Our father, Abraham, was a "sojourner," a migrant as we would say nowadays. 

He and his wife Sarah left their original home and travelled through places they had never been before. By faith, their hope was to receive a homeland that had no origin in human aspirations or construction. Rather, they looked ahead, not behind, to receive a homeland designed, conceived, and created by God.

By faith we, who have believed in Christ, are also migrants. Our home is not here, but rests in the heart of God. Therefore, though we live on this planet, though we have learned values based on the things of this world, we pursue those things no longer. Rather, we long for righteousness, mercy, and love, values grounded in the kingdom of God. We look ahead, not behind, for Abraham's real homeland, too.

Are you prepared to journey into joy?  Where will your current direction take you?  The gospel of Mark, when put into practice will take you to a fruitful place in your life that will give fullness of joy.  The first cry of the book of Mark is to prepare!!!  Examine your life and acknowledge your guilt.  That is step one.  Step two is to begin to follow Jesus in the little everyday opportunities.  We will examine as we go where they are and what to do.  God be with you in your journey to joy and the vision for the next step.  So start by sitting quietly and asking God for the help you need to be prepared.  Another daily practice, I will encourage since we are told to pray without ceasing, is as follows.  Pray the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6:9) in the prayer pattern of the apostle Peter in the book of Acts at 9am, noon and 3pm.  It only takes 25 seconds but in those 25 seconds you are bringing to your mind, seven key principles in following Jesus, you are praying the perfect prayer, you are building your faith by hearing the word of God spoken from your lips and you are a step closer to praying without ceasing.