Month: April 2022

God is My Pointer

Photo by Mat Brown on Pexels.com

When I was a kid, my father had a quail hunting buddy who was also a deacon in our little church. The man’s name was Bob White.

Okay, that was a joke🥁. Bobwhite quail are what my dad and Brother Mart liked to hunt together.

Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash

Anyway, I remember Mart used to say “God is my pointer.” I asked my dad later what that meant, and he gave me a quick lesson on bird hunting. “Son, quail like to hide in the tall grass. It’s hard for a hunter to know where they are. But a good gun dog can find them with his nose. When it does, it freezes in its tracks–pointing out the covey of quail.”

Pointer, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes by Goodwin & Company is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

My dad’s friend meant that God is a faithful guide who tells him where to look. Now, I understood! When I was a little older, I found a Bible verse that reminded me of Brother Mart’s favorite saying.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Has God ever talked to you like that–in stereo? I don’t necessarily mean in an audible voice, but there have been some “surround sound” moments when I KNEW He was pointing the way.

One of these happened just last week, when I got stuck behind a massive trash truck with a message from God on the back.

Kind reader, is God your “pointer” too?

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️

Tags Christian Blog, devotional, Faith, God, guidance, spiritual growth

Slow Down to Get Around

The other day I got stuck in the slow lane behind a garbage truck. Even with the air on recirculate, I could smell the contents of a McDonald’s dumpster. “Well, this stinks,” I said through clenched teeth.😬

Finally, I was able to slide over into the fast lane, only to get caught by a red light.😖 But that’s when I had time to read the sign on the back.

“How can I get around you if I slow down?!”🤔 I asked the offensive truck. Then I realized what the sign means. When one is traveling in a neighborhood behind a giant garbage truck, it’s best to pass it carefully. You don’t want to hit a sanitation worker, or meet another vehicle head on.

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11

Frankly, the sign on the garbage truck was a sign from God. At least for me. Recently, I’ve felt a bit stuck (that’s twice in one post) behind situations that, quite simply, stink. The temptation to speed around them has been strong.

“So, what if I WANT you to follow a proverbial “garbage truck” for awhile?” said the Holy Spirit. “Is it really a deal-breaker?” Well, when you put it that way, Lord… I suppose I can slow down to get around.