Pathways Press.com

Written by Meredith Houston Carr, a contemporary writer.

I’d read accounts of Yosemite National Park’s beauty, but seeing it for myself felt electrifying. With eyes wide, I tried to absorb the grandeur set before me. The massive rock formation El Capitan rose high into a cerulean sky, its monstrous granite face basking in the sun. The waters of Bridalveil Fall roared with authority, and the peak known as Half Dome stretched upward, shrouding itself in clouds. All this splendor made it clear: God’s presence lives among this land, His fingerprint evident on every breathtaking peak. And yet my heart struggled to reconcile how a God who created such majesty could let crushing heartache into my family. Just before this trip, my son received a diagnosis identifying special needs that would change his life and my family’s life forever. We found ourselves thrust onto a hard road we neither anticipated nor desired. It felt like God was asking me to scale one of these peaks with no equipment, and I couldn’t help but wonder, God, are You here with me? Have You forgotten about us? Maybe you’re asking the same questions. In your marriage, family, work or health, you struggle to see evidence of God’s activity. As you wipe away endless tears, you may wonder if He’s with you — and if He truly has your best interests in mind… If we’re honest, we know we often conclude that we must be on our own when we see only desert rocks and unscalable mountains in our path. When human solutions are absent, we often assume God’s presence must be absent, too. But the next time we face a crisis, we can make a different choice! In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises to be with us — always. So when trouble comes, we can pause, take a deep breath and choose to acknowledge the unshakeable reality of God’s presence. We can also cultivate the habit of shifting our eyes from the obstacle to the God who will sustain us through it. Fixing our gaze on Jesus frees us to experience God’s provision in surprising ways. We can refuse to let our human expectations form a barrier to God’s divine workings. It’s been years since my son’s difficult diagnosis — and while special-needs parenting hasn’t been an easy road, I can confidently say God has never left our side. Time and again, He’s shown up for us in ways my mind couldn’t comprehend. And He wants to do the same for you, dear one. Today, will you choose to look for God’s presence along your desert road? The rock you keep tripping over may just be the tool God uses to demonstrate His sustaining presence in your life.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. [Matthew 28:20]

Written by Margot Wallace of the Village Church

A few weeks during Lent bodacious flowers spread vibrant hues on a 50-acre hillside in Carlsbad Ranch.  The dazzling Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms to create a rainbow of color facing West.  Each Spring I visit these flowers to reflect upon the beauty of this display. I humbly try to capture their brilliance through photography and paint. At this time of year, the Earth gives up its nutrients to prepare seeds for growth.  Dirt is the most important factor – enabling these incredible plants to surface. After a cold winter, the blooms appear in blazing color for all to enjoy! Think of all the life giving ingredients we reap from this fine soil, enabling all life forms on our planet to thrive!   Lent is a time of reflection, service, and prayer.  In our journey here we are privileged to reflect upon this magnificent garden.  In praise and prayer we develop a closer relationship to God, and, serve others through acts of charity.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [Matthew 6:28-29]

Written by Ana Wright, a student and writer.

The joy that God brings us is different. It does not come from whatever circumstances we may be in but through our faith and hope in Christ. We can have comfort in knowing that we are in his presence through every obstacle and triumph we experience. His presence and peace give us strength and security as he anchors our souls through life’s tribulations. The joy that he gives us is far greater than the joy we could ever receive from the world. God’s presence is experienced through your heart. No matter where we may turn or which road we follow, he is there. Living in God’s presence isn’t reserved for special moments or specific places. The joy within God’s presence is true and lasting. In times when you may forget or be distracted, remember, reflect, and give thanks to God for always being there with us.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. [ Psalm 16:11]

Written by the First15 ministry group, which helps people spend the first fifteen minutes of their day focusing on their growing relationship with God.

One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering his presence. His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do. God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price. And at Jesus’s death the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from mankind was torn in two—signifying that God’s presence was no longer contained but made available to everyone. God’s presence is everywhere. There is nowhere you could go that he won’t be with you. There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can’t meet with God… Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. I don’t seek an experience with a friend; I simply seek to know him by spending time with him and gain an experience as a result. I don’t seek to hear the voice of a friend; I simply engage in conversation with him as an act of wanting to know him and hear his voice as a result… Scripture is clear that God is everywhere and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. His presence is already with you. Encountering him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of his nearness. God longs for you to know him. So great is his desire to meet with you Spirit to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave his life. Take time to simply seek God. Meditate on his word. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with faith. And make space to rest in God’s presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of his nearness.

 “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” [Psalm 139:7-8]

Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American evangelist, minister, and civil rights advocate.

Jesus Himself was the first missionary! He did not sit by passively and let those who happened to be interested in His teaching come to Him. He went out where the sick, the sorrowing, and the sad were, and expounded His message of joy, healing, and salvation. Even at a tender age, He went to the Temple and “taught” the doctors and lawyers who were entrenched in the old traditions. He found His way to the seaside and intruded upon the life of the commonest of laborers, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Wherever He went He challenged, uprooted, and changed men. And at length they nailed Him to a cross because He had upset their selfish, secure, smug way of life. Not only was Jesus a missionary, but He pledged His followers to be missionaries, too!

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [Matthew 4:19]

Written by Joann Melton from the Village Church.

When I was searching for a place to worship, I went to many churches.  One Sunday morning, I walked into the open doors of the Village Church.  I may have been about five steps inside before I was warmly and genuinely welcomed with a handshake and a “Welcome!”  That was a great start. When I stepped into the sanctuary I couldn’t move.  My eyes were drawn to the Trinity Window.  I have no words to describe the feeling I had at that moment, but I can tell you that it was a very special experience for me. I found my place in a pew.  Someone turned and said “Good Morning!”, and we chatted a bit.  At that moment I knew I was “Home”. It didn’t take long before I was invited to join Women’s Bible Study, but this one is special, because it is led by the pastors.  Over the years this activity has enriched my life in so many ways and I am forever grateful for the guidance and knowledge they share. There is such joy in this church!  Each year the women gather at Christmas and Spring for fellowship and comradery.  It is so beautifully done, and each one is better than the last one. Every year our children and grandchildren of the church and the community gather with their families and friends for breakfast.  Pastor Jack reads the Christmas Story, and teenagers in the church dress as Mary and Joseph, shepherds and Wise Men to bring the story of the birth of the Christ Child to life.  At Easter, the story of the Crucifixion of Christ is read, and the children learn and see Jesus on the cross and are told how this came to be.  In the summer, the children are invited to learn more about Jesus at Vacation Bible School.  The church campus becomes a joy-filled place for all.  Our Middle and High Schoolers are taught about the life of Jesus.  They share in helping our community by serving meals and gathering canned goods and other items for those who need these things.   They gather during the summers to travel to other countries, or places in our area, to serve communities that need their help desperately.  Many of our members also make journeys to other countries, not only to bring much needed help, such as building homes, constructing ways to bring clean water to their towns, providing medical care and supplies, but much more.  In doing these things, our members show their selfless willingness to provide help to others, shine a light on their lives, and bring the word of Jesus to them. When you walk up to the open doors of the Village Church on Sunday Morning, you will be greeted with a smile and a sincere “Good Morning!  Welcome!”  You will find your place in a pew.  Your neighbors will also share a good morning greeting.  The organ will begin to play, and it begins!  Our Pastor Jack welcomes us, and we greet him back.  There are smiles all around.  And, soon, we hear the organ once again, but this time there are voices, like angels, filling every space in this sanctuary!   It is exhilarating.  We then greet each other with the words “Peace be with you” and as a response, “And also with you”, one of my favorite things.  We hear the words that Pastor Jack brings to us.  We sing together and we pray together. I look up at the beautiful Trinity Window and I know that Jesus is with me and with all of us.  Not only in this sanctuary, but he walks with me as I go about my life. Our church, the Village Church, isn’t just the beautiful building where we worship together.  It’s the beginning of our journey with Jesus.  We are a congregation that shares our talents, our resources, our friendship, and our compassion. The doors to the Village Church are open.  All you have to do is come in.  You will be welcomed.  And, you will be in good hands, because Jesus is here waiting for you.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. [Matthew 18:20]

Written by Foster Smith, a contemporary writer.

I spent a year in El Paso, Texas, as a missionary in 1975 and 1976. A great place to witness was the Red Dog Saloon. To my surprise the entire place formed a large circle and began to dance. The Texas two-step was the call, and off we went. If you only did one step the circle swallowed you, but if you did two steps together the night was a success.  Our Christian journey is outlined by Paul as “two step: “ Step one: seek those things which are above and set your mind on the things above. Step two: put to death your old ways: sexual immorality, uncleanness, out-of-control passions, evil desires and covetousness, which is idolatry. Our journey is not putting a Christian veneer over our old fleshly ways. Put those ways to death by the internal power of his Holy Spirit, and you will become a new creation. Join the dance and be sure to make it “a two step.“

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [Colossians 3:1-5]

Written by Paul David Tripp, a contemporary pastor, speaker,  and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional,”

The cross teaches us that God offers us the one thing that no other person or thing can. He offers us the grace of forgiveness. He offers us the grace of welcome into relationship with him. He offers us the grace of personal transformation. He offers us the grace of a new identity and new potential. He offers us the grace of a glorious and fully secured destiny. Yes, it is true, he offers us grace upon grace!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. [Galatians 2:20]

Written by Ben Chong, a contemporary Christian leadership coach.

I came to faith as a justice warrior. And I probably loved justice far more than I loved Jesus. I wanted all of those great parts of the kingdom, but I wasn’t really sure if I was okay with the king. I poured so much of my life out in the name of peace and justice, unity and compassion. But I was also seeming to grow in anger and despair and frustration and cynicism and bitterness; I was still dividing people into kind or cruel, or good or bad, or right or wrong. I was still drawing lines and labelling people based on my perception of their political, theological beliefs, economic status, whatever. There was this real self-righteousness; I was deciding I could play God’s role, the Judge. A mentor of mine once reflected on their own journey through this stuff. He said, ‘I realized that I could never truly be part of God’s restoration of all things if the primary way I’m operating is to tear things and people down.’ I think that’s a real challenge as we pursue restoration. Because without the hope of Jesus, we can get so fixated on what’s wrong, on all of creation groaning.And then it’s also really easy to attribute those wrongs to specific people, to blame and label, and we can forget that our own restoration too needs to be part of the restoration of all things. We’re called to love incarnationally, to embody love…If Christians have planted themselves so deeply in Christ, that the fruit that they bear is joy amidst lament – they can do both! – and hope amidst despair.They can forgive amidst hurt and they can have peace amidst fear and embody love amidst hate. How beautiful!

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. [John 1:14 The Message]

Written by Kathy Loftman of the Village Church

A long time ago and in a place far away, I had the opportunity to be a volunteer youth counselor at my church for the 8^th and 9^th graders. When I was in 8^th and 9^th grade, we had a very small, struggling youth group. Our 8^th and 9^th grade group 8 years later had about 100 persons that attended each week. We had an exciting and meaningful journey learning about and growing in God’s love. Although we all went our different ways after high school, this group has stayed together over the years. This is a very special group that shares a sense of common purpose of following Jesus, accepting differences of opinions and expressions, providing a safe space for conversation, providing honesty and loving support where deep conversations can be shared no matter how long we have been apart. Once a month on Sunday evenings many of us who can get together on Zoom and chat. In November, we learned that one of our “flock” has been diagnosed with stage four cancer and underwent surgery. Unfortunately, Stacy is now in hospice facing the last days of her life on this earth and is saying goodbye to her friends for now. We have been showering her with love through visits, emails, chats, cards, and many, many prayers. We look forward to that day when we will all be reunited.  I will always treasure the special relationships that we share. I am so blessed to be a part of “us.”

So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [Romans 12:5]