Detours

Things would get pretty confusing if we all had our own detour sign...
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Ever wish God put up a big neon sign that read, "Don't go there!  This way!" or "Detour!"  I do.  Oh the hours I could've spent doing better things, or simply focusing on healthy things like painting, exercising, taking photos... 

Then there's the times I wonder if I should've ever gone into office work.  I would be so much further ahead than I am today in my art and photography.  But there's that verse!
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 "Forget the former things;
       do not dwell on the past.
 19 See, I am doing a new thing!
       Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
       I am making a way in the desert
       and streams in the wasteland."

No doubt there were reasons He led me into business,  maybe even some ministry I've forgotten or didn't notice Him doing.  I shouldn't have any regrets.  He's the Master.  Today is the day isn't it?  The day to step away from the things that bind us, fears, unbelief, memories of things that have gone wrong.  It's the day to take detours and go down the path He has for us.

Proverbs 4:10-19

These directions are actually quite clear.
10 Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
11 I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.
12 I don't want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
13 Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip.
Guard it well — your life is at stake!
14 Don't take Wicked Bypass;
don't so much as set foot on that road.
15 Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.
Ok.  So, evil=run!  good=relax...  hmmm that sounds clear.  Kind of makes me wonder if some of those traffic jams and annoying delays, have God's approval to keep us out of trouble.

I got myself into the most trouble when I was younger, like most young people.  I wanted to be cool and liked.  It does seem like we never slept, just stayed up as late as we could.
16 Evil people are restless unless they're making trouble;
They can't get a good night's sleep
unless they've made life miserable for somebody.
17 Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.


This is beautiful.  If we live right, we "glow with light." Even brighter as we get older : )
18 The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.

Ouch!  This is about as painful a description as I experienced.  So, glad the Lord kept working on me and helping walk straighter and stronger.
19 But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker —
travelers can't see a thing;
they fall flat on their faces.
THE MESSAGE

Here's two of my favorite Bible Stories about detours.

Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife.  You just don't hear things like this in the News.
Genesis 39:11-12
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
NIV

Jesus walked through the angry crowd that was ready to throw Him off a cliff.  It must've been amazing to see, He could've sent all of them off the cliff. 
Luke 4:28-30
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
NIV

Sorry to be so random with my posting dates lately.  I went for my medical exam and at my age I get to meet a whole bunch of other doctors : )  It's called "wellness care" so glad I'm healthy- must be really bad if you're not!  Maybe it's a ministry opportunity.  My goal is to post Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   God bless!   Karen