Let God Mold & Guide You. (Not the World).

We are in Hawaii this week and Hubs wanted to visit one of their Nazarene churches while we were here. I am glad we went. The message we heard yesterday was based from Matthew 2:19-23 and the Lesson was -The Wise Guys- "Guidance- Out of Egypt".  Pastor Mark talked a lot about the mysterious workings of God's guidance and how God guided Joseph & Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, & then to Israel. Each of their stops had an important purpose. (Matt. 2:5-6, 15, 23) And that each destination was usually a surprise. (Matt. 2:23, Rom. 12:2) Their entire journey consisted of 600 miles by walking or by riding a donkey. Sometimes Mary was pregnant, & sometimes she was holding a child in her arms. I'm sure the journey was long and hard along each path God directed them. Yet, they were on a guided tour by God. One thought that stuck to me was when Pastor Mark mentioned that, "As our lives seem to flow so perfectly, God often will change things up on us. Showing us a mysterious working of His guidance & will for our lives. How often do we feel we are in a dry, difficult time, wondering what God has for us? Even when you don't know or understand things, He will never let you down! He will always guide you! The one thing we need to remember is to TRUST HIM WITH EVERYTHING. (After all, it is all His anyway.)"

Another thought that I really wanted to share was one of his last statements.

"Don't let the world squeeze your form. Let God mold you." (Romans 12:1-2)

May we always remember these things when thinking about His mysterious Guidance & will for our lives.

1. God's guidance is given one step at a time.
2. The rascals (or things) God uses are often those you'd least suspect.
3. The route to the destination (God has for us) is not always direct.
4. Let God guide & mold you. Not the world.

Do we trust God as much as Joseph & Mary did, even if we don't know exactly what He has in store for us?