*sigh* Times are tough. Times. Are. Tough. Trouble hits us left and right, and it is SO easy to get discouraged. I know - I've been there, as I'm sure most everyone has been. And if you haven't, just wait. :) Just a few Sundays ago, we had an evangelist by the name of Joshua Sullivan preach at our church - and boy was it incredible. There were many things that he said that really spoke to me, but one stood out more than others - and just today I was reminded of it when I read a blog that a wonderful Jesus-loving friend of mine wrote. I won't mention her name, because I didn't ask permission. But she reminded me of what he said - and it came and the best time, because - boy have I felt pretty junky today. Anyways, Joshua asked us if we were "enjoying the journey". By that, of course, he was referring to the journey of following Christ. And to be honest, sometimes I am, but sometimes I'm not.

I will second what my friend said in her blog - I hate when "Christians" act no different than non-Christians. And when I encounter people like that - it makes it hard to find unity in the body of Christ. I realize that we're all different, and none of us are perfect, but it still bugs me to no end!

And so I started thinking - how do I enjoy the journey - even when I sometimes don't enjoy the journeymen & journeywomen? I think there's really only one way. Hebrews 12:2 says "fix your eyes on Christ." And that's what we should do. We shouldn't look to have faith in each other, or our circumstances - but in Christ alone. And you know, when we do that, we'll fall so much in love with Him that our love will rub off on others - and it will really change our world! It will cause our journey to be the best it could ever be!

It really comes down to that. We've been studying the book of John at youth group for the last several (many) weeks. And this next week, we're studying John chapter 11 - and boy and I excited! As I read it over and over this week, I realized something. We always say we should be "In the world, but not of it." And that's good - but it's not enough to stop there. We - as Christians - should be in the WORD just as much as we're in the world! If not, we won't have the mind of Christ - no matter how many spiritual experiences or times of prayer we have. We must DIVE into God's Word so passionately that it permeates our very life & guides us in all we do.

Don't get me wrong - prayer & spiritual experiences are great and greatly needed. But God's Word is the basis of it all! It must be! As the psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your WORD in my heart that I might not sin against you."

So, have you hidden God's Word in your heart? Have you been taking a daily dose of The Bible? We need to!

Ever since I got back from national youth convention, I haven't left my Bible behind anywhere. I've been taking it with me wherever I go. And not just that - but READING it too! We need to get hooked up to the I.V. of God's Word! Let's be Word Junkies! Ok, that was corny. Sorry.

But seriously - that's what we need to do. And we don't just need to memorize it - or get it in our heads. It needs to make that 10 inch trip from our heads to our hearts! Let's not just quote the Word - let's live it!

So yes - I am (finally) enjoying the journey. Today - I can say that. Yesterday, I couldn't. But praise God, his grace is sufficient for me. I thank God that he's patient with all of us, and that he is supreme in my life.

Let's not just quote the Word - let's live it! TOGETHER!

-Pastor Elgin