Working in rural Mississippi led to some unique experiences, especially for a city girl. Back before the GPS was invented (the dark ages, I know), the nurses at home health agencies wrote out the directions to patients’ homes. It could be an adventure to follow them because sometimes there were no street signs on the country roads.

One day I read the directions to a patient’s house, and it said, “Turn left when you see the Palomino horse.” I didn’t even know what that kind of horse looked like! But after driving down the country road for a while, there was a horse grazing by a barn. Then I knew what a Palomino horse looked like! I wondered what would have happened if the horse had gone behind the barn, but I guess I got lucky.

Later, the same nurse asked me to see someone in a little neighborhood in the country. She said, “There’s no street name or number on the house. (Oh, and they don’t have a phone), but the house is green and on the corner. You can’t miss it.”

As I drove down this street with no name, I saw it. The green house with no number on it. I pulled into the gravel driveway and parked. I went up the front steps and knocked on the door. Nothing. I bent over to peak through the window to see if there were any signs of life. All I could see was furniture and boxes stacked in the room. Determined to find my patient, I went to the back door.

I ventured through weeds to get there. I saw some steps, but they didn’t quite reach the door. After knocking and getting no response, I climbed into the house and went through the unlocked door. I called for the patient, but there was no response. (When there is no response, home health workers sometimes go into the house to be sure the patient isn’t on the floor somewhere in need of help.)

As I wandered through the house, calling for the patient, I suddenly realized no one was home. And it seemed that no one even lived there! I quickly scrambled down the steps and back to my car.

Are you too focused on where you think you should go? Do you ever make an assumption that you are going where God is leading but then get off track by going your own way?

God often leads us step-by-step, but we have to listen and be aware of his presence. Hearing his still, small voice, through prayer/meditation, reading scripture, and seeking wisdom from Christian friends are often ways he leads.

The rest of the story about the green house is that I eventually found the right one. If I had driven further down the street to the one on the corner instead of stopping at the first green house I saw, I would have seen it.

God leads us if we will listen to him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

I love Mexican Petunias. Beautiful purple blooms are produced each day and fall off at night. The next day, there are new ones!  In early spring, I planted some in my flower bed. After a few days, I noticed the plants were withering, and they seemed near death. As I looked at them closely, I realized I had not planted them deeply enough. Some of the roots were even visible!  So I dug them up, made the holes bigger, and replanted them. Within days, they were thriving and had blooms!

Shortly after that, I realized those plants represented me. I had been in the middle of a spiritual drought, and I didn’t know why. Seeing my plants dying helped me realize my spiritual roots weren’t deep enough in the Bible, in talking to God, in thinking about Him throughout my day and in asking for His guidance.

How are your spiritual roots?

Since living in Florida for several years, I’ve had opportunities to see many sunsets. Of course, they are beautiful everywhere, but there’s something special about a beach sunset!

I’ve noticed in Florida that at almost any beach, unless it’s raining, people will be there to watch the sunset. They often take lawn chairs, snacks, drinks and make a real occasion out of it. Boats even position themselves to have a good view. At the end of the sunset, an amazing thing often happens. The crowd applauds!

I wonder if these people realize the gorgeous event is a gift from God? In Romans 1:20, the scripture says, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that people are without excuse.” Do sunset-watchers see God there?

Recently my husband and I went to Sanibel Island, a few hours south of us. One night we went to the beach to watch the sunset. Many people were dressed very nicely. They had gone to dinner and timed the evening so they would be on the beach in time to watch the sunset.

Despite it being cloudy, which threatened to block the sun, it was very moving to see the number of people who were on the beach. Children ran around playing, live music was in the air from an outdoor restaurant nearby, and viewers talked excitedly. As the sun began to set, all eyes were on it. The beautiful clouds in pastel colors were there, but no sunset was to be seen that night.

The beach-goers were disappointed, but many of them would return the next night. Sunsets are such a gift from God!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands…” (Psalm 19:1)