In the last five days Sheila and I have driven about 1500 miles. We've been in valleys and on mountain tops. We've seen deserts, rivers, old-growth forests and hillsides covered with cactus. Temperatures have ranged from 19 degrees to 90 degrees. It's been quite a ride.
Every new elevation produced dramatic changes. The plants and animals living at 1,500 feet were nowhere to be found at 8,000 feet. God made some to thrive in the valleys, some to flourish in the mountains and some to soar in the sky above us all.
I wonder if you've thought about the impact your altitude has on your life.
Maybe God moves us through valleys so we can blossom in ways the heights would inhibit. Maybe God brings us to the mountains and prospers us after a fashion unknown in the valleys. And maybe God lifts us up from time-to-time, so we can soar above it all for a while.
Altitude matters...maybe more than we know.
Wherever we find ourselves we can live well, learn and grow. Life blooms in every niche of the ecosystem. Maybe we should spend less time worrying about how difficult life is where we are, and get on with the business of living faithfully (so our story gives God glory).
Altitude doesn't determine aptitude. You can succeed in serving God anywhere, but you'll have to get a grip on your attitude to do it...and so will I.
We're in this together.
Philippians 3:12-17 - I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above. All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now. Keep on imitating me, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you.
Those are some amazing pictures and yes it is even more amazing the love of God for us.... thanks for keeping the pictures, scriptures and lessons coming. I have always loved that part of the country, you make it come even more alive!!
RW
Posted by: Ron W | March 03, 2009 at 08:18 AM