They followed a star, and so can we!

There were men who traveled a great distance, following a star, in order to find a new and special king who had been born.  We remember these men of great learning, every Christmas, with three “wise men” figurines in the manger scene.  We can learn a lot from these “wise” men.  They sought the King by following a star as it glowed in the sky as a guide for them to follow.

Our God is every bit as stable and dependable as the star those men followed.  We can and often do turn to God as to seek guidance and direction.  There are times, for example, when life throws you a totally unexpected curve ball and we find ourselves swirling in circles of fear and worry.  It is at those times, some look to God for help, or answers.  Why God? Why me?  Why now?  Help me God! Even those who seldom think of God, and never plan to set one foot in a church building, tend to  think of God in times of desperation.

I know I did at a very critical time in my life.  You see, I had fallen into a pit of darkness in which, due to many life circumstances, I had begun to believe that I was a worthless human being.  I was a mother of 3 boys, but felt like a failure when one failed 7th grade.  I was a wife, but could never seem to cook or clean well enough.  I was a business owner, but my business was near bankruptcy at this time.  My identity was wrapped up in “wife,” “mother,” “successful business owner,” and I was failing miserably at all three.

Most importantly, although unknown to me at the time, I had put God on the shelf while I went about building my persona and my life. The persona I created had nothing to do with God, and had everything to do with the culture around me.  You know, the “husband, house, two kids, and a van” view of life.

I did all those things, and I ran a business of my own, but I had no time left for God.  I did not attend church, other than for Easter and Christmas.  I did not read the Bible, or pray. So, I had totally shut the Light out of my life.  My sky was so filled with clouds, of my making, that when my world started to crumble, I had no way to see the Light of God.

Had I read the Bible I would have understood that God himself, the great I Am, had knit me together in my mother’s womb.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139 13-14

I had no way to see the value that I really had as a daughter of the King of Kings, because I was not seeking to find my value in any way other than being a good wife, mother, and business owner.  I was in a pit of my own making, and I was at the very bottom.

Well I decided to end my worthless existence, and was in the laundry room methodically doing the wash while contemplating what method I could use to end my life – yes commit suicide.  It was at that moment that a flicker  of a thought broke through, “What will happen to your three young sons?” It was then that I knew I had to keep living.

I fell on my knees, right there in the laundry room, and cried out, “God, if you really exist, I need you now.  I don’t know how I can go on another day!” I do not know how to explain this, but I knew that my prayer had been heard.  There was no flash of light, but there was enough of a sense of peace that I could get up, and face that day. It was as if Jesus had bent down and picked me up off the floor, and gave me his strength to stand and move into the day.

It didn’t end there either.  God put new people in my life to lead me to sources of help, and even more importantly, they guided me back to a place where I could, once again, clearly see the Light.  God has been guiding me ever since.  I seek him, and I find him. He is constantly guiding, protecting, providing, and loving me in ways that could fill books, should I share.

Now, as we near Christmas day, is as good a time as any to begin to focus on the star that guides from above, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and allow him to guide each of us on our walk through life. If you put your trust in God, he will take you on a fantastic journey.

Your life will be full of wonderful surprises and blessings.

If you put your trust in God, he will comfort you when the world slaps you around.

He will protect you when everything turns against you, and he will shelter you during the storms of life.

Allow God, the one who wants to be your personal guiding star, to take his rightful place in your life, and join me on a wonderful life journey of faith, fun, and fullness.

May the blessings of Christ be yours,

M.