Reflection
June 28-
July 3-- ME, NY, NJ, PA traveling from Maine to PA
Reflection
is a good thing. I like to reflect on the lessons I teach, the ones I hear, the
books I read and my spiritual walk. While on the motorcycle the past two days,
I have not read any books. I have spent many hours looking at the beautiful
scenery God has created in these Northeastern states and many hours allowing
God to speak to me about the lessons I am working on for The Journey to Hope
and Peace. Many times I let the distractions of the world interfere with my
time alone before God. Being alone with Him gives Him time so speak through His
Word and His Holy Spirit. And, it allows Him to reveal to us the spiritual
truths we need for this time. I want to share some of what God gave me those
two days, about our trip and spiritually.
Trip
Reflections:
States
traveled through and didn’t spend the night:
North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia, New Jersey
States
spent time in: New York, Vermont, Maine,
and Pennsylvania
Miles
traveled since June 2: 4,412
Mountains seen: Adirondacks, Poconos, Acadia, Green
Mountains, White Mountains
I am amazed at what God has created in our
country. So interesting to note the difference in the Mountain ranges.
Sites:
Virginia-
Roaoke is one of only two towns in the US with a mountain within the city
limits
Pennsylvania-
Lancaster County and the Amish Country- Samson (a Christian Broadway Show);
Yoder’s Restaurant; Green Dragon, Kettle Village, Canning Company, National Toy
Train Museum; Lots of beautiful Pennsylvania countryside; Valley Forge
New York:
Niagara Falls, Cruise called Maid of the Mist (goes under the falls), Fort
Niagara, Lake George, Baseball Hall of Fame, Farmer’s Museum, Pocono Museum
Vermont:
Burlington: Shelbourne Museum
It
is amazing how God has gifted men and women over the ages to come from farm
plows and carriages to where we are today. Praise Him!
Maine: Bar
Harbor cruise of lightouses; Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain, Thunder
Hole, Belfast Harbor, City of Bar Harbor
Bible study: God gave me some ideas about my
Bible Study during this time too. I am changing the name of the last lesson
from The New Normal to Changes. He showed me how to use scriptures in the
studies for emotions, scars, and changes. He also began to give some ideas
about the prologue and how to tie in my personal testimony into each lesson. I
will add On a Personal Note to each study. In addition, I am going to revise
the Who Am I in Christ studies.
Spiritually: I need my quiet time and prayer
time on a regular basis. It is so easy to get busy with the day and not spend
time in the Word and prayer. Satan often distracts us with the “good” we are
doing to keep us from getting God’s best. Also, it makes us weak and open to
temptations. Back to the basics.
Friends: Spending time with our friends has
been very good. They have just retired from being National Evangelists for the
Christian Motorcyclists Association. We have shared many stories of things that
have happened to us while in leadership. God uses all the “lessons” in
leadership to grow us up into maturity. Those situations keep us in close
contact with the Father for wisdom and guidance in how to handle them. The flesh wants to do one thing and the
Spirit says another. We must stay closely connected to stand firm.
Church’s lesson today: We must
desire to have the vision of God. In order to that we must have a heart for
God. To have the vision we must have:
- Desire to know Him John 1:37..
- Desire to obey Him Jn. 14:15, 21, 23
- Desire to share Him and His love with others—if He shared His love with me, a mess, then who am I not to share Him with others
- Something’s wrong if we don’t want to share His love with others after what God has done for me. Good food for thought.
- Are you sharing the love of God with the unlovable?
The ones the hardest to love are the very ones we need to
love. Each one of us has been there—having the need for Christ! Therefore, we
need to be mindful of those we find offensive because those may be the very
ones God is asking us to minister to!!
