Tuesday, February 19, 2013

muddy patches and rocky climbs


I have been pretty battle weary lately.  So tired....fighting discouragement the temptation to lay the cross down for a bit and go find a quiet job in a Target in the middle of Wisconsin or Utah.  

Come on you guys, I know I am not the only one who has ever felt like that!  Some days are harder than others and some days the road is rough.  I was driving Luis to work this morning and had to manuever my way through an extremely bad muddy patch.  Africa mud patches are unlike anything you have ever seen.  (I wish I had the camera with me at that point) As I picked my way through the thought occurred to me, “This is what my road looks like right now”.  Some days rough and muddy, making the going slow and careful.  You have to be careful about where you put your foot or you will get stuck.  Some days the road is smooth and easy, no rocks or mud or black ice in the way. 

I must be honest though, today I feel like I have misstepped and got my foot stuck in the mud, and would have loved nothing more than to sit there and let the mud harden into a brick around my ankle.  

Sunday my personal road has lead me to a steep mountain path, and it scares me.  You know the kind you see in the mountains of Nepal and Guatemala?  The kind where you have to hug the wall at points and shuffle slowly by, at points on your hands and knees?    It shook me to my core!!!  Still does, two days later, but I read this special promise this morning.  

Psalm 121
The Message (MSG)
A Pilgrim Song
121 
1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 
He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 
God’s your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 
God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.

I hope this lifts your hearts as it lifted mine.  My strength to climb this particular mountain comes from God!  After all He is the same God who made heaven and earth with a few simple words!  He won’t let me stumble over the cliff and won’t sleep on the job!  He will hold the umbrella over my head when the sun gets to intense, and light my way when the path is dark.  HE IS MY GUARD!!!  Its a promise!  HALLELUJAH!!!  

4 comments:

  1. Amen.. By the way, Maddie saw this photo of your daughters and immediately she said, "Oh my friends". Forgive but I don't know which one is which, but she called your middle daughter Sona...I know there is no relation but it was cute.

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    Replies
    1. Sweet thing! My oldest in Amira, middle one Hannah, young one is Brooklyn. I guess Hannah could be called Sona. She is a dark little PR baby! :-P

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  2. Did you know I carry an umbrella with angels wings!!! Ask Erika about it sometime. I love ya!
    ~Jocelyn

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