Just a Few More Steps

 My kids laugh at me because of the things I save.  Some of you will laugh too....aluminum foil sheets that are still clean and not torn after covering a dish that is now empty...rubber bands from the green onions and celery bought at the grocery store...twisties from bread bags...zip lock bags that can be cleaned out...shipping boxes...decorative tissue paper from gift bags...and gift bags...I'm feeling your snickers now!!  The years I spent raising my family on ranches has a lot to do with this habit of saving. When the grocery store is not around the block, and you're not very good at remembering to take your grocery list with you when you do drive the distance into town to shop (do you do that too?...please say you do!), saving things for future use becomes a necessity.

But honestly I laugh at some of this too...like when I open my "junk" drawer in the kitchen and there are a gazillion twisties in there!  But be encouraged...when I cleaned out that junk drawer I was willing to throw away a lot of that junk!

Today, though, I needed to repair one of those things that I keep--a zippered bag that quilts and comforters come in.  I keep all those bags...also the small ones that come with pillow cases, sheets, and curtains.  I've used these for all kinds of things--for keeping your garage sale items organized,  keeping just about anything organized and protected that will fit in them--greeting cards that you buy on sale, sewing notions... you get the idea.  (ok, enough of the "good housekeeping" tips)  So I had a mattress topper in its original bag, but the bag was torn.  I really wanted to keep it in that bag, so I headed for the kitchen to get some tape to repair it.

As I got to the kitchen, the thought occurred to me that packing tape would be better for this repair than regular one inch tape, but the packing tape is in another room...hesitation to decide which way to go...and then a voice in my head said, "the packing tape is just a few more steps away...".  That thought actually stopped me in my tracks. "JUST A FEW MORE STEPS AWAY...".

How many times in my life have I NOT gone the distance to accomplish a task well, or "settled" for progress rather than overwhelming victory....stopped short of going "just a few more steps".

I'm not talking about perfection here...not at all.  I have those perfectionist tendencies....but what I'm hearing from the Lord is about the steps HE wants me to take as HE reveals a path, a few more steps away.... from whatever my heart and mind are seeking....His wisdom, His knowledge, His answer, His will, His revelation, His plan, His path...

He has given us such wonderful promises.  Promises that He will reveal His way, the steps we need to take in our daily walk with Him. Those promises tell us that He will speak to us...like His voice that gave life to the words I heard in my head this morning...."just a few more steps away." His Word, written and spoken, is a light that will guide us, counsel that will give us wisdom, and He will watch over us...just like we watch over our children....

Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left'   

Am I listening for His voice?

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Am I teachable and willing to accept His counsel?

 Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

Am I choosing to stay in the dark or turn the light on and get in His Word, then follow the path that is lit up before me?

Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Am I sticking with my plan, or letting Him direct my steps?

Isaiah 48:17
This is what the LORD says—
   your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
   who teaches you what is best for you,

   who directs you in the way you should go.

 Whoa!  The Holy One of Israel...the LORD my God is speaking...and I think of a drill sargent getting in my face and in that authoritative holler saying..."YOU ARE MINE, PRIVATE...I REDEEMED YOU...I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD...DO YOU UNDERSTAND?...I WILL DIRECT YOU...AND NOTHING ELSE WILL WORK OUT TOO WELL FOR YOU....

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Sometimes His direction IS right in our face...but...He is not a drill sargent, red-faced, veins popping, ready to eat us up and spit us out if we don't do what he says.  His is a gentle voice, often just a whisper; or a written Word, needing to be read; a learned Bible verse ready to pop into our consciousness, and sometimes a burning bush...a light in our darkness...and our willingness to really hear and obey is totally voluntary. So we don't always hear his still small voice directing us toward His way....we are too busy....too distracted....not listening....depending on ourselves instead of Him....dwelling on the problem instead of on God...or just not willing to take "just a few more steps" to find His way.

But when we do hear His voice, listen to His message, walk in the steps illumined for us...our soul is filled with hope, peace, and the fullness of Knowing OUR Lord. It happens everyday....if we're listening....if we follow..."just a few more steps...."

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."