Heavenly GPS

I am back from my trip to New York. Thank you so much for praying. God heard your prayers. I always feel like God uses these trips to spend time with me... just me. Why He loves to be with me, I don't know- but I know He does. Last time I made this trip, I realized He was taking me there not just to see the doctor but because He wanted my full attention to hear His voice and to sit at His feet. I could feel His jealous love for me. That is such a cool thing. This time was no different...

I got to the Dr's office 2 hours early so I went down the street to get a bagel and to read my Bible. When I walked out of the Bagel shop, I said in my heart..."Ok, Lord, I am here. I know you brought me here... so here I am". I had my Bible in my backpack and looked for a place to sit down to eat and read. I couldn't find anywhere to sit because it was in an old junky strip center with nothing really around. I actually prayed about it because I KNEW this was a pre-planned meeting. Then I looked to the right and saw on the other side of the parking lot through some tree branches a white gazebo surrounded by flowers. I was immediately overwhelmed by God's love for me-that He would do that for me and make it so obvious! I haven't felt more like a bride since my wedding day.

So, I sat and read and prayed and begged God to use my suffering for His glory but also to HEAL me. I watched the white clouds roll by in the crystal clear blue sky as I looked toward heaven. I don't doubt His ability to heal me for a second. He spoke that blue sky into existence- I know He can heal me. Whether He will choose to is what I don't know. But I trust Him, with all of my heart and soul... I trust Him.

I told Tim about this. He has been to that Bagel Shop and didn't remember seeing a gazebo anywhere near there. He joked that the angels delivered it and they have probably already moved it to another place for God to spend time with another girl He loves~ maybe you. ;)

"The king is enthralled by your beauty, honor Him for he is your Lord." Psalm 45:11

Another thing I wanted to share with you is how much a tomtom (or GPS) reminds me of how God leads us.

I flew into the Newark Airport and then picked up my rental car. I have to have a GPS when I am up there or I would probably end up at our beach condo instead of the Dr's office. So, I plug in my destination address - it calculates, and then it tells me where to go. It is zoomed in so close that I can only see the next turn. It says stuff like, "Turn left- stay in the right lane. Next turn 300 yards." Twice, I missed my turn and wound up taking a detour through 'the hood' as it rerouted me back to the right road. Those wrong roads were scary and I couldn't wait to get back to the original route. I also lost time.

As this is happening, I am thinking of the similarities in following God. We only have a "lamp before our feet"- not a floodlight, a lamp. God illuminates the path right in front of us so we will know where to turn. He does this by His Word, Prayer, Promptings of the Holy Spirit and counsel of other Christians. We can take a wrong road and get ourselves into dangerous places when we don't follow His instructions. But with a repentant heart, God always reroutes us back. We lose time and suffer consequences but He is faithful to bring us back to the right place every time we ask Him to. Without God's Word, I would be as lost as I am when I am driving in New York. Waisting time and finding dead ends. All of us would be LOST without the GPS God has given us... the Word of God. Praise God for the wisdom found in the Bible to lead us through this life!!!

"Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your WAYS be established." Proverbs 4:26

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"The Lord says, 'I will GUIDE you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you'." Psalms 32:8

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“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good WAY is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

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"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the WAY; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

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"By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life." Psalms 42:8

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"He does not take his eyes off the righteous"Job 36:7

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"From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
LEAD ME to the rock that is higher than I." Psalms 61:2

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"Point out anything in me that offends you, and LEAD ME along the path of everlasting life."

Psalms 139:24

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"Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
LEAD ME on level ground." Psalms 143:10

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"With unfailing love you will LEAD this people whom you have ransomed. You will GUIDE them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells." Exodus 15:13

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"But for those who are righteous, the PATH is not steep and rough. You are a God of justice, and you smooth out the ROAD ahead of them." Isaiah 26:7

(How awesome is that verse????)

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"The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore." Psalms 121:8

God, help us to hear your voice and FOLLOW the path you have set for us. We know that your perfect path is filled with righteousness and repentance. Help us to be quick repenters so that we can get back on the level ground and out of the danger that we put ourselves in when we sin. Thank you that you can REDEEM our bad decisions and reroute us back to You every time we sin. Lead us to YOU, The Rock that is higher than we are, when our hearts are overwhelmed by hardship and suffering. Thank you that you have not left us without a guide. Thank you for Your Word and the Holy Spirit that we can know the Path of Everlasting Life found only through your Son, Jesus.Thank you that You watch over us and lead us, Your lost sheep, to green pastures, still waters and gazebos ;).

Be Blessed~

Steph