Today’s page was rather routine, at least from my perspective.  I spent a good part of the work day in the office taking care of some paperwork and messages as well as continued work on the current writing project.  I had lunch with a couple friends and then returned to work to finish up the day with some small projects.  Once home, I put some pork chops on the pellet grill to slow cook and started going through our vacation photos.

My current writing project is a devotional focused on different things the Bible says about heaven, or our eternal home.  One of today’s topics I worked on was about heaven being a home of influence.  I can think of no greater influence than the dwelling place of God.  Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that is mixed in with a large amount of flour until it had influenced all of the dough.  God’s presence is not contained in any specific place or time, so His influence should be present everywhere we go.  I’m confident that God’s influence in heaven is perfect.  Is His influence on earth, in my life, just as perfect?  Jesus taught in His model prayer that we should pray that God’s kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.  That very prayer is a request to allow God to have complete influence in our life.  It is also a prayer that His presence would be the yeast in our life that spreads the kingdom of heaven everywhere we go.

I came back with nearly 2000 photos from vacation so it is taking quite some time to got through them and do some basic cropping and exposure adjustments.  There are so many of the vacation scenes that I thoroughly enjoy that it is difficult to narrow the quantity down to a group of favorites.  However, one of our favorite times was a third trip to Fort DeSoto Park.  We had already been there twice during the week and decided to go a third time to see if the dolphins would be out.  They say “third times a charm”, and in this case our third visit found the dolphins out playing more actively than the other times.  The water was teaming with small fish, so we suspect that the play of the dolphins had more to do with catching lunch than actual play.  🙂   

I pray that you and I would live with the routines of life in a way that allows the influence of the kingdom of heaven to be experienced.  I pray that we would seek the yeast of God’s Spirit to be present in our lives at all times.  I pray that we would stay with the things God has called us to do, even when we don’t immediately, or ever, see the results that we expect.

Page 158 was back to work following a great vacation.  With school being out for the summer, I was able to get right to my typical Monday morning task of spending time with God as we put together the next week’s prayer guide.  As I prayed about potential topics, the focus of standing firm seemed to be the direction I needed to go in my writing.  Sometimes we become that double-minded person that James writes about and we find ourselves tossed about from one wave of life to the next because we have not fully equipped our self with the armor of God and then stood firm after having done that.  Once the prayer guide was written, I took advantage of a quiet day in the building to put some more work in on the devotional journal book I am writing for a student conference this summer.  Once I got going with the rhythm of writing, I kept at it right through lunch until it was time to head home for the day.   I am always fascinated when there are people who are excited to use the resources God has entrusted me to write.

I finished up the day with a family trip to The Chief in Goshen for ice cream and then a stop a Sam’s Club for some groceries.  The Chief is a great little ice cream shop and every time I am there I am intrigued by the intersection that it is on.  Three of the corners of this intersection contain a parking lot next to a fitness center, a ball field and playground, and a cycling and fitness store.  The fourth corner is the ice cream shop.  Guess which corner has always had the most business every time I have been there!  Yep, ice cream wins every time!  

As I reflected on the day, I chose a photo of a bumblebee that I took yesterday to be the photo for today’s page.  This bee was hard at work collecting pollen and nectar and whatever else he was after from the blue baptisia plants that were blooming along the riverwalk.  Not only do I love watching how creation works together, I enjoy close-up photography where I can capture the intricate detail of things like this bee.  Many times we prefer to take the easy route — to choose the ice cream corner over the corners that require effort and self-discipline.  We know, or have a good idea, of things God wants us to do but they all require work so we look for an easier path.  Sometimes we play at the work God sets before us because we can’t see how it accomplishes a greater purpose — or often more accurately, we can’t see how it benefits us.  As one who likes to have all my ducks in a row . . . all my t’s crossed and i’s dotted before I begin a task, sometimes I just need to step in and get started because I know it is the work God has called me to.  The Bible says that to know the good I ought to do and not do it, for me that is sin.  I don’t think God is simply talking about good versus evil.  I believe He is referring to the good works He created in advance for us to do.  Once we know what those are, it is our responsibility to do them regardless of whether or not we’ve figured out how if fits into the bigger picture of the kingdom.

I pray that you and I would consistently spend time with God as we do the work that He sets before us.  I pray that we would be self-disciplined enough that we do our work with all our might rather than seeking an easy way out.  I pray that our efforts for the kingdom of God would all be done our of a faithful response to His will rather than a seeking of personal benefit.  I pray that we would trust God with the fuller picture that only He can see as we do the work He has placed before us.

Page 156 has been a long day.  As I write today’s page, it is tough to keep my mind clear and focused on the writing I believe God would have me share.  I knew it would be an early day as our flight home from vacation was scheduled at 7:50 AM, meaning we were supposed to be at the airport by 5:50 AM.  Susan continued to have seizures during the overnight hours so none of us got much sleep leading into the alarm going off at 4:15 AM.  After getting dressed and packed, I checked my email and found out our flight was in a 3 hour delay so we all tried to rest and nap for a couple additional hours before leaving the hotel.  Once at the airport, we checked our luggage and made it through security in a very efficient manner to begin the “hurry up and wait” process.  As we waited, they announced that the rescheduled flight would be delayed at least an additional half hour as they had a plane but no crew to fly it.  As that time passed, the next announcement was that they were still trying to get a crew in, but it didn’t look likely that we would fly to South Bend today.  We could wait and see what might happen or we could change our flights at no additional charge at the ticket counter — the ticket counter back outside of the security checkpoint.  We went out and waited in a long line to see what our options were and as we finally reached the front of the line, the airline personnel were saying that they had a confirmed crew for the South Bend flight to leave at 3:05 PM.  So, back through the security checkpoint we went.  This time they were neither efficient nor friendly but we made it through for another session of “hurry up and wait”.  While waiting, I heard people talking about food vouchers that the airline was giving because of the delay.  I went to the gate podium and sure enough, there were $8 vouchers at the desk for each passenger.  The three vouchers we received were enough that we each got a pretty decent meal and I only had to pay an additional 11 cents.  Shortly after eating we boarded the plane and eventually made our way to South Bend, arriving at 6 PM instead of the 10 AM that was scheduled.

Maybe that is too much information for the style of these daily pages, but the lessons within the day’s events are numerous.  In all of the process I only saw one individual have an attitude and “go off” on an airline employee — and that wasn’t even a passenger affected by the delay but someone wanting personal attention because they didn’t know where they needed to be and evidently couldn’t make sense of the informational signs.  While I am sure that many people were unhappy with the delays and were probably expressing their frustration to the airline in a variety of ways, it seemed most of the realized that the people serving them were not responsible for the problems we faced.  Our flight attendants, who were there at the airport all day waiting for the flight to go out like the rest of us, were very positive and cheerful in interacting with the passengers during boarding and throughout the flight.  While traveling, there is a bigger picture in play than simply the journey.  The journey is important, but not nearly as important as reaching the destination.  A rough journey is often more bearable when you know it is taking you home.  While I loved our vacation time as a family, and the destination we were at, there is still no place like home.

All of us are on a journey home.  As Christians, we have chosen a journey that leads us to an eternal home with God.  How we respond to the people around us, and to God, when our journey doesn’t go exactly as we had planned says a lot about our character and about our trust in God.  It is important to understand Who is in charge of our journey so we are not tempted to mistreat people who we think are responsible for our rough times when in reality, they are simply on the journey with us.  When our journey seems detoured or delayed, we must learn the patience required to examine the lessons God would have us learn as we wait.  In all of the ups and downs of life, it is of utmost importance to never lose sight that no matter how long it takes or how rugged the journey, it will all be worth it when we make it home!

 I pray that you and I would not lose sight of the eternal destination we are traveling to as we journey through life.  I pray that we would treat all people with kindness and respect, especially when we are having a rough time on our journey.  I pray that we would learn how to “complain” to God with the honesty that David expressed in the Psalms.  I pray that we would allow God’s Spirit within us to produce the patience we need with people and with situations on our journey.

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Page 155 began very early with the sounds of Susan having a seizure at 3 AM.  Once she came through it, we all went back to sleep and slept in a bit before starting the process of wrapping up this vacation.  It was kind of sad dropping off the camera lens I had rented as it was not only fun using it, but it meant vacation was coming to an end.  After that was done, we visited a county park where the boardwalk trail was as advertised.  A stop on the way back to the room at Crabby Bill’s for a seafood feast for lunch and then we headed for the beach to enjoy the view and the warm water.  Eventually we made our way back across the street to our hotel and the pool for a time before cleaning out the fridge and grilling the hamburgers and chicken that was left.  After supper it was back over to the beach to watch the final sunset of this vacation and now all that’s left is to write today’s page and finish packing up.

I love watching sunsets and am even beginning to enjoy watching a good sunrise as well.  Every time I see a sunset I think of the line from The Sound of Music, where the youngest child sings, “The sun has gone to bed and so must I.”  Each day on this earth has a beginning and an end as does every life on this earth.  As I think about Susan’s seizures on this vacation — a huge one to start the time here and two smaller ones in the past 24 hours — I begin to reflect, not on the hardship of life but on the uncertainty of life.  I begin to wonder.  If this were Susan’s last day, did I give her as much joy as she has given me?  Have I been available as a dad in the ways I should have?  If this were to be my last day, have I been faithful to my God and to my family?  All of us have a limited time on earth whether we leave by death or by the return of Christ.  Are we living with the knowledge that the sun is setting?  Sometimes from a distance it is difficult to tell for sure just how far it has set and how much longer until it disappears from the horizon, but from the time it rose in the morning it has been on a journey to set at the end of the day.  Jesus tells us that we ought to work while the day remains for a time is coming when the day is done and our work is over.  While I believe this applies to the physical work we do, I think the greater teaching is the spiritual work God has created in advance for us to do.  Our witness for Christ to our families and to the people around us must be done while it is still day.  Some day the sun will set on their life and/or our life and the opportunity to share about Christ will be over.

I pray that you and I would value the time God gives us with the families He has placed us in.  I pray that we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we consider His desire that we be faithful in all things.  I pray that we would understand the importance of making the moments count.  I pray that we would be ready for the return of Christ and be involved in helping others come to know Him.

Today’s page was a good balance of adventure and rest.  I finally made it up for another sunrise and it was a beautiful one to photograph.  As has been the case each morning I’ve made it up for the sunrise, a dolphin made its way up the intercoastal waterway during the sunrise.  After a relaxed morning of everyone getting up and around, we headed back to Fort DeSoto to see if the dolphins could be seen at the park today.  It ended up being a good day as we saw at least three different dolphin playing in the water as they enjoyed a meal of the small fish that were thick in the water.  After we photographed the dolphin, we stopped by another park where we took a very hot walk on a trail that was much less desirable than described.  After lunch we headed to the beach to enjoy the warm, clear water of the gulf.  While there Susan had another seizure but it was milder than the one early in the vacation so she rested a bit on the beach chair then we went back to the room where she could cool down and nap.  I eventually grilled hamburgers for supper then took our evening walk to get ice cream as the sun began to set.  When we arrived back to the hotel, a large thunderhead was visible beyond the building with frequent lightning flashing through the clouds.  

Many times we go through life enjoying the good times and living as if they will never end.  We enjoy the blessings that God showers upon us without ever considering that there will be times when we need pruning and/or discipline.  Sometimes in our walk with God, the storm clouds will gather simply as a reminder to be watchful.  Other times they gather with a warning to be prepared.  Not all of life’s storms are the same and they’re not all for the same purpose.  At times, the storm we see building isn’t even ours to deal with!  Scripture talks a little about the gathering storm clouds that will continually grow as the return of Jesus nears.  Jesus also assures us that those who belong to Him need not be anxious or fearful when they see the end approaching.  God wants us to be watchful and ready, but more importantly He wants us to encourage one another as we see that day coming.  We live during a time, as has every generation since the ascension of Jesus, that grow increasingly nearer to the return of Jesus than any time before.  Some become unnecessarily worried when the storm clouds of war and rumors of war begin to gather.  Some focus on a storm cloud of an anti-christ, and trying to figure out who that is.  Others look at a storm cloud of people calling good evil and evil good.  Still others recognize a storm cloud of those who gather to themselves teachers that reject the Word of God as having any application or authority in life.  Mankind has always worked hard to explain away scripture when it doesn’t suit their particular needs, desires, or way of life.  While all of these, and other storm clouds, are present and attention should be paid to them, the main emphasis they should cause in our life is that we would be more intentional about being ready — being faithful in representing Christ accurately in all we say and do.  

The cloud in the picture likely won’t affect the area that I am in.  It developed beyond where I am at and is headed away from me.  But we’ve been caught in two different downpours when we’ve been inland this week, so I’m watchful and I’m ready.  

I pray that you and I would pay attention to the storm clouds which gather around us, but that we would do so with confidence in whose we are not in fear of what they are.  I pray that we would take to heart the instruction of scripture to be faithful in gathering together with other believers to encourage one another.  I pray that we would understand the storm clouds of the end that the Bible talks about — not to cause us to be fearful, but to prepare us to be faithful.

Page 153 took us past buildings of all sizes and shapes, from very low cost to very expensive.  One community of very high-end island homes had a row of very well maintained church buildings of a variety of denominations.  Then near the end of the day we were at a beach where someone had left their version of a sand castle.  As I went through all 334 photos from the day, the sand castle one seemed to stand out as I thought about the various foundations that are built on.  Some of the structures we saw have been around for many years, having endured hurricanes and anything else that sought to bring them down.  The sand castle, on the other hand, will probably not be standing tomorrow after the tide rises and washes it all away.

Jesus taught that the foundation we choose to build on will indicate whether we are wise or foolish.  A foolish person pours all of their energy and resources into developing what is seen.  Their concern is about image, so everything gets spent in building a showplace without any thought to what it is being built on.  A wise person does whatever it takes to put a solid foundation in place before any work is done on that which will be visible.  While these truths apply in the construction industry, they are even more applicable to our spiritual walk — which is why Jesus told the story to begin with.  The comparison of real meaning is between the one who hears the words of Jesus and does what He says and the one who hears the same words and does nothing about them.  If we are not putting God’s Word into practice in our daily life, we are simply building a life on sand with no foundation to anchor to when the storms of life come.  When we put God’s Word  into practice in everything we do, we invest our time and energy into the foundation that cannot be shaken so that when the storms of life beat against us we remain steadfast because of our faith in Christ.

I pray that you and I would examine daily our faithfulness, not only to hearing God’s Word, but more importantly, to doing what it says.  I pray that we would be growing in faith — the assurance of things unseen.  I pray that the results of building upon a foundation of “unseen faith” would carry us through whatever storms we face.  I pray that we would help those who are building on sand without a foundation to discover the value of putting the Word of God into practice.