Waiting on God!

This past Saturday I headed for Sauk Mountain one of the many peaks in the North Cascade Mountains. This one is incredible as it offers spectacular views of several extrodinary summits, such as Mt Ranier. It would be a 3 mile climb to the top. You still had to drive a bout 5 miles or so up the mountain to even get to the trailhead. I knew this trail was popular in July for it's wildflowers. However, I was impatient and wanted to summit now.

Three miles before reaching the trailhead, we were abruptly stopped in front of a huge Douglas Fir tree that had fallen across a heavily snowy pass. I groaned inwardly, realizing that we were going no further up the mountain..in a car that is. I was so determined to get up to the top, I suggested that we hike the three miles to the trailhead. We'd have to make it fast as I knew we were adding about two more hours to the hike. Especially since we're climbing in about two or three feet of snow now. The road once completely dry was now lost in several feet of snow.

After climbing an hour and a half, stopping twice to massage warmth back into our feet, and fearful of getting hypothermia, we stopped and considered our options and our gear. Had we packed the necessary gear to climb five more miles in the snow and make it back down before dark, we could keep going. Our frozen feet and the fact that temperature was dropping steadily as we lost altitude was not encouraging.

Completely discouraged we agreed to hike around the next bend and if we couldn't get to the trailhead in half mile we'd have to give up and turn around. At this point we came in contact with two other hikers coming down. They informed us they had not reached the trailhead and would not have time to get back down the mountain. These were the only two hikers we had seen the whole day.

Rounding the bend, brought us to yet another steeper, snowy slope. My pedometer at this point only read we had been hiking 2 miles. We were going way too slow to make it to the summit and back down before dark. Disgusted at my lack of preparedness, we turned our backs to the summit and quickly headed down.

All was not lost as we made our way back to the half-way point up Sauk Mt. We rested with a bite to eat and enjoyed the scenery.

This made me think of how similar this is to our spiritual paths. Sometimes I think I have it all figured out...that this is where I'm supposed to go or where I'm supposed to be. I get hasty and rush ahead of God, eager to get to my destination or my goal. When in fact, I'm quite unprepared for this journey. I've not prayed or thought through this and therefore, lose a sense of preparedness physically,mentally, and spiritually.

We forget that our omnicient God sees ahead of the trail and where it lies, while we see only a few feet ahead of us. God tries to speak to us in our stubborness by putting roadblocks of mercy before us, yet we stumble on trying to make it work. We find ourselves in debt, hurting, wondering why we can't hear God, crying out for a way of escape, wondering why life is so difficult and we've lost our way. Perhaps the trail we took wasn't the one God would have us hike just yet, maybe in time, but we figured we were spiritually ready and fit to handle this and rather than wait on God, we begin on our own strength.

There is so much Scripture about waiting on the Lord. In this Christian life, it is only through God's strength and direction we can be in His will on the right trail. We are as a hiker on a dark trail without a headlamp, without the Lamp of the Lord leading us through our dark valleys and where we find His perfect will.

Had I contacted the Ranger before my hike, he would have warned me that the trail was not accessible, and I should wait till at such a time the trail would be fit to climb. In my haste to summit this huge mountain, I failed to seek the one who could've saved me from my miserable adventure and disappointment of a failure.

I know if we would just seek the Lord and wait on Him, we would spare ourselves so many disappointments and regrets!

Next time God sends some "trail debris" I hope I will stop, wait, and follow Him. More so, I pray that I will seek the Lord first before I try to tackle a trail in my own strength and will.

Embracing your trial

I was reading last night, 2Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...

In the midst of a fiery trial, God alluminated in strength. In our own eyes, God becomes our pillar of strength, our refuge, and fortress against the wiles of the devil, our condemning thoughts, and fleshly emotions. As the Psalmist states, "He is our strong tower!"

In our weakness, Christ is our ultimate strength!

Are we willing for God to make himself strong to us, even if it means going through a fiery trial? Are we humble and willing enough to be used in any way to let God show Himself strong so that He might to His work in this world and in our own lives? Do we desire to see the strength and power of God?

We're too busy with the pleasures and cares of the world and our friends that to see God in His entirety seems obsolete and foreign. God is walking to and fro searching for a humble and obedient servant who still seeks to see the strength and power of God. He's looking for a servant to manifest His power and show the world around us who He is.

Are we willing to let God use us to save souls and rescue families? Is our life so comfortable we no longer seek to see the Almighty God for who He is and what he can perform through us? Is the fiery trial you're going through not worth humbling yourself and accepting God's work in your life so he can show himself strong?

The devil has so blinded our eyes and hearts with material things and pleasing men, we have become a snare to ourselves and so fail to even hunger for God's hand in our life. It's easier to walk away, shrug our shoulders, and say, "I tried."

God is still searching for servants who will embrace the trials He sends their way and with the hope and faith of Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah, finally see the strong hand of the Lord in their life and the lives of others.

Abraham became that humble obedient servant and accepted the trail God gave him even if it meant taking his son's life. God showed Himself strong to Abraham and Isaac that day. I can imagine that Abraham's faith was never the same again. How ironic, years later this same Mountain would be Mt. Cavalry where God again showed himself strong in another humble, obedient servant, His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Himself embraced his trial that God might reveal Himself as the Saviour of the world and save His people from their sins.

Embrace the trials in your life, clinging to the promises of God and let Him show Himself strong through you!!! Obey when you're confused and don't understand, this is when God in His mercy and lovingkindness picks you up and carries you through your trial. This is when eyes see clearly the wondrous works of God!

If only we would yield ourselves to Him in our weakest, most helpless hour, and let Him have free reign in our life to perform His work to the utmost.

Trying Trails

Today I visited a beautiful park off the pacific northwest. I love to hike on the beach! Of course it's easier than the steep trials of the mountains. But what I relish the most is the tranquility and serenity that you find here. Listening to the waves surge back and forth on the rocks and sand, the seagulls gliding overhead calling one to another, and the wind moving the tall reeds in the sand dunes behind you. I take in all the sites and sounds around me. I've been teaching my children that silence can be very educating in itself. Now they enjoy hiking silently at times and just listening to the world around them.

Today I began my hike on the beach. The beaches here in the northwest are not just sandy as they are back east. In fact, they are covered in beautiful pebbles and rocks of all colors and sizes. So I had to wear my hiking shoes today as I planned to hike a great distance on the beach. There was a magnificent bluff overlooking views of the Pacific and several small islands around the coastline. I was determined to hike up to this bluff and climb up on top to see the views that were hiding behind these islands and rocks. Awhile passed and I getting close to a small bluff, not the one I had intended on climbing and relaxing on top of. But as I struggled to climb over the boulders to get to the beach on the other side, I was very tempted to climb to the top of this small bluff and just picnic and rest there. My goal was still a pretty good distance, with even larger boulders to hurdle! I was encouraged to not give up, my senses telling me it would be really worth it to keep going and climb to the top of the enormous bluff. I had no idea what awaited me at the top, but I knew it would be great. I gave up my yearning to stop and settle and kept hiking further down the beach. The climb to the top of the bluff was a bit technical. I was awarded with amazing views once reaching the top. The top of this seemingly rocky outcrop was actually flat on top with soft grass and little daisies springing up all over. The sun was warm and shining on the perfect picnic spot.

I am reminded so clearly now that in this earthly vessel, we are so tempted to give up and quit when the trail gets rough. We don't want to deal with the emotions and the heartache of our trials. Too many questions unanswered and too much responsibility to undertake. We wish we could just shut the door and walk away. Sometimes to walk away and not feel anything would be such a blessing. Our flesh is so conscience of the circumstances and people around us, rather than the goal before us. We feel too weak and inadequate to continue. We feel someone ahead of us with more knowlegde and understanding can do it better. When in fact, God led you down this trail for a reason. Out of all the millions and billions of people in the world, he chose you to walk down this trail. Yes, it's scary, we have no idea what's ahead! Right now all we feel is pain, anxiety, heartbreak, and drowsiness. But this is our burden, it is what God has led us to. It is only when I read in His word the place He has prepared for us, that this is only for a time and then all things will become new, it is only through reading His promises that I can fix my heart, soul, and mind again on the goal He has set before me. I may not see so clearly the view in store, but I can only imagin it's going be greater than anything I could ever imagine!

Trail of thoughts

Sometimes I hear or see things on the trail that stop me in my tracks. For that very second I'm completely focused on what is before, behind, beside, and above me. I stop to evaluate the situation. My mind is processing immediately what I heard or saw. If I sense danger it will affect me one way, if it is pleasureable to my eyes or hears I will feel another emotion. There is always a million thoughts running through your mind, trying to bring an answer to what your senses are trying to tell you. There is always an action to follow every thought, maybe not then and there, but eventually. Because if there is a thought of danger, you will take action to avoid it. If there is a thought of pleasure, most likely you will pursue the thought or seek it in action.

I find in Ecclesiastes I'm told to there is a time for certain thoughts that provoke certain emotions. A time to mourn, a time to laugh, a time to kill, a time to dance.... Will these thoughts and emotions challenge us? What are they challenging us to do?

I was told tonight my friend has 3 months to live. She had a brain tumor, which they removed, but it was cancerous and they couldn't remove all of it. At best, she has maybe a year with Chemotherapy. She is still very young and has a family. Her son is in his junior year of college. He's coming home to be with his mama. We wore a hat to church Sunday to support her through this time, as she had to have her hair shaved off for surgery.

This would be the Mt Everest of all trails for me! A million trails of thoughts loomed over me as I tried to process all she must be feeling. How must if feel to be completely fine one day and then the next day to find you have a brain tumor and you will die in three months?

My first thought was what kind of person she is. She is my daughter's Sunday School teacher. She praises the Lord in church for answering her prayers. She is close to her son and it's obvious they have a sweet relationship. She has been hospitable and kind to me as a new friend at church.

My second thought....why not me Lord? Surely she is a far more better Christian than I.

What would I think or do if I found out tomorrow I had a brain tumor and I had only three months to live? What would I do in those three months? How much would I change about my life? What would I do differently? Would or could I be ready to die in three months?

So here is what I would do....maybe....it probably would be a completely different scenario, so rather than say what I would do if found out I was dying, I would rather say what I shall do now to prepare for that day. Because I am but flesh and soon I too will die....one day.

So here are my thoughts about now and what I shall do to prepare for my day.

My relationship with the Lord shall be more important than anything else, so should that hour come upon me, I will have peace and rest in Him. I intend to make my relationship with Christ more meaningful than yesterday.

Today I shall love more than I have. I will show more love and appreciation for my family and those around me.

Today I shall forgive and show compassion more than yesterday.

Today I will start spending more precious time with my children. I want to talk to them more, read one more bedtime story, and push the swing five more minutes at the park. I will not just hug them when they go to bed, but kiss them and hug them every morning, because tomorrow is not just another day, but an extra day to show them again how much I love them.

Today I will make sure my husband knows just how much I love him and appreciate him as a husband and a father to my children. I will tell him why I love him and what his friendship means to me. I will be a better friend and a listener.

Today I can't complain about one single solitary thing in my life. Today has been a gift from God. A chance to do all things I would do if it were my last day on earth. Did I love, forgive, cherish and accomplish everything I would do in my last day?

Sure, I have my list of things to do before I die! There are many summits awaiting my arrival! Many I shall never reach. As I lay my head on my pillow tonight, I can only see one summit ahead that matters most to me. This trail leads closer to Jesus Christ and what kind of impression and legacy have I left to my family and friends.

In my dying hour, I don't want to glory in my own earthly achievements, but what I have done for eternity....that I have loved and cherished all that God wanted me to.

Hiking the Chain Lakes Trail

One of the most beautiful sights to see is the first snow blanketing on the tree limbs of tall magnificent Douglas Fir trees, millions of sparkling crystal snowflakes in the sunlight.

I went hiking in Mt. Baker. I was pleasantly suprised to see snow already so deep on the mountains. But hello, what do I know, I'm from South Carolina! My children and I love to hike, and this time we were in for a real treat. We wound our way up Mt. Baker Hwy and parked near the ski lodge right above the Chain Lakes. We were in perfect view of the Twin Sisters and Chukanaut Mountain. The trails were covered in snow and some iced over. The trail took us right beside the partially frozen lake and then over this beautiful old cobblestone bridge directlyover the lake(pictured above). It was hiking in a winter wonderland. It was so serene and peaceful. So quiet except for the crunching of snow beneath our boots. Now and then we stopped to admire a small waterfall and break off an icicle to melt in our mouth. The Huckleberries had already produced their final harvest, but there was still plenty to eat, and boy were they good!

We were almost to the end of our trail and the second bridge was competely iced over. With no rails or anything to keep us from slipping into the icy lake, we were forced to turn around and head back to to trailhead. Which made for a longer hike, but the views were definitely worth it.

It never ceases to remind me just how infinite and marvelous God is, and how small and finite we are when I behold such a creation of beauty that has been here since the beginning of time.

Trail to Wa Part 1

After growing up in a Christian home, almost eleven years married and several children later, I'm humble enough to finally admit that I really didn't know what it meant to REALLY trust the Lord in ALL things! UNTIL...my trail to Washington began! Before I begin my story let me introduce myself.

The reason for my blogname, TrailsOfMyLife, is simply my love for hiking! I will hike on the beach, in the swamp, in my yard, and in the moutains! It's where I clear my mind, hear the still small voice of God, and rejuvinate my spirit, while becoming completely entranced with God's beautiful works of nature and handiwork! Nothing compares to this. However, I don't intend to just relate my experiences on the trails of this beautiful earth, but also my spiritual trials I have hiked in my Christian life. Some will be of my past, some will be what I'm hiking right now. I hope to be encouragement to those who have not hiked these paths or maybe to warn some of dangers ahead. The best hiking manual or GPS however, is the Word of God found in the Kings James Bible. It will never lead you astray. It is clearly marked! It will always warn you ahead of time the dangers that lurk on your trail. It does not every need an update...it is perfect and sure...you can certainly trust it to lead you to the summit or end of your trail. This wonderful manual can take you safely and securely through every trail of your life!

So back to my Trail to Washington. My husband accepted a job in Washington state, approximately 3,000 miles away from home and most of my family!!! I was scared and excited! Scared because I would be leaving my comfortable home of 7 years and being almost debt free. Life was good and full of friends and possibilities for an exciting future. My kids were doing everything I had always dreamed of giving them, music lessons, horse lessons, football practice, homeschool, great church, and a stay-at-home mom! Yep things were perfect! Or maybe a little too good to be true! I could for sure see the summit and almost there!!!! I was excited also about the move as of course to the hiker this meant an opportunity to scale even bigger mountains, and gain more experience on the trails! Hey Washington is the hiker's paradise!!!

Many times after I was saved at the age of 25, I wondered why God had spared me so many trials or trails that I had watched my fellow Christians go through. Like the loss of a child or their husband. Sure I had my trials, but none I felt were hard enough to kick me down or cause me to understand what fully trusting God for answeres meant. In our generation it's easier to swipe a credit card than trust God for the money, it's easier to call a friend on the cell for comfort than it is to quietly seek the Lord. We don't even give God a chance to prove His promises!!! We got an answer for everything and God is just our religion.

My husband took the job that was offered in Wa. He sent me back home to South Carolina by plane where I would sell my home, sell, everything we owned except for what I could put in my car and wait till he could come back for us in two months! My trail to Wa began that day I got on the plane. God provided the transportation through a phone call that did not even have a clue of the needs we have. We were offered to make payments and five months later have paid off a car! After four kids and being married eleven years, it's a big deal to just sell everything!!! Trying to figure out what you can replace and what you can't isn't a piece of cake!!! I felt extremely overwhelmed and asked the Lord many times for strength. I didn't have to go through it for long. A friend came by and just about bought me out. What I didn't sell I was happy to donate it all to a friend who's co-worker's house had burnt to the ground!

I can't begin to tell all the Scripture that God gave us regarding peace in our move to Wa. Many times I was in tears and anguish over less encouraging words about our move. But to doubt God and my husband??? I chose instead to adjust my "backpack" and my pace, and kept on going in the direction we felt led to go. My husband had visions of leading His own family and embarking on a new direction in life that would hopefully bring us closer as a family and nearer to the will of God. It was always my goal in our decision to move, to only bring us closer together as a family and in a closer walk with the Lord. If it will lead me down a trail that takes me closer to God's will, that's the one I want to be hike on! During my seperation from my husband while is was working in Washington, I received much encouragement from reading the Bible many, many times throughout the day! As a result, my walk with the Lord grew closer and as dark as the trail seemed to get at times, I was getting answers everytime from the Bible and I recalled the verse in Job 42:5, I have heard thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. All these years of hearing the word of God, and I'm finally seeing God in action for myself in my very own life. To pray for something and God answer you so clearly with Scripture is like seeing God face to face. To go to God in prayer and receive comfort through Him personally is far more encouraging and strengthening than to recieve it from another man!!! What peace and comfort I was missing!!!!! In my weakness, God could reveal Himself to me more clearly. In my trail to Wa with all it's bumps and switchbacks, I could see me Saviour's character more clearly. He IS who HE says He IS! I have seen so for myself.

Pretty much the car mechanic said he wouldn't take our car anywhere much less across the country! We said, Our car's paid for and we were blessed to have it taken care free of charge, but this is where we feel the Lord is leading us!" You better believe I was scared to drive my van with almost 200,000 miles on it across the nation. As a hiker, I'm aware of certain things you should never leave without on a trial and although we had not planned to hike across the country, I was certainly going to be prepared to if the van did not get us there. Uh yea, I'm serious. I took my Northface, wool socks, flashlights, blankets, tarp, waterproof matches, lighter, water purification tablets...ect. I couldn't find it in myself to sell my hiking gear either. Anyway, I praised the Lord every state we crossed we weren't settling there! We never once broke down or got a flat tire! We arrived in Wa about 4 days later. It was a beautiful, scenic drive I won't forget. If you ever have to take this trip the best scenery must be in the Fall. We took the Oregon Trail route. We passed over the Platte River just as the Pioneers did so long ago. We went through a lot of the same mountain passes and passed several historical sites of those pioneers. It was so great! But I love history so this was an awesome experience for me!

At this point of arriving in Wa, little did I know just how rocky and steep this trail would get. But how much I came to realize how great and merciful and loving God is. And how He only asks me to trust Him more when the trail seems overcome with boulders we feel inexperienced to climb. Maybe I can't see the summit anymore...my back hurts and I can't move my feet another step. I keep going because the promises I read when I reached the summit the last time are still as sure and attainable as the last time. I cannot see the summit or end to this trail, but God is leading me and I know there is a summit somewhere and I can only get there by continuing to trust Him and keep on hiking.....