Feet Up and Go!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

II Tim. 1:7

At the advice of a sweet friend, I watched a Netflix documentary called, Long Way Round. (Side note! LOTS of language!) It chronicles the real life journey of Ewan McGregor and his buddy, Charley Boorman. Their adventure began in London, England and ended (months later) in New York City – they literally rode motorcycles the long way ’round the globe! I was mesmerized at the planning, the preparation, the interpersonal hurdles they need to overcome, and the sheer tenacity of the project! It instantly inspired me!

I have always been a fan of motorcycles, but now… I’m definitely determined to expand my horizon to include a road trip of some undetermined length and destination. Baby steps. Knowing virtually nothing about motorcycles (“virtually” is generous), I have begun this project on my darling son’s moped (it’s a 150 – don’t judge me). Under his tender tutelage I initiated the process of learning the simple steps needed to maneuver a two wheeled machine. He sensed my fear and sweetly prodded my progress with gentle encouragement, just what I needed! I experienced my first “ride” around the neighborhood and was absolutely elated to have begun!

Knowing that practice is the key to any new endeavor, I set out the next day on another attempt. This time, my youngest son was my guide. His approach was more of a deep-end-of-the-pool experience… again, just what I needed! He also sensed my fear, but knowing that I had been given the training and tender encouragement the previous day, he forced me to remove my imaginary training wheels with the charge… FEET UP & GO! I went from fearful to terrified (I nearly hit the parked car directly across the street). From terrified to confident. And then from confident to victorious with those four simple words!

How often is our spiritual journey similar? We feel God’s tender prodding. We sense His undeniable, loving encouragement. We gain assurance in His call. But it is not until we pick our “feet” up and go that we experience the utter elation that only sheer obedience can bring! He doesn’t want to short-cut our experience. If we are to boldly step out in confidence, it will often require that we take the long way ’round. That we intentionally place ourselves in positions of uncertain vulnerability. That we remind ourselves daily of His constant companionship.

He has NOT given us a spirit of fear and timidity which is defined as a cowardice that tends to manifest itself in the shrinking away from daily difficulties. He is calling us to be men and women who deliberately and intentionally set aside our natural tendencies to shy away from challenges and pick our feet up and GO!

Over the next handful of weeks I’m excited to share stories of people in our lives who have chosen to live by this mandate. I look forward to learning from them, and passing on their wisdom as we’re all on this road trip together!

“Obedience means that I have completely placed my trust in Christ, and my obedience is immediately met by the delight of the supernatural grace of God.” -Oswald Chambers

Hmmm…

• What is calling calling you to DO today?
• Am I dragging my “feet” in cautious hesitancy?
• Am I willing to pick my feet up and go in grateful anticipation?

Pass The P’s Please

Happy Monday! Some days are simply more playful than others, this is one of those days… I hope this puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step 🙂

You, Lord, give perfect peace

to those who keep their purpose firm

and put their trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Most kids hate peas, not me! I have always loved peas! Frozen, canned, fresh, hot, cold, snapped! They are round little bundles of deliciousness and surprise packages of nutrition. They even look inviting! Uncomplicated, individualized vitamin-packed green goodness. Rolling around on the plate, it takes a dedicated pea lover to capture these little illusive rascals!

Recently, I have been positively giddy at my scriptural scavenger hunt for P’s – that is, mandates and encouragements that begin with the letter P. As ridiculous as this sounds, please practice patience as I pontificate (see, it’s fun!).

Here is where I began ….

*pleasing    *potential    *process    *peaceable    *penitent

*prayerful    *patient    *passionate    *pluck (ouch!)    *persuasive

*purposeful    *plant    *perseverance    *pleasant    *perfect

*praise    *preach    *prepare    *playful

Goodness! The list of personal attributes beginning with the letter P is positively persuasive! So, who cares? Lately, I do! As I seek to be obedient to His call on my life, I am often at a loss in how to pray, or better yet, what to specifically pray for in terms of my character. I find that this particular list is filled to the brim with possibilities! As of late, my early morning petitions have been that each day I might be pleasing, passionate, patient, and playful. Confident that His mercies are new each morning, I am thrilled beyond reason to get a fresh start, a renewed handful of minutes packed with potential personal possibilities to practice these particular pleasantries. Some days are easier than others. Life is like that. Some days I utterly fail in one or more (or all) of these four simple commitments. But here’s the best part… when I fail, His power is made perfect in my pitiful weakness! How pleasant is that? Passionately praise-worthy!

So why the list? Because I like words (and lists) and they seem to trigger my brain to simple, uncomplicated, individualized devotion. It’s just so much fun to find creative ways to keep my relationship with the Lord fresh. My way may not be your way, but today might be the perfect day to create your own list. To make a personal commitment to honing your character. To intentionally chisel (round) off some of the sharp edges and exhibit His delightful grace to an unhealthy world.

How powerfully pleasant to ponder God’s plan, His purposes, His prerogative, and His perspective as we practice our personal pursuits according to His good pleasure! Phew!

Hmmm…

• How am I careful to keep my relationship with my Savior fresh?

• What list is He calling me to create so that I might have a more focused sense of obedience?

• Am I a delightful blessing to my starving community?

Klipspringer

“The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk on my high places.” Hab. 3:19

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 “I love doing preposterous things. I don’t know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength and fear into faith and that which has been marred into perfection.” -Hind’s Feet-

If you’ve seen the movie, “Night At The Museum”, you know that New York City is home to a Natural History Museum. This is not just any Natural History Museum. Four floors jam-packed with ancient artifacts, dinosaur bones, space paraphernalia, precious gems, and taxidermy creature galore! An enormous hall (it would have to be) houses a full blue whale! Another large arena features a herd of African elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, and anything else you might find in the Serengeti. I loved every single sign/exhibit/post/artifact!

Klipspringer in his comfort zone

Toward the beginning of my recent museum visit I discovered a tiny hoofed quadruped called a Klipspringer that captured my attention. This adventurous little cliff-dweller stands only 22 inches tall and is outfitted with simply remarkable hooves. They have a rubbery texture in the center that helps them grip rock and tough, sharp outer edges that keep them firmly planted on cliff ledges. They not only stand comfortably on the tips of their hooves, but they can place all four hooves simultaneously on a piece of rock no larger than a quarter. A QUARTER!! They are agile and quick. They travel in pairs (as opposed to herds) and they mate for life. They deliver their offspring on slivers of rock faces and immediately train their young how to adapt to high places.

High places… not typically where we “plain dwellers” prefer. Not customarily within our comfortable spiritual habitat. Difficult places. Complicated places. Unstable places. Places often fraught with a profound level of fear and panic. Usually places NOT of our choosing. But yet, Hab. 3:19 reveals God’s glorious, intimate involvement in our high places. In fact, He has specifically designed our “hooves” to confidently navigate our lofty ledges. Sure-footed, able to reach heights previously thought unattainable. Our character is molded as our confidence in Him manifests itself in simple obedience. Fear and panic soon give way to freedom and peace with each apprehensive step we take. Freedom and peace inevitably lead to momentum as we scale personal challenges with confidence and victory!

Today our Heavenly Shepherd is calling us to be reminded that He has made our feet like Klipspringer’s feet and He alone is delighted to be our strength and our salvation as we tread on our high places!

Hmmm…

• What are the high places in my life today?
• How has God uniquely designed my spiritual hooves?
• What specific steps of upward obedience is He calling me to take?