As I sit here in our Texas RV park, I find myself reflecting back upon our journey over the last four and a half months. We embarked in early June westbound from Austin, Texas with the idea of making a complete circle of the United States. Our excitement was very hard to conceal. We were very eager to be about our Father's business of finding and encouraging HIS scattered remnant children.
As I sit here looking back upon the events of our journey, I can't help but wonder if something went wrong along the way. Maybe the enemy had been successful in derailing HIS plans for us. A time or two both of us even wondered if “WE” had contributed to the enemy's plans. Maybe we were even in league with him.
Many on our journey received our message of the unchanging purity of HIS Word with respectful rejection. Some on our journey were not as respectful in their rejection. They were quick to let us know we were straying—even to saying YHVH told them so. We even found ourselves early in our journey cut off from sources of contact with which we began—left to go it alone, simply because of our encouragement and from whom we received encouragement.
Sadly, many on our journey will continue on with the delusion of unholy mixtures and reap according to what they've sown. Some have chosen to remain loyal to “Church” doctrines that, at best, are mixtures of HIS purity with doctrines of men. At worst, they completely reject the pure message of Messiah by saying “YHVH is finished with Israel and now works through the 'Church'”.
Others have grabbed hold of the Messianic view of Holy Scripture, yet have fallen short of HIS purity by refusing to let go of impure church teachings—intolerant of any teaching other than theirs. Some have even gone “overboard” with their departure from “Churchianity” and seriously embraced Rabbinical Judaism—a bondage just as deadly as the one they left.
Yet, there were some real bright spots. There was a family in Phoenix, Arizona we met in our RV park. They were full-time RVers like us. There were extremely receptive to the message we presented. The fellowship was truly positive—and was a blessing to us especially in consideration of the spiritual battles we fought before and during our visit to Phoenix. They ministered to us at least as much as we to them.
There was a dear sister in California that prayed us through to our impending visit with her—a segment of our journey in which the enemy literally tried to kill us. Then, there was a brother in California and his family of three generations that opened his home and made us feel like we were part of the family—lots of Johnny Cash fans there too.
We found a dear brother and his family in Montana that received us with equal fervency. With original contacts cut off, we found another brother and sister in northeast Illinois that eagerly opened their home to us. We found a dear sister in the Chicago area equally as receptive. We even found a pastor in the Chicago area that opened his church for us to give testimony and a musical performance.
We made favorable musical contacts in Nashville, Tennessee. We were able to record three new albums in Knoxville, Tennessee. While in Knoxville, we made several new friends and had the opportunity to do a lot of performing. In this, we made contacts that will have bearing on some of our future musical endeavors.
A major highlight of the journey was just ahead of us. We had long desired to attend a Messianic conference in which Mike Clayton of “Joined to HaShem” ministries was speaking. When he was in Oregon, he was too far off our intended route and schedule. He was in Colorado a week or so after we had left. We never got to Ohio. But, Hickory, North Carolina was right on our intended path.
During this weekend conference, we not only heard Mike speak and teach. We were blessed with the teaching of Rico Cortez, Brad Scott, and Bill Cloud. The musical praise teams were terrific. We heard these men teach YHVH's Holy Torah the entire weekend. We heard men that didn't necessarily agree on simple things like the spelling and pronunciation of HIS name, or the day of Shabbat. Yet, they were “in one accord” teaching us how to “get along” and survive in the coming “greater exodus”.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina provided a much needed rest and one round of golf. Because of a neighbor at the RV park, I was given a second round of golf “free” by a new friend from West Virginia—just one day before my birthday. While I was playing golf, SueJean even got to do something I understand ladies love to do—go shopping.
Myrtle Beach was the culmination of a feat many only dream of—the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast in one trip. While on the Oregon coast, we picked up a little ocean rock with the express purpose of depositing it in the Atlantic. It now resides in the Atlantic off the Myrtle Beach coast—and in the general direction of Israel.
We then traveled to Alabama to visit relatives. There was Torah teaching, rounds of singing, and plenty of great fellowship with SueJean's son and family. Reunion was also very sweet for me, especially after 50 years. We were able to meet with and minister to my cousin in southern Alabama. I pray our next get together won't need to wait that long.
At this point, we had only one thing left to do before returning to Texas. We were destined for a scheduled appointment to celebrate Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) in Oklahoma with Monte Judah. Our fervent desire to maintain our testimony of Yeshua and keep HIS commandments had brought us to this end. What a blessed tag to put on a very eventful circular journey—eleven days of ministry and celebration! There, we were able to receive ministry and minister to people from both the U.S. and Canada.
Once again, I ask if our plans did go awry. I would honestly say, in fact, they definitely did. The plans “WE” made before leaving Austin were unceremoniously derailed before we got half way up the California coast—maybe even before we left Austin. From that time on, we were totally dependent upon YHVH's leading.
In one form or another, derailment happens when we rely upon our plans rather than HIS plans. In actuality, our journey has turned out FAR better at HIS hand than we could have ever dreamed concerning ours. I leave my readers with this verse of Scripture in hopes they will head its instruction and be blessed with HIS peaceful encouragement. I pray all have a terrific Son-shine day in Messiah!
“Trust in Adonai with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
No comments:
Post a Comment