{"id":30783,"date":"2022-08-09T14:22:01","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=30783"},"modified":"2022-09-22T10:37:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T14:37:51","slug":"pastors-ponderings-finding-clarity-during-foggy-moments-8-9-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=30783","title":{"rendered":"Pastor’s Ponderings: Finding Clarity during Foggy Moments (8\/9\/22)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pastor Jim submitted the following devotional thoughts on 8\/9\/22…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Greetings,<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

PLEASE READ: Joshua 1:9<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God is with you wherever you go\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

(NRSV).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\nA couple of weeks ago I was driving home at night from a meeting in the Cape May Courthouse area. At certain stretches while driving home on Rt. 47 and Rt. 347<\/a><\/span>, I hit pockets of foggy travel.\u00a0 Anyone who has driven through fog, especially when it just \"\"suddenly\u00a0appears, knows how “exciting” the driving experience can become. I slowed down wanting to be careful as at times it was becoming difficult to see properly especially when coming upon twists and turns in the road.<\/p>\n

After I drove north of the Millville area the fog seemed to be gone. As I continued driving now on Rt. 55, I began to think about driving through that fog. I realized that through different areas of fog how the fog\u00a0can\u00a0create feelings of isolation, vulnerability, and even fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Very often we do not know what to expect as we travel through the fog. The sensation can be one which makes us uneasy and very nervous as noted.\u00a0 Still, perhaps there is a spiritual lesson\u00a0for us here.<\/p>\n

\"\"Often our lives change suddenly and without warning. One minute our lives are “bright” and “clear,” and then almost instantaneously, the outward circumstances have become difficult to maneuver through, we feel challenged, at danger, uncertain, perhaps confused, like we are in a fog. If we’re not careful these “foggy” moments of life can leave us disoriented, not sure of our direction, uncertain about our decisions, and derail our attempts to move forward into the future.
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\nThe Bible reminds us that God is in the midst of those “foggy” moments of life.\u00a0 We can draw great comfort in verses such as the ones presented below (click\/tap on each tab to open the promise.\u00a0 Click the link to see the verse in context with its chapter<\/span><\/em><\/span>):<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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