Ps. 23:3 - "He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake."

• Story From My College Days

I remember when I was in college an older married student came to class one day and told us about his 18-year-old son. He said his son came home and informed his parents that he had just enlisted into the Marine Corp.

The father was quite shocked. So he asked his son, “Why would you want to do that?” 

He said his son looked at them with a straight face and said, “Because I am sick and tired of taking orders from you and mom.”  

His dad asked, “So you joined the Marine Corps so you would not have to take orders?”

I don’t know about you but just writing this story has me laughing.

• Which Paths Have You Chosen?

One of our biggest challenges will be choosing the “Path of Righteousness” that is right for us.
 
One word in Ps. 23:3 has grabbed my attention and it is the word “paths” of righteousness. You will notice the word is plural. We need to stay on the “paths of righteousness”.

I believe that some of our life “paths” that we choose can be more difficult than other paths.
 
Now I could be wrong here but I think choosing the Marine Corps may have been a little harder than living at this young man’s parent’s house when it came to receiving orders.

I am not saying the young man made the wrong choice by choosing the Marines because some of my greatest learning experiences have come from enduring difficult struggles. If he stayed in the Marines I am sure they changed him for the better.

However, I would imagine those first weeks of basic training were difficult especially since he didn’t like his mom and dad giving him orders.

Some times in life we try to take the easy path but I have to admit I learned more when exerting all my strength to keep my head above water.

One important thing to remember is this that because you choose a path of righteousness doesn’t mean safe sailing.

If you look back to the early disciples and apostles many of them died because of their decision to travel on the path of righteousness.

• When You Are Getting Ready To Choose A Path

Don’t choose a path simply because you think it will be easy. Choose your path of righteousness that will challenge you and when you get to the end of it you will be able to say, “That path really taught me something.”

Choose a path where you will be able to use your God given talents.

When you choose a path choose one you love and where you will enjoy your journey. 
 
My wife and I moved to a retirement community. I wanted to move not simply because they had a lot of sporting activities for adults. I came here because I liked the church we attended and was looking forward to serving my Lord there.
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• There Are Some Paths That Should Be Avoided

I will not give you a list of these paths. You are old enough to know right from wrong. Do yourself a favor and don’t go down the wrong path. Going down the wrong path can make life very difficult and expensive when it didn’t have to be.

Look at people who have gone down the wrong paths and learn from their mistakes.

• So Do Yourself a Favor and Learn From Others.

I am sure we can all look back and see some of the paths we took were harder than necessary?

I am sure we all have walked on paths we wished we hadn’t but the key is we don’t keep walking on them. Just remember whatever path you choose make sure you walk on it with the Lord.

Think on These:

A person can save himself from many hard falls by refraining from jumping to conclusions.

Everyone is capable of making mistakes, but fools practice them.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

​I Kings 19:3-4 - And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

·    Not Trusting God Looks Hideous

Elijah isn't having one of his better days in the scripture text above. Maybe you can relate with Elijah? He had just experienced a spiritual high. He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal. God had honored him by sending fire down from heaven and consuming the water drenched sacrifice after Baal didn't answer the false prophets.

Jezebel then threatens to take Elijah's life and he flees. What is with that? I really don't understand Elijah's actions here.

He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal by trusting in God and now he is going to flee.

I would like to ask Elijah a few questions: "Why not trust God one more time? Why did you flee?" You didn’t run when facing 450 false prophets. Why run now?

Elijah had shown his faith so many times by trusting in God. He was used by God to raise the dead. He knew he had a special relationship with God.

So why did Elijah become such a wimp? He runs away and hides and now he wants to die. 

Do you remember a time when you failed to trust God? How did you feel afterwards? You will want to remember that awful feeling. Why? So that you don't have to feel it again. So that it motivates you to stay faithful and not become a wimp.

·    When Do Opportunities Not To Trust God Usually Come?

What does your not trusting God look like?

Have you experienced any spiritual highs?

If I were you I would be careful because I have observed that right after a spiritual high comes a testing of your faith. This usually will result in a spiritual low if you aren't prepared to battle against this test.

Not trusting God can come in many different ways and types of trials. The word "beware" is used 14 times in the New Testament. That is a pretty good indication that we should be on guard as we walk through this life. We have an enemy who seeks to devour us.

·    When Trusting God There Will Be Times When It Looks Like You're Losing.

One must always remember no trial is able to defeat you and your God. You must keep the faith. 

When it is looking very dim for you that is the time to draw closer to God not run away from Him.
You can never lose by keeping your faith in God. NEVER.

Think on This:

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all that I haven't seen.    Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Lk 19:29-34 - He sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.  "If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say, 'The Lord has need of it.'"  So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.  As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"  They said, "The Lord has need of it."   NASU 

• The Young Donkey Waited 

The one who waited was the young donkey. He waited because he was tied. If he hadn't been tied maybe he would not have been there when the Lord needed him.

What about us?  
 
Are we anything like this donkey?
 
Has the Lord tied us to something that we really don't like?  The reason He has tied us is because He needs us to be right where we are. (Please know that I am not referring to any type of abusive situation. If you are being abused get out of there. The donkey wasn't being beaten. He was tied most likely to a post.)

We are going to be able to help someone if we stay where we are. We are going to impact some one's life in a very special way, but if we are not tied we will wander away. In other words, we won't be where the Lord needs us to be, so He has tied us to something.

Maybe you are tied to a job, or a health problem, or a financial burden you don't like. You think God doesn't know that? You pray, "God use me." And the entire time He is preparing to use you your mind is on getting out of there. You keep trying to get untied from God's plan.

• The Young Donkey Was Viewed By Many As Unimportant 

Donkeys didn't then and still aren't viewed as esteemed animals. Donkeys were not seen in a positive way. They were seen as stubborn and an animal for the poor, certainly not the rich or the aristocrat.

What about us? Are we seen by others as unimportant?

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OTHERS SEE YOU.

It really only matters how God sees you. Others may think you are not important, not smart, not pretty, not handsome, not rich enough, but none of that matters. What matters is what God thinks of you.

How many of you know what God thinks about you?  

I highly recommend reading the New Testament and you will discover what God thinks about you and read real slow when you get to John 3.

• The Young Donkey Was There When The Lord Needed Him 

My question for us then is this, "Will we be there when the Lord needs us?" The donkey was there. The disciples untied him and started to walk away with him when the donkey's owners questioned them.

The disciples said, "The Lord has need of it."  And that was the end of their conversation. You know we are all like that donkey. The Lord has need of us.

You may be like the donkey tied to something and waiting to be used by the King. It doesn't matter what situation of life you find yourself in just believe that God is going to use you like He did the donkey.

The Lord Has Need Of You.

I hope you are waiting patiently for Him to use you.

Think About These:

Life is full of golden opportunities for doing what we don't want to do.

Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word 

Mt 10:24-28 - A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
 
"Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops."  NASU 

• Have The Proper Attitude 

The Greek word for "disciple" means to be a "learner or a student." One of the first lessons Jesus is teaching those who wish to become one of His disciples is to have the proper attitude.
 
If we are going to be a "disciple" we won't have an attitude that elevates us above our teacher, Jesus. We will see Him as He is the Son of God.
 
Now you might be thinking, "Well that is not too hard." But remember, when Jesus was teaching these lessons, a lot of people didn't believe He was God's Son the way we do.
 
One of the first controversies about Jesus was whether He was of the same substance as God (Gk. -homoousian) or a similar substance to God (Gk.- homoiousian).  This was discussed at the First Council of Nicea in AD 325.
 
As disciples, we should always have an attitude that leads us to always learn as much as we can about Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, and become as much like Him as we possibly can.
 
Are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus if it means you have to study God's Word so that you can be like your Teacher, Jesus? 

• Expect Harsh Criticism 

They called Jesus, Beelzebul. The word Beelzebul means god of dung. So now, that gives you an idea of what they are saying about Jesus.
 
Jesus and His disciples are teaching that He is the Son of God and His enemies are saying He is a god, alright. He is Beelzebul, the god of dung (dung is manure).
 
As disciples of Jesus, we know they maligned our Teacher, and we will be maligned for our beliefs as well.

Are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus if it means you will have people say evil things about you? 

• Fight Fear 

We are commanded by our Teacher not to give into fear.

Can we do this? Yes, we can or He would not have commanded it. Jesus doesn't tell us to do impossible things.

Don't give in to fear. Everything Jesus taught will be revealed. It will be revealed that He truly is the Son of God.
 
Now instead of being conquered by fear, be conquered by the desire to go everywhere and speak the truth about Jesus Christ.
 
We are to speak in the light of what we have heard. What have we heard? Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and He has come as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.
 
Think On These:
 
If you are not afraid to face the music, you may someday lead the band.
 
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Go To  www.SeragosPumpUps.com