Whenever Ann and me go out driving somewhere new, Ann will always say for us to put the details into the sat nav to give us the directions. When I am in the car by myself I won't bother with the sat nav and I try to figure out how to get to my intended destination. This doesn't always work out so well for me as I don't have the directions and so I can get lost! In the same way following Jesus is all about giving direction to our lives.

In John 14:6 Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me." When reading this verse recently two things jumped out at me; First Jesus says the way, the truth and the life, He doesn't say a way, a truth and a life. On the back of this the second thing that jumped out is that these three things Jesus describes Himself as, are all directions which Jesus calls us to follow.

The Way

In Exodus God provided a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire in the night to show the people of Israel the way to go. He was leading them out of a life of slavery and oppression in Egypt and into a life of freedom. Jesus is leading us into this as well. If you follow His way, we are lead out of a life of slavery to sin and into freedom.

The Truth

In the world today believing in one truth can be a controversial belief. The creator of the NHS Aneurin Bevan once said "This is my truth, tell me yours." In society today it is OK to believe in different truths, however, Jesus says He is the truth, and this truth is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8). The bible and the Holy Spirit direct us how to live our lives and sometimes this goes against "social norms" but we should always remember that His way is the one true way.

The Life

In Luke 15:11-32 we read the story of the prodigal son. A man decides to live his life his way. He parties, he drinks too much and blows all of his money. While sitting in a pig sty contemplating eating the pig scraps he comes to the conclusion that the life he had chosen was not the best for him. At this he returns home to his father, hoping that he will be able to be a servant in his father's house. His father sees him while he is still far off, runs to him and welcomes his son back home and back into the life he was supposed to live.

Jesus is the example for how we should live our lives. Read the gospels and see what He did while walking with His disciples. He showed compassion to people, He was generous, He healed people, He lead others to salvation. But I know in my heart He would have laughed and joked with His disciples who were His friends. This life we are called to, is far from boring.

We all from time to time get lost or take a wrong turn especially if we don't use our sat navs. When you find this has happened to you, stop and look at the sat nav. When you find in life this has happened to you, stop, look to Jesus and follow His way, His truth and His life.

There is no one quite like you!

God hasn't got a favourite, he loves all, you could say everyone is his favourite. He wants all saved. He loves you!

I was on a teaching course yesterday all about giving good feedback to students. The best way to inspire others is not to compare them with fellow colleagues by grading but help them to see the steps they need to progress in the task they have been given. The goal is to be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday, more Christlike.

Comparison is the thief of joy. If you compare yourself with others it makes you either feel less or more important / useful / loved. Neither is great as you can feel puffed up with pride or can feel miserable and low about yourself. Keeping up with the latest trend, your neighbours or gifting can leave you striving for things and position rather than God's fellowship.

Do not think that any of you are better than anybody else. You received from God everything that you have. So, you have no reason to be proud of what you have. It is all a gift! 1 Corinthians 4:7

Here are three things I’ve found have helped me in this area and continue to ...

1. An antidote to comparison is to have a grateful heart. To be thankful for all we have in our lives. See what we have been blessed with and use it for God. All of us have different gifts and abilities. Don't be like the one that hid their talent but fan it into flame and let God use you to display his kindgom.

2. Celebrate others in their success or blessing. This sends the enemy fleeing. When filled with jealousy do the opposite of the feeling and the emotions will follow of love and gratitude.

3. Stick to the race your running. Do what God asks you to do. Keep focused on Jesus. You are unique and God has specific things for you to do. Enjoy the journey, sit down and relax along the way.

Lastly

YOU are amazing

YOU are special

YOU are loved

This morning we read a well known story about the Israelites leaving Egypt and walking through the Red Sea. They are lead by a cloud and a pillar of fire which is pretty cool - they must have felt on top of the world! Free from slavery, loaded with valuables and guided by an ongoing miracle cloud/pillar. A chosen people on top of the world.

But then they see the Egyptians chasing them down and their excitement turns to dread and regret that they ever left. They also start getting very sarcastic with Moses which I found amusing... “is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?”

Now what Moses says, in response to the complaints and sarcasm of the people, really struck me:

Exodus 14:13-14 “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Then what happens next? God moves the cloud in between the people and the Egyptians and parts the sea.

What I take away from this:

1. The reality of life: Situations can change in a moment and our feelings along with them but Gods plan hasn’t changed.

2. What do we do? “Fear not, stand firm... be silent” Silence the doubts and fears in our mind and stand firm on Gods word.

3. Know that God protects (puts a cloud between us and our enemies) and provides (makes a dry path through the sea).

I hope this encourages you. Let’s be like Moses to one another and encourage each other to “Fear not, stand firm... be silent”

It hasn’t been long into the new year but, for me (and I’m sure for many of you too), there is still a lot going on. There is a lot to balance, a lot to process, and a lot that could consume our minds. Thankfully, our story doesn’t just finish with our circumstance… we have Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor and our Lord who invites us to lay our burdens at His feet.

Matthew 11: 28-30 (NIV) says:

“28 Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I pray that, as we continue to navigate life, Holy Spirit shows us the reality of this Scripture in our every day.

There is a song I want to share with you. It’s formatted as God singing over us. I hope it provides something for you, as it has done for me - particularly in times of anxiousness and uncertainty. I have attached the link here.

For those of you who can’t access it now, here is the first verse…

“I am the Lord your God, I go before you now, I stand beside you, I'm all around you, Though you feel I'm far away, I'm closer than your breath, I am with you, Wherever you go. And I am the Lord, your peace, No evil will conquer you, Steady now your heart and mind, Come into my rest, Oh, let your faith arise, Lift up your weary head, I am with you, Wherever you go”