Let It Fall Off.

"O people of God, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls."- Charles H. Spurgeon

You know I feel like some days mixed with some words the combination is easy to unlock. Other days I feel like there is heavy fog and frost that hinder the fluid capability of seeing or feeling ease in certain perspectives. In other words I think that we can all agree at one time or another we have told a friend or someone who we felt needed to hear it to "Trust in the Lord" fully. Then when we are asked to do the same, it feels hard, skeptical, vague and almost unattainable to believe that God is behind any of these hardships or decisions that we must make or proceed to surrender.

There is something very raw about the thought process of surrendering. The physical process of surrendering.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."- Matthew 11:30
I personally think that it can be very hard to believe that when we feel like we carry a yoke that seems so much heavier. It is a continual process. A continual surrender, a continual peeling.

"1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lords disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, he might take them prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

"Yes, Lord", he answered.

11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him and restore his sight."

13 "Lord", Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

17 The Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord- Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Sauls eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength." -Acts 9:1-19

Scales fall.Cloaks of burden crumble and His light is and will be shed upon all darkness... ALL darkness.

Sons of light. Again this week I am reminded of lessons and travels that I have encountered from the stories and reminders of others stories and travels. I am reminded of a time when my sinuses were stuffed to the brim standing in a small room with women who were making PB sandwiches. The only light bulb in the entire place had burned out and we needed light in darkness. There were enough hands doing the work of bringing food to feed so I stood there holding a candle feeling like this wasn't doing much of anything. Pastor Woody kept walking past me telling me how good of a job I was doing holding this candle. He was so joyful. I felt silly. I finally told him that I felt like this wasn't doing much of anything. He laughed at me and looked deeply within my heart and spoke jolly in his South African Accent, "Do you see?! That is all that we are in this world! Merely candle holders in a dark place!"

*Cue mic drop.

It gets me every time. We have purpose. There is purpose in Gods moving within us. There is purpose behind the emotion in which he brings to the surfaces of our hearts, minds and souls. Things coming from such deeply cultivated time and efforts of seeking and continually finding His riches and mercies new every morning.

Thank you Jesus.


I've been thanking God a lot for different random things lately. Last night as I was laying in bed I just began thanking him for everything that drifted into my head. Over the last 2 days I have run collectively 12 miles at altitude and I've been feeling really great. I'm really thankful for God acclimating me continually both physically and seasonally. I haven't run that long consistently in a long time since before I left California and yet there is this deep burning with in me to just move. To be in rhythm and in continual thanksgiving with the Lord in glorifying Him with my body. To sweat, prepare and sacrifice blood sweat and tears for betterment. Through the opportunity of betterment, He continues to better me. He continues to humble and inspire me.

Other things I'm thanking Him for:

-A warm apartment to live in.
-A hot shower.
-The ability to stretch and feel the fatigue in my muscles.
-A bed to sleep in.
-A hot meal.
-A job that allows me to pray and worship with my coworkers.
-A job that encourages adventure.
-Quality time and conversation with loved ones.
-Opportunity for rest.
-The way that He has designed our bodies to need rest.
-For the people that I've spent time with this week.
-Conversations that have taken place.
-Growth through pain.
-Emotion
-Living in Laramie.

Other things that happened this week:

Guys, I'm becoming a computer nerd. #codinggalore at work.
Confession: I like it!

Last week at the Banff film festival, locals mentioned a band that was coming to town by the name of Trampled By Turtles. Instantly I thought of my friend Garrett who introduced me to their music back in California. A Minnesota band that has some incredible talent when it comes to Folk rock. Needless to say I was praying to win tickets to their concert at Banff but sadly it didn't happen. It wasn't going to stop me though. Noone I work with really know who they are but they will this Saturday night. A few of us got tickets and I'm really excited to share music with people.

This week was Bob Goffs Birthday! Author of Love Does (read it!)
Well my friend Becca reminded me that Bob's birthday was this week and I figured the best idea would be to call him and wish him a happy birthday. She didn't really know what was happening. but her face after the conversation explains it enough.
















-Keep Adventuring



Hop on my Stellar Support Team!
Here's How!

Refining Moments: Defining a Life Unknown.

Refinement:

1. A subtle point or distinction

2. Subtle reasoning

3. An improved, higher or extreme form of something.

4. The quality or state of being refined: Cultivation

5. A contrivance or device intended to improve or perfect.

Streams In the Dessert is a devotional that I have read and reread over the last few years. When I had exhaustion in my bones in Lincoln Montana on a cold morning in a Lincoln log cabin, I recall reading this devotional:

June 19

"Grain must be ground to make bread."- Isaiah 28:28

"Many of us cannot be used as food for the worlds hunger, because we have yet to be broken in Christs hands. "Grain must be ground to make bread," and being a blessing of His often requires sorrow on our part. Yet even sorrow is not too high a price to pay for the privilege of touching other lives with Christ's blessings. The things that are most precious to us today have come to us through tears of pain." J.R. Miller

"God has made me as bread of His chosen ones, and if it is necessary for me to "be ground" in the teeth of lions in order to feed His children, then blessed be the name of the Lord"- Ignatius 

"To burn brightly our lives must first experience the flame. In the words, we cease to bless others when we cease to bleed."

Poverty, hardship, and misfortune have propelled many a life to mortal heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulties challenge our energy and out perseverance but bring the strongest qualities of the soul to life. It is the weights on the old grandfather clock that keep it running. And many a sailor has faced a strong head wind yet used it to make it to port. God has chosen opposition as a catalyst to out faith and holy service. 

The most prominent characters of the bible were broken, threshed and ground into bread for the hungry. Because he stood at the head of the class, enduring affliction while remaining obedient, Abraham's diploma is now inscribed with these words: "The Father of Faith." 

Jacob, like wheat, suffered severe threshing and grinding. Joseph was beaten and bruised, and was forced to endure Potiphars kitchen and Egypt's prison before coming to his throne.

David, hunted like an animal of prey through the mountains, was bruised, weary and footsore, and thereby ground into bread for a kingdom. Paul could never have been bread for Caesar's household if he had not endured the bruising of being whipped and stoned. He was ground into fine flour for the Roman royal family.

Combat comes before victory. If God has chosen special trials for you to endure, be assured He has kept a very special place in His heart just for you. A badly bruised soul is one who is chosen."

My how we wish it were June 19th, right? I'm sure a lot of you probably feel like this.

But perhaps there are other trials besides weather happening currently with in us. Perhaps it is a bit more than a flesh wound and perhaps it distracts us easily from our focus. It is in these teachings, these stretching and exhaustive times that we often discover what God has been doing in the lives within us and around us. Clearly this devotional is NOT telling us that in order to succeed at serving and building His kingdom we must bleed out physically and endure wounds of extreme hostility. No these trials and seasons are often figurative. How awesome of an opportunity to realize within those threshing moments that He prepares us through all of it. With out it we would be ill equip to serve where He calls us to. And He knows this! So of course we must endure and praise Him for it! Thank Him for it all because Abba knows!

Whether physically or figuratively speaking: Love is War.

It's been a good week of refinement my friends. I am continually humbled in the work that I am doing for SROM and have been greatly encouraged by those around me near and far. A few things for you to check out this week!

our rad Oscar nominated video for our Patagonia Nano-air Hoody giveaway! #Pattyswag

It was much colder this week which was actually really awesome! Like I mentioned above I'm sure that many of you really do wish that it was Summer. I'm and optimist! If we had whatever weather we wanted when ever we wanted, how could that thankful, JOYFUL deep feeling of thanksgiving ever occur to warm our souls in knowing we don't have control over any of it but yet God provides for us every single day! (Stepping off my soap box) Here's a little something that I hope will make you smile regardless. Bittersweet understandings if you will

In the midst of our busy work week of updates and upgrades we also took one of our lunch hours to celebrate our dear accountant Christy  #Christysixty. 

The days are getting longer! Which means that the Sun on Emily's desk exists longer and at a perfect brain break time of day around 4pm.

 It's also that time of year again! Banff Film Festival! It's been great!Between Mending the Line Doc and Suffer Fest 2, We've been enjoying it tremendously. Even though I don't drink coffee, I've still be snagging some complimentary for friends! One more night of films! Stoked!

Things on the horizon:

-25 Mile Trail run in Colorado But not JUST for fun. To benefit the world as well!

-Still waiting for my permanent license plates, but Laramie has been really wonderful and understanding!

-Wilderness First Responded Course!

-Trampled By Turtles February 28th!

-Keep Adventuring

Redundant Discovery

Have you ever listened to a song on repeat so much that every time you listen, it strikes another heart string and creates a completely new chord deep within you? The song that has fallen into that category for me this week is Brandi Carlile's Wherever is Your Heart. The live-one-take-acoustic video that they recorded is pretty amazing too. Brandi and the twins are on this really stellar live acoustic kick and I don't hate it even slightly. Check out their other recent: The Eye. And oh man seriously though check out their cover of the Avett Brothers :Murder in The City. Tunes of my heart people, tunes of my heart this week.

While listening to Wherever is Your Heart, I'm hoping that my neighbors in my apartment complex aren't rolling their eyes when they hear the familiar rhythm on repeat as it flies from my speakers on 10th and Grand Street.

A key word that comes up this week is "genuine" While this song thumps through my ear buds walking to bible study, cooking dinner, driving to work or staring at the ceiling I can't help but be moved not always by the lyrics but by the actual notes that are portrayed and belted out. Music inspires in so many different ways. For some reason I am always attracted toward very wholesome, raw and live vocals. It's amazing how the combinations of notes and chords can give you chills. How lyrics can mean nothing to you one moment then hit deep five times into repeat.

Like watching a movie more than once, you always catch something you had missed the first or second time you had watched it. In these observations and continual personal translations, this song also puts a bit of weight on my heart. This song seems to me like a conversation between us and God at times.

A struggle to obey, yet a struggle to pursue Jesus.

"Oh God forgive my mind, when I come home."

"Wherever is your heart I call home
Though your feet may take you far from me, I know..." ["I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands".- Psalm 119:176

"I think it's time we found a way back home." ["3 Jesus told them this parable: 4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and looses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent".- Luke 15:3-7]




I had a friend ask me this  week on a scale of 1-10 how much I was liking Laramie. I answered with a score of 9.7. She thought that was a pretty high score. I explained that it wasn't a 10 because it's been so warm out. I've begun running again which I'm really thankful for and have had multiple opportunities to ride bikes with a friend. I think my California blood is thankful for the mild, but I personally wouldn't mind colder temperatures.

Over this past week God has been teaching me His continual lesson about patience. And while I scratch my head trying to figure out life's lessons, I have met a lot of insight that I honestly have been trying to take lightly and focus more on what God is telling me VS what I may perceive or gain from observation. Finding a church is one of these sub lessons. The calling to come to Laramie is the same calling that brings me to long for and look for a church that God has chosen for me. That sense or feeling of a pull that there are specific people that God places in our lives that mesh certain lessons or zest certain seasons to better shape us or challenge us to seek Him first and foremost.

We did some filming for our Patagonia Giveaway this week. I'll be sure to post the Oscar nominated film when it's finished.











-Keep Adventuring.





Hop on board my Stellar Support Team!
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Extraordinary Steps

I've been in Wyoming for almost 2 weeks now. In my apartment for almost one of those weeks. I've thought a lot about my life path over the last six months and past thought process upon where I have come from and been brought to.

These times that I fall, crawl and struggle to think about where it is I'm headed or have come from or even feel like I'm not moving at all. Just as the Exiles couldn't fully comprehend. It is with in Gods plans to cause strong hold upon Him not ourselves or each other. To not understand but to trust regardless...


"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".- Jeremiah 29:11

I think about a lot of incredible people who have accomplished incredible things in their life times:

Theodore Roosevelt- 1858-1919 :Teddy "attended Harvard, where he studied Biology, boxed and developed an interest in naval affairs. He quickly entered politics, determined to become a member of the ruling class. In 1881, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he became a leader of the GOP. His book, The Naval War of 1812 (1882), established him as a learned historian and writer".- Wikipedia

Guys, I don't know if you did that math but he accomplished the things mentioned above by the time he was 24 years old! What?! Not to mention that "He was known for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "Cowboy" persona and robust masculinity".

Mother Teresa- 1910-1997: In her early years she was fascinated  by stories of the lives of missionaries and their service in Bengal, and by age 12 had become convinced that she should commit herself to a religious life. ... She left home at age 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary... She took her first vows as a nun in 1931 (when she was 21!) and took her solemn vows in 1937 (When she was 27!)".-Wikipedia

Mother Teresa traveled to Ireland to learn English so that she could teach in India! This before she even took her final Vows by 27.

I can remember taking ballet classes with my friend Kristin. for almost a decade we danced together and also went to school together. I had seen her creative mind at work through high school and though she doesn't even realize it, her determination and Thriving has had a huge effect on those around her. She went to Hamilton College to Study Neuroscience. Then she went on to get her Masters in the midst of studying at Oxford in England. Then she proceeded to gain her PhD in Neuroscience from Brown University. She is currently rocking her Pennsylvania accent in Cambridgeshire, England working on some really cool research! She's 27 !!!! Gah! Amazing!

Experience/ Skill level/ Thriving/ Gods Plan/ Forcing/ Surrender

Perhaps we see ourselves as inadequate, failures or ill experienced at the very beginning thought. But let that thought dig deeper so that we may be able to remember  and find the incredible achievements in numbers that we will count on our fingers and toes 300 times over. These achievements are things that God had for us specifically. Just like Teddy Roosevelt accomplished so much by the time he was 28 because it was who God made him to be. In reality, in Teddy's early years he was a very ill child who wasn't very strong at all. But even in the midst of being home schooled he became a Naturalist! WHAT!

God has given me the experience of community, rigorous use of my body to serve and personality to work in specific situations. We have purpose. Thinking back upon childhood dreams of being someone experienced and well rounded, I saw a huge gap. Here I was wanting to experience yet I didn't have any experience or resources to be able to experience. So how could I ever get into the life I desired? I needed patience. Not just personally but I needed others around me's patience. In the middle of the struggles, seemingly strong people enter our lives and change them forever. I feel at times if we're gracious enough and thankful enough that we can reflect back and realize, appreciate and build upon that patience of influence therefore creating opportunity for those who seek strength. God provides this patient strength through those He puts in our lives. To speak into our lives to speak into us because that is a purpose that only that person can fulfill.

I am no different, you are no different...

You. Have. Purpose.

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectations for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by it's own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we out to pray for, but the spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts know the mind and spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified".- Romans 18-30

Cut to the chase:

Friends it's been an incredible week. Like I mentioned I moved into my apartment last weekend and already I feel at home. That's a huge win. Still keeping eyes open for a couch to go under the map! And clearly some more decor! Send it my way friends! 617 Plaza Court. Laramie WY 82070
Check out my pad:

It also snowed which was really awesome. Our SROM headquarters/office is a shed like building that can get flooded or really cold if not properly maintained so we shovel the peramiters not only for our feet but for our buns while working inside! This week I made my first few phone calls to check in with students and had multiple attempts at setting up my voicemail. Ha. Practice, practice, practice. If you haven't seen it yet, SROM is putting out the word of winning some free Patagonia jazz. The newest of jackets: Nano-air Hoody! Check it out here: Patagonia Jacket Giveaway!

Enter yours and 10 friends names, your name will be added 11 times! We have been trying to boost our contacts! I mean who wouldn't want a chance to look super snazy and discover and adventure to go with it!? It'll be ending in 2 weeks so enter soon!

I really am right where I need to be. Snow is greatly celebrated here and I have missed that so much. So let the celebrations continue!

-Keep Adventuring.

Hop on board!