Sick on the Scenic Route - Crosswalk the Devotional - August 23

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( Sick on the Scenic Route by John UpChurch “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” - [Philippians 3:12]( On my way home from North Carolina, I followed my impulse to jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway that meanders along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. Late spring had hit, and the trees on that slithering byway had burst into color. And if you know me, you know I can’t resist a scenic detour in spring… or summer… or anytime I’m sure my car won’t get stuck for some reason. If you’ve ever had the chance to sling along the Blue Ridge, you’ll find it hard to keep your eyes on the road. Gasp-worthy valley vistas pretty much assault you wherever you turn with their seductive greens and purples and blues. The only problem with a wandering gaze, however, is that many of the turns on that road completely bend back on themselves. So, you’re constantly looking out in awe—and then whipping the car back on the road before you become part of that valley view. In fact, those stomach-churning curves nearly got the better of me. Never before or since have I suffered from motion sickness while driving. But that road, with all its flipping and flopping, beat me up. By the time I finally escaped that tangled beast of a road, I was actually happy to see the interstate and all its rush-hour traffic (well, for the most part). At least those bumper-to-bumper shenanigans meant I’d be going straight. For many of us, our pursuit of Christ swings us around in much the same way. We whip around curves that seem to take us the long way round, nearly bumble off the road because something shiny catches our eyes, and let the cares along the way nauseate us. It’s a circuitous route, this Christian life, and one that doesn’t move us from start to finish quickly. But it’s a path paved by the One who made us His own. [CONTINUE READING →]( You May Also Like: [10 Things All Christians Should Know about Heaven]( Jennifer Slattery When life’s problems feel more than we can bear, our hope of paradise can give us strength. [CONTINUE READING →]( [20 Psalms to Read When Life Is Miserable]( Sue Schlesman The Psalms are meant to be sung and prayed, and there are specific psalms that were written to help us when life it bleak and we feel miserable. [CONTINUE READING →](                       Bible Trivia Question of the Day                                       What did the demon-possessed man from the Gerasenes say his name was? A. Millenium B. Falcon C. George D. Legion [ANSWER THE QUESTION →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2021 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](