The Fork in the Road A Path of Surrender.

The other day my daughter and I were driving on a back country road.  Honestly, some would not have even called it a road, maybe a glorified path. As we went around a sharp curve, we  came upon a fork in the road. The only choice was right or left. I couldn't help but think how terrible it would be to come upon on this spot at night. It caught me off guard, even in the daylight hours. I wonder how many times in life we arrive spiritually at that same location. We are traveling along fine, when out of no where there comes that unexpected curve, or better yet, a fork in the road. Now what, do I go left or right? There are no signs that give direction, and I have to make a choice. Even to sit still is a choice. Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Choose you this day whom you will serve."  
Joshua 24:14-15

Recently I found myself in that same position. Everything in me said take this path, but the Holy Spirit said, "John, don't go that way. Here is the path that I have for you. I had a choice to make. Do I go with my natural instinct or do I follow what I feel the Lord leading me to do. Maybe you say, that's easy John, you better obey the Lord. I agree that God's way is right, and I know that faith and obedience is the choice that I must make, but nothing about it is easy when your carnal man is fighting to have his way. 


There are times where God allows us to reach a place in life, a fork in the road, where we only have two choices, one is clearly wrong and the other is clearly right, but what about when they are both morally right but only one is His will. That was where I found myself. I had to choose to trust Him. His way seemed harder and the other was easier, both under most circumstances would have been OK, but God said, "John only one of these have I chose for you." 


I must admit, I toiled over the decision for sometime before I said, "Lord I cant do it. Please give me the strength to obey."  Then Jeremiah 29:11 came to life. The faith to follow Jesus is found in surrender. That moment in life when you say, I cant Lord. Please help me. It is then that He says, I was waiting for you to ask.  Call on Him and trust Him. He will never fail you. The bible is full of promises to ensure our success in serving Jesus. 
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Proverbs 12:25 |  1 Peter 5:7 | Philippians 4:6-7

I believe it is in these seasons of Life where we get to see the manifest power of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus cares about you and wants to transform you into all that He has destined you to become. Will you give Him everything today? Your Life, past, present and future, if so, you will never face another fork in the road without the Holy Spirit to guide you into God's plan for your life. 

The Million Dollar Question

What do you want to do with your life? That is the million dollar question that we all want the answer to.  For over twenty years, I have preached the Gospel, and served in pastoral ministry. What if I quit? What if the answer to the question was different than the one that I have been living for so long? Yes, I just wrote that and you are reading it. If you are honest you've been there too or maybe you are there now. The truth is, I have no desire to know the answer. I love the story that Christ is writing concerning my life. Has it all been perfect, have I always heard and followed His voice perfectly, NO. I believe the answer to the million dollar question is found in Jesus Christ. We get one shot to live this journey called life and their is no greater path than a life led by Jesus Christ. There will be times that we will walk on water and there will be times that we sink, but whether on top of the water or while sinking, HE will always be there.

Psalm 23:1-6 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I learned a long time ago that my life, and what I wanted to do with it, would never be better than when it lined up with His perfect will for me, whatever that would look like. I cant say it enough, If you want the right answer, ask the right question. God who do you say that I am? If you are struggling with what to do with your life let your answer begin with the one who holds all the answers to life. God made us a promise that with Him we are never lost but found. He will order your footsteps and give you a life worth living. The best part, It will never end! When this short whisper of life comes to an end the journey of eternity with Him will begin. I hope that as you read this you will make the choice to allow Jesus to become your definition of life. What should I do with my life? Choose Jesus!

John 4:13-14 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I will never be good enough, so He was good enough for me.

While we were still sinners Christ died for us. The idea that Jesus would die, to redeem us from sin, even while we were still in sin, is beyond human understanding. He gave His life in divine exchange so that I might live.

Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I often think of the Sunday morning that I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. I was seventeen years old, broken and filled with anger. There seemed to be a precedence that had been set for my life. My biological father had spent most of his life running from one thing to the other. It seemed as if were headed in the same direction. I longed for stability and a since of accomplishment that could only be found in Jesus Christ. The morning of my encounter with Jesus did not start pretty. It was one filled with anger and rage just an hour before my young wife was to go to church, without me as usual. Somehow that morning, I ended up at church with her. It was a day divinely appointed by God. If I were to return to that little church, I believe I could take you to the spot where the old me was left behind forever. In my office today on my desk is a little laminated card from my Pastor that serves as a reminder of the day that Jesus invaded my life and set me free from the bondage's of sin. My heart sings tonight that old song from my childhood, "Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I loves Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus because He first loved me. 

All of these, twenty six, years later I walk into the pulpit on Sunday morning looking out for that young man that God has afforded me the opportunity to love. What a honor to know that His blood still redeems, and His grace still saves. If you are reading this, and don't know Christ, I invite you to know Him. He loves you when no one else can, or will. He knew you before you were ever formed in your mothers womb, and He cares for you, so much that, He gave His life so you might be free.  

Titus 3:5 
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We will never be good enough, so He was good enough for us. 

Prayer: Jesus I am a sinner. I believe in your love and mercy. Forgive me Lord. Wash me in your blood and change me forever. I lay down my life and ask you to save me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and I will serve you all of my days. Amen

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