Shabbat Adventures

  Jeff likes to tell people we’re homeless. For the next two weeks we’re volunteering to build houses with Habitat for Humanity in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. To make our 200 square foot camper a home, for me it needs flowers and for Jeff, coffee.  I might also like some décor - flannel sheets, ambient lighting, books and the digital photo frame full of memories. It’s the simple things really.  We’re working on three homes for three single moms and six children. One mom was asked what she was looking forward to the most. She said,  “Never being told I have to leave.” In Bible Study Fellowship this year we’re studying the exile and return of God’s people from the land of Israel - a whole nation, homeless. They had to leave because they rejected their God, His holy covenant with them and defiled the land by shedding innocent blood. What is so amazing is that God will not abandon them! He will bring them home. But first, HE must renovate their hearts or this relationship ...

We moved from Estes Park to Crested Butte CO. It’s a small, secluded ski town nestled in the mountains. We were hoping to see the aspens turn yellow and orange. We were a bit early but it was still glorious! Just look… The three views above were behind our camper.  Glory! A different kind of glory  Paddling on Lake Irwin  My sister and I have adopted a habit of looking for God’s work around us and declaring, “Glory!” Not just in creation but in His work in our lives. Such as, answered prayers. It keeps us alert to God’s presence and prompts our worship that He deserves.  The best part of this week was seeing people we know and love. I got to share these “glory” moments with my sister (and my favorite brother in law who took the pictures).  Fun fact: we are 10 years apart and Lisa is my #1 supporter in whatever I do (she may be the only person reading this blog!) I had the privilege of hanging out with her friends - ladies a little older and a lot wiser and a lot...

Rocky Mountain National Park Interactions with the wildlife… Steller’s jay No touching  Downtown Estes Park the elk have taken over  Mama and baby!! Our debut hike with kayaks on our backs  Kayaks fold up into a bulky but light backpack (20 lbs) Kayaks origami style Mountain lake - us and a few ducks and deafening silence  Sabbath means rest. Real rest has to include silence. Silence before God. Silence with an open Bible. Sitting in silent prayer. Quietly journaling your deepest desires. Silently staring at a campfire or up into the starry night. Rest is being with your Maker, Father, God. It’s learning how to rest in His Hand - rest in His sovereign control, rest in His provision, rest in His plan and His pace, rest in pain. He is teaching me this in Shabbat.  “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my hand Father’s han...

Yellowstone’s iconic Old Faithful geyser erupts with consistent dependability. We know the Creator of Old Faithful is the true Faithful One.  “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22 The Grand Tetons - “I lift my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (and the mountains)  Psalm 121:1-2 Yo Buffalo! Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Spring - largest hot spring in the US An untold story - I didn’t tell this story last week because there was no photo to prove it. In Glacier on our last hike with our kids, the six of us were walking single file down a narrow trail when out of the woods lumbered a big black bear onto the trail in front of us (probably medium sized, but still).  Some of us were terrified and some ecstatic (me). I wasn’t worried. There were at l...

  These are my people. They are sweet, considerate, silly, life-giving, loving, flexible and just a lot of fun. Most of all they are faithful followers of Jesus. This means everything to me. Of all the beautiful hikes, drives, scenery and wildlife,  time spent with them in the kitchen, at the picnic table and around the campfire tops it all.  In the Bible, Ruth, a foreigner, said to Naomi her Jewish mother-in-law, “your people will be my people and your God will be my God”. Ruth found a relationship she did not want to lose and a community where she wanted to belong. That is what I found in Bible Study Fellowship. Studying God’s word through BSF changed my life. Through it I found a relationship with Jesus I’d never known and a fellowship with inter-denominational believers that expanded (more accurately, exploded) my view of God’s people. I’m so excited for this year’s study People of the Promise: Exile & Return to begin next week. It’s easy to find a class, sign up ...