The Hike

Today was such a beautiful fall day (even though in the morning when I woke up it was 28 degrees) that I decided it would be a good idea to go on a prayer walk. My prayer walk was just a time that I was able to spend with God praying and praising Him for the things that He has done in my life lately. I have so much to be thankful for. I went to this little mountain called Mt. Severance. It is only about a mile to the top, but it it really steep. As I was hiking up the trail, I saw so many similarities between my actual hike, and the “hike” we are doing in our Christian walk. There are times along the path where it was easy. The path was straight, there weren’t any roots or rocks sticking up anywhere, it was just a nice walk. Then there were other times, that the path was so steep and had rocks that I had to climb over. Another thing was that anytime I would turn my head to look off to the side or to look behind me, even if it was just for a quick second to look at the trees, I stumbled and sometimes even fell (that could just be because I am clumsy though J). In our walk with the Lord, there are times when things are easy. God has clearly shown us where He wants us to be, what He wants us to do, and who He wants us to do it with. There aren’t any problems hindering our smooth walk. Then we come to a part in our walk where things aren’t so easy. Things become more difficult. There are “rocks” or situations that we have to overcome in order to get to the top. Going back to what I said about turning my head and falling…in our walk with the Lord, how easy is it to just turn our head to glance at what is going on around us. As soon as we do, we stumble..we fall. We loose focus on the prize that we are striving for which is Jesus. Philippines 3:14 says just what we are to do. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That is our goal. That is what we should be striving for! If you have ever run a race you can recall how at the finish line, parents, friends, teammates, and coaches were there cheering for you. Just imagine coming to the finish line and seeing Jesus Christ waiting there to meet you! Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Verse two really gets me going because… think of all that He has done for us? He endured the cross! We need to be running this race with endurance, with perseverance and get rid of whatever it is that is weighing us down and holding us back.

Something else I noticed on my walk was when I tried to look too far ahead, I lost track of where I was. I would stumble over my feet. God is showing us where to go one step at a time. In Psalms it talks about how the Word is a lamp. A lamp gives off just enough light to show us about one step in front of us. If we try and look too far, all we see is darkness. God hasn’t made clear what He wants us to do. As long as we are continuing to follow the Lord, that light keeps on going with us and keeps showing us what is next on our journey.

Once I finally made it to the top of the mountain, it was just a breathtaking view. I think I was literally speechless just looking at all that God had made. I forgot to take my camera which means I need to go back soon so I can get some pictures of all the leaves before they all fall down. As I began my trip down the mountain, I just kept on praising God for all that He has done in my life and everything I have to be thankful for. I made it all the way down to my car and went to unlock it and came to the great realization that I left my keys at the top of the mountain. I guess I wasn’t finished praying yet J. I turned around and began to walk the long steep walk up the mountain. God showed me through that that even though we may be doing well in our race towards Him, we can still have setbacks that will slow us down.

Even though I wasn’t excited about having to hike another 2 miles at the time, God taught me a lot and I was able to spend more time with Him. I thoroughly enjoyed my prayer walk and I encourage each of you to go out and have a prayer walk or just spend a little bit of extra time with God and thank Him for what He has given to you.

Endurance through the Trials

If you would have told me a year ago, make that 4 WEEKS ago, that I would be sitting in Pottersville, NY at Word of Life Bible Institute typing this I would have told you that you were crazy. I never imagined that I would end up here. Especially AFTER I had already graduated from college. This was not the way I had my life planned out at all. I was supposed to be happily married by now. Funny how my plans aren’t the same as God’s. This past week that I have been up here has been amazing. I have learned so much and it’s only been a week. We have just studied the book of James and it is just neat to see how God gives us trials to make us stronger. He promises that none of those trials will be too much for us to handle. That is just amazing to me. At the time of the trial, it may seem like it is the end of the world or that you just want to quit everything right then, but God gave us those trials to increase our faith in Him. We have to learn to trust Him and listen to Him and He will help us endure them.

On another note…it is sooo pretty up here. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp (and super cold), and fall is just great. All 5 of my roommates are great. Even though it is a small room, we are all getting a long..so far. So for my PE class, I signed up to do snowshoeing…you know, when you walk in the snow with tennis rackets on your feet. Yeah, that should be fun. It is an all day hike which will be super tiring, but fun (and sooooooooo cold) We are going sometime at the end of January. Another thing we do is Open Air Evangelism which will be done in New York City. My ministry team has been selected to go on October 31 – November 1. Halloween. Needless to say, this should be interesting.

Resting Place

"I know you often grow weary. I hear your heartfelt cry for more energy to make it through each day. You, My tired princess, must trust Me with all your many worries and responsibilities. Rest when I tell you to. I am your heavenly Father, and I know what My girl needs. So listen to the One who loves you the most and knows all about you. I want you to take a step of faith by setting aside a day each week to rest from all your work. If you obey Me in this, I will multiply your time and supernatually energize your efforts to get everything done in the following days. Welcome this opportunity to give your mind, body, and spirit a rest. Consider it My love gift to you, and relax in Me!

Love, Your King and your Resting Place"

( I got this from a book that I have been reading along with my devos called His Princess, Love Letters from Your King. It is filled with topic after topic of things that God is saying to us as Christian women that are encouraging and stuff. Each "letter" has a verse that it is based from. I like it. I think there is another book out there that is Love Letters from Your Prince which would be stuff from Jesus. I would like to have that one some day but for now, this is good.)

Isn't that comforting? To know that we can find a resting place in Him, the One with big, open arms ready to scoop us up and hold us tight. There are times when I just want to lay down and just give up on whatever it is that I was doing. Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We don't have to quit. God doesn't want us to quit. He wants us to take all our problems and things weighing us down to Him so that He can help us through them and help us conquer them. So just remember, the next time you feel as if you can't go on or you just don't know where to turn, look to God and look in His Word. Seek Him for strength and fly like an eagle :)