The Journey

This is a picture of our latest hiking adventure. We so enjoyed getting lost in the swamp/marsh and getting lost in the beauty of what God has placed in our on back yard. This is a 10 minute drive from our home.

Lately, if you've read my blog, I have shared with you some of the trials in my life. Well, about a week ago, I thought I was going to lose it. I came home from a field trip, and I must have cried for 2 hours! Not just cried, but sobbed. I felt like I was experiencing post-partum issues again. NO, it wasn't that! I think it was just the Lord showing me I must trust him even more! He was encouraging me to trust him more and to develop my faith, my spiritual endurance and if affect my ministry. OK. So after I made my distress call to my friend Lorrie, who dropped everything to find me in a puddle of tears on my bedroom floor, and my husband came home from work to make sure I was not really losing it.....I rested! God was truly preparing me for something.

He was preparing me for my journey. If your reading this blog, you've chosen to join me in my journey like my blog header proposes. Yea!! I'm excited, because let me tell you, I am presently armed and carrying my compass (unlike the journey above when we got a little lost in the marshland). Let me share with you what God is showing me today!

3 John 2 says this "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." It is normally God's will that believers be healthy and that our lives be accompanied by his blessings. He wants all to go well with us, i.e., that our work, plans, purposes, ministry, families, etc., go according to God's will and direction. Thus, God's blessings through redemption in Christ are intended to meet both physical and spiritual needs. Here is the coolest part...the word here translated "all may go well" in the Greek (I know I sound like Beth Moore huh?) is "euodoo" and it means to have a good journey, to be led along a good road. According to that meaning, John's primary prayer was that as believers walk the road of salvation, they may continue in God's will and his truth and enjoy his blessing! I'm so excited.

I have been sharpening up my sword! As far as my trials are concerned....I declare today...I am not in control of these circumstances, (caring for an elderly grandfather whose mind is declining, not enough money to cover my expenses, no health insurance, no car, a child whose disabilities are at times glaring and troublesome, my own health issues), I relinquish control to Him who is able. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written, 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.' Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 4:21-22 "... listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body!"

This is the reason why I sit here today with index cards with His words on them, that I pledge to read out loud every day, several times a day, I will not let them out my sight...I plan to keep them within my heart!

My "compass" is telling me that I must seek God's will, obey the Holy Spirit, remain separated from the world, love God's Word, seek his help in prayer, work hard, trust him to supply all of our needs, and live by the principle of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

My journey......its a good journey!