Friday, August 5, 2011

The Wild One / Goodness Beyond Imagining

"Each day is a gift you've been given." 
Never in a million years could I have dreamed up that I would be out here in Montana: camping out, hiking, building fences, planting, clearing brush from trails, chain sawing, and digging tread. It is immeasurably more than I could have ever imagined that I get to do this! So much goodness and blessing poured out! But then, God, You are always working everything (the ups and downs in life) together for good - out of Your Great Love for us, as it says in the Bible:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21)

I love working with my crew. They are good friends and like a family to me during my time here - an incredible community in which we get to have lots of crazy-awesome-challenging-fun adventures together. And we are surrounded by such glory and beauty and awesomeness in creation that greets us at every turn - sunsets and sunrises, mountain vistas, stars, wildlife, forests, and wildflowers.

It reminds me of what I read once in a book by Robin Jones Gunn, about You, Christ, being the Wild One:)

[Teri] . . . said, "You know how it is with God. His timing and way of doing things are usually unpredictable."
"He's the wild one," Gordon said. (Whispers)
Thank You, God, for bringing me here, for Your crazy, unpredictable, mysterious ways, and for all of Your goodness and blessings! Thank You that I get to do this! I look forward to many more adventures with You! Thanks for romancing and pursuing my heart! And most of all, thank You for Your presence and Your Love! I love You too :)

I am excited and filled with wonder to see what each day holds and to see all You hold in store around each bend in this journey. Lead on, my Good Shepherd, Savior, Lover and Friend :)

Some closing quotes:
"Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace
Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure"
(Steven Curtis Chapman lyrics)
"Life on earth is hard, and full of sorrow, still, life is beautiful when you love and are loved." (Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli)
"The earth is filled with your love, O LORD . . ." (Psalm 119:64)
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)
 "Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)