In about an hour, I will be heading to the airport to leave on my 9 day trip to Ireland. What excitement! I spent most of yesterday evening packing, though I had done a good bit of packing all throughout the week. I was able to get everything in one bag (which is all I am allowed to take), and I am hoping it does not exceed the 50 lb. limit. My carry-on bag/purse consists of 2 books, my little Bible , my journal, a pen, some necessary toiletries (in case my luggage is lost), a change of clothes, a neck pillow, a jacket, my iPod, money, and my camera. I know I'll take plenty of pictures!
I plan to journal the events of each day, and then blog each of those journal entries in 9 consecutive posts when I return (rather than try to fit everything into one gigantic post). Please pray for safe travels for all in our group, as many of us are arriving in Dublin from different parts of the U.S. To my family and friends...I will miss all of you and will be so glad to see you when I come home!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Through the Wilderness
"Thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee through the wilderness"
Deuteronomy 8:2
The importance and comfort of these words is even greater if we consider them in a spiritual sense. They are addressed to all who are passing through the wilderness of this world to a heavenly Canaan. These travelers, by faith in the promises and power of God, are seeking an eternal rest in that kingdom which cannot be shaken. The hope of that glorious inheritance inspires us with courage and zeal to move forward. When our eyes are fixed upon the Lord, we are more than conquerors over all that may stand in our path. But we are not there yet. We still feel the weakness and failings of our sinful nature. Because of our own ignorance and unbelief, we often fail to understand the Lord's dealings with us, and we are all too ready to complain. If we knew everything from God's perspective, we would rejoice. For us, however, there is a time coming when our spiritual warfare will be finished, our perspective enlarged, and our understanding increased. The we will look back upon the experiences through which the Lord led us and be overwhelmed by adoration and love for Him! We will then see and acknowledge that mercy and goodness directed every step. We shall see that what we once mistakenly called afflictions and misfortune were in reality blessings without which we could not have grown in faith. Nothing happened to us without a reason. No problem came upon us sooner, pressed on us more heavily, or continued longer than our situation required. God, in divine grace and wisdom, used our many afflictions, each as needed, that we might ultimately possess an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, prepared by the Lord for His people.
John Newton, from his autobiography Out of the Depths
Deuteronomy 8:2
The importance and comfort of these words is even greater if we consider them in a spiritual sense. They are addressed to all who are passing through the wilderness of this world to a heavenly Canaan. These travelers, by faith in the promises and power of God, are seeking an eternal rest in that kingdom which cannot be shaken. The hope of that glorious inheritance inspires us with courage and zeal to move forward. When our eyes are fixed upon the Lord, we are more than conquerors over all that may stand in our path. But we are not there yet. We still feel the weakness and failings of our sinful nature. Because of our own ignorance and unbelief, we often fail to understand the Lord's dealings with us, and we are all too ready to complain. If we knew everything from God's perspective, we would rejoice. For us, however, there is a time coming when our spiritual warfare will be finished, our perspective enlarged, and our understanding increased. The we will look back upon the experiences through which the Lord led us and be overwhelmed by adoration and love for Him! We will then see and acknowledge that mercy and goodness directed every step. We shall see that what we once mistakenly called afflictions and misfortune were in reality blessings without which we could not have grown in faith. Nothing happened to us without a reason. No problem came upon us sooner, pressed on us more heavily, or continued longer than our situation required. God, in divine grace and wisdom, used our many afflictions, each as needed, that we might ultimately possess an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, prepared by the Lord for His people.
John Newton, from his autobiography Out of the Depths
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