On Top of the World

A couple days ago, I embarked on a incredible adventure! I climbed the alpines of Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe.. Many people make this climb...during summer. I did it in winter, when it was full of snow. This means that I had to learn how to use crampons (metal pikes that you attach to your boots) and ice picks. It is an understatement to say that it was the hardest thing I have EVER done. I won't go into details about everything, but I fell down a certain slope for about 30 seconds (felt like hours), partially fell into a snow cave, and to top it all off, because this is a recently very active volcano, I experienced two earthquakes. Even though, it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. The views and experience was absolutely spectacular, even if I couldn't move the next day.

This 11-hour climb really made me think about what I am facing right now. If you read my last couple of posts, there is a major decision that I am trying to make, and it looks like the hardest climb up a mountain that I could take. But I realized that if God really wants me to do this, He will help me through it. That doesn't mean that it will be easy, just like climbing the mountain wasn't easy, but the end result would be something that I can't even imagine.

I am praying about going on the World Race.

Most of you probably know about this program, because we know some people that have gone, or are going. For those of you who have not heard of the World Race:

The World Race is an 11-month trip around the world, to 11 different countries, spending 1 month in each country. While in these countries, participants involve themselves in various ministries with missionaries in those countries. Churches, refugee camps, orphanages, feeding stations, community outreach, etc.

I know that this would be a heck of a climb, with a lot more than two earthquakes and a few slips. That's why I am so dedicated to praying about this decision, and I hope that you can pray with me as well. Like I said in my last post, going on this race, in a lot of ways, doesn't make sense.

 However, I think i'm finally learning to let God make the decisions for me, and trust Him through the midst of them.

Post Script: For you other LOTR fans, I'm standing (well, jumping) at the opposite side of Mt. Doom that Frodo and Sam are walking towards in this picture.

Faith in the Impractical

I don't have much to update, but I had such an amazing devotion this morning that I HAD to share it with you!

If you read my last post, you know that I am praying about a major decision that I am facing. It's major because everything about it screams impractical.

My thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. It's not a good financial decision.
It doesn't make sense. It takes too much time.
It doesn't make sense. It's too difficult.
It doesn't make sense. It's not what i've been preparing for.
It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense.

Abel's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll sacrifice my best.

Noah's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll build it.

Abraham's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll go.
It doesn't make sense. I'll offer my son.

Sarah's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll conceive.

Moses' thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll lead them.

Joshua's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. The walls of Jericho will fall.

Rahab's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I will welcome them.

Thoughts of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel:

It doesn't make sense. I will conquer kingdoms. I will enforce justice. I will obtain promises. I will stop the mouth of lions. I will quench the power of fire. I will escape the sword. I will be strong. I will be mighty in war.

God calls us to have faith in the impractical moments of our life.

I haven't made a complete decision yet, but I'm having faith that if God does call me to go on this journey, that I will have faith even amidst the impracticality.

A Relentless Rain

I know it's been a while since I have posted. I apologize for that, but it's been a while since I have actually been well enough to sit down and write. There was about two weeks where I was fighting sickness. Nothing extremely serious, just a mix of the flu, altitude, and an allergic reaction to a mineral in a natural hot water pool. After finally overcoming the flu and my allergic reaction, there was about a week where I was completely incoherent. It was quite frustrating spending all day every day being extremely dizzy and very confused.

Thanks to many of your prayers I am almost back to normal.

It's the rainy season here in New Zealand. I remember one particular day, when the rain was relentless. It was consistently pouring all day. As I was watching the rain, it made me think of how relentless God is when it comes to Him desiring us to follow Him daily. I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend my whole life fighting God's will for my life. I know He won't give up, and I don't want to wake up every morning feeling ashamed and embarrassed for not having enough courage to take a step of faith and follow Him.

To be honest with you, it's been a difficult time here in New Zealand. I don't have a solid plan for when I return back the United States. I've looked into grad school. I've looked into working and teaching abroad. I've looked into various jobs. Nothing seems right. I can't seem to find a peace about any of those things. Unfortunately, i've given Satan access to my mind. It's been consuming my thoughts so much that i've completely ignored the one thing that can orchestrate my future: God.

I spend this morning reading, over and over, Proverbs 3:6.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths"

I've reached a transitional point in my life. Up until now, it's been easy to live out that verse. It's been easy because I have had a clear understanding of the path that God wanted me to be on. Now, I have reached the dead end. The path that I have been on for the last 22 years is finally ending. There's a new path that I am about to embark on. God is definitely 'making straight my path', and what makes it difficult is that it's going to require me to sacrifice more than I ever have before.

You see, we all read Proverbs 3:6 and apply the principle to our life, but we don't always seem to get a clear understanding of what path God wants us on. Maybe that's because we don't continue reading, and we skip over the principle found in Proverbs 3:9.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth..."

God will ALWAYS want us on a path that forsakes the values of the world. In order for God to make straight our paths, we have to give up everything. Remember that at the moment of salvation, we surrendered to life abandonment.

Maybe these are just the thoughts of a ramblin' man, but they make sense to me!

I ask that you pray with me this next week. I have dedicated a week to some serious prayer over a decision that I am considering making. This decision would mean giving up everything, and more, to embark on a particular journey. Please spend a week seriously praying that I can make the decision that God wants me to make. Please spend a week seriously praying for yourself as well. Pray that you would be open to God's strongest desires for your life!

Let's be a generation that's known for a strong faith. A generation that's known for Christ, and not the world. HE is coming, I promise you that. What are we doing to prepare for His return?