"The Journey"

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23)


Life on this earth is often described as a Journey, the walking of a path that winds and turns as we live out our alotted time here. This Journey is sometimes pleasant and there is laughter and smiles, there is good news that comes and accomplishments that are achieved. This Journey is also marked by struggles,unfulfilled dreams, by sorrow and tears, by unwelcome tidings and failures of various kinds.
This Journey is often confusing and mysterious and it causes questions to arise in our hearts and minds, such as, "What is my purpose?", "What difference am I making in this world?", or ultimately, "Why am I here at all?"
This Journey is too great for us and often leaves us bewildered and feeling very small, insignificant, and alone!
This Journey is an opportunity for us to come to know ourselves as we come to know God, our Maker and Redeemer.
The aquired knowledge that is gained in this Journey concerning ourselves is, many times, grievous and causes us to groan within and to desire to quit or to turn aside in an effort to find a more pleasant and smooth way, but, as by an Invisible Hand, we are constrained to persevere and to take one more step and to Journey one more day.
This Journey has proven clearly to me that I am not equipped for the rugged terrain or the often harsh elements, and that I desperately need a guide, a Wise Counselor, a Shepherd to lead me in the way!
In this Journey I have experienced His direction, His care. He has often brought those into the path with me whom I needed for that very hour and struggle! He has often illuminated a verse of scripture that spoke to my present dilemma.
He has also, graciously hemmed in my way when I sought to turn down a side path that would have led to destruction and misery!
He has chastened me as a loving Father that I might be a partaker of His holiness.
When I reflect on this Journey I am humbled, I am moved to tears, I am ashamed of my, too often, cold and unthankful heart, and conversely, I am amazed at His longsuffering and faithfulness!
I don't know what lies around the next turn or over the next rise, but this thing I do know and am convinced of, if I acknowledge Him in all my ways, He shall direct my paths.
These paths will, no doubt often, be rough and hard, nevertheless, I have this promise, that He walks with me by His Spirit and ministers to me through His people and by His Word!
I stand upon the declaration of His Word which assures me that He completes what He begins.
This life is indeed a Journey, a pathway that stretches before us, sometimes bright and cheerful, sometimes dark and foreboding, but in this Journey I take consolation in this, that One has gone before to provide life now, and at the end of this Journey, and has been, and can be toucned with the feelings of my infirmities and ever liveth to make intercession for me!
Because of these exceeding great and precious promises I will continue to walk by His grace and hope for the coming day when I no longer "see through a glass darkly", but instead, I will behold Him face to face! Then I will know as I am known and the path I have trod and the Journey I have taken will be seen for the glorious "working together for good" that God had ordained for me before this world of paths and Journeys was!

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov.4:18)

"Reflections and Anticipations"

Well, after a rather long hiatus, I am going to attempt to write a few lines and simply share from my experiences over the past several months.
First of all, this year, in many respects has been like no other that I have ever experienced. It has been a season of struggle,to say the least! I have felt a sense of heaviness and depression at times like I have never known before, and anxious periods have often seemed more than I could bear. Various reasons could be identified as catalysts for these "dark nights of the soul", a Father's serious and life threatning illness, a layoff from a long time job, and a reoccuring sense of my own failure in what I perceive, I "ought" to be doing for my Lord.
I am naturally introspective and prone to see my areas of weakness and defeat rather than the manifold blessings that God has graciously bestowed upon me throughout my life.
I wrestle regularly with the weightiness of guilt and accusation with regards to what I am here for, and am I fulfilling that purpose.
It is hard sometimes to discern "how we should then live". In particular, how should I go about pursuing service to my Savior. That is to say, am I doing what He would have me to do and am I adequately utilizing what He has committed into my hands?
I see such need on all sides and in every direction.....I, many times, feel so heavy and useless in the great and evident causes that surround me!
The question comes that David asked as Goliath withstood the armies of Israel, "Is there not a Cause?" Yes, I respond, there is most certainly a cause!....but, it seems to me, that it goes no further than the repeated acknowledgement that "there is a cause!!"
Through all of these strivings of heart and mind I cling to the Sovereignty of God and I run back for refuge to the truth of His governance of all things and times. I also am humbled and stirrred to praise when I think of God's tender care for me in this past year through the compassion and encouragement of brother's and sister's in Christ!! Apart from this, I would have been cast down in despair many times! I have been held up and strengthened innumerable times by believers, some of which I have never met face to face. I have no doubt that God brought them into my path for "such a time as this". His mercies are new every morning!!! He loves the unlovely!!
Many questions still flood my mind, but, I find solace in His provisions. I ask for your fervent and earnest prayers on my behalf as I seek to know when to be still and when to move!
I am convinced that God doeth all things well and that He enrolls us in the "courses" that will teach us what we do not yet understand as we ought, nevertheless, I am often a slow learner!!
So, again, I would ask that you bring my cause before the Throne of Grace and intercede on my behalf to the one who loved us and gave Himself for us!

Were It Not for Grace

This is a song that has ever spoken powerfully to my heart and tells me afresh of my only resting place

"He Maketh No Mistake"

My Father's way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I'm glad I know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hope may fade away,
But still I'll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Tho' night be dark and it may seem,
That day will never break;
I'll pin my faith, my all in Him.
He maketh no mistake.

There's so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight's far too dim;
But come what may, I'll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.

And by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He'll make.
Through all the way, tho' dark to me,
He made not one mistake

(A.M. Overton)

"Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted" by Fernando Ortega

Looking to our Great Savior!!

Before the Throne of God Above

This Song has really beena great blessing to me!!!

Through the Precious Blood by Sovereign Grace Music