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, February 28, 2016

How Do We Value People?

By Barbara Latta

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?”(Luke 15:8 NKJV).

Lots of pennies can add up to value
As we walked along the sidewalk outside a busy retail center, my husband bent down and picked up something off the ground. He held his find out to me and I saw a folded dollar bill in his hand.

“Wow, you found a dollar!” I said, as excited as if he had found a twenty.

Later, while we were getting into our car, I looked down and saw a penny’s face shining in the sun. I stepped over it and got into the vehicle without paying much attention to what was on the pavement.
After we drove away, God kept that penny on my mind. Why didn’t I pick it up? Why didn’t I get as excited about that coin as I did about the folded bill? 

Because that small piece of copper had so little value to me I didn’t think the money was worth taking. But the Lord reminded me  if I took one penny away from our find I would only have ninety-nine cents. Each penny has a purpose. All of them together make the whole dollar.

Do we look at people the same way? Do we see those who are elevated to celebrity status as more
Do we see people the way God does?
significant than an ordinary person or a homeless beggar on the street? If we overlook someone because they don’t stand out and shine, are we saying they are worthless?

The woman in Luke 15 stopped everything she was doing to look for her lost coin. She could have been satisfied with the nine she had, but the missing one meant so much to her she was willing to sacrifice her time until she found her treasure. No matter how many people come to the Lord, one more lost soul is worth the sacrifice God made to save them. How can I dismiss that by putting more importance on some than others?

God loves the world
From now on when I see pennies I am reminded of people. A small coin helps me remember to put value on human souls and try to see them the way God does.

Can you think of a time when the Lord put someone on  your heart who had been overlooked by others? Share your thoughts.



Sunday, February 21, 2016

Free Your Mind From the Fog and See Jesus Clearly

by Barbara Latta

I packed with anticipation for the trip ahead. Ken and I were getting ready to attend a motorcycle rally on Jekyll Island with some friends. After weeks of rain, I was looking forward to a sunny weekend on a Georgia coastal island.

However, my vision was soon diminished by the mist of rain we left in and the fog that encompassed the island during the entire rally. The sun didn’t show its face until the day we left to go home.

Jesus taught His disciples about seeing the Father. He said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), and "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). At other teaching opportunities He tried to prepare them for the trials they were about to endure. His death and resurrection remained closed revelation to their minds. They were looking through the fog of their own way of thinking, traditions, and expectations. They were still expecting Him to set up an earthy kingdom of which they would be a part.

They asked him to let them sit on his right hand and his left hand in his kingdom (Mark 10:37).

They couldn’t see the Son for the fog.

It wasn’t until the events Jesus foretold actually happened that the fog lifted from their spiritual sensibilities and the truth was clear. The scriptures came alive to them and they were able to obey Christ’s commission to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit filled them. They went out into the world with the Son shining because the fog was gone.

Some cannot understand the reason Christ had to die. They question and accuse God of being cruel by demanding animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. They miss the fact that the wages of sin is death;because death entered the world through one man and through one Man sin was conquered.  Their minds are foggy. (I Corinthians 3:19)

The sun burns away fog in the air. Our foggy minds can be cleared by the words of Jesus. The more we are infusing our brains with God’s commands, the more the fogginess of confusion will be dissipated.

“But God has revealed them to us through His spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

If your mind is foggy, search the Word for revelation of what you are going through.

Share the scriptures that help you dissipate the fog.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

The Remedy for Rejection

by Barbara Latta


As human beings, we have all felt rejection from others at times.

Misunderstandings in our relationships can cause rejection to well up in our hearts. Children may misinterpret what is said by parents, spouses misunderstand each other, and friendships suffer from wrong communication. Over time negative reinforcement can cause us to form feelings of unworthiness. We then transfer those feelings to our relationship with God and compare Him to human relationships. This can cause a break in our ability to hear Him and receive what He wants to give us.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Improve your focus and stay on task

by Barbara Latta

Recently I was in a situation where I was being introduced to lots of people I didn’t know. Immediately after meeting them, I struggled to remember some names. I also am constantly misplacing my cell phone, glasses, and keys.  

Added to these struggles, the activity from electronic gadgets
 and the busyness of life can cause distraction.  Here are some tools I am working on to keep me on course toward my goal of organization and remedies for forgetfulness.

  • Write things down – when listening to instructions whether from a teacher, employer, or just someone giving you information you want to remember, having a written record before you gives your mind a visual aid you can refer back to.
  • Keep your work space organized – tackle clutter in small increments and it will not be so overwhelming. You may need to make yourself a list and post it on your desk as a reminder to put items away when finished working. This will develop a habit over time and make organization easier to accomplish.
  • Keep a regular schedule as much as possible – while life does get in the way and things happen unexpectedly, a regular routine will train the mind to remember the order of the day. Using a monthly planner can remind us of appointments and meetings and take the burden of trying to remember what has to be done off our mind.
  • Look people in the eye – focusing on someone while they are speaking will emphasize what they are saying to the brain. It also helps to repeat key words to yourself to aid in remembering the important parts of the conversation. 
  • Keep your body fit – regular exercise, eating properly, and getting enough sleep will keep your brain nourished and working properly.
  • Stay positive – Reading books that encourage positive thinking can keep your mind from drifting to negative self-talk. We don’t need to condemn ourselves when we slip up.
  • Record your goals – write down your goals and read them to yourself daily. A visual record will keep them in your mind and keep you on track. Make the goals in small increments to avoid being overwhelmed.


We can all use help avoiding forgetfulness and lack of organization. What are some of your remedies?

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Remember your loved ones

by Barbara Latta

Sharon Rowland
I have posted in the past in memory of loved ones who have passed on. I can’t pass up the opportunity to give my beloved aunt, Sharon Rowland, the remembrance she deserves.

After my dad passed away in 2013, Sharon started staying with my mom during the day so she wouldn’t be alone. Even though she and Mom had lived close to each other all their lives, she became her daytime companion.

This is my opportunity to remind us all to appreciate our loved ones while they are here. We rejoice for Sharon’s entrance into glory, but we will miss her presence with us here. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Her church, her family, and her friends all benefited by having her as a part of their lives.

I love you, Aunt Sharon. We will miss you.

Share your thoughts about anyone you would like to remember.