Travel Devotional for Women E-Book

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 101

Beschreibung

Travel Devotional for Women is a devotional book designed to inspire travelers to make space in their adventure-filled days for some time with God. This book offers 52 devotions that tie together a travel-related theme with Scripture and spiritual food for thought. It can be used for a single journey or multiple adventures, for anything from a long weekend road trip to a once-in-a-lifetime overseas excursion. At the end of each devotion is a thought-provoking question or action-step to help you personalize what you've read. There's also some journaling space to respond to what God's teaching you, write out a prayer, or log what you see and do each day. It's totally up to you! Just remember, wherever you go, you never travel alone. God is with you every step of the way. - Beautifully designed full-color interior - Spot gloss, debossed, pearlescent cover - High quality interior paper - Inspiring devotions - Encouraging Scriptures - Prayers - Ribbon marker

Leseprobe

Belle City Gifts

Savage, Minnesota, USA

Belle City Gifts is an imprint of BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC.

Broadstreetpublishing.com

TRAVEL DEVOTIONAL FOR WOMEN

© 2019 by BroadStreet Publishing®

978-1-4245-5904-6

eISBN 978-1-42456-034-9

Devotional entries composed by Vicki Kuyper.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (TPT) are taken from The Passion Translation® of the Holy Bible. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of BroadStreet Publishing. All rights reserved.

Design by Chris Garborg | garborgdesign.com

Editorial services by Michelle Winger | literallyprecise.com

Printed in China.

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Welcome to Adventure!

You’re about to embark on a journey to…somewhere. Did you know the word journey comes from the French word jour, which means “day”? Each new day holds a unique adventure. A journal is a record of where each day leads.

Unlike a traditional travel journal that provides you with space to record what happens during your trip, this travel devotional offers you some spiritual food for thought. Each travel-themed devotional can stand on its own, so you can use this journal on multiple adventures, from a weekend road trip to the trip of a lifetime.

At the end of each devotional entry, you’ll find a page with a question or action step to help you personalize what you’ve read. You can use the space below to respond to what God’s teaching you, as a prayer journal, or as a travel diary of what you see and do each day. It’s up to you!

Just remember, wherever you go, you never travel alone. God is with you every step of the way.

Vicki Kuyper

Contents

A Sense of Purpose

Are We There Yet?

The Perfect Souvenir

I Need a Vacation

Through a Lens

The Up Side

Become a Student

Lost in Another Land

Companions

Say No to Boredom

Traveling Mercies

Behind the Words

A Hush

What Is It?

The Deep Blue Sea

Sunrise, Sunset

Playtime

Picture Perfect

Someone Else’s Shoes

Just Enough

God’s Gallery

Escape Artist

Here Be Dragons

Dressed in God’s Best

Destination: Relationship

Vacation Envy

Go to Grow

Outsider Insight

Road Trip

Favorable Footprints

Bucket List

Too Good to Be True

The Here and Now

Here’s to Health

Curiosity Is the Key

Treat Yourself Well

Make Memories

Crowd Control

Treasure Hunt

Passing Through

Go Ahead and Giggle

Homeward Bound

A Circle of Blessing

A Walk in the Park

Perspective

Healed and Whole

Giving on the Go

What’s Your Status?

Lost Baggage

Pilgrimage

Coming Home

The End

A Sense of Purpose

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

HEBREWS 11:8 NIV

When we set off on a journey, we generally have a plan. Before getting into the car or boarding the plane, we’ve spent time budgeting, packing, and making reservations. We know what time we’ll leave, what route we’ll take, and when we’re due to arrive. Most importantly, we know where we’re headed. After all, our destination is the point of the whole trip, right? But what if it’s not? What if it’s not how seeing the world changes us, but how our presence changes the world?

Over and over again we’ve heard that God has a purpose for our lives. That includes the days we spend on vacation. Often these are me-time days, when our goal is to relax, be entertained, blow our diets, and sleep in late. Yes, we may schedule in time to exercise, but even that is because we want to take better care of ourselves.

If God’s ultimate purpose is that we love him and love others, we need to temper our me time with we time. And that extends further than just to the friends and family who may be traveling with us. This doesn’t mean we have to volunteer to work in a soup kitchen while we’re celebrating our anniversary in Paris. It simply means that we’ll be more intentional about keeping our hearts open, as well as our eyes. We’ll treat the people we meet with respect, kindness, and an awareness of how precious they are in God’s sight. This includes those who wait on us, clean our hotel rooms, and even those who cut in front of us in the buffet line.

We may believe the purpose of our vacation is to spend time with the kids and see the world, but God may have an even richer purpose in mind. If we’re open to the gentle nudge of his Spirit, he may lead us on an adventure we didn’t see coming. One chance encounter, one gesture of kindness or insightful word could help move someone closer toward the open arms of a waiting God.

Today, try to see each person who crosses your path from God’s point of view. He knows their names, even if you don’t.

Are We There Yet?

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 TPT

Often the most dreaded part of vacation, other than dealing with all of the dirty laundry we face when we return home, is getting to wherever we want to go. Gone are the days when traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles was a celebrated part of our journey. Now it’s simply a means to an end.

Long hours squished into cramped quarters shared with snarky fellow-travelers isn’t a relaxing scenario. But expecting the worst doesn’t help us feel any more at ease. That’s why it’s important to adjust our attitude—right along with our seat—the minute we hit the road. After all, a vacation is not just a destination. It includes a journey. We can’t travel without moving!

As you pull away from home, remind yourself, “Now is when my adventure begins.” Picture leaving anything you’re struggling with or anxious about right there on the curb. Then, do something risky. Ask God to replace what you’ve left behind with two gifts you’ll need to pack for the road ahead: patience and a sense of humor. What’s risky about asking for them is you’ll undoubtedly be given the opportunity to use them. (On the flip side, you’ll also have more amusing anecdotes to share when you return home!)

Until teleportation becomes a viable vacation option, the journeys we make will take time. Why waste it? Exploration and relaxation can begin right now. Instead of checking your phone, check out the view along the way. Rediscover the joy of people watching, playing license plate bingo, or seeing what shapes you can find in the clouds. Refuse to let other people’s anxiety or frustration become your own. Hold tightly to patience and humor—and enjoy the ride.

Transportation is part of every vacation. Every time you buckle up, remember to secure patience and a sense of adventure right along with you.

The Perfect Souvenir

“You are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”

DEUTERONOMY 7:6 NLT

Cowboy boots from Texas. Turkish delight from Istanbul. A cheesehead hat from Wisconsin. Wooden shoes from Amsterdam. We love bringing home a little something from vacation. It’s proof we’ve actually gone somewhere and done something out of the ordinary. Because once we get home, our lives quickly go back to normal and our recent vacation can almost seem like a mirage.

Souvenirs can be tangible touchstones to happy memories. They can also be a total waste of time and money. Before you spend your hard-earned cash on a vacation-themed trinket for yourself or someone else, carefully consider why you’re tempted to purchase that Eiffel Tower snow globe. Instant gratification may feel great in the moment, but our impulse buys often have a very short shelf life. Need proof? Visit any second-hand store or charity drop box.

Emotion can lead us to buy things we don’t need—or even want. Cramming a kitschy keepsake into our carry-on luggage won’t make a vacation last any longer. Perhaps those dollars, euros, or pesos would be better spent by saving them for a return trip!

When Jesus’ long-distance trip from heaven to earth was coming to an end, he didn’t hurry out and pick up a little something to carry back to heaven with him. He was more concerned with the welfare of something that has an eternal shelf life: you. People were the sole purpose of Jesus’ journey. He wasn’t here on a vacation. He was here on a mission of mercy.

You’re not a trinket to Jesus. You’re a treasure—one he looks forward to bringing home with him one day. Until then, celebrate the people and places you have the opportunity to experience here on earth. Happy memories are a great souvenir. They’re free, easy to carry, and never need dusting.

Is there a souvenir you’d really like to bring home from this trip? If so, consider what it really represents to you.

I Need a Vacation

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.

GENESIS 2:2 NLT

God knows when to take a break. After creating the world, he scheduled a day off. After ministering to demanding crowds, Jesus headed to a solitary place. After hearing his friend John the Baptist had been beheaded, our Savior took some time by himself to grieve. Often, we’re not quite as wise.