“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 (KJV)
In Illinois, I lived in the heart of a suburban town. Within a few blocks of my home were stores, restaurants, filling stations and a bus stop if I chose to take public transit. Within a mile, I could access major highways and get to pretty much anywhere I wanted to go with reasonable ease.
The street numbering system made navigation around the area fairly straightforward. I ran around several counties with no problems at all. Quite a change from the convoluted streets I grew up with in New Orleans.
Out here in California, it’s another different story. The roads twist and turn through hills and mountains and even a relatively nearby location can mean miles of travel because of the intervening mountains dictating a meandering path. In many spots, the roads are only a little more than single vehicle-wide ways. There are blind spots and drop offs and other perils to be negotiated to get from A to B.
When I first arrived, I had to rely on the navigation system in my Blackberry to help me find my way around. I’m getting better at recognizing my surroundings, but I still like the help in finding the right route when I go to a new location. I like getting the warning of an upcoming turn, the indication of which lane I need to be in.
Life is a lot like that, isn’t it? Having a guide is helpful when faced with a new destination. For the Christian, that guide is God and His Word. He directs the paths we follow through life and will give us the “fulness of joy” if we will simply follow His roadmap. Unlike my little navigation system, He doesn’t give us “turn right – turn left” directions. Instead, He shows us the destination and accompanies us as we make the journey. There is no place we can desire to go where He doesn’t know the way.
Are you traveling with Him? Are you experiencing the joy the psalmist described in His presence? You can – just turn the controls over to Him rather than trying to plot the route yourself. He’ll show you the way.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
What is the Goal? (Number 6 in a series)
“…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Philippians 3:13b-15 (KJV)
From my condo in Illinois to my sister’s house in California is 2020 miles or 29 1/2 hours driving time. That’s not counting stops for gas, rest stops or turnoffs to motels. I have made the trip in three days – but that was when I had my mother along with me. We were in a rented SUV with a medium-sized gas tank. We had food and beverages with us and only stopped to sleep or gas up.
I remember feeling as though every other sentence from Mama was either “Are you doing alright?” or “You aren’t going to sleep, are you?” She was committed to making sure I didn’t succumb to road fatigue. At the end of the second day we were in Salt Lake City, where we met my sister and her husband. I turned in my rental and he drove the third day.
This time, there was no relief driver for me, no companion to keep me awake. So I broke the trip into five days. This also allowed for a greater number of stops for gas, since my little Saturn Ion has a smaller gas tank; more rest stops for my little dog Shady, who is diabetic; and more opportunities for me to stretch these middle-aged legs of mine since the Ion’s “cockpit” is smaller than the one in the rented SUV.
There were points along the way when it felt as though the next stop was simply too far away to keep going. I was tired and cold and wet. The temptation to stop early was strong. But I knew if I did, I would forfeit things: my sister’s confidence in me (already badly undermined by delays in beginning my trip); the rental on the next motel room, my planned schedule. So I kept going, reminding myself of the goal waiting for me at the end of my trip – reunion with my mother, sister and brother-in-law, a chance to see my niece and nephew and their families, a fresh start in a new place. And I kept driving.
Paul reminded the Philippians of the importance of keeping the goal in sight and not succumbing to distractions and temptations. The same is true for us today. We press toward the prize, even when the going is tough. We work to stay on track to our target.
The truth of Paul’s instruction emphasizes how important it is to know what our goal is. If we haven’t identified the destination, we will find it difficult to chart the course to it. Praise God, He gives us the opportunity to change our destination if we find ourselves headed in the wrong direction!
What is your destination? What steps are you taking to ‘press on’ to that destination? Take a moment today to pray about those steps and where they are taking you. Lift your eyes to the ultimate goal, a relationship with Jesus Christ.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
From my condo in Illinois to my sister’s house in California is 2020 miles or 29 1/2 hours driving time. That’s not counting stops for gas, rest stops or turnoffs to motels. I have made the trip in three days – but that was when I had my mother along with me. We were in a rented SUV with a medium-sized gas tank. We had food and beverages with us and only stopped to sleep or gas up.
I remember feeling as though every other sentence from Mama was either “Are you doing alright?” or “You aren’t going to sleep, are you?” She was committed to making sure I didn’t succumb to road fatigue. At the end of the second day we were in Salt Lake City, where we met my sister and her husband. I turned in my rental and he drove the third day.
This time, there was no relief driver for me, no companion to keep me awake. So I broke the trip into five days. This also allowed for a greater number of stops for gas, since my little Saturn Ion has a smaller gas tank; more rest stops for my little dog Shady, who is diabetic; and more opportunities for me to stretch these middle-aged legs of mine since the Ion’s “cockpit” is smaller than the one in the rented SUV.
There were points along the way when it felt as though the next stop was simply too far away to keep going. I was tired and cold and wet. The temptation to stop early was strong. But I knew if I did, I would forfeit things: my sister’s confidence in me (already badly undermined by delays in beginning my trip); the rental on the next motel room, my planned schedule. So I kept going, reminding myself of the goal waiting for me at the end of my trip – reunion with my mother, sister and brother-in-law, a chance to see my niece and nephew and their families, a fresh start in a new place. And I kept driving.
Paul reminded the Philippians of the importance of keeping the goal in sight and not succumbing to distractions and temptations. The same is true for us today. We press toward the prize, even when the going is tough. We work to stay on track to our target.
The truth of Paul’s instruction emphasizes how important it is to know what our goal is. If we haven’t identified the destination, we will find it difficult to chart the course to it. Praise God, He gives us the opportunity to change our destination if we find ourselves headed in the wrong direction!
What is your destination? What steps are you taking to ‘press on’ to that destination? Take a moment today to pray about those steps and where they are taking you. Lift your eyes to the ultimate goal, a relationship with Jesus Christ.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Standing in for The King (Number 5 in a series)
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25: 31-40 (KJV)
On the road to California, I met a lot of people. Whenever I stopped for gas, I’d see their eyebrows raise a bit at the sight of this little car with its big load. As I registered at motels, desk clerks would see the address on my driver’s license and smile kindly. At roadside rest stops, the other folks would smile and we would exchange a greeting.
None of these people knew me or knew of my circumstances. Yet each one of them was acting as though we were old friends or at least long-time acquaintances. In the entire five days, I only had one less-than-pleasant encounter. He wasn’t awful, mind you, just slightly rude – it was only the contrast of all the others that made it seem bad.
Now it could be that all of those nice folks I met had just won a big prize or gotten some great news and were in terrific moods. Maybe I was just the coincidental beneficiary of their warmth. But I have an explanation I much prefer.
I’d like to think that I was blessed to meet people who were living Matthew 25. They weren’t so nice to me just because I’m me – they didn’t even know me. But I was there, a representative of the ‘least of these my brethren,’ and they did it for the King. Of all the plans to save the world, rebuild the economy or create peace, I don’t think any plan can work better than this one: See Jesus in everyone and treat them as you would Him.
There is an old recording by Grandpa Jones of a poem called “Conrad’s Christmas Guest.” His is not the only version, but it’s my favorite. It talks about a man making great plans to welcome the Lord into his home for Christmas, only to find them totally disrupted as he gives away everything he had obtained to people in need who come to his door. It is a wonderful reminder of the importance of giving the right gift to Him – ourselves.
When was the last time you did something for someone simply because you would have done for Jesus, if He asked? How did you feel afterward? You can get that feeling again – simply see Jesus in others and act that they may see Him in you.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25: 31-40 (KJV)
On the road to California, I met a lot of people. Whenever I stopped for gas, I’d see their eyebrows raise a bit at the sight of this little car with its big load. As I registered at motels, desk clerks would see the address on my driver’s license and smile kindly. At roadside rest stops, the other folks would smile and we would exchange a greeting.
None of these people knew me or knew of my circumstances. Yet each one of them was acting as though we were old friends or at least long-time acquaintances. In the entire five days, I only had one less-than-pleasant encounter. He wasn’t awful, mind you, just slightly rude – it was only the contrast of all the others that made it seem bad.
Now it could be that all of those nice folks I met had just won a big prize or gotten some great news and were in terrific moods. Maybe I was just the coincidental beneficiary of their warmth. But I have an explanation I much prefer.
I’d like to think that I was blessed to meet people who were living Matthew 25. They weren’t so nice to me just because I’m me – they didn’t even know me. But I was there, a representative of the ‘least of these my brethren,’ and they did it for the King. Of all the plans to save the world, rebuild the economy or create peace, I don’t think any plan can work better than this one: See Jesus in everyone and treat them as you would Him.
There is an old recording by Grandpa Jones of a poem called “Conrad’s Christmas Guest.” His is not the only version, but it’s my favorite. It talks about a man making great plans to welcome the Lord into his home for Christmas, only to find them totally disrupted as he gives away everything he had obtained to people in need who come to his door. It is a wonderful reminder of the importance of giving the right gift to Him – ourselves.
When was the last time you did something for someone simply because you would have done for Jesus, if He asked? How did you feel afterward? You can get that feeling again – simply see Jesus in others and act that they may see Him in you.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Traveling by Faith (Number 4 in a series)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11: 1 (KJV)
The route along I-80 between the Illinois/Iowa border and the Pacific Ocean is filled with references to the pioneer days of the United States. The very names of some of the towns declare their roots in the westward expansion: Council Bluffs, Gold Run, Emigrant Gap, Mustang, Salt Lake City. Others reflected the First Nation legacy of the area: Winnemucca, Washoe, Wahsatch.
For me, this trip took five days. For the pioneers, the trip could easily take six months.
Just as I had my vehicle packed with belongings and food, they carried their belongings and food with them in their covered wagons.
I had concrete and steel highways with large signposts to ease my way. They had only rough trails and great hardship in crossing the Great Plains and various mountain ranges along their route.
As I drove, I pondered the courage those early settlers must have had. They left behind all they knew and headed into the unknown, the unfamiliar. Traveling in faith that something better lay ahead, they moved out. Although they had not seen the land waiting for them, they were willing to strike out toward it.
If you think about it, heaven is in a similar situation. We haven’t seen it yet, but we move toward it in faith that it is as promised: the better place for us, the Promised Land.
Faith is the key. We have faith that Jesus can do what He said He can do: redeem us and give us eternal life.
What have you done lately through faith? In what ways have you seen your faith rewarded? Have you moved toward a goal you couldn’t see yet? Pray for your faith to increase on a daily basis.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
The route along I-80 between the Illinois/Iowa border and the Pacific Ocean is filled with references to the pioneer days of the United States. The very names of some of the towns declare their roots in the westward expansion: Council Bluffs, Gold Run, Emigrant Gap, Mustang, Salt Lake City. Others reflected the First Nation legacy of the area: Winnemucca, Washoe, Wahsatch.
For me, this trip took five days. For the pioneers, the trip could easily take six months.
Just as I had my vehicle packed with belongings and food, they carried their belongings and food with them in their covered wagons.
I had concrete and steel highways with large signposts to ease my way. They had only rough trails and great hardship in crossing the Great Plains and various mountain ranges along their route.
As I drove, I pondered the courage those early settlers must have had. They left behind all they knew and headed into the unknown, the unfamiliar. Traveling in faith that something better lay ahead, they moved out. Although they had not seen the land waiting for them, they were willing to strike out toward it.
If you think about it, heaven is in a similar situation. We haven’t seen it yet, but we move toward it in faith that it is as promised: the better place for us, the Promised Land.
Faith is the key. We have faith that Jesus can do what He said He can do: redeem us and give us eternal life.
What have you done lately through faith? In what ways have you seen your faith rewarded? Have you moved toward a goal you couldn’t see yet? Pray for your faith to increase on a daily basis.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Heading Out (Number 1 in a series)
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 89:15-18, NIV)
As I watched the distant mountains grow closer, I found myself in an ambiguous mood. On the one hand, I thanked God for the opportunity to make this move to California to help care for my mother. On the other, I grieved the people and resources I was leaving behind me in Illinois, especially my dear son.
I would reach my destination tomorrow evening. For today, it was just Jesus, me and my little dog in the car. In truth, there was no room for anyone else in it as we sped across the mile. The trunk was jammed solidly, the back seat was filled to the ceiling and even the floor in front of the passenger seat where my dog rode was packed up to the level of the dashboard. Even the roof was loaded with a makeshift roof rack and a rooftop carrier. I likened myself to the folks fleeing the Dust Bowl in the 1930s – packed as high as I could go and still leaving things behind.
Lest it seem I am unhappy about this move, I’m not. After a long time in prayer and seeking God’s will, I am convinced this is what He would have me to do. I don’t know exactly what He has ahead for me, but He does and that’s enough for me. God has never failed to provide what I needed, often before I even knew I needed it. Granted, sometimes it took a different form than I would have preferred, but true to His word, all things worked together for His glory and my good.
So I am being transplanted – a discarded weed taken from one place to be planted in a place where I’ll be (I sincerely hope) a useful contributor to the landscape. Ahead of me is that new garden spot, waiting for me to put down new roots. And I’ve got Jesus to help me get those roots deep and strong.
Can you think of times when you felt you ‘weeded out’ by life? Looking back, what are the blessings you gained from being ‘transplanted’ into new circumstances? Praise God that He is with us in all circumstances, ready to nurture us into full bloom!
Onward to the future!
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
As I watched the distant mountains grow closer, I found myself in an ambiguous mood. On the one hand, I thanked God for the opportunity to make this move to California to help care for my mother. On the other, I grieved the people and resources I was leaving behind me in Illinois, especially my dear son.
I would reach my destination tomorrow evening. For today, it was just Jesus, me and my little dog in the car. In truth, there was no room for anyone else in it as we sped across the mile. The trunk was jammed solidly, the back seat was filled to the ceiling and even the floor in front of the passenger seat where my dog rode was packed up to the level of the dashboard. Even the roof was loaded with a makeshift roof rack and a rooftop carrier. I likened myself to the folks fleeing the Dust Bowl in the 1930s – packed as high as I could go and still leaving things behind.
Lest it seem I am unhappy about this move, I’m not. After a long time in prayer and seeking God’s will, I am convinced this is what He would have me to do. I don’t know exactly what He has ahead for me, but He does and that’s enough for me. God has never failed to provide what I needed, often before I even knew I needed it. Granted, sometimes it took a different form than I would have preferred, but true to His word, all things worked together for His glory and my good.
So I am being transplanted – a discarded weed taken from one place to be planted in a place where I’ll be (I sincerely hope) a useful contributor to the landscape. Ahead of me is that new garden spot, waiting for me to put down new roots. And I’ve got Jesus to help me get those roots deep and strong.
Can you think of times when you felt you ‘weeded out’ by life? Looking back, what are the blessings you gained from being ‘transplanted’ into new circumstances? Praise God that He is with us in all circumstances, ready to nurture us into full bloom!
Onward to the future!
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
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