The Value of Good Council – Exodus 18:23-24

If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace." So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Exodus 18:23-24 (NKJV)

I have always been very independent; to a fault.  When I was younger and I was working on a school project I didn’t want any help. I wanted to do things all by myself and figure them out all alone. Otherwise I felt like I was cheating or else proving that I wasn’t good enough to do it on my own.  I have since learned (well to an extent) that it is unwise to try and conquer ever battle alone.  I praise God that in my own life, He has surrounded me by a plethora of mentors and guides to help me along the way.

If you are like me you don’t like to admit you need help or even correction.  It’s a pride issue.  For a long time I based my self worth in what I could do, in how much I could accomplish, and how I didn’t need anyone to help me.  Even after I became a Christian I took on the idea that I was God’s wingman; together we could accomplish any task.  It didn’t take long for me to realize the value behind good advice and council. 

Turns out that God’s, self proclaimed “wingman” is an A+, top notch, protos if you will: screw-up!  The boy who didn’t need any help found himself confused and afraid.  Thankfully to God I had a wonderful father who always took me to God’s word and said, “Let’s see what God has to say about it!”.  He would then discuss with me the issue at hand; I always felt better and more equipped to handle whatever was going on after a good “God Talk” with my dad.   Since I lost my dad, God has placed many other people in my life that have helped me to learn and grow in Him.  I too like Moses have been blessed with a Daddy-in-Law whom is full of Godly wisdom and love for me.  Thanks David!

Do you have mentors who are helping you through the day by day?  If not you need to find some now! Don’t worry the best ones are always willing to be there for you and advise you in Godly wisdom.  Just make sure that you remember this wisdome I picked up from a Biblical Leadership conference in college with Kevin Greer.

A Christian mentor is an older more mature friend, one who is dedicated to God and is growing in their own faith in Jesus Christ.  He or she is an encourager, as well as one who can be trusted.  A good mentor is one who is in love with Jesus and desires to help others to become more like Him.  

A Monster’s Focus! Philippians 3:7-8

I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)

In the movie "Monsters Inc" Sully finds himself in a tough spot.  He and Mike have been banished to the Himalayas.  Sully realizes that the only thing that is important is to save Boo. Everything else they have worked for no longer matters.  Mike however just wants to go back to his life; he wishes they never met Boo.  Sully finds a way down the mountain and Mike tells him he is on his own if he is going that way. Sully makes the hard decision and leaves to save Boo alone.

There will be times in your walk with Christ when the direction God is calling you may seem strange or even foolish to those around you.  Do not be surprised when even some of your closest friends can not understand and will turn away when you follow this path.  Do not let them deter your focus toward God's plan. Remember, everyone else may abandon you but God will always be with you!  I am happy to say that Mike in the movie finally realized Sully was right and got on board. Unfortunately in life this may not always be the case.

Paul came to a revelation much like Sully, that everything that was not beneficial to the cause of Christ was garbage!(Phil. 3:7-8)  He decided that he must lay aside every weight and run furiously in the direction of God's will!  Several of his closest friends begged him not to go to Jerusalem where God was leading. They feared for Paul's life. Paul realized that God was calling him to Jerusalem where he would be turned over to the Romans. He went anyway and was able to spread God's message further. Although it did cost him his physical life, it opened the door for so many to follow Jesus and to find strength in his obedience. (Acts 21:10-14)

Is God calling you to something that is not comfortable? Maybe others doubt your sanity or think you are going way overboard. If God is leading you there, you follow! My dad once told me that God would not lead me out on a limb and then cut off that limb from beneath me. Know that God will always lead you down the best path! Fear not!


Pray

Holy Father I know Your way is best. I trust today in Your will and Your direction. Help me not to be discouraged when my friends do not understand the direction You are calling me to.  Give me the strength to follow You no matter what! I love You Lord and Your perfect will for my life! In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen! 

A Dead End – Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

While driving to my moms to pick up the kids (a road I have traveled many times) I became lost in thought and passed up a turn.  I did not realize I had passed up the turn and kept driving. I then made the wrong turn; thinking I had made the correct one.  I kept driving and anticipating getting to my moms house.  After several minutes I came to a dead end, which in turn brought me out of my delusion. I found myself in the wrong place; having no idea where I was or how I got there.  I did the only sensible thing to do: I turned around.

Saul found himself in a similar situation when he encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He had been going along very fervently believing he was doing God's will. He was doing his best to stomp out this blasphemous Jesus movement. His goal was to serve God and he thought he was doing just that until he came to a dead end; Jesus revealed Himself to Saul (Acts 9:1-6).

Saul could no longer go forward in the belief that he was serving God in the path he was taking. He found himself bewildered and not knowing what to do, so he asked Jesus for direction. He sent him to Damascus and then sent Ananias to give Saul back his sight, and to fill him with the Holy Spirit. God put Saul (whom became the Apostle Paul) on the correct road; only then did he reach his goal of doing God's will (Acts 9:17-20, 2Tim. 4:7-8).

Many times in life we are faced with different paths we can take.  If we lean on our own understanding, on what feels right to us, we will find our self away from our destination; we will be misguided in believing we are heading the correct way (Prov. 14:12).  However if we will seek Him (Prov. 3:6), He will bring our misconceptions to a dead end; He will show us our errors. Then we can turn and follow Him back to the correct path; where He can truly accomplish His purpose in us.

Whose direction are you following? Do you trust in yourself? Do you trust in someone else's words and teachings?  Or do you trust in God to direct your paths?  Fervently seek Him; He might just bring you to a few dead ends!

Pushing a Boulder - Gen. 6:13-22

I once heard a story about a man who prayed to God to give him physical strength.  Upon waking the next day he found a large boulder had rolled off the mountain and landed beside his house.  God spoke to him and told him every morning to get up and with his own strength to move the boulder. The man was obedient and for several hours everyday he pushed the rock and trying diligently to move it.  After a few years of pushing the rock God again spoke to the man and told him to look at himself. His body was physically strong and lean from pushing the rock.

Of course this story is fictional. However the Bible is full of stories in which God tells His servants to do something that may sound useless or even absurd so that He may prepare them for what is up ahead. God is not a teaser of men; His commands always have a purpose. Let us consider Noah for a prime example of being told to push a boulder.

God spoke to Noah and told him to build a giant boat, to house at least two of every animal because He was going to destroy the Earth with a flood.  Sure that was hard to grasp but add the fact that it had never before rained and you have yourself a true boulder. So what did Noah do? Did he fret and try to find another way? Did he tell God it did not make sense so he was not going to do it? No, he built the boat!

Has got placed a boulder in your life that you do not understand? Is it hard to continue pushing day after day? Do you feel like giving up? Just remember that God has a purpose for the boulder in your life. It may not make sense to you, but bear in mind you can not see the whole picture. So whether God has told you to run three miles every morning, study Mandarin Chinese, or physically push a large boulder in your yard; you can rest assured it is all a part of His great plans for you. Just keep pushing!
Pray

Great and omniscient God, I thank you for counting me worthy to be used for Your great purpose.  Help me to be obedient to Your will, even when I do not understand.  I know that Your ways are perfect and I can trust that I am not pushing a boulder for nothing.  I praise You for the things You are preparing me for and the lives that You will touch through my life! In Jesus name I pray, Amen