<\/p>\n
Lisa opens this chapter with the fact that there is only one native, North American, all-purpose sword.\u00a0 The machete<\/strong> <\/em>is widely used for very practical<\/em> purposes.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t pretty, or delicate<\/span>.\u00a0 It is made to be used for hard work, for clearing a path to walk on, to insure safety, as a tool for many purposes, and even food preparation.<\/p>\n With this sword in mind, it made me think of our sWord.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t pretty or delicate<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 It takes hard work to apply the truth inside to our lives.\u00a0 It will put us on a clear path, insure our safety and serves many purposes.\u00a0 Did you know there are even food preparation instructions in our sWord?<\/p>\n As I began preparing for this lesson, I began thinking about my childhood, growing up in the country in East Tennessee.\u00a0 We lived on a gravel\/dirt road.\u00a0 We lived on a hill in the middle of other bigger hills and the woods were our playground.\u00a0 The flatland was farmed for vegetables or hay.\u00a0 We looked for paths<\/span> to guide us through the woods, up safe places in the banks to get home (shortcuts), to see where other people had walked before us.\u00a0 We found all kinds of treasure along the way.<\/p>\n Some of the paths<\/span> we cleared ourselves, mostly we followed the path<\/span> other people had mashed down before us.\u00a0 The path<\/span> led to an adventure others had walked before us.\u00a0 Sometimes we encountered snakes and critters, but always plants and berries and flowers\u2026and bugs.\u00a0 These paths<\/span> were meant to be walked on and enjoyed.<\/p>\n If we did not walk those paths<\/span> often, they became overgrown and we would have to clear them again.\u00a0 We would have to break the intrusive branches and beat down the growth blocking our path<\/span>.\u00a0 Sometimes trees fell across our path<\/span> and we would have to get very creative to\u00a0clear it, or jump over.\u00a0 That tree became a signpost<\/em> at that point.\u00a0 Even the fallen trees can be used as something good in the woods.<\/p>\n The paths<\/span> in the hay fields led me to another thought.\u00a0 These paths often had tractors or trucks on them to help haul the baled hay out of the field.\u00a0 We walked on the path, the machines drove on our paths<\/span>.\u00a0 These paths<\/span> ended up with deep ruts in them.\u00a0 Ruts will cause you to stumble and fall.\u00a0 They will keep you in the groove of the tire track much longer than you would like to be.\u00a0 It is much harder to get out of a rut than walk a smooth path<\/span> or even forge your own new path<\/span>.<\/p>\n If we ever went on these deeply rutted paths<\/span>, we were there for a specific purpose.\u00a0 We were headed out for work and we planned appropriately.\u00a0 We put on sturdy shoes, wore long sleeves and pants, took water jugs and food, \u00a0gloves for our hands, hats for our heads and knew we were about to encounter some hard work.\u00a0 We were there to harvest the hay.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We had to take care of ourselves and make good choices or we would end up scratched up, hurt, and dehydrated.<\/p>\n Much like these work days from my youth, I have to prepare for special days when I know I am going to have to negotiate the \u201cruts\u201d in my life.\u00a0 There are especially hard \u201cwork days\u201d when it is time to cultivate, plant, tend, or harvest areas of my life.\u00a0 If I truly want a harvest, I have to do the hard work first.\u00a0 Lazy bones do not lead to a bountiful harvest<\/em>.<\/p>\n This week in our reading, we are going to address finding our paths<\/span>, staying on our paths<\/span>, re-opening old, neglected paths<\/span>, changing our environments, and managing a harvest.\u00a0 There will even be talk about identifying and managing the dangers that pop up in our lives.\u00a0 The Word of God addresses these very things for us.\u00a0 If we choose God\u2019s path<\/span> for our lives, He will lead us to a journey of adventure like no other.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t start the week off without Scripture, so here are a few of the \u201cpath<\/span>\u201d references I found:<\/p>\n Deuteronomy 5:33\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stay on the path … (Then a promise from God)<\/span><\/p>\n Psalms 1:6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Lord watches over the path of the godly, the path of the wicked leads to destruction.<\/span><\/p>\n 2 Samuel 22:29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God, your light floods my path, God drives out the darkness<\/span><\/p>\n Proverbs 3:6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths<\/span><\/p>\n 1 Kings 2:1-4 MSG\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do what God tells you.\u00a0 Walk in the paths He shows you.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n There are many other instances in the Bible where the writers talk of their path<\/span> and God\u2019s path<\/span>.\u00a0 Please take some time to look them up and really think about them.\u00a0 God provided a dry path for the\u00a0Israelite’s\u00a0to cross an active river, Job talked about his path<\/span> a LOT, the Psalms are full of guidance about being on the right path (especially Psalm 32).<\/p>\n Lisa tells us, \u201cAccording to Psalms and Proverbs, there are ultimately only two paths in this course of life:\u00a0 one that ascends to light and life, and another that descends to darkness and death.\u00a0 There is no middle way. \u00a0The choice seems obvious\u2026choose God\u2019s way to light and life.\u00a0 But there are seasons in life when we need some extra light in order to choose the right path\u201d <\/b>(page 142).<\/p>\n At some point in your life, you will find yourself with a choice.\u00a0 Which path will you take?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 I urge you to get to know the Leader, follow His path,<\/span> and enjoy the journey.\u00a0 Everything you experience may not be easy, but when you reach your destination, you will be amazed at what the Father has brought you through.\u00a0 Some of us were on the right path<\/span> and wandered off into the rough.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give up<\/strong><\/em>!\u00a0 Find your way back to the path<\/span> God laid out for you and continue walking.\u00a0 Maybe you were never on a godly path.<\/span>\u00a0 Stop now and ask God to put you on His path, and direct you in the direction He wants you to go.<\/p>\n At this stage in my life, I am appreciating additional light when I need to read small print.\u00a0 God\u2019s Word says He will shine a light for us to see.\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201c<\/span>I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won\u2019t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life\u201d<\/span><\/span> John 8:12<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is the best Leader you will ever follow.\u00a0 Let Him carry the machete<\/strong> and clear your path<\/span>.\u00a0 He\u00a0has a plan that\u00a0is best for you.\u00a0\u00a0Ask Jesus to prove Himself.\u00a0\u00a0He wants to LOVE you.<\/p>\n