Greetings Church! It is hard to believe that in one month from now, my family and I will be official Florida residents.

A time of transition or preparing for a transition seems to take forever. There are so many details that one has to remember and if you forget that one seemingly mundane detail, it is like a house of cards: the rest will tumble into chaos.

Life is like a journey; we know our destination, but the travel can be rough with bumps and flat tires. We start out with so much excitement but as time goes on we grow tired. I was reminded I was reading Acts 23, about how the Apostle Paul must have felt as he sat through one imprisonment after another, not sure how he was going to get to Rome where Jesus had told him he was going. In a strange way, God was teaching Paul through a series of experiences that made him further prepare.

Life is hard. You can relate, right? You may feel every time you go for your yearly checkup or bloodwork, that the doctor will add a new medical diagnosis. Or maybe it’s financial. Just when you think you fixed everything on the car or house and are ready to enjoy life, some detour occurs. At times it makes us feel hopeless.

Sometimes God places us in situations that are terribly uncomfortable, so that we can learn,step by step, how to follow Him better for the next encounter. Paul was receiving help and assistance from the Romans to reach Rome with the Gospel and we must remember that the Gospel DID reach and transform Rome all in God’s time. God kept “giving” Paul help that didn’t look helpful, but it was!

The long and winding road of life is a journey we take together as we seek to do his will on earth.

I am excited for the journey ahead. I believe with every fiber of my being I have been on a journey of humility in Jesus. Though the road may have been winding, potholed, and mountainous, every blind curve, bump, and hill has been a lesson to prepare me for the future.

We Press On together with God’s Love!

Pastor Bruce

pastorbruce@firstchristianwpb.org