journey onWord with us

My experience in public speaking has taught me that you have to be careful with words. Inevitably, words that are reckless, ill-timed or simple misstatements often will be remembered far longer than the valued insight you are trying to convey. I was reminded of this principle last week when a sincere preacher got carried away with his prayer before a NASCAR event. He was giving a prayer of thanksgiving, and before you knew it, the words, “Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife”(YouTube: NASCAR pastor praying) came out. His sincerity will be long forgotten, but that comment will be long remembered. All of us have said our share of “oops” words that we wanted to recapture. In contrast to our radical, reckless misstatements, I read several powerful, life changing statements from the lips of Christ in the last few days.

Communication from the lips of Christ never came without meaning. As I was reading in the Gospel of John over the last few days, I witnessed great statements that present salvation, abundant life, resurrection power and confidence in prayer. You may have read and re-read these statements over the years. In them we find hope for eternity and joy for living. Note His words:

To the woman caught in adultery, He said: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

His purpose for Christ followers is seen in the words: “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

When He came to the tomb of Lazarus, Christ cried out: “Lazarus, come forth!”

He left no doubt about the only way of eternal life with His words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Christ gave us confidence to pray with these words: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Viewing the different scenes in the life of Christ referenced above, gives us clarity about the heart of our Savior. He showed incredible wisdom and unparalleled compassion in forgiving the woman caught in adultery. In another scene, Christ left no doubt about His desire for His followers to have abundant life. We talk about the power of Christ, and it was dramatically displayed the day Lazarus came forth. Today people want to believe that there are many ways to heaven. Christ with His own words stated unequivocally that there is only one way, through Him. In viewing another scene, we are given the confidence that if we ask in His name, He will do it.

The words of Christ mentioned above, and every other statement He made in Scripture can be trusted. Too often, we read the marvelous counsel He gives us and then we refrain from applying it. To know the forgiving Savior, who is the only way to heaven, who promises abundant life to His followers and tells us He will answer prayer, is to say the least, life changing. And to top it off, He has the power to resurrect, and did so himself. But if we are not careful, His life changing words become too ordinary and lose their emphasis.

To make my point, what will be easiest to remember from this article? You guessed it, a pastor’s faux pas in praying. You may have already been to YouTube after it’s mention above.  But what all of us ought to remember (including me) is the life changing power of God that is available to us in salvation. His words tell the story of forgiveness and hope and abundant life. That’s what’s most important to remember! Read His words this week with new freshness and an open heart.

Do you ever feel like quitting?  Have you ever had thoughts of confronting your boss and letting him have a piece of your mind, right before you hand in your resignation letter? But in a moment of mental clarity you decide quitting isn’t the best choice. We also teach our children that quitting isn’t right, no matter how bad the coach or teacher has treated them. No matter your life stage, you have wanted to quit, taught your children life lessons about not quitting, and viewed from a distance as others made disastrous decisions to give up on a marriage or to leave their job. Quitting is a powerful emotion that we all have to battle. In one of the most critical of spiritual disciplines, prayer, quitting also has a strong emotional pull.

If you have attended church for very long, you may have heard the parable of the persistent widow in Luke chapter eighteen. Christ in his wisdom used this parable to show the disciples the need to pray and not give up. The disciples needed to hear good counsel: keep praying and don’t give up. In our heart of hearts, we all know if we have slowed down or even stopped praying. Sure there may be times of mouthing words, but I am talking about really seeking after God’s design on issues of concern to us. Looking back at my prayer journals would probably show some issues that were once important, that I regretfully gave up on. You may have gotten discouraged at His delays, angry over the outcome of your pleadings, and disillusioned that you prayed so hard and nothing seemed to happen. He understands our struggle, but gives us great counsel: keep praying and don’t give up.

Christ’s parable about the persistent widow gives us incredible insight about never, ever giving up. The unjust judge that she confronted was finally bothered to the point of giving in to her. We need to be careful at comparing the judge to our Lord, because the context gives us a completely different picture. But the parable teaches us that being persistent in prayer is vital. Too often Christians become easily dismayed and don’t follow the great counsel: keep praying and never give up. In studying the first two verses that follow this parable, I was challenged and convicted.

Luke 18:6-7
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Intellectually, there is no doubt in my mind that you believe God will honor persistent praying. But we all struggle with the discipline to keep going, when He seems to put our requests in delay mode or our loved one is not healed, or our finances don’t quickly turn around, or our child continues to reject Christ no matter how long we’ve prayed. We all have reasons not to pray, but His counsel is: keep praying and never give up. I can’t tell you why God delays, but I can tell you that He loves you, He does heal, and He will honor those who cry out to Him day and night. Is there anything that you need to cry out to the Father night and day about? Do it, and don’t give up.

Sir Winston Churchill in 1941 used the following words: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty. . .” You and I can take his words to a new level: never, never, never, never ever stop praying. Great counsel indeed!

With my journey glasses on, I view the traveling adventures of people every day. Observation has taught me that, by percentage, very few are commuting on a joyful trip. For a variety of reasons, daily circumstances tend to override the capacity we have for joy. It is understandable that someone without a relationship with Christ would be frustrated; they are traveling alone. But for those who have entered by faith into the family of God, why doesn’t the traveling contain more joy? If you agree that your journey could use a boost, let’s pull over at a rest stop for encouragement.

For the most part, it is impossible for us to control the external circumstances that invade our lives each week. Have you noticed how often your weekly travels have taken you over one mountain, just to find another looming ahead? And while there are certainly stretches of smooth, flat miles, for the most part the terrain of life is tough.

But, as you leave this rest stop soon to continue your journey, begin with a new perspective that external circumstances will never give you true joy on the journey. Disciplining ourselves to create strategies for internal growth is vital. Nothing on the outside will ever satisfy our internal longings. The people that surround us, the culture we live in, or the activities we fill our lives with, will never give us lasting journey joy. Take a few minutes, and let the words of II Corinthians encourage you to look inward to buffer the externals of life.

II Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

For a moment, honestly evaluate your recent internal growth through the nourishment of his Word. Is it fresh and “green”, or might it be a bit dry and brittle? God wants you to enjoy the new growth that He alone can provide. If He is willing to make us strong internally and unfold His grace in our lives, we must let the nutrients of His Word soak in through our tough outer layer. Our daily doses of nourishment and light are essential to create the strength that stands firm in defense against the attack of those external circumstances that we can’t control, and we know will come.

Journey joy is simple. Give time and priority to rest stops, and let His Word re-energize and fuel you. As you exit this rest stop and return to your journey, apply what He has taught you and watch Him do what only He can do.  He knows when you will need the miracle, or maybe just some encouragement for the next mile. Remember, there is a lavish celebration prepared for all who know Christ.

Don’t traverse another mile without seeking Him first.

It is almost unbearably warm. And the hotter it gets, the easier it is for each of us to complain. But just a few months ago we were wondering if summer would ever arrive. Snow and cold turned to a wet spring, and the collective attitude was mild frustration. Now that we have our wish of summer, the coolness of autumn is beginning to look pretty good. And to top it off, my wife likes the air conditioning warmer than I do, so I must often sneak and cool things off (sorry Genel). My point in all this is, are we ever pleased? We can be tempted to spend life looking forward or gazing in the rear view mirror, and completely miss enjoying the beauty of each moment. Our desire for perfect weather illustrates the subtle uneasiness in the soul of most believers in Christ.

My impression is that Christ lived each day to the fullest, and I know He was content with God’s purpose for every day. His journey was filled with people who needed physical and spiritual healing. He was confronted with crowds and animosity. Those closest to Him, on so many occasions didn’t understand Him, and certainly failed Him at critical times. Our Lord lived in the moment, and those moments were critical to those who needed His touch, His healing and His teaching. Assurance in the purpose of each moment, not anxiety about the last or for the next, was the way Christ navigated the daily demands of His life. Sure, He was the perfect Son of God, but as His followers, we live best in the moment, not regretting yesterday or anticipating tomorrow. Those lives that you and I are challenged to touch need us to be in the moment, living with assurance and casting off anxiety. A woman I’ve never met, Helen Mallicoat, gives us all great perspective.

I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
“My name is “I Am”. He paused.
I waited. He continued,
When you lived in the past with it’s
mistakes and regrets, it is hard.
I am not there.
My name is not “I Was”.
When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard.
I am not there.
My name is not “I Will Be”.
When you live in the moment,
It is not hard.
I am here.
My name is “I Am”.

Could it be that one of the reasons we struggle with life today is that we don’t look for, and live in His purpose for today? Spending our time looking backward or forward doesn’t lend itself to enjoying the moment. But the very people we can affect eternally are with us in the moment, not our tomorrows or yesterdays. My words are not a pep talk about turning challenges into opportunities, but an encouragement from one struggler to another that this moment matters to God and to others.

When autumn comes, we’ll miss the heat. When the snow flies, we’ll long for the beauty of those cool crisp fall days. But whether our days are cool, snowy or downright hot, someone needs us in that moment. Enjoy the heat this week and find His purpose in this moment.

For more than a quarter of a century, I have read the account of Jesus, the demon possessed man and a large herd of pigs. What a fascinating story! What a great picture of God’s power over Satan! Can you imagine the scene as the men were released from demon possession and the evil spirits then entered the pigs? None of us can even fathom a large herd of pigs rushing down a steep bank into a lake and drowning, but it happened. I am sure that in my years of reading this account, I have gained some knowledge and understanding of the healing power and love of Jesus. I remember the demon possessed man, the pigs and the demons, but not much more. Sometimes if you are like me, reading Scripture becomes more about the process and less about gleaning great principles for life. And I am not talking about a 21^st century pig stampede. Contained within this event was an incredible life lesson for today, and I have missed it for years. Maybe you have too.

To set the context, Jesus gets out of a boat and is confronted by two demon-possessed men (Matthew’s gospel mentions two). The account of this story in the book of Mark (where we have been reading this week) focused on one of the two men.  These men lived in tombs, were naked, violent, and controlled by a legion of demons. The gospel of Mark conveys that this man was so strong that he tore off the chains that held him. Picture the scene as he would cry out and cut himself with stones. We have all encountered people who gave us a sense of uneasiness and even fear. But I don’t think that any of us has come upon a scene quite like this one.

The legion of demons that controlled the men asked Jesus to send them into the pigs. Jesus obliged, and thus the pig stampede began. Once the evil spirits left the men, we find the one healed demonic sitting dressed and in his right mind. He was a new creation! But there is more to the story. After the event, people pleaded with Jesus to leave. As Jesus was getting in the boat, the converted (I believe), healed demon-possessed man asked to go along. Jesus wouldn’t let him go, but His instructions were words that every believer should follow…and I missed them all these years.

Mark 5:18-20 (MSG)
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town. 

Think about the life change for this once scary creature. But the healing hand of God changed everything. When you and I came to faith in Christ, everything changed for us. On this side of eternity, the most important decision in our lives was when we went from darkness to light, and became new creations in Christ Jesus. However, Christians often shy away from sharing their spiritual heritage with those they love. Jesus’ words to the healed demonic are very relevant today. We, like him, should tell our story. Why did Jesus tell him to share what happened? Because Jesus wanted others to hear of His mercy!

So here is the challenge:  If you are in Christ, who needs to hear what He has done for you? Will you pray for them, and if Christ opens a door of opportunity, will you share your story? It’s easy to make excuses, but if Christ is your Savior don’t be afraid to tell your story. After all, it is authored by God and is your spiritual birthright. Your journey may not be as exciting as a pig stampede, but it’s yours, and it can be used by God in the lives of others.

I missed the life lesson for years…don’t miss your chance to tell your story!

There is great depth and meaning to the Sabbath.  Far too much to cover in a single post.  But it was something that worked its way into a soft spot in my heart, and wouldn’t leave me as I began reading the book of Mark this week.

Our individual and collective worlds seem to be a snowball of burden heading down the proverbial hill these days.  Whether you are out of work and in need of the most basic provision, or overworked and in need of the grandest scale of relief; whether you are a single parent in need of three more pairs of hands and a few moments to yourself to breathe, or a two-income family caught on a treadmill that has no buttons to stop or slow the pace; or whether you have the gift of youth, but feel completely enveloped by a profound loneliness and the expectations of everyone around you, or a mature soul that can’t figure out how your nest can be empty, but at the same time be more harried and complicated than when it was full, life seems to stack our decks with burden.

In the early chapters of Mark, we find a Savior that is more than familiar with our burdens.  Mark is the action/adventure gospel.  From chapter 1, verse 1 it seems you’re shot out of a canon, whizzing past a brief mention of John preparing the way for Christ and then immediately into Jesus’ earthly ministry.  As the action begins and then builds, you find Jesus surrounded on every side.  Crowds grow and follow him; He is touched and tugged on; people can’t find their way to Him, so they climb on top of houses and drop people through the roof to be healed.  How does Jesus respond?

One consistent practice is first mentioned in verse 35 of Chapter 1 …

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  (MSG)

Actually, the question I just posed is an incorrect one.  This practice of solitude and prayer is not a response, but rather things that are in Christ’s nature.  Jesus desires and lives for communion with the Father, and models it in a way that we would be wise to adopt as a practice in our own lives.  Prayer is the breath of life, and solitude heals, nurtures and protects.

Before we leave this spot, I think it’s worth returning for a moment to the truth of how familiar Jesus is with our burdens.  The very next words that follow the verse above are, “Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.”  Can you relate?  So can He.

With these thoughts still marinating, I continued reading and arrived at Jesus’ words in Mark 2:27.  To give context, Jesus is walking with his disciples and some religious leaders on the Sabbath.  At one point in their walk, the Pharisees observe the disciples breaking the heads off stalks of grain, and challenge Jesus with what they judge to be “unlawful” behavior.  Jesus responds with a short Old Testament history lesson about Kind David.  And then says, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath.” (MSG)

The Sabbath is a term I am very familiar with, but in that moment its relevance in my battle with burden jumped off the page.  I began to see that one of the ways the Sabbath was made to serve us is in separating us from our burdens.  At a bare minimum, it’s one day a week to let go of, and lay down all that bears down on us.  During which, we reorient our posture in the direction of He who is able to bear all.  It begins with submission, leads us to a place of worship, and results in true rest and peace.  Sounds like the perfect prescription from the Great Physician in our battle with burden.  We should do it more often, but a journey always starts with a single step.  Maybe Sabbath is a good first one for you, or maybe prayer or solitude.

Maybe you found us today and all of this sounds nice, but is completely foreign because you don’t know or aren’t sure about Jesus.  Burdens are common to all of us and so often resemble the dark storm in Mark 4:37-39.  I pray that you reach out to us, or God directs someone into your life that can point you in the direction of the Jesus that calmed that dark storm.  The Jesus who can give a peace unlike anything the world can offer.

Have you ever had an experience that left you absolutely speechless? I had one of those, “I can’t believe what I just saw moments,” on a business trip to Tennessee last week. The moment came as I was meeting with a great couple in their beautiful home nestled against a small mountain. We were working at their dining room table, when the husband motioned out the window and his wife bolted to action. This normally calm, respectful wife grabbed a 22-caliber gun, threw in a bullet clip and was ready to kill the squirrel that had appeared out the window. I was speechless and even thought to myself, “at least open the window!”, as the action unfolded. She didn’t shoot, but the moment was priceless.

It should be noted that the couple was passionate about eliminating the critters that were eating their vegetation. Their determination and passion challenged my thinking….and left me speechless! I wonder if you are experiencing many speechless moments in your relationship with God?

With relative certainty, I would surmise that you prayed last week. After all, isn’t that what “good Christians” do? It may have been a quick plea for help, an obligatory meal prayer or in some cases a desperate cry for God’s intervention. But as the words left your lips, did you really believe they would make any difference? As a fellow journey struggler, I must confess that my prayers are too often littered with unbelief. But even in my weaker times, I have seen dramatic answers to heartfelt cries.

Books have been written about model prayers, mountain moving faith, praying without ceasing etc… Our purpose in this post is not to answer all of your questions about prayer, but rather to turn your heart back to the simplicity of seeking God through prayer, and seeing Him move on your behalf. If you are new to faith in Christ, please trust me when I say that prayer works, and God does move mountains. If you have journeyed with Christ for many years, trust me when I say God still wants to move mountains for you, and maybe He will even leave you speechless.

For just a moment, be honest with yourself. Do you really live with a confidence that prayer is going to work for you? I bet you can list several requests on your heart right now that you hope God will answer.  However, your hope is more the kind that is surrounded by quotation marks, than ends with a period. It may not sound spiritual to say, but that is the way we live. With childlike simplicity, and a passionate prayer life, you and I just may find ourselves in the middle of some speechless moments. God would not challenge us with so much about prayer, if He didn’t want it to be a fundamental part of our relationship with Him. But our lives get so cluttered that we pray amiss, and miss some speechless moments.

Lest my words be misconstrued, I am not advocating that God has to respond my way if I have enough faith, or that He always moves dramatically. He doesn’t heal our loved ones every time, or remove every problem. In His wisdom, He will allow difficulties in our lives. Remember, God is Eternal and Holy. He will choose to move in our lives according to His design, in His time, which is always good. But the truth remains, that He wants us to pray with faith. History, Scripture, and my own life experiences have taught me that God will intervene when faith is present. And He does move mountains!

Matthew 17:19-20
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

This dialogue between Jesus and his disciples gives us powerful insight. We can come with faith as small as a mustard seed, and still see Him move mountains. Do you really believe those words, for yourself! Is your faith simple and passionate, or tired and cluttered? Faith and prayer go hand in hand. I believe our Eternal, Loving God wants to move mountains for you. Would you simply trust Him?

I was speechless in the mountains watching my friend’s passion and determination.  I trust you will be as speechless when God moves a mountain for you!

Jesus has always been a controversial figure – he still is in some circles.  From the very beginning of His earthly ministry, He stirred up strong feelings from many different groups.  The first public speaking He did in the synagogue, the crowd conspired to take him out and kill him!  But He continued to gain great popularity with the people of Galilee.  Huge crowds followed Him, so huge that one day he took refuge from the crowds and spoke from a fishing boat just off shore … that boat belonged to a man named Simon, Simon PETER.  And so began his journey with … The Twelve … 12 men.  Jesus could have used the angels, the military, mob force, anything He wanted to spread His message.  But His focus was specific, and He used 12 men under the power of the Holy Spirit as powerful conduits carrying the Gospel throughout the world.

The Twelve could not have known this at first, but they were called to four responsibilities …

First  – –  SALVATION

John 1:35-37
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Second  – –  MINISTRY

Jesus had taken several of the men to fish – in the wrong location, according to Peter. But the amount of fish in that catch almost sunk the boat!  It was then that Jesus gave the men a new commission:

Luke 5:10-11
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Third  – –  APOSTLESHIP

Mark 3:13-14
Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came. He appointed 12 of them and called them apostles. From that time on they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach.

After this The Twelve embarked on several evangelistic trips, after which they remained with Jesus for the rest of His time on Earth.

Last  – –  MARTYRDOM 

This took place after Christ’s resurrection, of course.  Aside from Judas’ suicide, all but one was murdered.

These 12 common men fulfilled their purpose and changed the world.  Against all odds, they took the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of the known world.

So I got to thinking about OUR purpose.  What have we been called to?  Certainly we have been called to SALVATION … have you accepted Christ’s free gift?

We have also been called to MINISTRY.  Sure, we most likely won’t be traveling the world preaching, but we can change our “world.”  I have been struggling lately at work, but what has given some comfort in my difficulties is that I know I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be at this time.  And in that confidence, I continue to strive to have the ministry God wants me to have at that place, at this time.

Twelve ordinary men with ordinary jobs going to work each day to support their ordinary families.  Wait a minute … that sounds very familiar!  Similar lives, but different …

Are you willing to answer the call?

Last night, I did not get my way. My wife and I went to a movie of her choosing. I really wasn’t that interested, but it turned out to be a great (true) movie. Soul Surfer is the story of a young lady who lost her arm, and still fulfilled her dream of becoming a champion surfer. She and her family were Christ followers, but a tragedy still overwhelmed their dreams. What looked like a life altering tragedy was used for God’s glory. Since this movie was based on a true story, the agony, faith and wisdom of the young lady’s parents were especially meaningful to me. It was the second time in a week I viewed an encouraging account of parental struggles.

You’ve probably heard of the “first” couple.  We can all only imagine what life altering changes that Jesus’ virgin birth had already caused Joseph and Mary. But now they have to go to Egypt for protection from Herod. That’s right! God directed Joseph to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. It was 75 miles to the border, and then possibly another 100 miles of travel for safety. Can you imagine what that trip was like with a young child? After a period of time they are led by God to return to Israel, because Herod was dead. Tough trip, but Matthew states prophecy was fulfilled; “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”

But then there was more trouble. Upon returning to Israel, Joseph realized that Herod’s son Archelaus was ruling in Judea. Bad news! God then leads Joseph to take his family to that not so nice city called Nazareth for protection. Admittedly, this is a lot of travel for a young family with no great form of transportation. Mary and Joseph were originally from there, but there was a greater reason for this move. Matthew 2:23 tells us

and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

God’s divine providence is all over Jesus on the run. But as I read about Egypt and Nazareth, and then watched the movie, my thoughts were directed toward the parents. Although directed by God, Joseph wasn’t a robot and his life (and Mary’s) was altered significantly by the unusual requests of the Father. Their obedience to His plan meant personal sacrifice. God’s journey for Christ was placed in the hands of an obedient young couple. And they followed His directions!

You and I are also nurturing someone’s journey. Listening to God is important. There will be times when you think God’s plan makes no sense (I wonder if Mary and Joseph had questions). But it always does! Someone’s future and spiritual journey is attached to our response to the will of God. It doesn’t have the significance of raising and protecting the Son of God, but our obedience still matters. Are you in a place today of listening well and hearing God lead you? Your children, young or old, friends and work associates need you to be listening to the Father.

My young friend in Soul Surfer had parents who I believe loved God. They had hard choices to make in helping her begin again. Their parenting played a part in the spiritual dynamic that caused her end to be a beginning.  Joseph’s obedience to directions from God was significant in the epic journey of Christ.  Just like Joseph, Mary and the Soul Surfer’s parents, you and I have an important role in someone’s journey. Who benefits when you and I listen to the Father well? Someone else….that we love! Go see the movie, and more importantly, listen well!

Do you ever find yourself trying to control issues of life that are in fact uncontrollable? My daughter helped remind me of my control issues last week as I visited with her in Los Angeles. On my flight across the country, I had determined my seat assignment would be too tight and uncomfortable. So I paid $69 for a seat with extra leg room. I was ready to sit back and enjoy the ride, until I realized that my attempts at comfort had placed me in an aisle with a mother, baby and fourth grader. Don’t think that I am against children traveling, because my wife and I traveled when our daughter was young. But I wanted to be in control of my journey! There is One who is in control, and I am far better off when I rest in His sovereignty and quit trying to make life fit my way. How about you?

As you and I travel through Scripture, we are given a picture of His majesty, power, grace, love and yes, control. In my reading of Revelation this week, the ultimate control of God is in full view. Although Revelation is not the easiest read of the Bible, it presents Jesus as: “the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”. Jesus is the beginning and end of all creation, and has given us the right to be His children. With Him as our Savior, God’s Word as teacher and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we don’t need to worry about controlling.  Simply trust the Controller. For me it is a work in progress, but as I fill my life with His Word, and listen to His leading, controlling life becomes less important. How about you?

At Journey OnWord, we are committed to challenging you to be full of His Word. We know it takes discipline, but the results are life changing. In The Knowing Jesus Study Bible, I found words that convey our heart to you better than I could express it.

“God has furnished us with explicit instructions to guide us, many wonderful promises to encourage us and an exciting mission for us to accomplish. All of this and more is recorded in the Bible. When we are devoted to God, we cannot get enough of His words. While it is helpful to read Bible Study notes, commentaries and devotionals it is better still to immerse ourselves in the Bible itself –because it comprises God’s letter directly from himself to us.”

You would probably agree that one of your most difficult challenges is to make God’s letter to you a priority. I can promise you that there is value from reading God’s Word, that can only be attained by consuming it. Devotionals, seminars and good books can literally hinder your progress in the Word. But today is new, and the Word is still the Word, and God still has lots to say to all of us. None of us can control life, and all of the circumstances that we encounter, but our Teacher is in control and will guide us through each and every one of those circumstances.

Once a quarter we challenge you to re-engage in the life changing consumption of God’s Word. Your commitment to His Letter is personal, and we just want to encourage you to continue, or begin a new adventure of reading through the New Testament with us this quarter. If you have another plan, that’s great and keep going. Read with an open heart and just trust the Controller.

By the way, the kids on the plane slept most of the way!