Tag Archives: travel

Dec10

DAY 344

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By faith the seed dies, so the flower can bloom. Each new bud is the realization of the seed of faith. (Picture by Lisa R.)

By faith the seed dies, so the flower can bloom. Each new bud is the realization of the seed of faith.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today just a little reminder that life does not always follow the path we think it will. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Many things have NOT gone the way I have planned. Had my life gone the way I previously planned, right now I would be be a ballerina, firefighting, doctor, and ice cream truck driver 😉 . Recently certain situations in my life have diverted from their projected course. My first reactions were panic and fear. Fear of the unknown. Panicking about whether I would be able to do what was required on this new and unplanned journey. Here’s what I have learned: When the path verges in a direction that you did not chart, let the Maker of your life’s compass be the guide. I grumbled and complained because I disliked the new direction, but  now as I sit in the midst of it, I clearly see God’s hands and guidance. Do I want the change to last forever? No, not really. Am I going to learn all that needs to be learned from this moment? ABSOLUTELY! Life is all about the journey, and the growth both of which can and will be hard at times. Learn from the good and the bad. Embrace the change even when it hurts.  Embrace and grow.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43: 19).

So what am I thankful for today? New (albeit a little scary) GROWTH.

Nov12

DAY 316

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Following bad advice is like driving into the eye of the storm. (Picture by Lisa R.)

Following bad advice is like driving into the eye of the storm.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Have you ever gotten bad advice? I did recently. On one of my excursions outside of my known realm of travel. I employed the use of my GPS to help me find my location. The voice told me to keep right at the fork. So I did. Then it told me to merge. So I did.  Then it told me to keep left at the fork. (Yup you guessed it) I did. Then it told me to merge on to the turnpike, so I did. While traveling on the turnpike, which consists of five lanes of traffic all going in the SAME direction, my GPS gave further instruction. She calmly said. “In 100 feet make the next legal u-turn.” WHAT!!!!???? I did NOT do it. What’s my point? I trust my GPS it has never lead in the wrong direction, expect for a few days ago when she tried to get me killed on the highway. Today I watched as someone I know received horrible advice. The kind that could get you in trouble. After the advice giver walked away, I asked the person, “Are you really going to do that?” To which they replied, “Yes.” So then I asked, “Do you honestly think that would be a good thing to do?” To which they replied, “Not really, but (blank) has always given me good advice.” ??? My GPS had never steered me wrong before, but I knew making a u-turn on a highway was not a good life decision. Here’s some advice if you know it’s wrong, don’t do it. On this journey those we trust can sometimes give us bad advice. Just to reiterate If you know it’s wrong…DON’T do it, the verse below will tell you why.

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

So what am I thankful for today? Knowing when to NOT take advice.

Nov7

DAY 311

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The world is bigger than your backyard.

The world is bigger than your backyard.

Today I had an interesting discussion about travel. Not the fun of it, but the education of it. For Americans on a whole, the whole world revolves, well, around us. Living here we experience so many different cultures, and have so many influences that often we forget America is not the world. Traveling shows the vastness of the world, and the differences between cultures. How something that so normal in American can be so abnormal somewhere else and vice versa. When I visited Korea a couple years ago, I was shell-shocked to see men walking in the streets holding hand, and laughing. Men being intimate and close is a very normal part of their culture. If that happened here people would immediately assume they were gay. When I came back home I found it a little sad that men here did not enjoy that same kind of friendship. What’s my point? We get so comfortable with our own point of view we forget that there are others out there. America is not the world, neither is China, or India or any other place on its own. The world is vast, filled with lessons to learn. That’s how God created it. He intended for us to explore, learn, and grow. Step outside of your box, realize the world is bigger than your backyard.

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

So what am I thankful for today? A boarder perspective.

Oct28

DAY 301

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Choose a lane in life and in driving...

Choose a lane in life and in driving…

Today as I was driving to Fort Lauderdale I took Flamingo Road to get to the I-595 exit. As I pull onto the side road that leads to the ramp, I notice the lady in front of me was driving in the center of the white lines (nope not an exaggeration). She is LITERALLY in the center of my lane and the lane to the right of me. She moves completely into my lane once she realizes she is about to hit the car in front of her. Then she does the most hilarious thing I have ever seen. She moves her car into the middle of my lane and the lane to the left of me (that exits to the 595 ramp). Not messing with you she straddles the white lines again, but in the opposite lane! I think to myself, “Okay maybe it’s her thing…straddling the line.” As she continues she realizes that she is about to enter the 595 ramp, which I guess was not part of her plan, because she STOPS her car (I mean a sudden complete STOP)! I come to a screeching halt so as not to ram my SUV into her back. Then Like nothing happens she sways to right and continues on her merry way, never acknowledging the mayhem she had caused the drivers behind, beside, and in front of her. The moral of the story: We can’t straddle the line. We have to make a choice, we have to commit to a “lane” in life, just like in driving.  On this journey we will be tempted to stay in the “in between”. In between here and there, this and that. Often times forgetting that our choice or lack therefore affects those around us. Today I couldn’t move to the lane I needed to be in because the driver in front of me wouldn’t choose a lane. As a sat writing this post I was convicted, because in my heart and in my life I know there are lines I am straddling, and because of my indecision people around me can’t move into the “lane” they need to be in. It’s time for me (and you) to choose a lane.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day who you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15).

So what am I thankful for today? Finding my lane, and driving in it.

Jun17

DAY 168

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Thailand missions group. In Udon Thani Thailand.

Thailand missions group. In Udon Thani Thailand.

Yay! My brother is home from Thailand. It is now 6:20 pm and he is out like a light (like a light when the bulb’s blown). I am fairly certain that he has been asleep since around one pm. His body is telling him that it is night time. This morning when he woke up, I literally had to beg him to not go to work. Traveling to Korea has taught me that the time difference catches up with you, not so much there as much as when you return. You need to prepare yourself to return to “reality”. He guaranteed me that’s he’d be fine, but here it is 6:20 and he’s been asleep for almost eight hours. What’s my point? Mountain top experiences usually require that we jump in feet first and live by faith. Living by faith says we are living by God’s rules and not man’s. For the past ten days my brother was free to exercise his faith, free to say and do things that brought him joy and peace. He lived by God’s rules not by man’s, he didn’t need to prepare. Why? God had prepared the path for him. The “reality’ that he has come back to however, requires preparation. In the “real” world we often times aren’t living by God’s rules (although our goal in “reality” is to live out God’s standards). We are subject to the rules of man and societal regulations. Had my brother gone to work today, I have no doubt that at around noon his boss would have found him at his desk drooling (bosses frown on sleeping employees…yup, surprised me too). He needed a day of preparation, a day to recoup. Living life requires faith and preparation. Make plans and prepare for life, but have faith and trust God for the moments His diverges your plans. Yup, this life is an oxymoron. 🙂

“Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house” (Proverbs 24:27).

So what am I thankful for today? The missionary is HOME!!!

Jun8

DAY 159

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Storms ahead? Even then don't drive in fear. (Picture by Lisa R.)

Storms ahead? Even then don’t drive in fear.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Have you ever judged someone based on your own fears? Judge is the wrong word for the point I am trying to make. May be…controlled? My brother left for Thailand on Thursday, it is now Saturday and we have had no communication. I know in my head that he is fine, but I am struggling to trust God. Why? I am giving into my fears. My brother and I have gone through a lot to be who we are today. God has brought us through fires, rain storms and hurricanes (I live in Florida, hence weather analogy). I have seen the changes that have taken place in my brother’s life. I know they are real, I see it in his eyes…PEACE. Yet, I struggle. He’s my baby brother, we are the only two that know what it was like growing up in our family. We have encountered the same hurts, the same struggle, and the same fears. As his older sister I want to protect him, keep him safe, and make sure no one hurts him. He is 9700 miles away, I have NO control. I have to trust GOD, that His words are true. Until this trip I did not realize that this fear was in me when it came to my brother. As I continue on this journey everyday I find new weaknesses and new strengths. My new goal, taking God at His word. I may not always be able to trust those around me (myself included), but God has yet to fail me. I will NOT let my fear control how I view what God is choosing to do (with me or anyone else).

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT).

So what am I thankful for today? I am learning to conquer my fears.

May18

DAY 139

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Only one way gets you the star.

Only one way gets you the star.

I have discovered a new game called “Flow”. The object of the game is connect all the colored dots to other dots of the same color, while making sure that every square is used. Also you have to solve the puzzle in a certain amount of moves or else…no star. If it takes you longer than the required amount of moves to find the solution you on get a check-mark (a check-mark instead of a STAR, I think not…my OCD can’t handle it). The game is mind-bending-awesomeness. Why am I writing about a game? I have a point. No really…I do. In order to win the game you have to find the right pattern, the right direction if you will. But here’s the kicker, there is only ONE right path. You can try as many different patterns as you want, but only one will win you the game. Our journey is the same. We have many paths in front of us. However, only one direction will get us to our TRUE destination.

Here’s another lesson I learned from the game. Beware of praising your ability to catch on. The beginning boards are easy, but as you continue to play, the boards get harder and the paths are not as easily seen. On our journey there will be steep valleys and high mountains, but not all paths will be smooth. On our sojourn there will be winds, rain, sleet, and snow these will sometimes make our path hard to see. In those moments, rely on your directions and follow the map. God has a plan it’s specific. He gives you the free will to deviate, but that will only get you stuck. So follow the path, Get the star. Why settle for a check-mark?

So what am I thankful for today? Stars (with the occasional check-mark).

Feb15

DAY 46- How To Un-Traffic Jam Your Life

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Today I realized something, AMAZING. In these 46 days I have learned to *UN-traffic jam* (yes I know it’s not a word, but it works) my life. Let me explain, prior to starting this venture of finding one thing to be thankful each day. I was the queen (okay, more like second in command) of finding things to complain about. This personality defect often left me feeling claustrophobic in my life, much like the way one feels in a traffic jam. 

Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams. - Mary Ellen Kelly -

Traffic jam: where you are sitting in a metal box, with an engine that is supposedly powered by horses and yet, you are going nowhere…extra, extra SLOW.

This very apt description was my life. I was trapped on a road going nowhere at a speed of ZERO. I remember thinking, “I feel frustrated, irritated…STUCK.”   One December 31st of last year, I had a conversation with God that went something like this: “Lord I can’t go through one more year like this. I can’t keep spinning my wheels only to end up in the same spot. I need a change. I need more than this.” Actually I had different forms of this same conversation with God through much of 2012. But on December 31st, I felt Him answer this… “stop looking at what you don’t have and be THANKFUL for what you do have”. My first response was to think, “well, what do I have?” In answering that question I discovered I had so much more than I couldimagine. What I have: health, a family that loves me. I have a good job, great co-workers, amazing friends and I have…GOD. My traffic jam was of my causing. I CHOSE to be stuck.  How do you de-congest a traffic jam your life? THANKFULNESS.   So what am I thankful for today? That even with traffic on the journey, I am still moving forward. Also thankful that traffic jams don’t last forever…traffic ALWAYS clears.