"And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and hew as numbered with the eleven apostles."

The teachers at Trinity recently went to Lutheran Educator's Association Conference in Minneapolis. They were kept very busy, but they also were give a little time to go to the Mall of America.

While my wife was there, she calls me on my cell phone. "Doug, I've found the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in. I love it." "Ok. Buy it." I said. "Well, it's kind of expensive." "Ok. Don't buy it." "Yeah, you're right. We don't need this right now. Thanks for the advice." She hangs up.

Fifteen minutes later, my cell phone rings again. "It's not really THAT expensive. Maybe I should buy it." I said, "Let me go on-line. I'll check for a better price.…No, that's a good price for that chair. You better buy it." "Ok. It is an amazing chair."

10 minutes later, my cell phone rings. "Doug, I bought the chair. How am I going to get it home?" I said, "You mean it's not going to fit in your suitcase?" "No. They don't deliver more than 30 miles away." Then she said, "I've got a plan. Call my brother (Her brother lives outside of Minneapolis.) He has to come to my hotel, pick up the chair, he's heading to Chicago next weekend for his son's college graduation. Mom and Dad will be there. He will give the chair to them. They're coming down to Cape for Sam's 8^th grade graduation. They can bring the chair with them. Free delivery." I said, "You're brilliant." We still haven't seen that chair yet.

Is that how you all make decisions?!

Our first reading for this Sunday takes place just after Christ has ascended into heaven, and just before Pentecost.

There is a decision to be made. It's a decision between 2 good choices. Who is going to replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle? Will it be Joseph called Barsabas, or will it be Matthias? It's easy to make a decision when one option is clearly better than the other. But what do you do when 2 good, 2 betters, possibly 2 best choices? How do you determine God's will then?

You may have noticed that they cast lots in order to make their decision. They did. Our word "lottery" comes from the Biblical practice of casting lots: making a choice based on the outcome of a random event. In the Old Testament, they cast lots to make important decisions, such as apportioning land among the 12 tribes of Israel. Or remember the story of Jonah. When the storm blew up, the sailors cast lots to determine which person aboard was being punished by this storm. Or, in the New Testament, when Jesus was crucified, they cast lots to see who would get His clothing.

Even though we may not cast lots today in order to make our decisions, there is much food for thought in this passage about how we DO make God-pleasing decisions.

For example, as Peter is deciding whether to find a new apostle, it is evident that he searched Scripture. Peter quotes Psalm 109 showing that Bible predicts that someone will replace Judas, that they should "let another take his office."

Certainly, when we have a decision to make, the first place to start is with the Bible. Is there anything in the Bible that says "No" "Stop" to one of the options. Do the 10 Commandments speak to your issue?

We further see Peter consulting with fellow Christians, seeking godly Counsel. They discuss the qualifications for a true apostle: 1. That he must have been with Christ from the beginning of His ministry; 2. He must be known to the apostles; and 3. He must be a witness to the resurrection. They began to discuss who would meet these qualifications.

When we have a decision to make, it's always beneficial to visit with Christian family and/or friends. They know us best. They have our best interest at heart. Fellow Christians have the same faith, values and focus as we do.

Then we further come to the heart of the decision making process: Prayer! The disciples pray over this important decision. Peter prays, "You, Lord, know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

This is the first recorded prayer in this brand new Christian Church. It is short and to the point. Notice the prayer. NOT a prayer to change God's Will. It is a prayer to KNOW God's will!

That is so important in decision making. In any decision, we want to be in the center of God's will. We don't want to be to the right of God's will. We don't want to be to the left of God's will. We want to be in the center of God's will.

During the Civil War, someone asked Abraham Lincoln, "Do you think God is on our side?" "I don't know," he replied. "I have thought about that. But I am most anxious to know whether we are on His side."

In every decision, there really are only 2 prayers: "My will be done" or "Thy will be done." And so in making a God-pleasing decision, we can pray that God would make us bendable, guidable, flexible.

I've enjoyed the Children's Messages, and recently DCE Leah had one where she used Play Doh. When you take it out of the can, it's bendable, pliable. As you use it, the Play Doh becomes more and more shapeable. But, if you leave it out for a couple of days, don't use it, it becomes brittle, hard, dry.

It's that way with prayer. The more you pray, the more you submit in your prayers to God's will, the more bendable you become, the more pliable. God can use you in many ways and you don't get bent out of shape. But if you fail to pray, you become brittle, hardened, unbending.

The Lord calls us to have "guidability." That means being open to the will of God, allowing Him to shape you as He wants to. Oh we find so many examples of "guidability" in the Bible.

• Boy Samuel said, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening." Guidability!
• David said, "Teach me Thy ways O Lord." Guidability!
• Isaiah said, "Here I am Lord, send me." Guidability!

And Jesus. The night before He was crucified, bearing the agony, pain and punishment for our sins, Jesus prayed in the Garden. "Lord, take this cup from me. Yet, not my will, but Thy will be done." He submitted. He went the cross. He died for our sins. He was raised that we might have life eternal.

Then what? You've searched Scriptures. You've sought godly counsel. You've prayed. Then what? Then you make the best decision you can with the information you have. And you trust God!

Proverbs 16 says, "In his heart a man plans his course, BUT the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 3 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Lean not on your own understanding. In all Your ways acknowledge Him and He will make Your path straight."

Let me share a few correctives. A God-pleasing decision is not necessarily an EASY decision. A challenging result from one of your decisions does not mean the decision wasn't in line with God's will. We all know that the Lord uses the boulders in your life to humble, to shape, to make you more guidable, to season you. And always, He just wants to show you His love in Jeus Christ, His deliverance in the cross.

Also, Does God always want you to know the future? No. He wants you to trust. One day at a time. One step at a time.

Did Noah know everything about the flood? No, but he built the ark.

Did Abraham know God would spare Isaac? No, but he tied his son to the altar.

Did Joshua know the walls would come tumbling down? No. But he marched around Jericho anyway.

Also, Is it always God's will that we be happy? No. Not Happy, but Holy. Romans 8 says, "Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son."

And do you know what comfort us, encourages us, in every decision we make? We are never alone. Even when we make decisions that are Not-God-Pleasing…the Lord never forsakes us. He just doesn't. When we come to the fork in the road, whether we go right or whether we go left, there's Jesus!

His cross forgives us, His promises encourage us, His power strengthens us. He even promises that He will work that mess into something good.

And do you know what also encourages us? Our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. We have an advocate with the Father.

So be encouraged, O child of God. The Lord Jesus watches over you day and night. Offer prayers in His Name. Put your trust in Him. Commit your path to Him.