Mid-Week Message - Wise Choices

"So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."  Ephesians 5:15-17  (NLT)  

There is a little rhyme about a peanut that I used to say with my daughter.  It goes like this:  "A peanut sat on a railroad track, his heart was all a-flutter.  Along came a train whistling down that track -- toot, toot, peanut butter."  It's just a silly little poem but I found it useful in teaching her about making smart choices.  Those of you with children know that anything that can be used to teach should be taken advantage of.  I believe Jesus used parables in the same way.  He saw an opportunity to teach and took it. 

Even as an adult though, I think that little peanut can teach us something.  Obviously it wouldn't be smart to sit down and rest on a railroad track.  But we are faced with choices that have to made all day, every day.  When we open our eyes in the morning, we are presented with a blank slate and as we move through the day, we have multiple chances to choose wisely.

As people cross our paths we have the option of sharing the love of the Lord with them.  We have chances to invest a bit of time in their lives, showing them they are important and finding out how we can pray for them.  Or we can let those opportunities pass on by as we worry about our own lives, never giving a thought to what difficulties others may be facing or what needs they may have.  We may never know what happens in those lives after that moment.  What if it isn't only us that lets those moments go?  What if no one else reaches out to them even though we assume someone will?  

Whether we spend our days in a workplace, in the public, or at home, the most important thing needs to be representing Christ.  We are to be His reflection.  The way we treat others, the way we do business, the way we act in the grocery store line, the way we parent, the way we speak, the way we conduct ourselves while driving, the way we relate through social media are all chances to exercise wisdom.  The saying, "More of Jesus, less of me" should be our guide.  Each waking moment we have the privilege of walking hand in hand with our Savior.  If we remember He is beside us, maybe that will help us to keep in mind that whatever we choose to do should honor Him.  

I include myself in everything I have said above.  It is sometimes a struggle for me to reach out to those around me.  I have to pray for that reminder and strength.  The enemy is very good at continually whispering to me about the problems in my own life.  He loves for me to focus on myself because when I do I am not being mindful of the power of God's grace and mercy.  Only when my eyes are on Him do I understand the importance of choosing to honoring Him and blessing others.  

Everything we do is a choice of some kind.  What we fill our minds with, how we manage our time, and, most importantly, how we share Jesus with others, are all major selections that we make each and every day.  If we fail to choose wisely it hurts us and possibly others.  As we go through this week, let's exercise the option to choose wisdom in all we do and say.  May God guide and bless us all.  

Mid-Week Message - Being Sure of the Truth

"Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!"  Psalm 46:10 (AMPC)

When I was in the ninth grade in Junior High, the English teachers combined classes and presented a program that was meant as an avenue for enlightenment.  They showed videos of the Vietnam War and talked about all the reasons being tossed about as to why the United States was involved.  They also played a myriad of popular songs that were rumored to actually be written about drugs.  One of those songs was "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary.  What I had always believed to be a wonderful children's song, they said was actually about marijuana.  It bothered me because I had never seen it that way so I did a bit of research.  The writer of the poem, a man named Leonard Lipton, says that he penned the song in 1959 after reading an Ogden Nash poem entitled "Custard the Dragon."  Peter Yarrow of the music group, found the poem and wrote the music for it and published it as a song.  Leonard Lipton said he did not write the poem with any drug ideas in mind and was appalled that people would believe a song would ever be presented to children that touted drug usage. To this day, I wonder how many of my fellow former students still believe what they were taught that day.  If they never took the time to check it out for themselves, then I would suppose they do.  

Each day we are bombarded by multiple types of media and told what to think, and sadly many people take everything in as truth.  Programming that used to be vehicles for the delivery of actual news, has now become a series of commentaries and individual interpretations of the news.  While we are hearing about events that actually happen, we are receiving the information through a haze of someone else's thoughts rather than simply hearing the facts and making up our own minds about what they mean.  Rarely do I talk to others who do their own research to determine whether what they take in that is being presented as fact is actually true.  Because something is written in the a newspaper or aired on television it is blindly accepted.  

I wish I could say that this never happens in other places.  However, schools have also been found to either be selective in what is taught, thereby only presenting one side, or actually teaching what is only conjecture as fact.  Our students aren't being taught the art of investigation wherein they learn to weigh all of the data and form their own beliefs and opinions.  Even more sadly, this also happens in churches.  

A very wise man told me years ago to use wisdom even when listening to preachers and teachers.  I wish I could say that everything said from a pulpit is exactly what the Lord would wish to have said.  My friend's advice was to know the Word of God personally and to check out what is taught to make sure what I heard was solid and true.  His words were, "Eat the fish and spit out the bones."   Over the years, these words have stuck in my soul so that I listen carefully to know whether what is being taught is in line with scripture.  I read the text for myself.  Just as with the song I mentioned above, it is always good to go directly to the author for clarification.  

We serve a very big God.  Somehow, some way, He is able to have a personal relationship with each one of us as if we were His only child.  His desire is that we get as close to Him as possible and the best way to do that is through His Word.  Through the Bible He has revealed Himself and will draw us near.  We all need to be in a good, Bible teaching church.  We need the fellowship and teaching that we can trust to be from the Holy Spirit.  The only way we will know if that is occurring though is by seeking God on our own, through prayer, through the reading of His Word.  We have to get to know Him personally so that we can hear His voice and walk in His truth rather than what the world would have us think.  With great love, God bless you. 

Mid-Week Message - Concentrating on Wisdom

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Each year the Lord gives me a word or a phrase to concentrate on.  One year, the word was "trust."  Of course I never know at the time why He gives me what He does.  That year I found out why fairly quickly though.  My husband had gotten ill with what we thought was a simple sinus infection at the end of December.  By February, however, he was in surgery and fighting for his life.  That illness brought about a series of changes and difficulties for our family and "trust" became the most important word in my life.  The next year, as I continued to lean upon trusting Him, He gave me the word "wisdom."  

I have always admired Solomon for asking the Lord for wisdom when he was told he could ask for anything, and I am so glad that his story is included in scripture.  I wonder how many of us would have chosen as well if given the same option.  While I sincerely hope that I would put similar thought into such an offer, I fear that I would reach for something more immediately gratifying.  Actually, I would probably ask for the needs of my family members to be met because that is more concerning to me than anything that I desire personally. 

There are lessons about being wise all around us.  We have only to open our eyes and ears to find them.  Even the youngest among us are exposed to opportunities to see the difference between wisdom and foolishness.  The story of The Three Little Pigs has been on my mind since I started pondering this subject.  We all know that there were three pigs who needed to build houses for themselves.  The first one was in a hurry to get it done so he could return to having fun so he put together the fastest thing he could think of which was a house of straw.  The second pig put a little more thought into his and chose sticks to build his home out of.  Neither of these two considered the future dangers that their choices could encounter. Just as the man who built his house upon the sand, once the high winds came, the houses fell.  But the third little pig took his time to plan for unforeseen occurrences.  I'm sure he looked at all his options before he made his choice and he chose wisely.  His house of bricks stood up to everything the "big bad wolf" threw at it because it was sturdy and well built just like the house built on the rock.  

The "rock" represents our faith.  When we entrust the Father with our cares and turn to Him with our needs, concerns and fears, we are exercising wisdom.  We are seeking His counsel, and asking for His direction.  Wisdom comes from seeing from the standpoint of the mind of God.  When we ask Him to show us how He sees our lives and circumstances, we are asking Him to make us wise.  We begin to move beyond worldly understanding and lean more upon Him to teach us to see through spiritual eyes and hear through spiritual ears.  The more we do that, the closer we draw near to Him and the more our hearts and minds are transformed.  Being one with Him will be our greatest desire.  

As I continue to ask for His wisdom I hope you all will come along and that we can embark upon this adventure together.  Keep your eyes and ears open for other examples, such as the simple fairy tale I spoke of.  Ask God to reveal Himself through unexpected sources.  He will.  You just have to be watching.  God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Slow Down and Look Up

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."  Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

As I was on my way back home one day, I was passed by a small red car.  The driver seemed to be in quite a hurry to get wherever he was going as he was travelling at a much higher rate of speed than was legal.  One thing he did not take into account was that this particular stretch of highway is a "no passing zone."  Once he got past me in the short passing lane he had to contend with another vehicle that was obeying the speed limit.  I watched as he followed this car very closely - too closely.  I backed off because I was concerned that there could be an accident if the front driver braked for some reason.

Fortunately, nothing bad happened.  However, as I watched, the Lord spoke to my spirit about wisdom.  Some of us are in the same position as the driver of the red car.  We find ourselves in a hurry to get somewhere.  Maybe it is to a higher paying job or a more impressive title.  Maybe it is to get married or have a family.  Possibly it is just looking for that feeling of being complete or peaceful and we find ourselves in various addictions or in with groups of people that lead us where we should not go.  We work and work to get to whatever it is that we're seeking.  

The only place that we can find true happiness, true joy, true peace or true fulfillment and satisfaction is in Christ.  He is "the way, the truth and the life."  There is no person or substance on this earth than can provide for us the acceptance or completeness that we are searching for.  I am not in any way saying that it is wrong to strive for a better life.  It is certainly not a bad thing to wish for a mate or a family.  But, once you have them, you need to be aware that you may still find something lacking and there is only one place to turn to fill you to the brim and that is Jesus.

Proverbs contains many verses about wisdom.  I'm sure you are familiar with them.  Wisdom comes from seeking the mind of God Himself.  When we align ourselves with Him and begin to ask Him to reveal His desires for our lives, then we begin to open ourselves to His solutions for what we feel is missing.  Sometimes, He grants us exactly what we have been asking for and sometimes He doesn't.  The one thing we can always be sure of though is that He loves us with an everlasting love that is deeper and purer than we can even imagine.  When He says either yes or no, it is because He knows it is the best thing for us.  

Are you chasing something today?  Is something lacking in your life?  Are you looking for something or someone that will complete you and fill you with the love and acceptance that you long for?  Jesus is waiting and He desires to be your everything.  Rather than tailgating at high speeds and falling into dangerous traps, slow down and look up.  Ask for wisdom for your life.  Ask the Lord to show you His plans and dreams for you.  You cannot out-dream Almighty God.  Blessings. 

Mid-Week Message - Thinking Before Speaking

"Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."  Proverbs 21:23  (NLT)

I had an argument with my daughter one night recently.  If I had taken the time to think before I spoke, I would have realized that bringing up the subject that was on my mind would likely lead to a conversation that would upset her.  And there really was no reason to discuss it at all.  It had nothing to do with either of us personally nor did it have any bearing on what was currently happening in either of our lives.  It simply crossed my mind and tumbled out of my mouth before I gave any further thought to it at all.  

Sadly, but honestly, I have been a slow learner when it comes to thinking before speaking.  Not only have I suffered from it personally by getting in trouble with parents, teachers and employers but I have deeply wounded people I love.  My intention wasn't to do so but when I chose not to exercise wisdom and restraint, my words were like arrows that pierced their hearts.  Although I have usually been quick to seek forgiveness, I know that the human mind can long remember offenses.  

James 3:7-10 tells us, "People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.  It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.  Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right."  

If "no one can tame the tongue" as James writes, then what are we to do?  People are impulsive creatures and as such we must ask the Lord to teach us how to counter those impulses.  When it is more important that we say what we want to say than it is for us to consider how others will receive our words, people are hurt.  

Ephesians 4:29b has this to say, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."  If we remain aware that our words are to encourage others, we will be more likely to choose them carefully.  In order to do this, we will need to realize that the other person's need for godly encouragement far outweighs our own desires.  

Anger, vulgarity and hate are spewed from countless mouths each day.  This world needs for those of us who belong to Jesus to love and build each other up.  It needs for us to be praying and praising.  It needs light in societies where there is so much darkness.   Taming our tongues is not an easy thing to do, but we don't have to do it alone.  If we allow the Lord full reign in our lives, He will do great things to make us more like Jesus and that will include teaching us to seek His wisdom before we speak.  

Gratefully in His grace.   

Mid-Week Message - A Lesson From a Ferris Wheel

  "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer..."   1 Peter 3:12a  (NIV)

I can still see the look in his eyes.  When my daughter was four years old, we went to Texas City, Texas to visit my parents and my aunt and uncle.  One of the things I wanted to do was to take her to Galveston to see the beach and the ocean.  On the evening that we chose to go, my father, who never wanted to miss a moment with his first grandchild, decided to ride along.  

Before we got to the beach, she spotted a roadside carnival and began asking if we could go there after the beach.  She liked the sand and all the water, but she was most excited about stopping to have some fun on the way home.  Being that I also always loved carnivals, we stopped.  

She rode the Merry-Go-Round and a couple of other rides meant for young children.  We played a couple of the games and had some cotton candy.  She was curious about the Ferris Wheel so I asked the man who was running it if it would be safe for me to take her for a ride, as I am always concerned about my weight causing a problem.  After giving me the history of the wheel, he assured me it was more than sturdy enough.  

Now my father had never liked this particular ride.  He didn't trust it and he surely did not want his daughter and granddaughter on it.  He told me he didn't think it was a good idea and he asked me to please reconsider.  However, by this time my daughter was excited and, frankly, so was I.  After taking our seat and as the wheel started moving, I looked at my father and saw distress.  He was so worried.  

When I recalled this incident the other day, I began thinking about our Heavenly Father and how diligent He is to watch His children.  Psalm 139 tells us that He is always aware of what we are doing, so I wonder what the look would be in His eyes when we put ourselves in danger or engage in sinful activities.  

The look in my dad's eyes came from his love for us.  If our parents love us that much, just think how incredible the love of God is!  I didn't honor Daddy's request and it hurt him because he was trying to keep us safe.  When we fail to follow the Lord's leading, we have to be aware that we are choosing our own path rather than staying under the protected cover of His wings.  

Thankfully, nothing happened to us that evening.  Were I to have the chance to relive the moment, I would take my father's advice because now I understand that, in his wisdom, he knew that I was putting both myself and my daughter in avoidable danger.  With age comes a deeper understanding of the frailty of life.  I am so grateful for his deep love and that the Lord chose that precious man to raise me.  And I am astounded by what the Father has taught me about Himself through my time with my dad.  

Lord, thank you that your eyes are always on us.  How I'd love to see the look of love that you have for each of your children.  

"I sing because I'm happy.  I sing because I'm free.  For His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."  💓

Mid-Week Message - Looking Ahead

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."  1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)  

One of my favorite Christmas presents ever received was given to me by my grandfather.  It was a Chatty Cathy doll.  Oh, how I loved her!  Of course, as toys that are played with do, eventually she no longer talked and was discarded into the memories of my youth.  When my daughter was around six, they began remaking the doll.  I saw it in a catalog and showed it to my husband.  My mother also saw it and that following Christmas I was given an identical box from each of them.  Two lovely Chatty Cathy dolls!  

During this time I was collecting rag dolls.  My little one knew that the dolls were not to be played with.  However, when the Chatty Cathy dolls arrived, it was almost too much for her.  One day she asked me if she could play with one of them.  My response was, "No.  But one day all of my dolls will be yours."  When she asked for clarification I explained that someday I would die and she would become the owner of many things that I had, including the dolls.  She then perked up and asked me quite eagerly, "When are you going to die?"  That is still something we laugh over.  

As I grow older and think of my own mortality, I realize how precious the time I have on this earth is and how vital it is that the time I have left is used wisely.  I make a sincere attempt to show appreciation for the blessings I have been given and to share love and encouragement with the people God brings into my pathway.   But I have begun to understand that more is needed.  

My prayer has become that the Lord would open my eyes and enable me to see as He sees.  I have walked with Him now for many years and He has taught me that His perspective is much more complete than mine.  But, He is more than willing to grant wisdom when it is sought and that wisdom is able to remove the blinders from my earthly eyes to allow me to more clearly see into the hearts of those created in His image.  When that occurs, love can more freely flow because there is a deeper understanding of the pain and need that others experience which creates a fervent desire to accompany them to the foot of the cross where they might find forgiveness and healing.  

As we all enter this new year, may we do so agreeing in prayer that our Father would open our hearts, minds and eyes to see as He sees?  Rather than a fuzzy image, we need to clearly understand that His desire is that none should perish.  We do not have control over whether someone accepts the salvation that is offered to them, but we certainly have control over whether we treat those around us with compassion and love and share the Good News with them.  They may turn away from the gospel, but, oh, beloved, what if they embrace the Savior?  We will never hear the rejoicing if we never share Him.  

I wish you all a blessed 2020.  May we enter this decade understanding the urgency that the passing of the years creates and may we all look forward to His return.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Choosing Wisely

"So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."  Ephesians 5:15-17  (NLT)  

There is a little rhyme about a peanut that I used to say with my daughter.  It goes like this:  "A peanut sat on a railroad track, his heart was all a-flutter.  Along came a train whistling down that track -- toot, toot, peanut butter."  It's just a silly little poem but I found it useful in teaching her about making smart choices.  Those of you with children know that anything that can be used to teach should be taken advantage of.  I believe Jesus used parables in the same way.  He saw an opportunity to teach and took it. 

Even as an adult though, I think that little peanut can teach us something.  Obviously it wouldn't be smart to sit down and rest on a railroad track.  But we are faced with choices that have to made all day, every day.  When we open our eyes in the morning, we are presented with a blank slate and as we move through the day, we have multiple chances to choose wisely.

As people cross our paths we have the option of sharing the love of the Lord with them.  We have chances to invest a bit of time in their lives, showing them they are important and finding out how we can pray for them.  Or we can let those opportunities pass on by as we worry about our own lives, never giving a thought to what difficulties others may be facing or what needs they may have.  We may never know what happens in those lives after that moment.  What if it isn't only us that lets those moments go?  What if no one else reaches out to them even though we assume someone will?  

Whether we spend our days in a workplace, in the public, or at home, the most important thing needs to be representing Christ.  We are to be His reflection.  The way we treat others, the way we do business, the way we act in the grocery store line, the way we parent, the way we speak, the way we conduct ourselves while driving, the way we relate through social media are all chances to exercise wisdom.  The saying, "More of Jesus, less of me" should be our guide.  Each waking moment we have the privilege of walking hand in hand with our Savior.  If we remember He is beside us, maybe that will help us to keep in mind that whatever we choose to do should honor Him.  

I include myself in everything I have said above.  It is sometimes a struggle for me to reach out to those around me.  I have to pray for that reminder and strength.  The enemy is very good at continually whispering to me about the problems in my own life.  He loves for me to focus on myself because when I do I am not being mindful of the power of God's grace and mercy.  Only when my eyes are on Him do I understand the importance of choosing to honoring Him and blessing others.  

Everything we do is a choice of some kind.  What we fill our minds with, how we manage our time, and, most importantly, how we share Jesus with others, are all major selections that we make each and every day.  If we fail to choose wisely it hurts us and possibly others.  As we go through this week, let's exercise the option to choose wisdom in all we do and say.  May God guide and bless us all.  

Mid-Week Message - Pig Story Wisdom

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Each year the Lord gives me a word or a phrase to concentrate on.  Last year, the word was "trust."  Of course I never know at the time why He gives me what He does.  Last year I found out why fairly quickly though.  My husband had gotten ill with what we thought was a simple sinus infection at the end of December.  By February, however, he was in surgery and fighting for his life.  That illness brought about a series of changes and difficulties for our family and "trust" became the most important word in my life.  This year, as I continue to lean upon trusting Him, He has given me the word "wisdom."  

I have always admired Solomon for asking the Lord for wisdom when he was told he could ask for anything, and I am so glad that his story is included in scripture.  I wonder how many of us would have chosen as well if given the same option.  While I sincerely hope that I would put similar thought into such an offer, I fear that I would reach for something more immediately gratifying.  Actually, I would probably ask for the needs of my family members to be met because that is more concerning to me than anything that I desire personally. 

There are lessons about being wise all around us.  We have only to open our eyes and ears to find them.  Even the youngest among us are exposed to opportunities to see the difference between wisdom and foolishness.  The story of The Three Little Pigs has been on my mind since I started pondering this subject.  We all know that there were three pigs who needed to build houses for themselves.  The first one was in a hurry to get it done so he could return to having fun so he put together the fastest thing he could think of which was a house of straw.  The second pig put a little more thought into his and chose sticks to build his home out of.  Neither of these two considered the future dangers that their choices could encounter. Just as the man who built his house upon the sand, once the high winds came, the houses fell.  But the third little pig took his time to plan for unforeseen occurrences.  I'm sure he looked at all his options before he made his choice and he chose wisely.  His house of bricks stood up to everything the "big bad wolf" threw at it because it was sturdy and well built just like the house built on the rock.  

The "rock" represents our faith.  When we entrust the Father with our cares and turn to Him with our needs, concerns and fears, we are exercising wisdom.  We are seeking His counsel, and asking for His direction.  Wisdom comes from seeing from the standpoint of the mind of God.  When we ask Him to show us how He sees our lives and circumstances, we are asking Him to make us wise.  We begin to move beyond worldly understanding and lean more upon Him to teach us to see through spiritual eyes and hear through spiritual ears.   The more we do that, the closer we draw near to Him and the more our hearts and minds are transformed.  Being one with Him will be our greatest desire.  

I am excited about this new year and feel that by giving me this word the Father has asked me to move closer to Him because He is the source of wisdom.  I hope you all will come along and that we can embark upon this adventure together.  Keep your eyes and ears open for other examples, such as the simple fairy tale I spoke of.  Ask God to reveal Himself through unexpected sources.  He will.  You just have to be watching.  God bless you.  

Mid-Week Message - Tailgating at High Speed

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."  Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

As I was on my way from Carrollton back home to Newnan today, I was passed by a small red car.  The driver seemed to be in quite a hurry to get wherever he was going as he was travelling at a much higher rate of speed than was legal.  One thing he did not take into account was that this particular stretch of highway is a "no passing zone."  Once he got past me in the short passing lane he had to contend with another vehicle that was obeying the speed limit.  I watched as he followed this car very closely - too closely.  I backed off because I was concerned that there could be an accident if the front driver braked for some reason.

Fortunately, nothing bad happened.  However, as I watched, the Lord spoke to my spirit about wisdom.  Some of us are in the same position as the driver of the red car.  We find ourselves in a hurry to get somewhere.  Maybe it is to a higher paying job or a more impressive title.  Maybe it is to get married or have a family.  Possibly it is just looking for that feeling of being complete or peaceful and we find ourselves in various addictions or in with groups of people that lead us where we should not go.  We work and work to get to whatever it is that we're seeking.  

The only place that we can find true happiness, true joy, true peace or true fulfillment and satisfaction is in Christ.  He is "the way, the truth and the life."  There is no person or substance on this earth than can provide for us the acceptance or completeness that we are searching for.  I am not in any way saying that it is wrong to strive for a better life.  It is certainly not a bad thing to wish for a mate or a family.  But, once you have them, you need to be aware that you may still find something lacking and there is only one place to turn to fill you to the brim and that is Jesus.

Proverbs contains many verses about wisdom.  I'm sure you are familiar with them.  Wisdom comes from seeking the mind of God Himself.  When we align ourselves with Him and begin to ask Him to reveal His desires for our lives, then we begin to open ourselves to His solutions for what we feel is missing.  Sometimes, He grants us exactly what we have been asking for and sometimes He doesn't.  The one thing we can always be sure of though is that He loves us with an everlasting love that is deeper and purer than we can even imagine.  When He says either yes or no, it is because He knows it is the best thing for us.  

Are you chasing something today?  Is something lacking in your life?  Are you looking for something or someone that will complete you and fill you with the love and acceptance that you long for?  Jesus is waiting and He desires to be your everything.  Rather than tailgating at high speeds and falling into dangerous traps, slow down and look up.  Ask for wisdom for your life.  Ask the Lord to show you His plans and dreams for you.  You cannot out-dream Almighty God.  Blessings.