The Narrower Bumpy Road
Greetings sisters in Christ!
I want to share this verse with you...
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8
I thought of that verse the other day as we were making plans to head northward. We looked at the map and had a general idea of where we would go and from there picked a city, but stopped short of it. The next day were plans to continue on to that same city but stopped short once again. Of course there were perfectly timed out witnessing opportunities along the way and one more time we planned that city but after looking at the map, we took a different route. Brother Jim said we'd stop in a town not far away and go from there and in order to get there we had to get off the main road and onto a narrower, bumpy road.
Really bumpy at times. And our old van is a 1 ton van which means it's heavy and it has stiff suspension on it so that means our ride is not smooth and comfortable. You may hear on some of the videos, our stuff bouncing on the metal shelf :-)
We arrived at the town we were not planning on going to and in less than 5 minutes a young man walked up to brother Jim to talk to him. (God's ways are not our ways, His will, will be done in His perfect timing!)
Well over an hour later this man was crying, in his convictions and knowing that he will need to forsake much (friends, family, love of music, various other areas and potentially his fiancee who he was supposed to marry in 2 months.)
He reminded me of the rich man who counted the cost of following Jesus, we pray he makes the right decision as he too walked away sorrowful.
Matthew 19:16-24
The cost is great and we don't get that reward here, we get it in heaven, where we are to be storing up our treasures and waiting patiently, rejoicing all the while. We will lose our life (and much within that) to find it in Christ. This young man walked away counting the cost, looking at all he will lose and he will lose it all if he continues to look at it. Just like Lot's wife turning back to look, we must run the race forward, lest we become salt, losing it's flavor. There is much in a godly woman's life that can be a distraction but there is always work to be done, our labors are not in vain and even the smallest ones add up to be big in the end.
God's timing, once again amazes us. Sing praises unto our Father, the King of King and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, who always was and is and will be. Amen!
I thought you might appreciate some views of the awesome scenery that our Father created.
God be praised!
Sister Deb
Brother Jim drew this for me.
We arrived at the town we were not planning on going to and in less than 5 minutes a young man walked up to brother Jim to talk to him. (God's ways are not our ways, His will, will be done in His perfect timing!)
Well over an hour later this man was crying, in his convictions and knowing that he will need to forsake much (friends, family, love of music, various other areas and potentially his fiancee who he was supposed to marry in 2 months.)
He reminded me of the rich man who counted the cost of following Jesus, we pray he makes the right decision as he too walked away sorrowful.
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The cost is great and we don't get that reward here, we get it in heaven, where we are to be storing up our treasures and waiting patiently, rejoicing all the while. We will lose our life (and much within that) to find it in Christ. This young man walked away counting the cost, looking at all he will lose and he will lose it all if he continues to look at it. Just like Lot's wife turning back to look, we must run the race forward, lest we become salt, losing it's flavor. There is much in a godly woman's life that can be a distraction but there is always work to be done, our labors are not in vain and even the smallest ones add up to be big in the end.
God's timing, once again amazes us. Sing praises unto our Father, the King of King and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, who always was and is and will be. Amen!
I thought you might appreciate some views of the awesome scenery that our Father created.
God be praised!
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...