He's The MAP

Updated: Feb 13, 2020

November 18, 2019

Good Morning Princesses!

He's The MAP

The Patriarchs ~ Week 5 Recap

M ~ My Maker

(Psalm 139:13-14)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

1. I'm The Map!

When my children were younger, they loved to watch Dora, The Explorer, a children's cartoon that ran from 1999- 2019. Dora, The Explorer was a thirty-minute show that featured the adventures of young Dora, her monkey Boots, Backpack and other animated friends. In each episode, viewers joined Dora on an adventure in an animated world set inside a computer and worked with her to solve the mystery or puzzle presented in the episode. Through the amazing adventures and songs, my girls would sing songs from the show in the car both to and from daycare and I would gladly join in singing loudly down the highway! Oh, did I mention that I'm not the singer in the family! One classic friend of Dora's that I absolutely loved was "The Map". Anytime Map showed up he would sing an introductory song entitled "I'm The Map" that set the stage of the explorer's journey. Click below to listen to this fun little jingle! As you listen, notice that the Map advises that if there is a place you want to go ask the Map.

I'm The Map (song and lyrics)

If there is a place you got to go I am the one you need to know I'm the Map! I'm the Map! I'm the Map!

If there is a place you got to get I can get you there I bet I'm the Map! I'm the Map! I'm the Map!

A ~ My Advisor

(Psalm 139:17-18)

How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

2. No Personal Map Needed

Okay, so you may be wondering how this fits with the conversation today? Well before we move further, take a look at the following poem by Joyce Rupp, "Old Maps No Longer Work". I received this from a friend last week who is retiring and thinking about next steps. Click below for the video link and take a look at the poem below.

Old Maps No Longer Work

By Joyce Rupp

I keep pulling it out – the old map of my inner path I squint closely at it, trying to see some hidden road that maybe I’ve missed, but there’s nothing there now except some well travelled paths. they have seen my footsteps often, held my laughter, caught my tears.

I keep going over the old map but now the roads lead nowhere, a meaningless wilderness where life is dull and futile.

“toss away the old map,” she says “you must be kidding!” I reply. she looks at me with Sarah eyes and repeats “toss it away. It’s of no use where you’re going.”

“I have to have a map!” I cry, “even if it takes me nowhere. I can’t be without direction,” “but you are without direction,” she says, “so why not let go, be free?”

so there I am – tossing away the old map, sadly fearfully, putting it behind me. “whatever will I do?” wails my security “trust me” says my midlife soul.

no map, no specific directions, no “this way ahead” or “take a left”. how will l know where to go? how will I find my way? no map! but then my midlife soul whispers “there was a time before maps when pilgrims travelled by the stars.”

It is time for the pilgrim in me to travel in the dark, to learn to read the stars that shine in my soul. I will walk deeper

into the dark of my night. I will wait for the stars. trust their guidance. and let their light be enough for me.

As I read the poem the first and now third time for the GO! Report, I am amazed at how often we take it on ourselves to plan; to create our own maps. Don't get me wrong, planning is a good thing and it does serve a useful purpose, but making plans and checking with God "after-the-fact", well that's just funny. What's that old Yiddish proverb, “We plan, God laughs". Or the more common saying, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans." Needless to say, I think you get the point. Treating God as a "consultant" is definitely out of the question. (Emoji smiling face)

Psst...Dear princesses, come a little closer and let me share a little secret with you...He already knows your path! In fact, the Bible tells us time and time again from Genesis to Revelation that He knows.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As God told Abraham and Sarah and Issac and Rebekah (Genesis Chapters 12-27) so long ago, He already knew their map. They were assignment was to just "go" and He would direct their path. He already knows your map. God just needs for us to throw away our wanna-be maps, to trust Him completely and walk and live as directed in 2 Corinthians 5:7:

For we walk by faith and not by sight. (KJV)
For we live by faith, not by sight. (NIV)
For we live by believing and not by seeing. (NLT)

P ~ My Purpose

(Psalm 139:23-24)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Want to know, ASK God. He is our map. He knows our comings and goings and His goodness and mercy follows us to ensure that we reach all of our destinations along the way. Will it be easy, well that's for the next GO! Report! But for now, hold onto the fact that if there's a place you want to go, the one you need to know who holds your future is just waiting for you to Ask, Seek and Knock. After all, He is the Way, The Truth and The Life.

Oh, princesses of faith...remember

Prayer “empowers and ‘charges up’ every other piece so they can be used effectively against the enemy. Without prayer… your armor, cannot, will not, be infused with the power that only God’s-Spirit can give."

Closing Thoughts-