Hey there again friends!!! This is something I wrote last week up on the mountain and I want to share it with you. The first part is a prayer.. and the second is a journal entry. Love yall so much.
“Groups have come and gone- and yet all the more Father, I realize how we belong to you. I realize how small these things I count so needed to me.. really are in this life.
I truly realize that You and You alone are what I NEED.
..I must daily strive to do away with complaints, selfish desires that stray me from Your cross, jealous thoughts, and grumpy actions that are evident of me wanting things my own way.
“May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be pleasing to you, O Lord- my Rock and redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
These thoughts and realizations that are running through my head, I know that I have come across before.. and will again in the future. Father, keep reminding me until I am home with you. I am weak and You are strong, so Father lead me in your strength. You are my Joy.”
Right now, sitting up on the mountain, I am being surrounded by about 20+ mosquitoes, BUT I have repellent on.. so they are not daring to bite me.
..This reminds me of life in a way. I know that sin is lurking all around me and Satan is waiting for a chance to bite. BUT the Lord is my repellent- and I am completely safe with Him, even if I am sitting right in the midst of evil. How neat is that?!
This morning we got up at about 2 AM.. only to depart 45 minutes later from our base camp on Grizz for a sunrise peak. (This was after our scrumptious breakfast of mountain spice oatmeal.. which I so deliciously mixed with hot chocolate of course.. yum yum!)
We had quite the hike up that mountain.. but our amazing campers summited Grizzly (elevation 13,281ft) at approx 6:28.
Our fellow campers were on the two mountains to the right of us (Silver and Anne).
There was a point on our way up that we could see the headlamps of the group on Silver. Our kids were so excited about that, I feel like it gave them a huge burst of energy. It was awesome :)
About 45 minutes after we summited, the group on Silver also reached the top and we could see them from our peak on Grizz! Praise the Lord for these beautiful campers and mountains.
Oh and did I mention it is the 4th of July?! Red, white and blue flags were waving all around :) (AND happy 25th anniversary Mom and Dad!!!!!!)
We got back to base camp around 10:20am.. where we then had an early lunch of hummus and carrots, and napped. zzz :)
It is now a little after 4, and some people are just waking up. This area around me is indescribably beautiful. Most of the snow is now melted (however there is just enough to do dishes with!) We have had back massages and many laughs, and hopefully tonight will be a starry campfire night!
Tomorrow morning we will pack up and the campers will orienteer our way home..it should be an adventure.. :)
We have the sweat lodge, hot tub, and showers awaiting our arrival!
The Lord has been the Great Teacher for me this past month in so many ways. One of the neatest things is to be on the ropes course with the campers. My favorite spot is the cross nest on the teams course. This is because the campers arrive in pairs of two, just after completing the toughest part of the the course up in the trees and they are about to embark on the last step.. the zip line!
There is such a variety of emotions that are seen in each of the campers at this point.. many brave.. and many fearful. Many encouragers.. and many who need encouragement... but they all complete it together!
As I have the opportunity to facilitate them up on the zip, I get to see and talk with them at a point that not many people see. I am blessed to be able to be a safe ground for them at this point, and talk them through it if need be.. or stand as a verbal punching bag and let them take out there nervousness and frustrations on me as they might be scared to death. But most do start to breathe more easily with encouraging words.
One reason this is so neat to me.. is that Christ has used it in my life to show me what He is for me!
He is the safe-ground and stronghold for me at all times, not only when I am at point of freaking out and extreme nervousness.. but all times! I love this. I can’t get over it.
I am currently learning so much about faith and just giving all my trust over to the Lords will.. with the best of my ability. I am not going to lie, it is stinking tough at times to just let go of control and let God’s peace consume who I am... but when I do it.. the feeling of deep joy and comfort is so invigorating. God is so good.
These verses have spoken alot to me personally this week:
Romans 4:16-21
“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
Verse 21 says... “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” He trusted and saw God working with Him in his life.. this showed Abe the truth. Wow! For me, this restores inspiration in my life.. God will do as He has promised. He is in control. When I let go of myself... I am completely persuaded.. because I know and feel the Lord moving. I needed this reminder this week. When I looks at Abe’s faith... and the huge move that the Lord made in His life.. I am moved in amazement to restoration of faith in my own life.
Love you!
