SALT Challenge - Guidance

Stacy provided the SALT team with our challenge this week and she picked Guidance. Stacy also shared a bit about her testimony on the SALT blog and her reasons behind this week's challenge....check it out! When I first heard the challenge I didn't any immediate thoughts about what to create. Thankfully, I have a nice little pile of Verve scripture verse stamps and the minute I came across this verse from Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding," I knew it was perfect for this week's challenge! (The creative process was much more painful...more on that later but you can get a clue into how my week went by checking my Twitter updates on the left side of my blog! LOL!) Many years ago, a good friend of mine called me one morning at work and simply said, "here's your verse for today." It was Proverbs 3:5, I wrote it on a piece of paper that morning and stuck it on my desk; it's had special meaning ever since. My favorite portion is "lean not on your own understanding."

How often do we decide what we'll do, what is right or wrong, or what we'll believe based simply on what we think or feel. I've heard some say, "I just listen for that still, small voice inside and then I know what to do." That sounds good, maybe even spiritual...but what if that "voice" tells you something that is in direct opposition to what the Bible says? Is it simply up to each of us to decide what is right or wrong, or what to do with our lives based on our emotions or how our heart leads us? If that's the case, then I'm in a heap of trouble because I can feel pretty strongly about something one day and not so strongly the next. The truth is, our hearts and emotions are fickle. The Bible says that "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Wow - that's pretty strong wording...If this is true, Jeremiah goes on to say that it is the Lord who searches the heart, then can we really trust that our hearts or emotions know - for certain - what is right or where our feet should go? Is there an absolute truth that you can trust and depend upon, no matter what life throws at you? I think there is... 2 Timothy 3:16 states that the Bible is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is profitable! Not just in how it can change a person's heart but in how it instructs us in the areas of right and wrong, in how to be a good parent, friend, neighbor, or spouse, how to manage your money, how to deal with conflict, depression, heartache, heck reading the Bible can even improve your marital relationship...Is there any better book to lead and guide us in the way to live? Our biggest problems occur when we stop looking to God and His Word for answers and guidance. Then we have a tendancy to lose our footing, to stumble, to become anxious and stressed. I know this happens to me... The advice and council we receive from friends and family can be helpful as we make decisions throughout our lives but we should be careful to also search the Scriptures for solid answers and seek Christ for comfort in uncertain times. And although I doubt we'll ever get a burning bush response from God, if we simply rest in His capable hands and be faithful in regular study of His word, I am confident that He will lead and guide us in the way that we should go.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6

As for my card...Hey, look! It's another Michelle Zindorf inspired creation! I love her work and think I may just work through each of her tutorials one at a time! :-) The branch image is from Papertryink, as is the button and twine, and the verse is from Verve. Enjoy and have a blessed day!