GOD SAYS; “NEED DIRECTIONS?” “MY WAY IS THE HIGHWAY.”

Have we not all come a long way when it comes to electronics and technology? Do you remember the black and white TV type arcade game called “Pong” that was created in 1972? How about the 1986 release of the Atari 7800, or the June 23, 1996 release of the Nintendo 64? Then fast forward to video games on our cell phones, the Nintendo DS, the X-Box, and the Wii. And the technology continues to improve and graphics are rapidly evolving at unbelievable speeds.

Haven’t we all been impressed by the head-spinning advances in what we now commonly know as GPS units? Nearly 1/3 of all American households now have access to either a hand-held cell phone type, a car dash installed type, or a portable Global Positioning System. Looks like that just about eliminates the old front seat remark that went something like this: “Honey just pull over and ask for directions, you know we’re lost!”

In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, he presents a paraphrase of what Wise King Solomon shared in Proverbs 3: 5 - 7a “Trust God from the Bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all.”

We really don’t have to get off track according to Solomon. We can stay on the right road, headed in the right direction, moving at the right speed, as we give God total control of our steering –will-. When we surrender to the Holy, Heavenly GPS, the one that was designed by God who is the actual creator of the very globe itself, we can be certain, His guidance will always be the right guidance.

If and when we stray from the right path, and we come to our Savior as I John 1:9 tells us to do, and we ask His forgiveness, just as your car’s GPS says “Recalculating” when you change directions, God also reminds us that our immediate U-Turn gets us headed back in the right direction.

Friends, on this very busy Tuesday can you pause for a moment and ask yourself if you have charted your Christian travels correctly? Have you mapped out the way God would have you to travel as you daily pursue your spiritual journey? Today just pause for a moment and YIELD to the directions provided by The Holy Spirit’s wisdom. Do a quick spiritual check-up and remember; God says; “Need Directions?” “My Way IS the Highway.”

Travel safely this week.

Pastor Darryl

Serving The God of Miracles

As I have been preparing for a week of "Spiritual Renewal" Services at the very wonderful Greenville South Carolina First Church of the Nazarene September 13 thru 16 I have been so overwhelmed by the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit. With every passage I have read, with every thought that has come as I have been writing the sermons God would have me to deliver, I remain in awe of His presence.

My niece Kathy and husband Sean who attend Greenville First are anxiously awaiting the birth of their new baby boy CHASE who is struggling in the womb with the heart issues surrounding HLHS. Right after praying for them again to be met by God's Holy Spirit in a personal way, I read Kathy's new blog post. Thank you Lord. I was so encouraged and I was blessed as I see their faith in God growing as God is taking she and Sean to a new level of TRUST. How wonderful it is to see the Holy Spirit, the great "Comfortor" doing what He does so well.

I know that the issues that each of us face are extremely important because we are the ones going through them. Ah, but may I please offer the encouragement needed as I remind us all that we are not going through these challenges of life alone. We have as our traveling companion the greatest friend ever - one who sticks closer than a brother - His name is JESUS!

If you too need a Miracle as do Sean and Kathy, then I remind you of the words of Paul to the Church at Ephesus in 3:20-21 as recorded in "The Message"... "God can do anything you know-far more than you could ever ask or request or imagine in your wildest dreams..."

So I say Let's Keep ASKING, Let's keep DREAMING because He's still ANSWERING.

Pastor Darryl