Not All Who Wander are Lost

 Wandering with a Purpose: Trusting the True GPS

After moving to a large metropolitan city, I’ve found the need to “get out of town” rising more often. There’s something about wide-open skies, mountains, and the stillness of nature that restores the soul—especially after days surrounded by pavement, buildings, and nonstop noise.

Earlier this year, I visited Oatman, Arizona—a small town with an Old West vibe, semi-wild burros wandering the streets, and rich history. Named after Olive Oatman, a girl who survived an Indian massacre in 1851, the town was settled by miners in 1915 and feels like a step back in time. I loved it and wanted to share it with friends, so we planned a day trip.

We were excited, but Las Vegas traffic had other plans. It took nearly an hour on the I-11 before we began to see desert sand, mountains, and the spindly silhouettes of Joshua trees. Our route took us past signs for Pearce Ferry, Dolan Springs, Chloride, and even a place called Santa Claus—before reaching Kingman, the largest town between Vegas and Oatman. There, we picked up historic Route 66, once the great American highway stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Though I had GPS, I wasn’t entirely confident—we were in the mountains, and signal drops are real. We started noticing signs of recent storms: standing water and dirt debris. Then, the pavement ended. The road ahead was rough, the homes sparse and weathered, and the horizon obscured. Uncertain, and encouraged by my passengers, I turned around. We reprogrammed the GPS and were rerouted through tiny towns where livestock outnumbered people. Eventually, we found ourselves on Route 68… headed somewhere.

The detour made me think of Moses. His journey from Egypt to the Promised Land had divine GPS—God’s Positioning System—guiding them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21). All they had to do was trust and follow. But when the path ahead looked uncertain or too hard, they turned around. Fear replaced faith, and a trip that should have taken weeks stretched into forty years.

As for us? Turns out, had we stayed the course down that dirt road, we would have made it to Oatman. The road was passable—just muddy from recent floods.

The lesson? When the road ahead seems unclear or uncomfortable, keep trusting your GPS—Jesus Christ. He never loses signal. When we take detours (and we all do), He gently invites us back. You may not reach your original destination, but you will arrive exactly where God can use you. Like the Israelites who finally entered the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership, you'll come to realize—you are home.

That day, we may not have made it to Oatman, but we made meaningful memories. We had deep conversations, laughed, sat in silence, and reflected. As J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Not all those who wander are lost.” We weren’t truly lost. We just didn’t know exactly where we were… until we did. Civilization reappeared, the Colorado River sparkled in the sun, and familiar comforts welcomed us. It wasn’t the place we set out to find—but it was exactly where we were supposed to be.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You alone direct our feet and know our path.
Thank You for the guidance You provide.
Forgive us when we do not trust You—
when we lean on our own understanding
and turn aside in our own wisdom.
We praise You for bringing us through doubts
and fears, keeping us safe in Your hand.

In Jesus’ holy and precious name, Amen.

God Winks

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God Winks and Open Doors

I call those little moments when something unexpected happens God Winks. It's like God saying, “Here—I did this for you.” Lately, I’ve experienced a series of God Winks that have deeply blessed my heart.

I’m nearly finished earning my Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. Honestly, I’m walking the tightrope between burnout and wondering if I can afford more school. On a whim, I decided to double up on a few classes so I could graduate sooner. My counselor made it happen, and now I’ll finish in early May instead of late June.

God Wink #1: If I hadn’t changed my schedule, I would still be in school—and unable to consider what came next.

A few weeks later, my church announced a short-term mission trip to South Africa. I’ve thought about going on missions before (one trip to Indonesia was canceled due to the pandemic). While I love to travel, South Africa wasn’t on my top-ten bucket list. Still, I was curious and wanted to attend an informational meeting—but both were scheduled during my time out of town visiting family and friends.

God Wink #2: My best friend/sister and her husband returned a day early from their trip, so I got home in time to attend the final meeting.

My late husband Jim and I never had children of our own, but we helped raise my nephews, fostered kids, and have lots of “adopted” children and grandchildren. I’ve always been involved in children’s ministry at church.

God Wink #3: At the meeting, we learned one of the mission sites would be an orphanage. I knew right then—I had to go.

I moved to Las Vegas to be closer to my elderly mother. She lives independently, but her health isn’t great. I wanted to be sure one of my siblings could be nearby while I was away. One brother would be working on the North Slope in Alaska. Another travels a lot. I wasn’t sure it would work out.

God Wink #4: My middle brother said, “Just go—we’ll figure it out.” Because of their love for me and our mom, my brothers are generously using their leave time and flying thousands of miles so I can go on this trip.

There were only two weeks between the informational meeting and the sign-up deadline. With just two days to spare—and after much prayer—I signed up.

Retirement and part-time work mean my budget is tight. The cost of the trip was more than I could manage comfortably. So, stepping out in faith and way outside my comfort zone, I asked for help.

God Wink #5: My friends and family responded with such generosity. I am now fully funded—airfare, room, board, everything. God is so good.

Some would call all this coincidence. I call it divine orchestration. I believe God has something special waiting in South Africa—for those we’ll serve, and for me too.

Please join me in prayer for this mission. For those already serving, for the children we’ll meet, and for our team as we prepare to go.

Acts 1:8 tells us we will be Jesus’ witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Like Isaiah, when God asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” I’m saying, “Here am I. Send me.”

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the opportunity to serve You beyond my comfort zone.
I praise You for calling me to the remotest parts of the earth
and for allowing me to see Your hand at work in my life.
Please bless each person on our team—keep us healthy and ready to serve.
Prepare the hearts of those in Gqeberha, and prepare our hearts with love, joy, and the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Tell the Story

I Love to Tell the Story

As many of you know, I’m currently working toward my Master’s degree in Christian Leadership. Recently in class, we were asked to reflect on how the Gospel speaks to believers—especially those of us who are more mature in our faith. Does the Gospel still move us? Do we take it for granted? Or is it still sweet every time we hear the old, old story?

I’m an avid reader, and I often reread books more than I pick up new ones. (By the way, if you have any great fiction recommendations, let me know!) But among all the books I return to, none draw me back more than the Gospels. I especially love the Gospel of John. In truth, I fell in love with Jesus through John’s words. Every time I revisit these books, they teach me something new.

I’ve learned how to love because of how deeply I am loved. I’ve learned how to forgive because of how fully I’ve been forgiven. I’m still learning to pray better—not out of obligation, but because talking with my best friend is essential to our relationship. Sometimes, I get lost in the awe of God's limitlessness, holiness, and majesty—and I forget that this same God is always right here with me, caring for me like the smallest atom in a vast universe. While I’m often too busy, Jesus never is.

Jesus didn’t have to come in the flesh. God could’ve started over after humanity’s first rebellion. But instead, His boundless love was poured out through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Jesus wept in sorrow (John 11:35). He rejoiced with friends (Luke 10:21–24). He sought quiet time with the Father (Mark 6:45–46). He showed righteous anger at injustice (John 2:14–16). He was patient with disciples who struggled to understand (Matt. 17:20).

He’s patient with me, too.

Jesus reminds me that no matter how many times I mess up, He is faithful to forgive. All four Gospels recount Peter’s denial—and yet, after the resurrection, Peter is forgiven in the most beautiful way (John 21:15–17). If Jesus could forgive His closest earthly friends, surely He forgives us as well.

So dear friends, I encourage you: read the Gospels often. Let them tell you the old, old story again. Find a Christian friend and remind each other of His never-ending love. Share with a pre-believing friend about the hope they can find in Jesus.

The Gospels contain it all—adventure, romance, family dynamics, friendship, betrayal, mystery, and redemption. Some of us need to return to our First Love. We get so focused on studying theology, memorizing verses, or searching for new truths that we forget to simply savor the sweetness of the Story.

The Gospel should never grow old. As the old hymn says:

I Love to Tell the Story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.

👉 Alan Jackson – I Love To Tell the Story (Live) on YouTube

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I praise You for the love You show.
Thank You for teaching me how to love.
That You forgive even me still blows me away.
Thank You for teaching me how to forgive.
Lord, I love to tell the story.
Please give me the courage and wisdom to share it with others.
Thank You for the writers You inspired to tell Your story.
We love You, Lord.

Amen.

The Perfect Church

Is Your Church Perfect?

Do you attend the perfect church?

The music is biblical. The preaching is on fire every week. Teaching is solid at every level, no matter where you are in your walk. The pastor is always available, ready to meet with you and answer your questions with wisdom. The pews are comfortable, the temperature just right. The children are perfectly behaved, and the youth group has never even heard of rebellion. And best of all—there are more than enough volunteers for every single project.

If that sounds like your church… I invite you to look closer.

No, go closer. Take a long, honest look. Is your church really perfect?

In Revelation, John writes about seven churches, each unique—and none of them perfect. So, where does your church fit?

• Maybe it’s like Ephesus, standing firm against false teachers, but losing sight of its first love.

• Or Smyrna, faithful through trial and persecution.

• Perhaps it’s like Pergamum, letting just a little compromise sneak in—a little bit won’t hurt, right?

• Or Thyatira, where compromise has grown into full acceptance.

• Could it be like Sardis, having the reputation of life but spiritually asleep?

• Maybe it resembles Laodicea, lukewarm, comfortably indifferent to truth and holiness.

• Or, prayerfully, your church is like Philadelphia—steadfast, true, enduring in the face of opposition.

Most churches are a mix of these. Many go through seasons, shifting from one to another over time. So what’s the most important thing we can do for our church?

Okay, that was a slow pitch, right over the plate:

Pray!

• Pray for your pastor—he is on the front lines.

• Pray for the leadership team, navigating with discernment.

• Pray for the person beside you in the pew, for their faith, their burdens, their walk with Christ.

One of my former churches had an amazing prayer chain. When someone had a need—or a praise—it took minutes, maybe hours, before people were already lifting them up before God. They didn’t have to wait days for a formal team. That’s what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like.

If you haven’t read Revelation 2–3 recently, go back and do it—it’s only 51 verses. This time, read it personally. We are the church. Where do you fit? Have you allowed false teachings or worldly compromise into your life?

Go ahead… I’ll wait.

And now I’ll ask again:

What’s the most important thing?

Prayer.

We need to pray for one another. We need to pray for ourselves. We need to repent, rejoice, praise, forgive, petition, thank, love, and adore our Holy and merciful God.

Don’t chase the “perfect church.” It doesn’t exist. But you can find a church with faithful, expository teaching and a desire to follow Jesus. Like the Bereans in Acts 17, search the Scriptures daily to test what you hear. Tradition, dogma, even doctrine—these aren’t always the same as truth. If you have questions, go to your church leadership and ask! A healthy church welcomes truth-seekers.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of prayer, for the invitation to come boldly before Your throne of grace.
Help us remember that there is only one Church, and You alone are its head.
Guide each person reading this to the place where You want them to serve.
Give us peace as we worship together, and eyes to see where we can help correct errors in our churches.
Grant us extra grace and discernment as we speak with the leaders You’ve appointed.
Jesus, we love You.

Amen.

Where to Turn

Where Do You Turn?

Where do you turn when your strength is failing?

• When the kids have gotten on your last nerve.

• When nothing seems to be going according to plan.

• When the doldrums hit you out of nowhere.

Where do you turn?

• Maybe your spouse.

• Maybe your best friend.

• Maybe your pastor or mentor.

• Maybe a parent, or your adult child.

Or… maybe you have no one to turn to.

Maybe it’s time to turn to The One—first.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
—Hebrews 4:16

Don’t stop at just one verse. Go read the whole chapter. It’s short—I’ll wait.

Done? What did you think?

Hebrews 4 talks a lot about rest. But what kind of rest? Chapter 3 sets the stage by reminding us of the Israelites’ unbelief. They didn’t trust that God could lead them into the Promised Land. Because of their mistrust, they wandered for 40 years, never entering His rest. Unbelief kept them from peace.

But Chapter 4 reminds us: we still have the opportunity to enter that rest. And not someday—today.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (v. 7b)

This rest is both spiritual and physical. In the original Greek, the phrase “enter into” implies physically stepping into a state. And “rest” means to cease from activity—to experience refreshment and freedom from anxiety. Doesn’t that sound like something we all need?

Maybe it’s not just about taking a nap (although more sleep never hurts). It’s about intentionally stepping away from the source of stress and stepping into God's peace.

You may be thinking, Sure. Easy for you to say. I’ll just snap my fingers and poof—instant calm.

But how do we actually enter that rest?

Hebrews 4:12–13 tells us:

“For the word of God is living and active… piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart… and all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Stay in God’s Word. Let it speak to you. Let Him search your heart.

He already knows your worries, your hurts, your fears, your failures. Nothing is hidden from Him. And He—Jesus—is our Great High Priest. We don’t need to go through anyone else. No priest, pastor, or mentor stands in that place. Just Jesus.

So draw near. Walk boldly to the throne of grace. Lay your burdens down—every worry, complaint, fear, and hidden ache. His mercy and grace are there, waiting for you.

He is your help in times of trouble.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I come before You humbly—yet confidently—
because of Jesus.
I lay my sorrows, burdens, guilt, and secret struggles
at the foot of the Cross and at Your throne of grace.

As I spend time in Your Word,
Help me understand what You want me to know.
Guide my steps. Speak to my soul.
Give me grace, mercy, and peace as only You can.

I love You, Lord Jesus.
In Your precious name I pray, Amen.

God's Vending Machine

Vending machines are a wonderful invention. In 1822, English publisher Richard Carlile built a machine that would dispense banned books and other works. In the early 1880s, coin-operated machines were invented by Percival Everitt, his machine gave patrons stationery supplies like envelopes and postcards. However, these were not the first vending machines. According to our friend Google, the first recorded example of a simple vending machine was invented by a Greek mathematician, Hero of Alexandria. His machine dispensed holy water in Egyptian temples.

Enough history. 

I have seen vending machines that dispense everything from candy and cookies to shoes and electronics. I have even seen cars in vending machines. The concept is simple. Put in some money, make a selection, and poof! out comes the requested item. 

How many of us treat prayer like God's vending machine? I only have to ask for something (my selection), use the phrase "in Jesus' name" (the money), and my selection will soon arrive. After all, Jesus did say that whatever we ask in His name, He would do it (John 14:14). Sometimes we do not even have to ask in His name. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He said nothing about praying in Jesus' name: "give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11: 2-4). Later in the same chapter in Luke, Jesus went on to say that if you ask for something, it will be given to you (Luke 11:9-10). 

So, no, there are no magic words or special formulas when we are petitioning God for something. 

God, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. He only wants the best for us; however, if what we are asking for is not in God's will, the answer will be no! Jesus prayed that He would not have to die for our sins - let this cup pass from Me - but He also prayed for His Father's will to be done, not His (fleshly) will (Matthew 26:39-42). 

Thank God, Praise His Holy Name, that prayer was answered "no."

If we let Him, God will give us more than we ever imagined possible. Sometimes, the blessing is the way we imagined, but often, it is nothing like we thought it would be. Trust Him!

Praying is talking to the God of the universe. It is personal communication with the Living God. When you pray, you never have to wonder if God hears you (Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16) or understands you (Romans 8:26). You do not need flowery words, you do not need to assume a specific position, and you do not even have to close your eyes. You just need to talk to Him, He wants to hear from you!

Heavenly Father

Thank You for letting us come before you to talk with you,

to pour out our hurts, triumphs, petitions, and worries.

As we come before you in humble praise, thanksgiving, and adoration, help us to remember

You are our Abba, Father; we are Your adopted children.

Help us also remember that You are the Holy God, 

the Creator and Sustainer of life.

Help us never to forget your Holiness and Awesomeness 

Forgive us when we reduce You to a vending machine.

We love you Jesus, Amen

When is Fear Sinful?

 Isn't fear a wonderful thing? Fear is what keeps us back from a ledge, from racing down a mountain at high speeds, or walking down a trail after smelling a bear. Fear can keep us safe from danger. 

Of course, we are commanded to fear God, twenty times in Proverbs alone it talks about fearing God or extolling the fear of the Lord. That fear is showing the proper reverence for God. Respect, awe, majesty. It is not the afraid fear. After all, the only thing we should be afraid of regarding God is not having our names written in the Book of Life. 

What about the fear that grips your stomach and will not let go. The fear that makes you break out in a cold sweat just thinking about what might happen. The fear that holds you back from God's best plan for your life. The built-in safety mechanism calls us to take flight, fight, or freeze. 

God knows everything about us, including our natural fear of the unknown. That is why He gave us the flight or fight instinct. But, I have come to realize that for me, that fear of the unknown is a form of pride. It is a sin that must be dealt with. Let me explain.

When I walk into a crowded room I am always a little fearful. If it is a crowded room of strangers, I am ready to flee or freeze, depending on the situation. I think Joshua was a bit like that at first. He was Moses' right-hand man. He had all authority under Moses, he was one of two people in his generation to step into the Promised Land. He was an adult when he was sent as a spy and then wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Joshua was at least 60 by my guess when Moses died and he was put in charge. He was expected to conquer the Promised Land, lead hundreds of thousands (or more) of people, and talk to God like Moses.  Whew! I would have been terrified! Too much responsibility! Joshua did not have to say a word though. God knew his heart and encouraged Joshua most sweetly. I imagine God putting His arm around Joshua's shoulders and pointing across the river. To paraphrase God told Joshua not to worry, to get ready because we are crossing the Jordan River together. I am giving you this land, He said, just as I promised Moses. God went on to describe the territory Joshua would conquer, with God's help. Then He gave this promise "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous." (Josh 1:5-6a). He goes on to tell Joshua, one of the mightiest men in the Bible to be strong and courageous four times in that single chapter. God does not repeat Himself without reason. Joshua needed to be reminded to be strong and courageous. 

I have come to realize that my fear is not in disobeying the Lord, it is in people. It is my pride - what if they don't like me, what if I am not smart enough, what if I  am not good enough, or articulate enough, what if I am not enough for this group or that person? My focus you see, was all on me! I was not even giving God a chance to work through me even though I said that was what I wanted. I was allowing my fear to dictate my actions. I was using being an introvert as an excuse not to be around people created by God, in His image. (Introverts usually like people, we just need time to recharge after being around them.) I need to be reminded to be strong and courageous. I promise I do not have those attributes in myself but, if I step aside, I can be strong and courageous with God's help. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NASB, 1995)

Lord, Heavenly Father

Forgive me for taking my eyes off of You, and putting them on myself.

You command me to be strong and courageous, 

I cannot do that without Your help. 

Please give me your strength and courage. 

Thank you for encouraging me when I am discouraged,

Thank you for being with me wherever I go. 

Your promise never to leave me or forsake me is humbling, 

yet it fills me with hope and joy.

I praise Your Holy Name and pray in Jesus' name

Amen