Traveling...

I'm starting to hear friends and family talking of traveling plans for upcoming summer months.  Vacations in my extended family alone include Florida, Colorado and Hawaii.  We will be staying close to home this summer, making only a few short forays.  Of those I know who will be venturing farther from home, I'm amused by the differences in approaches to travel particularly in the area of planning...or lack of it.  Which type are you...the exploring engineer designing details of your travels or are you the spontaneous sightseer, going where your heart leads you?  Perhaps both have their own advantages, as long as you arrive safely at your desired destination. 

Life is a bit like traveling.  It is certainly a journey.  Sometimes the road of life is straight and the panorama is wonderfully breath-taking.  At other times, we encounter bumps, potholes, detours and the scenery is so scary you can't breathe.   As believers, we have to remember God's aim for the journey we take.  We have no destination in this life.  Our journey takes us through the veil from this world into the next, seamlessly.  There is no end-point really...merely transition.

 Therefore we are always confident and know that 

as long as we are at home in the body 

we are away from the Lord.   

For we live by faith, not by sight.   

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be 

away from the body and at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 

Whether we are traveling or staying home,  we are living our days in expectation of a greater destination.  While we are at home in these bodies, we long for that place where we will leave these corruptible bodies behind and enter our real home in the presence of our eternal God.  We are just traveling through this life and we are headed for our permanent home.  

Honestly, I've always been a bit of a home-body...a soul that seeks the solace of the quiet in my home. Long trips just take a toll on me, and I prefer to be right here.  But I truly don't feel that way about my body.  I have no particular discomforts for which I'm very, very thankful.  But I can sense with each passing year that my body is on the downward slide.  I look forward to heaven...I can't wait to see Jesus.  I'm glad I'm not stuck in a time-warp and I'd never wish to relive my life.  I want to keep moving, keep traveling toward my prize. 

I'm submitting both my Bible art-journaling page and this card as designs for the Mustard Seed Faith Challenge #3.  Our theme was traveling mercies, and I really hope you visit our page to read the devotional by Peggysue, our administrator.  It's so thought provoking.  And the designs by the other team members are so special...you will love their inspiration.  We invite you to play along and submit your own card following our theme...any mode of transportation. 

My little birdie here is traveling along in a sweet red wagon (Stampin' Up! image).  Oh the stories I could tell from my childhood playing with my Red Radio Flyer!  I was pulled in one, then I pulled my sister along.  I wish I knew what happened to it.   I often have wondered how we will get from one place to another in heaven...I'm sure God has something beyond thrilling in mind!

Thanks for peeking in today...and do head to our challenge blog.  We'd love to see what you submit. 

Meanwhile, I'll ask for God's traveling mercies upon you!