A Traveler's Guidebook 1

Traveling is challenging. It's hard to decide what to bring and what to leave. Baggage weighs you down as you travel just as leaving essentials  brings regret later. Israel had just conquered Ai after first losing 36 men battling Ai because Achan coveted. As they moved forward some men, who seemed from a far country met them and lured into agreeing not to hurt them, when Israel failed to seek God's counsel in the matter. Soon, Israel discovered they'd agreed to protect their neighbors, the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites proved to be added baggage for Israel as they traveled forward. When we neglect seeing and seeking God's face and channel His wisdom before making life decisions, we too will find our bags get heavier than they should be-we'll be weighed down as we travel. Israel would not only have to fight for the Gibeonites but they'd have the added burden of having the Gibeonites in house for years to come. Travel light today by tapping God's word for guidance and strength. Extra baggage does not make for carefree days.

Thrive with God at the wheel of your life

There's a wonderful irony to walking with God. To live in a growing relationship with God  is almost a guarantee that our lives will be turned upside down in some way. Joseph was sold to the Midianites for a mere 20 Shekels. Journeying away from family and familiar friends maybe he wondered does God hate me? While his soul was torn, while he wondered if God was worthy of his life allegiance; God showed up showing him His sincere concern for his well-being. God hand-picked Potiphar to serve as a pipeline of unrelenting blessing to Joseph in his darkest hours. Potiphar's house would be leadership training for Joseph, teaching Joseph to shoulder responsibilities in God's strength to guarantee God's outcome in all He did. Blessings pursued Joseph along  with the evil which came his way, and blessing followed those who were touched by His life.  Praise God for a God, who literally loads us with benefits. He is not a "Checklist God," constantly purveying our lives for our right versus wrong performance; contrarily, He is a gracious God, who is over-committed to wowing us with the reality that He simply cannot get enough of us. His love language is quality time. Nothing satisfies Him more than a reciprocated friendship with us, where we too can't get over Him. God would weave even more trouble into Joseph's life, landing him in jail for his righteous stand; but it would prove all good. Amazingly, our gumption through great trial is our qualification and vindication to serve in greater capacities. Each day of blessing and burden was equipping
Joseph to be the servant he was born to be. Servants aren't born in the ice-cream parlor; they must feel the fire of God's hot pot, if they're to ably fulfill God's purposes for them.
That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.Romans 8:28 MSG