I have been thinking a lot about encouragement lately. God has been working in my life, in so many ways, as he is bringing me along on this journey, but one of my favorite tools that he is using in my life are my friends and family. So many of you have given me hope when I was discouraged. You have challenged my faith when I doubted and you have strengthened me with your words, your actions and your gifts of love. I thought about Hebrews 12:1 this morning. It says,
"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
You are part of the cloud of witnesses. Whether you realize it or not, you are doing God's work. You help me to throw off the fear and doubt that does so easily entangle me. You help me to continue on the journey that God has called me to. You are doing for me, what I am hoping to do for others as I continue on my journey. You are encouraging me to do the work that God has set before me. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for being willing to let God use you. I need you and I appreciate you. As Sam would say, "You rock like salt in a tube sock!" (Don't ask me what it means. I don't know, but its good.)

Adventures on the Edge

I guess I've joined the technological age and made a blog. I don't know that anyone will read this, but I thought I could post some of my random thoughts as we set out on our 'Grand Advenure on the Edge'. I called it "on the egde" because I feel that I am on the edge of faith and reason. God is pushing me farther than I ever thought I'd go, but with that comes the "grand adventure" part of it. This is a grand adventure with God and my family. I am living of the edge of faith and reason, but I am living. That's the amazing part, being alive in Christ. I feel like I have been half asleep for most of my life and God woken me up to what it means to live in Him.

I won't lie to you. Its scary. Its hard. I wouldn't trade it for the world! The band, Caedmon's Call has a song called 'This World' that has spoken to me alot. Part of it goes,

"This world has nothing for me, and this world had everything.

All that I could want and nothing that I need.

This world is making me drunk on the spirits of fear, so that when He says, "who will go?" I am nowhere near.

Now I'm waking up. And now I'm breaking up, but now I'm making up for lost time."

I think that sums it up pretty well. Thanks for listening.