On the Way "Up"...

When I lived in Kenya last year, I had the unique opportunity to climb my first real “mountain.” Our church community, Inn Keepers Fellowship, had planned the outing. It was described as a Saturday afternoon “hike” together. I didn’t realize it was actually a good-sized mountain we were tackling- Mt. Longonot.

Mount Longonot – a dormant volcano, is 2,776 meters above sea level, and is located only 100kms from Nairobi.

We were told on the way- it would be about an hour straight up. Then about three hours around the rim (there was a volcanic crater at the top), then 45 minutes to an hour back down.

No problem I thought as I climbed from our van. I was in shape, so I thought. As we stretched…we were preparing mentally and physically.

some of our summer interns...getting stretched for the big "hike"

This mountain “hike” would humble me.  I didn't know the crater at the top looked like this...

I kept pace with two of the front-running ladies- Nicole (who we called Commando Ponton) and Molly Ray- a cross country runner. I tried not to huff and puff, but wow- I was winded.

The way up was so challenging. Even around the “rim”- there were ups and downs and crevices you had to slide through. I wouldn’t have made it without Nicole and Molly, my tough teammates.

trying to keep up with Nicole and Molly

The views were breathtaking...

And the feeling at the end of great accomplishment- as we enjoyed roasted goat and lamb over an open fire- could not be beat. 

Final stretch before feasting

meat- the lunch of champions

All of this mountain climbing stuff came to mind again last Friday- when I visited our campus Christian student-led fellowship. I was humbled to ask to speak to them and was blessed by their testimonies, worship and stories.

student leaders welcoming new freshmen

speaking to new students

The group had recently climbed a “mountain” outside of Addis. They made some powerful points about their climb that stuck with me.

They were…ON THE MOVE...GOING UP

Shouldn’t we also be continuing to grow and mature to reach our full potential as we travel through this life? Shouldn't we be moving, active, present in the hard places?  Should we be maturing- growing up in our relationship with God?

What can be said of your recent growth or movement?  Have you stalled, stopped to rest and not gotten back up? Have you been sliding down rather than going up?

The way up is often painful and not easy.  But, what God has been showing me is no pain, no gain.  Muscle is built in moving forward, increasing the difficulty, not getting lax.

May our lives be characterized as being changed into the likeness of our God with ever-increasing glory.  May we be pressing closer to now Him more and obediently doing and being what He calls us to do/be. Nothing is greater than seeing God take you to the top of the mountain or seeing His ability to get you through an impossible tight spot.  He is able!!!

2 Corinthians 3:18
We...who reflect the Lord's glory...are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory

James 1:4

 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...

Jude 1:20-25

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…

Hebrews 10:39
We re not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but who believe and are saved.

They were…HELPING EACH OTHER

The video these students showed made me laugh.  But it was so obvious- they were helping each other on the way up...shouting encouraging words and making encouraging noises. They were pulling each other up the steep areas.  Can the same be said of us? Often we help ourselves on the way up.  But forget to lend a hand or our heart to others.

when you're climbing together, traveling together, it makes all the difference

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up

Galatians 6:2

Carry each others' burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 14:1

Accept the one whose faith is weak…

1 Peter 3:8

…be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble

They were also…ENJOYING FELLOWSHIP/COMMUNITY

This group showed video of them eating a meal together.  They were laughing and enjoying community with each other. What a blessing it is to share in each others' lives.  In isolation and loneliness is not how God intended for us to live.  We need to stick together- in work and in life.  We need each other.

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people

Psalm 133:1

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

life in community...

They were…WORSHIPING

This group was worshiping on the journey.  God deserves our worship. I was touched to see them worshiping on the mountain, singing songs of praise. Worshiping is giving worth to something...with your time, money, focus.  What or who is the focus of your worship?  May we remember to worship and love our great God! He is worthy!

Psalm 29:2

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;…

John 4:24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

 Others Were JOINING Them...

This group also shared how others had been joining with them on the journey. Their climb and their love for each other had been appealing to those observing.  Could the same be said of our churches and fellowship communities?

…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Acts 2:47

May our way "up" be pleasing to our God.  May our lives and climb attract others to the same narrow path. No way is greater or more exciting than this journey "up" together on the road to home.

Onward with you!

Prayer Requests

-Continue to pray for the full recovery of Chale, the wife of my good friend and former teammate- Debelle. Your prayers have seen her through many days and she is now stable and continues to improve. She is still in the hospital.  But we give thanks for her life and the good diagnosis given!

-Continue to pray for the my Dad's recovery from back surgery. He is still having some pain in his leg. 

-Keep my sister Noel (in the Czech Republic) in your prayers.  She is finishing up her schedule before the holidays and heads home for Christmas in one week.  Pray God gives her a good finale for the 2012 year and a time of refreshment and rest as she visits our parents and home church for a few weeks over Christmas and New Years. 

My sister-Noel in Czech...cooking for Thanksgiving

 -For my own "Christmas plans"- I still have not booked tickets home yet and need prayer on if God wants me to do that now or wait.  Our semester here continues until the end of February- so if I come out for Christmas- it would have to be for short time.  Though I feel like I definitely need a break and would love to see my family together during this time.  Please again pray good wise direction from God in the coming days. 

-Also please pray for me about what is "after" this semester- I desire God's perfect plan for me. I'd like to come stateside for awhile and rest and hopefully get my book published- may God give clear direction and open doors for what His perfect will is.

-Please pray for our staff and students here as classes continue. We have a field trip with 40 sophomores this Friday out of Addis for the day.  Please pray safety and a good trip.  My co-worker from Holland has been sick several days now, please pray that she feels better.

-Please pray for my book, that I can get the first draft completed soon and get it published in the next year.

Thank you for your prayers! I'm honored to be climbing up to home with you!  

Blessed December to you and your families as we remember the greatest gift ever given!