Sam's(Gift)

Maybe I shouldn’t admit this out loud but 2 days ago was one of my more frustrating days. I know, I know, we are supposed to remain positive and not let the uncertainties of life get to us…..but I’m cutting the grey area out and letting you know that there are days of struggle that come. This past Thursday was one of those days.

After a lengthy phone conversation with my best friend, who just happens to be my wife, I made the statement, “I simply ask God for one - Just ONE positive thing today. Something to let me know He is with me and I am on the right path.” I made that statement as I turned onto the road to our home. I paused long enough to open our mailbox to find a package from a young person whom I used to pastor. I opened it to find a gift that brought me to uncontrollable tears and repentance. Inside I found this cross with the word ‘Journey’ written across it, and the scriptures of Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 121:5, 7-8. They read, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

The note inside apologized for the gift being late, but that it had to be ordered and just arrived for him to get it to me. However, God is NEVER late. And in my frustration, I had missed the very essence of the process of my Journey. Allow me a little leeway in scripture here ...... the Bible says that when you have done all you know to do – just STAND! I would like to insert words spoken to me recently - Larry just had to learn to simply CHILL!

Sam – let no man despise your youth! God used you to shake this ‘journeyer’ from his selfishness. From now on, I’m just going to chill out. 

BridgeRepairer(s)

May 28, 2010, marked a monumental shift in my life and the lives of the other four individuals whom God gave to me. My wife and I had no idea (and still don't) of what this journey is going to lead us to, but what we have found out is that there is no 'blueprint' for your personal journey in Christ. The frustrations, doubt, worry, joy, excitement, newness (and any other adjective you want to insert) is yours to experience and process. I pray that these random thoughts to come will benefit you as you accept your assignment. 

In a non-negative way, I have found that many bridges have been burned that once were used as pathways to find destiny in Christ. Bridges of compassion - forgiveness - integrity - hunger - repentance - prayer - belief ..... these have been replaced with insecurity - hardness - traditionalism - judgment - doubt. A world that faces hopelessness on a daily basis hungers to find a Christ that they can 'get-to'. What God needs today is a generation of bridge repairers to go to work. To forsake personal gain to build kingdom bridges. Can those bridges be repaired? 

I seem to remember a man by the name of Jesus Christ that left the indescribable splendor of His throne to build a bridge between Himself and mankind. 
I seem to remember men such as George Washington & others of our founding fathers separating themselves and making a choice that no matter how difficult times were going to be in the unknown....they decided that a bridge must be built to freedom.

If the bridges of our destiny in Christ are not rebuilt, I'm afraid we will end up with crumbled dreams and partially completed structures. 

So the answer to this question must be a resounding "YES" a thousand times over! Bridge builders are among us and are stepping beyond the comfort of what they know to what can be. To the generation that is coming behind, may this generation of Christ followers commit to not leaving the job of bridge repair to them. Let the pathways be clear and let them be solidified on the rock of God's guidance!