From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 4:59 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: January 16, 2005 Greetings

"Show me Your ways, O Lord;
 Teach me Your paths.
 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
 For You are the God of my salvation..."  Psalm 25: 4-5

As followers of Christ we do desire to know His ways, so we seek divine guidance in all we do.  Not just in times when we find ourselves in a hard place, but moment to moment as we recognize and embrace Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Therefore, with the Psalmist, we say:
"Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness...
 Make Your way straight before my face."  Psalm 5:8

"Teach me Your way, O Lord
 I will walk in Your truth;
 Unite my heart to fear Your name."  Psalm 86:11

It is our desire to be lead and guided by the Lord.  Thanks upon thanks, it is the Lord's desire to lead, to guide; to teach us His ways and how to walk in them.  We know this for certain because it was Jesus Himself who said, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth..."  John 16:13

Therefore, divine guidance is promised to Believers:
Guidance in  the way of pleasant paths by our Good Shepherd: "He makes me to lie down in green pastures;  He restores my soul;  Leads me in the paths of righteousness  For His name's sake."  Psalm 23:2-3

Guidance in making decisions:
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,
 I will guide you with My eye."  Psalm 32:8

Guidance to the end of life:
"For this is God,
 Our God forever and ever;
 He will be our guide
 Even to death."  Psalm 48:14

Guidance by a still small voice:
"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
 'This is the way, walk in it'..."  Isaiah 30:21

Guidance in the midst of uncertainties:
"I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
 I will lead them in paths they have not known.
 I will make darkness light before them,
 And crooked places straight..."  Isaiah 42:16

Guidance by divine illumination:
"To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1:79

In these past few weeks we have seen tragedy and devastation beyond comprehension and it reveals how quickly lives are changed.  Our hope and prayers are in the Lord to bring about comfort and peace to those 
who have lost so much.  God is in control and  we know that our hope and trust is rightly placed in Christ Jesus our Lord who loves us 
and has made all provisions for us now and in eternity.

Bless and praise Him forever.  Amen.