Our connection to Alaska began in 1991. Tanya’s sister, Melanie, her husband, JD, and Syble, Tanya, and Melanie’s mom caravaned two vehicles from Texas to Glennallen, Alaska. They, JD and Melanie, had accepted positions as teachers. Tanya and I flew up for a two-week vacation at the end of their first year.
In 1993, we moved to “a place I (God) will show you.” That place was Fairbanks, Alaska. We stayed there for four years.
We have journeyed to Alaska to visit JD, Melanie, and Jessica, not all, but nearly every year since then. Jessica was born on Kodiak Island.
JD and Melanie spend most of the year in Nacogdoches, Texas. They have a cabin on Bonnie Lake, about two hours north of Anchorage. Jessica lives in Burbank, California, and works in the film industry. Tanya and I moved to Lufkin, Texas, this past year.
After several years of not visiting Alaska, Tanya and I flew up to stay in the cabin for the first time in 2021. A much-needed trip after the Covid shutdown of 2020 that extended into 2021. We came up again last year after a challenging move from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Lufkin, Texas. Now, here we are again.
I was coming to Alaska to catch up on some reading and to work on my next book. Then a week ago, I attended a men’s retreat hosted by our church, MosaicNac, in Nacogdoches, Texas. When my good friend, John Foster, asked what I’d be doing, I told him, reading and working on my next book.
On Saturday of the retreat, we had the assignment to find a quiet place and journal what we heard the Lord telling us. God showed up, and He and I talked for about 50 minutes. Mostly the Lord spoke, and I wrote. I share some of those thoughts with you now. Perhaps, some of this may meet you where you are.
I am what God has done. He has redeemed me. I am in His dwelling place, a trophy snatched from the hands of the enemy. To be brought out and spoken of as worthy of His investment. He is invested in me.
I am His. And He is mine. We speak of “our” Father. He is my Father. He is my Saviour, my Friend, my Brother, for we share our Father. He is my Brother, my elder Brother.
He tells me, “All I have is yours.” I can trust Him with all I have; my life, my wife, and my pocketbook. Lord, I yield to you. From You are all things, and to You are all things.
He says, “My children!”
You, Lord, have placed me in a good place. You brought me out of a dry place and replanted me in a fertile place. The place we are in needs tending.
You, oh Lord, gave me this journaling assignment to hear Your voice. This is to prepare me for our trip to Alaska with the Granbury and Dallas/Fort Worth stops along the way.
Lord, I need to hear Your voice. Always! And in all things.
If I am to write, and I trust and believe I am. Then, Lord, I need to hear Your Word. God breathed Word. Not my own voice.
Moment by moment, listen first. Then speak. “The voice I’m giving you is a new voice. Listen to what I say. Then only speak what I give you. You are not to speak to please others or to gain acceptance or gain attention or gain place. Your place is in Me. Your acceptance is in Me. I have purchased you. You are marked with My marks. You are My sheep.”
“I ask you only to scatter seeds. i will plant them is good soil. Some seeds that you scatter will do as the seeds in My parable of the sower. Trust Me.”
“Sufficient for each day are my resources for that day. As sufficient as each breath I give you and each beat of your heart. I have more to give you than you can imagine or comprehend. Trust Me.”
“I do not run out of ideas. I am the creator of all that is. I share My ideas with you. Listen to me.”
“I connect all things together. ALL things. Hear me! All things work together for good. To those who love Me and are called according to My purposes.”
“I say this to you this day, Listen to Me. My words are life. In Me all you need is available. Reside in Me and all your needs will be met. I’m your resource.”
“Give the seed time to take root. Life is in the seed. I will bring life to the seed I’ve planted in you.”
So, What am I doing in Alaska? Listening, trusting Him, yielding to Him, and writing. And resting.
Until next time, I pray God bless you, dear reader, and may He grant you, Grace and Peace.
Spiritual Wanderings 