When I was nine or ten, my family took off in a station wagon one summer and headed north. Memories of deep blue skies, evergreen tree-lined roadways, and rolling sand dunes came flooding back last week as I traveled north again. The connection of a new experience with the old creates beautiful life intersections.
Childhood memories are the foundation for our future dreams. What once was, when nurtured, blossoms into memories that are better than remembered. The blue was a little bit bluer, the evergreens stretched taller along the road and the dunes were beautiful even though they were not quite as big as I remembered. A tug has been pulling on my heart to reconnect with the past to walk into what is yet to come. For over a year, I knew I needed to journey back to a state that brought happy memories of family, summer, beauty and a passage from childhood to adulthood. Each experience shapes, teaches and brings us forward into knowing more and becoming who we were meant to be.
[Tweet “Childhood memories are the foundation for our future dreams. “]
Our life intersections may look like a connection of the old with the new. They take what we know, grow it and set it free to carry us into the future. Other times, a life intersection is a change in direction from what we once knew to something brand new. At these times, our experience travels with us to provide the connection and assurance we need to journey into the unknown.
God is in every intersection, each experience and in the journeys that connect us with the unlikely. He is our guide and the Master Connector at putting all the pieces together to make the beautiful whole He calls “us”. God brought me back to a place with happy memories to remind me that what once was will be again. Childhood joy is a beautiful foundation for the journey God has planned for me. His path is sure and it will lead me ever closer to Him.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
[Tweet “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. Isaiah 55:12 “]
Knowing God, provides us with the strength and connection to make it through life’s intersections. His ways are sure and His love is unfailing. His footsteps are the guide as we choose our path and walk with certainty into the future.
May we go forth in joy because we see God in the intersections of our lives and know that He will always be there to pull us through.
What life intersections have you come to that you saw God’s Hands in every step?
Blessings of grace along the way!
Linking up with these beautiful ladies!
and Dawn for Grace Moments
Trusting Him in the intersections … and loving this right here –>’Childhood memories are the foundation for our future dreams.’
Thinking of you this weekend, friend …
Always a pleasure when you stop by. I pray your weekend was blessed and joyful. Here’s to pour childhood memories that open the way to the future and our what’s next!
My family rarely traveled anywhere when I was a child except to Grandma’s house in Mississippi, so I have few memories of trips. But I hope that my own children remember the trips that we took when they were younger. They were meaningful to me. Love this: “God is in every intersection, each experience and in the journeys that connect us with the unlikely.” Amen! Thanks, Mary.
Love that verse in Isaiah…reminded me of Psalm 126:6, “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Love that we will return with songs of joy. Glad you had a good vacation and see the Father working in your life intersections. xoxo
I love the verse too. Sure am glad you stopped by and joined me here today. Hope this new week has started off well for you.
Where does the road lead? How many times have I wished that God would put road signs in my path–go, yield, etc? Yet the truth is that God is there and intersects when and where God needs to. Great post.
Yes He does! I am always asking for the obvious road signs and find that life doesn’t work that way when God is in control. He has a beautiful road for each of us and sometimes it is clear up ahead and other times we can’t see beyond the hill. Thank you Tara for affirming what I am learning for myself.
This post comes at an interesting time for me, Mary. In September, I’m taking my Dad’s remains back to Vermont, to the little town where I grew up. I haven’t been back in 20 years. Thankfully, not much is left of the girl who left. It will be an emotional trip simply because we’ll be {formally} saying goodbye to Dad, but also for me personally. It’s never easy to go back to see family and friends who “knew you when.” I expect it will be a rather humbling experience. And that’s okay. I know God goes with me, and before me. You’re post has given me a lot to think about. I’m thankful your own experience going back was so positive! Have a blessed week, friend!
I am touched you shared your moment of going back with me. I imagine there will be a lot of lessons to be learned in that trip. I pray that this trip will become a wonderful memory because God was in all the details. Sending you love and hugs!
You’re right … Childhood experiences prepare us for the future God has for us … like stepping stones. And our faith and trust in God builds with each step. Looking back and looking forward. Yes, indeed! A beautiful puzzle!
Thank you Dianne! I love looking at life as a puzzle because there is something so satisfying in seeing the pieces come together. There is also a forward and backward motion when putting a puzzle together. If the piece doesn’t fit we put it back and try again. So glad you stopped by today. Your words blessed me.
So reassuring that God knows what he’s doing and where the path is leading, even when we don’t. The new church plant I am part of is a life intersection that I would not have planned or foreseen but where God has been clearly leading and where I am seeing so many blessings.
What a beautiful intersection, Carly! God is in the intersections and He clearly has chosen you to be part of the new church plant. What a beautiful blessing in your life. I will pray for you as you follow God’s leading and honor Him in the intersections. Blessings!
So, so grateful that He is in every in-between. In the midst of it, I know I’m prone to wonder if He’ll get me to the other side, but He is every and always faithful to pull me – us – through.
So glad to visit from #testimonytuesday today. Blessings, Mary.
God will always get us to the other side. I’m like you though and wonder at times if it will all work out. Today I am embracing gratefulness for our beautiful God who is in today and tomorrow and everything in between. Blessings and thank you for being here.
I am going through a Life intersection that requires me to be on my bed and just rest….huh do nothing…not even
School stuff.
Well the Lord is with me thank God.
Blessings to you?
Bed rest requires a lot of patience. I will be praying that you feel God in this time and let Him teach you and provide for you. Blessings!
I think this is so important–to go back, reflect on those pivotal moments in our life and see God’s thread through it all. I’ll be thinking about this today. I see my intersections more like curves, as well as yield signs that I hastily walked through then reached an entire road block, and green lights but only able to see just the next step in front of me!
I love your analogies that you share here, Lynn. Intersections were meant to go through but I know I have experienced roadblocks along the way too. Life is not always smooth sailing but the blessing is that God shows up and is with us always. Praying that we see God in the intersections, roadblocks,yield signs and everywhere else.
My “normal” life is intersecting with a new job, and lots of changes in our family right now. So thankful for the comfort of good memories of togetherness with my boys.
We also have lovely memories of road trips that get better and richer every year!
Thanks for sharing yours.
Your life intersection could be enough to throw you off course but God is the best guide when we come to the crossroads of something new. I hope your new job is fulfilling and the transition had gone smoothly so far.
I love road trips and the memories that we create along the way. Glad you have those kind of memories too. Blessings on the rest of your week.
This is beautiful and reassuring, Mary. My life intersection right now is getting settled back into life in Turkey, readjusting to the culture. I’ve been here and done this before! God was faithful before and He will be faithful now! Blessings on you, friend!
God is faithful in every piece of our lives. You have a big intersection with the transition back to where you have been especially after time in the states. Thank you for sharing this and I am praying as you readjust and find your rhythm again.