"WE WALK INTO THE UNKNOWN, TRUSTING"

I have been reminded many time in the last 53 years of what Kitty, her parents and I witnessed on a mountain road in southern California. We caught up to a long line of cars behind a log truck with one log on the truck bed and one on the trailer behind. One by one the cars passed the truck, as the driver, with his arm outstretched, waved one by one the cars around him. Every driver pulled out around the truck; "Into the Unknown, Trusting." Trusting the driver of the truck to direct us safely upward. When we left our house this morning for church, we left trusting; but in who or what are we trusting.
Let me remind you of how we were bomb barded with Y 2 K redirect a few years past; how some religious groups proclaimed the end time was upon us. Sure it was possible, but listen to Jeremiah as he sought to encourage & direct the exiles so long ago, who were afraid of what the future would bring - something they could not control. Like they, fear seems to be a part of our lives today. Terrorists attacks - wars - lose of jobs - pensions and insurance cut. It is hard to really be thankful for the past when we spend so much time and energy being afraid of our future.~
Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles, [see text} "For I know the plans I have for you .. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (V.11). If, if we could grasp this promise as well; walk into the unknown trusting God, because He wants the best for us. We sometime forget that we are the passengers, and He is the Pilot. God promises are not recordings, but promises to be claimed.
No, my friends, we cannot control every aspect of our future, but there is one thing we can control. We can control our attitude toward the present, we can build our future one positive act at a time, trusting God. Peter tells us to "cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you." There is a beautiful promise made in V. 14: "I will be found by you," declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity."
When Kitty places all the food items on the island in the kitchen, very seldom do I know what the end results will be. But I have trusted her ability for almost 56 years to prepare a good meal. I am a living witness she has.
I love the story of a woman driving through the mountains West of Denver, Colorado when she ran into a blinding snow storm. As she peered ahead, she saw a snow plow. What luck; and she kept as close as possible while the plow removed the snow from the road. After some time the plow stopped, the driver got out and walked back to the car: "Lady, where are you going?" he asked. "I'm on my way to Denver," she replied. "Well, you'll never get there following me, I'm plowing this parking lot."
Dear reader, instead of loafing, lounging in "YOUR COMFORT ZONE" this year, walk by God's grace each day into the uunknown, trusting Him, knowing as we "trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, and in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, he shall direct [our] path."
God has a plan for you this year of the Lord, 2004, plans to prosper you. This will not be accomplished if we don't get "OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE."

In "HIS" service,
Bro. Roy