How does one live without expectations and anticipations? Yet this was our Word from YHVH last year. Every time we thought we were going one direction YHVH changed our plans and sent us another direction; at times it was frustrating, other times annoying, but through it all we thought we managed pretty well.

This year the Word from YHVH is to live in the NOW! This too, is proving to be a difficult task as we are so prone to drift back into the past or reach forward into the future. The future being one second beyond where one is right now and the past is only one second from where one is at this moment. But the NOW is where YHVH is and He wants us to be right here with Him, right NOW!

We do have a tentative schedule, which is subject to change. It is a constant reminder to self to live in the NOW while laying down our expectations and anticipations. When one has expectations and anticipations of how things may or should turn out and they don’t turn out as expected, this then can become fertile playground for the devil to play his dirty tricks with our emotions planting seeds of resentment, bitterness, anger, hatred, jealousy, vengeance, etc.

Did Yashua go to the execution stake with expectations that His disciples would stand by Him during His darkest, but most triumphant hour? If He had, His expectations would have gone unmet for all His disciples fled from His presence. Yashua loved and served without expectations, because He wanted to remain relational. If we have expectations and they go unmet we will, I guarantee it, not be able to remain relational.

“But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25 (ESV) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jer 17:9-10 (KJV)

It is always a temptation to pull from the past and/or press into the future, but YHVH wants us to live in the NOW with Him. So, for us, we begin the great adventure of NOW 2018! Come on along the journey with us!

May 7

We left our place in Lucedale, Mississippi just before 11:00 a.m. The evening before we had been invited to share Harp and Story with the First United Methodist congregation in Lucedale; they were so surprised to find that we lived in Lucedale for the pastor had found us on the internet and asked us to come present for his congregation if we ever found ourselves traveling through the southeast corner of Mississippi! It was a wonderful evening spent with beautiful folks!

We were blessed on our way with hugs and prayers from friends both long-time and new, which we appreciate so much! Don’t stop, it’s a rough world out here!

We are currently parked at Trace State Park in Belden, Mississippi. Steve got a real dose of remaining relational in the midst of a trial when the left front leveling jack refused to co-operate. Nothing like on-the-job training! We spent the evening with the always delightful, “so glad to be with you” Turner family. I just love sharing joyful moments when you are glad to be with someone and they are glad to be with you!

As this Travel Journal progresses we will share about remaining relational, living in the NOW, avoiding narcissistic behavior and loving one’s enemies no matter what. Stay tuned!

Prayer need: Last year we had to replace the right front leveling jack, now it seems that the left front leveling jack is malfunctioning. If this indeed turns out to need replacing please pray for time and opportunity to get this task accomplished.

Thank you so much for your love and support!