Last week I enjoyed chatting with some lab-minded scientists, discussing the tricky situation they had for isolating plant DNA – a known tough issue with cell-wall containing material. Somehow we got on a conversation about lab superstitions like wearing your lucky socks or I had a good luck stuffed bear from a vendor show which I said protected against some degradation contaminants… We all laughed and surely many of us have not necessarily a lucky charm, a rabbit’s foot or some quirky fun way to see if we can work things in our favor. I know that this is not real – and even black cats crossing our paths are not a problem Some advice, like not walking under a ladder, we can try to tease out good general advice from bad black magic level hocus pocus.

I looked down at my water bottle provided with the luncheon, and it said “PATH” – I said to myself, “Yes Lord – I know that You want us to be aware of our PATH – where we walk – how we step – and what we say – and how we pray. I backtracked from my laughing and then looked for the window of opportunity in the conversation to try to inject that I had FAITH not folly guiding me. I told them the story of a science project which could have gone one of three ways when I saw a seemingly spurious result, and that I prayed and prayed until I talked to the client and found out wow they had the same result – it all worked out fine. I thanked the Lord for the reassurance…  They smiled and we continued our conversations at the free lunch (which you could say is never a free lunch when you have to PAY attention to what you say. Always good to quench your thirst on Living Water and not just bottled)… Anyway, ALL GOOD…

It is good for us to Pray on the Path of Life and PRAISE God all the time…

I remember the advice of Jesus from Matthew 7 – The way to destruction is wide but “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” When we follow Jesus, our witness needs to be shown of HOW we DO TRUST – and how we are not projecting or absorbing sourpuss attitudes towards things… Our way that we TRUST in the Lord – reach out to Him – and know that He gives us good things – these are crucial to show others… No lucky socks required when Jesus is the One who is taking off our sandals and washing our feet – making us clean – covering us with His Blood – allowing us to walk more cleanly and clearly and confidently following Him in His Way. To find that gate – we need to let Him guide us – and He does. Jesus wants us to keep going and keep believing.

We also have to be aware of the situations presented in front of us – does something someone is promising seem TOO good a promise? Remember the scripture that we will know by the fruits that are made from the lives lived: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits [the false prophets] you will know them.”

It is our PATH of faith to follow Jesus, which will give us the right steps to walk WITH Him. We can keep asking for help, seeking Him, and then be open to what He shows us. His Ways are above our ways – so let us look closely at the path we walk, the gate, and our faith to follow Jesus…

We won’t be lucky – we will be blessed – and we already are…

Amen

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Matthew 7:7-20 NKJV

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow Way
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”