My Mountain Climbing

 I feel like a am at the beginning of an up hill battle and I have been there for a few months. I know in praying and arguing with God that this is just were he has me right know; but I most be honest I am not really enjoying it right know. The funny thing is that it is not really an up hill battle in one particular thing it is really every thing. I know that I have said here I am Lord; and am not turning back from what you have called me to do-and right now He is telling me to climb that mountain of life one rocky horrible step at a time and to keep striving for the goal. I am just at a place that I am going to take the steps that he is telling me to take; but I do not like the way that some of them look or how is wants me to stand on them. 

Lord please change my heart so that I can look at each step in front of me with your passion and enthusiasm. Allow me to see the mountain you have me climbing throw your eyes as your beautiful creation.

Anniversary

Matt and I just celebrated our 5 year anniversary (July 19) and it is crazy to me to think that 5 years is longer then the average couple makes it. I will not say that it has been easy or that every thing has gone the way that we have planned. It is actually quite the opposite; but it is easy when we remember our commitment made to God and then to each other, and when we remember that He is the one that brought us together.

For Emmy

Isaiah 28:16

"I lay a stone...a tested stone, a precious stone for a sure foundation..."

Emmy-I pray that no matted how you are tested you become a precious stone for God's foundation.

STOP

Please just stop. I have something that I want to tell you in an intimate place. I am begging you to just be still and listen to my still quiet voice. Please, dear child whom I love, slow down  and rest in my arms; allow me to tell you things I have been longing to tell you. Be still in my presence and be comforted and freed by my love. - God

My Life (okay real God's)

So, wow, God is doing a lot right now. Over the last 6 months to a year God has really been challenging me to go back to school and finish my education degree. I have always found excuses not to even considered it an option; but I finally gave in and decided to see what it would take and if it was really even anything that would be doable. So I applied to go the Fort part time; and have been expected starting in January of 2009; now God has to figure out finances, childcare, and time management. So needless to say I have a lot for pray about the next 4 months or so; but I am excited to see what God does and were this all goes.

The Battle of Our Lives

Picture two armies standing ready to fight; both armies believe that they are fighting a cause that is valuable. They are fighting to win a battle for their rulers and for their lives. These armies are not fighting for land or crops even for beliefs they are fighting for their lives. The army that you stand with has taken refuge at the foot of some mighty cliffs.  This place as a strong wall of defense and it has protected us many times before. It is a place of security, a place that has defended you before, and place of safety. You fell protected, and at the some time you are being attack by and army that out numbers and wants to kill you. 

Both of you stand ready to fight waiting for them to make their first attack; they stand taunting and intimidating you. You start praying for God to give you strength and discover that you are not the only one praying, the men around you are also praying. As your prayers grow stronger some one slips and an arrow is shot. THE BATTLE BEGINS, and suddenly you find that your army is now attacking the enemy. Your prayers gave you courage and brought help, but the battle is still fierce and dangerous. The advancing army takes the wall that protected you and destroys many lives. After any hours of fighting the army of your enemy stands pounding at the last door of defense. You have been over taken and you know that your life is about to be taken. You have no where to run, and it would seem as though God has not shown up to help defend you. 

Just as you feel you have run out of time, and it is too late you are going to lose, God shows up and not just to help defend you but to fighting the battle for you. GOD TAKES VICTORY. God wins for the sake of your life and defends you. You realize that God was not too late, he was just on time.

We are in a battle that only God can win; at battle for our lives and the lives of the people around of this world. We stand ready to defend those lives, and we start praying for God to helps defend and to bring protection. He sends helpers but the enemy still out numbers us. We pray for courage and strength, and as we are praying our prayers turn us form the defenders to attackers and we start the fight. The first arrow (of prayer) is shot by us. THE BATTLE BEGINS.

We fight courageously and confidently behind a wall that we know God provided to protect us. The enemy takes the wall and many lives. We find ourselves stand behind the last door of our defenses knowing that the enemy is going to win, wondering were God is and why he did not show up to help. Just as we know God is too late, he shows up and ends the battle. God is never too late, and he will never let the enemy have ours lives. We just have to hold on to our defenses and the lives that we have until his timing for victory, and he will show up for victory not just to help. GOD TAKES VICTORY.

Thought for the Day

John 3:30

"He must become greater, I must become less."

John 3:30

-Really God in a world consumed with promoting and pushing yourself above everyone else you want me to become less? Do you know what it will take to do that? 

-Okay if you are going to call me to be less so that you can be greater I trust you. Please give me the strength to see were I place myself above you and to take a step back and raise you up.

Family Missions

My 4 year old made a very innocent yet convicting statement yesterday. We were talking about people that are on mission trips and she asked if we (as in our family) were going to go on one. I brushed it off and said no not right now, maybe when you are older. I have really been thinking about my response that last few days.

Why do we have to what until our kids are older to take them on missions and teach them about evangelism and serving? Is not one of God's greatest commands to care for the orphaned and the widow? What harm would it do to take her on a missions trip? I am sure I would be amazed at the things it would teacher her and me? 

So if we are to be a living example of Christ everyday and then we tell our kids that in order to go on a mission trip they have to wait until they are older, are we teaching them that God can not call us or them at a young age? I do not want to send that message to my 4 year old.

So this has sparked a new prayer in my heart. "Lord I want my children to experience and to walk out the things that you have called them in at a young age. What have and are you calling me to do right know as their parent to help them walk in all you have for them? Am I to take Anna on a mission trip even at 4 or 5?"

Attitude

Do I have the attitude of a 4 year old? Some times yes. It amazes me that when it comes to God and listening to what He is telling me to do some times I am just like my 4 year old. I whine and complain, through a fit, and then if I do it I have the worst attitude and do the crappiest job. I wonder if I would just listen to myself and when I tell my 4 year old to change her attitude I changed mine how my day would go. 

I know that God still loves us even when we have the maturity of a 4 year old, but I would like to start releasing before my days go done that road that I am in a 4 year mindset and grow up. 

Lord I pray that today you would give me the eyes to see where my attitude and emotions are running my day and to give them to you. Help me to stop living in the moment of what is happening right this second and take a step back and look at the bigger picture.  I am sorry for not looking at things with your eyes and for being more worried about what I want to do then what you want me to do.