Journey of Faith

My Rebecca, Stephen, Ben, and Dan
Mother's Day hike, 2004

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Heb. 11:8)

My kids at the top of the mountain

"For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who  by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight!" (Heb. 11:32-34)

My Ben running down the mountain

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance  and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!" (Heb. 12:1-2)

        For years, hiking a trail at Oak Mountain State Park was our Mother's Day family tradition. In these pictures taken in 2004, Rebecca and Stephen were newlyweds, Ben was a first-year kicker at Tusculum College, and Dan was headed to U.S. Marine Corp bootcamp at Parris Island - all, like Abraham, embarking on untried journeys, not knowing where they were going.

       In 2011, the Lord called me to the land of children's storybooks. His instructions: "Stay close to Me and do everything I tell you to do." Though I'm still uncertain as to where He's taking me, this I know for sure -

Those who hopefully trust in the Lord will not be disappointed. (Isa. 49:23)

Faithful is He who called me, who also will do it! (1 Thess. 5:24)

and

Not one of the good promises which the Lord has made will fail; all will come to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

       Faith, we are told, is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen (Heb. 11:1). Go forth, O Christian! Run where He calls, making disciples and teaching them to obey everything He commands us to do! For lo, Jesus is always with us, even to the end of the age!

From soon-to-be-released Hoot Owl Hollow:

Andi took another bite of the smoked turkey sandwich. If the ad’s still there, I’m applying tonight, she resolved. Checking over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching, the attractive, young woman snatched the Atlanta News off the break room table and searched the classified section. “Here it is,” she whispered. Her heart raced at the very notion of carrying out such a risky escapade.

WANTED: Male DVM willing to work in rugged conditions.

Apply to: Dr. Sam Parks, 202 Buckeye Rd., Bottle Knob, GA  30546

She jotted the name and address on a notepad and buried it in her coat pocket.