BACK IN THE DAY

Several years ago, my wife and I were in Atlanta for a conference.  While there, we found ourselves in need of a trip to WalMart.  When we travel, we always seem to end up at WalMart.  It seems to make a strange place seem more like home.  

We had survived the 1900's and were easing into the 21st century and the latest greatest technology of the day.  

This was, however, BEFORE smartphones were a thing.  Back in the day, many of us had a GPS unit stuck to our windshield just above the dash of our cars.  Today, most people use a smartphone's built in GPS for navigation assistance.  We looked up the address for what appeared to be the nearest WalMart using the world wide interwebs from a laptop in our hotel room.  We jumped into our minivan, punched up the address on our trusty GPS unit, and hit the road.

Well, a funny thing happened on the way to WalMart.  We got lost.  It was late and dark.  We were not in a good neighborhood.  Evidence of this included abandoned buildings, bars on the windows, and gatherings of folks around trash barrels with fire burning inside.  No WalMart in site.

What happened was, we used a GPS unit which we had purchased two years prior.  The GPS worked off of pre-loaded maps.  Our destination was not on the map.  The GPS units back then, did not yet update themselves through the wonders of wifi or cellular technology.  In order to update the GPS unit, you had to connect it to a computer and download new maps for roughly $79.99.  I am not the kind of guy who would EVER spend another $80 to update that GPS unit.  

On a side note, the makers of the GPS units were apparently unaware of the coming smartphone technology.  Most GPS companies now provide a lifetime of free map updates.

We had depended totally on the GPS which was not loaded with current maps.  The result was, we became hopelessly lost.  

Can I just tell ya something?  God has pre-loaded HIS GPS with a map which will lead us to our intended destination.  God's Positioning System (GPS), tells us where we are and where we are headed.  It will also lead us where we need to be.  But, here is the difference:  His maps are always updated and current.

Prayer -
Father, I know Your plans, Your Providence, and Your timing for such are Your absolute best for me.  I know You always have Your best in mind for me.  Help me to remember to seek You and Your plans and purposes for me in all things.  Amen.

You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  -- Ephesians 2:1-7 (CSB)

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