The Daily Climb

I told Ken this morning, as I sat sipping my coffee beside him on our balcony, that next year when we're back in the States I don't want to say, "I wish we had spent more time enjoying the stillness and beauty that was right in our backyard."  

 We have plenty to accomplish on a Saturday, never-mind the travel-guilt that has to be thwarted for not exploring Europe every single free moment available.  But our Saturdays typically begin with no alarm, a still, quiet sharing of the week between husband and wife, coffee and shared devotion time on the balcony, and church bells sounding the time well spent in simplicity with the Lord.

I need these quiet spaces.

Because the things I am and could be responsible for move like the waters below ~ swiftly, fiercely, and with power to carve out my shape.

It's not that I have not had things to write about.  It's that the things are too numerous.

On being Type A with excellence, not perfection~

On being lonely, in the Community of Believers~

On what is the true definition of success~

On daily seeing the face of Jesus, before fixing my gaze on man~

On brokenness that leads to squander, and 

brokenness that seeks Jesus~

Each deserves so much reflection, so much time to ponder and study and hide away in my heart.  And those are the methods and technics I have used for years, am most comfortable with...what does it mean in the Greek and what was the context?  

Aren't I so smart?  (smile)

But I am trusting God, that He can make more of my day by giving Him more of my time.  For I don't think I was called to classic honors.  I don't think I was called to academic eminence.  I don't think I was called to notoriety.

"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him."  Mark 3:13

I have been called to seek Christ.  To live in constant communion with Him.  To be intimately familiar with God is the only way I will be fit to proclaim the gospel of peace.  

It is in the still waters that the reflection is seen.  And I want to be shaped to reflect Him.

We don't have the Apostles back stories.  There is no personal account of the effort it took for each individual to climb the mountain towards Jesus' calling.  We cannot read their thoughts, the wrestling places where each one made a decision to sacrifice in their relationships with the ones they loved.  But we do know when they were called, they did come.

And here now begins our own endeavor.  

To climb daily, and count it the highest of honors to have been called to intimacy with Him as our life's work. 

With these words each morning, I begin the climb~

Dear Father,

Take this day’s life into Your own keeping.

Control all my thoughts and feelings.

Direct all my energies.

Instruct my mind.

Sustain my will.

Take my hands and make them skillful to serve You.

Take my feet and make them swift to do Your bidding.

Take my eyes and keep them fixed upon Your everlasting beauty.

Take my mouth and make it eloquent in testimony to Your love.

Make this day a day of obedience,

a day of spiritual joy and peace.

Make this day’s work

 a little part of the work of the Kingdom

 of my Lord Jesus Christ,

in whose name these my prayers are said. 

Amen

John Baillie

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  Colossians 2:2,3


May you be encouraged in your climb this day, Favored One!
Love,
Tobi