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“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made
the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There
is nothing too hard for You.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV)
My husband and I recently jetted across the country
from where we live in Colorado to Indiana where I grew up and lived for a few
years after we married. I was excited to visit family and friends. We stayed in
a La Quinta and rented a car to be all set for our daily excursions. We took
turns driving with a total reliance on our GPS to get us where we needed to be.
After all, interstates had changed with new exits, added lanes, and the city
had grown exponentially since we’d moved away.
On our third day, I was eager to meet my sister for
tea. I stepped into my car with confidence and excitement. GPS, do your
thing, I thought to myself when I plugged in the address. I pulled up to
the restaurant right on time. A piece of cake. After a delightful tea and hugs
and goodbyes, I sat behind the steering wheel once again, plugging in my GPS to
return to our motel.
But this time was different. First, it was raining
pretty hard. Second, the GPS did not automatically reverse the directions. This
wondrous tool gave me new directions to return, but with the rain, I didn’t
even realize I was on different roads. I simply trusted the GPS and kept
driving and driving and driving. No La Quinta in sight. In fact, I ended up on
curvy single lane roads surrounded by farm lands. My stomach tightened when I
noticed the GPS eating up the charge on my phone, down to 20%. I had no charger
with me. (Yeah, not smart.)
Heart racing, I called my husband. “Hey, I don’t know
where I am. My phone is about to die. You might need to get an Uber and come
get me to navigate us back to the motel, but I can’t even tell you where I am!”
Talk about panicky embarrassment.
We hung up with my promise to try Google Maps instead.
But this alternative tool did not help me either. I finally took a deep breath
and prayed aloud, “Where am I? God, help me!”
I eventually got back to our motel with a dead phone
and a palpitating heart. I raced to our room and sat down on the bed, composing
myself. Oh my! What should have been a 30-minute drive back took nearly two
hours.
When I settled down, I realized the GPS and Google
Maps failed me. They are “human tools”, designed by mankind with margins of
errors. It was my prayer to God that really got me back on the right roads. He
directed me. No margin of errors with God. He knew every road and exit
throughout Indianapolis because He designed it—He’s omniscient.
God never fails us. He will direct our steps and guide
us on the right roads in life. He speaks to us through the Bible, the perfect
GPS, and whenever we’re unsure of something, all we have to do is ask for His
help. He knows when we’re lost. He woos us back to Him. I figure if He made the
heavens and earth, He can certainly help me when I’m driving on unfamiliar
roads—nothing is too hard for Him!
Are you trusting God for His unfailing help and
guidance?
Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true
story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard
the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the
Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about
patriotism.
A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has
devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing
family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs.
You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com.
She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/
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Amazon Central
Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB
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The Season of Singing Has Come
By Sharon Musgrove
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and
gone.
Flowers appear on the
earth; the season of singing has come,
The cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms
its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”
Song of Solomon
2:11-13 NIV
Outside my living room window, a yew bush blocks the scene
of the back yard. But just because the
view is limited, Spring is still obvious.
A mated pair of House finches have built their nest in the safety of
this overgrown pillar. Completely
unaware of putting themselves on display, these two lovebirds have established
their home in full sight, framed by the wood trim around the glass. I delight in observing their daily activities
and in listening to their happy chatter.
Beyond the blockade, the warmth of the sun has brought out a
splash of florals, as if a painter has gone mad with his palate. Azaleas, tulips, hyacinth, and primrose dot
the landscape like bridesmaids showing off their ridiculous gowns. An arch of flowering plum stages the walkway,
a radiant blush of beauty.
Spring has not just arrived; the season has come singing!
Wintertime in Oregon’s Willamette Valley might be considered
mild weather when compared to colder, extreme climates, but the long months of
rain and gray skies stretch from October until early April. It’s the long murky days, coupled end to end,
that can drain the heart of hope.
But then Spring rides in with rainbows of color, waving a
scepter of golden sunlight, and singing a song that brings life! Hope restored! Light!
Love! Life!
The Bible’s book of Song of Solomon captures this rescue
from darkness by revealing the love of God for His bride . . . the church. This song is a love letter like no other
writing in the text. Its lyrics are
filled with descriptors of the passion between lovers, sharing not just
a single sided fancy, but a common desire for one another. Relationship.
It can be difficult to understand God’s crazy love for us
when our day-to-day functions are overshadowed by dark clouds. Our sight is limited to this day, but our
hearts yearn for another, brighter, future day.
And we cry for that day. We cry
out for Him.
But what if, like a caged bird, or like imprisoned Paul the
apostle, we sang in our dark days? What
if we leaned into a season of singing even before it revealed itself? Replacing crying with worship?
This is an exercise of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as: “the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
To praise God, with whatever resources He has given us, is a
way of bringing His Kingdom to earth. We
join Him in creating light in darkness with our voice. Speaking life where death threatens is a
partnering with the Creator.
House finches have a beautiful song. The couple nesting in the yew is only a
single pair of many singing this tune.
Almost any time of day, their characteristic music can be heard. And I am inspired by them to raise my own
voice in proclamation that winter is past.
Dark times are temporary. Jesus
is indeed on His way back!
We have an open invitation in this season’s song . . . Arise,
come, darling; my beautiful one, come with me.
Will you join in God’s season of singing?
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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