A few years ago, the Lord called me to the desert...literally. I felt led to take a short vacation in Colorado. As was often the case at that time, I took the initial leading from the Lord and ran with it. I thought, "Okay, I can see Aspen in the spring. This will be great." Ohhhhhhhh no. The Lord had completely different plans. He led me to a website. A site for a place that rented cabins caught my eye. The cabin...well, house actually - could have slept 16 people - was available for one night. Then, a site for a lodge caught my eye. The two were located near one another. No surprise there. I felt like I was to take the house for the one night, which was in the middle of my trip, and a room at the lodge - and I use the term "lodge" loosely - for the nights prior and after. Accommodations booked, flight booked, car rental booked. Everything was set.
This was kind of a last-minute trip, so to stay slightly economical I flew to Albuquerque, which was 4 hours away from where I was staying. A long drive into the desert at night. The sky was magnificent. It was a moonless night, and the stars were out by the billions. A great way to begin the trip.
As I continued to drive, I grew tired. In fact, within 45 miles of my destination, I literally was having trouble keeping my eyes open. Then, out of nowhere a deer crosses my path. No harm done, but it got my adrenaline pumping. I was not happy about the deer but very pleased that I was completely alert for the rest of the trip. I passed through a sleepy little town just prior to arriving at the lodge. It was about 1 in the morning, and I drove a little too fast at the edge of town. Lo and behold a very kind, gentle, older sheriff was on duty and felt the need to pull me over. Literally, five miles from the lodge, I got a speeding ticket from one of the nicest men I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Happy to meet the man, not happy to get the ticket...not happy.
I checked in at the lodge, eventually got to my room. It was after two at this point, and I was exhausted. I finally came down from the adrenaline rush and fell asleep. When I awakened, it was a beautiful sunshine-filled day, and I discovered I was in the middle of the desert. The place where I stayed had been on fire the year before. It was desolate. I love quiet, but desolate is not for me.
Still tired from my journey, I eventually roused myself to have lunch. But I have to admit I spent the first 24 hours of my 5-day trip being bitter that I was in the middle of the desert. The Lord led me to a take a drive into Arizona toward a little town. I made a quick stop at the Four Corners, met a nice young couple on their honeymoon. We took each others' photos being in four states at once and parted ways. Then, I began my drive. Yes, I was being obedient, but I was not happy about it.
I don't recall how far into the drive I was, but somewhere in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Arizona, I saw a little green bush growing out of a rock. I heard the Lord say that He could grow something anywhere, even out of a rock. I felt such calm in my spirit. I repented for my poor behavior and attitude and began to enjoy my time with God.
He led me to many places on that trip that I never could have imagined, and He called me to write this book. He showed me that He creates life where there is no life and restores life where it has been stolen. He brought restoration to me through the starkness of the desert and the display of abundant life in the nearby national forest where I had my one-night retreat. It was a glowing time. I was thrilled that even though I didn't know why I was to go, I went...into the desert alone to be with God....to be alone where He could speak to me. I guess desolate is for me after all.
Thanks, God.
Until next time...
"Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes" (Psalm 17:7, NIV).
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Next Step
Once the Lord had healed me to a certain point physically, I went to work with my cousin, a gifted chiropractor, as a nutrition and wellness consultant, and I worked on acquiring funding for my company's first project. Lots of new things, living in two cities. Exciting stuff. Life was back on track.
To celebrate, I visited friends in Europe, my first trip back since I had been ill. It was a great time filled with lots of fun, reconnecting, roaming about Rome, hiking in the Alps, then a stopover to see an old friend in the south of Germany. It was greatly rejuvenating.
My last night in Germany, the Lord awakened me at 2 a.m. and showed me the face of a woman crying out. Him awakening me to pray was not new. And even though I did not know her personally, I prayed for her until I felt released to return to sleep. Over and done with...or so I thought.
Three days later, I was heading to one city to see patients. Suddenly, I saw the woman's face flash before my mind's eye, and I felt an excruciating pain in my chest. I saw her sitting on her couch crying. Again, I felt led to pray. And again, I prayed until I felt released to stop. However, this was different. Something had changed.
During the next few weeks and even months, the Lord led me to pray for this individual, often feeling her pain. He also led me to write a letter and tell her my story of healing. I admit I did not want to do this. In fact, I wrote the letter but did not send it until one month later when prompted by His soft but firm voice telling me to do so. I sent it with what I can only call a knowing that she would respond. Still, I was surprised to receive a letter from her a few weeks later - right before I was to attend a conference where she would be.
Upon our arrival at the conference, heavy spiritual warfare ensued. Everything from piercing my hand on a nail sticking up from a chair, which weakened me to the point of being unable to walk for a brief period, to barely being able to speak - all things I had experienced while ill but things that had not been an issue for many months. I had difficulty walking into the convention center also and needed a wheelchair to get to our seats. These things made me only more determined to do what the Lord wanted me to do. Once we were settled in my friend said, "You know you have to speak to her, right?" While I did not want to approach her, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. So I did. The second day of the conference, I waited until a crowd left her and said hello. She said my name before I had the opportunity to say it. It was strange, almost like an out of body experience. It certainly was not something I had experienced before. The Lord truly was in control. We spoke briefly, but I felt a huge burden to ask if she had been discouraged. When I asked, it was as if a huge weight lifted from her. She grabbed my arm and sighed, "Yes" as if to say "Yes, someone finally sees me."
She is a marvelous individual. And while I do not know her well, I am thankful that the Lord used me to show someone in need that He sees her. I could have said no. In fact, God and I would still be fine, and I would still get to go to heaven if I said no. But I didn't want to miss it. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be used in a big or small way to impact someone's life for God.
This was a big step in the radical obedience journey for me, and I still am learning more every day. Is it scary? Sometimes. Is it a sacrifice? As a general rule. Is it worth it? Totally.
Our journeys with God will look different. What is right for me may not be right for you. The focus has to be God. When we spend time with Him, when we wait on Him, He speaks. And sometimes the things He speaks are the very things that will change the world - even if the world is the person who lives next door to you.
Spend time with the Lord. Get to know Him. And then, get to know what He wants to do in and through you. It is exciting stuff, and you are totally worth it.
Until next time...
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV).
To celebrate, I visited friends in Europe, my first trip back since I had been ill. It was a great time filled with lots of fun, reconnecting, roaming about Rome, hiking in the Alps, then a stopover to see an old friend in the south of Germany. It was greatly rejuvenating.
My last night in Germany, the Lord awakened me at 2 a.m. and showed me the face of a woman crying out. Him awakening me to pray was not new. And even though I did not know her personally, I prayed for her until I felt released to return to sleep. Over and done with...or so I thought.
Three days later, I was heading to one city to see patients. Suddenly, I saw the woman's face flash before my mind's eye, and I felt an excruciating pain in my chest. I saw her sitting on her couch crying. Again, I felt led to pray. And again, I prayed until I felt released to stop. However, this was different. Something had changed.
During the next few weeks and even months, the Lord led me to pray for this individual, often feeling her pain. He also led me to write a letter and tell her my story of healing. I admit I did not want to do this. In fact, I wrote the letter but did not send it until one month later when prompted by His soft but firm voice telling me to do so. I sent it with what I can only call a knowing that she would respond. Still, I was surprised to receive a letter from her a few weeks later - right before I was to attend a conference where she would be.
Upon our arrival at the conference, heavy spiritual warfare ensued. Everything from piercing my hand on a nail sticking up from a chair, which weakened me to the point of being unable to walk for a brief period, to barely being able to speak - all things I had experienced while ill but things that had not been an issue for many months. I had difficulty walking into the convention center also and needed a wheelchair to get to our seats. These things made me only more determined to do what the Lord wanted me to do. Once we were settled in my friend said, "You know you have to speak to her, right?" While I did not want to approach her, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. So I did. The second day of the conference, I waited until a crowd left her and said hello. She said my name before I had the opportunity to say it. It was strange, almost like an out of body experience. It certainly was not something I had experienced before. The Lord truly was in control. We spoke briefly, but I felt a huge burden to ask if she had been discouraged. When I asked, it was as if a huge weight lifted from her. She grabbed my arm and sighed, "Yes" as if to say "Yes, someone finally sees me."
She is a marvelous individual. And while I do not know her well, I am thankful that the Lord used me to show someone in need that He sees her. I could have said no. In fact, God and I would still be fine, and I would still get to go to heaven if I said no. But I didn't want to miss it. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be used in a big or small way to impact someone's life for God.
This was a big step in the radical obedience journey for me, and I still am learning more every day. Is it scary? Sometimes. Is it a sacrifice? As a general rule. Is it worth it? Totally.
Our journeys with God will look different. What is right for me may not be right for you. The focus has to be God. When we spend time with Him, when we wait on Him, He speaks. And sometimes the things He speaks are the very things that will change the world - even if the world is the person who lives next door to you.
Spend time with the Lord. Get to know Him. And then, get to know what He wants to do in and through you. It is exciting stuff, and you are totally worth it.
Until next time...
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV).
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