It’s been awhile since my last post…so this one may be a loooong one…. 🙂

It’s hard to believe I went to Greece, I have proof by the many pictures I took, the memories I have in my head, the stamps in my passport but the biggest proof is this overwhelming ahhh that’s in my heart. When I pick up my bible and read Paul’s words I can almost picture some of the places he walked, ministered, rested, and his struggles he endured, on a more personal level. I remember being in the bus, listening to our guide as he talked about a road, just barely still in existence, that Paul and others walked. It was a surreal moment for me because I thought here I am in a bus “enduring” a bus trip (I think 5 hours) and it took Paul 3 to 4 days walk to get to his destination…wow, reality check. I think of how he’s walking in sandals, maybe, on a rocky road, no pavement, carrying very little, to include food, water necessities…yet he had a God ordained goal, destination. He didn’t always know before hand what that destination was…he just walked, preaching what the Lord had laid on his heart and mind…some listened, some didn’t, yet Paul continued…while being pursued, thrown in prison, yelled at, laughed at…but continuing forward as he was being led by the Holy Spirit. This is an experience that will forever be etched in my mind, deep in my soul;  a clearer understanding of what people endured as they proclaimed God’s word….Yes, this trip was worth every penny spent. I’m going through a Roman’s BSF study, started this before I left…very fitting. And as I study there are times a place I traveled to comes to mind as I read Paul’s words, and there is such hope that fills my heart knowing if he endured all he did and continued to move forward….so can I.

Everyone has stuff they have to deal with while on this earth, we’ve struggled since the beginning of time. God’s word tells us we will have trials and tribulations….Yet the hope we have as believers is we have a destination, we have a place to look forward to when Christ returns…it’s what we carry with us, the attitude/perspective we choose to submit to, what do we choose to focus on, and how this will affect those around us….some journey’s/season’s are way tougher than others. This journey I’m on right now has been heart wrenchingly tough, massively disappointing, downright discouraging at times…But when I turn to God’s word, allow the tears to flow and the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide me….I find my way out of despair and hold on to what lies ahead….and that’s gray/foggy at times. I listen to wise, safe, Jesus centered friends, combined with music, reflection, and a deep sense of “I must continue to move forward”….with my head dragging low by the end of the day….to wake up to a new day…a chance to start again with a renewed hope…well that’s at least today. Not sure what tomorrow will hold, my focus is on today….and here I sit, on my couch, typing these words. My hope for today is that whoever, if anyone reads this is encouraged…. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with the your God?….Thanks Pastor Ryan for bringing to light this portion of scripture. Trying to walk in God’s best for me today.