When I was in high school, the adults in my life had a habit of telling me (and every other student), "You can be anything you want to be." They said this as if it were a good thing. Because I lived in a free, prosperous country and had a good education, my life menu had endless options on it.

Here's what they didn't tell me:   "You cannot be everything you want to be."

We live in a "have it all" culture and "anything we want to be" easily translates itself in our ears to collecting the whole set.

We want to use our lives up for God AND have a comfortable lifestyle.

We want to look hot AND be pure.

We want to change the world AND to hang out with the pretty, funny people.

We want an iPod  AND God.   Oh yea,  make it the newest iPod!!

 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)

Here's what Jesus tells us with this Matthew scripture.  "You can't have it all."   Actually that scripture begs a question of each of us.  "For starters, will you serve God or money?"

Your answer can't be Yes!   You gotta pick one.

I know, I know,  I can be anything I want to be!

That is true.  So which will you pick?"  All of the above doesn't work.  Anything is not everything. 

Let me give you another thought.....

Your path will determine your destination.  The road you are on determines where you go.

The path determines your destination --- your intentions don't determine where you go,  it's the path.

I know that is obvious in the world of geography -- if you get on I-75 --- if you go north from Toledo ---- you'll never hit Florida.  Of course we all know and understand that LAW OF THE PATH especially in geography.

But friends, the Law of the Path also applies to our personal life.....  financial, dating, our marriage, how we are going to raise our kids, the job we take,  if we are to become a Godly man or woman....,  your health..............   

Your path determines your destination.  Your direction --- not your intentions, not your hopes, not your prayers, not your dreams..... your path determines your destination.

I have met many people over the years and have found there is a huge disconnect in most people of where they want to go and where they end up.   I have heard many people end up saying, "I am not where I hoped to be."

How about the girl in high school or college who "falls in love" and ends up having a baby as a single mom.  I've heard many of them say just that,  "I am not where I hoped to be."  I know a couple of guys and girls who left this ministry after HS graduation and had high hopes of a profession or a career they wanted..... but they go off to college and got sidetracked with the party and drinking scene.... they ended up flunking out of college.....  their life got on a path that took them in another direction of their intentions for their life.

"I am not where I hoped to be."

Your path determines your destination.....  not your intentions....... your path!

So friends,  let me ask you a question.  Will the path you're on TODAY lead you to your intentions that you want in 10 years?   Who are the friends you are hanging with?  What path of life are they on?

What path are you on?  Where is that path taking you?

Your path determines your destination.