Day 314 Clear Guidance

 

11/10/2025

 "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying

'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the

right hand or whenever you turn to the left.'"

Isaiah 30:21

 

Life can become so cluttered with daily responsibilities - home, family, work, community and church-related activities. I have been trying to organize my schedule to include getting my house cleaned up, yard work finished, and other practicalities, so I can focus on what jobs need to be completed with the renovation of this home or in acquiring some assistance in getting the work completed. I feel like I'm in a rat race, on a hamster wheel, going round and round with no end to the spin! I'm exhausted most of the time. My mornings are centered around Zoom calls, phone meetings, writing, and most importantly of all, my quiet time with the Lord. That is the main part of my day, because the rest of the day would fall into a true tail-spin if I left out time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen and intercede.

This afternoon I took off a little R & R time to go to the Dolls on Mission group to work on dolls that go to various churches for kids on the mission fields. The majority of the dolls are made for Operation Christmas Child boxes, so each year churches and other ministries put in their orders for dolls, depending on the activities or the projects they are working on. Last year we provided one hundred dolls to my sister's church for shoe boxes. Our group consists of about forty women, more or less, who get together regularly on Monday afternoon to assemble the dolls that help tell the gospel story. Samaritan's Purse is the main ministry over Operation Christmas Child, and if I had more time, it would be nice to work directly with the ministry. Sadly, I just can't make that commitment at this time. Actually, I'm a little up in the air trying to see what God wants me to do related to the Dolls group, but I imagine when the right time comes, then I'll find out what's what. I truly walk by faith, waiting for Holy Spirit to direct my steps, and I pray that I don't miss it with other distractions.

I've been so busy trying to fit everything into my other ministry tasks that I cannot conceive of adding one more thing. Even good things. So, I've been attempting to take some time to listen for God's voice. I'm writing, as I've noted several times in my blog posts, but I'm still not sure how to do what I was told to do with regard to putting it all together in a book. I've met a few good folks who have gone out of their way to offer support and assistance, even offering me a place to hideout in the country and work, but it makes the other tasks seem less important in comparison to this direct assignment from the Lord. So I continue on, even if the final posts are a day or so behind. The notes are there in my journal, so it's just a matter of making sense of it all. I remember my days hiding out at Sipapu Ski Resort, a tiny little hamlet in New Mexico, and not quite "the resort" as the name suggests. It's tiny and unimpressive in comparison to others, but it's home to me. At one time there was no phone service or internet service or televisions in the rooms. It was absolute peace and quiet nestled in the Santo de Cristo Mountains, and even during ski season, there was little noise, as the slopes were up and behind the little cabins, suites, and bunkhouses. They had camping sites as well. Now, although the size of the resort property has been augmented by the owner's cabin that is rented as lodging, as well as some renovations to the existing site with campers for lodging or trailers, the only real change is the food booths and the price of the rooms. Still, if I was living  there, I'm sure I'd find a way to make it work out for me.

Going through the last four years, making my move here to Virginia, away from my daughter, other family, and dear friends, to sharing a home with my younger son, has been a strange but interesting adjustment. My son's health has improved in some ways, but we still have a way to go. I am closer in distance to my older son who now lives in Massachusetts, but I seldom see him. He's had a very rough few years and even more difficult past year with a cancer diagnosis, then the tech lay-offs at his work, but all praise to God, things are turning around for him now. The war in Israel has consumed much of my time, as well as the prayer ministry in general. I sometimes cry out to the Lord in frustration and ask Him if I really heard His voice saying "Get into the boat and go to the other side," especially when things are not moving along as I had hoped. But God's always faithful to speak to me in His still small voice, then confirm it, as He always does. When God was speaking to the rebellious nation of Israel through the prophet Isaiah about restoration to the land from where He had exiled them, He said:

"For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand. Or whenever you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:19-21)

The scriptures apply also to us Gentiles who believe in Christ who are stubborn and willful in our decision-making and priorities, focused on our desires rather than His. We will always reap what we sow, as scripture warns. Either we listen or we stumble along the way. I for one am past the inclination to do things my way, or anyone's other than God's way, because His IS the best way and only way for me. I don't understand why it takes us so long to listen! My daily prayer for everyone, particularly our leaders - to include spiritual leaders, is for their spiritual eyes to be opened to the reality of the battles we are fighting in this nation and in the world. Our enemies are not people, although satan certainly uses them as pawns, but we fight a more deadly enemy in the spiritual realm, so it can only be won in the use of  spiritual weapons. Thankfully, our God has provided all we need to know and do in Ephesians. As in Nehemiah's day, working to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem, with the enemy beating down on them at every phase of the work, we work with the sword of the Spirit in one hand and a working implement in the other. We ensure we are properly attired, suited up in our whole armor of God - loins gird with Truth; breastplate of Righteousness; feet shod with Peace; above all the Shield of Faith; the Mind of Christ, and the Sword of the Spirit. Most importantly, we are Oiled in Prayer, praying always for all saints, as we labor together in the work of the Lord! If we pay heed to Holy Spirit, listening clearly and obeying God's clear direction in His Word, we can go forth victoriously, in spite of the mixed and deceptive messages of the media. Judah always leads the way, so "Let everything that has breath, praise the LORD!"