Sunday Feb 19th, 2012

The Journey is The Blessing

Something occured to me this weekend....something that I so often forget.

In busy everyday life...and with our own selfish desires...its so easy to overlook.

The journey.

Defined as: The act of traveling from one place to another. A passage from place to place.

How quick are we to FOCUS on what we want?

Even if we what we want is a good and noble thing...we tend to want what we want, when we want it.

Demanding that life treat us fairly and abide by our rules.

We are so determined to reach our destination that we so often forget to stop...

breath...

be still...and enjoy the journey along the way.

Friends...I want to share with you the blessing we received this weekend.

We have stories to tell, stories that provide wisdom about the journey of life. What more have we to give one another than our 'truth' about our human adventure as honestly and as openly as we know how?

Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.
- Joni Erickson Tada

On Monday we started looking at plane tickets for our trip to Virginia. As you can imagine flights were pretty expensive due to the fact that we were looking to travel in just 4 days and it was a holiday weekend. The cheapest flights we could find were around $700-900 each...and we needed 3 tickets! Each night we would check the rates again and as you could probably guess...the prices were increasing. We prayed each night asking God what we should do, that He would lead us and open doors for us. We were eager to buy tickets but knew we could not afford them at that price. Thursday afternoon we decided we would just make the drive to Va...afterall it was only a 10 hour drive. Before bed on Thursday we decided to check flights one final time. To our surprise we found 3 tickets for $230 each!!!! We immediately started to book them, filling out the forms online as quickly as we could in hope that this wasn't a scam! Cole decided the computer was taking too long and he didnt want to risk losing these flights at this price so he called the airline directly. The woman on the other end proceeded in telling us that it was impossible. That those tickets simply did not exist in her system and confirmed that the cheapest seats she had were several hundred dollars more. Cole got off the phone and we continued with the transaction online. Clinging to the end of our chairs...hoping it wasnt some fluke....to our surprise...the transaction went through. We both just looked at each other...neither of us saying a word....and knowing with all of our heart that God provided those tickets. Tears swelled up in my eyes and Cole just smiled and said to me, "God is so good....no doubt He is in control."

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Upon getting to Virginia we promptly received a phone call from a translator...a woman I have never met...eagerly awaiting to meet us and help us in any way she could. We picked up our rental car and headed straight to meet her. She greeted us with a warm embrace and offered to get to work for us right away. At this point we hadnt made any reservations or thought much about all that our trip would entail. But that was no problem....we were quickly offered a place to stay out in the country. A cozy, quiet cottage on a horse/cattle farm. All of our needs were met and taken care of during our stay. We pulled up to the cottage right around sunset and as we stared out into the horizon we took in all of God's beauty around us...feeling so blessed just to be alive...and to be on this journey. The mountains were majestic underneath the glow of the pink and orange sunset...all shouting "Look at us!!!! You are His creation and He has made this for your pleasure!!!"

We were greeted by a Pastor's son, Josh and his daughter, Ro Ro....again...complete stranger's. He warmly welcomed us and gave us a quick tour of where we would be staying. After talking with him for an hour or so we couldnt help thinking how awesome God is and how amazing it is the way He brings His children together.

Cole said to Josh, "We can't help being in awe of God's goodness...here we just show up on your doorstep and you give us the keys to a place on your property...God's grace and mercy are just unbelievable." Addie quickly made a new "bff" and they proceeded to be inseperable for the rest of the wknd. We went from complete strangers...to loving each other in a powerful way...saddened by having to leave by the end of the weekend.

The blessings continued on throughout the weekend.

Each moment became cherished in my heart and in my mind.

We dont know what the outcome will be...or where the road will lead us....

we dont even know where the destination is anymore.

God showed us this weekend....He loves us.

He cares for us, He has a way and He is in control.

We just have to believe and trust.

Follow in obedience.

He will provide.

Joy will be ours from having front row seats along this journey...

no matter where it leads!!

To Him be the Glory!