January 13, 2016

Greetings from Arizona! We made it!

We worked feverishly to get packed and ready for this tour. We bought our airline tickets months ago so the dated ticket was ready on January 8th…ready or not… we were leaving. There was nice mild weather in South Dakota until - you guessed it - January 7th. If you live in the Midwest you live and travel by the weather channel, and it wasn't looking good. The predictions were coming true, heavy snow, sleet, ice, wind and temps dropping down to zero. A friend drove us to the airport in Fargo, ND and thus began the next leg of our journey. One flight took us from North Dakota into the Minneapolis airport, where we walked and walked to our next Delta gate, which way down about a mile from the gate we arrived at.

 

After a quick lunch, we sat in the gate seating area and Larry went over to the information desk to ask a question.  While he was standing there, I spotted a pilot, tall, stately, and sharp in his pilot uniform. Then I heard, "Well hello Larry, what are you doing and where are you going?" Surprised, Larry turned and said, "Dave, how are you? Where are you going?" Long story short the pilot was Dave Rauche, a former pilot for Lundstrom Ministries many years ago. He came over and we chatted for a few quick minutes and Dave announced, "I'm your pilot taking you to Phoenix!" That was neat. We had an excellent flight on the Delta Airbus 320. For some special reason I was so relaxed just to know he was in the cockpit - as we had flown with him many times in years past when he was the ministry pilot flying us in our small aircraft, so I felt good about it and enjoyed the peace of trusting him. After the flight, Dave was insistent to show us the cockpit and take a picture -and we did. Wow, that cockpit was something else!

 

Larry and I with Dave Rauche

 

Thinking back, a spiritual thought hit me. When I think about life's journey with all of its ups and downs, tears and cheers, heartbreaking valleys and mountaintop experiences - I am so thankful to personally know our pilot, Jesus.

 

"…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.


When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…"   - Isaiah 43: 2-3

 

When I am overwhelmed, I have the peace to know that if I have that personal friendship and relationship, I can trust Him and count on Him for my "flight" in life. I know who is in the cockpit; I know who is in control.  I know that if Jesus has been faithful (and He has), He is faithful (He is), He will remain faithful, and to let him pilot my life. My prayer that you too will know your pilot personally and experience the peace that is found in trusting Him on your journey. God is good! 

 

We'll chat again in a couple weeks!

 

Gloria

 


 

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