Thursday, December 01, 2005




Well I'm a little late getting started this morning. As you can tell from my previous post, I was up a little later last night, thinking about the Wednesday evening Bible Study Question. Also, I just returned from the barn (pictured above) where Monnie, Jeffrey, and I fed our horses. Some of them needed a little extra attention. Now a word for today.

Where are you going?
There is a story about this science nerd attending a big science convention. His flight had been delayed and by the time he disembarked from his plane and claime his luggage in this big international airport, he was running plenty late. He hailed a taxi (I believe it must have been in New York). The driver's name was definitley foreign and long enough to need most of the letters in our alphabet. As he jumped into the Taxi, he said, "I'm in a hurry; step on it, I need to get there as fast as we can!" The driver sped out of the airport just a quickly as he could navigating the traffic, and finally was hurring through the city, when our science-nerd friend, asked, "Where are we going?" To which the driver responded, "I don't know, sir, but I'm going as fast as I can!" Listen to the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:59-60

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. NIV

Unlike our poor taxi driver who was hurrying along going nowhere, the Psalmist is both hastening to obey God and has considered where he is going. In this fast-paced world, people are in such a hurry! What is it, now, just 24 days until Christmas? We call this time the "Christmas Rush." Does it seems like the Christmas Rush was preceded by the Thanksgiving Rush, only to be followed by the New Year's Rush? In our culture it seems like we begin the year in a rush only to end it the same way. This morning I want to encourage you to slow down a little and consider your ways. Where are you headed? Are you going nowhere fast? There's something we can do about it, and I'm going to do it right now. Maybe you would like to join me in this prayer:

Dear God, It is so easy for me to get caught up in the hurry, hurry, hurry, of these times. In fact sometimes the demands on my time would rob me of my time with you. So, here I am, Lord. For now, I'm ignoring the phone, and all the other demands and pressures of this day. I am crying out to You and asking you to guide my steps, as I endeavor to make your commands my top priority. Please, Lord, help me to keep my focus where it needs to be, and not delay my obedience to You. Amen.

I really like the way The Message version reads here:

When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders. Psalm 119:59-60

May your day be richly blessed as you Connect with God today.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It reminds me somewhat of a story in Alice in Wonderland as she meets the Cheshire Cat.

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where --" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."


Without the voice and direction of God we are aimless in all we do.

Blessings...

Daniel R. Hocker said...

Hey Rick, Thanks for the feedback. Great illustration from Alice in Wonderland. Blessings on you and your family too!