And the Adventure Continues...

Yesterday's discoveries...

1) I was still sore from the whole Mt. Rushmore adventure.

2) A beautiful drive with the most enchanted little creek running through the trees beside the road.

3) A gorgeous waterfall that was glorious to see from the observation deck. 

4) I thought things were going quite well till I turned and saw the look in Dan's eye when he gazed up to.the.top....And so...

5) When crossing the raging river toward the falls, only step on the rocks sticking out of the water.

6) Waterfalls are beautiful when viewed up close from the bottom. 

7) When climbing the side of a cliff, don't grab the pine needles, grab the tree trunk.

8) Gravel is slippery. 

9) If you suddenly start to panic, just sit with your back pressed tightly against the rock wall. 

10) Take a paper bag with you in case of hyperventilation. Trust me. (Wild hair...Don't even care!)

11) When going back down, don't look. Just don't. 

12) It's okay to cry on the cliffs. 

13) When some kid runs towards you with no parent in sight, giddy with his freedom, hold your ground and make him step around you.

14) He climbs down, I slide on my bottom. It may not be a pretty descent, but it's effective. 

15) I am not a rock climber.

16) Every natural structure is a challenge for my crazy husband. Oh great, today we're going here, Devil's Tower. My stars.

Our Little Adventure

Here are some discoveries I made on yesterday's Little adventure:

1) When you ask the lady at the concierge desk how far a certain hiking trail is and she says "five miles" don't believe her...It's much, much more.

2) If a hiking trail says difficult, it is...Treacherous, even. 

3) Every tree in South Dakota fell and landed across the Willow Creek trail.

4) If a trail has "creek" in the name, beware, eventually the creek becomes the trail.

5) The wilderness is never an easy place to be.

6) South Dakota has plants that only exist to shred you to pieces.

7) When the guy wearing a fanny pack at Mile 3 says he saw the "back of the Rushmore carvings," he didn't. Those carvings may as well have been another continent away from mile 3. 

8) South Dakota also has a jungle. (We needed a machete.)

9) There are lots of shiny things in the SD wilderness. None of them are gold.

10) A snake you do see scares you twice as much as one you step over without noticing.

11) If a tree falls in the forest and you are there to hear it, it makes a sound...A loud one.

12) Baby pine trees make a great landing spot for a fall. (Except for the little needles that puncture the skin.)

13) Mile 8 is when trail running becomes no fun anymore...not that I ran for 8, but that's when I started disliking it...a lot. Kudos, distance trail runners! 

14) Mt. Rushmore is super cool...Totally worth it to pay ten bucks and park there.

15) There's a really nice guy named Nate who works the entrance and will let you in free when you hike 10 miles to get there. 

Bonus: when showering in an RV, be gentle with the water handles or they will pop off, pelting you with freezing water, causing you to throw clothes on your soaking wet self, run outside and frantically shut off the water to the RV...All while screaming like a crazy woman. Strangely, at the exact same moment, all the water in the RV park stopped working.😳 (Dan was off getting false information about trails from the front office.)

What a crazy day that was...I also learned you can actually go to and from one location uphill both ways. Needless to say, after our 16 mile journey, today I can barely move! Today's adventure must include lots of sitting, for sure. 

Running on Encouragement

Today I relearned some valuable lessons about encouraging others. Today I ran 5 miles, which really is not a big deal to some people. As a matter of fact, just a few short years ago, it wasn't a big deal to me either. But,  these past few years, I've been working hard to run 3 miles, much less 5. 

So today, I saw this woman running through our town when I was driving my children to swim practice. I saw her again when I came down the road to the park and again when I got on the running path. We passed each other, her at a steady pace, me just getting started. She smiled. Our paths crossed a few more times and she smiled every time. Finally, on mile 2, I said, "You are keeping me motivated!" She laughed and we kept running. 

I hit 3, thinking I would probably stop, secretly wishing I could go 5. She stopped and began stretching. I said, "I saw you in town. How far did you run?" She said, "I think I went 5." I smiled (on the inside and on the outside) and said, "That's great!" Then, she laughed and told me, "When you said I motivated you, I was feeling tired, but I decided I had to keep going!" Wow. How cool is that? Total strangers encouraging one another with simple words and steady action. She turned to leave and I turned to run.  I had thought about stopping at 3, but instead, today, because of a sweet stranger, I went 5. 

It made me think of our Christian walk and how we never know the impact our steady action in the name of The Lord has on others. We also may never realize how our encouraging words may give someone the push they need to keep going when they want to quit. 

Hebrews 10:24

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works"

Our 9/11 God

Our 9/11 God

Genesis 9:11 "Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."

He is the Promise Keeper.

Exodus 9:11 "And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians."

He is the Enemy Defeater. 

Deuteronomy 9:11 "And it came to pass, at the end of forty days and forty nights, that The Lord gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant."

He is the Covenant Maker. 

Nehemiah 9:11 "And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors You threw into the deep, as a stone into the mighty waters."

He is the Rescuer.

Psalm 9:11-12 "Sing praises to The Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble." 

He is the Remembering Avenger.

Proverbs 9:11 "For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you." 

He is the Life Giver. 

Amos 9:11 "On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old." 

He is the Rebuilder.

Luke 9:11 "But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing." 

He is the Healer. 

John 9:11 "He answered and said, 'A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight.' "

He is the Sight Giver. 

Acts 9:11 "So The Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.' "

He is the Life Changer. 

Hebrews 9:11 "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is not of this creation." 

He is the Sacrifice and the Sacrifice-Maker

For every past 9/11...For this 9/11...For every future 9/11, He was...He is...He will be...God. He is all we need. 

When less really is more...

A couple of days ago, I was slapped in the face with a cold reality...all over a cup of steaming hot coffee. I realized I've fallen victim to the "more is more" mentality of our culture today. 

I love coffee...A lot. Last year, my husband bought a new coffee maker, the newest version of the Keurig. As we stood in line at Target, I was all excited about how much more it could do. Several women behind us asked, "Oh, is that the new One??" To which we excitedly replied, "Why, yes it is..." Suddenly, a look of grave concern came over their faces as they began to murmur, "I would be nervous about the new one...I'm sticking with my old one...No, no, I would not buy the new one. " "Hmm," we said, "They don't know a good thing when they see it. This one is better. It does MORE than the old one. " And we were right. It does do more than the old one. And they were right. We should have been apprehensive because you can hardly find the cups for it any where. 

However, when you do find them, and put them in the holder and turn on the touch screen, more choices come up than on the old one. One choice is the amount of ounces you'd like to brew for your individual coffee cup...8, 10, 12 or 14.  I always choose 14.  More is better, right? Or so I thought. 14 ounces makes a pretty big cup of joe. I never really finish it all before it gets cold.  But it's more and I like that. 

The other morning, None of my favorite coffee cups were clean. (I'm picky about coffee cups). So I had to choose a smaller one than normal. This meant I had to choose a smaller setting on the touch screen. I chose 12 oz. instead of 14.  Now, I had another option of course; I could have washed a bigger cup and still pushed 14.  But, why wait when now is available, right?  So, 12 it was. I finished my coffee concoction and took the first steamy sip...Wow! It was amazing!  Better than ever before! What was the difference?  It was less...LESS was MORE! 

Over that delicious cup of realization, I pondered how this Truth poured over in my own life. 1 Timothy 6:6 tells us, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  Contentment here comes from a word that means "be enough".  It struck me that in my choice to let 12 ounces of coffee be enough, I found great gain, goodness that I'd been missing all along because I thought surely more must mean better. 

This little morning coffee revelation has led me to examine other areas of my life where I can choose to let "less be enough".  For example, less busy activity will bring more intentional family time - great gain.  Less material possessions will bring more freedom in giving - great gain. Less pressure to perform will bring more satisfaction in God's giftings - great gain. 

I like this less is more stuff already! 

How about you? What "less" could gain you "more" today?  Oh! I wish we could chat about it over a good 12 ounces of coffee...

Songs of Rejoicing

So, for the past little while, I've been struggling...Not with anything huge or life-shattering, just struggling with some issues in my calling. Like all of us, my heart has dreams and desires that are only spoken in whispers to the heart of God. In my struggle I'm waiting. I'm waiting for His direction, His plan, His leading. And, I haven't seen it. And it's painful. 

In the midst of this struggle, I began reading about King David's desire to build God a Temple. David's desire was centered in his passion for God's glory. He wanted nothing more than to do the work of The Lord. He wanted to draw others to God through providing a place of true worship. But God said "No." Ouch...And, wow...And why? God had a plan for someone else to do the Temple Building. David's job was to prepare his son, Solomon, to equip him and to raise him up, so that he would build a glorious Temple for God. As painful as God's answer to David's godly desire may have been, he did exactly as God instructed him. And Solomon's Temple was an amazing work for the glory of the Lord. 

As I read about the Temple, I thought about God's choices. He chooses to use each and every one of us for different parts of His plan, but the purpose for each of us is the same...It's all for His glory. This reality doesn't change if we experience disappointment in the way He chooses to use us for that purpose. 

Romans 12:15 teaches us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." I thought I understood this verse. I totally get crying with people who are crying. I have experienced that many times in life and in ministry. It's the rejoicing part I only thought I understood. I looked at it like, yes, I can rejoice right alongside you as we are part of a joyful experience together. I also understood it as being truly happy for someone else's success, even if I missed out on the same opportunity. 

The deeper meaning was revealed when I took a look at the original language for the word "with" as it is used here. In the Greek, it means "amid," or in the middle of someone else's rejoicing. 

This is the lesson God is teaching me. I am to rejoice with (in the middle of) all those who are rejoicing around me...I am to minister to them by rejoicing with them. For instance, in the midst of my struggle over God's calling, I am in the middle of many people who are rejoicing over His calling in their lives. In the past few weeks, God has opened ministry doors and opportunities for precious friends living in different cities and different states. He is doing a work in and through these men and women that they never dreamed He would do. As a matter of fact, their dreams pale in comparison to all He is doing. 

As I've learned of each one, the enemy has been lurking to lead me down a well-worn path of comparison, with a little detour of condemnation, but God has done a precious work in my heart. He has given me the ministry of rejoicing with those who rejoice. I think the sweetest song He is teaching my soul is a song of rejoicing for others when I am in a time of struggling. He hasn't changed my circumstances; but He is making a way for me to bring Him glory in them. Oh, it is a sweet, sweet song. 

God truly does give "songs in the night". I'm learning that sometimes the songs He gives are to the tune of someone else's heartbeat. As I rejoice with my precious friends, my prayer is for our God to always be glorified. 

If you are struggling today, look toward (not away from) those who are rejoicing in blessings given by the hand of God. Let Him teach you how to sing a song of rejoicing, even if the tune isn't your own heartbeat, but the heartbeat of someone else. I promise it will be sweet and more catchy than you could imagine. 

Empty Memories

My children love to play the Memory Game.  I'm not talking about the one with matching picture cards.  I'm talking about the one with matching memories from the past to moments in the present.  

We'll be in the midst of a discussion or a car ride or a dinner and they'll launch into, "remember when..." Occasionally,  with the older three, it's some comparison between how "difficult" their existence was in comparison with the "carefree" lives of the younger three. 

Most of the time the memories shared are of crazy things we've done together, simple everyday routines, our homes and neighborhoods where we once lived.  The wonderful thing about all of their memories, even the exaggerated ones in which I made their lives so "difficult," is that they all have a constant theme.  All of their memories are full..Full of fun and laughter, full of joy and togetherness.  In sharing their past, they fill our home with a sense of contentment and satisfaction. 

Tonight, though, the memory game was different.  For the one child whose little feet have only been under my dinner table for the past 18 months, (my newbie) some of his memories are empty.  And sometimes, our fullness is such a contrast, it takes my breath away.  

With just my little three home for dinner tonight,  I got ahead of myself and had everything ready super early.  As my sweeties came downstairs, I told them we'd have an early dinner and maybe popcorn later.  They loved that plan, but Big Sister (of the little 3) looked at the clock, and in her best memory-game voice said, "We've never had dinner this early!"  And then, from somewhere far away, and yet a place close by in his heart, came an empty memory out of my little newbie's mouth.  He said, so quietly, only I heard, "I used to not have dinner...Or breakfast."  It wasn't exaggerated.  It wasn't for sympathy.  It was matter-of-fact, a memory that didn't match the fullness of the moment, a memory of empty.  

One of my little guy's biggest struggles is with food.  It's never a struggle to get him to eat.  It's a struggle to assure him that he's had enough.  When you've known empty for a long time, it's tough to comprehend full.  Every morning when he wakes up, I have his favorite breakfast cereal waiting in a covered bowl out on the table so when he comes down he knows there is no fear of empty this morning.  Our table is always full. When I started this for all three of the littles, my older ones (the Big 3, as they call themselves) didn't understand.  They said, "You didn't do this for us." No, thank The Lord, I didn't have to.  When I explained, they understood.  His memories don't match theirs.  They get it.  (Now, one of the Big 3 secretly pours more milk in their pre-made cups because she worries their cereal will be dry.)  

I'm praying the memories our newbie is making in our little world will always be full...full of fun, laughter, love and satisfaction.  I pray even more that when he memory-matches in the future, the memories of God's provision will fill him with the knowledge of how very much he is loved by the One Who holds his life fully in His hands. 

 

"You make known to me the path of life;  in your presence there is fullness of joy;  at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  Psalm 16:11