Use Your GPS

Today while driving, I didn't listen to the voice coming out of my GPS because I thought I knew a better route to get to my desired destination.

However, I was wrong. Very wrong. Not only did I take the wrong route, but in doing so, I ran into extra obstacles and road blocks.

First I turned down a street where construction was going on and the lane was blocked.

Then I came to a busy intersection, and the signal light was not working and we all know how most people pretend to not understand how to make it a four-way stop.

When I finally thought I was back on the correct route, I came to railroad tracks and seemingly the longest train ever comes. So I had yet another delay.

What should have been a 10 minute drive turned into 55 minutes. It also resulted in much frustration, stress and ended with a mind-blowing headache.

I was faced with all these unnecessary issues all because I didn't allow the GPS to do the very thing I purchased it for: to direct me from one destination to the other.

Although by purchasing it, I was supposedly saying that I trusted it to do the job for which it was created.

Yet, I still thought my way was better. Look where it got me.

We often do the exact same thing in our Christian walk.

God has provided us with a life GPS, the Bible (A good friend of mine calls it God's Position System).

The Bible has clear and concise instructions/ directions for every aspect of our life.

God even gave each of us access to the Holy Spirit to remind and nudge us when we begin to get off the designated track.

Yet, just like me this morning, too often we feel like we know better than the GPS (Bible) and decide to go our own route.

The Bible says turn right and we turn left. We purposely block out that little voice that keeps telling us to take a u-turn. And what happens?

We find ourselves wondering how our lives got turned upside down. Stuck in bad situations. Facing meaningless obstacles. Waiting for trains to pass that never should have been on our route to start with.

And yes, God can get us back on track just like the GPS did in my car.

But first we must finally relinquish control and listen to it.

So be encouraged. It may take longer than it should have but you can get back on track and become everything God called you to be.

Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
(Psalm 119:133)


By Tanya S. Martin-James

The Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally, the third tree said, "I want to grow up to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a
carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree, the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy
because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down, his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to
an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the street as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined but in ways greater than they had dared to hope.

--Author Unknown

The Sack of Potatoes

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes.
 
For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the  plastic bag.
 
Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting  it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually.

Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime.

This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity.

Too often, we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person.
 
While that's true, it clearly is also a gift for ourselves.

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself - isn't my bag heavy enough?
 
--author unknown