Meet with God

My meeting place with God at our mountain prayer retreat.

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?
 ~ Psalm 42:2"

Where do you meet with God? Do you meet him in the morning? The evening? In the small, quiet places? In the great big outdoor spaces? Where do you meet Him? 

Or, do you meet him? Do you take the time for Him in the hustle and bustle of our busy world? Do you really meet with Him and talk with Him?

The scriptures teach us that God really wants to meet with us. Individually. He longs for us to desire a personal, one on one relationship with Him. He wants us to make time for Him ~ Just like we make time to watch football, go to the movies, use social media, hang out in the gym, or whatever the things are that we do that consume our time. Time that God would LOVE to have us share with Him. He longs for us to come to Him in prayer and petition. Likewise He loves for us to praise Him for the wondrous deeds he performs in our lives. 

" ...in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6"

He commands us to pray. To Him. The one and only true God. He is a loving God. He is a passionate God. He is passionate about His relationship with us. He desires for us to depend on Him. To trust Him. He simply asks that we become one with Him.

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. ~ John 17:22"

We live in a society that simply wants to be wealthy without earning the wealth. Much the same way, so often we expect that God will bless us without earning the blessing. Even Moses experienced this with the Israelites! In Exodus 19:17, Moses led the people from the camp to meet with God. God wanted the people to experience His presence and power and to know that they could meet with Him. While God was indeed providing for Moses and the people by delivering them out of Egypt, "God's first purpose was to bring them to the mount so that they could get a revelation of Him. Israel feared and stood far off. People want the promise of provision without first meeting God. The emphasis today is not any different. ~Pastor George Belobaba." 

In order to truly experience the blessings and the grace that only God can give, we must make time for Him. We must meet with Him. We must go to Him. God doesn't care "where" or "how" or "when". He simply wants us to make the time. I want to be like David and the other writers of the Psalms. I want to pour out my love and gratitude to my God who gives me life, breath and all that I have. I want to drop to my knees and come before my God in prayer and petition for the things of this life and world that trouble me. I want to be consistent. I want to make the time. I want to be one with God by giving Him the time he commands me to give. 

"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

I will be filled with the joy because of you.

I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." 

~ Psalm 9:1-2 

My view last evening while meeting with my God on a sunset worship walk. 

If you are like me, you meet with God all throughout your day with small prayers and praises as you go about your work or play. Those are the easy times. When a thought or person pops in to my head, I pause to speak to God. However, there are those times each day when I just need to sit and be quiet and meet with God. It is usually in the quiet dark or dawn of the early morning where I find it is easy to open up my heart and soul and mind and pour out my thoughts to God. 

My most favorite place to meet Him is on the trail. It is where I find peace. It is where I feel the closest to God. Whether walking, running or hiking, there is nothing like absorbing all of God around you and being able to praise him with all of your heart and soul while the wondrous morsels of his creation penetrate your heart, soul and mind.

It does not matter where we go to meet with God. What does matter is that He wants us to meet. He calls us to meet. He is ALWAYS there waiting for us! Let us meet with Him. 

As I make my way through these 40 days of Lent on the way to a wondrous Celebration of God's gift of his resurrected son, I profess to make more time to meet with my God. To slow down enough to give him the time. To fill my heart and mind with more of Him and his glory. To set aside some of the things of this world and let God lead me to the ways he wants me to spend my time. I am excited to see what God has in store and how He responds to my faithfulness. 

Won't you join me? Let's meet with God! 

Enough

Enough.

I pray that I have done enough.

On this beautiful late August morning, I ponder what exactly is enough. The glorious sun is shining through the trees reaching out to touch me as I breathe in the freshness of the air. I sit on the deck and breathe in the crispness that hints of Autumn around the corner. I enjoy some quiet time; unexpected quiet time as I have been given a time out from work already. Three weeks into the school year and at least one of the 560 students I work with managed to share some sick germs with me. While I am not pleased about the sickness, I am grateful to have some time this morning to rest and wonder if I have truly done enough. 

The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind as we moved both of our college daughters home for the summer. A summer that I realized would probably be the last summer that our entire family would be home together. Their coming and going with the school years ends and beginnings would not dictate our family time anymore. Our oldest daughter graduated from college and used her summer to prepare to enter the work force and move into her own apartment four hours from us. The reality that this may be the last time we move our oldest out really hit me! Our other daughter prepared for her summer mission trip to Kenya, her sophomore year and explored whether or not she has chosen the right major. As I spent time with these two special young ladies this summer, I wondered if I had done enough.

Our family had a wonderful (yet fast and furious) summer together. We camped together. We fished together. We prayed together. We worshiped at church together. We spent evenings around the firepit together. We laughed together. We played cards together. We worked together. We loved each other, together. Was it enough?

One would think it would get easier. As they come and go with each school year.  Moving your children out of the house. Sending them off to college. Sending them out in to their own adult lives.

It. Never. Gets. Easier.

Ever.

Each time I leave them, I leave a piece of my heart. The heartstrings tug and the tears flow. I am happy, sad and proud all at the same time. They are mine ... lent to me by God, for this special season of time. Precious gifts that I cherish.

  

Behold, Children are a heritage from the Lord, 

The fruit of the womb, a reward. 

~ Psalm 127:3

And so, August has come and both of my girls are moved out again. My nest is emptier, quieter, sadder. My heart aches to see them each day. I know they are where they are supposed to be right now, just as God has ordained for them. I still wonder, "Have I done enough?"

I look back over the years. Did I love them enough? Did I pray with them enough? Did I encourage them enough? Did I support them enough? Did I listen to them enough? Did I cry with them enough? Did I laugh with them enough? Did I talk with them enough? Did I show them enough?  Did I teach and explore with them enough? Did I hug them enough? Did I enjoy the special moments enough? Did I give them enough? Did I prepare them enough for life? Did I do any of it enough?

Was it all enough? Probably not.

One thing I know for certain is that I loved them enough.

I. Loved. Them.

 I loved them enough to give them the most important piece of  knowledge they need in this life. The knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And with this foundation, they shall not fail!

Train up a child in the way he should go; 

even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

~ Proverbs 22:6 

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 

~Deut. 6:6-7

I. Loved. Them.

I. Will. Always. Love. Them.

 A mother's love goes on forever. A mother's heart bursts with pride and excitement at the sound of her child's voice, the touch of their hand, the sight of their face. A mother's love is unconditional. A mother's love never fails. From the moment of conception, that precious life is forever joined to the heart of the mother.

And so, life goes on. I have a sophomore son still at home. I have time to continue trying to do enough to prepare him for adulthood. I pray for God to give me the strength and knowledge to do enough. I will continue to love all of my children enough.

I. Will. Love. Them.

Enough.

**(Special thanks to author and friend, Michelle Nelson-Schmidt for helping me ponder "enough". )

Joy

May Day. O Blessed Beautiful May Morning. How did we arrive here so quickly? It seems that December and Winter's worst just left us.

Sitting on my deck in the warm sunshine. Crisp. Fresh. The scent of springtime in the air. Fresh soil. Greening prairie. Majestic mountains on the horizon.

Birds chirping. A rooster crowing in the distance. Cottontail babies on my lawn.

The stillness is refreshing. Rejuvenating after many consecutive days of tormenting wind have plagued us. This early May morning is a gift as I feel the warmth of the sun penetrate my bones. I soak it in and let it settle. In my heart. In my soul. Into my whole being. It takes hold. I am warmed.

I close my eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Peace. Joy. I am filled with joy.  Pure joy. This morning brings me joy. There is nothing like the morning that awakens my senses so sharply. O wonderful May morning, I have waited for you.

In the morning

give us your mercy in full measure,

So that we may have joy

and delight all our days.

  ~ Psalm 90:14

Joy. Joy because I am blessed.  Blessed beyond measure. Blessed.

I find my joy in my God and the gifts he has given me. The intangible gifts.

His sacrifice. His unfailing love. His grace. His mercy. His "faithfulness stretches to the sky." ("Your Love Oh Lord" by Third Day).

Each day we are given is a true gift. A abounding gift. A gift.

A simple gift. A simple pleasure that I stop to ponder. Ponder. Ponder deeply the ultimate gift of  truth that leads to my joy. A gift that means so much and has such a profound and everlasting impact on all of humanity. A gift that all can receive. Receive His gift. Receive life. Experience joy.

A gift that makes me realize I find amazing joy in knowing my God.  Joy that He saves. Joy that He redeems. Joy that He loves. Joy that He lives. Joy that He walks beside me every step of the way. Joy that He delights in me. In me. ME. How amazing is that?

The LORD your God is with you, 

the Mighty Warrior who saves. 

He will take great delight in you;

 in his love he will no longer rebuke you, 

but will rejoice over you with singing."

~ Zephaniah 3:17

He rejoices. Rejoice with Him. Rejoice.

 My heart overflows. With joy. I am  humbled by His gifts and the joy He gives me. I am blessed. Blessed with time, friends, family and the pure love that comes from recognizing these gifts.

Sight. Sound. Touch. Taste. Feel.

Live. Love. Laugh.

 Sing to the LORD a new song;

 sing to the LORD, all the earth.

~ Psalm 96:1

Rejoice. Delight. Sing.

 You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence...

~Psalm 16:11

Experience Joy. Joy that only come from Him. Joy from his gifts. Joy.

Happy May. Happy springtime. Let the blessings pour out from your Joy in all that he has given.

Be joyful.

Be blessed my friends.

Open Trail

I woke up this morning and before my feet had hit the floor, God was speaking to me. His words to me were that he and I need some alone time. REAL alone time. Not me, my bible, my comfy chair and my coffee cup kind of time. Alone time. Solitude. Where He and I could be together and chat. To me, that has to mean leaving the house and getting outside to be with God and God alone. My first thought, as I could hear the gusty, roaring whistle of the wind whipping against my windows, was really? Today? But God, it's windy out there! Like 40mph gusts kind of windy! And cold, too! Any other day, I would jump at the opportunity to enjoy solitude and be outdoors with God. I don't really get along well with the wind. I hate walking, jogging or running in it and really didn't want to venture out in it today. I wanted to stay in, with my coffee and the subtle calm of my nice warm house. A quiet, empty house, I might add.  I argued with God for awhile and with myself. However, God was speaking! So, I decided (with God's insistence) that this was a PERFECT Friday morning to try a new adventure! An open trail. Wind and all! After all, I had been wanting to check out some trails in a different section of our local recreation area, so I packed up my gear and decided that perhaps a nice trail jog would do me good this morning. God ALWAYS knows what is best for me! I wish I listened to Him better! 

"Whoever has ears, let them hear."

 ~ Matthew 13:9

Friday morning solitude. Off to the open trail I headed this morning. To enjoy my solitude. My alone time with God. The trail before me, my physical gifts from God which allow me to run, and God's beauty around me. The rocks of the trail crunched beneath my feet and the jagged cliffs rose above me as I descended on the trail, step by step. Unsure of this trail ahead of me, so like our lives! Unsure of what is around the next corner or down the next step. I allowed him to lead me on this trail and I allowed Him to talk to me. I reveled in his Glory all around me. As I jogged, I looked out and saw the gorgeous lake with it's frothy white caps being whipped up by the February morning wind. Looking up I saw a gorgeous blue Colorado sky. The magnificent Rocky Mountains lined my horizon with purple mountain majesty. How majestic it was this morning ~ even in the wind. God had called me to spend time with Him. Oh, how he knew what I needed today! I felt so alive with Him leading me. He has called me to love Him and let Him lead, just as he calls each one of us specifically!

 

My open trail today that God leadeth me on!

 I often wonder what it is I am so afraid of. Why don't I let God have more control of my heart, my mind, my soul, my life. What am I waiting for? After all, he is my maker, my sustainer. The giver of life. When I let God have control of my life, it is apparent that he knows what he is doing. Life is suddenly more meaningful. More satisfying. More invigorating. God has me. Always! He knows when to challenge me, when to test me, when to cheer me on, when to let me glory, when to stumble and when to let me fall. He is the God of my life and I need not fear anything. 

" So I'm headed down the open road unknown ...
...And we find what we're made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you're afraid of?
What are you waiting for"

~Lyrics from "Love Alone is Worth the Fight" by Switchfoot. 

It is my prayer that I can cast out my fears and insecurities and give glory to God in all that I do, each and every day. It truly is a daily struggle to keep Him foremost in my thoughts and to give him thanks for all things, good and bad. In my daily walk with Him, I struggle. I struggle to give Him complete control of my life. Everyday is a brand new battle. I battle with myself to do the things that please God and the things that I know are right. I am human. We all deal with daily battles, but God has assured us that he is there for us. After all, he sent his son, Jesus to die on the cross for us. The ultimate sacrifice has been made and the price has been paid so that we can live in the Spirit and look forward to eternity in Heaven.

 

"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."

 ~ Galatians 5:25.

The Spirit of God lives in us and longs to flow through us. Not just in our spiritual lives, but in our emotional, social, work, and physical life. Every part of our life is important to God. And significant. He wants us to call on Him and share our life with him. He longs for us to open our heart and let Him in. He longs for us to not only listen to Him, but to listen for Him. He is with us always. Open your heart and open your ears. He is speaking! Listen. Let Him speak. Let Him speak to you. Solitude. You and God.

Blessings to you, my friends on this windy February day.

Carpe Diem

Sieze the day. Grasp life by the hand and live it. Enjoy the moment. Now. Today. Don't let time slip away. Enjoy the here and now. Tomorrow is not promised us.

Our days on earth are like grass; 

like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

The wind blows and we are gone ~

As though we had never been here.  

   ~Psalm 103:15-16

Tis the season of Thanksgiving and thankfulness. I am thankful for this day. The day that I have been given right now. I shall enjoy it. For what it is.

I am thankful for this gorgeous November day that I have opportunity to seize and enjoy. The sun is shimmering in the bright Colorado sky. Wispy, white, feathery cloud tufts spot the beautiful azure.  I sit on my deck in the warming rays with my son. He is home from school this week with whooping cough due to an unfortunate outbreak in his high school. While I am sad that he is ill, I am ever grateful for a day to spend at home with him. We enjoy the fall breeze together and listen to the sounds around us. The crispy, brown and yellow leaves cling to the trees and rustle against the branches. I enjoy his teenage conversation and the sound of his laughter. His deep voice and changing facial characteristics captivate me. Where has my little boy gone? The day he was born is vivid in my mind. I sometimes call his phone just to hear his voicemail message that is yet to be changed. The squeaky little eleven year old voice speaks to me. I laugh. I cry. I am holding on tight to this boy turning into man. He is my youngest and I am not ready for him to grow up. However, he is quickly proving to me that time moves ever so fast. As if I didn't already know it with two daughters off in college.

Our days on this earth are numbered and we often move too fast to really enjoy them; too fast to count our blessings; too fast to take a moment and to enjoy it. To really soak it up by listening, feeling, seeing and experiencing the realm of emotion that we are created to know and experience. Scripture tells us that emotions are real and there is a time for them.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

~ Ecclesiastes 3:4

In the "busy-ness" of life I am trying to slow down and listen to the things that matter. To experience the emotion in all things. To feel what God has created me to feel. To take it all in. To enjoy just today. To enjoy the small things because moments slip away so quickly. They are here and gone with no thought of tomorrow.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.

You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

~ James 4:14

Today. I enjoy today. I enjoy my son. My time. The sunshine. The fall breeze. Our walk. Our talk. Our deck time. Time together. Tomorrow is of no concern. God has it. He has it handled. 

Enjoy today.

Tomorrow. God. Is. Already. There. 

Carpe Diem.

Autumn Renewal

Sitting here this morning feeling a little melancholy, but blessed. I am missing my two daughters who are off at college. Wishing they were here to share the morning with me. As I sit thinking of the memories, the rich, warm aroma of coffee soothes me and my favorite coffee cup is filled to the brim just inches from my hand. I sit here in the dark and gaze out my back yard window. I watch the early morning sky lighten as the sun comes up. There is no colorful, beaming sunrise this morning, rather the sky is heavy, gray and overcast. The sturdy, old cottonwood tree in my backyard hints of the season we are in. The ever fading green leaves are sprinkled with yellow and gold splashes. I watch individual leaves flutter gracefully to the ground in the still morning air and join the scattering piles that are accumulating beneath the towering tree and those that stand around it. The early morning air breathes of crispness and is filled with a hint of wood smoke and moisture as I watch tiny droplets pelt my window.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

~ Albert Camus

Fall. Winter. Fall. Winter. October is in the air. The month that is ever confused about the season. My favorite season of the year. For me, autumn has a freshness to it. A calm, cool, rustic, earthy smell of change. A preparing freshness. Preparing for the blustery winter that lies ahead. A reminding freshness of what is to come. Plants wither, leaves change and fall, and the grass turns to brown. I am reminded of the newness that will come after fall has finished and winter has shared its wrath. The things of nature die and will be renewed.

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face.

~ John Donne

 Renewed. Restored. Revived. Reborn. The beauty of autumn is the reminder of the restoration that is yet to come. So very much like the restoration we have in Christ. What an amazing gift we have in Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. In Christ, we have newness of life. When we commit our lives to Christ, we are renewed, restored, revived, reborn and transformed in Him. Each day is a reminder of the newness we have. While we cannot undo what has been done in our past, we are forgiven. Each and every day we can start anew because Christ has paid the price for us. We are reborn and renewed through the living Word of God.

...he saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and a new life through the Holy Spirit.

~ Titus 3:5

Renewal. Restoration. Revival. Rebirth. While so many think of autumn as the death of a season. I think of it as a rebirth. A cleansing of what is old being washed away. A preparation for restoration and renewal to take place. A reminder of what the Lord has in store for us. As we enjoy and breathe in the blessings and aromas of this autumn season, I am reminded of the lyrics of one of my favorite Keith Green songs which are taken from Psalm 51. 

"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God

and renew a right spirit within me."

"Restore unto me, the joy of thy salvation

and renew a right spirit within me."

~ "Create in me a Clean Heart, Keith Green"

Renewed. Restored. Revived. Blessed. I am blessed in countless ways. I pray for blessings on all of you my friends as we breathe in the graces of this autumn season.  May you experience renewal, restoration and revival through this season and in our savior, Jesus Christ. 

Pray for Colorado!

Sitting on my deck enjoying a beautiful June morning. Baby bunnies in the grass, baby birds in the bird house, birds chirping in the trees, leaves rustling in the morning breeze, and a wonderful cup of coffee in my hand. Reveling in the fact that the air is still cool this morning before our arid, desert heat hits and the gusty summer wind begins to warm up our day to hundred degree heat.

This summer is giving me a sense of deja vu. Rain and moisture have eluded our state. I feel like I have been here before, on my knees, pleading with our God to have mercy on our state that is breaking out in wildfires. Nasty wicked fires rolling through our majestic mountains fueled by gusting winds, ninety to one hundred degree heat and low humidity days. Turning on the television brings one to tears to see the devastation being wrought on our beautiful state of "Colorful Colorado".

From where I sit, the Royal Gorge fire, 40 miles to my west, has burned 3100 acres and damaged a historical Colorado icon. Fifty miles to my north, another fire storms through the beautiful Black Forest. Over 15,000 acres have been charred and nearly 400 homes have been lost. To my south, a smaller, yet damaging fire burns as do many other smaller fires throughout our state. These fires rage on. Burning. Devastating. Incinerating. Wreaking havoc. On land. On homes. On families. On lives.

Where is God? Where is he in all of this? Where is God when tragedy strikes? When turmoil hits? We tend to wonder why God allows these things to happen. I turn on the news or open up the newspaper and I see negative statements being made about God allowing this to happen. Whether or not it just happens or is allowed to happen, the point is that God is in control. Perhaps he is keeping it from becoming a more tragic situation than what it currently is. It is not for us to know. God has a plan for us. A plan bigger than you or I. A plan beyond our comprehension. For each one of our lives. For our cities. For our state. For our nation. For our world. Trust him.

Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord.

I life up my eyes to the mountains ~ where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 121:1~2

I know my God is with me! He will not leave me nor forsake me!  God's love for us burns just like the fires that rage through our majestic state right now. He is our help. He loves us. Forever. Always. I am not a bible scholar and I do not have all of the answers. What I do know for certain is that God loves me. He loves each one of us. Through tragedy. Through trial. Through glory and good.  He is always there. Even when bad things happen.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. ~ Psalm 63:1

My God is right beside me. He is with me. He is with you. I pray to him. I pray for our firefighters. I pray for those whose lives are in turmoil because of the fires. I pray for rain. I pray for Colorado. Won't you please join me?

Be Still

"Be still," says God! My response, "But God! I have so much to do and so many things I want to do!" Again, God says, "Be still my child." And again, I run to do the things I want to do. I get caught up in the chaos and the madness and the selfishness of what I want and not what God wants. God knows what is best for me. You would think I would have learned that by now! Actually, I have learned it, but it appears I have trouble applying it!

I know that God doesn't deliberately cause bad things to happen to us. I do believe however that he does "allow" things to happen to us. Seemingly in my life, those things happen to me when I am not listening to God telling me to slow down, pay more attention and BE STILL!

I have spent the last three weeks being "stiller" than I have been for quite some time! I am trying to be grateful for this down time that has been given me.

Given. To. Me. In an odd sort of way!

You see, it all started with our family getting a new puppy a little over three weeks ago. At 5 a.m. one morning that puppy needed to go out.  I managed to miss a couple of steps going downstairs. The scenario that followed was not a pleasant one and the outcome is not so pleasant either! I managed to fracture my ankle and my foot and have been in a non-weight bearing cast since then. I guess God captured my attention. This is really not how I would have preferred he get it, but it worked. Needless to say, God and I have had an opportunity to spend a little more time together. He has made it known that he is God and he is good. (Of course I already knew that, but needed a reminder!)

I am seriously on the go 24-7, 7 days a week. If there isn't work, school, church or some extracurricular activity to attend, then I am looking for a trail to hike, mountain to climb or some way to totally enjoy the great outdoors. I truly love spending time with family and friends doing the things that I love ... outdoors. I do anything I can to make that happen and consequently my life is probably way more turbulent than it needs to be as I try to make things happen. I really think that is the bottom line that God is trying to get at for me! If I would simply be still and spend more time with Him, He will give me the pleasures I seek! In the right time. In His time!

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

Being still truly is difficult for me. While some people would welcome the down time I have been given, (certainly not the fractures) I don't like this kind of down time! It truly is a difficulty for me. A trial. At the one week mark after my little accident, I had truly descended into a pit of despair and depression over my current state. I was totally enveloped in my own little pity party of emotions and had a few minutes to spare that morning while waiting for my sweet friend turned taxi driver to pick me up to go to work. (Thanks Jules!) Those extra minutes and tears of desperation led me to pick up one of my devotionals and turn it to that days devotion. "Come to me," it read, "and rest in my loving presence. You know that this day will bring difficulties, and you are trying to think your way through those trials." "As you anticipate what is ahead of you, you forget that I AM WITH YOU ~ now and always." (Sarah Young in Jesus Calling) This hit me like a ton of bricks! It's not that I forget He is with me, it's that I forget to let Him have control. I forget to rely on Him in my times of discouragement and dismay.

Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9

As I sit on the back deck on this gorgeous 68 degree January day in Colorado, it is very clear to see our great God is all around us. His glory abounds in the warm rays of the sunshine, in the deep blue hues of the sky, in the puffy, white, heavenly clouds floating overhead, the chirping of the birds, and even in the yipping of that sweet little puppy in my back yard. Yes, the same one who is semi-responsible for the cast on my leg and foot! I am trying to be positive, because normally on a day like today, you would find me on a trail somewhere, hiking! I wouldn't be sitting on my back deck with my foot in the air! But, this is God's plan for me right now. I am still and am soaking up the glory of God all around me.

God is with me. God is with you. He is with each and every one of us. He is good and his blessings abound in a world gone mad with activity and craziness and an inability to slow down. He really asks so very little of us. So little of me. The least we can do is "be still" for a bit, retreat and revel in the glory of a great God who is abounding in love, grace and mercy.

Be still. Be still my child.
I. Am. Still.

Thank Full

Thank full. Full of thanks.

There is nothing like the month of November to bring to light the many things I am thankful for in my life. I must admit that I am extremely grateful for the religious history that our country holds ... even when so many deny the very principles our country was founded on!

In 1621, the Wampanoag Indians and the Plymouth colonists (pilgrims) celebrated the first Thanksgiving as an Autumn harvest feast of thanks. The second Thanksgiving celebration was two years later and marked the end of a long drought. Governor Bradford called for a religious fast. Days of fasting and thanksgiving became quite common. During the American Revolution there were often one or more days of thanksgiving celebrated in a year. In 1789, George Washington issued the very first Thanksgiving proclamation. He asked Americans to show their gratitude for the end of the war that declared our nation's independence. Succeeding presidents also declared days of Thanksgiving throughout their presidencies. It wasn't until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that the final Thursday of November each year should be a holiday and that all Americans should ask God to "commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife and heal the wounds of the nation." In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt officially signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November each year.  While Thanksgiving has religious roots, our American culture has lost that significance and focuses more on the feast of food  that is shared with family and friends right before the insanity of Black Friday hits.

History lesson aside, I choose to reflect on the bountiful blessings I have in my life. God has richly blessed us, through both joy and sorrow and 2012 has brought us both.

March brought us a tremendous trial when George was critically injured in a dirt bike accident. While his injuries were severe and could have been life threatening (unbeknownst to us at the time), God protected him and healed him. We are so fortunate that God has blessed him with a job that allowed him the month off of work to heal and the luxury of returning to light duty at work before going back in full swing. Praise God for his protection over Geo and our family.  Shortly after returning back to work, were also very blessed by George being awarded a new position. This blessing allows George to work regular daytime hours without weekends, holidays or shift work involved! Amen to family time and being able to spend our weekends and worship time together again every week!

The month of May brought us to the graduation of our oldest daughter Katie and her decision to go off to college. While it is difficult as a parent to watch each of my children grow up and leave, I am very, very proud of her.

July brought us the loss of one very special lady this year. The loss of Grandma Ellen is especially felt at this time of year because of all the wonderful memories we have of her. I remember many Thanksgiving weekends spent with Gram (and Grandad too). She was always cooking up her wonderful Thanksgiving dishes for the family. When the cooking was done and the meal complete, the rest of the afternoon and evening were spent playing cards around the kitchen table. Memories ... years gone by and a chapter of our lives has closed. Through it all, God has been faithful to me and my family. He sustains us always.

August bought us face to face with the reality of losing our pastor and his family to a church in California. They were also very special friends!  They are family to our family. Our children have grown up together. We have gone on camping trips together. We have spent many nights around a table playing cards or marbles or just sharing dinner and friendship. After being in our lives for the last 10 years, we feel their absence tremendously, but we know God works out his plans for good! Dave and Anne answered a call. A call from God. They were obedient in answering.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  

This verse applies to every aspect of our lives! God is in control. I realize that even more with one daughter in college, another daughter in her senior year (and discerning a life of commitment to the Lord through missionary work) and my son in his final year of middle school. Oh, how the years roll by!

I sit here reflecting on this past year and I am ever thankful for the fullness of life I experience through the sustenance I find through  Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  I am so thankful for this week and the reminder that it is of so many blessings. I am thankful for the birth of our Savior 2000 years ago. The sacrifice God made in giving up his son. The sacrifice Christ made in giving up his own life. The pain and agony of the crucifixtion that our Lord suffered that makes us realize the magnitude of the GIFT we are given. Thank you Jesus.

I am thankful for the country we live in and the freedom we have. The soldiers past, present and future – those who have fought in wars, died in war, will fight in war all to preserve the freedom that we luxuriously live in. We are blessed to be free because of those who have fought and died preserving that freedom!

I am thankful for sunsets and sunrises – I have witnessed both this week in glorious fashion! God is a most magnficent artist! I am thankful for the mountains that I love to hike and camp in. For the Eastern plains which I grew up on. For the farmers and ranchers around the world who grow the food we are fortunate to have and eat. I am thankful for having grown up on a farm and for having experienced life in a farm family in rural America. My roots run deep! I am thankful for my spiritual heritage and christian upbringing! (Thank you mom and dad!)

I am thankful for my family. For parents who love us and are involved in my children's lives. For my siblings and the children they have raised so my children can grown up with cousins like I did. What a blessing to have family! I am thankful for George. God knew what he was doing when he sent me a Christian man! I am thankful for George leading our family and providing for us and for being a Godly father to our children. I am thankful for each one of my children ~ unique and special in their own ways. I am thankful for their love and devotion to our God and Savior.

I am thankful for my friends! Friends both near and far. Without them, life would not be so fun! I am grateful that they love me for who I am. Who else would I hike with, camp with, laugh with, gather with, shop with, worship with, enjoy life with? (Besides my family!)

I am thankful for Christian friends, church family and the luxury of worshipping our Lord freely. I am thankful for the fellowship, the friendships, the family I have through my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am thankful for my good health and the health of family and friends. We are blessed when so many are suffering from health problems.

I am thankful for my job where I have opportunity to touch, influence, teach and love on over 500 students a day.  A job … that even when it frustrates me, I am lucky to have when so many are in need of work. 

I am thankful for my home. A roof over my head, food on the table, a family to love, a family to love me back.

My list could run on and on, but the point can be made right here. I am thankful for all that I am and all that I have. God is good.

I am Blessed. Blessed. I am Full ... to the brim of blessings. I am Full. Full of Thanks. 

Thank Full.

Thankful.

May you and your family enjoy a most blessed Thanksgiving holiday together. 

Life is Precious

It's interesting how time flies. I haven't composed for this blog in two and a half months. I have tried, but have been void of words to put down. Many thoughts and feelings have flooded my mind, body and soul over the past few weeks, but I simply could not pull them together. I wanted to write, but days turned into weeks. I didn't really realize why until now. As I opened up my blog, it hit me. The last time I added an entry was on the morning of July 2. I remember sitting on my deck in the early morning hours writing while the sun rose on a beautiful new day. The next day was a day that will be forever in my memory. My mom called to tell me that my grandmother, her mother, had passed away. We knew this day was coming, but knowing doesn't make the pain any less. It didn't make it any easier to close this chapter of my life either. My heart still hurts for the loss we suffered.

I have had a writing dry spell since that day. I have felt many things, thought many things, cried my tears and grieved. Many things have happened in my life since that day. Many things that have caused me to wonder, to think, to question, to ponder my purpose in this life. Some days I wonder which way God is directing me. One thing I know without a doubt is that he is my power and my strength. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ~ 2 Cor. 12:9.  I have certainly felt loss and weakness over the past few weeks and am gracious for a great God who has sustained me throughout this time. Life is precious. I try hard to enjoy each day fully and to praise the God who allows me to have these days.

One short month ago, I sent my oldest daughter off to college.  Nothing prepares you for that first goodbye when you drop your child off and drive away. Nothing prepares you for seeing that sweet, strong, INDEPENDENT young lady break down and cry with you and hug you like she's never hugged you before. Nothing prepares you for the empty place at the dinner table or the empty bed in her room or the house void of her infectious laughter.

In that same week, we lost some of our best friends (who also happened to be our pastor and wife) to a church in California. We know that God has called them and has a purpose for them. We also know that friendships bridge the miles between us! However, the distance between us in miles has never felt more real than it does right now. My husband and I miss their company, their friendship, their entire family, which was so much a part of ours for the last few years. We long to enjoy dinner, conversation and laughter with them.

This week marked the twenty year anniversary of the loss of our first child. Another day that is etched in my memory. It is so hard to believe that twenty years have passed and while the pain of that loss is still there, God reminds me of the three precious children he has blessed us with. Three unique and beautiful individuals. Each one has captivated me completely with their love. God has given them to me for a time ... to raise, to love, to nurture, to grow, to guide.

God  has been faithful  to sustain me through hardships, struggles, tragedy and loss. "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." ~ Psalm 54:4.

 

I must also be quick to remember that he sustains me in the good times too. The times of joy and celebration. He is God of ALL and is worthy of praise! "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." ~ Psalm 145:3. God is so good. He provided a time away over this past weekend for me with my husband. We took the opportunity to get away to the majestic mountains to celebrate 22 years of marriage together. What a glorious Fall weekend it was and a gentle reminder of God's presence and place in our marriage. And another subtle reminder of life. Precious life.
 
As I wrap up tonight, I am reminded of many friends who are missing their children. Children who have gone off to college, ready to start a new chapter of their lives. I am thinking of my dear friend L, who is missing her son who joined the Army and is currently enduring basic training. I am praying for families who lost loved ones over the weekend. Lives cut short. In the blink of an eye. In a moment. Lives ended.
 
Life is precious. God is good. He sustains us. He will not fail us. For in this life, He is in control and he gives meaning to our days. He has a purpose for each one of us.
Life is precious. Precious. Enjoy each and every moment of each day.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~ 2 Cor. 12: 9-10

I Saw God Today

Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees, takes off his shoes. I absolutely love this excerpt from "Aurora Leigh" by 19th century poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

I started writing this post about a week ago while sitting in the gorgeous Colorado mountains, enjoying my earth crammed with heaven! I was sitting in our little campsite next to a beautiful, bubbling creek, listening to the sound of water rushing over rocks and happy red breasted robins chirping out their songs of joy. The gentle sound of the breeze whispering through the pines and aspens soothed my soul as the morning sun glimmered little specks of glittery light on to the rippling water. My solitude was only briefly interrupted by a hyper black squirrel who flitted into my space to quickly say hello before enthusiastically hopping on to the next site! I saw God! It was a glorious dawning of a day as I sat there and looked all around and opened up my senses to take it all in. The sights, the sounds, the smells of nature all around most definitely are the handiwork of God. The handiwork proof that earth is crammed full of heaven if only we take off our shoes and experience it! We only need to open up our arms to God and accept it all.

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. ~ Nehemiah 9:6

 I saw God today. I saw God in ways I don't often stop to appreciate. He is everywhere if we only stop to see and acknowledge his being, his creation, his handiwork, his fingerprints on every tiny detail of life all around us. He is God and he is good. Blessed assurance that he is in control of my life, our lives, our world.

I truly needed God to speak to me on this trip and remind me of life's simple important things. I was struggling with being on this camping trip; our first trip ever minus one family member. Our oldest daughter, Katie, recently graduated, had to stay behind to uphold the responsibilities of her job. It simply felt strange to leave her and to be enjoying ourselves on a family trip without her. I worried about her being home by herself for four days. I wanted to be in control of everything and make everything work out the way I wanted it, but that isn't the way life works. After all, she is technically an adult now and this is a point in life that we have been working towards. This is the point at which my mom hands have to let go and let God. We have been raising this child up for the last 18 years. It is time for her to fly on her own and this perhaps was one of those tests, not for her, but for me. Those ties that bind child to mother have to be untied .... at least a little for her to grow and probably more importantly for me to grow and let her be who God has created her to be. This was a reality for me on this trip. And in this trip I saw God.

While on this trip we also got word that just over the mountains, 40 miles from our hometown, a horrendous forest fire had broken out. Fellow campers in our campground were notified that their neighborhoods were being evacuated. My heart broke for them. For the many who would flee their homes in the coming days, not knowing if they would have homes to return to. As this has all played out over the past week, many (over 350) families have lost their homes and approximately 17,000 acres of mountain land in and around the Colorado Springs area have burned so far. Two people have lost their life. God is in control. Even in this seeming nightmare, I see God. He is at work in ways that we have yet to identify.

I saw God today. I felt him. I heard him. I saw him. I smelled and tasted his goodness in all that was evident around me. I was at peace with him being in control and assuring me "I've got this one!" Just like he has them all, if I let him!

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

My friends sometimes call me a "fun mom". I heard that again this weekend after I shared with them that I was sleeping under the stars with my younger daughter. We didn't have to go to the mountains or go camping to do that, we simply rolled out our sleeping bags on the back deck and slept under the stars and the gorgeously bright moon. We enjoyed God's creation on a mild and fresh summer night. I laugh because I don't see myself as a fun mom. I simply see it that I like to enjoy life. I see God because I like to take off my shoes and enjoy! I like to enjoy nature and being outdoors and doing fun things. With my kids. With my husband. With my family. With my friends. I like to see and enjoy what God has created.

                                                      Under the stars with my Aubrie!

Tomorrow is not promised us! Take off your shoes. Enjoy today. Look for God. Experience him with all of your senses. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. (12:1) Enjoy life. Experience life. Give credit where it is due! Praise God and worship him for all he has created for you and for me! Earth is crammed with heaven. Go experience it!

Sunset ~ Sunrise

The sun sets on another day. A beautiful June day marked with beauty and love. Love born of two joined as one in marriage beginning a lifetime together.

I had the privilege of being part of a very special day that began with helping a dear friend decorate the reception ball room for her youngest daughter's wedding reception. The beautiful young lady getting married, like so many, has endured lifes ups and downs as they were dealt to her.  However, Lauren's "downs" over the past year have included a battle. A winning battle. Against thyroid cancer.

God blessed Lauren with a loving, caring family; a fiance who stood by her side through the battle; friends who prayed and supported her; doctors and medical personnel who treated her illness with confidence and optimism. God also blessed Lauren with a vision of her future. A vision of her wedding day and the beginning of a special life with Eli.

The wedding was picture perfect as Lauren and Eli stood together, siblings and close friends at their side, parents behind and in support of them. A church packed to the brim with friends and family and an abundance of love for this young couple embarking on the adventures that life will give them.  If anyone deserved this magnificent day, it is Lauren.

A recent sermon from Ecclesiastes 9:1-12 by our pastor encouraged us to party and live it up. Live life with vigor and excitement and enjoy the fruits of what God has given us for he has already approved it. We are called to celebrate the blessings in life. So, with friends we celebrated Lauren and Eli's joining as man and wife. We ate, we laughed, we danced, we raised our glasses in a toast to a new beginning. What an honor it was to be part of such a blessed and special day.

As I watch the sunrise this morning from my deck, I think of Eli and Lauren waking up together today, ready to embark on their journey of life together. I think back on the beginnings of my own marriage to George and how very blessed I am. God has blessed us with much in our almost 22 years together. He has blessed us with far more than either of us ever deserve! I cherish the gifts he has given us. Our children, our memories and even the ups and downs, the good times and the bad ... all that has graced our life together and made us stronger and wiser... together. Blessed.

Yesterday was a day of new beginnings for Lauren and Eli. Thank you Lauren and Eli for letting us being a part of it! My prayer for you is that God will be the center of your love and that he will guide your hearts and your life together. And in the words of an old English blessing, "May your joys be as bright as the morning, your years of happiness as numerous as the stars in the heavens, and your troubles but shadows that fade in the sunlight of love."

<3

Satisfied

Serenity. Peace. Love. Togetherness. Family. Time. Nature. Sun. Moon. Stars. Life. Stillness. Beauty. Laughter. Blue skies. Gentle breezes. Warm sunshine. The setting sun. The rising moon.

Gifts. Blessings. Treasures.

I seek you God earnestly. For your words.  The treasures you provide to me in scriptures and in life. Gifts. Blessings. Treasures.

Gifts. Blessings. Treasures. I am truly grateful for them all tonight. God is good. My heart is calm and my soul satisfied. I am blessed beyond measure by these wonderful gifts. They fill me to the brim with happiness.

I have had the genuine opportunity to spend my day immersed in the needs of my family. They are the loves of my life. I am often overwhelmed with the needs, but today, God gave me peace in serving. Serving Him. Serving my family. Serving my family for Him.  It brought me great happiness. To Him I give the glory for all. To Him I give thanks for all.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ~ Ps. 63:3

My early Friday was spent like most early Fridays. Cleaning up the messes that have been left over the past week. Doing the laundry, tidying up the house, tending to household chores.  Cleaning up our house for the ones I love. In the midst of my cleaning, I was frequently called to the garage to "inspect" the progress of the go-kart rebuild in progress by thirteen year old son and his supervisor, my husband! His excitement was uncontained and contagious.

In the midst of this glorious day, my sweet seventeen year old began texting me from the tennis courts. Her request involved our family heading to the lake to enjoy the water, the warm temps, the glorious evening and some family time together. We decided it sounded like a great idea!

I spent the middle chunk of my day working side by side with my oldest daughter as we finished stuffing and addressing the envelopes that hold her high school graduation announcements. Whew! This mom is still having trouble accepting that her firstborn is about to embark on a new journey of life on her own. We finished up and off to the post office I went to mail off this final stack of envelopes!

My trip back home found me at the local Walmart store that I love to hate and affectionately call Wal-Hell! Where else can you find everything you need and hate the whole experience?? I managed to secure all items on my shopping list ... and then some! I hustled home to put away the groceries with the help of my daughters, while simultaneously packing a cooler so we could all head to the lake for an evening of family time.

Lake time with my family is one of our favorite things to do! Camping, fishing, hiking, or just a quick evening to play by the water, enjoy a campfire and laugh together brings joy to my soul. It brings serenity. It brings me peace and fills me up like the word of God.

I feels these moments with us all together slipping away from me though. My soon to be graduate plans to move about 3 hours away. That will happen in less than a month. My heart aches as I think of our family times that will change without her always here. Perhaps that is why nights like tonight settle so deeply in my soul and fill me up with gladness. I praise the God above for the gifts of my children. For the gift of the time he has given me with them; to raise them, nurture them, grow them and teach them to fly. I sing praises to Him because he is God. He is good. He has blessed me.

Thank you God for an evening with my loves ... all together ... all of us ... enjoying your gifts. Your love is amazing and you continually bring me gifts. You calm my heart and fill my soul. I will ever praise your name. And tonight, I will rest well.

My soul will be satisfied .... and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips. ~ Ps. 63:5

Rumblings of Joy

I love the rumblings of a spring storm. I especially like the rumbling that commences in a continuous rolling thunder that lingers and rattles the windows of my home. I love the sound and smell of the rain that falls and the lightning that radically illuminates the sky. I appreciate the freshness in the air that ensues ~ thanks to the storm. For some, storms are unnerving. For me, they can be relaxing.

The rumblings of the storm comfort me. They bring me joy! They remind me of the mightiness of a God who loves me and cares for me. The rumblings remind me that our great God is in control. They remind me that God is with me ... All the time! The rumblings of this most recent storm, while I lay in my bed last night, are God's awesome confirmation that spring is here. Our wondrous God has brought much needed moisture to our parched and dry land. He is faithful in the face of doubt, he again has delivered what we have prayed for.

I delighted in the rumblings as I lay in my bed. I reveled in the beauty of the sounds around me. The clap of thunder, the pitter patter of water on my window, the tap tap of tiny hail on my roof, the drip drip dropping of water off of my roof, the gentle wind breezing against the exterior walls of my home. I delighted in the flashes of lightning that lit up the sky and my room. I melted at the sound of my 13 year old son's voice at my door as he needed reassurance that we were not being whisked away by some violent tornado as those in neighboring southern states were experiencing last eve.

Joy in the midst of a storm. A "real" storm ... not a life storm. I love a thunderstorm and I love to dance in the rain! God's greatness through a real storm reminds me of God's greatness in the storms of life. God is big! He is bigger than all of our life storms. He is a God of wonder. I love when his thunderstorms remind me that he is big. Big enough.  Big enough to handle all of my troubles and my cares. Big enough so I don't have to be in control. Sometimes it takes a thunderstorm of giant proportions to remind me that He is God!

Through it all I praise Him. I praise him for the thunderstorms and I praise him for the storms ... the storms of life that grow me; the storms of life that make me stronger.

"And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"
   ~ Casting Crowns, "Praise You in this Storm"

No matter what the storm ... God always leaves us with a rainbow and plenty to praise Him for!

Journey of the Soul

Lord of all the earth, I'll shout your name, shout your name. Filling up the sky with endless praise, endless praise. Yahweh! Yahweh! I love to shout your name O Lord! (Credit to Tim Hughes, "At Your Name").

I have taken a few journeys in my lifetime. Journeys of different kinds. Some with family. Some with friends. Some consisting of a few days. Others perhaps only a few hours. Some journeys are filled with laughter. Some are filled with tears. Some with both. Each journey has a specific purpose ~ maybe it is a vacation, a weekend getaway, a simple trail hike, a soul searching walk, or who knows.... As we all know, journeys can be those of the heart, of the soul, of the psyche, of our endurance, of our courage. They can be journeys of strength and testing. Regardless of the purpose, I have come away from each journey with something learned or something gained. Strengthened in body, mind and spirit.

While all of the journeys of my life are memorable, there are those that stand out as soul searching journeys. These are the journeys that stretch me and test me. They bring me closer to my God and teach me to cry out to him. To exhibit courage and reliance on him. To place my faith in him and to trust him and to believe not only in his ability to carry me through, but in my own ability to succeed and endure. God's grace is enough for me. His mercy endures forever. He will never leave me hanging. That is why I so enjoy the journeys of my life that allow me to test my endurance and my reliance on him.

Let's say I am something of an adrenaline junkie...as it pertains to hiking. I don't really like doing things that are scary, but I do enjoy adventures that test me physically and through that physical testing, they test my mental strength and the level of my faith. These adventures involve mountains and trails and hiking and soul searching. You see, there is nothing like a good hike to test my soul. For starters, who can deny God's presence and the feeling (and filling) of the Holy Spirit when one is in the great outdoors? The nature, the beauty, the creation that God has gifted to us to enjoy. What a blessing it truly is. His fingerprints are all over it. Lord of all the earth I shout your name!  The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice ~ Psalm 97:1

My faith and endurance have been tested on the great Pikes Peak Barr Trail over the course of 13 plus miles and an ascent of 7,000 feet to over 14,000 feet in fog, drizzle, wind and snow; on the climb of 14,000 foot Mount Sherman in extreme and truly "Colorado" conditions ranging from sunshine to wintery, windy, blustery cold conditions at the top; or the trail to Lake of the Clouds as it ascended over uneven, rocky terrain at high altitude to the beautiful reward of clear, cool, pristine lakes surrounded by glorious green; or St. Mary's Falls Trail that seemed it would never end as we climbed and climbed in search of the beautiful waterfalls; or perhaps the favorite Red Canyon trail that somehow trapped us with a thunderstorm ~ how frightening yet exhilarating it was and how therapeutic was the laughter from that day; or perhaps a climb of the infamous Manitou Incline and the absolute mind over matter that it takes to reach the top in the 1 mile and 2000 vertical feet ascent and how amazing it is that I have gone back not twice, but a third time to endure it. Perhaps it's the challenge that keeps me coming back to these trails and endurance tests, perhaps it's the camaraderie and encouragement of the friends along side, definitely it is the growth I experience in faith and in my calling out my God as I find my way. It is a journey of the soul ~ a searching of who I am.

My most recent trip to the Incline had me more anxious than I have ever been in approaching it. I cannot say why I was so unsettled by the thought of climbing it, but more than ever I had to rely on my faith and on the encouragement of my companion that day. Once reaching the base of the Incline, my jitters waned and I was ready with adrenaline pumping. I looked up. Looked at the Incline, looked at the summit, looked at Pikes Peak, looked at the clouds, looked beyond the clouds and set my sights on God and fnishing this journey strong. We started our step climbing which seemed easy at first. Conversation flowed as we trekked along. It didn't take long for my breath to become labored as the altitude started to increase and steps became steeper. As we climbed, my confidence faded, my legs became fatigued and my oxygen compromised. I had to stop more frequently as we climbed higher. I started to doubt my ability. As I stopped to catch my breath, I uttered prayers for my companion that day, that she would be encouraged and press onward to the top. I prayed for other hikers on the trail. For their safety, for their endurance as they gasped to catch their breath. One particular gentleman concerned me, but he too pressed on. This journey of strength is not an easy one for this soul. I continued on and as I did, I continued to call upon my God. I freely prayed to him ... step after grueling step. I also uttered the words of the Lord's Prayer as I climbed. One word for each step I took. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. Stopping every 100 or so steps to glance at my companion, check on her, encourage her, and continue on. Continuing on in my journey of the soul. Looking upward to my God. Searching .... ever searching for the strength I needed to complete the journey.

Together, we completed this journey on this recent March day, my companion and me. We finished the race. We finished it strong. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith  ~ 2 Tim. 4:7  As we reached the summit, I praised my God. I praised him for the strength I had to complete the journey to the top. And at the top we reveled in his glory. I gave him the glory for me completing the task I set out to accomplish. For he is good and is worthy of all of my praise. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Cor. 10:31  

This journey, like all of the others before, was truly rewarding at it's summit and at it's end. For at the summit and all along the way, creation sang it's story. In the sky, in the trees, in the clouds, in the rising sun, in the story of creation all around us. The story of all that is good and great and created by God for our enjoyment, for our recognition, for our praise. How can one not praise the mountains and skies, the beauty all around.

My life is a journey. It is a journey of the soul ~ a searching of who I am. I am a child of God. Dependent upon God and upon my savior Jesus Christ to carry me through the good times and the bad. To him I give the glory for all. I proclaim his goodness, his greatness, his righteousness. He is the God of all. I love to shout your name O Lord!

The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. ~ Psalm 97:6 

To you all, I wish you a journey ~ a journey of the soul.