Hold Tight!

It was a beautiful fall day.  Leaves on the ground; semi-warm and the outdoors were calling my name!  So, we left to go hiking, looking for the local mineral spring we had heard about.  Let me just tell you, hiking with 4 young kids is a bit more difficult than I expected!  Imagine carrying the youngest because strollers don’t go hiking through the woods, a 2 year old that can’t barely pick her feet up high enough to step over the rocks and branches, an almost 4 year old who has uncontainable joy and runs all over the place (I truly thought she might take a nose dive over the edge of the hill we were climbing!  Prayers were going up in abundance that day, ha!) And a 5 year old boy who just wants to do all things his momma thinks are “unsafe”.

By the end of the trek, finding the spring, getting soaked, and muddy (of course), we were headed back down the mountain when my son realizes there is another path.  This path is one that is steep and just barely worn, into the hillside.  And of course, he wants to take that one instead of the main path we had been on.  So, I had already thrown all semblance of control of the trip out the window and decided I would go with him while my husband walked the girls the rest of the way down. 

We climbed, up hill, in the dirt and loose leaves, holding onto branches and each other for support!  That worked for a while, we had a great time… until the pathway came to an end and we realized we either had to head back (Heaven help me!) or forge a new path down a very steep grade of hillside back onto the main path.  Since I couldn’t get both of us turned around without a fear of falling, we decided to forge a new trail.  I decided to let my 5 year old go first, that way I could hold onto his arm if he slipped.  What was I thinking?!  Down we go rocks and dirt slipping under my tennis shoes and my behind, when at one point I had to turn on my belly to grab ahold of a small tree trunk.  This “trunk” was only a few inches thick and not as sturdy as I would’ve liked but, in that moment something hit me.

Was I holding onto a branch/trunk that was living or was dead?  Was it going to hold my weight and my son’s to get us down safely?  Sitting/laying there on that hill, it made me think.  In life, what am I holding on to?  Is what I’m clinging to going to keep me and my family safe?  Is it going to snap when weight is pulling on it?  When I’m in a really tough situation, will it hold me up and protect me?  Not only my life, but the lives of my kids depend on this answer.

As I sat there on that hillside, I was very thankful that the God I hold onto and put my trust in is VERY alive and active in my life.  He is my strength and my safe place.  He’s my comforter, my encourager, my deliverer, my protector and SO much more!  He will keep me through any tough circumstance, He will fight battles for me, He goes before me and stays with me…always.  He promises in Deut. 31:8  “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”   What an amazing, living God we serve!

One last thought, what do you hold onto?  Where do you place your trust?  Is it in a living God who has all power, all authority and created the entire universe?  If not, what’s keeping you tied to a dead tree?!  It’s not going to help you or hold you…but Christ will. 

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  
Isaiah 40: 28-31

p.s. We made it down the hill safe and sound, and I am now the proud momma of a memory I’ll never forget!

Jennifer & Micah

We are always here for you, please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  We love you!

Happy New Year!!!

Photo courtesy of Jill Spiker

Happy New Year ladies! 2014 has just begun and of course everyone is talking about their New Year’s resolutions.  Did you make any?  I prefer to call them “goals” myself that way I don’t feel like too much of a failure if I did not accomplish them.  I just classify it then as a “long-term” goal!

I have been reflecting back on 2013 and thinking about all the highs and lows, as I am sure most of all you have been as well.  That got me thinking about good choices and bad choices. Then I began recalling all the different choices I made not only in 2013 but 5, 10, and 20 years ago.

For example, I had a healthy salad with my soup at dinner, instead of grilled cheese like the rest of my family.  Good choice! However, later in the evening, I had a few too many scoops of hummus with my tortilla chips.  Bad choice.

How about getting married at 19 in Las Vegas to a man I hardly knew.  Very bad choice. Fast forward ten years.  After accepting Jesus as my Savior the year prior, I met and fell in love with a wonderful Christian man.  I had completely trusted God from the very beginning of the relationship. I married that man and I am happy to report that I have been married to my best friend, 9 years this coming April! Very, very good choice!

Each one of us has made poor decisions.  We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  But, I want to encourage you, as we start this brand new year by reminding you that you CAN make good choices!  Your past only defines you if you let it.  You DO have amazing potential.  We are continually God’s “work in progress”.  He rejoices in the good decisions that we make and forgives us of our bad.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV).  Remember that God can take any situation, any problem, any issue and turn it around. It might be scary or stressful.  It might break your heart and take way longer than you are comfortable with.   Hang in there!

Don’t be discouraged! The great news is you can take comfort in knowing that God is with you, He is for you, and He is in control.  God does not have bad plans for you.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT).  Bear in mind, that verse is true for ALL of us.  Not just the people who seem to do everything right. Not just those women who appear to have it all together.  That verse is God’s promise to you, me, your neighbor, and that lady in front of you at the store who has 20 items in the 15 or less lane.

All the while, God is covering you with His all encompassing, perfect love. Some of us forget when we get bogged down in dealing with the repercussions of our choices and some of us just don’t know, but God’s love for us is unlike any other!  “Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT).

Start this new year off strong!  Seek God’s will for your life (Proverbs 3:5-6), pray often (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and praise Him (Psalm 150:6).  2014 will surely bring ups and downs but never lose sight of who you are…  You are a daughter of the one true King!