Summer Road Trip ’08
Fool’s Paradise
Day Fourteen: Psalm 14:1

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”

Of course it’s foolish to deny the Creator of the journey, and the road, and the world in which it all takes place. Only a fool would say there is no God!

Have you ever acted foolishly?

We might not say “There is no God”, but when was the last time you acted without acknowledging God? When was the last time you worried as if there were no God? When was the last time you ignored God?

Which is worse, denying there is a God or simply ignoring Him?

All along life’s journey there are signs that point to who God is and what He wants for us. Our responsibility is to read the signs and follow their direction. Only the foolish ignore the signs.

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Driving in the Dark
Day Thirteen: Psalm 13:3

“Restore the light to my eyes…”

When I was younger we played a dangerous game. We would drive down a deserted road with no street lights and no headlights. Though it only lasted for a second or two, it was still an unsettling experience; the movement of the car and total darkness at the same time sent chills down my spine. We were driving in the dark.

I don’t play that game any more, but I have experienced similar feelings. There are times when I look, but I don’t see. There are moments when I can’t make out which way to turn, the road ahead is unclear. My prayer at such times is much like the Psalmist’s, “Lord, let me see…restore the light to my eyes.”

At such times I much trust in God’s unfailing love.

“But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.” (vs.5)

What is most important about the above verse is that the Psalmist is rejoicing BEFORE his rescue. His trust is so complete in God’s future rescue that he begins the celebration in advance.

Lord, I can’t see now, but I trust in your unfailing love. Since I’m trusting I can celebrate Your coming answer to my prayer.

Such darkness is not our enemy when it drives us to trust completely in God.

Enjoy the Journey
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Twelve: Psalm 12:6
Trusting the Map

"The LORD’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace…"

Sometimes its hard to trust the MAP. God has given us His Word, the Bible, as our guide for the journey we call life. Over and over again God promises us that if we follow His direction our journey will be safe and the destination secure. Why is it that we mistrust God’s guidance? Why do we doubt God’s promises?

The best answer to those questions is that we see greater value in trusting our own instincts and premonitions than we do in God’s experience and omniscience (He knows EVERYTHING!).

Our thoughts and agendas are always tainted by sin and selfishness; God’s are always pure, with our best at heart.

When in doubt over the directions refer to Psalm 12:6.

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eleven: Psalm 11:2
Shooting from the Shadows

“They shoot from the shadows at those who do right…” ”

I had intended to take a different off-ramp on today’s journey, but got sidetracked at the end of verse two, “shooting from the shadows”.

I’ve been reminded of the many times when saboteurs set out to either distract or destroy God’s work in my life. We usually think about the frontal attacks of Satan and his wicked allies, but most often it’s the arrows shot from the shadows that inflict the most damage.

These are the travelers who lurk in the shadows of “not quite honest” and “not really that bad”. They live in the shadows of right and wrong, and rest in the shade of unethical. They are unwilling to come out into the sunlight of God’s righteousness. On the other hand they refuse to admit their wickedness. They like the shadows of “not that bad” and “just a little dishonest”.

I do not wish to live in the shadows!

Verse five reminds every shadow dweller that God still sees and examines – both the righteous and the wicked.

I want to trust in God’s protection, not the shadows. (vs.1)

I want to live in such a way that I see and recognize God’s face. (vs.7)

And I’m asking God to protect me from the “shots from the shadows”.

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08 Day Ten: Psalm 10:1 Distant Traveler “O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?”

Psalm ten is depressing. Let’s just make the point and go on. Sometimes it appears that the Psalmist is having a bad day (a bad life) and everything, everyone is against him.

I’ve wondered in the past why such passages were in the Bible at all. Shouldn’t the Bible be all about encouragement and uplifting ideals? Verses like “they seem to think that God is dead” (vs.4) don’t seem to help much when we’re feeling distant from God.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Psalm 10’s of the Bible are there to show us that we’re not the only ones who feel distant, discouraged or depressed. It’s not a sin to feel any of those things. Sometimes life is hard and things really are going against us. But, and this is an important but…

But in spite of the appearances, in spite of the discouragements, in spite of the set backs – God is still on our side and He has our best interests at heart.

The LORD is king forever and ever!

The godless nations will vanish from the land.

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.

Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,

so mere people can no longer terrify them. (vs.16-18)

This part of the journey will not last forever and when we look back at the road we have traveled we will have learned valuable lessons and enjoy the blessings of the present in even greater ways.

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Nine: Psalm 9:14
High Rent District

“But you do see…”

Psalm nine is an ugly description of even uglier people. Words such as proud, wicked, vicious, braggers, lurkers, murderers, crouching, none of these words seem harsh enough or descriptive enough for such evil people. We don’t have to go far down the road before we come into contact with people such as those portrayed in the Psalm.

On top of their wickedness is their brazenness, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!” (vs.6) “God isn’t watching! He will never notice!” (vs.11).

The Psalmist's prayer of judgment on such people is appropriate: “Punish the wicked, O God!”

Lest we begin to believe what ugly people believe we must remind ourselves of the truth of verse fourteen: “But you do see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them.”

God sees. God knows. When dealing with the ugly people on your journey never forget that God is always God and those who deny Him will meet their fate soon enough.

As for you and me, “Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.”

Enjoying the Journey!
Pastor Paul