Pack a Travel Bag for 'Rough Road'

Dianne Barker's practical approach always makes me smile. In this Lifestyle UPGRADE, she encourages the wise choice to prepare now for any bumpy roads ahead.

"'Slow… rough road ahead.' A huge orange sign alerted me to upcoming danger," Diane says.

I (Dawn) never expected the rough road of terminal disease to rearrange all the elements of my life, but on that road, I also discovered God had already built into my life all I would need to face the struggle. Dianne's insight here is rock solid!

Dianne continues . . .

I saw the warning just in time to change direction and avoid the jagged route.

Life doesn’t afford us the courtesy of a caution sign.

Unexpectedly, we find ourselves on a precarious journey with no alternative course. If we’d just had advance warning!

• That dreaded diagnosis putting everything on hold.
• That surprise announcement the company is downsizing and we’re being let go.
• That family situation that disrupts all relationships.

Rough Road. And sometimes a long road.

A wise driver keeps crucial supplies in the car—flashlight with extra batteries, a blanket or quilt, and water.

Have you packed a travel bag for life emergencies?

My emergency travel bag is filled with God’s Word, and I began packing it as a young mom with many needs.

Memorizing Scripture related to my needs not only changed my thinking and my habits but also gave me a dependable supply of truth to navigate rough road.

Encountering a wall of worry, I relied on 2 Chronicles 16:9 to get me through it.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him…”

Skidding across a patch of discouragement, I held firmly to Joshua 1:9.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

At a mammoth pothole of impossibility, I grasped Matthew 19:26 for stability.

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Hovering at a ravine of hopelessness, I caught hold of Jeremiah 32:17 to steer me away from the cliff.

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

I’ve been all those places. Had it not been for truth packed in my travel bag, who knows where I would have landed?

If you’re traveling a smooth road today, use this time to pack your travel bag with truth to carry you through the bumpy places ahead.

This will get you started.

1. God is faithful. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
2. He will be with me. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
3. Whatever he allows to touch my life will be for my good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Continuing the journey, I don’t know what peril lies before me. But I know this:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’ (Lamentations 3:22-24).

What truths have you packed in your travel bag to give stability, courage, and hope when you encounter rough road?

Dianne Barker is a speaker, radio host, and author of 11 books, including the best-selling Twice Pardoned and award-winning I Don’t Chase the Garbage Truck Down the Street in My Bathrobe Anymore! Organizing for the Maximum Life. She’s a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, and Word Weavers International. Visit www.diannebarker.com.

Graphic Adapted, from Road Traffic Signs.

Shining Your Light in Today's Darkness

Kathi Macias is a prolific writer with great heart. Her novels inspire and other writings teach God's truth with power. In this Influence UPGRADE, she seeks to change our cultural focus from frustration to faith, and remind us to shine for Jesus.

"The Bible declares that the darkness cannot comprehend (or overcome) the light (John 1:5)," Kathi says. "Sadly, some Christians have become so focused on the darkness that they seem to have forgotten this great promise."

I (Dawn) have often been reminded by the Lord to "shine." I've often joked that this is because of my name; but the truth is, the light I want to reflect is the light of my Savior—Jesus, the Light of the world (John 8:12). That's the light our dark world needs to see!

Kathi continues . . .

When I became a born-again believer in 1974, I immediately began to question my previously held concepts of nearly everything, including politics. By the time the next Presidential election came around, I found myself voting based on my new worldview.

Since then, I haven’t budged far from that position, and yet the past few years have caused me to seriously examine how I daily live out that worldview.

Sadly, I concluded that though I was standing on ground that represented biblical principles, I wasn’t always modeling those principles in a godly way.

Something tells me I’m not alone in coming to that conclusion.

In our currently divided and politically-charged society, I regularly meet Christians who, whether they agree with my position or not, struggle with reconciling their political stance (and resulting actions) with their Christianity. And that’s okay. Their struggle tells me they truly want to be Christ-like in all areas of their lives, including politics.

However, I have a much greater problem dealing with those who are absolutely certain their stand is the only possible one a Christian can take, despite the fact that other sincere believers may have a different view.

In considering and praying about this situation, I continually return to John 1:5:

“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overcome] it.”

This first chapter of John is about Jesus (“the light”) entering a world of sin (“the darkness”) and, despite all resistance, prevailing to rescue those trapped in that darkness. How did He do that?

Put simply, the Light is so much greater than the darkness.

Few Christians would argue that point, knowing Jesus is the Light and has already overcome the darkness—not by condemning those caught in the darkness, but rather by extending His Light to them in a free offer of love. And, that, of course, is the key.

We too are called to be light in this dark world (Matthew 5:16), shining brightly so as to attract others and show them the way to escape.

But do we more effectively do that by continually proclaiming the evils of darkness . . . or by declaring the great unconditional love found only in the Light?

The answer, of course, is evident: We are called to emulate Christ, who walked in love, even toward those He knew would betray Him.

So how do we apply that fact to our own lives, specifically to our political stand, whatever that may be? We learn to recognize and overcome the darkness.

Just because we have joined ourselves to the Light doesn’t mean we can’t be influenced by darkness.

The moment we take our eyes from the light, darkness will make its move.

It is up to us to consciously choose to walk daily in the Light of Christ, dispelling the darkness around us.

Ephesians 5 provides us with three simple steps to do so.

1. Walk in love.

We walk in love by being “imitators of God as dear children,” loving others “as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (v.2).

Christ gave Himself for us and requires that same giving from us.

He set the bar so high that we can never reach it in our own strength or ability. We are completely dependent on Him, and we must be continually mindful of that.

2. Walk in light.

We walk in light by remembering that:

“[we] were once darkness, but now [we] are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light” (vv. 8-13).

Ah, there it is: The only way to dispel the evils of darkness, which enslave unbelievers and keep them from God, is to shine light—the Light of Christ—in our daily lives.

We must be driven by a desire to deliver the words found in verse 14: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

It is doubtful others will receive that message from us if we are speaking words of prideful criticism or pushing argumentative positions, whether biblically correct or not.

3. Walk in wisdom.

How do we walk in wisdom? Verses 15-17 declare,

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

God’s will is never for us to add to the darkness, but rather to shine our light, everywhere and all the time. And that, of course, brings us back to regularly spending time with Him, sitting at His feet, learning from Him, and allowing His Spirit to direct our ways and our words.

In conclusion, as we necessarily walk through this time of political tumult and confusion, may we:

• Learn to spend our time lighting candles rather than cursing the darkness,
• praying rather than condemning, and
• offering of ourselves instead of criticizing others.

Do you struggle with shining your light for Jesus in our wicked culture or divisive political scene? How does the scripture's reminders to walk in love, walk in the light and walk in wisdom give you encouragement and direction?

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 60 books and ghostwritten several others. Kathi won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel Red Ink won the 2011 Golden Scrolls Novel of the Year Award and was also a finalist for a Carol Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al. You can learn more about her and her books/ministry at www.kathimacias.com.

Upgrade Your Move: Tips for Making Moving Smoother

Morgan Farr is an exceptional young woman spiritually and practically. She accomplishes much because she is wise and organized. In this Organization UPGRADE, she tackles the tough job of moving, and gives us some of her best tips.  

"I am about to embark on my tenth move in the ten years since I graduated from high school," Morgan says, "and I think I get better with each and every move!"

I (Dawn) moved many times as a "Navy brat" and it could get chaotic. But I saw my mom become a pro-packer! I know how important helpful moving tips can be.

Morgan continues . . .  

I am a Army wife. People know that those of us in military families move A LOT. I happen to be an expert in relocating from one place to another since only four of my last ten moves have been with the military.

Sure, moving can be a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster or a complete disruption to your family. During each of our moves, I try to focus on creative solutions and neat living to help make things easier.

I want to solve the problem, not be the problem. 

Here are some of my absolute favorite tips and tricks to help solve common moving  problems. 

Physical Tips  

1. Use sandwich-, quart- and gallon-size Ziplock bags like they are going out of style. 

I put all of my markers, crayons, glue sticks and the like inside Ziplock bags and then they can be easily packed into boxes. When you get to your new house, get your craft area set up and just dump the bags inside when it is convenient for you.

I do the same thing with makeup, screws, nails, hair stuff, silverware and snacks.    

2. Use Glad Press'n Seal Wrap (not just normal cellophane!) for puzzles. 

Completely wrap children’s puzzles, including the base. For adult puzzles place the Press'n Seal around the open box then place the lid properly. This helps to ensure that all the puzzle pieces stay together even if they get dropped or tipped over.

3. In the weeks leading up to the move, purge, purge, and purge again.

If you aren’t going to use a particular item in the future, don’t move it. Go through your closet and get rid of clothes you won’t wear. Donate the clothing your children have outgrown. Sort out the books that  you will never read again.

You can get your kids involved by having them do things like clean out old pens and markers. Set them up with paper and your bucket of pins and markers, have them test each one and throw away the dry ones.

Sort out the books that you will never read again. This will help you to feel accomplished and will minimize the amount of things you have to pack and then move to your new location.  

4. When getting ready to move I clean out one room first.

This room then becomes the staging room—my base of operations. All important papers, suitcases, Bibles, phone chargers, and things that you don’t want packed go into this room.

This room is also a great place to crate pets so they don’t accidentally get out of the house, especially if you have movers or friends in the mix.

Then I put a LARGE and obnoxiously bright sign on the door stating that this room is off limits.

Having a base of operations will help you to be more grounded and less likely to make mistakes.  

Mentality Tips  

1. Dale Carnegie said, “If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

The best time to start prepping to move is the day you find out you are moving.

Do not fall prey to the idol of procrastination. Get up and get going on the things that you can control now.  

2. Create a master list of all the things that need to be done.

The first time you write this list, just dump it all on the paper in whatever order it comes to mind. Things you might include are: turning off utilities at the old house, turning on the utilities at the new house, getting medical records, patching nail holes, forwarding your mail and the like.

Once you have it all on the list, then rewrite the list in the order that the things need to be done. Many people want to skip this step, but I would STRONGLY encourage you not to. If it is in the order that it needs to be done, you are less likely to forget an item.  

3. Eat right.

Don’t fall prey to the idea that you are moving so now you should eat junk. Keep a crockpot out and make solid dinners in your old house and your new one.

Use paper plates and plastic cutlery. It will help you feel physically better and you will save money.  

4. Keep a Bible unpacked.

Don’t allow a move to disrupt your spiritual life.

When we move, I make certain that my husband, kids, and I have our time in the Word just like we do every other day.

Moving can be a mess, but staying wrapped in the Word of God can help you keep a proper perspective.    

Remember that your Christian witness is not put on hold because you are moving.

• Be kind to the people helping you move.
• Thank your real estate agent.
• Pray before you walk into your house for the first time as a family.

Every single person that you interact with is getting a taste of Jesus through your actions… or they should be.

Let your light for Christ shine even when things are challenging. You never know who may be impacted by your kindness.  

What are your favorite tips and tricks to make moving better? 

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Currently stationed in San Diego, California, this Army wife is working to better love her husband, develop her three small children, and learning more about homseschooling. Morgan is a homemaker who dedicates her time to ministering to other Army wives through Bible studies, one-on-one mentoring, and physical training. Morgan writes about her transition out of feminism and into biblical womanhood on her blog, The Forgiven Former Feminist. You can find her training programs, nutritional information and meal plans on her blog,  Farr Functional Fitness.

Graphic courtesy of Hitcom at Pixabay.