Thursday, August 8, 2013

Branches In Pavement Cracks

In this life and on these journeys I have found that as the grips of this world begin to harden around me, those that The Lord puts in my life and in the trials and expeditions, He calls me forth on, He continues to grow me even in the most suffocating of seasons. He grows me up through the ruble and brings color and contrast to the dark and broken parts.




And even in the darkest of times there is patience and triumph as we wait for the pavement to crack and grow up through struggle of scratching the surface. I learned a while ago that God pushes me to be uncomfortable. He grows my comfort zones so that I grow more into the person He has called upon me to be. I could choose to ignore it and avoid it or I could answer, obey, embrace and pursue the truth of the expectations that God has for me because He created me with these things in mind.




Some are drawn to certain parts of the world. Certain cultures or struggles. I feel it is crucial to mix these passions in certain settings of adventure based ministry. To be pushed out of our shells. Working with personal and physical reaction and sacrifice. I am called out to be made uncomfortable at times because I learn and grow from things that are not of the norm. I in return am forced to sit, dwell and learn more about myself, my focus and Gods provision and lessons for me.




When I am stripped of comforts I am made raw and therefore lean on The Lord all the more. Not people (I have found that the battle with myself is constant). I am stripped, an open wound mending. In these moments, these treks surrounded by His creation and things that lurk with in it bring me perspective.
I could ride 90 miles on my bicycle and come around a bend, see a wall of a hill and call the van to come back and pick me up to bring me over this "wall". OR I could complain for 7 seconds (because I'm human) about the realities of how I feel then look at that wall again and say, "OK".
I'm certainly not climbing these mountains for self enjoyment. I don't climb these mountains because my heart is into one part of the world than another or one specific cause. I climb because I know that each pedal stroke delivers hope. I climb and battle head wind and dance for joy at state lines because God is using me as a tool to build His kingdom. Either for our neighbors in Southeast Asia or my teammate struggling on a 103 mile ride next to me. These missions grow people. The physical and mental sacrifice of our bodies and time open eyes everywhere we go and Gods timing for those who we meet in towns we pass are equally inspiring and encouraging. That brings a ripple effect to this life that helps lead us down the narrow path.




Ministry is dead unless the leaders are growing too. These experiences and treks strip us of what the world layers us with. Opens eyes, sheds light and teaches us directions that should be taken or avoided. Leaders are never the best they can be at any point in their walk. There is no finish line crossed while we are still here. We learn to finish strong no matter what until we are called home.
My passion is to help and encourage anyway that I can. The majority of these ways is through my body. Through biking, hiking and showing creation to others. Being stripped by the elements of this earth, lessons of this life: put in the example, the possibilities are endless.
So when this cross country tour finishes, the tour that I thought was a once in a life time opportunity that happened twice, I will be embracing with yet another community that needs help.
The community of Adventure Leadership International (ALI) an organization that ministers to leaders to help them grow so that their own communities may grow and be strengthened. They provide training and deciple opportunities that help with glorifying God in His creation in the midst of physical sacrifice and self awakening for participants that partake.




Andrew Underwood, the founder of this organization and an amazing brother, has been working hard in getting these trainings rolling in the states for leaders in Ecuador and has plans in the making to begin leadership training this Fall.
In the midst of all of this in order for anything to be fruitful, seed must be spread, nurtured and tended to. With this on mind, Andrew, myself and a team will be summiting Mt. Shasta in .... California on August 24th along with many other teams who will be summiting 54 mountains in Colorado that are fourteen thousand feet. ALI will be teaming up with the organization that helps to make these opportunities possible. the project is called Project 54. Through this project, funding and awareness can be raised to help provide leadership training for ministries all over the world.
Self sacrifice. Time, physical and mental. These are tangible things that when pushed and stretched can create new perspective mixed with white flags. Allowing God to fight our battles knowing He will protect us and prosper. We learn, grow and teach. There for it spreads more seed and the process continues. We are tilling the earth with His love and mighty truth.




We have all been called upon to peruse different things. Instilled with different passions.
What's in you?
If you would like to find out more information about Andrews mission and what ALI is all about please visit ALI "Blazing the trail"
And to see our team for Mt. Shasta's progress or to donate please visit: ALI Mt. Shasta team
Keep Adventuring





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