Jan 5, 2017

Follow the Leader

kensummers Uncategorized 0 Comments

Today in addition to a two hour work out and a trip to Denver to prepare for a flight to Atlanta tomorrow with grandson Riley; I made a stop at Fort Collins City Hall to submit my papers to the Clerk as a candidate for City Council. This will be an interesting race and a different challenge compared to other political pursuits.

You can check out my website in process at www.kensummers.us  This will evolve over the course of the next few weeks. I am now ready to accept donations to my effort! The maximum contribution is $75, so I need many friends who will donate, $25, $50 or $75 dollars. You can do so on PayPal.com  Use ken@kensummers.us to make a donation and in the “note” section please include your address. Thanks for you support, as I follow this path. If you want to mail a check you can make it payable to “Citizens for Ken Summers” and send to 5706 White Willow Dr Fort Collins, CO 80528

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11 ESV

When Jesus called His disciples, He did so with the simple invitation to “follow me.” The Christian life can be summed up in the call and challenge to follow in the path of the Lord. To follow Him, to “journey” with Him.

We see the Lord’s promise in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Jesus’ words to Thomas’ question and confusion was simply, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” (John 14:6 NIV)

When the Psalmist declares, “You make known to me the path of life…” I believe we can see that in the practical and the spiritual application. When we trust in the Lord, we can be confident of His direction for our life.  The Lord to the prophet spoke, “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NLT)

We can also see the quality of life the Lord leads us in. It is the path or “life” versus as path of “death” or a dead end road. It is a path of purpose, fulfillment and one with a destiny.

Jesus just doesn’t point us in a direction and send us off on our own. Instead, we can be confident of His abiding presence and His ongoing guidance. He is the God who is “with us.” When He is with us we can know the joy He brings and the pleasures He affords to those who follow Him. I like the words of Psalm 84, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NIV)

Psalm 84 has in its view the earthly Jerusalem. We today make a commitment to follow Christ who leads us in a pilgrimage to a “heavenly” Jerusalem. A place of dwelling for eternity in His presence. This is the place of true joy and pleasure. Not the temporary joy and pleasures offered by the world, or found in temporal pursuits, but the joy that comes alone for the Lord.

Prayer for today…. Lord thank You, that there is no better path to walk than the one where You lead. Thank You for the direction you provide in our life when we need it in the practical application. But more than that thank You that the path of life we experience when we journey with You is one of joy and pleasure.