What do you Think?

I am trying to update the look of my blog, but my technical IQ is extremely low, so I just gave up and will try again when I have help. I can, however, push a button and allow my blog to take the form of a pre-made template courtesy of Blogger, so that is exactly what I have done.... viola, a new page, what do you think?

I haven't had time to write about the women's retreat I went on last weekend; with starting a new diet (yes, American food is too good for me to resist), baseball season being in full swing, and trying to keep my kids focused on the last few weeks of school, I have had little time to write. But I don't want to let the experiences I had go left unsaid, so I will finally share my tale.

Last Friday I loaded up with a van full of women and headed for the mountains. I was excited to get away for a few days and relax, but I had no idea the impact those two days would have on my life. The Lord met me there and refreshed my soul, it was a sweet time of seeking the Lord, not only for His direction in my life, but also for His joy. I have been in a very dry period of life; wanting to have passion, but feeling very little. Wanting to have direction, but feeling very lost. Wanting to hear the voice of the Lord, but wondering if he has somehow forgotten me. I have been told I am in Gods waiting room, I HATE waiting, in fact, sometimes I think waiting is a form of torture. People have also told me I need to have patience while I'm waiting; patiently waiting is that even possible?? Seeing as I have no other choice, here I sit in God's waiting room doing my best to patiently wait. Back to the retreat... two things happened during the weekend; the first was that I realized I can still be fun (it has been a long time) and the second was that I conquered fear.

I was talked into going on a high ropes course, I have no idea how this happened, I guess I'm still am a sucker for peer pressure. I was simultaneously crying and shaking as I walked to the beginning of the course; I really thought I was going to run the other way when my turn came to pull my body up the ropes. I was completely surprised when I found myself actually climbing up to the corse (this experience also showed me it's time to start Weight Watchers). For those that don't know what a high ropes corse is, I will describe it from my viewpoint (someone who is extremely afraid of heights) it looks like death by falling. Actually, it looks like extreme suffering for the rest of your life. It was 75 feet up in the air and the goal was to shimmy across wires so that you could come to the end of the corse only to jump off. My name has always been "Much Afraid" just like the character in "Hinds Feet on High Places", I guess I thought my name would never be changed, but this weekend after I completed the corse it changed. I am no longer Much Afraid, I will no longer let fear control my life. Instead I will purposely walk through it no matter how much I want to run the other way. This was the first time that I realized I have a choice with fear. Choosing to not fear doesn't mean I won't feel the emotion, it means that I will CHOOSE to walk through it.

What I loved about the ropes corse is that I am able to exalt God through it; those who know me realize it wasn't me that did it (I have no courage in myself), but rather my Heavenly Father took my hand and gave me the strength and courage to cross something that looked impossible to my human mind. What a lesson this is for me in life; and just like the character in "Hinds Feet on High Places" my name has been changed to "Grace and Glory" because it is only by His Grace that my name changed and it is only for His Glory that is has changed. Praise God!