A Walk in the Park

by Amanda 11-12-11

A couple of days ago my husband and I took a walk in the Park. We live close to the Hudson River here in NYC. In the last few months a walk in the park is something we don’t take for granted. It seems like only yesterday that we had the brief thought, will we ever walk in the park again. But praise the Lord that He saw us walking in the park, enjoying His creation, and loving Him more than we ever loved Him.

After walking the Lord has brought many things to my mind. The park offers many activities. There are all sorts of things to do along the river side. You can choose what you want to do. You can run, ride a bike, play in the children’s area, roller blade, or just plain walk. As you are in the park you will see that each area is designated. We have lines that indicate where to go and signs that say what to do. There are fences around the children’s areas for their protection. In life we are given boundaries just as we have boundaries in the park. If you cross those boundaries things can go wrong. Sometimes we are the ones who cross the boundaries and hurt someone, sometimes we are hurt because someone else crossed the boundaries and sometimes we just simply stumble.

When you look at your life where do you feel you are? Are you walking in God’s boundaries? Are you living each day as He would want you to live? What about crossings those boundaries? Are you a stumbling block to someone else? Do you trip them up with your lifestyle when they see how you live and yet proclaim to be walking with Him? Think about it and search the scripture for the boundaries that God has given you.

Mar 9:42 And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

1Th 5:16-21 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what

the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who

are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. Do not quench (suppress or

subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not

depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning].

But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.