He took him outside

I love when God shows up!  Picking up the new Beth Moore study entitled The Quest a few weeks ago and slowly working through it.  I am taking my time, because I want to get the fullness of it all.  After all, a quest takes a little time and relationships take even more.  I want to fill up with Jesus and grow and grow and grow.

Anyway, this morning Beth took me to Genesis 15 to study.  Wow, God showed up with something I had not ever caught before when Abraham is talking with God inside a tent and in verse 4 God said these words ~ He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars...What caught my attention is that God took him outside.  Did God take him by the hand?  Did he lead him out?  I don't know how it took place, but they went outside at God's instruction.  Imagine, they were inside a tent so Abraham's view was not what it would be outside.  God widen Abraham's vision just like He widened my eyes and soothed my soul by providing hope in Him!

Colorado is this to me.  God lead me to Colorado kicking and screaming.  Seriously, I fought Kenny over purchasing this wonderful gift.  We didn't need it and it was a bone of contention with me.  I didn't even go with him to buy it.  I was so against it.  Well, you know how God works through the strangest things.  He opened up my vision and my faith through His Mighty Creation.  I feel just like Abraham must have felt when he was taken outside the walls of the tent.  I was taken outside my safe comforts of the world I knew and lead to this beautiful creation that God shows up and truly shows me every time HOW MIGHTY AND BIG HE IS...this place is a gift because of God.  He widens my believing ability through His Works in creation and people.  

I never cease to be amazed at God when He leads me outside of whatever comfort zone I might be inside of...God lead Abraham outside and we are told Abram believed the Lord.  Do we believe the Lord?  I believe more every time I allow God to take my hand and take me outside of whatever tent I have around myself.

I dream the little photo above and it is my attempt to show the many colors and stars that God paints in the sky.  It is also my stepping outside of my tent and allowing God to grow me.  He is taking down walls that I put up or I build everyday and I just want to shout I believe!  I believe! 

It is my prayer that you believe and go outside with Him too!

Sweet blessings,

P.S.  I love this new study by Beth Moore and Lifeway.  I bought it on my own and was not given anything to recommend it.  Just sharing my thoughts.

Keep trying!

Remember, the old saying "If at first you don't succeed try, try, try again?  I do.

Early in the summer I found out the zoo in Albuquerque had two polar bears.  I have always loved polar bears and it became my mission to see these polar bears.  I drug my mom and my aunt to the zoo in 90 degree weather to see polar bears.  Yes, I did and well they were in a refrigerator ( so to speak) they didn't come out in hot weather!  Seriously, polar bears in that heat?  What was I thinking?  I wasn't...all I could see was polar bear pictures.  I love polar bears.

I don't know why they have always fascinated me.  The size of their paws.  The far away place they take up residence.  The uniqueness of them.  All of it intrigued me.

Well, I wasn't giving up and it became a goal.  Well, last week it became a reality.  Linda and Valine even googled other zoo that housed polar bears.  They were ready with necessary information of where we could make a trip to, if we were not successful.  They really wanted to help me see these beautiful animals.  These women were filled with information if disappointment came my way to provide hope!

We saw them.  Yes, we did!  

Seriously, beautiful critters.  The bear posed for photos!  I am not kidding. The bear came right in front of me and laid across that rock.  Giving me a perfectly beautiful view of the paws on this creature.  Absolutely stunning.  Words really fall short and I was just like all the other little kids around that wall....excited that I was living part of my dream.  The dream to see a polar bear.

Well, I was just fascinated and filled with God's wonder.  Yes, God showed up.  He showed up in His creativity with creating each and every one of the amazing animals that we were gifted with sharing a moment with at the zoo.

Absolutely I will show you my beauty!

Even a baby giraffe came out.  Born in June and we got the opportunity to take photos.

Yes, blonde headed lady I will show you my teeth.  I think it is best you move along!

Come on lady.  Not another photo!

So many unique, special animals that we got to take photos of, but most of all celebrate the joy of creation.  God shows up big time all day, everyday, but do we notice?  Share your moments that God shows up in your journey.  God showing up provides hope and wonder that are more than any words that you or I are able to offer.  God showing up in special ways touches our souls!  So share your moments with others.

God showed up in the zoo and through my friends that were willing to figure out where our next road trip was to provide me the chance to see a polar bear and the animals themselves!

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

A new adventure

I am always ready for an adventure!  I truly feel that right now I am suppose to travel and share God's beautiful creation with others.  He shows up and shows me new and exciting things at the same time opening my eyes to who He truly is...our life is truly about Him!  Did you see that?  Our life is about Him and where we are in relationship with Him, where we place Him in our life, and/or if we have Him in our life, and are we following His instructions with others.

God is taking me on the grandest adventure and I love it!  Is it always fun? Some of the time and quite honestly a little truth here it is tiring at times.  I get tired driving and searching, but at the same time all I can say is Wow what a trip!

I got back home on Friday last week to get ready for a ball game that night.  Saturday I was up to go to the cotton fields to take pictures and I wanted to stay in bed...Yet, I truly am not exaggerating when I say that I feel lead to go to discover and to listen.  God shows up, but do I?  Ask yourself the question.  Are you feeling God calling you to go?  Don't miss it.  Go and see what He is going to share with you.  Truly it is an adventure.

I want to show you some photos from a little town in New Mexico called Tucumcari.  It was an amazing little town.  We were riding along looking for something else to see when Linda Perkins read about this little town and discovered some art painted on various buildings throughout the town.  So we got off the interstate to explore.  Valine, Linda, and myself with cameras in hand ready to discover whatever we found and these are just a few of the wonderful sights.


We discovered that the old television show Rawhide was filmed here and that meant Clint Eastwood had been to Tucumcari!

Sometimes, it pays to get off the Interstates and follow the old routes.  I mean who hasn't heard of Route 66?  Well this is one of the old towns along this famous route.

Beautiful flowers were found near where Clint stayed!

The art of the walls was fabulous.  True talent just found along the old buildings in this little town or inside of old hotels.  Joy found exploring for the next one.

   We even found James Dean along the way.  Also, Elvis, but I liked this one of James Dean better.

Truly, it was an adventure!  Shared with friends while we laughed, while we missed turns, while we searched.  Don't miss out on fun and discovery.

All of this to share my new found joy of discovering the unexpected along the adventure.  Also, to encourage you whether it is a mile or two down the road or thousands of miles don't miss this journey.  Don't miss what God wants you to find!  He wants you to take His hand and discover joy along the way.

Remember in Genesis 12 when God called Abram?  He told Abram to leave everything he knew and to go.  These are the words found in Genesis 12 ~

"Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you...."

Imagine it.  God told Abram to leave all that he knew, all that he understood, and all that he had and to go.  Talk about faith that each of us need to grasp and understand.  Abram was blessed beyond measure because he believed God and His promises.  Are we missing out on an adventure, because we just don't have enough faith?  Don't miss out!  Believe, take God's hand and go where He calls you.  It may be just a few steps or it may be around the world, but God provides always!

All of these photos are photos that I took along Route 66.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Ask, Seek, Knock

Okay,you don't need to notice that I am beginning to have more age spots!  Yes, it happens to all of us and we need to wear them well.  We earn each and every one, so forget about it.  No worries about age spots or other aging fun facts.

Seriously, the verse that I have really been pondering this week is from Matthew 7:7 and this is it:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

So, let me ask you what do you think?  Is it easy to knock on that door?  

When we were children we had this down pretty well.  We played a lot of hide and seek, we asked tons of questions and then we got older and we didn't do either of these as much.  We aren't aging gracefully or playfully.  Children have it right.  Remember the scripture about we must become like little children?  Why are we afraid to knock and ask God?  Is it fear that He knows more what we need and He may answer it a whole different way than we expect?

I think I have hit another age thing...where asking is more.  More relationship!  More to this journey than I ever dreamed!  More of Him! and even a little bit better me...and I think that is because it is less of me and more of Him.  When we are brave enough to go deeper with Him, it adds more to every aspect of our journey.

So today's challenge is Ask, Seek, and Knock!  

Sweet blessings,

Debbie