Dare to step out.

Norm and I thoroughly enjoyed Bryce Canyon. We walked around the rim, looking down into the canyon and were amazed that every 20 steps or so, the view changed completely. The sunlight reflected off each of the hoodoos sometimes making them glow with a fairy like quality and other times placed them in shadows adding a sense of mystery. I stood in awe of God's creation, I had never seen anything like it.

Norm wanted to walk down into the canyon, but I kept thinking of the walk out. Going down would be easy, it was the coming back out that could cause problems. But I encouraged Norm to go ahead and head down, I'd just walk around the rim and meet him after an hour or so.

As I stood at Sunset Point, so called because it was supposed to be the best place for a picture at sunset, I listened to a group of ladies talking about their canyon adventures. They had gone down into the Grand Canyon, much deeper than Bryce. They discussed the challenge and then one of the ladies made this comment, "I'm really afraid of heights. But I don't let my fear keep me from making trips like this. I would miss out on some great experiences if I gave in."

Later that day when Norm suggested we take the hike down into the canyon and see the Queen's Garden, I agreed. The views were amazing! We walked through arches, saw plants of all kinds and enjoyed a maze of trails through the hoodoos. A hoodoo is the towering rock that is left when the rock around it dissolves away.

Going up took a lot longer than going down, but it was worth it. I am grateful to the lady who unknowingly encouraged me to go into the canyon, I would have missed so much staying on the rim and not going deeper.

I'm trying to take more risks in my life. I don't want to miss out on anything that God has planned for me.

However, as it is written: "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

The Greatness of God

A few weeks ago Norm and I went out west to the canyon lands. The creativity of God amazes me. We visited Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Monument Valley, Arches and the Grand Canyon. Everything was so big and each canyon had its unique stone formations...no two were alike.

We could see the Double Arches from the parking lot, people crawling around and through it, seemingly inches high. It surprised me that it only took 10 minutes to walk to it, it seemed much farther away. After crawling around and through the arch, I returned to the car to wait on Norm.

A Japanese family pulled up beside me. They got out of the car and pointed to the arch. They posed for a picture and the mom tried to convince the other three to walk to the arch. They shook their heads and made comments, I'm assuming the comments dealt with the distance to the arch. I tried to tell them getting closer was worth the walk, it wasn't that far. But the three shook their heads and the mom shrugged her shoulders and they drove away.

Sometimes God appears so far away and so big that He seems unapproachable. It is hard to imagine that a God who created the universe and the huge canyons cares for us...but He does.

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

My Dream House

The porch welcomed me with its swing and flower baskets decorating the entryway. I entered the living room, its large window looking out on the front yard. Boxes scattered throughout, I began the process of putting items in place. Several weeks later, it felt like home, everything where it belonged.
One morning I saw a door I had never noticed before. Is that a closet? The door opened into a large kitchen. The oak cupboards and pedestal table gave the space a warm, inviting feeling. The refrigerator and cupboards seemed well stocked with all the essentials.
Stunned, I investigated the new area and found an archway leading to another door. A room filled with bookshelves stood behind that door. The books, though very old, did not fall apart in my hands and looked intriguing. I opened some bookshelf doors and found items left behind by former residents. Among those items were obvious treasures and other things. It would take years to figure it all out.

After a few days in the kitchen and library, I found a new space, an arboretum, a domed circular space filled with various plants and trees and in the center a beautiful flowing fountain. I sat down on one of the benches and rested. The sun poured in from the skylight warming the room and my spirit.

As I rose to return to the library I noticed another door. How large was this house? I walked into a series of four rooms, each uniquely decorated with a bed, nightstand, dresser and with a sliding glass door leading out to a pool.

The pool, however, was green and slimy, not inviting for anyone. I would need help to clean it.

I love this dream and have it several times a year. It stays pretty much the same, always the same rooms. I've pondered its meaning and have come to this conclusion.

The house represents my relationship with Jesus Christ. I had no clue what was really entailed in the Christian walk. I thought it just involved going to church, reading the Bible, praying...be good, go to Heaven. But as I studied His Word and fellowshipped with other believers in worship and study, my understanding increased. And new doors have opened, revealing the treasure available in Christ.

The Kitchen: The Word of God is food to our souls, not only for our own consumption, but for others who would join us to feast at His table, always well set and prepared.

The Library: With 66 books, the Word of God is filled with wisdom of and for the ages. We have to open it and read it to find the truths and treasures that are hidden within.

The Arboretum: Jesus calls us to come to Him as the source of peace and rest. Our best serving comes when we have rested in Him.

Extra Rooms: What I have in Christ, while personal, is not just mine alone but meant to be shared with others.

Dirty Pool: This one confuses me. A pool should be a good place to relax, unwind and be refreshed, but not a dirty pool. However, it does remind me, that all I have is in Christ and I cannot do it on my own.

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" Romans 11:33

A New Beginning

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

I used to spend a lot of time writing. I carried a notebook with me and wrote in it every spare moment I had. In the seventh grade, one teacher allowed me to read my book to the class and I received a lot of encouragement. I'm not sure why I put the writing aside, but for years my writing was confined to journals in which I recorded events, feelings and the occasional "ARGH!" when I felt totally overwhelmed.

Recently my passion for writing has been renewed. It involves a bit more than a notebook and typewriter. The computer makes editing much easier, but blogging? this is a new venture for me though many of my younger friends blog regularly with great ease. And putting my writing out where it can be criticized and rejected, it's tough to ignore those potential storm clouds, but is part of planting seed.

Come along and seek the Kingdom of God with me. Let's discover the truth that is revealed in the Word of God and enjoy the process together as we share the joys and trials along the way.