Father, I’m quite often all over the place, but I’m truly grateful that You are rock solid! I know that I wouldn’t put up with me, but I’m over the top joyful that You love me like You do!
Acts 20:13-15 (<<click here to read the passage)

Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus. Acts 20:13-15 NLT

Alright, you may think me odd but, reading these few verses I couldn’t help but think of the beauty that Paul (and company) would have beheld! Today’s picture is from a Greek travel website. It is a scene from the island of Chios (Kios). It is the fifth-largest of the Greek islands. All that separates it from Turkey is the mere three-plus mile Chios Strait
I’d hope that looking out across the hull of their boat that Paul would have found some refreshment in the view they found. As you can see, it is a beautiful part of the world.
I would have been challenged to take it all in. But then again, I’ve never been to the other side of the world. My lone out-of-country experience was a day trip to Tijuana, Mexico while attending a Children’s Pastor’s Conference in San Diego in the 90s.
For me to see any part of the Aegean Sea (the sea between Greece and Turkey) would be overwhelmingly fantastic!
Let me come at my thoughts from another angle. In the late 70s, my dad pastored a church in Mason, Ohio. We lived very close to a relatively new amusement park – Kings Island. We were close enough that if the wind was just right, we could hear the lions roar from the Lion Country Safari that they had at the time!
Every night throughout the summer at 10 PM, when the park was closing, we got to experience their fireworks. They were exciting at first but after a couple of years of them, they had lost their appeal, to me at least. It was quite a while before I wanted to see any fireworks.
Many who are reading this post have probably been believers for some time. one of the greatest dangers is for us to become overly accustomed to what it means to be a Christian. It can get to the point where we’re just going through the motions. “Yeah, I read my Bible…occasionally… Mm, I go to church, but sometimes I really have to make myself…it just seems to always be the same old thing. I’ve sung those songs; I’ve heard those stories so many times! But it’s important, so I’ll just keep on doing what I need to do.”
For our faith to remain joy-filled and exciting, we have to work at it. We cannot be fixed on the things we do. Our focus must remain on Jesus!
Hebrews 2:1b-2a reminds us,

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. NIV

We must strive to fight complacency in our lives. The beauty of Jesus remains. Pray for a new and revitalized relationship with Jesus! He is more than able and willing to answer our prayers!

July 11th, 2022, Mon, 8:40 pm