Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3: 12-14 (NIV)

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40: 31 (TLB)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)

It is quite a journey we are on.

A road that’s long, fast, slow, exhausting, exhilarating, and always uncertain. 

There are times when we are not at all sure we can take another step, or whether we even want to try.

Times when the unexpected hits us full in the face, stopping us dead in our tracks leaving us unable to, or not knowing how to move forward.

Times when the mountains seem too high, the valleys too hot, the obstacles too many and too difficult to overcome, and the journey never-ending.

Yet something causes us to sense His presence and calling to persevere, to press on.   

To reach within to be all He created us to be, to keep going, to go the distance stretching out before us.

And remember that we never go it alone, but with Him, trusting His presence, power, and passion which is with us all along the way. 

Striving with our Lord to find and fulfill our unique and divinely ordained purpose, assignment, and calling for our lives fashioned by the God who created us and walks with us.  

Pressing on, but not to satisfy the world’s calling toward stuff, image, success, and temporary pleasures. But to fulfill God’s calling to have an impact on the lives and world around us, both here, and to assure their eternal place with God in Heaven.   

While leaving no regrets along the way. No regrets for striving for less than we can be, giving less than we can give, passing by opportunities to have the impact on lives everywhere before us, and around the world.  

Lives everywhere before us, which God expects us to touch for good.  

With Him.  

In the theme song from the movies Hercules, written by David Zippel & Alan Menken, we are encouraged by these words—

“…And I won’t look back, I can go the distance. 
And I’ll stay on track, no, I won’t accept defeat. 
It’s an uphill slope but I won’t lose hope, 
‘Til I go the distance, and my journey is complete. 
But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part, 
For a hero’s strength is measured by his heart. 
Like a shooting star, I will go the distance. 
I will search the world, I will face its harms. 
I don’t care how far, I can go the distance, 
‘Til I find my hero’s welcome, waiting in your arms…”   

The journey of our lives—with God.

Lives of impact in the world for good, both here, and for eternity.   

In His Name–Scott

You will be blessed as you listen to the delightful, and incredibly talented One Voice Children’s Choir sing “Go the Distance.”