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Just 24 hours ago, Darrel and I were completing our JOURNEY back home from North Carolina. We talked as we drove and recounted what we did, what we saw and what we had just learned from an incredible book that I read out loud all the way home.
I thought about the physical JOURNEY we had been on together and what we had accomplished. But the book that we had just read, forced me to think about the spiritual JOURNEY we are each on throughout our lives.
Websters Dictionary describes "JOURNEY" as this: something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another
Our spiritual lives are most certainly a JOURNEY. We pass from one level of faith to another as we see God do new works in our lives and our faith is deepened, encouraged and strengthened. We mature through each trial and draw closer to the One who has given us the very breath we breathe and as the JOURNEY continues we learn more of Him, desire more of Him and want to look more like Him. Our spiritual lives are a daily JOURNEY of stretching, growing, changing and pushing forward because we want to know more of our Savior.
Or do we???
I simply ask you tonight, as Darrel and I had to ask ourselves after reading this book, "WHERE IS YOUR JOURNEY TAKING YOU?" Are you constantly traveling toward the cross of Christ or are you content to remain in your faith where you are now, or have you lagged behind and put your faith on the back burner?
Just as you are in a car and the scenery changes, the miles go by as we drive forward and the JOURNEY takes you from one place to another, shouldn't our spiritual JOURNEY move us forward also? Shouldn't our desire be to know more of Christ and how He truly yearns for us to live? Shouldn't it? Isn't it??
I encourage anyone who reads this to pick up the book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This book has literally shoved Darrel and I forward in this JOURNEY of being a Christian. It's changed us.
So, WHERE IS YOUR JOURNEY TAKING YOU??? Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see Truth, to examine ourselves and to run after You with all our might.
Today, Darrel and I took a wonderful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountains are just breathtaking. At every overlook point, all you want to do is stand there and drink in the beauty of it all. One ridge after another, melting into one another, the mountains build a most beautiful landscape for the eye to behold.
As you stand and stare at the scene before you, you can almost hear the mountains singing out to you! It's as if they stretch forth right before you and make you hear them.
Psalm 98:8 says, "Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing together for joy." I'm telling you, when you stand at 5000 feet and gaze upon the natural handiwork of God, you can almost hear these mountains singing together for JOY!!! As you look at them, joy bubbles up in your heart at their Maker and it leaves you feeling a part of it all. I wonder, if we could really hear them sing, what would they be singing?????
I think I know.........in fact, I'm sure of it. They're singing their praises unto the God of heaven and earth, the Maker of the stars, the universe, from the tiniest insect to the grandest mammal, HE made it all and they're thanking HIM for being a part of HIS creation.
TOday, I heard THE MOUNTAINS SING TOGETHER FOR JOY and it was good, real good. But then, of course it would be.........GOD MADE IT TO BE SO.
Every so often, we ask God for something that's so simple and unimportant that we almost feel bad for asking Him! Know what I mean?
Today was one of those days. Darrel and I got up when we felt like it, ate a late breakfast at a wonderful restaurant overlooking Maggie Valley and were trying to decide what to do for the day. I really wanted to drive to Cataloochee Valley to see the wild elk that roamed there but we were told by the locals AND by all the brochures we read that the best time to view them was early morning and at dusk and it was about 1-2 in the afternoon before we took off on the drive.
On the way up into the mountains to get to the valley, I simply asked the Lord to allow me to see just one elk, that's all......just one. As we made the long trek back into the mountains on a very narrow road, I just knew in my heart that it was gonna happen. OK...maybe childlike faith, maybe I'm just too stubborn to admit it might not happen BUT, I was convinced it would.
When we rounded the corner to approach the valley, there was nothing but wild turkey to see but I had already thanked the Lord for them anyway! ANY wild animals thrill my heart, so I was tickled. The drive continued and we rounded another bend and there before us, lay a wide expanse of beautiful field filled with wild elk!!! All I could do was shout THANK YOU LORD! I yelled to Darrel, "IT'S ANSWERED PRAYER IN CATALOOCHEE VALLEY!!"
I was humbled by the sight. God did it for me. It didn't matter that we were told they weren't seen much during the day! GOD saw fit to let me view these incredible creatures! These creatures roam wild. There are no fences, no restrictions, although you are asked to not approach them or feed them. We pulled over, got out of the car, set up the tripod with the video camera and just stood mesmerized for 30-45 minutes while we watched. The one huge male every so often would make this incredible noise and then run at one of the females. What a sight!
I counted 38 elk! 38!!!!!! And all I'd asked for was one!!! Thank you sweet Abba for your gesture of love on me today. Darrel and I were in awe of your work.
ANSWERED PRAYER HAPPENED IN CATALOOCHEE VALLEY today and we praise His name for it!
This morning, Darrel and I left for Maggie Valley, North Carolina, for a few days away on a much needed vacation. We hit the road around 7:00 a.m. and arrived at our cabin on the mountain at about 4,300 feet elevation about 4:45.
We weren't on the road very long when I realized THE RIDE itself was all part of the vacation. I had turned on the radio by the time we hit Jax and Darrel instantly said...."Remember what Johnny said about Silence and Solitude Sunday????? Hmmmmmmmmm.....I got the message and quickly turned the radio off.
Soon after, the conversation began to flow. From one subject to another, we talked and laughed at one another as the miles flew by. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch at Cracker Barrel.
THE RIDE was becoming possibly one of THE best parts of a trip that had barely begun. I had been yearning to see the colors of the leaves, the mountains, our cabin and all the sights here, but THE RIDE was blossoming like a summer rose as its' petals unfold to display its' beauty.
Sometimes, I thought, we get so caught up in the "what's ahead" that we miss "what we're in," in the right now. Know what I mean? I'm so tickled that I recognized how sweet the hours together in the car were, without any major attractions to stop at, fancy restaurants to eat at or before any souvenirs had been bought.............
THE RIDE had already been a gift worth treasuring.
Each of us has a past and in that past are generations of our ancestors who also each had a past. I'm not exactly sure that I want to know everything in my ancestors past.
BUT this I do know.....
I want to spirtually take this generation FORWARDS and not BACKWARDS. I want the future of my descendants to move forward as a godly people. As God's children, we are part of a process spanning generations. Each generation builds on the legacy of our predecessors and contributes to the future of our successors. I do not want to contribute unwisely to the future generations of my family. I may not be here to witness the outcome, but while I have breath in me, I want to be able to know that I contributed to a depth of faith in those who shall come after me and not the demise of them.
It is within my power and mine alone, to help each precious life in the future of my family to be anchored in Christ. Because of that, I will press on in doing my best to pass on a legacy of faith in the One who gave us life and the opportunity to have eternal like to boot!!!
Which direction will you choose to encourage the future of your family??? FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS???
It's amazing to me that there are over 6 billion people on this planet and each of us has a different voice. Every one of us can easily identify the sound of our parents, childrens and spouses voices. For each of us, they are distinct and easily recognizable. Isn't it cool? When my children call me, they don't have to tell me who they are because I KNOW THEIR VOICE.
Today, I witnessed something so extremely precious, I nearly cried. I attended Josh and Trista's wedding this afternoon, at which Summer was singing. She asked me if I would hold Will for her during the wedding as she needed to sit up front. Naturally, I was tickled to do so.
I sat in the back of the church and kept Will occupied throughout the service. I sat him in the floor and out of the diaper bag, he grabbed 2 diapers and literally played with them almost the entire service. He never stopped picking up and dropping those diapers and kept himself completely occupied and wasn't paying attention to anything else at all until something happened............
His momma began to sing. He heard her voice and the moment he did, he stopped what he was doing, looked straight to the front of the church and listened intently. He got completely still and simply listened. He was "fixed" on her voice. It was so incredibly precious.
I thought about how the Lord must do the same thing. We speak and he tunes His ear to all of us and says.........I KNOW THEIR VOICE! Man, is that good or what???? He focuses in on each of us when we speak and He "intently" listens to us just like little Will did to his momma.
I KNOW THEIR VOICE He says.......let that sink in a few minutes......HE KNOWS YOUR VOICE!!! I like that, I really like that. Tonight, as I lay my head down and thank Him for this day and everything else I have to be thankful for.....I will ponder the miraculous fact that He knows "my" voice:)))
You know, if you'll really think about it and admit it, MUCH can be accomplished in only an hour. There are countless tasks that can be completed, countless joys that can be had and countless glorious things that can be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Sixty minutes sounds like such a small amount of time, but it's really not. Today was one of those days that much was accomplished in one hour.
The first THursday of every month, I wait at our church for any 6th-12th graders who will join me to go visiting at the local nursing home. Every month it's different. One month we had 18 show up whie another time, only one youth came. I never know who will come, but it's always such a joy and a blessing, whether there's one or twenty.
Upon arrival, the excitement always amazes me! I mean, come on, it's the NURSING HOME, after all!! And yet, their spirits are high, conversation loud and laughter contagious! Truly, they are amazing. You might think that they are standoffish and shy, and some are, but most take off in small groups without me and wander around on their own. It's always understood that we meet back in the foyer at 5:00 and there are always stories they have to tell me about who they talked to on their visits and what was said. It's so sweet.
Today, what a blessing when I saw Wyatt waving me to hurry up and come down the hallway to him. He had a huge grin on his face. The woman in the room had been his teacher years ago and he wanted to go in and see her. I stepped into the room and a gentleman about my age was there. She was his mother. I asked permission for the kids to come in and he welcomed their visit. Much to our surprise this very elderly lady recognized Wyatt and called his last name! What a treat to visit with her and bring a smile to her face. We were there to bless her and yet, she blessed us. Thank you God. We also were blessed to hear Mrs. Henry Y. share an incredibly deep and powerful lesson she learned today. She shared a story about what God had shown her. Man, it was good.
AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME "CAN" make a difference in a life. It does every single time we go to the nursing home. One hour...just one hour....can bring joy unspeakable to someone. Isn't it worth it to you?
I sure am proud of all our youth, but most especially today, those 11 who came to give of themselves. Thanks you guys and Mrs. Henry Y. Thanks also for posing for the pictures! I love you all dearly but Jesus loves you more:)
My "baby" turned 30 last week! YIKES...can it be possible that my "baby" is 30 now and has 3 babies of her own????
Where have the years gone? Did I appreciate them enough? Somehow, I just don't think so. Oh yes, no doubt, I appreciated them "in the moment" but I'm older now and I think I understand the depth of it all better now. Age and maturity teaches us much.
DJ is 37 now, Butch 35 and Summer 30. I loved their childhoods and I miss it. I guess being here with Lindsey, Amber, Madison, Butch and Karli and doing all the "mothering" stuff, has made me miss my own children's childhood all the more. I miss tucking them in at night and kissing their faces. I miss hearing, "I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE."
I think Summer's 30th birthday hit me harder than it did her. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you just never think you're "baby" will ever be 30. But, here it is. In a way, it frightens me as the realization that old age is creeping ever closer and closer. I can't stop it and I can't go back. I yearn for the past in many ways and yet I yearn for the future too.
Last night and tonight though, I got to hear those wonderful words from the mouths of my grandchildren.....I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE. Oh how sweet and soothing to my ears. There's just something so sweet about tucking in a child, praying for them and bidding them goodnight. I'm so thankful.
Time rushes by us. I am reminded to enjoy this moment, for time is a gift from God and what we do with it is our choice. Man, sure is good to be here with my grandkids, enjoying this moment in time. So for now....
I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE
Life is good. Well, at least, life is what we make it and tonight, life is good.
I have the privilege of staying with my son and daughter-in-laws 5 children (1 of them ALMOST an adult actually!!!) while they are in Atlanta for a couple days.
As I prepared dinner and they went about their evening activities, I sat back and simply watched them. I thought about how different their lives are compared to what mine was when I was their age so very many years ago.
But one thing never changes with children....they all LOVE cookies right out of the oven! Talk about a tickled bunch of kids when I took those PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES out of the oven! It was just adorable. Children never really change as each decade goes by. They love just as sweetly, smile just as tenderly, hug just as tightly, sleep just as peacefully, get in trouble about the same things, talk just as fast, express themselves the same and enjoy PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES just as much now as I did when MY Grandma used to make them for me.
THAT'S the part I "really" love.....you know, that they would still love the very same things that I did when my own Grandma did them for me. It gives me those warm fuzzy feelings inside. You know, the ones that make you feel all is well with the world??? :)
Tonight, as I lock the doors, pray for and tuck in each one of them and turn out the lights, I'm thankful God has allowed me this gift. I'm thankful for them and for PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES and for yet another opportunity to spend lots of time with them. Life is incredibly short....the time to enjoy them is now. I'm so blessed.
Last night at church for our monthly "Night of Praise," Cathy and I did a song together. The night before she called and asked me if I would do the sign language for the above titled song while she sang. I was honored that she asked. As we began talking about the song and went over the words to it, we both were so broken for so many who are "not" on their knees yet. We mulled over the many youth who have come through our SS department over the years, as well as those who are with us now who either have not yet received Christ or have walked away after they turned 18.
Before the service, we prayed together for all those who would hear the message to the song. We prayed not only for those youth we knew who would hear it nd who needed Jesus, but also for family members and those adults who we know NEED Jesus.
I would ask them....."If not today, then when??? Why are you putting it off? What do you think you have to loose if you ask Jesus in your heart today?"
The time is now. Our hearts yearn for the salvation of the lost. We have prayed and waited so long. We hunger for the Lord Jesus to reach down and change our youth, our families and our adults. Lord, bring them to their knees. They say they aren't ready Lord, they're too strong to be weak. Show them their need Father.
Please, if you are reading this and you were not at our service last night, I humbly ask you to listen to this song. The link is below. May God bless you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXzypkClRM
