God is My Co-Pilot - NOT!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

Ephesians 3:20

God is my co-pilot was a common refrain a few years back.

It was even a popular bumper sticker.

It had its origin in a book and a movie way back in the 1940’s.

While the sentiment may be well meaning, let’s not stop at asking God to be the co-pilot.

I am reminded of a popular song a few years back sung by Carrie Underwood and titled – Jesus Take the Wheel.

I would suggest to you that is the better choice.

One says – I’ll let you sit near me but I am the pilot of my life.

The other says – Lord, I trust you completely – take control of my life.

You see – God doesn’t ask for a percentage of your heart or your devotion.

He does not say – Let me have 51%.

He asks for it all!

Why?

Because His plans for you are far, far greater than any you may aspire to on your own.

God has greater plans for your life than you can imagine.

Let God of the wheel and surrender control to Him.

Does doing this demand faith?

Absolutely!

But the reward of trusting God with all of your life is immeasurably greater!

If you would like to listen – below is a link to the Carrie Underwood song -

https://www.facebook.com/ronaldoronnie.padilla/videos/459663793986/

 

Ready or Not, Here I Come

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without

revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.”

Amos 3:7

In my childhood games of hide and seek (I had seven siblings so we had built in playmates all the time!) the person who was the ‘seeker’ would close and cover their eyes and loudly count backwards from 10 down to 1.

When they finished counting they would shout out to all of us ‘hiders’ –

Ready or not, here I come!

Maybe you had the same technique when you played.

But I have to admit, there were times when I hid far enough away that I did not hear the shout.

I could only hope that my hiding spot was so good that I would not be found.

I had positioned myself in such a way that I was not able to hear the warning the seeker had declared.

As believers I know we often do not position ourselves to hear the warnings and words of instruction that God sends through His prophets.

We are positioned too far away to hear.

For example, how many of us were caught by surprise by this worldwide pandemic?

God certainly wasn’t.

And, as a matter of fact, He spoke of it through His prophets.

Many of them!

Some had visions, dreams or words from the Lord years ago, months ago or weeks ago.

They shouted those words to us but we had positioned ourselves so we did not hear.

Too often our position has been in front of the T.V. or diverted by some other distraction.

A big one is that we were just too busy to listen.

We have not positioned ourselves in His presence, in prayer or listening to His prophets.

God is faithful to speak to His children.

Some will position themselves to hear.

Others will respond in unbelief declaring that God no longer has prophets or that He Himself is distant and no longer speaks.

Both are untrue.

I urge you to not turn away.

Position yourself to hear Gods call to you -

Ready or not, here I come!

It’s Time to Think Little

“May you be blessed by the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 115:15

A few times when my children were younger and I promised them a surprise, it didn’t take me long to learn how vividly their imaginations took off as to what that surprise was.  

What I meant by a surprise was maybe a couple of extra hours with daddy or a drive to get some ice cream.

Their imaginations, however, took off at those words and they were already dreaming of what they would do at Disneyworld or with a new bicycle.  

When my real surprise failed to measure up to their imaginary surprise it had the effect of bringing disappointment and a little ungratefulness.

We can carry that into adulthood and into our walk with God if we do not develop the habit of recognizing and thanking God for the ‘little’ things.

Yesterday I received a text from a friend asking how I and my family were doing.  

It was a simple gesture but a real blessing to me.

That got me to thinking about how much we miss thanking God for the little blessing throughout our day.

We get so caught up with what we might call ‘Great Expectations’ that the many blessings that we receive throughout the day can often go unnoticed.

Here is a challenge for these difficult times we all find ourselves in.

Be deliberate in your desire to find and appreciate the multiplied blessings that are yours today.

Will you do that?

If you do I promise you will see a change in your attitude and your outlook!