Today's Victory ...

Oh how I love the lessons I learn on these delightful walks!  Today is Memorial Day so, since I have the day off I thought I would get a head start reaching my step goal for the day!  What better place to do that then head to my favorite place ... a place where I can be alone with the Lord, figuring out my thoughts, singing, yelling, talking out loud ... it doesn't matter because (usually) I don't see anyone else (except that time that I had been singing out loud and then spotted someone ~ yikes).

So I walked the mile to the park ... not really too hot and I was excited to get to my favorite part ... the trails in the woods where I could enjoy the beautiful majestic masterpiece that lay before me.

As I got to the entrance I quickly recalled that when I came early the last time there was still dew all over the ground and the same was true today.  Soon I was walking along with only the sounds of the birds chirping "Good Morning", a few rustles in the bushes ... and the water sloshing in my soaked sneakers.  Within moments I saw "critter" run into the safety of the woods.  In my mind I saw black with a lot of white.  Haha, walking in the woods is always a boost to your prayer life as I quickly said, "Lord, please don't let it be a skunk!"  As I got closer, I realized my "skunk" was simply a scared little bunny.

With a heart full of thanksgiving, I continued down the pathway, seeing other little bunnies and hearing some other noises that I kept telling myself were bunnies.  :)  Meanwhile, I continued to sort my thoughts, talk to God and began texting my BFF, telling her about my delightful walk.  Suddenly, I heard a noise and looked up and spotted him.  Sporting that huge body that looked like he could knock me over with one bump (when in reality I would probably keel over if he took another step towards me) I quickly sent her a text "Wild hog .. turn around?  Try to pass?  Run?  Scream?  Remain frozen?"  Well, she didn't know either and I really wanted to keep walking so I bravely reminded myself (and the Lord) that I knew what He could do with lions so surely a little piggy would be no problem.  

I am so glad I overcame that fear and continued walking.  I was in awe of the beauty I saw ... 

...amazed by thoughts and ideas that He gave me as I walked and the small victories I felt with each new goal. 

I finally reached a point on the trail where I could go straight or to the right or left.  Already trying to keep in mind where each fork in the road was and knowing I would have to walk all the way back I decided to turn around. 

Going for a family walk

           

It was incredible how God designed these creatures to know just what to do when some potentially crazy lady approaches them and tries to reassure them that I have no intention of hurting their babies.  I again prayed for protection as the daddy hung back to try to get behind me to rush in and save the day, having me surrounded...then heading towards me.

 

Hopes and dreams revived as I saw Him working and with each new revelation I could see satan being stomped down.  That was pretty exciting.  

This is the point where I know I have 15 minutes until I am back out of the woods.

  I head back to the park area ... before I even got there my fitbit alerted me that I had made my goal.  That was pretty exciting!  With my new improved attitude & outlook and armed with fun new ideas for my (ongoing) latest project I started on my mile trek back home.  Haha, wait for it ....

how appropriate that the name of my street is Victory!  What a beautiful beginning to my day ... and this life's journey the Lord has me on.  He is writing a beautiful story and I am thrilled for those exciting adventures He writes in ... all to teach me a lesson or to remind me that He wants the best for me and He is all things to me (my Defender, my Protector, my Provider, my Everything).

Until next time ... enjoy the adventures and lessons and don't forget to look at the beauty in each day!
 

Being Refined!

  Recently I have been going through a fair amount of craziness in my life.  I find that if I focus on those things that people say or do it has the potential to discourage me and bring me down.  Well, I know that is not where God wants me so I try to live by the philosophy that people won't determine what kind of day I am going to have.  I can and will continue to spread sunshine around me.

I must admit, though, that a few minor events happened one on top of the other and individually it may not have caused much disruption but for a moment, all combined, it lead me to feel disappointed about other things (again, of which I have no control).  As I was sharing with my mentor yesterday a few of the incidences, he, without hesitation (as he's so good at), informed me that I was being 'refined'.  I immediately thought of the story below as I have read it many times.  

Malachi 3:3
The Refiners Touch
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.
Silver smith putting heat to a silver bowl
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

As much as I read these things and understand them, I don't always recognize that my experiences are sometimes correlated with this so I was thankful that he pointed that out to me.  How much better to know that there is a purpose for the things we are going through.  God loves me so much that He wants to mold me and put me under the fire to strengthen me and make me more like him.  To be the best version of me that He created me to be.  How can I argue with that.  Instead of feeling attacked ... now, I feel kinda special ... 


Refiner's Fire


Until next time ... Don't let the tough times bring you down ... remember there is a purpose and let Him keep working on you!