Now I must admit, dreadfully so, that, in growing-up years, my sons' rooms were like mazes, and the easiest, not best, solution was to just sigh quite loudly, and then close the door. Right, moms? But, sometimes, the GAME OF LIFE is like that too, except that you can't just sigh and close the door. You want to scream and run! Don't just yet--let's find out about God's a-maze-ing grace and look for HIS solution. No pencils and papers necessary. Just find your way to Peggie's Place, and let's begin the a-maze-ing journey together!
The Maze of Liberty...
The journey begins in the early years, when a preschool child firmly states, in no uncertain terms, "I do it MY way!" We all want to be "free to be me," and spend much of our lives traveling down one road after another, always in the driver's seat, in control, free to roam, and do whatever we wish, as long as we can do it "our way." When we finally hit a roadblock, a dead end, we cry in despair, "Lord, help!" And He replies, "I can't--YOU are in the driver's seat!
Liberty at its best is letting HIM take over the wheel. Letting Him guide us through the maze of life--He's traveled this road before us; He KNOWS the way. When I surrender the controls to Him, then I know sweet liberty within the boundaries of His perfect Will and plan. I'm free to be the person HE made me to be. A life of joy, peace, and perfect surrender. All because of Calvary. All because of HIS a-maze-ing Grace!
The Maze of Love...
The journey begins somewhere between the ages of four and fourteen--boys and girls meet, for fun, for friendship, for a future together--and that's ok; that's how God made us! But somewhere along the way, the puzzle becomes a bit complicated--will he call me? does she like me? why doesn't he call me? why doesn't he like me? where IS he? where IS she?" You hear comments such as, "MEN! Dense creatures no WOMAN will ever understand" or "WOMEN! Difficult creatures no MAN will ever understand." And thus we travel the maze of love together, sometimes skipping, sometimes dragging, always puzzled--unless HE is walking with us!
Marriage without the Lord's help must surely be a puzzle; marriage WITH the Lord's help is hard enough!! Let's be honest--no two people think alike, feel alike, or act alike. We are so different. Now granted it can make for some delightful dialogue, but it can also make for some devastating disasters. HE is the One who makes it work; HE is the One, Who, when made supreme in the relationship, will lead us through the challenging maze of love. Love filled with laughter, learning, and lots of lemonade! (Remember the saying, "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!"--just remember, HE or SHE is not the lemon--it's the "sour" things of life that need His sweetness! And He's there to provide it--al1 because of Calvary. All because of HIS a-maze-ing Grace!
The Maze of Life...
...The journey begins with major decisions such as, "Shall I play with my blocks or my dolls? Shall I have pizza or tacos for lunch? Shall I date the gorgeous one or the personality one? Or both? Shall I go to this college or that university? What will I be? Where will I go?" The maze complicates itself with age, "What career path shall I take? Whom shall I marry? Where shall we live? Why is life so difficult?"
Decisions, decisions, decisions! Without the Lord, certain confusion; with Him, guidance and grace beyond our deepest dreams. Is the God of the universe concerned with guiding the details of our lives? I believe He is; I know He is, for I have seen His wonderful Hand guide my own life. I look back, and see that at each turning corner, each puzzle and problem, He was there; He led me in the "right" path. He still does--and He will do the same for you. All because of Calvary. All because of HIS a-maze-ing Grace!
Practicing the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the answer to the mazes of liberty, of love, and of life. He becomes Lord of YOU, Lord of your love, and Lord of your life. He guides through each turn, helps at each crossroad, and maneuvers each roadblock. Is His Lordship a possible solution? A probable solution? No--it's a perfect solution to the most difficult maze of all--real LIFE! He's lived it; He helps us live it. All because of Calvary. All because of His a-maze-ing Grace!
And that's just a word...or two, from my heart to yours!
Scripture: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7 KJV)."
Prayer: "Lord, I stumble through the mazes of life, finding roadblocks here, detours there, and I've discovered that "going it alone" is not the solution. I need YOU--your loving guidance and plan--as I journey through life. Please be Lord of every area of my life. Provide grace for the weak spots. For You know the way far better than I--lead me, for Your Name's Sake. Amen."
--Copyright 2010 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.
--Find more devotionals by Peggie at The Devotional Buffet.
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Now featuring: Faith, Freedom and the Flag - a July 4 celebration!
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Today's news and weather
Reuters - Top US, Political, International News . . . The Weather Channel
Today's Bible reading and Christian news
Bible reading from Biblica . . . ChristianPost.com
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Diggin' into archived devotionals by Peggie
"What Name??"
Where in the World Are You?
...and a daily byte of chocolate!
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Today's humor and inspiration
"Baked, Stuffed Chicken" and "The Onion"
See TNT archives for lots more!
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Only in America
Only in America…can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
Only in America…do drug stores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions filled while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America…do banks leave both doors wide-open and then chain pens to the counter.
Only in America…do we leave our cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America…do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we don’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.
Only in America…do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns for them in packages of eight.
Only in America…do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET Coke.
–-Author unknown.
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Today's quote:
"Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever."
Have a great day serving the Lord!
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--Archived sources:
The Devotional Buffet
Tickles 'n Truth archives
The Virtual Chocolate Shop
--Quote credits: Mikey's Funnies and/or Walking with Jesus Ministries .
--Copyright 2010 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
--A weekday feature at Peggie's Place, "the most fun Christian home on the Web!
--Get this devo by email - or follow this blog on Facebook!
