Setting: Two Story Coffee House in Athens, GA.
Soundtrack: Mix of Michael Buble, Sara Barellis, and Frank Sinatra
Drink: Tall iced coffee with a shot of vanilla.
I feel like I’m in Athens all the time. While I am here often, I normally blog right after each trip so each post makes it seem like I live here. I generally like to be very intentional about what I post on my blog, but I’m kind of in an all-over-the-place mood, so I really don’t know what will be said.
I traveled to Athens late last night in order to be in early this morning at the local high school FCA. On the way up here, I stopped off the high way at a Waffle House to meet a friend. I love this friend. Her name is Lisa Smith and she is so completely full of life. She always has that beautiful smile on her face and a positive spin on things. I can only imagine what her room will be like in Heaven. I know it will be packed with diamonds, jewels, pearls, and treasures of every kind you can imagine. And I can’t wait for that. I cannot wait to see how God blesses her in the next life. It’s going to be a party. All the time. And I can’t wait to celebrate that with her.
I am currently reading a book by Mark Batterson (he is AWEsome) called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and it is phenom. The entire book is based on this passage from 2 Samuel: “Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it”
Basically the entire book is about how Benaiah is a baller and led a life fearlessly in pursuit of the Hold Spirit (the lion being the holy spirit). It was snowing, the ground was slippery, and he was chasing a lion. A lion. Most people don’t choose to pick fights with a 250 animal with flesh-marring teeth. But Benaiah did. And he came out on top. Can you imagine a warrior from 300 standing on top of an immense beast that he had slain? Can you imagine that conquering feeling? Sometimes if I picture myself as Legolas from LOTR with my elvin ears and long blond hair flowing in the breeze, staff and bow and arrow in hand, I might be able to imagine the tremendous feeling of victory. But aside from that picture, it’s hard for me to imagine a greater feeling of success.
The book also talks about how a life in constant pursuit of the Lord is filled with changes, obstacles, and scary experiences. But if we constantly seek the Kingdom and his glory, not only will our lives be exiting, but the Holy Spirit will equip us to fight our ‘lions’. It’s pretty great feeling. I’m a big fantasy, adventure and warrior filled movie junkie, so any plot like this I can totally get behind. And knowing that we have that power in the Holy Spirit gets me really excited to serve the God we serve. Talk about getting pumped up!
