Tag spiritual

Same Road, Different Direction

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Imagine a mountain road stretching out before you—a long, winding ribbon of asphalt clinging to the rugged side of the earth. It twists and turns, doubling back on itself like a traveler trying to recall where they lost their way. From one perspective, it feels like an uphill climb; from another, it seems like a steady descent. This is the same road, yet the direction you take is a choice.

Life on this planet is rarely a straight path. We all navigate a landscape filled with mountains to climb, valleys to cross, rocky crags to avoid, and stretches of emptiness where the horizon seems to forget your name. Anyone claiming to have walked a perfectly straight path likely hasn’t traveled far enough to encounter the switchbacks.

The Reality of Switchbacks

Switchbacks are those sharp reversals in the road that feel like setbacks. They are the seasons when it seems you’re moving backward, the moments when the path bends so sharply you wonder if God missed a turn. Yet, every switchback is part of the climb. Every reversal is a disguised rise. Every moment that feels like a step back is lifting you higher.

James captures this truth beautifully: “The trying of your faith worketh patience. And patience, when fully developed, leads to spiritual maturity and completeness.” (James 1:3–4). This scripture reminds us that completeness is the summit we aim for—not comfort, not ease, nor the illusion of a straight path.

The Road Is Lit

Here’s a crucial truth we often overlook: the road is lit. Every curve, every cliff, every dangerous edge, every place where the mountain presses in and the drop-off yawns wide is illuminated. If you turn off the lights, this road becomes a graveyard. One missed curve, one blind corner, one moment of darkness—and you’re lost.

But when the way is lit, the impossible becomes navigable. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse assures us that God’s Word lights our way even in the darkest moments.

Walking Through Darkness

Some have known darkness all too well. They have walked miles in it, surviving by instinct and grit, bruised by hard knocks. They stumble forward because stumbling is all they’ve ever known—not because they rejected the Light, but because no one told them that the Light of the World has come.

Often, wounds, betrayals, losses, and disappointments snuff out hope, leaving people wandering in a night they never asked for, haunted by the question: “Why is God doing this to me?” Tragically, they blame the very One who came to rescue them from the darkness.

John 1:5 reminds us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This truth offers hope to those lost in despair.

The Beginning of Light Starts at the Cross

Wisdom, hope, and light all begin at the Cross. Without Christ’s resurrection, as Paul said, we are the most miserable of all. Hopeless, directionless, lost on a winding mountain road in total darkness.

But the Light has come. The Gospel shines. The path can be lit.

Yet, the choice remains ours.

We can continue sliding downhill into old patterns and the familiar bondage we once begged God to deliver us from, or we can turn around, repent, and start climbing again.

Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Lessons from Israel’s Journey

Israel had light in the darkness—a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. Yet, they longed for Egypt, the “good old days” of slavery, chains mistaken for comfort, and bondage called familiarity.

Though the wilderness seemed endless, it was not. There was an endgame, a Promised Land, a summit.

And that promise remains for us today.

The road is winding, the climb is steep, and the switchbacks are real—but the path is lit.

Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

The only question left is this: which direction will you choose?

Altar Call: The Turnaround

If you have been walking in darkness, stumbling forward on instinct, surviving instead of truly living, or longing for the familiar chains of Egypt because the climb feels too hard, hear this:

You can turn around.

You can choose the Light. You can choose the climb. You can choose the Way—because the Way chose you first.

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

If you are ready to step out of the shadows, to stop wandering, and to walk a well-lit road that leads upward toward completeness, then right where you are, whisper the simplest prayer a human heart can pray:

“Lord, show me the way.”

He will. He always does.

Same road. Different direction. Choose the Light. Choose the climb. Choose the summit.

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)

Aha Moments

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Spiritual Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1 & 2 (NKJV)

epiph11cepiph·a·ny 3 a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b: a revealing scene or moment

Have you ever had one of those aha moments? You know the ones, where all of a sudden a light goes off and you realize the answer to a puzzle you have been trying to solve. One of those moments where something profound hits your consciousness like a freight train. You get run over from the experience. It is something you can not deny. You know it when you experience it. One of those instant enlightening moments as if someone suddenly turns the light on and you can clearly see for the first time in a long time.

To a song writer it is the “hook”. To a scientist perhaps a newly discovered gene. To the novelist, a plot twist and to a child perhaps it is the first step. To Archimedes it was the discovery of buoyancy for which he is reportedly to have shouted “Eureka”! To Isaac Newton it may have been when he got hit on the head with a falling apple. Young Albert Einstein was struck with inspiration when handed a compass and realized that some unseen force in space was making it move.

Aha moments are everywhere. They come unexpectedly most times but usually while searching. Although they appear to be sudden discoveries, they are however the eventual outcome of due diligence. Curiosity causes a ripple effect to begin. The constant searching and seeking after understanding led many a young pioneer to new discoveries and great advances in the arts and sciences. Without curiosity and the constant seeking for answers there would be no new discoveries, or aha moments to write about.

Sir Isaac Newton put it best when he said:

“I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light.”

The Christian life has unfolding moments like that, when you discover there is much more to God and his kingdom than you first knew, much more to his purpose for you than you imagined. Abraham experienced that at age 75, Moses at age 80, the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus.
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