Why is it so hard for us to step out and claim what God has promised us? I really do feel like Moses in regards to my adventure. Moses knew he was on an adventure of Epic proportions but yet he doubted his abilities. God even told him that He would give him the words to speak! Pour old Mo was still struggling with the path before Him. You know the story,,, God relents and gives Moses a “mouthpiece” in his brother Aaron.

Before I continue, I must make it clear that I am not giving my adventure the same billing as Moses’ leading God’s people out of bondage. Though, I do believe that my story has many of the same elements to it. Just like Moses, God spoke to me and charted my course. No… no burning bush or ten commandments! But. He has orchestrated many miracles along the way. Like the two devotionals below that came to me less than 12 hours after I booked my flight to Colorado. Orchestrating this is nothing to Him but everything to me! What a boost from my loving Father!

If you have read this blog, you know that I love the mountains. I love driving on mountain roads and have been blessed with a car that handles the curves with ease. As I was reading the second devotion from Streams in the Desert, the Spirit brought to mind the curves of life and told me they are a lot like mountain roads.

If you have been on challenging mountain roads, you know what I mean. All the twists and turns, elevation climbs and drops, hairpin turns and driving on the edge of cliffs. The Mtn.s of Western NC offer some very challenging driving with plenty of danger and excitement along the way.

At first, those new to Mtn. driving, generally go real slow. (to the aggravation of seasoned Mtn. drivers). They see the beauty of the Mtn.s but are very cautious and even fearful of this new “path” they are on.

Up till now they have sailed along the straight paths of life without many a problem but they have never been down this path before. Life is a lot like roads! Times of smooth, straight sailing and time of “crooked paths”. I have known both! As I was pondering all of this in relation to my story and the past 6 years of the “crooked path”, I saw an analogy that gave me one of those Ah Ha moments…. When we are on the crooked paths of life a few things happen. We are forced to slow down and travel more cautiously. We become more aware of our surroundings.. our vision gets clearer and we become better listeners. Have you ever noticed how much your focus and intensity increases on Mtn. roads? We can get so lax and careless on the straight and easy roads, the roads of familiarity.

I would venture to say that most accidents (life and auto collisions) happen when we are on the familiar and easy roads. We become complacent, lose focus and speed on ignoring the “caution” signs ahead due to pride and a sense of invincibility.
We slowly stop exercising the skills and disciplines that kept us “on track” and begin having some “close calls” which ignored lead to major accidents.

Just as Mtn. roads cause us to hold on to the steering wheel with a much greater intensity, the crooked paths of God cause us to refocus and cling to Him with all we have.

I am learning that when you are on the front lines with God, on the road less traveled, you will seldom find yourself on a straight and easy road. Consider the life of the apostle Paul and the early disciples if you need verification.

As I have been forced to slow down and even stop due to the “collisions” of life, I have allowed God, over time, to use the trials for my good (purification and holiness) and His glory.

Prayer. Lord, help me to cling ever closer to you as I travel down this path of adventure you have for me. Not knowing what may come around each turn in the road, but only what is allowed through your loving hands. May I not fear when fog clouds my path but wholly trust your goodness and providential ways. Though I may clamor for a life GPS, remind me that walking with you is done step by step. Love, your son- Jon

PS. Enjoy the two devotionals below. They sure gave me goose pimples in light of my journey to Denver tomorrow. Peace.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I Will Go Before You
I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. (Isa. 45:2-3)

God’s imagery of going before us lets us know that he desires us to go on a journey. This is not so frightening. Most of us are aware that the Christian life requires a pilgrimage of some sort. We know we are sojourners. What we have sometimes not given much thought to is what kind of a journey we are to be taking.

Not realizing it is a journey of the heart that is called for, we make a crucial mistake. We come to a place in our spiritual life where we hear God calling us. We know he is calling us to give up the less-wild lovers that have become so much a part of our identity, embrace our nakedness, and trust in his goodness.

As we stand at this intersection of God’s calling, we look down two highways that appear to travel in very different directions. The first highway quickly takes a turn and disappears from our view. We cannot see clearly where it leads, but there are ominous clouds in the near distance. Standing still long enough to look down this road makes us aware of an anxiety inside, an anxiety that threatens to crystallize into unhealed pain and forgotten disappointment. We check our valise and find no up-to-date road map but only the torn and smudged parchment containing the scribbled anecdotes and travelers’ warnings by a few who have traveled the way of the heart before us. They encourage us to follow them, but their rambling journals give no real answers to our queries on how to navigate the highway.

(The Sacred Romance , 127-28

Streams in the Desert – Aug. 10
Making Straight the Crooked
“Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked” (Eccles. 7:13).

Often God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape; contriving a situation which no human judgment would have permitted, had it been previously consulted. The very cloud conducts them thither. You may be thus involved at this very hour.

It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power.

He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has. –Selected

“We may wait till He explains,
Because we know that Jesus reigns.”

It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Thy best–
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.

Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand’ring eyes fixed on Thee;
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.

So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
–F.E.M.I.

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