Well, I did write an amazing blog and I am sorry that you all are unable to read it, but Internet Explorer decided to shut down… I suppose that will teach me to use something else and then do a cut and paste. Anyways, I am going to give you a short summary of what has been going on this week.
First off, we have been running/walking every morning at 7 AM. Let me tell you, it is HARD to get up when it is SO cold and to come back and take a freezing cold shower. That’s ok. All for the glory of God… Right?!
The last couple days, we were at Unicoi National Park and had some amazing God time. One of the hardest aspects of the trip was the Cross walk. We were asked to grab a log or two and write what God was telling us to give up. I just laid in the grass asking God what He wanted me to give up. Finally things came out. Selfishness, busyness, hurt, etc. We all had to wait in the grass and wait for someone to pray for us to get up and go on the walk. I prayed that God wouldn’t allow me to be last. BUT, He has a sense of humor! There were 2 behind me. At the beginning of the trail, Mike and Patty asked if I was really ready to give these things up. It was a hard ‘yes’. No matter how hard I wanted to give these things up, I didn’t at the same time. These are things that I hide behind. These are things that I fill my life with in order to shield myself with in order to be strong. I needed the freedom that only Christ could give me from these things. I felt ashamed to show these things to anyone. I want to be strong.
After the prayer, I started along the trail. It was easy, but I needed it to be. Once we walked about a mile on the trail, we got to a hill. A terrible hill. There was no real trail there. It was marked off by orange ribbon. My feet slipped in the orange dirt as I tried to climb the hill. After about 20 minutes, I made it up that hill. I thought I was finished, Oh boy was I wrong. At the top of the hill, Casey prayed for me. She told me that she sees God working in me and that she sees the gift of intercessory prayer in me. I am not sure how or what I do with that. After she prayed, she said I needed to go up one more hill. I looked at her like she was joking… She wasn’t
This hill was much steeper than the last and I wasn’t sure how I was going to climb it. I started to anyways. I had to stop quite a few times and breathe. At one point I dropped my log down the hill and had to start again.
After about 30 more minutes, I made it to the top of the hill. I finally saw the cross; I was finally ready to give up my burdens at the cross. I stopped, kneeled at the cross and gave it all to him. It is going to be something I deal with daily, but I am FREE!!Amen!
There are still a few days left here, and lots of prayer is needed as we grow closer together.
