My first attempt at writing a blog. Scary, I know!
I figured to kick things off, it would be a good idea to let you know where the name, Confessions From A Pilgrim, comes from. If you're anything like me, when the word pilgrim is mentioned, your mind automatically jumps to men and women in traditional black and white outfits gathered around the first Thanksgiving meal. And, as much as I love Thanksgiving (it may be my favorite holiday, actually), I assure you this blog is not meant to be about turkey and cranberries!
Webster's actually defines a pilgrim as, 'one who journeys in foreign lands.'
Guess what? That's me!
No, I'm not from outside America. Nor am I even from north of the Mason-Dixon line. (Which if I had been, I think many of my fellow southerners would say automatically qualifies me as a foreigner!)
But as a child of God, the Bible tells me this world is not my home.
John 14:2-3 'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'
In fact, the word pilgrim is used in reference to the great men and women of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:13 'These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.'
These pilgrims were persuaded by something bigger than themselves, something that kept them going when they didn't always know the answers. A promise, like in John 14:2-3, that reminded them of their pilgrimage.
And I don't know about you friend, but that's exactly the type of reminder I need. I've found myself distracted by material and temporal things and worrying about stuff that, in the end, really doesn't matter. But when I'm reminded that I'm a pilgrim, my priorities and outlook on things suddenly have a way of changing. So I had a bad day at work today. Who did I share the good news of Jesus with? So I still live at home. Look at the money I am saving and am able to give to missions. The list could go on.
I want my focus to be on things of value. Things of purpose. Things of meaning.
I recently heard a song that was an encouragement to me and spoke of this same focused, purpose-filled life. Part of the lyrics say, 'don't turn aside, no compromise, just lift your eyes to the glory that's coming.'
It's my desire with this blog to use the gifts God has given me and share stories that encourage you to keep pressing on. I'd love to have you join with me on my pilgrimage and, in the end when we finally reach home, it's my prayer that we all hear the words, 'well done, thou good and faithful servant.'
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(Click below to listen to the full song referenced above. I found out the title of the song after I already had been working on this blog.....goose bumps!)
