And it came to pass…

And it came to pass that a certain people heard the story about Jesus Christ and embraced the message of good news. They were so impressed with his life and teachings that they formed a new movement called Christianity. They organized into religious groups and built places called churches, trying to do what Jesus had instructed. They gathered for worship and study, to sing and pray, and went about doing good things. Sometimes they would eat together and meet to talk about religious matters and what the church needed to do to get more members. Some even told others about Jesus and invited them to become a part of their fellowship, but only a few responded. Others became doubters and turned their backs on religion in general and the church in particular.

As time passed, those involved in the church became puzzled and discouraged because fewer and fewer were interested in joining them. So, many of the church groups declined in numbers and activity, and others shut down completely. Still the faithful held on with hope. They wanted to shout “Hosanna!” (save us), like on that first Palm Sunday, but they didn’t know where to go to be heard. They read books on evangelism and tried several suggestions, but nothing seemed to work. So their numbers continued to decline. The faithful ones continued to hang on and waited to see would happen next.

Then one day, one of the faithful shared a question from the life manual which they called the Bible: “Is there any word from the Lord?” Those in charge began to listen, and decided to search more diligently in the life manual for an answer to that question. They began to apply what they discovered. “And it came to pass…”

How will your church finish the sentence?

Many Roads

It’s a long drive to Lafayette, Indiana – more than 12 hours. When we make that trip to visit family, we usually stop overnight on the way there, but attempt to drive straight through to home on the return trip. (It seems longer when you drive the entire way in one day!) The trip this summer was planned to coincide with my mother-in-law’s 97^th birthday with a family gathering to celebrate. It was a joyous occasion.

The week passed quickly and as we departed for home, I reflected upon the long road ahead and wondered how far we might be able to go that day. Good traveling weather and less traffic than anticipated provided incentives to keep on going. We stopped frequently for breaks and gas, and the miles tumbled on, with a GPS reminder of estimated time of arrival if we kept going. What motivation!

When we passed the “Welcome to Virginia” sign, a new surge of energy came for this driver! We weren’t that far from home! So we kept going, envisioning how comforting it would be to be home safely and to sleep in our own bed. We got home before dark without delays. We were thankful once again for a safe journey and the joy of being with family for another brief time.

Through this journey called life, we have many roads to travel. Sometimes looking at the big picture of what we seek to accomplish becomes overwhelming. It helps to recognize though, that this journey is best accomplished by focusing on “one mile at a time.” It's important to take rest stops along the way in order to reflect on where you are and what you have already accomplished. It also helps to stay focused on your destination. God helps us through faith for whatever roads lie ahead – one day or mile at a time.