Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should always follow God's Roadmap

Following God’s Roadmap Leads to His Greatest Blessings
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”—Exodus 13:21-22 (NIV)

My parents and I vacationed at campgrounds across the Midwest every summer.

After we packed up the station wagon and hooked up the camper, we hit the open road, playing car games along the way. With my father behind the wheel, we inevitably arrived in the middle of nowhere because he refused to stop for directions. If it weren’t for my mother’s exceptional navigation skills we wouldn’t have reached our destination.

I wish my mother were here now that I live in the middle of a busy shopping district. Wherever I go, traffic is always heavy and without GPS, I don’t get very far. The same is true of our spiritual lives: without God’s guidance, we will go in circles trying to navigate life alone. When we drive solo, thinking we know better, our merciful Father sees us headed in the wrong direction and keeps us from careening over the cliff of our good intentions.

In today’s anchor text (Exodus 13:21-22), we learn that after Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go, God instructed Moses to take them on a long route through the wilderness. The shorter route seemed more convenient to the Israelites, but God saw the dangers ahead. Therefore, He went before them, faithfully leading with pillars of cloud by day and fire by night.

This story reminds us that when the way forward is unclear, we can trust God to guide us, protect us, and equip us with everything we need for the journey.

The Bible warns us in Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV), “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Following God’s roadmap protects us from dangers only He can anticipate. But when we ignore it and go our own way, we suffer consequences that we could’ve avoided if we had relied on Him.

The road of life will lead us through hills and valleys. And we can’t avoid every obstacle that comes our way. But Jesus Christ is our traveling companion, and when we let Him take the wheel, He promises to lead us on a glorious adventure here on Earth that ends with eternity in His Presence someday in Heaven.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father God,

When the pressures and stresses of life cause me to become sidetracked, I’m grateful that You patiently lead me back to You. As my Shepherd, I know I can always depend on Your perfect wisdom, love, and protection. Your Word is a light that keeps me on the path of abundance here on Earth, eventually leading to my eternal home in Heaven. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Psalm 23: Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their ‘best of’ spread. 

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Mysterious Ways by Guideposts. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

Sarah's devotionals have been published in David C. Cook’s The Quiet Hour and Devotions, The Secret Place by Judson Press, and Pray a Word a Day by Guideposts. Her short story will be featured in an upcoming book, Too Amazing For Coincidence, also to be published by Guideposts. To this day, Sarah smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she's not writing, she's enjoying her hobbies that include dog sitting, watching cooking shows and taking day trips.

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Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52

A Prelude to Christmas: Christina's story about snow globes and divine connections

Welcome Christina Lorenzen to the blog today! She's here to share a personal essay/guest post based on her Christmas story, Snow Globe Reunion which is available for purchase on Amazon. Her book is part of the Snow Globe Christmas Collection published by Forget Me Not Romances.

Here's the blurb for Snow Globe Reunion:

Stranded by a snowstorm, Carrie Sanders is left holding a bag an old woman she’d been talking to left behind in the airport coffee shop. Mystified by the woman’s disappearance, she sits on the bench staring at the snow globe that was in the bag. 

Inside the glittery snowy world it’s Christmas during the 1940s. Fighting sleep, the next thing she knows she’s in the arms of the soldier she last saw skating on the pond in the snow globe. He’s no stranger, but the boy next door who never forgot her.

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Fill out the book giveaway contest entry form on this Rafflecopter widget for your chance to WIN a copy of Christina's book:
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A Snow Globe Moment
A guest post written by Christina Lorenzen

I believe in divine connections. I believe that God leads us to the right people, and in this case, the right projects. In my heart, I think nothing makes our God happier than giving us the things that light up our hearts. I saw it happen again months ago when I spent an afternoon with an author friend, sharing some coffee and writerly chat. After talking about our current projects, she mentioned a new publisher who was looking for novellas for several collections she was putting out. Curious, I took a look at this publisher’s website and stopped at the call for Snow Globe stories for a Christmas collection. As soon as I read she was looking for stories centered on a ‘special’ snow globe I knew this would be my first Christmas book, something I’d been wanting to write for years.

I have been enchanted by snow globes since I was a young child. My earliest memories are the snow globes at my great aunt’s house. Every year she would decorate with what seemed like dozens of snow globes, strategically placed throughout her quaint craftsman style house. I think I spent most of my visits there shaking each and every one. We had one or two snow globes at home, but when I grew up and had my own house to decorate, I knew I had to own a few of my own. I have numerous snow globes—those with snowmen, ice skating scenes, carolers beside a tree, wildlife scampering about in the snow and, my favorite, the nativity. There’s something magical about holding up that glass globe, giving it a furious shake, and watching the glittery flakes fall from the sky and blanket the objects in the globe.

Though life changes, and sometimes rapidly at that, there are some traditions that we all cling to, holding near and dear. For me, seeing these familiar globes of miniature figurines and glitter water are like getting together with lifelong friends. We may not see them often, but when we do it’s like nothing has changed. I’ve come to believe that these snow globes offer comfort in a sometimes turbulent, rapidly changing world. Perhaps you’ve felt as I’ve often felt—that it would be lovely if we could freeze the special moments in our lives so they would stay as they are forever, just like the tiny scenes frozen in time inside those snow globes.

But life marches on, both the happy and sad times, and we learn to accept the sad and cherish the happy. And each year when I pull out those globes filled with glittery water, I feel a hopeful flutter in my heart as I eagerly reacquaint myself with old friends. And just for a season I get to enjoy joyful, sweet scenes forever frozen in time.

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Author bio: Christina Lorenzen started writing as a young teen, jotting stories in wire ring composition notebooks. Her first typewriter made it faster to get all those stories out of her head and down on paper. Her love of writing has sustained her through a myriad of jobs that included hairdresser, legal secretary, waitress and door-­to-door saleswoman.

Luckily for her, writing proved to be successful and a lot less walking than going door to door. Harvest Blessings, a sweet small town romance, is Christina's fourth book. She is also the author of A Husband for Danna, its sequel, A Wife for Humphrey and her recent Christmas release, Snow Globe Reunion. She is busy working on a modern retelling of the classic tale, Rapunzel. 

When she isn't writing or reading, she can be found walking her dog, talking to her herd of cats and spending time with her family.

To find out about Christina's upcoming releases, visit her website at http://christinalorenzen.com/.

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Connect with Christina:
Email - carp119@aol.com
Website - http://www.christinalorenzen.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisFoxLorenz
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaLorenzenAuthor/
Visit her Amazon Author Page
Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/christina_lorenzen/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/chrisfoxlorenz/

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Falling in Love with Jesus: Because He Saved My Life

Pictured: Ricky Venters, Jr.
Photo credit: Leighton Newell of LNewell Photography

“Because He Saved My Life” 

A Falling in Love with Jesus story written by Ricky Venters, Jr. 

It was just another normal night. The excitement of beginning the school year was still pumping through my body. I felt that excitement that has you eager to go bed early so that the next day could quickly come. To make it even better, I had just experienced my eighth birthday. Life couldn’t get better.

As I went through my normal nightly routine I remember my head spinning with excitement from all the plans for the next day. The teams for the basketball game during recess were picked, I had my favorite egg salad sandwich ready for lunch and my tradable items as well—oatmeal  cookies to be exact. 

I said "good night" to my mother and father, said my prayers to God then I laid down to sleep but my mind kept racing. What will tomorrow be like? How much fun will I have? Will John bring my favorite snack to trade? Will my team win the basketball game? "I guess we will see," I said as my eyes finally closed for a good night’s sleep.

Hours later I woke up crying for help. I thought to myself, “No, this can’t be happening again!” I woke up gasping for air. It felt like someone was reaching inside of my body and grabbing both of my lungs and squeezing as tight as they could. No, not again. 

I remember screaming, “Mommy, Daddy, God…somebody help me!” My door burst wide open, my parents rushed to my bedside and held me tight. I remember my mother on the phone calling for help. I wasn’t quite sure who she was calling but what seemed like seconds later, I heard sirens in the distance. Were they coming for me? The next thing I remember, three strangers rushed into my room. They put me on a stretcher and carried me out of the house and placed me into an ambulance. It all seemed to happen so fast. I remember dosing in and out of sleep and just repeating “Lord, Lord!" aloud. While drifting in and out of consciousness, I captured small snapshots of time: the paramedics cutting open my new sweatshirt, the X-ray technician rolling me over on the X-ray table, being wheeled down a hospital corridor. Each moment flashed by quickly, leaving me no time to process what was happening.

“He’s awake!” I heard my mother say. I tried to respond but my body was so weak I couldn’t even muster the strength to open my eyes all the way. I lay there motionless. It felt as though a heavy weight rested on my body, restricting me from the slightest movements. I could hear the beeping of the monitors and wheeling of carts in the adjacent rooms and with my eyes partially opened, I could see the blurred figures of my father, mother and grandparents sitting around my bedside. Suddenly, an overwhelming peace came over me. I tried to recall the events that lead to this point but, the last thing I could remember was crying out at the top of my lungs, “Lord, help me!”

As I ponder on the moment I first fell in love with Christ, I reflect back to that night 24 years ago. Growing up struggling with asthma many times I would ask God, “Why? Why couldn’t I be a normal boy?” It’s not fair that I couldn’t run without getting short of breath. It’s not fair I would get jolted out of my sleep gasping for air multiple times at night. How could Someone who loves me allow me to go through this pain? But at that moment as I lay in that hospital bed, I realized that God will never leave me nor forsake me. My love for Jesus Christ was birthed when I realized He loved me so much that despite my condition, He will save me. Jesus spared my life that night and I will forever be grateful.

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Author bio: Ricky Venters vowed he would use his life’s experience to encourage others to keep fighting for their life and turn their roadblocks into stepping stones to real success. Defying the odds, Ricky holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and enjoys mentoring students who may be struggling academically or who are undecided about a future career path.  As a speaker, educator, mentor and preacher, Ricky captivates all listeners with his life’s story leaving them with hope, purpose, and strength.

The Venters Family
Photo credit: Leighton Newell of LNewell Photography

Currently, Ricky resides in Maryland with his wife Nicole and their three sons. He says, “I don’t live a life to fulfill myself anymore, but I fight with every breath I take to leave a legacy for my family and those I encounter.”

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Connect with Ricky:
Website - http://rickyventers.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Rickydventers
Instagram - https://instagram.com/rdventers/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/rdventers