Enjoying the Journey... despite everything

 Those who knows me personally, know I often equate life to a journey. I talk about staying focused and on your path, or about figuring just which road you need to be on, and go for it. I see that path running through dark valleys, high, lofty mountain, barren deserts or even thick woods. 

I suppose, that's why I wrote Illuminated.  Alyra's journey to freedom is the journey I see so many of us taking each and every day. We all have somewhere to go in our lives, with a purpose, big or small, that we are put here to do.

Wherever the road is takes us during various periods of our lives, my question is, can you enjoy your journey, despite where you are, or what's going on?

Perhaps, if the path is light and somewhat pleasant like the one pictured above. Well, heck yeah. How hard can that be?

What if it looks like this?

 A little more creepy, right? You know, we aren't promised that our paths will be easy or bright or lined with tulips and wild berries. However, there are some guarantees we can count on that might make the journey a bit more bearable, even enjoyable, despite any dark uncertainty.

The Four P's
Promise. Problems. Persistence. Possession.
 I heard this quick devotional lesson the other day, and it really grabbed me by the collar, demanding I pay attention. (I'll share the link to the actual video cast at the bottom of this post, if you want to go watch it.)

In Hebrews 12, we're told to run our race. If you keep reading, you find out it's not an easy race. Things happen. Test will be given and you will need to pass to continue. The testing helps to build your strength. It's for your own good. Like broccoli.
Yeah, I know. Yuck-a-muck.

So, here's how to suck it up, and enjoy the process. Despite when you're served the yucky stuff.

First believe the Promise that you matter. That you have a purpose in this world. That there is Someone who loves you a lot and only wants what's best for you. We hear the Jeremiah 29 verse all the time.
Jeremiah 29:11 to be exact.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 Don't blow this scripture off as just another favorite that people like to quote. The Lord says it himself. He has plans. Good plans. He wants you to hope, and to have a great future. Why? Because he loves us. He really does have our best interest at heart. He really does want us to prosper. To succeed. To flourish.
For really real.


Thing is, Problems hit. The path darkens. We even get caught in a storm or two. And what's our first thought?

"Did I do something to make you mad, Lord?" 

"Lord, where are you? Did you fall asleep?" 

"Hey, up there, this sucks! Don't you care?"

Well, yes He does. The scripture I just showed you before says so. Try this, though... next time you're in a problem, instead of worrying, or crying about it, call out that you need some help working through the problem.
Why? Because if you read the next verse, He goes on to say:  

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. vs12

That's right, he listens when we call out. We are not meant to walk our journey alone. He never said we had to. Matter of fact, all through his book, He tells us over and over to simply call on him when we get stuck in the mud pit.

So sure, when the doo hits the fan, don't stomp your foot and give up. Now is the time for Persistance. Keep walking. Keep pushing through the briars. Sure it hurts. You might even get a little scratched up. But don't give in. Not now. Remember that he really does want you to get through. He's not made his promises as a big fat joke. He's not waiting to jump out and say, "Psyche! I was just kidding! Funny, huh?"

Yeah, that's not really His way. Might be something I'd do. *cheesy grin* But not the Lord.

Find your joy in this fact. With each problem you face, you get closer to possessing the goal you're after. You only need to be persistent. Problems are simply opportunities to get closer to what you want for your life. Don't get all bent out of shape when they happen. Face them head on, shield protecting, sword waving. And if you're not the warrior type, get behind someone who is and let them help you get through.

If you can cling to your promises, even when the problems hit, and be persistent and keep going, you will eventually take Possession of what you've worked so hard for. You will complete the race. The last part of the Jeremiah 29 passage says:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. vs13

You can do this.
Do you believe that? Do you believe that you have Someone on your side who cares and loves you? Who's cheering you on. Even wanting to walk right beside you? I hope you do. Because if you don't, then you walk alone. And your striving alone. And you have nobody to help you when it gets really bad.


You can do this. It only requires first taking the hand the Lord offers you, then taking those first steps. And keep stepping. Don't worry. Just enjoy the process. Sure it's hard, but the hard things are so worth it. They are.

Are you up for the Journey?

Find the video by clicking this link: Grace Ministry International

When Tradegy Hits, What Can We Do?

In the aftermath of the Connecticut elementary school shooting, I've heard this over and over.

What can be done? What are we to do? What can I do?

And even more questions, I know plague people's hearts.
I can't imagine that there's anyone who has heard this story that hasn't been touched in some way. I've even read of people in other countries who have set up memorials to express their condolences and support. Imagine, all the way across the world, this little elementary school has impacted people.
Over the course of this weekend, I've also seen much debate going on about gun control, securing schools, providing better mental health services....


Still, in all the debate, I keep coming across the four words... What can we do?

I'm not even going to pretend I have an answer to any of these questions. However, I do have a basic belief that nobody is helpless. Nobody should discount themselves as being able to bring about change.

We each have a road to take in our lives. Where that road goes, is up to us.
Our choices. Our choice to live for the betterment of others. Or, our choices to live for ourselves. Even worse, our choice to hurt or hinder others from making their own life journey.

What can be done? Simply put, choosing the be the best You, that you can be is a big start. We can't sit by helplessly, wringing our hands, wondering if the world will ever change.

The CHANGE starts with us.

Who Are You?
Everyone has a purpose in this world. If you don't believe that, then you've bought into the great lie that is determined to convince you that you don't matter. Well, I refute that lie. Everyone has a purpose. Find yours. It's there. I promise.

And do what you're meant to do to the best of your ability.

In Lord of the Rings, there's I scene I have to pause at every time I watch that movie. It's when Frodo and the fellowship are traveling through the dwarf halls and the weary hobbit sits beside Gandalf for a short, yet very powerful conversation:

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. 

We can't control the evil in this world, or the bad things that happen. We can't. We can only decide to make the best out of the time that's given us. To make the best out of our own lives. To choose to work for the greater good of this world, instead of letting our bad choices add to the turmoil, or to drag others down.

Julie Hedlund in her post - Guardians of Childhood,
Encouraged writers of the importance of their work. The need for us to write our best because:

"We who write for children are the ones who, with our words and our stories, provide children with hope, happiness, and empathy. When children face fear and hardship with us, it is cushioned by the covers of our books. We show children the world as beautiful and forgiving and glorious, even as it is sometimes cruel and treacherous. Each time a child sees him or herself in the pages of one of our books, we’ve touched the universal human spirit that lives inside of that child, and in all of us."

Wow.
So for me, writing my best words, finding ways to comfort with my stories, is how I can fight back against tragedy. Is this a big feat? No. We are each a small part of a whole. If we all strive to do our best, at that little thing we have a passion for, wouldn't the overall result be positive?

President Obama, in his attempt to bring comforting words to the hurting families said this:  "For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory."

I say attempt, because in light of what happened to those families, there are no words. However, I was encouraged by his challenge to "Make our country worthy of their memory."

 How? By doing our best, to do our best. It's that simple. Choose kindness. Choose love. And stand firm against what's wrong. Live your life to it's fullest. Don't be afraid. Don't let fear rule your steps. Find your passion and go after it with everything you have inside of you.

 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? 

Ps. 94:16

Who? Will You?

Oh, I do hope so. 

~~*~~

Book News:

The Print version of Illuminated in now available at Createspace and Amazon. 

I know not everyone has an e-reader, and there are still some die-hard book fans. YaY for You! 

I haven't received my own copies yet, but I hear the cover is fantastic. I can't wait to see for myself. Soon! I have my nose plastered to my front door window when I'm not working. lol. Waiting, waiting, waiting....

Happy Journeys!

Jackie