Okay, so let's talk about the "God-Moment", when I was stressed about "what's next?"

In May, 1982, Jan and I were ending 10 years of working with International Correspondence Institute (ICI), a missionary Bible school in Brussels, Belgium.  It was the last day of an ICI retreat at a Holland conference center near the North Sea.  ....Next month in June, we were moving our family back to the States, to a new place called Texas.  ....We were starting over.  ....What was ahead for us?

....I needed alone time to talk with God.  So, Jan took care of our children, while I drove a few miles to the coast, where I found Holland's National Dunes Park.

Didn't know exactly where I was going, but following traffic signs soon came to a parking lot.  As I got out of my car, noticed an observation tower rising about 40 feet ....for a look horizon to horizon.  Climbing that tower, I saw the North Sea shoreline to the north, ....and an expanse of sand dunes up and down the coastline.  Beautiful!

That's when I decided ....I wanted to walk in wet sand along the shoreline.  My goal set, I descended the tower, ....where at ground level ....my perspective changed completely.  Knew the shoreline was still out there, but all I saw was....

.......That's when I noticed my shadow on the ground ....from the sun shining over my shoulder.  Hmm....  Okay, now I have my bearings, knew my direction, ....relating the angle of my shadow to my "worldview" perspective from the top of that tower.  .......Knew exactly which way to go, ....and that's when God and I took off across sand dunes, heading for the shoreline and a walk together in the wet sand ....with light from the "SON" casting my shadow ....as my compass.  

Knowing where Jesus is, ....I knew where I was.

SMILE, ....you probably already "see" where this is going....

Its not easy walking across and around sand dunes.  Kinda like life's slow going challenges, ....and which way to go around obstacles.  But I was committed to reaching the North Sea shoreline, so I kept plowing away in the loose sand.

Trudging along, ....getting tired, ....came around a sand dune and there before me ....was a solid-surface walk/pathway ....running parallel to the North Sea shoreline.  ....What a surprise!  Well, now, ....I got on that pathway and started walking ....faster, ....easier, ....what a relief!  .........Then after a couple of minutes, I stopped. Thought about it....

Looked at my shadow on the ground ....and realized....

Hmm?  I was making great time, ....going "somewhere" fast, ....but walking parallel to the shoreline, ....and NOT getting any closer to my destination goal.  .......I had a decision to make!  .......Yes, I stepped off that "easy road", ....and continued plowing sand, ....heading toward the shoreline ....where I wanted to go walking with God in wet sand.

It was a "parable-of-life" experience, ....learning something from God....

We talked as we walked along, God and I.  ....As I recall, that conversation was mostly one-sided with me asking questions about our future.  ....Finally, as we crested the last sand dune and looked out to sea, ....God told me to stop, rest, and look behind me.  

There my footprints in the sand trailed back, marking where I had walked with Him over and around the dunes.  ....He asked, "Roger, what do you see?"  ....Where I had stepped, every footprint was closing in with falling sand.  Hmm.

Then God said, "Look down where you are standing, resting now?"  My feet were covered with soft sand.  The impression I made at that moment was deep, as sand fell between my toes.  .......God asked, "Roger, do you understand?"  .....Then He answered, "Be who you are, wherever you are, ....making an impression in people's lives for My glory and honor."

God was present with me, right there, as I rested in Him.  ....Those past steps were finished.  God had guided Jan and I on our past journey with Him, ....its direction, stops and turns.  But they were history now to be appreciated, remembered.

Looking ahead at sea waves rolling onto shore, ....my future footsteps were not yet in the sand.  ....That's when God said He was already "there" in our future "now" moments ....to help us find our way in life.  ....That "God-Moment" is a cherished "life marker", when God spoke to me, and I cannot forget it.

God was in my past,
....is in my present,
....will be in my future.

For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”  So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear....”
    — Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT

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Why am I telling you this story?

Want to encourage you on life's journey with the Lord.  Certainly plan ahead, but don't allow "the future" to become an anxious burden on "your present".  Live joyfully, thankfully in your "now" with family, friends ....and Jesus.

Let me tell you more about my journey....

Arriving in Texas....

I don't recommend moving to a new place you've never been before ....with a "pie-in-the-sky" plan to start a new company from a cold start.  No clients, yet.  No idea where production facilities were located.  Never been in business before, ....so no idea how to even get started.  .......Yes, ....I know what you're thinking.  SMILE...!  

But that was where we were moving back to the States.  Hard to describe what it's like being out of the country for so many years, ....so much changed, ....and we're just trying to catch up.

Pastor of the Texas church we joined introduced Jan and me to the congregation one Sunday morning.  He asked about future plans, ....so I described this amazing "big picture" idea for starting a new company, etc., etc.  .......Well, that's when Doug leaned over to Maggie and said, "That boy needs help!"  ....If I only knew?  ....SMILE, ....but God did.

As God said, walking with me over those
sand dunes, ....He was already "there",
when I got to this "now" moment.

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Doug followed through, ....became our first client ....before I could even start marketing.  ....Stop here and think about that.  ....Recall my conversation with God, walking over sand dunes in Holland.  ....God was already "there", when I got to this "now" moment.

After that first project, was business good, ....and thus our family's livelihood?  No, yes, no.  It was up and down.  Sometimes very down.  ....You could say I learned a lot about "just staying in business".  ....We survived until Frito-Lay (1988) and Alcon (1998) clients came along years later, then thrived.

We named our company Arkeo, ....because of its New Testament meaning.  (See Strong's G714.)  Looking back, Jan and I ran a successful business for 27 years, ....serving 52 clients, and completing (with help from some awesome employees) over 650 media projects, ....including training and marketing videos, print training manuals, training videodiscs, ....and online learning websites.  

Wow!  What a great run ....with God as our Partner.

....As I said earlier, ...."don't recommend moving to a new place you've never been before" ....to start something you've never done before.  However, ....that said, ....you do whatever you've got to do to take care of family.  ....Perhaps, you may find ....a few God-Moments awaiting you!

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Jan got cancer....

Jan's cancer diagnosis in September 1987 came as a shock.  Really threw me for a depressing loop.  She had surgeries and started a series of chemo treatments for several months.

Life here on earth has its trials, traumas and tribulations.  Everyone experiences them in their life's unique circumstances.  So the question is not "Why?"  Rather, ....if we love Jesus and walk with Him, ....the question is "How?" do we handle our trials, traumas, and tribulations?

Jan and I shared a great journey together ....through her 22 years of cancer, our 40 years of marriage.  Had some .......had a lot of challenging times medically, but we were together with our Lord.  ....Maggie helped some taking Jan to chemo and radiation treatments.

Jan passed in 2009, two years after Doug passed from cancer in 2007.  ....One day in Heaven, we'll have a joyful reunion.

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Maggie and I married....

Good friends for a long time, Maggie and I married in 2012.  ....She's an amazing Jesus-focused woman and wonderful wife.  ........Wow!, married to two Queens, ....two Best-Friends in my lifetime!

Apparently, ....God knows I still need all the help I can get.  What my mother couldn't finish, Jan graciously continued to work on.  What Jan couldn't finish, ....well, now it's Maggie's turn.  ....SMILE!

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Doing this online book....

Read the next chapter, God-Moment: Roger 2023, and you will understand why I enthusiastically agreed with our Lord to write this Online Book website ....with His help.  SMILE, ...because I'm "ALL IN WITH JESUS" on this Quest to know Him more!

Over a lifetime of nearly 60 years in media, I've produced a lot of program content.  It started in summer of 1966, as photographer and producer of a monthly educational TV show for the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department.  ....Now at 80-ish, this may be my final project.  ....Maybe....

....As mentioned a few times throughout this study, "There is no better way to travel through life than with Jesus.  ....And you can quote me on that!"

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Okay, one more "last-thing" before going on....

Expect God-Moments in your life....

.......Lets talk about "God-Moments" in your life.  When they happen, ....and they will, ....you must see and understand them for God's goodness intent.  Maybe our Lord just wants to express His love for you, ....and then perhaps He wants to work through your life ....and has an assignment for you.  ....You'll know what God is saying as you talk with Him, ....as was my experience in writing this website

Jesus' mission is what gives us hope....

If Jesus is "the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE", ....then we should expect, look for "God-Moments" in our lives, ....when He SHOWS US THE WAY, ....TELLS US THE TRUTH, ....and reveals Himself PRESENT IN OUR LIFE. These are the wonderful consequences of being actively engaged on this Quest to know God more, ....traveling with Him on life's journey.  That is what Jesus does as our Savior, Lord, ....and Friend.

....Wow!  I've been there a few times, as you read above.  Look for Him!  SMILE.......

Isn't this an exciting way to travel through life.  Walking, talking with Jesus, ....and when those "God-Moments" happen ....He smiles, ....gives you a hug, and says "Lets talk!"  

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....If you need a "God-Moment" right now, ....you know what to do....

My heart has heard you say, “Where are you?  Come and talk with me.
”And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”  
    — Psalm 27:8 with Genesis 3:9 NLT

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.......I'll stay here awhile with you, ....let you and Jesus talk about it.  SMILE....

...............

Okay, select NEXT for one more story ....about a breathtaking God-Moment in 2023....

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^{* Credits: North See shoreline anonymous / footsteps from Clipart-library}