The Road Less Traveled

The last day of our stay at the cabin was a sad one. Neither

Steve nor I were ready to head back to the city. The quiet which we had readily embraced in the cabin was ending sooner than we desired. There has been a holy safety into this place of respite. No cell phone signals made their way to this remote area. We were surrounded only by the dense woods, deer, rabbits, and birds of all sorts. During our stay at the cabin, when we went out onto the front porch, we were greeted by the steady and gusty wind and leaves blowing in all directions. It was strange as we watched this daily waltz of the wind and the leaves. Always taking the lead, the wind would gently move the leaves from their branches with a sweet release. Then, the waltz began. What a site this was to us.

My departure from the cabin for the last time was often interrupted because I would stop my vehicle to watch the leaves dance in a circle as the wind directed them this way and then that way. It was like watching a waltz in nature. They did not need music. The wind knew the way.

Slowly I drove toward the highway. Could I make this stay last any longer? Each time I paused I would listen to the woods and attempt to capture what I saw on film. Yes, I am one of those who still uses film.

Was sure that I had seen the last of what God wanted me to see when in the bend of the road I saw it...this road less traveled. I literally stopped in the middle of the road (you can do that in these piney woods). Quietly I sat in my car with the window down and just looked at this road. I have no idea where this road ended. What I knew for sure was that this road had not been traveled in a while. There were no tire tracks, no dust from a recent vehicle. The pine straw and leaves lay quietly in place waiting to greet the next traveler.

Why would God show me this road this day? Was God preparing me to again take a road "less traveled?" Did God want to show me this road so that I would remember the feeling of peace and holiness of this road?

Where are you leading me, Lord? No, I am not afraid to go. I have seen the road and know that it is safe because God have met me there and again He will lead me.

Have you been asked to travel a road "less traveled?" If not, ask God to take you on that adventure. Don't be afraid. God is with you!

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I...

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By Robert Frost

Love, God

Saw this on a walk through the woods last week. Felt God's message strong and clear...

I Love you,

Love, God

A Leaf - A Cross - A Sign

Last week, Steve and I were given the opportunity to stay in a remote cabin. This cabin seemed to be held in the midst of a stand of trees. It had been a very hectic week and we both were worn passed exhaustion.

Many times God shows me His presence through the lens of my camera. This afternoon, I really needed to see God. I really needed to feel His presence. So I grabbed my camera and struck out on the path. It was as though I was standing in a waterfall of leaves. Every where I turned, the trees were surrender their leaves. The
leaves, in turn, cascaded down ever so lightly as the wind moved them on their way.

I remember thinking how much I really needed to feel God's presence. My head was
turned down and I was near tears. My heart had been broken and the pain that
filled my heart was the pain that I knew only God could heal. Just as I lifted my foot
to take another step, there in front of me was a leaf in the shape of a cross. I stopped in mid-step and just stood looking at the ground beneath me. I lifted my camera and took this picture.

Isn't God amazing? The scripture that even the rocks will cry out to praise God immediately came to mind. Seeing this cross brought me to my knees. God was present. There in midst of falling leaves, I found God waiting for me. His imprint so clear that I couldn't miss it.

When you feel discouraged, or your heart is heavy with pain, look down, look around from side to side, and look up. God is there...all around you! The God who watches over you and me never sleeps nor does He slumber.

A-C-T-S Prayer

This morning was a special walk. Thanks to a dear and precious friend, I was reminded of a form of prayer that I used a long time ago. My friend is also a prayer walker and uses this same form of prayer. My heart was thrilled at the thought of renewing this style of prayer. While this form of prayer is directive in nature and keeps the prayer focused, it also invites an opportunity to “freeform” words from your heart. So, as my feet hit the pavement, I began..

A (Adoration)

The “A” prayers are comprised of praise and worship. “I love you, Lord!” “You are a mighty God!” “There is no one like you, Lord!” “You alone, I worship, God!” This time is focused totally on worship and praise of our God. If you have having difficulty getting started with praise and worship, you can play praise music and allow the music to lead you into worship and praise.

C (Confession)

The Bible tells us that God will forgive our sins, and will remember them no more. This is a time to ask God to forgive you. You must tell God the specific things that you have done wrong and you feel sorry about. Once you confess, your sins will be forgiven, and you can be assured that God has forgiven and forgotten. You can know without a doubt that your sins are erased and never to be remembered again. “Lord, I confess that I have been fearful and not trusting you in this situation.” “Lord, I confess I am angry and hurt about this…” “Lord, I confess that I allowed hurt to keep me from moving toward your perfect will for my life.” This time if focused on being transparent and truly bare before the Lord. He knows already what is there and His desire is that we recognize the darkness and stumbling blocks and bring it to His light for healing and restoration.

T (Thanksgiving)

The “T” prayers are comprised of thanksgiving. Those probably come the easiest as they spring forth without being beckoned. “Lord, thank you for my husband who is such a godly man.” “Thank you, Lord, for my family who is a family of faith.” “Thank you, Lord, that our grandchildren know You personally and believe in Your salvation.” “Thank you for the wind at my back that is gently nudging me forward to Your perfect will.”

S (Supplication)

The “S” prayers are those comprised of asking God for what is in your heart. “Lord, please bring me to Your perfect will.” “Lord, now that I am walking into this mighty wind, please use Your Spirit to blow away anything in me that is not of You.” “Lord, please heal our church and our members. There are some who are very sick.” “Lord, help my husband and I to be like trees planted by the water. That we will grow stronger in You. Please use Your Spirit to give us nutriments so that we will bend and not break.”

Today the wind was blowing so strong that when I faced it head-on, it literally blew my earbuds of my Ipod out of my ears. It had been a holy walk. I was sad when I made the last corner and walked up the driveway to stretch from walking. Once the stretching was done, Maggie (our little schnauzer) and I sat on the front porch and listened to praise music and just praised and worship.

My cell phone ran bringing me back into the day of activities ahead. Until tomorrow…Lord, my soul pants for you like a deer pants for the water. Please give me hind feet for high places.

Prayer Walking

Years ago (probably close to 6 or so) I was reading a Christian fiction by Ted Dekker. I believe the name of the book is called, “Heaven’s Wager.” Won’t spoil the plot, but the book validated something that the Lord had been pressing upon my heart for some time. And, as only God can do, He confirmed His leading through Joyce Meyers! I mean really, okay, got the point already.

That is where the prayer walking began. Each morning I would pull on my tennis shoes and head out the door to pray and walk our neighborhood. It did not take long for the people living in the houses on my prayer walk began to take on special prayer requests.

A back injury interrupted the prayer walking followed by a move to a different neighborhood. Back surgery followed the move and then knee-replacement. At the end of last year, I left my employment to pursue a new future…one that only God knew.

For the past couple of weeks, the call to prayer walk began anew. It was time. So, this morning as I walked in the early morning, it was glorious. Although the sun stayed behind the clouds, it didn’t matter. The clouds were showing off with a huge display of colors. The sun added to the panorama and I felt God was very near.

House after house I passed and God pressed for me to pray…yes, please give peace to this neighbor. She just lost her husband last month. Oh, and yes, please be with us young mother who has miscarried and wants desperately to have another baby. And…the list went on.

Prayer walking is holy. It is a time that a prayer warrior can storm the Heavens with his/her prayers.

On my last loop it began to sprinkle light drops of rain. Couldn’t help but smile as we need rain and spiritually our hearts are dry. So, as I watched the raindrops hit the pavement in front of me, I prayed, “Lord, reign in me.”

I will be ready to meet God on the street and share the morning with Him. Prayer walking is good! Can’t wait until tomorrow!