The Journey to Cloud Nine

Have you ever said, “I’m on cloud nine?”  If you have, it is likely that something wonderful happened in your life at the exact moment you uttered these words.  Perhaps you heard the words, “You’re hired!” or “It’s a Girl (or Boy)!” or “Will you marry me?”  And you likely remember the date, time, and location where this special event in your life took place.  But, what about all of the days, months, and years leading up to this exhilarating moment?  Undoubtedly, you experienced some highs and lows, and maybe even some disappointments along the way.  Still, you eventually arrived at the moment where you reached the destination on your journey – cloud nine.

When I think about the journeys we take in life, I have come to realize that there are many similarities between our day-to-day experiences and those of many reality television show contestants.  Their journey through various challenges is not unlike our journey through life, with its many highs and lows.  At times, contestants may make a mistake or encounter an unexpected detour.  Along their journey, they make good decisions and bad ones.  Yet, one team always prevails and finishes the journey victorious, having made it to their “cloud nine” experience – being proclaimed the winner of the competition.

Our lives bear a striking resemblance to these programs, in that our lives are also a journey.  While we are not striving to win $1,000,000 or the title of sole Survivor, there are many daily challenges that we must face.  For instance, in the business world, everyone wants to get ahead.  Instead of clues, they attend “power lunches” to try to get to the next rung on their way to the top of the ladder of success.  And a mistake may not cost them their lead position in a competition, but it may cost them a promotion, their job, or even their reputation.  But in the end, there will be those who make good decisions and find their way to the “cloud nine” they are searching for, such as a promotion or increase in salary.

Personally, I find that the journey to cloud nine can be quite difficult.  Now, I am not talking about the end of a race, or even recognition in the workplace.  I am talking about this journey we call life.  And no, we’re not truly searching for cloud nine.  But, we are on a journey to eternity.  This journey is very difficult at times.  While we may have joyous times to celebrate, there may be other times when sorrow fills our hearts.  We may hear the words “You’re Fired” or “You’ve had a miscarriage” or “We’re getting a divorce” instead of the words above.  During these times, God will bring you peace.  He will remind you of the cloud nine that you seek.  And He will help you move toward your goal, filling your heart with joy once more.

There are times when it would be easier to just quit.  Or it may be tempting to follow a different path.  God’s Word says, “Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matthew 7:13 ESV).  It might seem easier to travel down the wide road, at least for a little while.  Inevitably, though, you will find that this road leads to great disappointment.  The decision to travel down this road leads to a dead end – Hell.  If you’re on this road, I want to strongly encourage you to turn around.  It’s not too late.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ.  Ask Him for directions to cloud nine.  Follow His steps and don’t look back.  You will be on a journey like no other, never seen on television.  God can do more than you ever imagined, and I can assure you, His dreams for your life are truly incomprehensible!

Every day, I continually strive to put one foot in front of the other on my journey to cloud nine.  In my life, I have experienced many ups and downs.  Some have been minor, such as the disappointment of a missed visit with a friend, and some have been major, such as the saddening loss of my mom.  Still, I know that God will be with me in every circumstance.  He will give me strength when I am weary, joy when I am sad, and hope when I feel hopeless.  The road I am traveling on may be straight and narrow, but God is leading the charge.  Won’t you join me on this direct route to the ultimate “cloud nine” – Heaven?  The journey to cloud nine may be challenging, but just wait until you see the view from the top!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

A Person Should...

Everyone always says, “A person should…”  Fill in the blank with whatever you like.  Everyone has an opinion on what “people” should be doing.  But my question to them is this: what are they doing themselves?  So many times we get wrapped up in what others think, feel, or desire.  Ultimately, we may even lose sight of what we, ourselves, actually think, feel, or desire.  Instead, we need to ensure that our opinions, feelings, and desires are given to God.  Inevitably, there is only one thing that should be at the top of a person’s to-do list: a person “should” follow Christ.

During our daily routines, we have a myriad of tasks we must complete.  From the simplest, mundane items, such as brushing our teeth and selecting our clothing for the day, to the more complex items, like deciding whether or not we should go to the dentist for a cavity filling, a crown, and/or a root canal, despite the dentist’s recommendation for all three.  No matter what is on our schedule, it seems there are always too many items on the “to-do” list and never enough hours of the day in which to do them.

Still, it is easy to fall into the trap of becoming one of those people who consistently preach, “Do as I say not as I do.”  Now, this could be a positive statement, given the appropriate context in which it is used.  However, there are many times when this statement is not just used, but abused.  For example, a mother may tell her daughter to avoid getting pregnant as a teenager, even though she herself was pregnant at a very young age.  Or a father may tell their son to avoid smoking cigarettes, even though he himself began smoking at the same age of his son and continually smokes a pack or more per day.  Inevitably, children want to emulate their parent’s behavior.  And in the end, the majority of children will follow in their parent’s footsteps, disregarding any verbal instructions that have been given.

As Christians, we need to lead by example.  We need to show others how to live a life fully devoted to Jesus Christ.  They need to see that our lives reflect the light of the Son of the Living God.  He is the perfect Role Model.  People need to be inspired to emulate Christ, as that is what we have been called to do.  You see, it’s not about whether or not you check everything off of your to-do list.  If you do, that’s a wonderful accomplishment.  And if not, hopefully you can complete the tasks another day.  Ultimately, though, there is only one thing that a person “should” do, and that is to serve the Lord with all of their heart.  Whether or not you purchase groceries today or tomorrow will only affect what is on the menu for dinner tonight.  What you do for Christ will affect eternity.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer