Enjoying the journey

A week ago today my family and I left Washington state and began our journey to Arizona. Before we left a friend told me to enjoy this journey we were embarking on. He reminded me of this along the way. It was a good trip in spite of little situations that tried to throw us off course. But God is so good and He got us here safely. We stayed with some friends along the way and reconnected, we saw some amazing farmland and grew a deep appreciation for all the farmers who grow our produce. We experienced being in LA traffic at rush hour. "Whew!" What an adventure! I had some amazing conversations with my kids and we made memories along the way. We reached our destination early Friday morning and crashed for a few hours.

Our time since has been full of making new friendships, meeting new people and building upon friendships we started on our visit in May. I have enjoyed the time of fellowship and relaxation before our lives get busy once again. We have experienced some pretty intense weather and yet I am told it will only get hotter! Help me Jesus!! We have enjoyed some good family time at the pool and taking walks or just hanging out in the evenings.

I am looking forward to this new and different season in our lives. We have a lot to learn about desert living. But are looking forward to enjoying the new experiences. I realize our "journey" didn't stop once we got here, it has continued.

A few years ago, God gave me a scripture that I really clung to. He reminded me of it last night. Isaiah 51:3 says, "For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the Lord: Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody." I am looking forward to the Lord making my wilderness like Eden, my desert like His garden. He said that joy and gladness would be found in my garden, along with thanksgiving and new songs. I say, "Do it Lord!" I am ready for the change and the growth. I am ready for a new season and whatever it holds. (You may need to remind of this later ;) I realize it won't always be easy, fun, "sunny". But God has promised me a peace and joy, He has promised me a beautiful garden. He has promised me a new song to sing. So I lift my hands high, I raise my voice and I proclaim His goodness and love to all the earth.

Let me leave you with Isaiah 51:3 in the Message, "Likewise, I, God, will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I'll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God. A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs."

Be blessed and enjoy the journey, whatever it is, that God has you on!