God's Roadmap

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 TPT).


Sunday, April 27, 2014

National Day of Prayer


This Thursday, May 1, marks the 63rd National Day of Prayer. In the midst of all the turmoil, controversy, doubts, and fears that assail our world today, it is an important tribute to our nation that we still observe this special day. As we set aside a time to focus on praying for our nation, I would like to list things I am lifting to the Lord for our nation.

  • Our leaders – we are commanded by God to pray for those in authority over us. We need to pray that those in leadership positions will govern according to God’s ways. If they don’t know Him, I pray they will come to know Him and if they absolutely refuse to abide by God’s laws, I pray they be removed from office by our election process.

  • Our military – Our defense and security are high priorities and needs to be a wall of protection around us. Cutting our budget for defenses and the giving away of secrets have poked holes in our security in the last few years. PTSD and other maladies have affected our service members as never before causing more suicides than deaths by war in the last year.

  • Our morality - People think they can do their own thing with no repercussions. When there is no accountability, there is failure.

  • Our attackers – It’s hard to pray for those that come against us, but Jesus commanded us to pray for our enemies. Presenting the gospel to them is the only way they can stop being our enemies. Whether it is outside attackers, or those who are attacking our freedoms from within, God is the only one with the power to change them.

  • Our freedoms – Many of our freedoms seem to be eroding away. As government grows larger, the choices of people grow smaller. May we hold on to our freedom to worship God publicly, express our opinions, and protect our homes and assets without interference from government or liberal and atheistic opinions.

God Bless America!
What are your petitions for this National Day of Prayer?

Sunday, April 20, 2014

The Stones Cry Out

by Barbara Latta

He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

Several years ago I had the privilege to visit England when my husband, Ken, was deployed with the Navy. We had the opportunity to tour several castles which was a dream come true for me. The size of these ancient fortresses was overwhelming, especially when you think about the task of building something so immense without cranes, bulldozers or modern technology. The craftsmanship was evident as these stone structures are still standing hundreds of years later. History told its story everywhere you looked. The stones were crying out.

Centuries before these castles were erected the temple in Jerusalem was built by King Solomon but was later destroyed by invaders. Construction of a second temple was started several decades later. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem and prophesied that the temple would not have one stone left upon another and in 70AD the Romans came in and leveled it. A remnant of the wall surrounding the temple is all that is left and is known today as the Wailing Wall.

The Messiah was rejected. The stones cried out.

On a hill called Golgotha, our Savior took His last breath and gave up His Spirit. The earth shook and the rocks were split. The stones cried out. Redemption was done.

He was laid in a tomb and it was sealed. On Sunday morning the stone rolled away, guards fled in fear, and the earth shook again. The stone cried out: Resurrection.

God laid the foundation for a new temple with Christ as the chief Cornerstone when His blood was placed on the mercy seat of Heaven.

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

(I Peter 2:4-5)

 

We, as living stones, are His temple and as we proclaim His Word, the stones cry out.

What are you, as a living stone, saying about Resurrection Day? Please share your thoughts.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Navigating Life's Curveballs


by Barbara Latta
"Play ball!” those words opened the season for Major League baseball last week.
In honor of a new season, I thought it would be fun to try our hand at some baseball trivia and also compare the mechanics of the game our lives.

Fastball
Making contact requires the batter to have a fast swing and superb hand-eye coordination.

Life at Bat: To hit the fast ball  thrown your way, have a prepared mind and swing out by putting to action a Word from God.

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6)

 Curveball
A curveball arches down as it crosses the plate creating a slower effect which disrupts the hitters timing.

Life at Bat: You may be waiting for something that seems to take forever to manifest, don’t get disrupted by impatience.

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”  (Colossians 1:11)


Slider
The lateral motion makes it hard for the batter to time his swing to the pitch because it looks like it is coming in faster than it really is.

Life at Bat: Walk in wisdom and not as the world does, then your timing won’t be off in decisions you need to make.

“See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)


Knuckleball
The back and forth rocking of the knuckleball and unpredictable air bouncing makes it hard for even experienced hitters to make contact.

Life at Bat: Be consistent and don’t swing at the first thing that comes along. Keep your eyes in the center and don’t be swayed by something that looks real but isn’t.

“Beloved, do not believe every sprit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Change Up
Delivered with the same kind of arm motion as a fastball, the change up makes its way to the catcher much more slowly. Usually this pitch is thrown after a fastball so as to upset the batter’s timing.

Life at Bat: God is consistent. He never changes. We can know Him by His Word.

“I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” (Malachi 3:6)

TRIVIA TEST:
Test your skills. The first person who comments with the most correct answers will win a copy of Betty Robison’s book, “Free to Be Me.” This is her testimony of how she navigated and overcame fear in her life. You must comment before the next post to win.

1. Against what opposing team did Babe Ruth hit his first career home run?
2. Who was the first Major League player to pitch a ball over 100 mph?
3. Who was the first Major League player to hit four home runs in a single game?
4. What player hit 70 home runs in 1998?
5. What was the first Major League team to wear plastic batting helmets?
6. Who was the first Major League player to have his number retired?
7. What baseball player was nicknamed "Charlie Hustle"?
The answers will be shared in next week's post.
In addition to answering the trivia test, feel free to share how you hit home runs when all these major pitches are thrown your way.