Any crossword puzzle fans around? My husband is a big one--I well remember the time he brought his crossword puzzle into the labor room 14 years ago--I was ready to BOP him with it! Now crossword puzzles are "ok," but give ME a maze to wiggle and worm my way through, and I'm happy. I know--that's the little girl peeking out from inside of me (my inner child, so the pyschologists say), but it's still fun, regardless of how "old" I am--a subject not for discussion! ;-)
Now I must admit, dreadfully so, that sometimes my sons' rooms are like mazes, and the best solution to that is to just sigh quite loudly, and then close the door. Right, moms? But, sometimes, 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 out of the well, and let's begin the a-maze-ing journey together!
A Helping Word...or Two!
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!
His Healing Word
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7 KJV)."
