YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW YOUR ROAD!

Photos by Linda Mose Meadows

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

 My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him Psalm 28:7

I haven't seen this commercial recently, but it was one of my favorites. I am guessing you may remember it also? Here's the scene (of course I’m taking creative liberties): dusty cowboys are gathered around a campfire, we imagine them settling in for the evening. It’s a lone, quiet atmosphere, an ebony blanketed starry lit sky which envelopes them is complete with loud crickets. 

This scene is the backdrop for the "grubbing" cowboys hungrily eating their meal. For a split second the television viewer is given space to imagine many things.  First what in the world are they eating? Is it really that good?  Many agree with Van De Camp and me, that it is just that tastey? Yummy baked bean by the fire. But there's more to the message.

Where have they been? Where are they headed-just what is their destination? And why are they so tired? Then one cowboy says in a matter-of-fact tone to the others, that the one who's responded to his comment about the delicious bake beans is from New York “Yurk” City!  His words place great emphasis on the sound of "ORK" and "ITY" in an exaggerated twang!  Hearing this always caused me to laugh out loud! The over-the-top diction was clever on the part the ad agency. I surmise that by then they had our ears and our purses. We now associate their product with a destination and recall that the outrageous enunciation of New York City. I suspect this humorous method worked. But on the flip side there were other messages I suspect. It was surprising to witness the apparent discomfort that these rugged trailblazers were having with learning about a distant land. A place they had yet to venture. They had noticeable trepidation. Why of course it’s unfamiliar territory. The cowboy’s seemed to be in shock and awe. Seemingly their experiences and bravado belied their truth. These trailblazing gun totting cowboys possibly being timid seemed strange? "Umph, ain't that a contradiction?" (I could hear you saying that!)  Yes, my friends even for rough, tough people unknown places can be frightening, no matter the proximity! It's the bigger than life fact of the unknown. In defense of these cowboys and often being timid regarding the unknown- they had no frame of reference. They simply knew New York City was far from their familiar prairies. Awe, but there was one who dared to venture out. Thank God for the courageous heart! For those that step out on faith and score! This unknown cowboy's tenacity to venture out  makes me think of the countless scriptures that assure us that God hasn't given us the spirit of fear, but a spirit of  power/courage, love and a sound mind/clear thinking! (2 Timothy 1:7) It's evident that when we are with God we are safe-complete.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, 

and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

It blesses our spirits when we realize that often like the timid and the free spirited cowboy our authentic spirits yearn to move beyond the familiar frontier borders and when we do often it's rewarding! Our horizons are expanded and life lessons occur that richly bless us.  As Pauline Wilson aptly penned in her lyrics, "you've got to follow your road, follow your road..."

Well let's fast forward to our recent drive from Florida to Connecticut one mile at a time, crossing one state border after another. Our rocking-over packed vehicle was filled to the interior roof with essentials for starting anew. (At least until the moving van arrived.) Onlookers must have wondered where are they headed?  Well the journey wasn't for the faint at heart! Surely we were capturing and living out our spiritual urban cowboy and cowgirl experience.  Truly it’s been a long awaited sojourn. This again is a heartfelt journey that we’d never before traveled, but earnestly longed for.We were reminded in prayer to shake the dust off our feet and push fear aside. Scripture has assured us that God had gone before us and made room for our arrival. We’re anticipating ministry in places and spaces we’d never seen; excited about seeing more of God-realizing His plan over our lives and others. Like our ancestors and many others we desire witnessing again the Holy Spirit first hand. The 2 day drive was long and packing was labor intensive! But so much and many awaited us! God rubbed stamped the journey-it was confirmed through the many expressions of kindness experienced before and during our destination!

It was comical but true, almost at our destination's end; finally seeing the New York City and Connecticut highway traffic signs, and then being in a traffic jam. Yep, for 90 minutes not being able to move. (Imagine instead of an hours delay, suffering through years of being at a standstill? You are ready to move forward and can't!) The traffic was nothing like I imagined for a Sunday afternoon! Instead traffic halted before moving toward the George Washington Bridge. It didn't matter if drivers selected the upper level or lower level, all roads converged towards the toll booths! (Pay up!) Mind you this was the route we believed was necessary to reach our destination. There we were seeing our destination in view and stuck! What to do? The answer was to simply wait! Wait our turn and proceed when an opening occurred. It was just that simple!  Friends, we are headed somewhere like the brave cowboy! And so are you! So as you embrace your call and are sailing, driving, galloping, trotting, trekking, moving steadily and facing an occasional interruption in plans-be encouraged by God's leading and Pauline Wilson’s Follow Your Road. 

However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,

 and what no human mind has conceived" 

-- the things God has prepared for those who love him—

1 Corinthians 2:9

Shared in Love, Linda Mose Meadows; Blogger, Motivational Speaker and Inspirational Author of: Destined To Receive: Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating The Love of God (Createspace, 2013) and Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate Publishing, 2007) 

 http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

 http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/

 http://eyesoffaithmagazine.blogspot.com/

THE DUKE EXPERIENCE: WE WILL NOT CONCEDE DEFEAT!

Our beautiful 96 year old Grandmother, Ruth 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version (KJV)

 Our Grandparent’s beloved dog Duke, looked just like this German Shepard!

 Oh it was sheer pandemonium, I recall that hot summer Washington, DC afternoon vividly. Our summer playmates-the kids on the block were happily playing, laughing tossing and kicking the ball. Some were huddled together plotting their next fun activity. My brothers, cousins and I always seemed to be the magnet for that end of 18th Place, South East Street. This was a part of our annual summer ritual of converging at Granny and Grand Pop’s for the summer. We traveled with our mother from Buffalo, New York and my cousin’s generally arrived a week or so later from Fort Worth, Texas. Our parents would return home and we’d remain, the 7 cousins with our grandparents. This particular afternoon Granny stood at the screen door gazing out, probably “checking on us”, ensuring that our playful mischief was controlled. And I am sure she could see her little neighbor Grady from her view. He also stood on his porch peering out at the kids playing. He was the little brother which did not always comfortably fit in. His awkward moves and age prevented him from actively joining in. As I played in the distance with other kids I could see them both from my view and noted that the identical brick row houses allowed neighbors to also see other porches and the street clearly. I distinctly heard Grady yell in a distressed voice, “Duke is loose!” Once this vocal alarm registered, the screams of the children echoed terror! 


The platonic made for movie “kids playing in the street scene” was transformed in a flash! Kids ricocheted north, south, east and west on the street as Duke freely galloped past my grandmother, through the screen door and towards Grady! Grady moved swiftly, his little legs carried him off his porch and towards the wooded area behind the row of houses! It was a dramatic scene, his screaming, crying and running! His thoughts must have been swift! But thank God for diversion! His brothers, my brothers and cousin masterly distracted Duke in his hot pursuit of Grady. It’s a blur after that, but Duke was corralled, cut off at the pass and ran back towards Granny. Did I mention that Granny in a somewhat shrill voice called Duke to come back? That was not the trick! But Grady was not bitten, just shaken up.


This pure black German Shepard in appearance was massive and menacing from the moment I saw him! But he never snarled or barked at us or got aggressive. Now friends you might think that’s because he was familiar with us. And I’d have to argue that our acquaintance was only once a year. So the dog could have bypassed familiarity and claimed his territory! This was not the case. Friends, Granny called Duke a puppy. This was funny to us, because his size belied infancy! Not only was he her puppy, he suffered from arthritis and moved as though he were in continued pain when he was indoors. Outdoors, he pranced, barked loudly and peered out the fence. Daily he needed assistance and if he wanted to walk up the stairs. Granny would push him from the rear with great determination up the basement steps. I share this with you in the wake of another daunting bombing which occurred during Boston Marathon. I began reflecting on fear before this terrible occurrence. And the coincidence is uncanny, that the media and our community is now openly discussing reborn fear possibly hindering our daily lives! Fear of continued destruction, fear of racial profiling, fear of a loss of life that we comfortably regard, fear of loosing our faith, fear of having no peace, and fear of _________ ( you fill it in)!


I realize that the Holy Spirit desires that I reflect and share my understanding of how fear can paralyze us. But I distinctly recall Bishop Bronner sharing during a bible study that fear is false evidence appearing real! Until then, never had I heard that truth, nor considered that fear is as real as we believe and experience it to be. Overcoming fear is a real possibility! There is power is changing our perspective, our way of thinking and operating! But what of the instance when the dog is chasing you? Now that’s real! Grady's case is real, but the fact that Duke had some real physical limitations is surprising and factual. The big, bad Duke was frail on most days! If our play mates had only known, lived with Duke-they would have understood that his bark was really bigger than his bite. But only my immediate family knew that!  If only collectively as traumatized folks, we understood that our fearful states are meant to be short lived! So as our President Obama eloquently stated today at the Cathedral of The Holy Cross, “…we will pick ourselves up, we will keep going...we will run again!” Amen to President Obama for expressing our spirit's sentiment!


Yes, there are instances where we will experience helplessness, tragedy and know it intimately. Possibly we’ll be badly injured, frightened and consumed by hurtful seasons! But thank you Jesus, that’s not the complete and accurate picture regarding our resilient spirits! The healing God of our ancestors, the loving God in us and endearing assistance of the divine Holy Spirit will save us! Be encouraged, be vigilant-go back to embracing life, run life’s marathons and intentionally celebrate moments of living with great purpose! The “Duke” experiences are false evidence appearing real! Thank God we will not concede defeat! 

 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. 

 We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. (NLT) 2 Corinthians 4:8 

Shared in Love, Linda Mose Meadows; Blogger, Motivational Speaker and Inspirational Author of: Destined To Receive: Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating The Love of God (Createspace, 2013) and Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate Publishing, 2007) 
 http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/
 http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/
 http://eyesoffaithmagazine.blogspot.com/

AN INDOMINABLE SPIRIT

An Indomitable Spirit Enables Millions Of Bruised

And Dispossessed Women To Keep Going, And Succeed

God's Spirit [a] doesn't make cowards out of us.

The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7

Kudos to the Huffington Post! I thank God for this, another eye opening moment shared in the Huffington Post and published by World Vision, Sue Mbaya, Advocacy Director for Africa.

On March 8, 2009 12:24 PM in celebration of International Women's Day.
Immediately as I look at the slide show I remember the scripture that reminds me that God hasn’t given us/me/you the spirit of fear but of peace and a sound mind!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power,
of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

(New International Version - UK)

The women in the slide show are resilient, determined not to let life’s adversities strangle their lives, nor their children. Read this article in the Huffington Post; weep, if you must, but feel let your pride crescendo-swell in your spirit and be assured that the power that takes residence in their soul is real, it’s evident! These victorious women have overcome-they experienced brutality to the tenth degree. They are farming their lands, teaching their children, building an economic base to sustain their livelihood with the help of World Visions and more importantly living out their lives with an indomitable strength for the world to see.

Remember today’s word is indomitable meaning: strong, unconquerable, resolute, determined, resolute and invincible! God desires that we celebrate these women and be encouraged in our hearts that we too are indomitable! Like them we are overcomers! Stand in the mirror; see your reflection and speak life, God's sustaining affirmation's to yourself saying:

“With God’s strength I am strong!”

“With God’s strength I am unconquerable!”

“With God’s strength I am resolute!”

“With God’s strength I am determined!”

“With God’s strength I am resolute!”

“With God’s strength I am invincible!”

“And with God I am never alone and abandoned!”

"Scripture assures me that I have a spirit of boldness,

power, love and a sound mind!"

My friends, you too can be soul-survivors as you confidently trust God, abound through difficulties assured that you won't die in the wilderness, spiritually equipped to live! Live free with reservations! Thank you Sue Mbaya, Advocacy Director for Africa for sharing your inspirational testimony about the resilient Congolese women. God bless you and World Vision's great endeavors. I pray readers will feel moved to support World Vision with prayers, wonderful gifts/supplies/resources and needed finances. To the people of the world with a vision for greater good and those that believe in this mission -keep making great strides!

Photos of women impacted positively by World Visions

"International Women’s Day - Economic opportunities for women help families thrive"

Pleased to Share,

Linda Mose Meadows, Author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/