Summer Road Trip ’08

Really Thirsty

Day Forty-two

Psalm 42:4

“My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be.”

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” That is a powerful and poetic statement that has inspired songs and sermons. It’s actually a tragic verse, for the author is describing how distant he feels from God. He’s remembering how things used to be when he walked closely with the Lord.

It’s easy to feel like the Psalmist. We drift away from a steady, constant fellowship with Jesus Christ and soon look back at the way it used to be. It doesn’t have to be like that.

“Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again…” (vs.5)

God is just a prayer and a praise away. We don’t have to wallow in distant feelings, we can turn and remember God’s kindness. We can put our hope in God and see our fellowship revived.

Stop allowing your feelings to dictate your reality. Put hope back in the drivers seat.

Enjoy the Journey,

Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08

Car Sick

Day Forty-one

Psalm 41:4

“Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

Sometimes along this journey we get sin-sick. It’s sad to realize that there are those out there who would gloat over our sickness. They love to see us fall or fail. They whisper and gossip and imagine the worst about us.

When you start to feel sick (even when you realize that it’s probably your fault), remember that God is still on your side. He will protect you if you trust in Him. He will nurse you back to spiritual health, if you will accept His help.

Enjoy the Journey,
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08

Stuck in the Mud – Or Not!

Day Forty

Psalm 40:2

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire...”

Have you ever been stuck in the mud? Usually the pit of despair is of our own making and choosing! The 911 for despair is to cry out to God and wait patiently for Him to do His work.

The result of patience is a solid road, a new song and a powerful influence on others (vs.2-3).

Psalm 40 is another slow down and enjoy passage. Read it twice and thank God that He is “thinking about you right now”!

Enjoy the Journey,

Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08

Exit Numbers

Day Thirty-nine

Psalm 39:4

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”

79b…77a…56b…the exit signs all are numbered as are the mileage markers along side the road. I wonder what our journey would be like if we could actually see the year markers clicking past.

The journey is numbered and the days are fleeting; “how brief my time on earth…”.

While we are blessed to be on this journey, we must watch our words (vs.1-3), curb our rebellious hearts (vs.7-11) and keep talking to our Guide (vs. 12-13).

We are simply guests on this journey “travelers passing through”. (vs.12)

Enjoy the Journey,

Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08
Deep Sorrow
Day Thirty-eight
Psalm 38:18

“But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.”

Some of the journey we travel is hurt-filled. The cause of the pain is our own doing; we’ve sinned and then suffer the consequences of those sinful decisions. The author of today’s Psalm is coming to grips with his sin and he knows that his suffering is of his own making.

Confession is not the same as asking forgiveness. To seek forgiveness is to put the responsibility on the other person. Confession and sorrow puts the responsibility on us! We confess (admit that what we have done is wrong) and we feel sorrow (genuine regret and grief) for the wrong. God freely grants forgiveness to those who trust in Him, however He also wants us to confess and regret what we have done. It is the process of confession that allows us to learn from and then leave behind those sins.

God knows what we are longing for; He hears our sighs of regret. (vs.9) He will not abandon us. He simply is waiting for us to trust in Him alone.

Enjoy the Journey,
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08

Are We There Yet?

Day Thirty-seven

Psalm 37:34

“Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel safely along his path.”

We like to speed. We love to travel down the road at breakneck pace, veering in and out of traffic. We hate it when God places someone or something in our path to slow us down.

Psalm thirty-seven is a “slow-down and think” passage. It warns us of hazardous practices and instructs us in safe traveling. Just don’t get in a hurry!

Read the passage showing and learn from the Creator of the journey.

Enjoy the Journey,

Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ’08
Whispering in Your Ear Day
Thirty-six Psalm 36:1
“Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts”

Talking about sin is a dark way to begin a passage of praise to God, yet the darkness gives greater significance to the glory of God’s unfailing love.

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens…” (vs.5)

Like any soft spoken word, sin is constantly whispering; it is there for those who choose wickedness to hear. Yes there are glaring and loud examples of temptation, but it is the whispers that trip most people.

I do not wish to travel down the road of the wicked. I choose to follow the unfailing love of God. I choose to find shelter in the wings of His truth. I choose to be guided by His light, not sin’s whispers.

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul