His glory and your good – every single thing. Every bitter piece, every torn situation, every hurt, and every cry. He wastes nothing. He uses it all. Piece by piece it may look like a mess, but through God’s mercy and grace there will be a beautiful masterpiece of your life. You can rest in His promises, live in His love and move on. Even rejection is not wasted, for you cannot go where He sends you if you are not free of anything that is binding you to the past. He has something much, much, much more wonderful ahead.

Oh beloved, move on. Quit handling the messes of your past over and over. They unravel more and more. Quit trying to make human sense out of it – they are messes that are divinely meant to be given to God. And as you hand each piece to God you are lightened of your load and God is able to make it all beautiful. He cannot stitch it all together if you do not hand it to Him. Bitterness will continue to break down the very fibers of your being. But forgiveness heals the rips. God has something better in mind than what you’ve been through. His plans can never be thwarted by man’s interference or the devil’s instigation. No weapon formed against you will prosper. 

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth giving the pieces to Him and moving on every single time. One day you will see it all as God sees it – a perfect tapestry of His love, mercy and grace.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. NIV

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Forget Not All His Benefits

I’m so glad that my brother has good benefits in his retirement. Without it he would be facing huge hospital and physician bills. Brain surgery is no cheap trick – it’s monumental. While he is still recovering and it may take some time to be totally back to normal, he doesn’t have to worry about that. He’s thankful that he is a state employment retiree. He won’t quickly forget the benefits afforded to him for the many years he worked in the system.

God wants you to know that life in Christ is a trip from living under the gun to living under His benefits. No worries about the hereafter with Christianity – for Christ Himself has made a way to have future access to heaven’s gates and eternal life there. Christ paid the way for all of us – all we have to do is put our trust in Him and live our lives for Him. 

But God also wants you to know that you have an entire portfolio of benefits as a child of God. For the rest of your life you have a Guardian who watches over you – body soul and spirit. You will never again be totally alone. You will never have to face things on your own – for you have an Eternal Advocate as well. When the enemy of your soul stands to accuse you, as he is the accuser of the brethren, you know that Christ Himself stands between you and him always. So many benefits are yours as well. You have secure guidance – you never have to try to figure out what to do – you just have to pray for wisdom and it will be yours. God Himself promises to guide you, lead you, watch over you and keep you safe. Who else can do that for you? Who else would? Need a friend? Christ is the friend who will stick closer than a brother. Need protection, forgiveness, release, rest, redemption? You have it. Need freedom – from anything? You have that. Freedom from anxiety, depression, fear, worry, addictions, and more… We’re talking real freedom – not fleshly strength you build for yourself – but Godly freedom – straight from the throne room of grace. There are so many benefits that it takes a Book of Benefits to list them all and it takes a lifetime to read up on them and appropriate them for yourself.

Oh beloved, forget not all His benefits! He saves your soul from the penalty of sin! No other benefit is so wonderful. But He is the Champion of your faith – He teaches you everything you need to know as you read the Word, take it in and live it out. Don’t scrimp on reading your Benefits, for they are God breathed and will enter your spirit through the Holy Spirit who has been sent to be with you on earth. You are blessed beyond measure with all God’s wonderful redeeming merciful blessings. Don’t worry about your circumstances, don’t live in your fears, don’t walk in unforgiveness, envy, ingratitude or dismay. Everything you need, beloved, for life and godliness is yours by virtue of Christ Alone who is your benefits giver. It doesn’t matter what people say, what the enemy says or what your flesh wants to believe – it is all yours. The cross is the pen that Christ signed the papers with – signed, sealed and delivered to you. 

Rejoice in God’s Wonderful Benefits! Don’t forget a single one. Acquaint yourself with them all for you need them to live a life of freedom, purpose and love. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters as you live life in the shadow of the Cross in Spirit and truth.

Psalm 103:2 Praise the Lord O My soul and forget none of His benefits.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen to the glory of God through us. 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

You Are a Miracle

You Are A Miracle

by rebekahbeene

Our family feels that my brother is a walking, talking miracle. The headache that brought him to the hospital was so severe that none of us are sure he could have called 911 if he had been home alone. Instead he was here visiting with his son, who drove him to the hospital.  He got into a room yesterday and we came home to give him time and space to visit with his other son and family who had traveled to see him.

Needing some groceries I went to the store when we got home. As I went into an aisle I visited with a couple we’ve known for many years. As we were talking another couple came into the aisle and I introduced both couples. As I shared my brother’s story, I talked about a couple of personal things that happened as a result of my brother being in the hospital that are nothing short of a miracle in themselves. The five of us standing in the aisle at the grocery store all talked about what we’d been through, since one of the ladies is a survivor of a dread disease and one of the men was recuperating from an illness no one thought he would recover from.

As I looked at one and then another, I said, “You’re a miracle and you are too”. And then it hit me. I said, “We are all miracles!” We agreed and hugged and went about our way.

God wants you to know this morning that you are a miracle. The circumstances you find yourself in are not your definition.  The heartache you feel, the desperation you are encountering, the worries you have are not your outlining life’s story.  Your life is such a beautiful story of God’s grace. Every situation of your life, from the time you were born to this very moment, is all part of a miraculous story. God Himself ordained your birth and has watched over you all your life. His plans for you are wondrous and miraculous all wrapped up in one. Now is not the time to quit believing God or to wonder if He cares. The enemy wants you to believe that whatever has happened or is happening to you at this point in time is all you can expect and all you will ever have. But God wants you to lean on Him, believe His Word and live in the light of His glory and grace. He wants you to know that His plans for you are always good and His love for you is always present. His Spirit is guiding you and directing you and you cannot possibly know all the miracles that have happened on your behalf that you can’t even see.

Oh beloved, life itself is a miracle. Don’t keep rehearsing the hard things, but rejoice in the Lord. Yes, you may have to go through the trying times or the hurtful situations, but you are not walking alone. God is with you, every single step of the way. He promises to get you through and wipe away all tears. Ask Him for help and He will surely give it to you. Ask Him for whatever you need and He will provide it. Talk to Him often for He is the Savior who is with you all the way.

God loves you and He’s for you. Rest in that promise. Remember you are a miracle. Go to His Word and believe what He says for He is faithful and will never leave you or forsake you, as you live loved and watched over by the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

Psalm 78:7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.

Psalm 106:2 Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise Him enough?

Psalm 139:5 You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head.

Psalm 23:6 Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Plans May Change but God's Plans Remain

On Sunday as the sun came up the day was absolutely beautiful. Blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds hung in the sky and streaks of gold shined on the dewy grass. The flowers popped in the light and everything looked clean and beautiful. The plan was to be outside all day to enjoy God’s world. 

The only problem with that plan was that within the hour blue black clouds stepped forward out of the west and covered all the crispness. Gloom took over. Rain drops fell. It stayed cold and drippy all day. I never got to spend time outdoors. My plans changed.

We decided that it was a great day to go to church anyway. Then come home and eat a bite of lunch, watch an old movie on tv and have a nap. We had some little visitors and two of them took naps as well. It was that kind of day. I guess I could have griped and moaned and cursed the weather. I could have lamented that I wasn’t getting to do what I wanted to do. I could have ceased to enjoy the day entirely, but I chose to enjoy what there was, along with the change of plans.

The next day came a bigger challenge. A huge change in some plans we had been making for months. I didn’t handle it so well. I was fretting and fussing most of the day. I felt so unsettled. I knew we had a choice – we could either keep with our original plan or we could change our plans. My day didn’t go so well because I had forgotten to make friends with change. I had also forgotten that God’s plans remain no matter what my plans are. 

When I got home and talked with Danny we both agreed that God was up to something, even though it was very different from what we had planned. Then I remembered the Bible study we’re in and how we had studied just last week about discernment. So together we asked God for discernment about the decisions we had to make. Within 30 minutes complete peace came and the decision was made. I had fretted the entire day trying to make heads or tails of what was going on. I had been in a battle and didn’t even realize it. The battle was between my plans and God’s plans. Ultimately that’s where the battle lies. Sure God blesses us with friendships, fellowship, trips and plans. He doesn’t keep us from enjoying life. We just need, for our own sakes and for the sake of the Kingdom, to let God in on our plans so we can enjoy His best.

Oh beloved, God wants you to know that He has wonderful plans for your life! First and foremost His plan is for you to find restoration to the Kingdom of God through Christ. Then He wants you to include Him in every single day – in every single plan – ask Him about His desires and tell Him about yours. No greater fulfillment than to be right in the center of God’s will. Your plans may have gone awry but God loves you. Because He loves you, you can trust that His plans will not be thwarted by any man’s decisions. You are not the victim of circumstances and you don’t have to fret or worry or get frustrated about life’s changes. Today is your day to step up to the Light and feel the Son’s blessings as you walk in the light of God’s Word and His will. No mere vacation will suffice; no personal plans will be good enough. It’s ultimately God’s plans that will stand the test of time. Pray for discernment and He will give it to you. Apologize if you’ve fretted and caused someone else trouble. Rejoice that when it’s all said and done, doing things according to God’s plan is the best plan you’ll ever make.

God loves you and He’s for you. Now go out and have a wonderful day as you make plans and let Him plan your day for His kingdom and His glory as well as your good!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. (Amplified)

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Psalm 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives

Where Are You Trying to Find Rest?

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks.  She went for a long walk in the forest.  Pretty soon, she came upon a house.  She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in. After a while she went upstairs to find somewhere to rest. The Papa Bear’s bed was too hard. The Mama Bear’s bed was too soft. But Baby Bear’s bed was just right and she fell fast asleep. When the bears returned they found that someone had eaten their porridge, sat in their chairs and Baby Bear found Goldilocks sleeping in his bed. She was startled and ran out of the house, never to return again.

Such a nice little story of a little girl finding sustenance, comfort and rest in the woods when she really didn’t know what to do or where to go.  But even after she had found the three things that every human being needs and desires, she was still not at home.  She wasn’t one of the bears. She was different. Ultimate rest, eternal comfort and genuine sustenance couldn’t really come from the temporary place she had found.

Life is a lot like a trip into the forest. We don’t know for sure where we are going, what we will encounter or when we will get out. But all along the way we try to find tangible things to hang onto.  We are ever searching for the things that will make us comfortable – we want to feel cozy, relaxed and find relief.  We also want to know that all our needs will be met – provisions, nourishment and necessities of life are our desire. And along with the other needs we as humans have, we want to find rest – that place where we can let down our guard and take a breather from life’s surprises and disturbances.

Just as Goldilocks found that she wasn’t really at home in the Bears’ cabin, we too find that, even when we think we have found just what we wanted, it isn’t really home for us.  Unlike Goldilocks, who left the cabin and found her way home, we often run to the next stop and try again to find our source for all we need in people, places and things.  We too are strangers, aliens in a world that isn’t meant for us. We have a home and it’s beyond this world. As we learn more about our purpose in life, we find that we fit here less and less.  God wants to meet our needs and will, but fortunately for us His desire is that we find them all first and foremost in Christ. Everything we need is promised, along with somewhere to call our real home in heaven one day. We are most blessed, but at times it’s hard because the things of this world don’t really work for us.

Oh beloved, have you been upset because temporary things aren’t bringing permanent satisfaction? Don’t let it upset you – for God is your source for everything! God will give you people to love, plans to fulfill and life to live. He just doesn’t intend for you to find ultimate comfort, rest and nourishment in anyone or anything over Him.  He wants to have first place because it is there that you will learn to be like Him. He will hide your soul in the cleft of the Rock. He will give you a place of quiet rest in His heart. He will lead you beside still waters as only He can restore your soul.  When things are hard, He will cover you with His protective love.  When you don’t know which way to go, He will guide you. Don’t trust in your senses for they can lead you away from God’s purpose. Christ came to free you from the burden of sin it is true. But He released you also from having to make your own way. In Christ there is such freedom to live loved. In Christ the chains that bind you to continually wander have been removed. You can rest in God’s promises, live in Christ’s redemption and walk in Holy Spirit power always.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust Him to watch over you, guide you and direct you all the days of your life. And when this life is over you will have a place of ultimate rest as you dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 62:1  My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. (New International Version)

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

What Kind of Footprints are You Leaving?

Finally we got the snow that we have anticipated. The grandchildren watched it out our patio door last night. They will be waking up to enough to play in for a while. I have enough for my beloved snow ice cream.

When I looked out on the patio in the night I noticed footprints. Something had been there. It trailed around and left distinctive prints in the snow. Because the prints were characteristic of a dog, I knew what it was. It could not be mistaken for any other animal.

There are times when I wonder what kind of footprints I am leaving behind. As believers we are given the Word to show us what they should look like. Before we are born again the trail of prints might show anger, rage, malice, rejection, haughtiness, revenge or more. The prints are of a wild animal, one who lives by its own wits, retaliating whenever the need arises, not caring what kind of mess might be left behind.

But when we are born again, we are given a new set of prints to make in the world. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.  Not only are we given this “footprint” to live by, we are given a living example to follow in the Lord Jesus Christ, who completely gave up His rights and His wants to fulfill God’s plan for redemption for you and me.

The world will tell you to retaliate in kind to whatever gets thrown your way. But God says to repay evil for good, return a blessing when cursed, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who use you and persecute you.  The Lord even is so wonderful that He goes on in the very next verse to tell us why: “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven…” So the world will know who we are by the footprints we leave behind, even in pain, sorrow, rejection and humiliation.

Oh beloved, I know you are going through some hard things right now. You may have tried to fit in where everyone wants to be and your footprints don’t match. You may have tried living right and walking according to God’s plan and still you got rejected. You may have been walked all over by circumstances you didn’t deserve. You may be hurting and suffering at the hand of one who left huge prints of pain on your heart. God knows your present situation and He’s with you. Keep walking in God’s ways. Don’t change, don’t let the flesh make prints for you, don’t take matters into your own hands. God promises blessings to you. He promises that your footsteps are ordered by Him, so that you can know that you are watched over and cared for even in the hard times, even in the pain, even in the anguish of momentary afflictions.

How bless you are to leave the Father’s prints everywhere you go! Those prints are full of the fruit of the spirit and leave a fragrance of peace behind you. You don’t walk alone, you don’t have to deal with your problems alone and you can ask Him to help you walk just like He wants you to walk. You will be blessed and be a blessing as you live in the Light of His Word.

For beloved, He loves you and He’s for you and that’s how you can walk blessed all the days of your life.

Psalm 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. NLT

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Matthew 5:43-45  You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. NLT

Psalm 33;20-21  And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. AMP

John 13:17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

I Thessalonians 2:12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

What Tools Are You Trying to Use?

One of my friends has been sharing a lot about His walk with the Lord during a very trying time. Just recently he shared about trying to get to church one Sunday when things started falling apart. They raise chickens and there were problems in the chicken house he had to take care of. He realized he wasn’t going to make it to church and got really frustrated. Just as he thought he might blow a gasket he looked at the wrench in his hand and realized it was his daddy’s. After that he relaxed and began to enjoy every twist of the tool.

That really spoke to my heart. Each of us have gone through, are going through or will go through tough times. Often the phrase says tough times don’t last, but honestly sometimes those tough times are long and winding and rough. We get desperate in the midst of it all. As if the hard time wasn’t enough, things just seem to fall apart all around us. We try to get it all back together and we try to move on to better things. But it’s hard. It’s hard to believe God, it’s hard to believe the sun will shine and it’s hard to see where we are in the big scheme of things. We work though, hard sometimes, fighting the feelings, trying to restore order and all the time we’re hoping that things will start working again and we can move on. Frustration, anxiety and even self-pity try to come help us, but they’re useless. They’re not fit tools to use in the hands of a believer.

Just about time we think we’re going to boil over with outrage at it all we look up to the heavens and cry out! And then we see. Our Father God is with us. But He hasn’t left us to our own human devises to get through it all. He’s not just absently looking down from heaven. No, He’s with us. And He has given us tools to get things working again in our faith. He’s given us every Word, breathed out for us, straight from the throne room. We have every tool we’ll ever need and we can use them as often as we need to. They’re unbreakable, unbendable and undeniably perfect.

Oh beloved, are you sitting there this morning looking at the broken things? Maybe you’re wondering how you got to this place? You’ve tried every trick in the book and it’s all a mess anyway. Rejoice! Looking at the things our Father gives us helps us get through the rough times. He’s given you everything you need to get through. Repairs needed? Every tool imaginable is there for you. Grace, favor, joy, peace, and more. Prayer, worship and fellowship with God are our grandest tools. No matter how you feel, no matter what is happening, God Himself is here to give you everything you need for this time. He hasn’t left you, He won’t forsake you and He gives you all you need from the storehouse of His Word to get through.

Rejoice in the Word of God! Look up to the heavens and cry thank you! Then reach for the tools your Father God has given you. Every promise is full of strength for you. They won’t break and they won’t disappear when you need them. You are blessed, you are forgiven, you are walking in the light of God’s Word. You have access to the Lord of heaven and earth and as you pray, as you worship Him right where you are, His presence will be so overwhelming that you will know your life is blessed. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust His Word to get you through, fix you up and get it all running for His glory and your good.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. NLT

Psalm 88:13 But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm 22:2-4 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 9:9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;

Your Choices or God's Choices? What an Opportunity!

Let God choose. You’ve chosen before. You’ve chosen your own way, your own desires, your own plans, your own ministry, your own jobs, hobbies, etc. Some of those things were okay. Some turned out pretty good. Other things didn’t go so well. You’re at the end of some of your own choices and you wish you could go back and do it all over again. But how would you do it over again? Choose differently? Roll the dice? Cut the cards? Wish? Cross your fingers? Hope for the best? Open a fortune cookie? Wish on a star? Talk to the “man in the moon”? Hope God will help?

How about making a change not only in your choices, but the way you make them? Make it a new year’s resolution of prayer and dedication. Declare the Truth about decision making. After all, if God can put the stars in orbit, hang the moon and sun to do just the right thing at just the right times, then surely He can direct our paths. 

It will require a lot more trust than rolling the dice or letting things fall where they may. It will take determined effort to keep your hands off and your feet from walking your own way. But when you let God do the choosing imagine the wonders that will abound!

We watched a couple get married this week who had made that choice before. I have no details on their former choices, but I do know this. They made a covenant with God this time for sure. I’ve heard their testimonies and I’ve seen their faith walk. They’ve forgotten the former things and allowed God to choose something they couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams. 

God is better at choosing than the most educated, intelligent, wise one of us. He really is. He chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, so that tells you something. He chooses with a different thought process altogether. Remember, He says that His ways are higher than our ways. We cannot plan at the level God views. He sees everything, we see at best “through a glass dimly”. 

If you’re like me you’ve got lots of choices to face each and every day. Choices that include attitudes, jobs, love, money, faith, morality, destiny, future, family, ministry, title, ownership, forgiveness. More choices such as marriage partners, living arrangements, money plans, vacations and more. We have all made own choices at times, but those times when we let God choose, when we consulted Him first and asked Him, He has led us where we found that we truly wanted to be – right in the center of His will. There are times when others make choices that affect us, but even then we can trust God to lead us. He is not bound by others’ decisions, He is all-seeing and all-knowing and we can trust Him to lead us even then. Some may say that God doesn't care about the little things in life, but He says in Luke 16:10 that if we are faithful in little things, He knows we will be faithful in the big things. What a promise!

Oh beloved, if you will covenant to let God make your decisions from here on out many blessings will follow along. When God chooses chains are broken, hearts are mended and lives are restored. Jesus came to be the Mediator of all your choices. He promises to redeem your days and bless every step you make. Even if things become rough, you will also have courage to stay the course because God has ordained it. You won’t have to second guess or try to figure out how to make it easier. God will send you to His throne room, send you to the field of harvest, send you to walk through darkness and still remain in the light. How wonderful can life be when you put it all on Him by letting God choose…everything.

He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust Him as you give it all to Him every single time.


Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect! 

Matthew 6:9-10 Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven….’

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me

Are You Headed for the Wedding?

We are up and getting ready to pick up the granddaughter and head to a wedding. A couple of our friends are tying the knot today at the end of an annual biker’s new year ride. We are excited to witness the festive occasion. They have been blessed to find one another when they really weren’t even looking. That’s how God does things. We don’t always know exactly what we want or need, but He provides anyway. In fact it’s pretty wonderful how He surprises us with His love and care and His mercy and grace. All wrapped up in the Savior, we are united with Him.

We as believers are headed to a wedding as well. It’s going to be wonderful! We know the wedding is going to happen, but we don’t know exactly when. In the meantime our Betrothed is preparing everything for us. Nothing will be left undone. Nothing will be out of place. We will be completely fulfilled in Him. He too found us when we didn’t even know what we needed. While we don’t know what all it means to be with Christ in heaven forever, we do know that when it happens it will be perfect.

Life is a lot like a wedding. We prepare as best we can for it, but life’s greatest gifts can’t be worked up or paid for. Those special things like true love, best friends, church families and our beloved human kinfolks are all so wonderful. But in spite of all those wonderful relationships, we know we are still waiting for the ultimate moment of togetherness when God swoops us up like a Bridegroom and takes us away forever to our home of homes.

We are celebrating a new year today. This may be the very year He returns for us. That would be fine with me. I don’t know everything about Him yet, but I know that when I see Him face to face I’ll never be disappointed. Life here is rough sometimes. Rejection, panic attacks, health issues, family problems, job loss and more. We find ourselves less than we want to be. We also tend to define ourselves by the worst of moments.

Yet Christ sees us as we will be. He sees us through rose colored glasses – for we are covered by the Blood of the Lamb. We are able to remain faithful while waiting for Him to come get us for we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. We also have the mind of Christ so that we know what to do, how to live and what the Word says with clarity. If we were the only one He would have made all these provisions for us. If all we had was the Word of God it would be enough for His Word says “in the beginning was the Word…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Oh beloved! My prayer for you this New Year’s Day and for the entire year of 2014 is that you would learn to abide in the Lord always. Along with that I pray that you realize the awesome wonder of living a life in Christ. That you would seek His heart to be more like Him. That you know what the hope is of His calling. That you would realize the spiritual aspects of life on earth in a greater way than you’ve ever known. I also pray that as you face your weaknesses you will know that’s where your real strength lies – for He is your strength. When you face moments when you forget how to sing that you will remember He is your song. When you don’t know what to do or where to go, you will fall restfully into His arms in faith. I pray that you will let Him make you what you can’t be on your own and that you will allow Him to pour Himself into you - body, soul and spirit. Let Him make this new year all about Him and hang on as He takes you beyond your wildest dreams!

If you know only one thing about your Bridegroom beloved, I pray that you will know how deep and wide and long His love is for you and that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is for you always. Happy, spiritually joyful and prosperous New Year to you for you are His beloved indeed.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

If He Provides Salvation He Provides Everything Else

You can’t help but notice that not everyone is smiling this time of year. Of course those who have lost loved ones in 2013 are especially hard hit during the holidays. Broken families, broken dreams, broken hearts all walk around trying to find the spirit of Christmas and provide for the needs, hopes and desires of themselves or of someone they love. Often it is the loneliest time of year. Unmet ...expectations take a huge toll on people. It seems that as the lights are brighter and the decorations are huge it just makes the rejections, the heartaches, the tears and the fears bigger as well. If we’re not careful we will try to make Christmas be all we ever wanted and have the holiday itself meet our needs and it will come up lacking every time. Can you relate?

This is the season that promises the most blessings and holds the most profound encounters with God Himself. Yet if we make it about the gifts and the decorations, we’ll find our hands full of tarnished tinsel and discarded wrappings.

What is it that you need this season, beloved? What are you looking for to fulfill the longing of your heart? What are you looking for? What is your heart’s desire and your hopes and dreams? Where is your lack? What’s missing? What is threatening to steal your joy, your peace and your promises? What burden is covering the real meaning of this Holy time? How can you move past the messiness of everyday life to enjoy the extraordinary message of Christ?

God speaks to my heart: He is God. If He can provide a Savior then He can provide everything else.

Oh beloved, stop wrapping and wrangling and sorting and running. Before the day becomes a blur of busy-ness, rest for just a moment in the Father’s arms. Let Him be your Savior and Provider, your Jehovah-Jireh. He has not only provided the way to heaven and forgiveness of all your sins, in Him is provision for your entire life. Whatever you are in need of, whatever you are lacking, He has provided. Where you are empty, He wants to give you meaning and more. He can also save you from worry, fretting, depression, disappointment, discouragement, resentment and more. Whatever you take to Him and present before Him, He will provide the answer to that. Give Him all your hurts and wants and dreams for He will either fix them or replace them with something better for you. He hears your prayers and He answers each one with love and care.

Rejoice in the all that God is, in all that God has, in all that you are in Christ. It begins with an everlasting relationship that will be your mainstay for your entire life. Oh what a Savior and oh what a King! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why all your needs are met, not just at Christmas but every day of the year.

II Peter 1:2 May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (Amplified)

Acts 17:25 and human hands can’t serve His needs—for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Philippians 4:19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Amplified

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Jesus is About To Arrive on the Scene of Your Situation

This is the advent season.  We are counting down the days to Jesus’ Birthday.  Admittedly most of Christmas is around children waiting for a jolly generous gift giver in a red suit. But advent reminds us that Jesus’s impending birth is near.  And advent helps us remember the details surrounding His birth. From the tax decree to the angels heralding his birth, there is much to read about the days of preparation for His birth. Joseph was preparing to pay his taxes, Mary was preparing to travel during the last days of her pregnancy, and Jesus was preparing to be born. Even the angels were preparing. And God was continuing His preparations. From the manger to the star to the holy birth in extreme conditions, all was part of the preparation of what was to come.

We’re making lots of preparations for Christmas. Everything must be just so in order for things to be pulled off without a hitch. But I’m reminded that it seems to me that Jesus’ birth was anything but trouble free. Would I have wanted to ride a donkey at 9 months pregnant? Would I have wanted to give birth in a barn? Wouldn’t I have wanted everything to be just right for my baby? And just right for my health and safety?

But Jesus is about to arrive on the scene. He’s about to begin His short years on earth. He’s about to change everything. From the time He is born to the time He dies, everything changes everywhere He goes. When is a King ever born in obscurity? No silver spoon here, for He is destined for a cross and a grave.

How is your Christmas going? How is the life you were meant to live coming along? Where is the light in your darkness, the festivities in your hardship, the love in your loneliness? It’s tough for you, God knows it. Things are not like you want them to be. And try as you might, just as Joseph knocked on the door of the inn and found no room, you have found no relief. You’ve prayed, you’ve hoped,  you’ve even tried to work things out yourself. You’ve griped,  you’ve begged, you’ve stomped your foot. But things have not changed and still you are stuck with a tarnished holiday full of unfulfilled hopes and dreams.  You find it hard to believe that you are in the situation you find yourself in. You did all the right things and yet you find yourself face to face with rejection, humiliation, depression and fear. None of those things are fit for a child of the King, yet you are there. And you are wondering if it will ever change, if prayers will ever be answered and if God ever really cares.

Oh beloved, this is your advent. Jesus is about to arrive on the scene of your desperate situation. He’s going to open the door of your heart and let the warmth and beauty of all He is come and make things new. And He comes no longer a babe in a manger, but a risen King and Lord.  He comes with the response to the enemy’s taunts, the answer to your heart’s desires and the Light for your darkest moments. Nothing in all creation can keep God from changing everything. Just His presence changes your heart and mind. All His promises are being fulfilled for you whether you see them or not. Just as Caesar August sent out a decree in those days, God has sent out a decree from the foundation of the world. 

It may look bleak but look beyond the now. It may seem impossible, but keep your eyes on Jesus. It may be that others say it’s hopeless, but you are looking for Jesus’s promises to be fulfilled. You will run and not crawl, you will leap and not fall, you will rejoice and not weep, you will praise and not pout. You have nothing to fear and everything to rejoice about as you wait in anticipation for Jesus to arrive and make all things new.  

God loves you. He loves you with an everlasting love. It never fails, it never gives up and it never runs  out on you. And He’s for you. He’s on your side making sure that all things work together for your good. You can trust Him, you can praise Him, you can thank Him and you can rejoice in Him not just at Christmas but every single day of your life.

John 12:46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

Ephesians 1:18-20  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might  which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

Psalm 106:12 Then His people believed his promises. Then they sang His praise. 

Let's Learn to "Sow"

My mother was a real seamstress. I know I’ve talked about that before. But this morning as she came to my mind I thought about her life and how she really did do a lot of sewing.  In her early years she used feed sacks to make dresses. She cut out old dresses and made new dresses from them. She would go to yard sales and find material or old quilts and make gifts and crafts of them. She didn’t sit around and lament that she couldn’t buy the finest cloth. She didn’t think “someday I will sew, when the conditions are right and I have lots of money or time or more ability”.  No, she just sewed wherever she went and whatever conditions she found herself in. Whether she had the best or not, she made something of it. She sewed.

Wouldn’t you know it? As much as my mother loved to sew, in her early 60’s she found herself working in a department store’s cloth department! Row upon row, shelf upon shelf of it. She could buy all kinds of the loveliest material at huge discounts. She had opportunity to visit with other people who loved to sew. She could buy patterns and make more things for her children and grandchildren.  God blessed her by letting her reap from the bountiful blessings of what He had stored up for her all those years.

Oh beloved, this is your day to begin sowing! You don’t have to wait another day. You don’t have to wait until conditions improve – sow right from your lack.  God blesses what we sow. He is working behind the scenes, fine tuning the machinery of your life, oiling the bearings, threading the needle and working the pedal. All you have to do is step out in faith and sow!  He has given you absolutely everything you need to sow for today, so don’t procrastinate, don’t hesitate and don’t whine about your shortage. If all you have is a smile – sow it into someone else’s life.  If all you have is a kind word, sow it! If all you have is a Scripture from childhood – sow it. Sow what you have!  And don’t forget to sow forgiveness, peace, joy, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, blessings, honor, and more. The more you sow, the more you will have.  Don’t hold back, don’t save the best for yourself, and don’t be miserly. Sow liberally and watch as you reap a harvest of blessings in return.

Today is the best day to learn to sow. You don’t need anything but the Word of God and His Holy Spirit guidance. If you begin today, in the conditions you are presently in, one day you will reap a magnificent harvest! The harvest will come at just the right time, with all the right bells and whistles and provide blessings beyond blessings for you.  Reap what God blesses you with today and He will bless you more!

God always supplies the things you need. God always gives you something you can sow into another’s life. Even in the midst of your pain, agony, troubles, rejections, trials or present need – God will provide. For that which He promises He will do. He loves you so He provides for you. He’s for you so He multiplies what you sow.  Rejoice as you and He make beautiful memories together that will reap a bountiful harvest of more of His great love and care!

Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

Psalm 126:6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

Someone Stealing From You?

Today's Post  -

In these troubled times the news is full of stories of robbery. It reminds me of when I was a child and my best friend and I went to the store with my mother. There was always a carousel of little packaged games and toys by the checkouts. They were very inexpensive. Well, my friend who was about 7 (I was 4) told me we could have one of those toys. Then she told me that we should go to the car and play with them. We did just that.

Then my mother came to the car with her groceries. She asked us where we got the toys. I told her the truth. I didn’t realize we had stolen anything; I had just followed the lead of a friend. Because I didn’t realize it was stolen, I didn’t know to lie about it either. Of course my mother marched us into the store where I had to apologize to the store manager. I don’t remember anything else, but I will always remember learning the lesson. Stealing was wrong. I always could see my mother’s face and her grave disappointment. She loved me enough to tell me the truth and to insist I tell the truth as well. That lesson has served me well over the years.

We are children, each one of us. If we are born again through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are set into a very special place. We are born again into the family of God –we are joint heirs with Jesus – we are children of the Heavenly King. Because of this most favored status, given to us freely by nothing we have earned on our own – we have certain rights as the King’s child.

One of the greatest rights we have is that we no longer have to live like an unbeliever. The Word tells us how to live in Ephesians 4. Among the words are “let him who steals steal no more”. We are changed BY Christ because we are now IN Christ! Let us who used to _____________ do that no more! We don’t have to! Yay God!

Another wonderful “right” as a believer is that no one can steal things from us that are ours IN Christ! No one – absolutely no one – not even the devil himself – can steal your anointing, your calling, your standing, your position, your prayers, your faith, your gifts, your honor. All these things are yours by virtue of your position IN Christ!

God speaks to my heart: Who has been stealing from you? Where is your joy? Who has taken your peace? Who stole your trust in Me? I AM the one who has given you these rich and wonderful gifts – they are yours. But there is an enemy, and he whispers lies into your heart. Don’t let him take anything from you. He is a liar and the father of all lies. I AM the one who saved you, who keeps you, and who gives every good and perfect gift to you! I AM truth personified. I do nothing by secret, underhandedly, or through trickery. If you have lost anything that belongs to you because you are my child, I tell you today, TAKE IT BACK! You are IN ME and I AM IN YOU, so you don’t have to believe any of the lies that are being whispered into your mind and heart.

God has not left you defenseless against the thief who comes to kill steal and destroy. He has given you the whole armor of God, He has given you His promises, He has filled you with His Spirit, He has sealed you for the day of Redemption, He has covered you, redeemed you, and blessed you. Pick up the magnificent Word of God this morning and read the TRUTH.

Rejoice, beloved! God loves you (He gave His love to you) and He’s for you (His angels keep guard over you) and that’s what gives you strength and purpose against anyone who tried to steal your life IN Christ in the days ahead.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. AMP

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP

John 1:16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. AMP

2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. NAS

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

Blessed to be a Guest at The Busy Nothings blog of Heidi Clark

I am so blessed to be a blog guest of Heidi Nelson of Fayetteville AR.  She and my daughter Diona have been friends since 4th grade. Please go over to her blog and check her out. She will also be guest posting for me in the near future.  God is good and He gives us wonderful gifts through friendships in faith!

The Busy Nothings blog

Wishing or Walking?

I saw two of the largest loads of hay I’ve ever seen while driving to work. Two semis full of huge round bales.

Reminds me of the old wives’ tale my mother used to subscribe to: “Make a wish on a load of hay.” The rule was to make a wish as you passed a load, but if you look back it wouldn’t come true.  If I still believed in that tale I would have been making some HUGE wishes when I saw those two loads of hay. I’d also be full of worry that I might catch a glimpse in the rear view mirror or be tempted to turn around and look back. Then all the wishes would be lost. Great opportunity turned to disaster all because of what I might or might not do.

God is not a load of hay! There’s no wishing and desperation involved with talking to God and letting Him respond to us.   He doesn’t give us one shot at Him to hurry and shoot out a quick request. He is God, the Only True God. He’s not an icon we bow to, an image we polish or a wish we hope for.

Wishing and luck may be fun to think about, but neither of them matter when it comes to a life of faith.  Luck has absolutely nothing to do with it and aren’t you glad? If life in Christ were simply a matter of luck then some would have good luck and others would have bad luck. If wishing were the only way to have blessings then which wishes are best? A penny in the well? Salt behind the back? Loads of hay?

We are not like that! For the one who has accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior we are walking in the divine favor of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! We have been born into blessings as a child of God.  We have the knowledge of the Lord and can increase in that knowledge all the days of our lives. We can live in the light of His Word so that we know how to live, how to be blessed and how to share that life others.

You may be living under a cloud of regret, remorse or misfortune. You may think you are unloved, uncared for, unappreciated and unlucky. The circumstances you’ve dealt with have been hard. God knows the entire situation from the beginning of your life to the present time right now.  His Spirit says to quit living under the cloud and begin to live in praise of the One Who has bought you, redeemed you, lifted you out of the miry clay and set your feet on the Rock! Instead of wishing, look to the Lord – for His Word is full of His promises along with the way to walk in those promises. Stop looking for loads of hay or lucky pennies and run to the Word of God and read – every Word is given, God breathed, into your life and the life of every believer for their good and God’s glory.

Oh beloved, you are not lucky you are blessed! You are not living under a cloud but in the light of the Lord’s presence. Run to His Word and let your heart be strengthened for faith so that whether the sun is shining or things look bad you can know that God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

John 4:24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (NAS)

I John 5:3-5 For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous). For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.  Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]? (Amplified)

Is that Your Father Calling You?

Observing three small grandchildren across the street I see that they often have a hearing problem. They don’t hear their mother when she calls them to supper, calls them to come in or calls them to get back in their own yard. It seems that the ability to hear is closely tied to the enjoyment they are having at the time they are called.  Playing in the creek or over at the neighbor’s house finds them totally deaf!

Then there’s the bone structure problems they have. No kidding! Call them home and they go limp and can barely walk. Tell them they can’t have ice cream till after supper and they almost crawl away from the refrigerator, arms hanging limply in front of them and their heads bent nearly to their chests.

Of course as people grow up they begin to respond much quicker to instruction and don’t display the skeletal problems children so often do.  I mean we’re grownups, so we are quick to obey and walk away from things without giving it a second thought. Right?

God speaks to my heart. It’s pretty easy to ignore God’s voice. We find ourselves in complete abandon to something we enjoy and He speaks softly into our hearts, “Come back to Me”, we flick a hand at our ear and go right back to our fun.  We lose our temper and stay mad and we hear “something” like “really is that the way you should behave?” and we want the anger more than the obedience.  We may feel our hearts being tugged to missionary work, changing jobs, checking on a neighbor, giving an extra dollar. The list goes on. We weigh the situation and often find that we’d just rather not listen to the still small voice trying to woo us to obedience.

We forget that obedience garners reward. Oh not always immediately, but reward does come for those who obey God’s still small voice. There’s punishment for the disobedient as well. Now children usually get grounded or get a spanking for their disobedience. But we believers are punished much worse I do believe. Because eventually we’re going to feel the Holy Spirit’s sting of conviction. We’re going to come to ourselves and realize we’ve messed up. And then we run home to the Father asking His forgiveness and praying that we haven’t lost complete touch with Him.

Just like a child must be trained to walk in obedience to their parents, we believers must train ourselves to walk in obedience to our Heavenly Father. We’re born again, we belong to the Family of God, but we have to learn to “act like it”. We have to train ourselves to listen for God’s voice and quickly follow, quickly answer, quickly respond.  I am still learning to hear Him, how about you?

Oh beloved, what a blessed child of God you are! Not only were you placed into an earthly family, with teaching, learning and growing, you were placed in God’s family! You have a Father who loves you unconditionally, the Son who obeyed all the way to the Cross for your disobedience and the Holy Spirit who keeps you able to listen to God the rest of your lives!  God knows the problems you encounter every day. There are so many things that would steal your joy, steal your heart and cause you to go deaf! But if you will trust the Lord and train yourself to listen to Him, you will find increased strength, increased stamina and multiplied joy and blessings! If you’ve found yourself in the wilderness of disobedience and you’ve quit hearing anything, today is your day to return Home to the Father! He is waiting outside your heart’s door to take you in immediately! He’s been searching for you as though you were a lost child out of earshot. He’s been calling you to repentance, which simply put is turning from your own desires to return to His fellowship!

Oh beloved, run to His Word this morning and hear Him speak: “I love you and I AM for you and that’s what you always need to remember to love Me, obey Me and live for Me alone”.

1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Isaiah 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.