Hey baby 2!!!!!!

Nevada falls - half dome next!!!

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-nine
“Look at that!”
Psalm 69:32

“The humble will see their God at work and be glad.”

Psalm 69 is depressing. Our Psalm writer is feeling overwhelmed in a sea of struggle, both from inside his heart and from outside where others are striking out at him. This is what I have often called a “dumping on God” Psalm. It’s OK to dump on God. He’s the One you should dump your cares and fears upon.
Things change after the dumping is over. Sure King David (the author) lays out all of his hurts and complaints to God, but then he makes a shift. He realizes that his feelings are not the reality; God’s work in his life is. It’s humbling to come to the truth that God is working in what we see as an out of control world.
Take time to focus on the final seven verses of the Psalm when your world seems out of control.

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-eight
“Family Time”
Psalm 68:6

“God places the lonely in families…”

I had to stop here; it’s talking about families! I wonder how many of us have felt lonely only to discover God has given us a ChurchForFamily! It’s not that much of a stretch. We are called “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
What an incredible blessing that God has taken us from our pasts and placed us into a church family were we can encourage and grow together. Together we get to sing, “Our God is a God who saves!” (vs.20).

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-seven
“Saving Power”
Psalm 67: 2

“May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.”

When I was a kid we used to pray a simply prayer: “God please save everyone!” What we meant was that we wanted everyone in the world to come to understand and accept God’s offering of forgiveness and eternal life. We didn’t want anyone to miss out on such a great offer.
As I grew older I began to realize that my prayer was incomplete. I was asking God to save everyone, but I was unwilling to tell anyone!
God has set up a plan. He wants you and me and His followers to share with the rest of the world that His saving power is available to them too. Our lives and our words are the vehicle God chooses to make His ways know throughout the earth.
Let’s get involved sharing God’s saving power among people everywhere.

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-six
“Tell It!”
Psalm 66:2

“Tell the world how glorious he is.”

We don’t talk about it enough. We do not share with enough people how great it is. We don’t shout enough. All that God does is awesome.
We seldom take enough time to just admire who God is and what He is doing. The writer of Psalm 66 travels back in time and talks about what God did for his people (vs.5). Then he looks around at the present and thanks God for what He is doing (Our lives are in your hands vs.9). It’s all overwhelming and impossible to say quiet after such thoughts! “
It’s time to be overwhelmed with God’s work in our lives!

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-five
“Global Blessing”
Psalm 65:9

“You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile.”

Frankly, I don’t care which side of the global warming issue you might fall, the truth is God has blessed the earth and we wouldn’t be living on it if it were not for His power and care for us. He is the One who sends the rain, and fertilizes the ground. He is the One who created the rivers and seeds and blesses the crops so that they grow. We do all we can do, but it is God who holds the ultimate control.
While we assume our human efforts control the earth; God holds the universe in His hand. Take time to look around you today and enjoy His creation. He made all of this for you! He blesses all of it for you!

Enjoy the Journey!
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-four
“Awe Struck”
Psalm 64:9

“Then everyone will stand in awe; proclaiming the mighty acts of God, realizing all the amazing things he does.”

We’ve talked about the mighty things God calls us to do; today we focus on that God does (often through us). When we obey God, when we trust Him enough to simply do the mighty things He calls us to do – others see and stand in awe.
When others won’t – we can because God can.

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-three
“Tailgating”
Psalm 63:8

“I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”

When I was a kid I lived in an area where thick fog would settle during the winter. The fog was so thick that the interstate highway would be shut down. During those mornings special highway patrol caravans would lead travelers through the fog; a few vehicles following closely behind a patrol car with its lights flashing. Everyone stayed as close to each other as safely possible.
Sometimes our road gets clouded and we can’t see what lies ahead. At such times it is assuring to know that we are following closely behind the One who knows the journey.
Keep your eyes on the Light of the World and you will be secure during foggy times!

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-two
“Centered”
Psalm 62:10

“And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.”

As we travel through the journey it’s important that we stay centered in the lane. There are a lot of distractions. Wealth can be a distraction; so can poverty. Ambition can be a distraction; so can ambivalence or indecision.
The key is to stay centered, centered on God’s plainly spoken Word (vs.11-12).

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty-one
“I’m in the Will!”
Psalm 61:5

“You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.”

What a surprise to learn that you are in the will! Someone cared one cared enough to leave behind something precious for the one they loved – you! Here’s how the Apostle Peter made the announcement: "and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay." 1 Peter 1:4
When Jesus Christ died (and rose again) He left something for us in heaven – eternal life and all the benefits of that life. The Bible is filled with descriptions of what God has in store for you in heaven. The Bible is God’s Will – read it and learn how much you are in His Will!

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Sixty
“Mighty Men (and Women)”
Psalm 60:12

“With God’s help we will do mighty things,”

It’s a mighty thing to get up in the morning and face the day when you would rather day depressed and in bed.
It’s a mighty thing to speak kindly to someone who has just been rude or cruel toward you.
It’s a mighty thing to offer encouragement and help to someone who you would rather ignore.
It’s a mighty thing to take a stand when everyone else is belittling your Christian walk.
Every day you are called to do mighty things that may seem insignificant, yet in God’s plan they are huge.
What mighty thing will God ask of you today? With God’s help you will do it!

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-nine
“Captured”
Psalm 59:12

“let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies…”

Our section of the journey today is a continuation of yesterday’s passage. God is just and most often His justice allows the prideful and arrogant to simply be caught in their own injustice.

Keep your focus on God’s unfailing love, not on those who seek to do you harm. He is the One you can take refuge in; He is the One who offers you a safe place during your day of distress.

It all seems a little melodramatic doesn’t it? It’s not! When we are going through tough times and we feel like others are really out to destroy our character and convictions – that’s not dramatic, that’s distress.

When faced with a horrendous day – remember the end of today’s song: “O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge.” (vs.17)

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-eight
“Reward”
Psalm 58:11
“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;”

I think that the Apostle Paul (the author of Ephesians in the New Testament) wrote, “Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.” (Ephesians 6:8) he must have had Psalm 58 in mind.
It’s easy to look around us and see all the evil and evil doers and wonder how they seem to get away with so much…so much…well, evil. We cry for justice and forget that God’s justice is always fair and on time (His time).
What we need to assure ourselves is Psalm 58:11; God will justly reward us for our good – in spite of those who do evil around us.

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-seven
“Wide-eyed Faith
Psalm 57:7

“My heart is confident in you, O God.”

People sometimes speak of blind faith, the kind of trust that is given without reason or experience. Never forget that your faith in God is wide-eyed faith. You and I place our trust in God because He has proved again and again that He can be trusted for everything. Our hearts, minds and souls can be confident in God.
I can think of no better reason to sing than knowing God can always be trusted!

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-six
“Promises, Promises”
Psalm 56:12

“I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.”

No one likes people who make promises and than fail to follow through on their word. We don’t trust people who continually renege on their commitments. But wait, how often have we told God we would do something and then ignored our promise (vow)? We take God’s forgiveness for granted. We forget that God’s forgiveness is not necessarily the same as God’s blessing. God expects us to be true to our words to Him.
The thing about promises to God is that such promises are never one-sided. Our vows to God always require God’s help to fulfill. We need His strength and mercy. God is honored when we keep our words to Him and, at the same time, always remember that He is the One who gives us the ability to keep our promises.

Enjoy the Journey!
Paul

Summer Road Trip '08
Day Fifty-Five
Weight of the World
Psalm 55:22

Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Some days feel heavy. The worries and cares of the world seem to have landed on my shoulders. That is not the way God intended us to live. God never gives us more than we can handle; if the weight is too much it is because we are carrying more than God desires. His grace is always enough.

God's desire is that we give our burdens to Him. He will take care of us.

Psalm 55:22 has a parallel in the New Testament: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip '08
Day Fifty-four
Stayin' Alive
Psalm 54:4

"But God is my helper. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive!"

There are many things that I take for granted every day; probably the most obvious is that I am alive. It is a blessing that we are not listed in today's obituary column. The Apostle Paul said, "To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord" so we know that the alternative to life on earth is an even better life in eternity (at least for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ). My point here is that while we are on this journey it is a blessing to be alive. Other people's plans for us are not so gracious as the Lord's. There are some who wish us harm.
Today I'm just thankful I am alive!

Enjoy the Journey!
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-three
“Fools Paradise”
Psalm 53:1


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

Practical Atheism, that’s the term for anyone who acts as if God doesn’t exist. Sure, ask us if we believe there is a God and we will be quick to respond, yes! But watch our lives. How do we live out that “yes!” Do we really live as if there is a God? Do we act as if He is watching? Do we respond as if we really believe He loves us?

God looks down from heaven to see if there is anyone with real understanding, who really seeks after Him. That’s how we show that we know – there is a God!

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-two
“Telling ‘em off!”
Psalm 52:1
“You call yourself a hero, do you?””

There are times when honking the horn is appropriate. Another traveler on the journey starts behaving erratically and endangers the rest of us. We hate to speak up for fear that we will appear judgmental or overly “religious”, yet neither is true – we are being honest, truthful.

Like the author of Psalm 52, there are times when we have to stand up to those who are speaking to hurt others. The warning (during those times when we must speak up) is to trust in God’s unfailing love. Don’t trust in your own ability to strike out at the other person. Don’t gloat over the other person’s “fall”; instead trust in God’s justice and mercies. Stand for what is godly and right – just don’t play God.

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Fifty-one
The Right Sacrifice
Psalm 51:17

“The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Sometimes nothing will do but brokenness. That’s not a word or thought we hear often, or wish to think much about. We don’t like to think of ourselves as broken, yet the brokenness referred to in Psalm 51 is a brokenness over our wrongs, our sins.

God is not interested in all the things we can do for Him. He’s concerned with our attitude and heart toward Him, especially when we have wronged Him and others. When we come to God with a spirit that says “I’m not fighting you any more” and an attitude that says ‘I repent; I am turning away from the wrong that I am doing” – that’s what God desires.

Enjoy the Journey,
Paul