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Take
Jesus with You
By Teresa Kindred
When
it comes to vacations and traveling, religion often gets left at
home. We use excuses like these; "Vacations are for
relaxing and having fun, not going to church. We're in a strange
city. We don't know where a church is. We'll go when we get back
home. In other words we only go to church when it is convenient.
What kind of message does that convey to our children? Children
learn by example. When we make excuses not to go to church we
are showing our children that God is not our first priority. Our
own personal wants and needs come first. Taking your religion
with you when you travel doesn't have to be a hassle. Here are
eight ways to help keep Jesus with you on your journey.
1. Begin your vacation the same way you should begin your day,
with prayer. Have a family prayer before you leave home and ask
God to watch over your house while you are away from it. There
are bumper stickers that say, "God is my co-pilot.' I'm not
crazy about the bumper stickers but I can't think of anyone else
I'd rather have with me while I travel. Let your children know
Jesus is with you wherever you go.
Ask the Lord to keep you safe as you travel. Stop at a roadside
park and have a prayer with a picnic. So many times we are in
such a hurry to get to our destination that we miss the wonder
of God's world as we travel through it. Stop and smell the roses
along the highway, even if it means you arrive a few hours
later. You may be more relaxed and enjoy the trip more if you
don't rush.
2. Pack your Bible. It's more important than your toothbrush or
your underwear and yet it often gets left at home. Take God's
word with you and while you are relaxing on the deck, or when
you're having morning coffee, let God talk to you.
3. Include worship time in your schedule. While you are on
vacation don't plan a tour that leaves at 9:00 a.m. Sunday
morning if church starts at ten. God makes time for you whenever
you need Him. Put Him first on your list of things to do.
4. Don't wait until the last minute to find a place of worship.
Ask at the hotel desk for a directory of churches. If you can't
obtain a list that way call the Chamber of Commerce or look in
the phone book.
5. Get good directions. There's nothing worse than being all
dressed up, packed in a car with anxious kids, and getting lost.
Make sure you know where you are going before you get in the
car. Have the directions written down along with a phone number
in case you still manage to get lost.
6. Take you kids to Sunday school. Often parents think that if
they make it to church while they are on vacation they deserve a
pat on the back. Little children get more from Sunday school
than they do church. It allows them active participation and
gives them a chance to make new friends.
7. You don't have to be in church to worship. One of the most
memorable services I ever attended was at a cousin's beach
house. There's nothing like the ocean for background music and
inspiration. When we sang "How Great Thou Art" all I
had to do was look at those mighty waters and feel His presence.
Worship can be any time, any place. "For where two or three
are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them." (Matt. 18:20 KJV)
8. Share Jesus with others. There are people all over the world
that don't know Jesus. Don't be afraid to share Him. Invite
someone you met at the pool to go to church with you, or to come
over for an evening prayer service. Your vacation may give you
new opportunities to share the love of our Lord with someone who
desperately needs it. When we invite Jesus into our lives we
don't invite him to come only on Sundays. He is with us every
hour of every day. Take Jesus with you
wherever you go. Your journey will be happier and your children
will remember all their lives the importance of taking Jesus
with them wherever they may go.
This article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the author.
©Copyright 2001 |
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