Aspen is now my home. They say it takes 19 days to form a habit, and today makes day 20 of Colorado life. Pam and John, the owners of the B&B where I live are absolutely phenomenal. They each have a huge heart, are very wise, and are so encouraging in faith! Finding Crossroads, living with Pam & John, having two bible studies, and making some amazing friends is DEFINITELY a God story. It has all worked out so perfectly!
Aspen Sports Medicine: Splendid! Learning extensive medicine, skills, communication, business, etc. Also treating a bunch of famous people, former Olympic athletes, etc. I usually don’t know who they are. More about the clinic next week.
Traci Lately:
1. Learning to breath…I can run again! Almost fully altitude adapt!
2. Colorado is so healthy! Walk everywhere, church-wide fast, and can’t afford anything to eat.
3. A little girl at the mountain said “excuse me, but you are very pretty.” She made my day, and I wanted to keep her forever! Sadly, I was sitting there with ice on my injured shoulder, a Stella, and Advil. Awesome.
4. Cooking vegan!
5. Great restaurants with new friends (yes, cheated on the Fast).
6. Soup Skol- trial soup competition from all the local restaurants. Awesomeness.
7. Winter Skol- annual celebration of Aspen ski season. Ice sculptures, live music, beer garden, fireworks, etc.
8. Haven’t mastered distinguishing frozen puddles from ones where my foot sinks into 4 inches of water.
9. A lady next to me brought her yappy dog named “Bruiser” to Church. Yes. Inside Church.
10. My co-workers frequently refer to me as “Tex”.
Growing in Faith: Philippians 3:12-14 (check it out) is me right now. I have so much to learn, and am not there at all. Simply in the process.
Like previously mentioned, Pam demonstrates a Proverbs 31 woman well, and I’m really learning a lot about living for the Lord. We have spent quite a bit of time together studying the Word, praying, walking, talking about Christ, and praying for Haiti. Haiti…something similar can happen so fast, to any of us. Is this life all there is?
I don’t believe so… Therefore, God is teaching me (an on-going process) about dying to self and letting Him live in me; ie, pride.
Do I TRULY rely on Him instead of my own talents?
Do I sincerely expect Him to come through?
Have I put God in a bubble? Am I in a bubble?
The other revelation God has given me, going along with pride, is often our lack of reverence for Him. This is the CREATOR we are talking about! I choke on words when speaking to Gerard Butler, but so casually approach the Throne of Christ? (Psalm 8) What? The “Religious” God I’d known for so long is minuscule in comparison to who God actually is, and yet God is often thought of in the following manner: Stand up. Sing. Sit down. Stand up. Bow your head. Say this creed. Tithe. Check the list. Repeat next Sunday. Seriously? What punch did we drink that made us think this is the relationship God desires? Scripture definitely does not agree. Religion and Relationship are such vastly different concepts, and they are so often misconstrued. I’ve been here, but why do we profess the Bible, when, if being honest, we don’t really know what it says? How can we know God’s heart if we never read His word? Or pray? We stand on Biblical bits and pieces we learned in 4th grade VBS, and consequently never become spiritually mature (Heb 5:11-14; 6:1-3; 1 Tim 4:7) As spiritually immature believers, we never develop a defendable faith. How can we expect the world (US Government, etc) to honor Christianity if we can’t defend it? Honestly, it isn’t a chore, obligation, or intimidation to read the Word, it’s a blessing that people all over the world die for. Check out "A Case for Christ".
One spectacular characteristic of Aspen, a city of the ‘world’ very far from the ‘Bible belt’, is that the Christians here are completely on fire for God rather than being complacent. It isn’t cool, expected, or required to be a Christian, the way it is at home. Instead, the smaller church is full of people with Genuine, Sincere, Trusting, Relying, Encouraging, and Deep Faith. I want to be more like this.
The Daniel Fast…It’s been hard this week and I’m hungry. Made everyone laugh hysterically as my face blatantly coveted Devin’s food today. And I’ve cheated a bit, which shows my people pleasing habit because I don’t want to come across as a ‘Religious fanatic’ to a new friend. But who am I trying to please, God or man? (Gal 1:10) Why can’t I trust God? (Romans 1:16-17). Good news, the Fast is requiring me to rely on Him much more, expose my addictions, and live 1 Thess 5:16 much more.
Adieu! Love and miss everyone so much! Thanks for being in my life!
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