Thursday, May 21, 2009

What Pathway are You On?

What Pathway are You On?

For a long time this has been the question that I have continued to ask my self.  From the time I was in High School until now.  I would alway recheck and see if the path I was on would lead me to the place I wanted my life to be.  There were times that I had to redirect my life because it was leading me in a direction that was not healthy.  However sometimes it took wise counsel in my own life to even see that.  Earlier this week I listened to a sermon by Andy Stanley and he had a great view about this very topic.


So I want to ask you today....

Where do you want your life to be?

Is this path you are on really going to get you where you want to be?  


There are all types of paths that this world will tell you to take.  Here are some pathway choices, sound familiar?


1. I want to end up with this great christian guy or girl, so I will go out with who ever asks me....if they are cute. 

2. When I get married I want to have a great sex life so I will sleep with all the people I can so that I will be experienced.

3. I want to have a close family that can do everything together so I will work as hard and as much as I can to get that for them.

4. I want my future kids to respect me and come to me for advice so I am going to fool around outside my marriage.

5. I want to see my grandchildren grow up so I am going to neglect my health

6. I want to be a Godly man or woman and so I am going to read the newspaper every morning.


Path trumps intention every time.  Direction determines the destination, NOT intention !!!



It does not matter what your intentions, prayers, desires are.  Your direction determines your destination.  So the path you choose will determine what your marriage will be like.  The path you choose will determine the types of lives your kids will have.  The path you choose will determine the place you spend eternity.  Not your intentions.


You can have the best intentions in the world.  You could pray your head off.  But if your path will take you to your destination.  You can not sleep around and party and expect that when you “grow up” you marriage will be great.  It wont, because the path you choose determines you destination.  You can want to be a great man or woman of fatih, but if you never open your Bible then it wont happen.  The path to that destination is different then the one you chose.


So what if I am on the wrong path?


The answer is not easy but it is simple.  Get on a different path.  Look at where you want your life to be and choose that path.  Make your decisions based on you future. We too often get focused on what we are doing but we need to be focused on where we are heading.  We are focused on the immediate, and need to be focused on the ultimate.


Sometimes we can not see this on our own.   All too often we do not see what direction we are moving in.  It could be one with a disastrous ending but we think ours will end differently because of our intentions.  Some how our path will not follow those that have come before us.  


Direction determines destination, NOT intention


What is the path you are on and where is it going to take you?


The people around us can have the best view of our path.  That means we need to be asking those we trust if these path decisions will lead us to that point.  Go up to someone who is where you want to be and ask them.  They would be the best advice givers as to what you should be doing.

Has someone tried to warn you but you did not listen? Please reconsider.


Remember our direction determines out destination.  Not our intentions.


“6 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. 7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. 8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:14 "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." 21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:6-27

Sunday, May 10, 2009

How He Loves

There is a song that has been stuck in my head now for a few weeks.  It is How He Loves by Eddie Kirkland.  

He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.


The picture that is painted with these words is so powerful.  The image of God loving us like a hurricane blows me away.  Hurricane's are one of the most powerful forces on earth.  It can tear through a town, throwing cars and cattle every which way.  What a great comparison to God's Love.  He would do anything for us, that is how great his love is.  Romans 8:38-39 says it best,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Nothing can stop God's Hurricane Love, nothing.  His Love is so big that it eclipses our afflictions.   He covers us, completely.  David said it best in Psalm 32
"Blessed is he 
whose transgressions are forgiven, 
whose sins are covered"

We are so blessed because God's Love covers us completely.  When we see his Love in a tangible way such as this we can then fully see God's beauty.  We then understand how unworthy we are, but that does not stop the out pour of Love.

Oh How He Loves Us.....