Dr. Anita McLaughlin -- A M Ministries, Inc.

Selah, pause and calmly think on that.

As we enter the Holiday Season, we have so much to be thankful for.  We have our lives, we are able to read this column, we "if" we have received Jesus have salvation.  We are blessed going in and blessed going out.  We have triumphed over the world, and the assaults of the enemy against us, and we are still here.

I want to challenge you this year to get out of the box.  

Volunteer your time this season, help someone other than yourself and your four, not only by putting a dollar in the check out collection for an organization you have never known anything about.  I would challenge you to contact that charity and see what you can really do to help.

We pass churches on every corner why not stop in (even if we are not a member there) and ask what you can do to help.  Choose one family on your block, and buy an extra turkey. Visit a nursing home, just to say hi, and sit for a moment with an elderly man or woman. 

The Word tells us that true religion is to visit the widow and the orphan-- think back over all your years of blessing, have you ever shown true religion. 

With the same measure you measure out, it will be measured back to you again.

Selah!

The air is thin which eagles fly and everyone can not go there.

Back Seat Drivers... this term was used to describe a person who was usually a passenger in a car; who felt the need to instruct the driver on where the car was to go, how fast to drive, where to turn, when to break, in short how to drive.

Usually the Back Seat Driver, didn't own the car, they didn't pay the note nor the insurance on the car.  Did not have to maintain the car, with oil, gas, tune-ups.  They didn't provide any assistance on the up-keep, when it was time to wash and wax the car, they were no where to be found, nor were they the first one out of the car to help if it broke down.

Their sole purpose was to instruct the one who was in charge. The usual course of events was the driver simply ignored them, with the understanding that they were just "bossy".  On occasion there would be a small upheaval as the unwanted and many times unwarranted instruction was heard. Usually it's outcome was nothing that would not be soon forgotten, if not joked about.  

Usually the Back Seat Driver was just so used to voicing their opinion , that sometimes it just seeped out almost without their even being aware of it.

The problem occurred when that Back Seat Opinion was followed and it was not the right place to turn, their take on how fast the car was going was incorrect, they yelled stop too late, or they didn't know how to drive at all.

Watchman Nee wrote a book on Spiritual Authority-- the premise is that "All authority is given by God". In resisting the authority that you have been placed under you are actually resisting God.

I frequently read  blogs, see YouTube videos on noted Pastors and /or celebrities, posted by undeniable "Back Seat Drivers" who wouldn't have a clue on where to start, how to proceed, what to do, or when to do it. They haven't started anything, have nothing to show for their time on the earth, but their critical view of another, and how they should live their lives, raise their children, or run their organizations.  

I say... Mr. or Ms.  Back Seat Driver get up and get your own car. 

To the Drivers who have successfully navigated strong winds, torrential rains, circumvented accidents, missed  striking pedestrians, paid the car notes, insurance bills, made it to the shop when something didn't sound right, all on your own, without anyone telling you what to do, and when to do it,  Bravo!!

Keep on Driving you are doing a great job.

If you are thinking about buying a car, count the cost. Remember this, you don't have to allow back seat drivers to ride-- there are things called bus stops.

Hey, I'm just saying "the air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can't go there".