Transitions

Goin’ Home Hebrews 11:16

No Comments 14 July 2007

Here’s Laurel and me driving through Kansas to my folks

Here’s Laurel and me driving through Kansas to my folks

Scripture

…They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

Observation

What is it that opens the door of opportunity in life? What is it that keeps us moving forward into new discoveries of God’s hidden plans for the next step of our life?

The answer is found in the magnetism of heaven. If I am prepared to see all of life as transition and my only permanence in being with the Lord forever in heaven, then step by step my longing for that city will keep me moving from responsibility to responsibility until I get home.

It’s just like any human journey. Tomorrow I’m driving to my parents’ house in central Kansas. It will be a seven hour journey from Denver to their brick house under the oak trees of a wide street of a Midwestern town. I’m 45 years old.I left home 24 years ago. Why do I go such long distances to see the folks again? Because within me is the desire for home.

If I can take that little human experience of the homestretch and apply it to all of life I can understand. I’m on the way to Father’s house.Supper is waiting. The family is gathering.I’m on my way home.

That desire for home with the Lord is what makes him ever so proud of us. The Lord is like any parent. He loves it when the kids remember to call and when they come back to visit. Parents know their grown children live busy lives, so when there is time for homecoming that is a special gift. Like a parent sending gas money or cashing in frequent flyer miles, so the Lord gives us whatever we need to get home.

Application

Instead of seeing life as disjointed experiences we should see it as links of a chain being tugged homeward. Today’s opportunity and decision leads to tomorrow’s habitation.

Along my journey to my parents’ home tomorrow I’ll drive through some lonely stretches of wheat stubble. I’ll pass the time by counting mile markers and grain silos. All of those things will seem like ordinary things that I will wish away to get where I’m going.“ Are we there yet?”

But remove any segment of the road and I fall short of home. So every life event is part of the journey. The road makes me who I am and makes home just that much more special.

Prayer

Father, show me the next step, but keep that in perspective so that I may find my way home to you.

Transitions

Right-wise-ness Micah 6:5

No Comments 10 July 2007

Phil pointing out the way to Leslie’s parent’s house to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Phil pointing out the way to Leslie’s parent’s house to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Scripture

And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
when I, the Lord , did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness. Micah 6:5

Observation

How can we learn the right way to take in life?

All of life is a journey. Permanence is an illusion. At best we can re-arrange the furniture in the hotel room but there is always another day’s travel toward heaven. Putting us on the right road is only half of the struggle the Lord has with us. The other job he has to do is to get the road into us so that the road map becomes part of our heart as the ways of God are tattooed on the soul.

Journeys are designed by the Lord to teach us about him. A journey is a state of constant change and it is there that we best see clearly God who never changes. Throughout the Bible whenever the Lord wanted to introduce a leader to something new about himself he took him on a journey. Abraham was roused out of the comforts of Ur , young Daniel was kidnapped from the palace and sent back to the land of Abraham while even Jesus kept his disciples in a state of constant flux to make them more receptive to truth.

Of all the journeys Micah could have mentioned the one from Acacia Grove to Gilgal was probably not on the top of the postcard list. Acacia Grove was a black hole where the people had fallen into gross immorality. Gilgal was remembered with a wince as the place where 600,000 men were circumcised. Say no more. Between those events were their first battles and victories. It was on that road they finally took to heart that to God righteousness is never an idea to be talked about, it is always action to be taken. He carved the action of righteousness into their hearts so they would never forget no matter what road they took.

Application

There are seasons of life where the Lord makes the way demanding and clear like the journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal. Then there are other seasons on the other side of the Jordan where it seems that there are many roads and many options all of which seem good. It’s our faithful journey on the tough road that helps us navigate well when we move on to the next stage of the journey where many opportunities open up. When the road is in our heart we never need a map for we sense the right way to take.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the tough seasons of my life. Thank you for the times at Acacia Grove where you have been uncompromising with me. Thank you for the times like Gilgal when you asked for everything. Thank you too not just for the other side of the Jordan but for the road map in my heart that helps me to journey well when there seem to be so many options. Keep me close to your righteousness so that I am always wise to the ways that are right. Amen.

« Newer Entries

I'm Phil McCallum, a husband, father and most of all one of the people Jesus loves. I'm privileged to serve Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington as Senior Pastor where people love enough to believe "it's all about relationships." In 1982 I made a vow to read God's word daily and apply it to life. Each day I write out my reflections. Some days I post those on my blog. It's a little personal but it's my hope it will stir you to go deeper still. Learn how I do my devotions. These are my thoughts and not necessarily those of the ministry I serve. By the way check out the computer study Bible Glo. I highly recommend it.

© 2012 Deeper Still by phil mccallum. Powered by Wordpress.

Daily Edition Theme by WooThemes - Premium Wordpress Themes