Finding the courage to go the distance

Begin here...Go there..Finding the courage to go the distance.

I am helping out with our new MOPS ministry that has recently came here in Kyle, TX. Our theme this year is John 14:17, which I feel like was my first sign from God to say yes to this ministry. Actually vesuses 15-17 are where I feel God is speaking to me, for those of you not cracking open the Bible...here is the excerpt: .
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

What a beautiful promise God has made to each one of us. Do you ever get that over whelming urge you just need to talk to someone? I sure do, I think those are the times Jesus is saying hey, slow down, spend some time with me. I delight in your company, lets talk about things, want to know how to make your life better, seek my counsel. Often I mistake that for, should I call my mom, or Aunt Sure or someone. As I try to seek his truth and spend the time, I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within me more and more.

I have been reflecting back on where I have come from, as many of you know, I have recently moved from South Dakota, where I was born and raised. I guess it all began there. Where I am I going? I guess we have all moved from some point A and are heading out but do you know where point B is? I can tell you for most of my life I was doing the driving and wasn't sure where point B was. Is there something wrong with just staying at point A? No, I don't think so as long as you are tuned into what God is telling you, you may very well be just where you should be. So is my life is very similar to a Dora-The Explorer episode ? Where are we going?…clap, clap, clap! Are there three destinations I need to travel to, and then it's over? Does my friend, Holy Spirit (AKA-Boots), get to come along? More importantly, is God crying out "I'm the MAP, I'm the MAP!" I do believe with all my heart that God is crying out "I'm the MAP!" He came so that we might have life, and have it to the fullest, John 10:10. For me that doesn't mean remaining at point A. God doesn't just want me to become complacent, but to press forward in my walk with Him. The thing that we are learning (Justin and I) is the closer we seem to get to him or a place like we feel his presence and love pouring in, happens to coinside with when we feel the most pressure from Satan. I need courage to go the distance. Praise be to God for John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. I know my point B is Heaven, but how I travel until I reach my destination is my definatley why I need the MAP!
One of the ways, God speaks to me most profoundly is through Christian music. While driving the other day, I heard Casting Crowns' newest single, East To West. Here are just some of the words that inspired me, "I don't want to end up where you found me…I know you cast my sin as far as the east is to the west and I stand before you now, as if I've never sinned, but today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from you leaving me this way…"Oh, how often I have made one mistake, and then another. I lose patience with my kids. I get angery with Justin. I speak hurtful words to a dear friend. What a complete mess I make of things, and then I hear the chorus, "…and Jesus can you show me, just how far the East is from the West cause I can't bear to see the man (or woman) I've been rising up in me again in the arms of your mercy I find rest 'cause you know just how far the East is from the West from one scarred hand to the other."