Dora The Explorer Has The Wrong Map

"Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?" asks Dora. "The Map!" exclaim my children. "That's right, the Map!" Dora responds. "Wait...no! Not the Map!" I think to myself. "You ask the Lord, kids! The Lord!" But before I can snatch up the remote control to turn off our TV and begin preaching the sermon "Always Seek God First" to my unsuspecting children, I am convicted that I myself seek all kinds of "maps" before turning to the Lord for help.

So often I find myself grabbing the phone to call my husband, mom, mother-in-law or friend to ask an opinion or seek advice BEFORE I go to the Lord. I know the Bible is The Map for life but it requires work and in my spiritual laziness I just want to pick up the phone and allow someone else to pour out the information I am seeking. It's quicker and much easier to explain a problem to someone who is tangible than it is to open the Bible and research what God has to "say." And let's be honest here, God doesn't always speak loud and clear. Or could it be that I am too busy making phone calls to hear Him?

Psalm 119: 33-37 says, "Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word."

If I would only learn to pray these verses whenever I find myself at a crossroad instead of using my Grabba Phone System I could be confident in the paths I choose. Jeremiah 29:11 says the Lord knows the plans He has for me and that they are good plans. He doesn't say my mom, friend or neighbor knows the plans for my life, He tells me only He does. So the next time I need to know which way to go, don't anticipate a phone call from me. I'm trusting the Lord to give me His understanding and for now on I'll be reading The Map for directions. And while Dora has the right idea, she simply has the wrong map.

Get your "explorers" out of the house and go strawberry picking then follow these directions for a really easy and delicious homemade strawberry jam!

Strawberry Jam
3 pints fresh strawberries
3 cups superfine sugar (yeah, it's a lot but sooo worth it)
2 tbsp orange juice
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and small-diced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Rinse and hull the strawberries then slice into quarters (leave smaller berries whole). Place the strawberries in a large heavy bottom pot and toss them with the sugar and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat then add the apple and blueberries. Keep boiling and occasionally stirring for 25-30 minutes (until candy thermometer reaches 220 degrees). Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Allow to cool to room temperature then store covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Serve with sliced and toasted baguettes or in a PB&J sandwich!

**NOTE: The apple serves as the pectin in this jam and you don't notice it or the blueberries once cooked.