It's that time of year again.  Time for spring breaks, planning for summer vacations, etc.  Do you have your travel plans set?  Do you have your maps you'll need for the journey?

Just as it is with travel, we all need to make sure we have our road map of life ready for the trip.  That map is called the Bible.  Read it.  You might be surprised at how it tells us in detail how to live our lives and when to stay, and when to go.

We can make sense of our lives if we understand them as journeys, as the unfolding story of who we are and what we do in the world.

I've found that the more I think on Godly things and let God do all the planning, life is less stressful.  I let go more and let God be God.

Whatever the road ahead entails in our lives, know that God is in control.  Whatever task He calls us to do, He will equip us.

Let God guide your life today!

Psalm 91:11 – "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;"

Have you ever experienced a loss in your life?  Maybe a loved one.  Maybe a spouse, a mom or dad, or even the loss of a child.  These are all painful experiences.  Some losses may be life-changing.

Grief follows this pain. Grief is a natural response to pain and loss.  Grief is good.  There's a time for grieving.  But unprocessed grief can be bad.  Learn to lean on God during these times.  He's our comforter, our shelter.

Express your grief to God.  God understands us.  He knows how He's going to work it all out for our good.  Trust Him with your grieving process.

Think about this:  Keep the good memories of your loved one, but don't allow the enemy to torment you with the grief of your loss.

God is bigger than our grief.  He's bigger than any sorrow, pain and every problem that any of us could face.  The pain will be overcome with the gain of God's love.

Psalm 34:18 – "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

When people meet you for the first time, or see you in a group setting, do they immediately think, "Oh I bet she/he's a Christian." Or do they look at you and your lifestyle and think, "hmmm….I'm not so sure she/he's a true Christian."

I would hope that people who meet me or get to know me find out quickly that I'm a Christian and that I stand on the Word of God. I pray my actions and character are true to God's word and His commands.

People that may have known me before I became a Christian might be a little skeptical at first. They may sit back and watch me, see what type of lifestyle I portray. If you're a true child of God, you will be changed in your personality, your talk, your overall demeanor.

Is your life characterized by love? If you obey God's word, your love for Him is truly made complete in you. This is how we know you are in Him: “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did."

What does your lifestyle say about you? Are you conveying proof that your life is changed and that you are a Christian?

Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."

After my recent mission trip, I was asking some of my fellow team members to give me a word or words that would make them recall this trip. What stood out and what will they take back with them. One person said, “Planters of hope.”

That was us. On this mission trip. We planted seeds of hope. We scattered hope to those who were wondering. We announced the good news of Jesus Christ. The rest is up to God.

But we don’t have to leave this image in the mission field. We can all be planters of hope right in our own community. We can encourage our neighbor to visit our church, or join us in a bible.

Be a planter of hope. You just might be blessed yourself.

Luke 14:23 - “And the master said to the servant, "Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Do you realize that your faith is strengthened, not in the easy times of life, but in the most trying times? God brings us through these darkened times not to harm us, but to bring a greater strength, character, trust and perseverance to the deepest part of our souls.

I've been through dark valleys several times and can verify that I've always come out on the other side changed, stronger, renewed and with a greater purpose.

My prayers go out to those of you who are mourning today, those who are depressed and feel like you'll never get out of the difficulty.

Remember this. God is in control. Let God comfort you today. Rest in his arms and lay your burdens at His feet, believing that is the safest place for it to be.

Make Satan uncomfortable when he tries to come in and wreck your world today.

You'll be safe in God's arms.

Job 5:11 – "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

Life is hard.  As a Christian, I face battles every day.  Some days are worse than others but it's a war all the same.  I believe that many Christians get defeated in spirit in their Christian lives for one reason.  They are not fully engaged in the war.  What does this mean?  It means if you're going to be in the battle, get prepared for the war zone.  How do we do this?  Put on the full armor of God.  What does that mean?  It means reading the Bible.  This is your plan laid out for you and your spiritual shield to fight the enemies of life.

Jesus didn't promise that He would solve all our problems, but He does promise to fight our battles if we belong to Him.

When we gave our life to Christ, we were drafted into God's army.

Stand strong in your belief today.  Tell others and show others the God you serve is greater than any other.  Love your enemies.

James 4:7 – "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

I just visited a third-world country and saw plenty of poverty but one thing they lacked was hatred, violence and great sorrow. It’s funny how you get used to having most of what you want and then you go somewhere where it is quite the contrary and it makes you appreciate what you do have.

If you let Him, God will supply all your needs. If you follow Him and are faithful, He will provide.

Being content is not being satisfied with what you have, but it is knowing God’s plan for your life and being content with living it. Believing that God’s peace is greater than the world’s problems is key to understanding contentment..

The latest global statistic shows that if one has a roof over his head and a meal on his table he is richer than 93 percent of the world’s population.

Stay in God’s peace. Be content with what God has given you and be a good steward of everything He allows you to have.

Hebrews 13:5 - “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Although I recently returned home from a mission trip to Peru, I consider my mission field outside my front door. God commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all. But this doesn’t have to be by plane, train or even automobile. Look outside your front door. That’s your mission field.

Visit your neighbor. Take time to listen to their story and ask them if they would like to hear your story.

I am becoming more bold for God. They say that practice makes perfect and although I’ll never be perfect, I can be confident that what I say about God is true and real.

The salvation of all nations should be a concern of every Christian. Get involved in missions. Get inspired to reach the lost. Be an ambassador for Christ. Tell someone about Jesus today.

Mark 16:15 - “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”