The Fork

Tonight's item from my RAP Bag was a fork. Yup, you read that correctly! Bev placed a fork in my bag with a story attached.

Stick a Fork In It

by Cheryl Mattil

There are times in all of our lives when we have major decisions to make. Unfortunately, our Heavenly Father does not drop down neon signs that give us the answer. In fact, many times He allows us to struggle to find the correct decision.

My favorite passage in Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Even when there is a "fork" in the road, He will help us through all the twists and turns.

I look at it like this: We can use either a "spoon" to dig a hole and hide from the situation, a "knife" to stab at the opinions of our friends, or a "fork" and eat up God's word to help us arrive at a solution. The One who was born, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again in our place will definitely guide us to the answers we seek. Trust Him! He saved you. Jesus will absolutely lead you. It's a done deal.

You're not going to believe this. Well, maybe you will. My devotional from my Luther devotional book fits perfectly with this RAP Bag item. The title of the devotion is God Never Sleeps. It reminded me that even though I may go through difficult times, God is ALWAYS with me.

- becky

Friendship

During one of our whole group sessions at the retreat, we answered three questions to ourselves about our faith lives. One of those questions asked us to reflect on a time when God was a little distant. We were to think about why we thought this may have happened.

It made me sad to answer this question honestly. Yes, there was a time when God was distant. This time lasted longer than it should have. (Well, it shouldn't have happened at all, right?) But, it did. The devil got to me.

I am grateful that I know how God became distant to me. I believe it was the influence of the people that I chose to surround myself with. They didn't have Christ in their lives, so why should I?

What a horrible way of thinking. Now, I realize the importance of having Christian friends. They are there to lift me up when I need it. Hopefully, I can have the honor and privilege of doing the same for them.

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man. ~ Proverbs 22:24

- becky

Saturday's Verse of the Day

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Friday's Verse of the Day

All of man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2

Thursday's Verse of the Day

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Proverbs 19:18

Wednesday's Verse of the Day

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.

Proverbs 19:17

Monday's Verse of the Day

A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.

Proverbs 14:25

Sunday's Verse of the Day

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Thursday's Verse of the Day

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20

Wednesday's Verse of the Day

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

Tuesday's Verse of the Day

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19

Monday's Verse of the Day

Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6