Going Higher

I've been reading, "Falling in Love with Jesus" by Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli. This book has been really good for me. The author quotes from another book titled, "Hinds' Feet on High Places", this quote from the book is an allegory in which a fawn named Much-Afraid overcomes her fears and learns how to go to the high places with the chief Shepherd. He tells her that in order to go to the High Places, she must walk herself, though he will never be far from her. She pleads with him to carry her. Gently the chief Shepherd responds:

        "Much-Afraid, I could do what you wish. I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds' feet, and become my companion and go where I go. If you will climb to the heights this once with the companions I have chosen for you, even though it may seem a very long and in some places a very difficult journey, I promise you that you will develop hinds' feet."

Here is a quote from the book,
        "Maybe you have developed unwise television habits or graceless ways of communicating with your sullen teenager, or maybe you haven't truly lived or shared your faith in front of other people for years. Maybe you've gotten lazy and complacent. you are a Christian, but you have been camping out in a cleft of a rock while Jesus calls, "Take My hand and come higher." You are seemingly happy, but deep inside you are discontent. And with each call He makes, your heart grows sadder. You know you should heed His call, but you also know that change will be involved. That change can be painful."

A couple pages later,
        "I've learned that nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth losing the peace of God. We need to be alert because we truly have an enemy on the prowl. The last thing he wants is for us to go to higher places with God. He will tempt us. He will boldly lie to us. He will try to inflame our passions, encouraging us to live in the moment, and to inflame our fears, encouraging us to camp out in the hiding places. And if he can tempt us to take a step down, to the lower places, then he will have gained control. He will whisper to you. He'll tell you that a little bit of stepping down, that little time of falling back, is no big deal. It doesn't come upon you like the smell of a skunk. Most of the time it's slow and steady, like carbon monoxide. It seeps into your bloodstream, and before you know it, you're asleep. That's how we become numb to God."

I hope this blesses you as it has blessed me. It is encouragement for me to keep pushing forward, and going to those high places.

I FORGET HOW LUCKY I AM TO KNOW YOU

I forget how lucky I am to know You.(God)

I!

Me!

Little nobody Monica gets to know the Creator of the Universe. The I AM.
Not just know about Him or of Him, but get to know Him!
¿How did I get SO lucky?

But do I behave as such? Do I behave like I am lucky to know God the Creator on a personal level?
I take Him for granted and waste time that I could be spending to get to know Him better.

I don't treat Him like a king.
I don't treat him like the love of my life.

As a single woman wanting to be a good wife in the future, I read articles I see on the web to be a better wife. BUT WHAT ABOUT GOD? My true Husband. My eternal Husband?

This isn't how I want it to be. So Lord take me away into your presence. I want to grab ahold of this gift you've given me. I want to make the most of this gift of knowing you personally.
You are so amazing!

Me!?
I was CHOSEN!!??

Let me not waste it Lord.

For He is gentle and humble in heart.

1“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him

and he will bring justice to the nations.

2He will not shout or cry out,

or raise his voice in the streets.

3A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;"

I can see us as fragile butterflies in Gods powerful hands, but He takes such care over us. He will not let us be crushed.

Take care lest you forget...

Deut 8:11 "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes,...and all you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who...
-born me healthy
-who watched over my safety as a child and my innocence when circumstances were not favorable.
-who placed me in a loving christian woman's home when my mother forsook me.
-who guided my path to the church in a city on a mission trip to where i'd receive his salvation.
-who never gives up on me even when I stray.

Deut 8:17 (paraphrased with my own translation) "Beware lest you say in your heart, none of these blessings are from God."