Enjoying Billowy Cloud Cover

Our trip to East Texas and Epiphany Ranch didn’t disappoint! We took advantage of the wonderful, somewhat cooler temperatures. We went to see my sweet cousin, Mary Ellen Snow, who moved to Tyler, TX from Frisco, TX. We were neighbors in Frisco, buds in Tulsa and Dallas before that. It looks like the cousins still have some common ground again.

How blessed she is to live close to her son and many friends because that area is where her husband, Charles, pastored a church for many years as well as having been with David Wilkerson and his Teen Challenge ministries there. God sure sees after widows! Both of us know that well!

And, fortunately, while in East Texas, there was plenty of cloud-cover that gave us the opportunity to go to Nacogdoches to get lots of plants and trees for the ranch. While there, Carl bought an Olive Tree for the ranch and was mighty proud when the Wallaces called it the “Carl” tree! Hopefully — lots of olives to come!

And with the cloud cover, it was wonderful to walk through the beautiful, treed areas on Epiphany Ranch. Larry and Staci pointed out where they’ll be placing more cabins and where the ropes courses and zip lines will be located for the retreats they’ll soon be providing there.

“Cloud-cover” gave me this blog today. I’m thinking of the “cloud” that went ahead of the Israelite wilderness wanderers. “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way …” (Exodus 13:21).

I’m big on putting my faith and trust in God. But wouldn’t it be awesome to have a cloud or two to point the way for us and give us reinforcement on some decisions we might be making?

I enjoy searching for supportive scriptures and always hope to glean a definitive, holy answer to my questions. I stay alert for any trace of God speaking. I want to hear His voice loud and clear.

But during those times of waiting, seeking, and knocking, our thoughts can go rogue. “What if I make a wrong decision? What if I thought I heard God’s voice, but instead it was just my own emotions or feelings controlling my thoughts?”

Maybe it’s time for us to take a “chill” pill! Maybe it’s time to relax and stop trying to figure everything out. Maybe the better thing is to stop looking and listening for a blaring answer from God – and to simply ease into a place of “coming into His presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.” (Psalm 95:2)

I’m leaning into Mary’s way of sitting at Jesus’ feet and indulging in Him — praying for wisdom, clarity, and guidance about how to move forward.

Yes, we could sure use a holy cloud to guide us, but better yet, is trusting our Holy Guide — God. Unlike the Israelites who complained and remained, we can praise and be raised to the best paths.

The best paths may be not the ones we would choose, but they are the ones that are intended to grow our faith that leads us to victory. God is always with us — guiding us, and leading us out of the wilderness.

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”