Tag encouragement

The Road Already Traveled

Allen Frederick Leave a comment



The snow had fallen heavy across the fields, a white blanket covering everything in sight. Yet as I drove my route, the roads beneath my tires were clear. Someone had gone before me. Road crews had braved the cold, plowed the snow, and laid down salt so I could travel safely. I didn’t see their labor, but I reaped its benefit.

That picture stayed with me: the unseen work of those who prepare the way. And I realized—it’s not just true of winter roads. It’s true of the life of faith.

Scripture tells us we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Men and women of faith who endured hardship, persecution, and trials have gone before us. They cleared the path, leaving behind testimonies of endurance and courage. Their footprints mark the way, showing us it can be done.

Paul could say at the end of his journey, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). His words are like mile markers on the road, encouraging us to press on. The prophets, apostles, martyrs, reformers, and even faithful family members who walked with Christ—they all labored so we could travel confidently along the pathway they laid.

And here’s where the “comfort angel” comes in. Paul also writes that God comforts us in our affliction “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). That’s the ministry of comfort: what once was frightening becomes manageable because someone else has already walked it, received God’s mercy, and left behind encouragement. Their testimony is like salt on icy roads, turning danger into safe passage.

Just as I thanked the road crews for their unseen work, I thank God for those who prepared the way of faith before me. Their endurance clears my doubts. Their testimony salts the icy patches of fear. Their example plows through the drifts of discouragement.

And now, the responsibility is ours. We are not only travelers—we are road crews for those who will come after. Our faithfulness today prepares tomorrow’s pathway. Our endurance becomes encouragement for the next generation.

So drive forward with confidence. The road is not uncharted. It has been traveled, tested, and proven. And as we follow Christ, we prepare the way for others to follow Him too—comforting them with the same comfort we ourselves have received.

We can travel the road of faith with confidence because of those who’ve cleared the way.

Failure Proof

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

1 Peter 12425.jpg (550x366 pixels)

People fail, businesses fail, companies fail, economies fail, governments fail, nations fail but one thing guaranteed to never fail is God’s word. Invest in it, trust in it, put stock in it, believe in it, hope in it. You will not be disappointed. In the end hope in God will give you a heavenly feeling, and raise you up to even greater heights.

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This Weeks Golden Eagle Award Winner: McKay Hatch

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

On June 1st, 2008, almost one year after starting the No Cussing Club, 15
Year Old, McKay Hatch, received a “Well Done Award” from Kingdom
Assignment.  KA’s founders, Denny and Leesa Bellesi, gained
national recognition for their work on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

For the complete story, click on the Orange County Register links below:

1. “Quit your cussing!”

2. “Syesha slips into Anaheim award show”

Kudos to this young man for making his school a better place and actually making the students at his school better students.

McKay says: “Our members take the No Cussing Challenge,
which is a commitment to themselves to use better language.  This
commitment not only improves their lives but also the world around
them.  Through our motto, “Leave People Better Than You Found
Them” our members are also looking for opportunities everyday to
help people and lift them up through their words and actions.”

Love the idea McKay, I think us adults may wish to join your club. So for this McKay becomes this weeks Golden Eagle Award winner. Way to soar like an eagle McKay!

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I Quit My Job Today

Allen Frederick 4 Comments

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A view from the nest www.eagleviews.org

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3
 “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee” KJV

Most people do not rejoice in the fact that they just quit a job. I have to admit though I am pretty comfortable with my decision. It is not like I have never quit a job before. Sometimes we let the unknown keep us from walking in the light we currently have. We want to know the end result before we take the first step on a whole new adventure. God does not always give us the whole picture but he does provide enough light to light our initial steps. Start walking in that light and then keep on following the light.

By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. Neh 9:12 (ESV)

Many people go through life never experiencing all that God has for them. They are held captive by their fears of the unknown. They are kept on the far side of the Jordan River. Rather than crossing over they much prefer to stand and look. Look at the things God promised. Look at the place God would have them to be. Look at an uncertain future. They chose to remain where they were.

For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.” Numbers 32:19 (ESV)

Jesus clearly said “Follow me”. There has to be a willingness to follow, within us, in order to obey that commandment. He once told a rich man to sell all he had and follow him. The rich man went away weeping because he had great riches. (Matt 19:16-22) Sometimes our possessions keeps us from possessing the greatest gift God has to offer, faith and trust in His son Jesus. Without a total dependence on Jesus to lead us where He wants us to go, we will never reach the place God has prepared for us.

It took a while for Caleb and Joshua to reach the promised land. They had certainly marched around it for many years. All that time they were able to look into the land but never able to actually possess it. This was a promise made to Abraham and his descendants. Moses had come to rescue the people from Egyptian bondage to be taken into their inheritance. God wanted to give them all that he had promised them. God wanted to bless them beyond measure. Israel stood on the banks of the Jordan river and was able to scout out the land but because of their fear and unbelief they had lost the opportunity to actually possess the promise. (Numbers 13 & 14)

Age has a tendency to teach us lessons we would not normally learn had we not gotten older. Joshua and Caleb never gave up on the idea that one day they were going to actually taste of the goodness of God’s promise. They never gave up hoping that one day they would enter into the land. They knew God to be faithful and they knew he would never promise something he did not intend to deliver.

They knew that with God all things were possible. However on the first go around they were outnumbered by all the voices who cried out not to go. God said go, the people said no. It is difficult to overcome the deafening cries of the majority. It can be difficult to hear that still small voice of God when he says peace be still. The roar of the thunder can drown out the whisper of God’s spirit. Whatever the reason, many have missed their opportunity to cross over to the place God had planned for them, to receive the blessings He has in store, which He is more than willing to bestow.

I wonder how many blessings we miss out on by simply saying no when God says go? Do you ever stop and contemplate such things? Well I have to admit that I am thinking today about what I may have already missed by refusing to step out and walk into the promises God gave me years ago. I hope I am not too old to still experience the promise. I am not looking for riches. I had riches. They did not satisfy. I am not looking for a career for I have a calling from God. I have a purpose, a promise, a place prepared for me that only He can provide. All I have to do is step out and follow.

Even though assured of God’s presence the Israelites could not shake the feeling that they were nothing compared to those they saw before them. Fear had overcome them because of the report of the spies. In order to possess all that God promised I, like the Israelites, need to conquer the giants standing in the way of my blessing. We set up obstacles to our blessings in our own minds. We look at the outward appearance of things rather than relying on the Spirit of God to lead us. We listen too often to the naysayer instead of to what God says.

I want to. I really do want to. I have thought about it for years. I even had some opportunities to look into that which God promised. I even got to taste of the goodness of that land. Perhaps now is the time to step out, step in, cross over and do it.

So I quit my job today in order to be all I can be in God. I left a career to follow the call. He said come follow me and I finally said okay. When God says go, do not say no.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)