Stories From the Road – Part 5
By Pastor Ben

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”    (Psalm 121:1-2)

This Scripture is commonly known as “The Travelers Psalm.” Open your Bible and read the whole Psalm, paying special attention to the great number of promises God makes to you there.

We have come to the end of this devotional road trip, but let me assure you that your Guide will continue to travel with you always.

Incorporate His Word and the topics from this journey into your daily life. Find nourishment and rest in Him, praise Him for the blessing of eternal life, and do your best to proclaim His name throughout all of your life’s travels.

Remember, God’s direction is always best. He has your entire journey already worked out, and He assures us that all of it will work for the good of His people.

Best of all, Jesus and His promises will follow you wherever you go. Forgiveness frees, lives change, faith grows, and hope triumphs for those who will dwell in the presence of Jesus Christ.

May God Bless each and every one of you!    See you soon at church!

In His love and service,

Pastor Ben

Almost Home
By Pastor Ben

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior,
 the Lord Jesus Christ.”        (Philippians 3:20)

It’s music to your ears! Hearing “We’re almost home” after a long road trip. It’s comforting to know that you’ll soon be out of the car and back in your house, your bed, and your normal routine.

The apostle Paul took comfort in two homes — his earthly ministry and his heavenly mansion. He shared these thoughts with God’s people in Philippi:

“Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. . . . I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”                    (Philippians 1:20-24)

Paul longed to be with Christ, but he also loved his calling here on earth. He had a passion to advance the Gospel so that more people could call heaven home. He lived confidently, knowing that if Christ returned before he died, his life would continue in his Savior’s presence. And, if he died, he knew he would continue to live in that same presence in heaven.

For Paul and for us, eternal life doesn’t start when we die or when Christ returns. We’re living it now! By faith in Jesus, we are able to know God and experience the blessings of that relationship right now! Paul describes the promise of Scripture and our sure hope:

“He who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”                                (Philippians 1:6)

We can truly look forward to Christ’s triumphant return and His gift of Heaven as we travel through this life with God as our guide. His divine direction is always best, pointing us to the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. His way is the only way home.

Yes, the best of our travels is yet to come. We’re almost home. What a perfect ending, without an end!

PRAYER STARTER:
Dear Lord, point me in the direction of Jesus, my Savior. I’m relying on Your grace and presence as You lead me on this never-ending journey . . .

Traveling With Gratitude
By Pastor Ben

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.”        (1 Corinthians 1:4)

Bickering is par for the course when you’re traveling on a family vacation. Kids become impatient, crabby, and frustrated. Even adults can be overheard saying, “I can’t spend another minute in that car!” For many of us, fighting, bickering, and anger combine in a go-to response in trying situations. An attitude of gratitude? Not so much.

Do any of these sound familiar?

Loud sighs and obvious eye rolls wile waiting in line at the Post Office.
Complaints about your non-existent raise at work.
A “not my kid!” Reaction to a phone call from your child’s teacher.

Gratitude doesn’t come easy for us, and we’re not the only ones. Remember God’s chosen people, Israel? They grumbled when they found themselves just steps away from the blessings of the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1-4). The prodigal son in his early days? A reckless, greedy jerk (Luke 15:11-13). The 10 lepers healed by Jesus? Only 1 said thanks (Luke 17:11-19).
Even though our gratitude never matches the magnitude of our blessings, God keeps on giving. When we’re at our worst — spiteful, and thinking we deserve more than we’re getting — God is still there, pouring down His blessings like rain. He sent th ultimate blessing in His only Son, Jesus:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person . . . But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”        (Romans 5:6-8)

Though we are ungrateful, though we often display ugly attitudes, our Lord is always ready to forgive. In infinite love and mercy, Jesus covers us in His very own righteousness!
A million songs of praise would never be enough to express our gratitude for the gift of our Savior, but don’t let that stop you! Thank your Travel Guide, Jesus — in every moment. Thank Him for His grace, forgiveness, and salvation.

As the Holy Spirit cultivates an attitude of gratitude in your life, you’ll discover easily overlooked blessings. Then, your thanksgiving will begin to multiply. Your gratitude will flow steadily to your Savior and spill over into responses of thanksgiving to those around you.

PRAYER STARTER:
Holy Spirit, fill my heart with gratitude . . .

Sharing the Memories
By Pastor Ben

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”            (John 3:16)

I have so many great childhood memories of my family gathering together in our home to watch our 16mm home movies of our vacations. Ask young people today about 16mm film and they’ll laugh you out of the room because they have no idea what that is! Today’s technology makes it possible to share our stories at any time, anywhere. You can broadcast live around the globe and share your pictures within seconds of capturing the moment.

We can share God’s story with that same speed and unlimited audience. During this pandemic, people all across the area or even the world have been able to see our worship services proclaiming the message of God’s love and salvation through Jesus. Urgent prayer requests can fly through social media and phone trees reaching hundreds and thousands of people in minutes. Everyone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can see how Jesus’ story has changed your story.
The potential for sharing God’s Word through technology is almost unlimited, but it can’t replace having a face-to-face conversation with someone who is missing out on the grace of Jesus.

It’s easy to overlook these opportunities. We know Jesus. Prayer and worship are integral parts of our lives. But, for many, God’s story is just a fairy tale. The Good News Jesus brings is too good to be true for a lot of people. They’ve never heard!

A foster parent shared a story with me one time. She woke up one Sunday morning after she became a foster parent and began following her usual routine of church and Bible study. She took her foster child with her to church for the first time. When they sat down in the pew, the little boy pointed to the crucifix near the altar and asked, “Who is that guy on the wood?”

 That man is Jesus — Savior, Friend, Light of the World!

You may be surprised to know just how many people live their lives apart from Jesus Christ. It’s easy to think about the millions of people all over the world who don’t yet know Jesus. But, have you considered the people right in your own neighborhood, your children’s school, and your social circle? Or your mail carrier, your boss, or your running buddy? Do they know Jesus? Do you care enough to share God’s Word and God’s love with them?

PRAYER STARTER:
Forgive me, Jesus, when I neglect to share the Good News of Calvary’s Cross with those around me . . .

I’m Hungry!
By Pastor Ben

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”     (Psalm 145:15-16)

I love eating out — especially when I’m on the road. I especially gravitate toward local fare — whatever is popular  or famous in the local area — wherever that may be.
Even though you and I can find all types of restaurants on the road, that wasn’t the case in Jesus’ time. In particular, Jesus and His disciples once faced a crowd of over 5,000 people on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus had spent the day healing and teaching. It was getting late and the disciples were getting worried. This was a big crowd, it was almost supper time, and they were out in the middle of nowhere. So, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the people on their way to get something to eat.
Jesus gives what seems to be a nonchalant response:

    “You give them something to eat.”        (Matthew 14:16)

I would love to have seen their faces at that point. The disciples were shocked. They didn’t have the resources to feed a crowd that big. But Jesus already had it figured out. With the power of the Son of God, two fish and five loaves of bread would be plenty. He wasn’t concerned at all!
The 12 disciples, however, were a concern. They weren’t thinking like disciples of their Rabbi. They were blind to the power of Jesus. Had they already forgotten His miracles? Couldn’t they see who Jesus really was?

The disciples were quick to doubt Jesus. Their human minds couldn’t comprehend such a simple solution to such a big problem. But, that’s who Jesus is — human flesh, just like me and you, but also the Son of God on a mission to rescue — to save!

2 fish, 5 loaves of bread, 1 Savior offers physical nourishment to thousands.

3 nails, 2 pieces of wood, 1 Savior offers endless spiritual nourishment to a world dying of spiritual hunger.

    “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”                    (Matthew 5:6)

In a crowd of 5,000 or a party of one, Jesus’ awesome and miraculous powers are for all believers. There is no problem He can’t solve. There is no hurt too big for His comfort. There is no sinner He doesn’t love.

PRAYER STARTER:
Jesus, I praise You for Your endless nourishment . . .

Rest Areas
By Pastor Ben

“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”            (Genesis 2:3)

Seasoned travelers love the simplicity of rest areas. These stops don’t have the same distractions as regular exits. There is one bathroom, one vending machine, and one area for the dog to take a break.
Unfortunately, it seems like rest stops are hardly ever there when you need them. The same can often be said of us — we’re speeding down the highway of life with nowhere to stop for rest.

In today’s Bible verse, we see God creating the Sabbath day. In Hebrew, Sabbath means “day of rest.” God’s Old Testament people observed Saturday as the Sabbath day. Now, we celebrate the Sabbath primarily on Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.
God set aside the Sabbath for rest and worship, but when we move a million miles an hour through the rest of the week, one day of rest is simply not enough. Our Father knows us intimately — He created us. He knows our need for daily rest and meditation in His Word.

I know it’s difficult to stop and rest. Instead of pulling off the highway at a simple rest area, we turn toward the exit for the big city. So much to see, so many places to go. Distractions everywhere! One. Big. Headache!

Have you ever felt like this? A complicated commute means you have to leave home early and miss your morning devotions. You sit down to rest in the evening but feel compelled to keep checking your smartphone. Your thoughts and worries keep you up at night. Then, you spend the next day even more sleep-deprived and unfocused than before.

You can’t rest, on Sunday or any other day, until you entrust your cares to your Heavenly Father, finding your rest in Him:

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”        (Psalm 37:7)

In your stillness, the Lord will calm your fears and silence your distractions. He will give you wisdom and guidance. You’ll feel the grace and mercy of Jesus flowing into your life.
Take a break, relax, unplug from work, and tune out the world. Jesus has a rest stop waiting for you and it gets great reviews.

PRAYER STARTER:
Jesus, help me to see and seize the opportunities you give me for rest . . .

Stories From the Road: Part 4
By Pastor Ben

A long road trip gives you plenty of time to talk to your fellow passengers. You might indulge in surface chat, start a deep conversation, or share a few laughs.

On the other hand, when conversations get a little tense or heated, you can’t just open the car door and walk out & leave. Travel companions are basically stuck together. People shut down. There’s awkward silence and increasing frustration.

Is there someone you’re “stuck” with today? Are you traveling with ungodly co-workers, rude neighbors, or un-grateful children?

Take a few moments today, to consider what God is teaching you in this situation:

What does God want you to see?
Is He telling you to change your route, slow down, or speed on to your destination?
Could this be an opportunity for Christian witness or compassion?

Learning From Our Guide

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint hearted.”        (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Unplanned Stops
By Pastor Ben

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”    (Mark 6:34)

No road trip is complete without a few impromptu stops. “World’s Best Ice Cream” shop. Flat tire. Scenic overlook. Turtle family crossing the road. Motion sickness.
There are two kinds of unplanned travel stops: “good” and “not so good.” Usually, it’s easy to categorize each situation. But, sometimes, what you’d expect to see in the “not so good” column surprises you and turns into a positive pit stop.

The apostle Paul spent a lot of time traveling on the road and on the water. Paul’s journey as a servant for Christ started with a very unexpected stop along the road to Damascus. Jesus interrupted Paul’s trip to miraculously change his heart and his mission. Paul went from someone who persecuted Christ’s followers to someone who was persecuted for his faith in Christ. Here is a portion of Paul’s travel log:

“Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, . . . Through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”
                                 (2 Corinthians 11:25-27)

How would you like to travel with him? A flat tire doesn’t seem so bad now, does it? Even amidst his unexpected stops, plenty of them in the “not so good” category, Paul continuously encouraged God’s people by reminding them:

“We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”            (Romans 8:28)

You can plan on your Savior having plans for all of your unplanned situations. He may unexpectedly call on you to encourage a struggling co-worker. He may put an unplanned stop in your family life so that you’ll be able to serve your community. Or He may put  an unplanned stop (like a global pandemic) into your life in general so that you can spend the time with your family that you needed. He may be working good for you, even though you’re struggling to survive an illness.

Embrace the unplanned stops! Jesus Christ is present in every one of them, working for you and through you, for the glory of God.

PRAYER STARTER:
Gracious God, lead me. Your direction is always best. Show me where to stop and teach me to expect the unexpected . . .

From Oceans to Deserts
By Pastor Ben

“For your steadfast love is before  my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.”
                        (Psalm 26:3)

When traveling coast to coast across the United States, you can’t help but notice drastic changes in the landscape. The deserts of Nevada, the mountains of Colorado, the prairies of Kansas, the Appalachian Trail, the woodlands of Vermont, the tropical essence of Florida — all point to the creativity of our Creator.

As we move through life, we may also encounter drastic changes. We may reach the mountaintops of life with a strong, energized faith. Then, our faith may fall, feeling sea-level low and desert dry. Our faith may seem as consistent as the ocean’s tides or as desolate as a tumbleweed blowing across the prairie.

David, who encountered incredible highs and painful lows in his life of faith, is always raw, open, and honest in his psalms and prayers. Consider a few of his words:

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”    (Psalm 63:1)

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.”                                    (Psalm 13:3)

“Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.”   (Psalm 145:2)

If you’re struggling with what seems like a radically inconsistent faith, remember this: God’s love for you isn’t based on the strength of your faith. Your Heavenly Father sent Jesus to live a perfect life of faith for you, to show unwavering obedience to God, and to follow through on the promise to be your Savior.

Did He do this because you deserve it, because your faith earned it? No! He did it fully knowing that you’re a sinner!

So when you find your faith trapped in Death Valley, rest assured that the Holy Spirit created your faith. He promises to work through God’s Word, with God’s people, and during times of worship to strengthen your faith. Don’t focus on yourself, but focus on the unwavering, perfect love of Jesus Christ. You can find confidence knowing that you are forgiven and covered in His righteousness. Whether you’re reaching the summit or walking the flat land, your are always traveling with a Spirit-created, life-saving faith.

PRAYER STARTER:
Jesus, be near me on the mountaintops and in the valleys. Lead me to . . .

Amusement Parks
By Pastor Ben

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
                            (Proverbs 17:22)

I love Roller Coasters! Everyone has their favorites and their opinions of which one is best. But there is one, statistically speaking, (which I have not ridden) that has to reign supreme; and that is Kingda Ka at Six Flags in New Jersey. The ride launches passengers over 45 stories into the air and reaches a top speed of 128 mph. That has to be a thrill! Even if you don’t like roller coasters, amusement parks are a great destination. You’ll find bumper cars, Ferris wheels, water rides, carnival food and lots of other treats designed to bring joy & laughter to the whole family.

As God’s people were returning home to Israel after 70 years of exile in Babylon, they felt exhilaration, joy, giddiness, and every other happy emotion you can imagine. They laughed as their longed-for dreams came true. They knew the Lord had made their return possible and they were thankful. You can sense their excitement and gratitude in the words of the psalmist:

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”            (Psalm 126:1-3)

A dream! God had given His people so many blessings that they thought they were dreaming. No grumbling, no weeping. Joy! Laughter! It was like an amusement park vacation that never had to end!

How do you feel these days? As exuberant as God’s people returning to Jerusalem? Like a miserable schmuck stuck inside a whack-a-mole arcade game? Or like you’re riding the highs and lows of a roller coaster?
No matter what ride you’re on, your Savior promises to be with you in it all. In your joy, He rejoices with you and He hears your prayers of thanksgiving. When you’re hurting, He knows your pain and He cries with you. In times of uncertainty, (like in the middle of a global pandemic) He stands strong as your rock and fortress.

Because of Jesus, you can rejoice in the blessings of the Lord no matter what life throws at you. Sing out with all the people of God: “The Lord has done great things for us and we’re thankful!”

PRAYER STARTER:
God, You are so good to me! Teach me to see the blessings and feel the joy of Jesus in every situation . . .