WildBerry Workout is going to be on pause for a few days as we move out of our apartment…
therefore, my workouts will mostly be moving, lifting, lowering, and such.
I’ll probably try to get in a few ditch dippers with Gabriel as well…
Monthly Archives: May 2011
Spiritual Walking Steps – Day 4 – what’s inside?
Because of yesterday’s PAIN, today, I had an MRI on my left ankle.
On the outside, the doctor could see the funny lumps that had grown up. With an x-ray, he could see the goofy bone issues. The doctor could not see what is going on inside the soft tissues of my foot with just an x-ray. Therefore, he ordered an MRI.
MRI’s are really neat inventions. With an MRI, he can see MORE than I’d like him to see, but at least, he can see this specific problem, and decide how to treat it. As I laid in the machine, meditating, and trying to keep my foot still for 30 minutes, I thought about what is inside me.
On the outside – you can see that I’m 5’2″, 240 pounds, female, caucasion, brown hair with silver streaks, and glasses. You might get the idea that I’m a ‘goody’ type of person – since I’m not wearing revealing clothes. This would sort of fit with the scripture 1 Tim 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Of course, different brands of Christianity, or faiths in general, have differing definitions of modesty. But modesty in dress is on the outside. One can dress modestly, but have a lustful heart.
From the outside, we can judge a little of the inside, because of the fruit that surrounds us.
Matt 7:16- 17 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
X-rays are for seeing what is inside a person. Well, not really all of the story, but x-rays can see the structure. What is holding up all the other stuff? This is the foundation of the body.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
X-rays can also see how we are building up that foundation, by the strength of the building around it.
1 Cor 3:12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
We cannot know, totally, what is on the inside of a person, but that is what we are commanded to work on! We need the Fruit of the Spirit, to imitate the character of God, to build with gold, silver, precious stone, and even clothe ourselves with a meek and quiet spirit:
1 Peter 3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
We can judge some about others, but the most important judging is of ourselves.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Matt 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Righteous judgement, in my opinion, is judging as Jesus did…by their fruit. The other key is that, we will be judged by the same measure…so make sure the beam is out of our own eye FIRST!
That brings me to, how can I know what’s inside me? What’s inside MY heart?
Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
It’s hopeless, right? Of course not…
Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
With God, all things ARE possible, even the searching, and judging of our own hearts…and HE will lead me in the way EVERLASTING! But WHAT is inside?
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
When Jesus was resurrected, all the gang wanted Him to stay around, and He said:
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
The Comforter is the third person of the GodHead, the Holy Spirit that indwells the saints. YOU can do the searching for the doctrines about how the Holy Spirit comes into a person! I’m just saying, we NEED the Holy Spirit abiding in this temple! Jesus promised SO MANY GIFTS from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
We ARE the temple of the Holy Ghost…HOLY Spirit…and the whole reason for the indwelling is for our comfort, teaching and remembrance! EDIFICATION!!!
Folks can put on all sorts of stuff on the outside, and folks can act all kinds of holy, but without the Holy Spirit within, when we go for our Eternal MRI, God will see nothing…because the Holy Spirit within is the spiritual evidence of Jesus Christ as our Savior.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
These steps are not necessarily going to be in order of priority, but rather, in order that God gives them to me to write about.
- Step 1 – Know your need for a Savior – Jesus Christ
- Step 2 – Recognize that all good things are a gift from God
- Step 3 – Cry out to God when you need help
- Step 3.5 – HE will bring people into your fellowship
- Step 4 – Know that YOU ARE the temple of the Holy Spirit – and make sure that HE dwells within!
Today, in my spiritual walk, I’m checking to make sure that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within this temple…and I think I may have some house cleaning to do!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – day 4
- 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 4
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!
Spiritual Walking – Day 3 – PAIN!
After my walk yesterday, and some working around the apartment and such, I had a HUGE PAIN in my left foot.
I was limping…badly.
My WALK was affected – in many ways!
- I was having trouble remembering that my mouth is not connected to my foot! Nor do I want my foot in my mouth!
- I was having trouble moving from point A to point B. I wanted to just sit, lay, stop and stay – but I wasn’t really wanting to pray.
- God’s grace comes to those who ASK – and as we sat with friends, I WAS ASKING so as not to harm anyone with my mouth.
- sometimes, God wants you to sit, stay and pray – and we don’t listen so good!
- We can’t do this alone…not even Me & Jesus…we are in a fellowship – fellows in a ship! And I needed some ‘fellas’ to help me out in many ways…and in this blog, I am going to give several shout outs to the fellas(and sistas) that have helped me out today!
This morning, I awoke, and I still could not put weight on this foot…and I was having an inner argument with God.
“I do not need this now, Lord!”
SILENCE
“I know You know what is best for me Lord – I mean, I do not WANT this now, Lord!”
SILENCE
“I am afraid of going through another round of foot surgeries, Lord, and I don’t think I can handle it on top of everything else that is going on”
SHOUT OUT TO MY HUSBAND, JIM!
My husband was praying – and he said “I pray that you will go back to bed for a nap, and wake up, and the pain will be gone, and the bump will be gone or much smaller.”
I had just confessed to him that I was trying to keep my tongue from evil…
Ps 34:13 Keep MY tongue from evil, and MY lips from speaking guile.
Ps 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
I didn’t believe…but I confessed that I would trust in the Lord. I apologized each time I snapped…and I reminded myself, just because I’ve confessed I’m having trouble with my tongue, doesn’t mean I need to abuse his grace by letting my tongue fly!
Then, verses came up on Face book:
SHOUT OUTS TO MY ONLINE ENCOURAGERS!
Gods standards have not changed. If we want to abide, we must walk His way.
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. http://bible.us/Ps15.1.KJV
From Larry T Crafter’s FB page:
No one enjoys having to wait..but as a friend of mine loves to remind me; ” Be Still and know that I Am God!” Waiting teaches us patience and allows us to see God’s plan unfold. As we wait, we learn acceptance, steadfastness and faith that God is in control! When the cloud tarried… then the children of Israel… journeyed not” (Num. 9:19). I will stand still until God’s will is clear!
Blessings
And this prayer ring from Cheryl Miller’s FB page:
Family I need God to do something for me, and I’m pretty sure many of you need him to do something for you as well. So just for today, how about you pray for my breakthrough and I will pray for yours…family lets move heaven today with our prayers. The word of God clearly states, where 2 or 3 come together in my name I am there, (Matthew 18:20) so come on family lets get down on our knees and move heaven today.
Then, this appreciation note from AntoinitaViolette on FB:
Today is your appreciation day, not the only one…but, just wanted to tell you that you have been an encouragement to me. Thank God for you, and thank you for saying, Yes! to the Lord…daughter of The Most High and Royal King, making you of the houselHold!Amen!
How was I supposed to continue in this funk, if the Lord is putting words like these together on Facebook, just to hit me in the eyes, and in the heart, and remember HIS WORD?
And I got an email in one of my groups…where a dear lady reminded me that we are all in the same boat:
Well, girlfriends, it sounds like we can all relate!!! Is there something crazy in the air? phases of the moon? unrelenting demands? rogue hormones? Let’s band together in “fellowship”–fellows, or rather females, all in the same boat–and encourage one another! Keep your heads up, eyes on the Prize, resting fully in His promises as we just “do the next *right* thing”!!! ~MT
Another friend sent email – and she really ‘got it’.
Christi – I know you did not need this. I am praying that this would heal quickly or just disappear. ~ Love, CB
This friend, Cathie, even went so far as to ask me, in chat, if I had cried out to God! The honest answer was I’d yelled out, I’d begged out, but did I cry out? I don’t know if my heart was in a right place, but yes..before my nap(per my husband’s instructions) I told the Lord, cried out to the Lord – “I don’t think I can handle this! Please, take it away, or give me the strength to bear it!”
What have I learned?
- The Lord can put a watch over my mouth
- I have to MOVE toward’s God – because HE didn’t move away from me
- I have to CRY OUT to God for HIS help; I have to ASK for help.
- I need to wait until I know God’s will, Be Still
- I can’t do this by myself. I am in a ship – a fellowship
I don’t know if this is 1 step or 5…but the key is that I did beg out to God…and HE put the words in several people’s mouths and hearts – to encourage me in my walk today!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – day 3
- 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 3
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!
Renewing your mind….by Nellwyn Blackmon
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Wow! Such a powerful verse this morning! Such an awesome “gift” to start my day!
I can be transformed. I can transform my thinking. I can transform my life. I can transform my body. I can transform my health.
All by the renewing of my mind. By changing my thought processes. By changing how I react to things.
I don’t have to listen to what the world is telling me. It’s up to me! And in doing so I will be bringing honor and glory to God. I will be proving and living the will of God. What better testimony could I want?
I think too often we try to “tell” the world about God while we don’t “show” the world through our own lives. I know I do. It’s a lot easier for me to tell someone about being disciplined than to actually show them discipline. We teach our daughters that they should have self-control over their bodies while we sit on the sofa scarfing down oreo cookies. We teach our sons that they should live a disciplined and controlled life while driving along, reacting to the man who cut us off in traffic. And then we wonder what went wrong? Why did they not get it when we told them all this? Steve pointed out to me once that Anna could bring out my “mad momma” side easiest, when she was acting like I was.
There is a lady in my Bible Study who’s daughter has an eating disorder. She made a profound comment the other day, nothing new–I had made that comment to someone in the past. But at the same time, hearing it from someone else drove it home to me. She commented that they had spent all this money, all this time, all these hospitalizations–and still her daughter was anorexic. (She is one of those 4X4 ladies–about 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide-but losing). She said she had talked to her daughter about eating disorders and taken her to counselors. Suddenly one day, when she was praying and pleading to God on her daughter’s behalf, He reminded her of the verse Matthew 7:5. “You hypocrite! Take the beam out of your own eye and then worry about taking the splinter out of someone elses eye!!” She realized that her lack of self-control, her “I want it, I like it” attitude about food was as serious and deadly of an eating disorder as her daughter’s anorexia. And that while she sat there asking God to heal her daughter of her food disorder while enjoying her own–she was nothing but a hypocrite.
She said she immediately asked for forgiveness for her attitude. For the fact that she was looking at her daughter’s eating disorder through one set of glasses, and at her own through a rosy pair of glasses that made everything look better. She said that she went to her daughter and asked her daughter’s forgiveness for preaching a lie to her through all this, for reacting to her daughter’s anorexia while justifying her own gluttony…..and then she began to work on her own eating disorder. She joined Weight Watchers. She went to a counselor to deal with stuff from her past that was causing her to turn to food for comfort. She quit getting on her daughter’s case about food diaries, and weight. Instead she transformed her mind and began to deal with her own beam. As she began to eat healthier, and to lose weight herself–and most importantly, to quit turning to food for comfort, she said it had been unreal how her daughter’s attitude had changed toward her. And that she realized that all these years, she had been living blind to the fact that she was no different than her daughter. And that whereas she always felt her daughter was being judgmental, she was simply reacting to hearing one “testimony” and watching another one. She also said that God reminded her that the only eating disorder in Scripture was gluttony….and He had plenty to say about that! 🙂
She renewed her mind, and she has begun to transform not only her life, but her daughter’s life, and the future generations in their family.
According to this, all I have to do is to renew my mind….and then I will be transformed.
Awesome!
Nellwyn
WildBerry Workout and Weight Loss – Day 2
This morning, my dear husband posted this verse on his FB page:
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Ps 13:5
With the fire, and the confusion of moving back to the apartment, and plans all in turmoil, this verse brought me back into focus, and I decided that I needed to continue the plans we had made…trusting in God’s mercy…and rejoicing in His salvation! Even when things are not going MY way…I need to sing to the Lord, because HE HAS DEALT BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME!!!
I tackled the 5k distance again…this time with ditch dippers…;-)
That means, as I was walking the 5k, I would periodically walk down the ditch so that Gabriel could dip into the water and get a drink, and then I would climb back out of the ditch, back to the top.
I’m not sure what analogy that has for a spiritual basis, other than when we go into the valleys, we can expect to receive some refreshing to help us continue our walk on top.
Ps 23 – He leadeth me beside the still waters….He restores my soul.
I also did 10 body dips on a bench. I hope to add more body workout activities as I walk outside. This body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost…and I am trying to make it shine to HIS glory!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – day 2
- 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 2
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!
Spiritual Walking – Day 2 – Who Done It????
When I walk, I pray.
When I walk, I listen to music.
Today, I was listening to Butterfly Kisses, and thinking of my girls, and how I’m so proud of them.
But one line,
“Oh with all that I’ve done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every mornin’
And butterfly kisses at night”(1)
My mom used to say to me, “I don’t know what I did right to deserve a daughter like you, but I must’ve done something right.”
The truth?
I did absolutely NOTHING to deserve these wonderful children – well, except for obeying the command to multiply!
I did absolutely nothing to deserve the miscarriages, the children that I never held in my arms.
My five children are gifts from God – totally undeserved, unearned. Just like the sunshine and the rain that God blesses even the wicked with every day. Gifts, undeserved and unearned.
Then, I thought about myself, a child of God Almighty, saved by the gift of sacrifice, by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and sustained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts – I did not deserve them, and I did not earn them, and NOTHING I do can change the fact that I can do NOTHING to change my daughterhood.
I used to tell my children, there is nothing you can do that is so bad that I will stop loving you. It’s true.
Some have tried to test that out…but even with estranged times,
I love them forever,
I like them for always,
as long as I’m living,
my babies they’ll be! (2)
God says the same thing to us…John 10:27-29
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.We didn’t do anything to deserve this gift …as Paul explains in Eph 2: 8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The first step was to know that I needed a Savior, the second step is – HE SAVED ME not the other way around. The very faith it took to ask Him into my life was a gift from Him, because, without Him, I could not have done it.
And I know that:He will love me forever,
He’ll like me for always,
as long as He’s living(eternally)
My Daddy, He’ll be!Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong!(1) BUTTERFLY KISSES LYRICS
(2)Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – day 2
- 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 2
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!
Spiritual Walking Steps – Start Over – Day 1
I started a blog a while ago about 100 Spiritual Walking Steps.
I apologized in a blog, for not making sure that I kept that blog going as I traveled.
Well – I hope to start over…
Walking – a spiritual walk.
Why does walking have such a deep meaning to me?
Well – while in the Navy, I fell and was paralyzed from the waist down for several months – because of inflammation around five discs that were slipped. While I am very good with a wheelchair…I really appreciate the ability to walk.
After many surgeries on various parts of my legs, last summer culminated in three surgeries on my right ankle. After each surgery, I had weeks that I could not walk – wheelchair bound, and beholden to others to help me get around, and do things. I was very good with the wheelchair, but I wanted to walk on my own two feet.
Last December, when my daughter was going to give birth to our second grandchild, I was not permitted to travel, because of the recovery of my ankle. Needing a wheelchair would be a burden to them, as well as not being able to walk up and down the stairs in their house, or walk my own dog. This was very devastating to me.
Therefore – physically, I want to walk! But, while I have not been able to walk, I have thought about my Spiritual Walk.
The Psalm that comforts me the most, whenever I am in a trial, is Psalm 23.
The LORD is MY shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores MY soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: I will fear no evil: for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me.
YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
For me, the main points in this psalm are about walking, following, and yielding to the shepherd.
The FIRST step, is making sure that the LORD Jesus Christ IS YOUR Shepherd!
I did that in August of 1969.
The Plan of Salvation is simple.
The thing is – just like exercise, every day, I have to wake up, and say “Jesus, I choose YOU, and YOUR path, TODAY.”
The other TRUTH is, there are times during the day that I have to say “oops, I have walked off the path. Jesus, I’m sorry, I choose to walk on YOUR path again.” It seems that the first step seems to often need to be repeated.
***I am not speaking about salvation needing to be repeated – I’m talking about needing to notice where one is walking, and making adjustments when needed to get back in focus with Jesus Christ.***
So – Step 1 for a Spiritual Walk is choosing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and choosing to walk in His paths daily. Maybe that’s steps 1 & 2…but they are the ONLY steps that are important when it all boils down to it.
For Today, I choose Jesus. My plan is to choose HIS paths every second of every day – but I know that I will fall. And just like walking, when you fall, you need to get back up…but I’ll talk about that later.
My verse for today:
Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – day 1
- 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 1
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- starting NOW
WildBerry Workout – Day 1
Today, I am going to start Weight Watchers.
Today, I am going to start doing T-Tapp once a day.
Today, I am going to start creating the new physical me to reflect the new spiritual and mental me that emerged while I was walking, climbing, and meditating in Germany.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This fat has OLD issues written ALL over it. I desire to WALK in the NEW creature that God has made available to me.
Several of my health issues are directly related to this FAT. Diabetes, heart strain, breathing, cholesterol. That means several of the medicines that I take daily, or keep on hand are directly affected by this FAT.
This is part of the Walk that God has me on…and I will share it here.
Phil4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.
- Weight Watchers – starting May 24, 2011(today!)
- 100 days challenge- blog – start again, June 1
- Chronological Bible reading…starting in NT
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- starting NOW
Walking in the Spirit – sometimes it’s just messy
In the last few months, I’ve been focusing on walking in the spirit – the SPIRIT of God, that is.
One month in Germany started with walking through the whole security issues with an assistance dog, and abuse issues if we needed the pat down screening.
Some of the stairs in the Hohenekan Castle
Then, walking up hill EVERYWHERE in Germany! Stairs to my room, UP to go to the bathroom. UP to take Gabe to the bathroom. UP to any castle.
Then, the walk back to the airport, with folks that don’t speak English all the time. We got through security, and wheeled to the plane just before it flew off…PERFECT! God was with us!
Now, the walk of moving out of an apartment – into the RV for the next phase of our lives committed to God’s work.
The wires burnt right under the brown spot on the cover
See the brown spot, where the heat was starting to come through?
But, we had a fire in an electrical box, which endangered our lives, and the RV, and everything we had moved into it.
Now, we are walking around an apartment with little to no furniture – because it’s all gone!
Why did I go to Germany? To bless our daughter and son-in-law, and to be blessed by them.
Was there a struggle? Yes…
Was it worth it? Yes…
Would I do it again? Yes…
But some steps were VERY hard! But that was last week….
NEXT….. today’s walk….
Why did we give away our stuff? To bless others that they might bless others in return.
Was there a struggle? Not until now, when we’re sitting in the empty apartment…until repairs are done.
Was it worth it? We are in the middle of this valley – we cannot see the ‘worth’, though we can trust that God is faithful to HIS promise.
We can count the blessings:
- I was watching a movie, Jim was working later than usual on the computers…therefore: We didn’t go to bed at the usual time, and put on our CPAP’s and miss the burning electrical smell.
- Jim is an electrical computer guy…he was not about to quit looking for it…he tore off some plywood to find the burning box.
- Jim smelled the burning…many times, he doesn’t smell the smells I smell…but this time, he smelled it, and reacted.
- we are under warranty…and so is the RV!
- we have two more weeks of an apartment…before we have to be OUT!
- we have the mattress out of the RV to sleep on…on the floor…just like when we first got married!
Was this worth it? Well..I think I’m too close to it, right in the middle of it right now…but I KNOW that God’s work in our lives is ALWAYS worth it…because it brings us closer and closer to HIM. And, this has caused a lot of prayer time and personal reflection in Jim’s and my life in the last 18 hours.
Would we do this again? – where I’m at right now…NO WAY! This was a valley of the shadow of death! IF, IF, IF…if we’d gone to bed at the normal time, in the normal way…we would be a story on the front page.
These steps are VERY HARD! I’d rather climb to the top of the Heidelberg Castle twice, maybe three times…maybe up and down all day…to not have to have this feeling that we could have been burned to death.(confirmed by the service manager that looked at the thing).
BUT – GOD!
That’s the story.
BUT GOD – had me decide to watch a movie that kept us up longer than usual.
BUT GOD – had Jim working with the computers, and notice the smell.
BUT GOD – the thing didn’t burst into flames when we opened the container to spray it.
BUT GOD – we are alive – we did not die – we are here to declare the glory of God.
This morning, as I walked with God, I asked “What happened to Psalm 91..no evil shall befall your dwelling?”
“Did your dwelling burn?”
“Well, no…But…”
“But what? Why didn’t it burn?”
“Because YOU had your hand on it, and us, and YOU prevented ANY evil from coming near our dwelling.”
…insert humble pie, and grateful heart…..
We could have been out on our trip to Ohio…and have to spend the time in a hotel.
We could have been in it…as I’ve said.
Ps 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
Personally, I think ‘at thy side” and “at thy right hand” is pretty “nigh” me…but, the point is…it isn’t ME!
Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Walking “through the valley of the shadow of death” seems to be surrounded by evil…the key is “I will fear no evil”. The evil can surround me…but I am dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High…and in His shadow, I am safe!!!
Walking this one out means to face a fear I have dreamt about all of my life…dying in a fire.
- will this get fixed so that it won’t happen again?
- is there something else that could happen?
- how can we make sure that we don’t burn in this RV?
- Is this safe?
Where is my trust? In what/Whom is my faith? Was this something that we did wrong? Or was this an attack to test us? Or was this just something that happened..that we have to learn from, and walk on?
The main issue here is in Whom do I place my trust? And, I have to admit, I have placed my trust in safety measures…rather than in Jesus Christ. I’m NOT saying to practice unsafe things, to tempt fate, or test God, but make sure that once having done the practical measures…the trust is in Jesus.
This thing should not have even been working…it was to connect to a generator THAT WE DO NOT HAVE!!! And yet, power went through it and burned up the wires, and started to burn the box that held it. All the safety features FAILED! In fact, there were NO fuses, we did not trip ANY of the safety features!
BUT GOD DID NOT FAIL!!!
Here are my confessions of faith…to walk on through this valley:
Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:(OR FIRES DESTROY-author)
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.John 15: 1-14
verses 4&5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.Ps 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Ps 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
I’m walking…I’m moving forward…and God just isn’t finished with me yet. I’m rechecking my spiritual armor, checking on my spiritual focus, and my spiritual roadmap…and keeping in close contact with my Spirit Guide…not the wierd one, The Holy Spirit( John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26), given to me, by Christ Jesus to teach, comfort, and guide me along this path of life. Maybe, there is something special to this walk!
Eph 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Doing a search for walk and Spirit starts up a whole ‘nother discussion…So, I’m thinking that when I get through this valley, God will have done some more boot camp work on my Spirit walk, and I will look back and say it was worth it. I don’t know if I’d say I’d do it over again…but then again, the repeat parts are walking with the Lord through the valley of death…and on the other end, there is that table set for us in the presence of our enemies, anointing with oil, and cup overflowing.
As I walked to the top of each of the castle mounds…I actually thought, I want to do this ONCE…and not do it again. And yet, I did it again, for the next castle, and the next.
I choose to walk with the Lord, on the mountain tops AND IN THE VALLEYS, over and over and over, until HE is through with me, and takes me home.
After Jesus told the disciples about the coming comforter, He said this:
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
I remember the Mandie book series – and whenever they got into a rough spot, she would quote this verse:
Ps 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
As I sat down to write out my thoughts…I was focused on Ps 91 and 23…but, through this writing, as I’ve confessed my fears, and confirmed my trust in Jesus Christ, God has led me to John 14, to talk about being led by the Holy Spirit. Interestingly enough, as I am walking through the testing of the possible loss of my dwelling…here is the beginning of John 14:
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
Isn’t that just like God? I’m worrying about my little RV, while He’s reminding me that HE has a mansion for me…and He’s preparing it for me…and what’s more….
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
He has shown me the way…and if I forget, or am confused…The Comforter – John 14:26…shall teach me and bring back all things to my memory.
Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Not the things of this world…but being led on the path that takes me to that mansion prepared just for me. Now, for that, I’ll walk up a mountain again!
The highest peak in Germany - Zugspize
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
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- 100 days of moving challenge – starting June 1
- 100 days challenge- blog – start again, June 1
- Chronological Bible reading…
- 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- starting NOW
100 days of walking in the spirit….what day is it?
Some ideas are great…but the implementation of them falls short. That is what has happened with this great idea of 100 days of walking in the Spirit.
On the other hand, the theme of these past days (this is day 127, thanks to this little calculator), has been walking.
I’m in Germany.
I have been here since April 19th.
That was the 109th day.
I had to WALK through my fears of the TSA pat down issues to get on the plane.
At my daughter’s house, there are stairs to WALK from the main living area to my living area…12, I think.
To WALK my dog, there is an uphill path, into the woods that goes uphill. Yes, it does come back downhill to get back home. I’m not going to play the uphill both ways card…though, this little village does seem to go uphill more than down!
Shortly after arriving, I was stuck with a huge boil on my right toe…gross, nasty and painful. No medical options, and my visit here was just beginning. God said to walk out my healing by faith.
Oddly enough, this trip has been full of walking, and I am always by my daughter, FAITH! But, seriously, it’s been a walk of faith for me…since I was not permitted to travel here in December because of how unstable my ankle was…not to mention my knees and hips(sorry, I just mentioned them!)
I have WALKED up to Hohenekan Castle.
I have WALKED all around Innsbruck.
I have WALKED Garmisch.I took the cable car to the top of the highest peak in Germany.
I WALKED the lowest gorge in the Garmisch area.
I WALKED the palace Linderhoff grounds.
I have WALKED Munich.
Yesterday, I not only WALKED around Castle Altdahn, I climbed a set of ladders up into the tallest tower.
Today, I will WALK Heidelburg.
But, this morning, I walked in the woods, as I have almost every morning I’ve been here.
Ps 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
this is a cool verse…with promises that if you fall, you will not be cast down…but how are the steps of a good man ordered by the Lord?
Prov 3:5 – 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
I’ve been learning to trust in the Lord…not MY understanding. As I climbed the ladder in the Altdahn Castle, each step was a prayer to my Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus to conquer the lifelong fear of heights. My own understanding, and that of my daughter Faith, was that I was not able to climb that ladder. No one would have imagined I could have climbed that ladder, switched over to the second one, and then, at the top of the tower…walked to the edges and looked down!
I’m taking steps, I’m learning to walk in the Spirit, and to trust totally in the Lord…not MY understanding! After 41 years, something should start sinking in, right? And then, as I was praying these verses as I walked back to the house, the Lord reminded me of this verse:
Ps 100:1-3 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
I’m learning to walk in the Spirit…and one of the things I realize was that writing a 100 days set was NOT in the works for me while I’m traveling. But, I am still learning more and more about walking!
Thanks for joining me…and keep taking steps in your walk…just one foot in front of the other!
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
