While we were in Colorado, we rode horses and often we rode through the mountains and forests on these narrow, narrow trails. It was a bit scary for me because not only did I want to make sure my horse stayed on the path, I also wanted to make sure the rest of my family stayed on the path. I often looked back to make sure that everyone was ok and that no one's horse had slipped off the path.
A verse came to mind as I was traveling along those narrow paths:
Matthew 7:14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
An interesting thing about the woods in Colorado is that it is not very pretty. It really made me appreciate our lush green forests that we have in Shades and Turkey Run. The forests in Colorado had a lot of dead and dying brush and trees; not a lot of green...not a lot of life. Granted, they have the mountains, just not beautiful forests.
As I put the two together, the narrow path and the dead and dying all around, I thought of it being much like the parables of the narrow road and the fruits of the vine.
Matthew 7:13-15 says “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
I thought about me being on that narrow path and not wanting to get off of it and not wanting my loved ones to fall either because along the narrow path are the dead and dying...they are perishing. Sometimes we would navigate steep hills will loose rocks and sometimes a horse would slip...but it would get back on the path. Sometimes the horse would do what it wanted to do and venture a different direction and we'd have to work extra hard to get it back on that path.
And all of that dead and dying brush are perfect ingredients for a forest fire. That made me think of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazaraus and Smokey the Bear, "only you can prevent forest fires." Only you can decide if you are going to stay on the path!
I think of the narrow road verse often as I'm out and about...seems to come to mind every time I am at Wal-mart for some reason. And at ballgames.
We are not to judge people or their hearts but we will know them by their fruits.
Galatians 5:22-23 says But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
It's a dark, dark world out there and it seems that fewer and fewer are choosing the narrow path. It's not easy but it is filled with blessings.
A verse came to mind as I was traveling along those narrow paths:
Matthew 7:14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
An interesting thing about the woods in Colorado is that it is not very pretty. It really made me appreciate our lush green forests that we have in Shades and Turkey Run. The forests in Colorado had a lot of dead and dying brush and trees; not a lot of green...not a lot of life. Granted, they have the mountains, just not beautiful forests.
As I put the two together, the narrow path and the dead and dying all around, I thought of it being much like the parables of the narrow road and the fruits of the vine.
Matthew 7:13-15 says “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
I thought about me being on that narrow path and not wanting to get off of it and not wanting my loved ones to fall either because along the narrow path are the dead and dying...they are perishing. Sometimes we would navigate steep hills will loose rocks and sometimes a horse would slip...but it would get back on the path. Sometimes the horse would do what it wanted to do and venture a different direction and we'd have to work extra hard to get it back on that path.
And all of that dead and dying brush are perfect ingredients for a forest fire. That made me think of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazaraus and Smokey the Bear, "only you can prevent forest fires." Only you can decide if you are going to stay on the path!
I think of the narrow road verse often as I'm out and about...seems to come to mind every time I am at Wal-mart for some reason. And at ballgames.
We are not to judge people or their hearts but we will know them by their fruits.
Galatians 5:22-23 says But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
It's a dark, dark world out there and it seems that fewer and fewer are choosing the narrow path. It's not easy but it is filled with blessings.
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