GET TOGETHER- THIS JOURNEY HAS THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION

Ps 84:5-7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.

This past Monday J.J. and I returned from a visit to Springfield Missouri to visit our son Jake, his wife Tommye and our grandchildren Eli, and Hannah. I felt like the Holy Spirit was wanting to show me on the way home how that trip could be in some ways like our journey with Christ. That part of Missouri is so beautiful. There are beautiful pastures and lots of farmland. Walking with Jesus Christ opens our eyes to things and people that are truly beautiful.

We then went through the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and we saw so many beautiful views from up there that it made us even more thankful that we know the one that created them personally. We are His born-again children and have been adopted into His family. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Ro 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

We then drove through miles and miles of farm land in Arkansas. We saw cotton ready to be harvested. It made us think about when Jesus said in Mt 9:37,38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

On the other hand, there were some challenges on our journey home this past Monday. There were some big-time curves going up and down those mountains. I really had to stay focused as we were going around on those curves and up and down those mountains. Life can also have some unexpected curves at times. Things happen that we aren’t expecting. Sometimes things don’t turn out just like we thought that they would. The journey up the mountain can be very disheartening at times. But when this comes, we need to know that we have a promise from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He made these promises to us Joh 14:16,17 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever– “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(NKJV) He is always with His children. That means forever and ever!

I won’t share everything about our trip home. But there is one incident that I will share with you. When we were approaching Tupelo, Mississippi, I recognized a car in the lane beside us. It was one of my best friends. I sat down on the horn to wave at him. I have tried to explain to J.J. that as a boy growing up in a mining camp in Walker County that it was always a thrill when someone from Sumiton, or Dora would blow their horn at us when they passed by our house. It made me feel important.

Well when I blew the horn at my friend a truck in front of us thought that I was blowing for him to move over. J.J. reminded me that is how road rage gets started sometimes. The Lord often uses J.J. to get my focus back on the road, both in a spiritual way and in practical ways such as driving.

With that said there may be sometimes in our journey that we may get distracted even by something that is a “good thing”. It could be an over affection for a sports team. It can be spending too much time on social media. It could be a lot of things. And these things could possible cause a wreck, or something else. So, we need to always keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Peter and yes, I do know that at least Peter got out of the boat. But that is a message for another day. When he took his eyes off the Lord he began to sink. Mt 14:29, 30 “So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

No matter where you are today don’t forget that there is only One that can get us to our Heavenly home and to successfully complete this journey. His Name is Jesus Christ. He wants us to enjoy the journey. He will be with us when we go through life’s valley’s and He will be with us as we go up and down the mountains. There used to be an old American express commercial that said “don’t leave home without it.” Let me say this and this isn’t a commercial, but a great truth we can’t get home without Him. Joh 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus we thank You that You have invited us to be on this journey with You. May all that read this word that have put their trust in You enjoy the journey even when it is difficult. Lord for any that read this and are on a journey without You please use this to bring them to faith in You and to get on the right path that leads to eternal life.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Thank the Lord that He uses people on our journey as He did J.J. to help me get my focus back on driving this past Monday! God bless you all! We love you all!

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston