I have a friend who writes what I would call a devotional every Sunday morning. He posts it to Facebook and at the end invites everyone to do several things, read the Bible, pray and come out to his church.  I have been reading these devotionals for some time and thought to myself that a wider audience really needs to see them.  I asked his permission to do some checking around, which he granted.

I started the effort with a quick email to a publishing company that folks in our denomination would be familiar with.  Just yesterday I received an email back.  The response wasn’t as timely as I would have liked, nor was it the answer I wanted.  I chuckled to myself thinking that’s how our prayer life can go sometimes.  God doesn’t always answer right away and there are plenty of times that His will and mine are not exactly in rhythm.

While the email didn’t give me the “yes” I was dreaming of, the publishing house did offer some advice.   It wasn’t an end all “no” rather it was a “let’s try this another way.”  I genuinely appreciated the direction and while it means more work and a tougher path, there’s still a way.  Upholding our end of the Christian call isn’t always easy, although we are generally the ones who make the path tough for ourselves.  Unlike Thomas, we do know the way, Jesus.  He has made it so simple for us and with the words in John 14:6 we know exactly where to go and who to go to for our salvation.

I’m not certain if my friend’s self-proclaimed redneck devotional will ever make it to print, but he and I are both certain of one thing, God provided a path to each of us so that one day we may be gathered up and spend eternity in His holy presence.

For further reference, here’s what my friend posted this past Sunday morning:

Last December during an ice storm, we were awakened by a loud crash one morning. I looked outside to see a big white pine in the corner of the yard that had given way to the extra weight of the ice and broke off just above ground level and fell. Thankfully it wasn't close enough to be a threat to the house, but it started me to thinking about and watching the even bigger pine in front of our house that seemed to be leaning closer to the front door with each heavy rain or high wind. I prayed during each storm that our Creator would keep that big tree off the house.

Recently a talented buddy of mine came by and took the big pine in front of the house down, a piece at a time, instead of dropping the whole tree at one time where it may have hit the house. With the way it was leaning, it would have been hard to cut it and keep it away from the house. When he was done, he remarked that it was a lot taller than it looked and had it fallen, it would have been in the middle of our house. Needless to say, I was thankful for all the times that a storm didn't put it over onto the house roof, and of course most appreciative of my buddy who removed the threat, and plan to go around the yard and remove any big pine that may be a threat to the house in the future.

Ever stop to think about how many storms of life God has seen you thru, just like He kept that big pine off of our house? The Psalmist writes in 138:7 "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me". In 2nd Samuel 22:3-4 we read "My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies". Isaiah writes in 25:4 "For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall".

Would you like to find shelter from the storms of life? There is no better time or place than here and now, and we can start by hitting our knees in prayer in some quiet spot, looking between the covers of His book to learn more, and visiting His house this morning, gathered together with other believers. He's watching at the door, has saved us all a seat, and always leaves the lights on so we can find our way home in the darkest of hours. Hebrews 10, 24-25 reads "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near". He is coming back for His flock one day soon, and we all need to be ready; we have no guarantee of tomorrow. Blessings all, stay close to the foot of the cross, share the good news of salvation, and be sure to pray for healing for our lost and dying world and for the lost among us. Hallelujah, He is risen!