GPS Message: Recalculating
By Pastor Ben

“There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
                            (Luke 15:10)

Beginning in 2011, many GPS manufacturers decided to do away with the “recalculating” message on their devices. It seems the companies received too many complaints about the GPS voice calling out the driver’s mistakes — er, I mean “alternate routes.” Drivers sent in comments like these:

I know I missed the exit. And then my GPS announces “recalculating!” Don’t rub it in and give my family reason to get upset with me. We all know I messed up!

I went off course on purpose to get something to eat. I knew what I was doing. Stop telling me I was wrong!

I’m tired of constantly hearing “recalculating!” It’s too much, too often. I’m hearing it in my sleep!

When we veer from God’s direction, we don’t like being reminded of it either. Sometimes we deliberately disobey. We know we’re headed along the wrong route, but we continue anyway. Other times, we don’t do it intentionally. It just happens. Our sinful decisions come so rapidly and often, we’re tired of hearing about them. But we do need to hear about them. We do need to recalculate. In love, our Lord will always encourage us to rethink our decisions when we’re headed off course.

David certainly heard that message. In Psalm 32, he recounts feeling the Lord’s heavy hand on him, the weight of guilt. God reminded David again and again to recalculate. Then, when David did turn to the Lord and away from his sin, the Lord forgave him and restored the joy of his salvation.

We may not always like being reminded of our sin, but God loves us too much to stop. As we grow in the gracious truth, we find that we want Him to shed light on our sin because it points us to Jesus. The forgiveness He earned on the Cross is always ours, no matter how much “recalculating” is necessary.

As we set our path, our joy comes in following God’s will, ways, and direction — which are always best.

PRAYER STARTER:
Dear God, in the midst of my sins, the Holy Spirit has brought me to repentance. In Jesus’ name, forgive me for . . .

Navigation System Fail
By Pastor Ben

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
                        (Psalm 32:1)

Several years ago, Torrie & I were taking a trip to a different state. Eager to get home, we decided to take a shortcut recommended by our GPS. It was an utter disaster. Slow, two-lane highways and construction messes everywhere! It took us forever to get home, but it didn’t take us long to recognize this was an epic GPS Fail!

You’ve heard of Cain, Noah, and David, right? Their stories, and countless others in the Bible, are full of epic fails. In fact, sin, depravity, and failure is a part of life for every person who walks the face of the earth:

Cain murdered his brother    (Genesis 4:1-16)
Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk        (Genesis 9:20-21)
David tried to conceal his adultery with murder     (2 Samuel 11)
You yourself act at times as if you worship money     (Exodus 32)
You’re sometimes ruled by sexual temptations       (1 Kings 11:1-8)
Your heart is often full of jealousy & anger          (1 Samuel 18:6-16)

The story of God’s people — then and now — is a story that includes much rebellion and sin. What a huge mess! The only way out is God’s Plan of Salvation (GPS, if you will). There are no shortcuts in God’s plan. Instead of justifiably destroying us and all sinners, He chose one person to serve as the object of all His wrath. That One was Jesus Christ. Born of a woman, true flesh and blood, He lived a perfect human life in our place. He fulfilled the Law because we couldn’t.

Jesus went to the Cross to take the wrath we had earned, to be the sacrifice for our sins. But what looked like an epic fail became a true and amazing victory when Jesus rose from the dead. Through faith, Jesus new life has become our own. Our sins created the mess, but He cleaned it up with His blood.

No matter the shortcuts you’ve taken, the sins you’ve committed, or the epic failures you’ve lived, Jesus offers the hope of Good News. He gave His life for your sins. No one deserves that kind of love and forgiveness, and there’s nothing you can do to earn it. It’s a gift. It’s yours. Full forgiveness. Real peace. Epic grace.

PRAYER STARTER:
Jesus, You gave Your life to save me. You took the punishment I deserve . . .

Navigation System vs. Map
By Pastor Ben

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”     (Psalm 37:5)

I want to trust navigation systems; I really do. But instead, I have a love-hate relationship with them. They impress me, but I just can’t bring myself to trust them 100%. Their are too many unknowns. So, if I’m going on a long trip, I very often print out a map — just in case my navigation system fails. Then, I confidently start my car and take off — with my back-up plan in hand.
Is that really confidence? Is that really trust? Is that really faith? Can we be confident and trusting without a back-up plan?
Abraham was:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
                                (Hebrews 11:8)

No navigation system. No map. Just trust in God. Seriously, Abraham? Seriously?!
When the Lord spoke, Abraham listened. He and his family trusted God 100%. They followed the Lord’s direction and plan, leaving their country and extended family. Who has that kind of trust? When you’re down to the last $50 in your bank account… when your friend is diagnosed with cancer or Alzheimer’s… when your co-workers dismiss your faith as baloney — can you trust that God’s direction is always best?

The full-fledged trust that Abraham displayed is possible only for the righteous — those who know and trust the righteousness Christ gives and who rely on the forgiveness He won for us.

There is no back-up plan for our salvation. We can trust God’s flawless navigation, the navigation that took Jesus from a stable in Bethlehem to a cross at Golgotha to an empty tomb on Easter morning. Jesus is our Savior, and He’ll never let us down.

We don’t need a map because God tells us where to go. Dead in our sins, we look to Jesus to make us alive. Unsure of where to turn to next, we focus our eyes on the Cross. Walking as strangers here on earth, we place our hope in Jesus and the mansion He is preparing for us in Heaven.

Put your trust in the divine Navigator, Jesus Christ. When you feel yourself reaching for a back-up plan, PRAY! Ask for God’s direction, trust His forgiveness, and always keep the Cross in sight.

PRAYER STARTER:
Lord God, I may not be able to see the future, but I know You are leading me. . .

Stories From the Road: Part 2
By Pastor Ben

In Psalm 18, David presents a poetic prayer to God. Read and study his prayer and note the checklist of things for which he asks:

* Confidence in the ways of the Lord.

    * Praise for the ever-present help of the Lord.

    * Thanksgiving for God’s rescue.

    * Praise for the almighty strength of God.

    * Worship of the Lord’s holiness.

    * Joy in the living Lord.

Do your prayers mirror David’s psalm? If you struggle to find the words to pray, grab a note card and write down 10 things to pray about: family members, friends who don’t know Jesus, thanksgiving to God for your blessings, and so on. Carry that note card with you and get it out and look at it anytime you want to talk to your Heavenly Father. Then, next week, get a new note card and writ a fresh checklist.

Navigating Through Your Days

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
                                (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.        (Psalm 23:1-3)

Checklist #5 – Maintenance
By Pastor Ben

“You [O Lord] . . . Are acquainted with all my ways.”    (Psalm 139:3)

When I was a young boy, at our family get-togethers, the men would all gather outside around one of their cars. My uncles would raise the hood and would discuss every detail of the car. They knew their cars inside & out. I can only imagine the extreme care they took in getting their cars ready for a road trip or a vacation. They undoubtedly wanted everything to be perfect and optimally operational.

Perfection was God’s plan too. And it was achieved . . . In the beginning. Then, with a fury, Satan rolled into the Garden of Eden like a viper in the first hybrid model of temptation and sin. Adam & Eve lost their focus on their Creator. They sinned against their God, who then drove them out of the Garden. SIN CHANGED EVERYTHING!

The world was broken. Perfection ended. Humankind could’ve been headed for the junkyard, but God never abandoned Adam & Eve. Instead, He promised to send a Savior, One who would overpower their sin — Jesus Christ.

As the Holy Spirit creates faith through God’s Word, He directs us to the Cross of Jesus. Like a mechanic that keeps a 1957 Chevy running, Jesus makes us new every morning. Forgiven in the Cross, we stand shining in the Son. The Father sees His Son’s perfection in us.

When we stumble and our sins seem too much to bear, we return to the foot of the Cross. There, we’re reminded that Christ promises to live in us and through us:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”                (Galatians 2:20)

The total perfection, ruined in Eden, will be fully restored when we all get to Heaven. Until then, we can live confidently in the promises of our Savior.

So, each day, remember to fill up on forgiveness, always consult divine directions, and buckle up for a blessed ride!

PRAYER STARTER:
Father, I ask for Your forgiveness and give thanks for the promises I have in my Savior. Lead me in the way of the Cross, for Your direction is always best . . .

Checklist #4: Snacks
By Pastor Ben

“How sweet are your roads to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
                (Psalm 119:103)

I can’t imagine a road trip without snacks. When I travel, I add miles to my odometer and pounds to my body. My snack list includes foods that are salty, an excessive variety of sweets, a few healthy snacks if Torrie is along, and keep-me-awake caffeine drinks (Pepsi). What’s on your top-ten checklist of road trip snacks?
The above Bible verse describes God’s Word as sweet, sweeter than honey. It satisfies us and keeps us moving forward. One taste and you want more. God’s Word is healthy — physically, mentally, and spiritually. It goes well with traveling, too. Two verses later the psalmist writes:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”        (Psalm 119:105)
When do you crave God’s sweet, faith-strengthening nourishment? Consider memorizing the tasty morsels below. They’ll keep you moving forward as you navigate through life.

When sin leads you down a dark road:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”    (Psalm 46:1)

When your life starts to lose focus:
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”                        (John 14:6)

When it seems you can’t do anything right:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                            (Romans 6:23)

When you’re tempted to give in to the ways of the world:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”                                    (Galatians 2:20)

When you don’t measure up to the expectations at work or at home:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
                                    (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As you call upon the Word of God, your body and soul will thank you. Unlike calorie-laden road trip snacks, God’s Word truly nourishes your heart. It creates peace, forgiveness, and joy. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a sugar crash — just open up your Bible to revive its benefits all over again.

PRAYER STARTER: Heavenly Father, create in me a deep craving for Your nourishing, life-sustaining words of life. Give me great joy in sharing them with others . . .

Checklist #3: Packing

By Pastor Ben

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my souls shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.”        (Isaiah 61:10)

From a man’s point of view, packing for a road trip is pretty easy. We usually go with the bare minimum. Shirts – Check. Pants or shorts – Check. Socks – Check. Underwear – Check. Shoes – Check. Check. Total time: 4 minutes, 35 seconds.
Anything I missed? Granted, there’s bathroom stuff & tech gadgets, but I’m thinking more about suitcase packing — what I’ll be wearing. Ladies – What would you add to the packing checklist? It would take another 3 paragraphs and another 3 hours, right?

The apostle Paul created a similar checklist — spiritually speaking. His list includes the things we are to put on day by day. These things will affect our own lives and the lives of those around us:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:12-15)

All that seems like much more than 1 suitcase — or 1 heart can hold! What do you think? Can your heart hold all of this? Or does it lose all these qualities as easily as some airlines lose luggage?

Before you answer, imagine the morning when your broken coffeemaker ends up in the trash, along with your last shred of patience. Your kindness flies out the window as your non-caffeinated mind flips into road-rage mode. Then, forgiveness evaporates when your co-worker  or boss throws you under the bus with an important client.

Even if you haven’t had a day exactly like that, you know, deep down, that the things on Paul’s packing checklist are too much for us to handle.

But we need not rely on ourselves! We can turn to the Holy Spirit. He reminds us of our Savior’s death for all our failures. He covers us with Jesus’ righteousness.

As God’s chosen, forgiven sons & daughters, we are able to latch that over-stuffed suitcase and bring the peace of Jesus Christ along with us — wherever our travels may take us.

PRAYER STARTER:
Holy Spirit, teach me to travel with gratitude for all Your gifts . . .

Checklist #2: Contacts
By Ben Furman

“I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.”
(Psalm 116:17)

Technology today has made keeping track of our current contacts pretty easy. Smartphones, smart-TVs, tablets and laptops make it possible to take our contact list along with us wherever we go. What a blessing when we need help in a travel emergency.

Here’s another amazing blessing: the blessing of calling on the name of the Lord in prayer . . . Wherever and whenever. We have 24/7 access to the Creator of the universe. From the North Pole to the South Pole, we can talk to the King of kings. The one true triune God is always listening. It’s an amazing blessing, really, but one we easily take for granted.

We have a contact list like no other — a Friend in the highest of places. To remind me to call on the Lord first, always, and often, I have added “Jesus Christ” to my smartphone’s contact list. He’s right at the top of my “favorites list.” Sounds strange, I know. But it really is a great reminder to spend my time talking to Him and not just the others on my list.

As we can see from this Covid-19 pandemic, it’s easy to get distracted by the craziness of our lives. We call our spouses, check in at work, and order take-out or delivery food, but we forget to call upon the One who gave us life. REAL LIFE! God’s forever kind of life!
Throughout Jesus’ life & ministry here on earth, He made prayer a priority:

“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”        (Matthew 14:23)

“Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”                                    (Luke 6:12)

“Jesus would withdraw to desolate places to pray.”    (Luke 5:16)

If we went to those mountains and desolate places to pray, it’s possible we wouldn’t have phone service or Wi-Fi. Maybe that’s not such a bad idea. Today, find a quiet place to call on the name of the Lord in prayer, cast your cares on Him, and enjoy the peace He brings to your heart.

PRAYER STARTER:
Dear Jesus, I know You’re always there to listen. Hear my prayer . . .

Checklist #1: Necessities
By Pastor Ben

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ
 and him crucified.”        (1 Corinthians 2:2)

When planning a road trip, you’re likely going to make some lists — in your mind or on a piece of paper. The most important and obvious checklist pertains to basic necessities. Do you have enough money, a clear schedule, and a reliable vehicle?
Many of us write checklists to organize our daily lives too. For instance:

* Make dentist appointment.
* Buy snacks for kid’s soccer team.
* Help dad move refrigerator.

Sound familiar? The necessities of everyday life can feel boring, like drudgery. Has your list ever looked like this?

* Make a 2 AM run to the drugstore because the kids need cough syrup.
* Forgo a Saturday afternoon of football because the in-laws need help painting.
* Teach your spouse how to operate the home security system for the 50th time!

It’s easy to get fed up with life’s necessary chores, but that’s only when you forget who’s in charge of the checklist:

“My God will supply every need . . . According to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”                (Philippians 4:19)

In Jesus and in Him alone, God provides everything you need. In fact, Jesus Himself is the list! Saves you from sin — check. Loves you even when you don’t deserve it — check. Invites you to eternal life with Him — check.

When you entrust your checklist to God, you see it through the lens of the Cross and the drudgery disappears. Cleaning up after a sick kid? Jesus has been there — He washed feet! Have to help the in-laws again? God grants you patience as you deal with all their requests. Your spouse getting on your last nerve? Jesus offers you unlimited forgiveness and that makes it possible for you to forgive them 1,000,000 times over.

You see, no matter what’s on your checklist, God is at work in all of it. He’s working through your words and actions to show the true Light of His love to this world. Even the most mundane tasks might just be God’s way of leading others to faith in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER STARTER:
Heavenly Father, you’re all I need. Remind me that you meet all my needs in Christ crucified . . .

Stories From The Road
By Pastor Ben

Today, consider reading the following memorable Scripture travel stories. Each one focuses on someone who encountered Jesus while traveling.

Luke 24:13-35 documents Jesus, shortly after His resurrection, traveling with 2 unassuming men on a road tat led to Emmaus.

Acts 9:1-22 tells the story of one of history’s most amazing life changes. It happened in the life of a man named Saul (whose name would later be changed to Paul) after an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Road Trip Checklists

“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. . . . The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”    (Psalm 145:1-4, 17)