God and his promise await us through the woods and over the foggy mountain of life. We only have to accept His outstretched hand as He offers to guide us to our final destination.
I was driving home from Massena tonight. Massena is a town about 24 miles from my home and usually that’s an easy drive. However, the fog was very thick and I was driving after dark.
taken through the fog.
Photo courtesy Dave Sanford.
We proceed toward our destination but the way is obscured. We need a guide through the fog. Our Loving Father is always holding out His hand to us.
I found myself using my very best driving skills and watching the road very carefully. I was very grateful for the painted lines on the edge and middle of the pavement.
At times, I could only see a short distance ahead of me. I could not anticipate all the curves and certainly would have had difficulty if a problem like a deer in the road had happened.
Foggy day in West Potsdam, NY. Photo courtesy Judi Sanford.
I could only trust the guidelines painted on the road, my driving experience and my God to get me home safely.
I could only trust the guidelines painted on the road, my driving experience and my God to get me home safely.
Life is like that. We can only see a very short distance into the future. We really need guidelines to follow to get us home safely.
What are our guidelines you ask? They are the lessons we have learned in life and the ones that we learn from God and His Manual for Life called the Bible.
There is not a situation that can come up that is not covered in the Bible. Parts of the Good Book were written many hundreds of years ago. Amazingly, this book is so well written that is really does cover whatever we encounter in life.
How can we use this guidebook? Well, we have to learn what’s in it. That means reading it and studying it.
I have read all of it at least once but find that there
is so much more to learn that I keep reading it. I learn something new every time I read in the Bible. I’ve also taken Bible study classes which have given me insights that I could not have developed on my own.
When we take the time to work through the obstacles that stand in our way, we can find great beauty and insight.
For God to be able to give you guidance when you get in a fog, you also require a relationship with Him. To have a relationship with God, You must accept Jesus as your Savior. You need to repent, that is tell Him you are sorry for what you have done wrong and ask Him to help you live His way.
In order to get to know Him and to believe in Him, you need to learn to rely on Him and when you do, you will find that you can trust Him completely.
What happens when you have a personal relationship with God? You come know in your heart of hearts that He is your Loving Father and you are His blessed child and that He will never let you go.
You will learn that He will never let you down. You can trust God infinitely more than the painted lines on the road or anything else created by mankind.
God will guide you around the obstacles in the road and through the curves that life throws at you. Experience will teach you that God is your Loving Father who will guide you safely through whatever life may send your way - if you will only trust Him.
How do you develop this relationship with God, you ask? You reach out to Him. Talk to Him, pray to Him. Let Him know what’s on your mind.
Ask Him to help you with your problems and concerns. He’s always there patiently and longingly waiting to hear from you.
Be still and listen for His still small voice that will answer when and how you may least expect.
I have found that His answers are not usually quick and dramatic but are very subtle and easy to miss if I'm not listening.
God always knows what is best so He answers in His time, His will and His way. I’ve learned that His way comes out perfect in the long run.
When I find myself in a fog in life, I look to God and ask for His guidance. He always steers me in the right direction.
Will you join me on my trip?
The destination is heavenly.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Lake Placid, NY
Like this gray scene, our gray days can still be filled with God's beauty.
Commentary:
Late fall, early winter is now upon us. As the ground adjusts to the temperature changes there are some very foggy days and nights. As we adjust to the changes that life gives us, our lives can become very foggy.
We've had one major snowfall and then the temperatures rose. Now nearly all the snow is gone. Most of the days have been gray so my pictures are not very colorful. God can make all things beautiful, even the grays of our lives.
We've had one major snowfall and then the temperatures rose. Now nearly all the snow is gone. Most of the days have been gray so my pictures are not very colorful. God can make all things beautiful, even the grays of our lives.
Advent has started. It's time to start preparing for the "reason for the season" to arrive. It is so amazing to think that the creator of all that exists became a totally helpless baby born to two poor teenagers.
This kingly child was born in a stable because "there was no place for Him in the inn." His cradle was a rough animal feed trough. No hospital, no doctor to attend the birth, no medication. Only stinky animals for company.
Nothing was easy. Nothing was "kingly."
Imagine that the Lord of all Lords, the Great I Am, the King of all Kings became one of us this way. The Creator of the Universe became man under the lowliest of circumstances to be the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
He was born, lived and died to save us from our sins. He did this to restore our path to the Father that our sins had destroyed. We could never accomplish this on our own so He did this for us. Just for you and me. We could never do enough to deserve it but He loves us so much He did it for us.
Imagine His love for you and rejoice!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
The swamp on Rte. 35 Norwood, NY.
God give us what we need to succeed.
This rare sunny day lifted my spirits and revealed much beauty that is hidden on the gray days.
River Road between Norwood and Potsdam, NY
View from bridge over river near Hewitville, NY
River Road near Potsdam, NY
Swamp on river Road near Potsdam, NY
Book Reviews:
Because of Bethlehem Love is Born
I read this just in time for Christmas. Max Lucado uses his dynamic style to re-tell the Christmas story and explain to us why our lives will never be the same "Because of Bethlehem." I recommend this book.
The Case for Christmas
As an reputable investigative reporter, Lee Strobel explores his journey from athieism to Christianity. He consulted the experts and found the actual proof for Jesus, for Bethlehem and so much more. This little gem of a book expelled many doubts that had lingered in my own mind. An excellent read and just in time for Christmas.
Knapps Station Community Church
Our church has many committees and groups that work hard to help our church family and our community. This week I'd like to highlight our Missions Committee. This group is funded by part of the Sunday offerings and is used to financially assist individuals and organizations that would not be helped otherwise. For example, Missions has helped fund several young people who served in the mission field in Guatamala, Mexico and in the United States. Missions also helps support area food pantries as well as medical transportations needs of individuals who had no other way to meet those needs. We are blessed to be able to share God's Love in this way.
What Matters is Who God Is is a current blog post by my friend Jean Oathout. This discusses the book of the same name by Max Lucado and gives many examples of how completely we can trust God.
Blessing:
May your heart be filled with anticipation and JOY knowing that soon the Christ Child
will again visit this dreary world
and fill your heart
with His incredible love and peace
May this JOY be yours for all eternity
Red berries that I've never noticed before remain on bushes on Rte. 35 Norwood, NY. Their bright red color is a stark contrast to the gray bark and snow.
This kingly child was born in a stable because "there was no place for Him in the inn." His cradle was a rough animal feed trough. No hospital, no doctor to attend the birth, no medication. Only stinky animals for company.
Nothing was easy. Nothing was "kingly."
Imagine that the Lord of all Lords, the Great I Am, the King of all Kings became one of us this way. The Creator of the Universe became man under the lowliest of circumstances to be the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
He was born, lived and died to save us from our sins. He did this to restore our path to the Father that our sins had destroyed. We could never accomplish this on our own so He did this for us. Just for you and me. We could never do enough to deserve it but He loves us so much He did it for us.
Imagine His love for you and rejoice!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God give us what we need to succeed.
This rare sunny day lifted my spirits and revealed much beauty that is hidden on the gray days.
Book Reviews:
Because of Bethlehem Love is Born
I read this just in time for Christmas. Max Lucado uses his dynamic style to re-tell the Christmas story and explain to us why our lives will never be the same "Because of Bethlehem." I recommend this book.
The Case for Christmas
As an reputable investigative reporter, Lee Strobel explores his journey from athieism to Christianity. He consulted the experts and found the actual proof for Jesus, for Bethlehem and so much more. This little gem of a book expelled many doubts that had lingered in my own mind. An excellent read and just in time for Christmas.
Knapps Station Community Church
Our church has many committees and groups that work hard to help our church family and our community. This week I'd like to highlight our Missions Committee. This group is funded by part of the Sunday offerings and is used to financially assist individuals and organizations that would not be helped otherwise. For example, Missions has helped fund several young people who served in the mission field in Guatamala, Mexico and in the United States. Missions also helps support area food pantries as well as medical transportations needs of individuals who had no other way to meet those needs. We are blessed to be able to share God's Love in this way.
What Matters is Who God Is is a current blog post by my friend Jean Oathout. This discusses the book of the same name by Max Lucado and gives many examples of how completely we can trust God.
Blessing:
May your heart be filled with anticipation and JOY knowing that soon the Christ Child
will again visit this dreary world
and fill your heart
with His incredible love and peace
May this JOY be yours for all eternity
All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen unless otherwise noted-
used with permission
All bible reference from the NIV unless otherwise noted
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The next post will be 12-17-2016
