In God We Trust

Psalm 91 has been my Psalm to live by for many years. It's my 911 call for daily help for protection for my loved ones and myself. The whole chapter is about "In God We Trust". Those words took on a whole new meaning when I heard a former paratrooper, now a pastor, speak yesterday about the trust it takes to be a paratrooper. He read from Psalm 91, which is considered "The Soldier's Psalm". He shared this story.

Almost 100 years ago, during World War I, the 91st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army was preparing to enter combat in Europe. Because their commander was a devout Christian, he assembled his men and gave each of them a little card on which was printed the 91st Psalm, the same number Psalm as their brigade. They agreed to recite that Psalm daily. After they had begun praying the Psalm, the 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of World War I. Other American units that fought in the same battles had up to 90 percent casualties, but the 91st Brigade did not suffer a single combat-related casualty.

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers; and you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield."

The pastor went on to show a video of paratroopers jumping out of an airplane and he said: "As you watch this video, think about how many things you must trust in to be a paratrooper." Right away, I thought, "your parachute", but, oh, as explained by the pastor, there's so much more: The pilot....trusting he is sober and competent; the navigator....trusting you don't get released over a swamp; the crew chief...that he knows his aircraft inside and out; the jumpmaster...who gives accurate instructions to the jumpers; the rigger....who packs, maintains and repairs the parachutes; the jumper in front of you and behind you...who you check their rigging and they check yours.

Clearly "in God we trust", but the fact is, shouldn't we be those who others say "In Bob I trust", "In Donna I trust", etc.? As God-followers, wouldn't it be prudent for us to follow His example and be dependable, honorable, devoted and faithful people, and prove our trustworthiness.....like the many that a paratrooper must depend on? This final photo I came across as I was searching paratrooper images for this post. It speaks volumes about how others view our trustworthiness, and the ability to affirm "In God I trust and in you I trust!"

God's Road Map

Day 112 of Photo Inspirations -- God's Road Map
Since I was a young child, I've loved reading maps.  My Dad taught me to read a road map at a very young age as we made our way to West Virginia to see my oldest sister and her family.  Then I was the navigator, using the Atlas Map Books as Ron & I and our ministry team traveled the U.S. and Canada in our 28 ft Winnebago.   And then we progressed on to flying in our Cessna 182 and I was his Co-Pilot and Navigator.  Flying takes mapping to a whole new level of mapping using coordinates and considering wind velocity and other factors essential to staying on course.

This is the 17th cruise I've been on -- two of which have been as a "single" since my sweetheart went to heaven.  I really enjoy seeing the world this way and as I look at places I'd like to go to on maps, I dream about new horizons that are just waiting for me to explore.

This photo is of where we're heading today enroute directly north to Ireland and then to Holland, France, Germany and then on to Denmark.

Mapping certainly causes me to consider the road map that has been the most beneficial to me in my life .  I love God's Word that gives me the proven ways to succeed in my life experiences and voyages.  I can't begin to tell you how many times I've read a scripture multiple times and then all of a sudden, a certain scripture will be illuminated to be  -- with a fresh perspective that gives me the navigation I needed to go from Point A to Point B in decision making.  Like a good road map, God's Word points us to the best roads and places of insight and illumination so that God's Spirit can shine His Light into our minds and hearts.  And that "road map"  NEVER needs updating.  The roads, the destinations, the promises and the treasures are as sure today as at the time they were written when He illuminated them to His transcribers.