T'is The Seasons.

"7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by and means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."-Philippians 3:7-11

In November of 2010 I was given a little note from a friend who was in the midst of memorizing this scripture. Every time I read this scripture I think of her and smile. And each time that I read this scripture I am reminded more and more of the things I posses and feel more attached to than Christ Jesus my savior.

It is with in these moments that life is taken a little less seriously in the respects and opportunity to recenter the true worth and wealth of knowing my God. And I would like to be bold in inviting you to seek deeper into the pursuit of Jesus is and the truth of his unending, unfailing, unconditional love and pursuit of each of us whether we realize it or not.

In other nuts!- This week has been one that has been blessed and full of opportunity. I've been talking to lots of friends on the West Coast and planning out my route!

Guys I leave a week from Saturday for Idaho! And from there I'll be heading further west to promote Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries and invite people continually to be apart of the journey!

It's also officially Fall time and you know what that means...

But really... I have missed crisp mornings with changing foliage as it continually gets colder not wetter. (no offense Nor Cal) I miss the Redwoods and I am excited to see them in a couple of weeks!

Laradise... Not to shabby, friend. Not too shabby.








 I also got flash-backed to Summer 2012 to early morning wake up calls and long days on a bike saddle with one of the greatest teams I could have ever ridden with. Bringing the faces of those people to the front of my mind while enjoying the musical talents of Trevor Hall live.

 And I will say this that although I don't know what Trevor believes faith wise, this specific song from his newest album is really epic and extremely truth filled. You should check it out too:  You Can't Rush Your Healing



Oh and my friend Becca milked a goat. She was house sitting for a friend and that also entailed taking care of the animals they had. She invited anyone and everyone along for the educational experience. Why would anyone pass up this kind of opportunity anyway?
Thanks Becs.





  -Keep Adventuring.



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Here's why:  Why Support me!

Kinds of Crazy.

What categorizes doing something crazy?

Is it the distance?
Is it the terrain?
Is it the country?
Is it the reason?
Is it the passion?
Is it the calling?
Is it the doubt?
Is it the desire?
Is it the willingness?
Is it the love?
Is it the anger?
Is it the insanity?
Is it the oppression?
Is it the celebration?
Is it the grieving?
Is it the detail?
Is it the weight?
Is it the justice?
Is it the Gratefulness?

Idaho 2012 Just+Hope Tour

Somewhere in Montana 2012 Just+Hope Tour

2013 New Jersey Across America Tour

Tahoe Tough Mudder 2014

Snowmass Tough Mudder 2015

 I have done some categorized crazy things in my life and  through these experiences I have met those who I can relate to in doing these things for all of the reasons above and more. These experiences have shown and grown witness in seeing that God creates each of us with a purpose. And he combines us in seasons where He calls us to obey. Where He calls us to be open and willing to sacrifice our time and efforts. Through these things life and light is shed continually and from that the blessing of memories and his strength with in us manifests.

My Mom asked me the other day why I like my boyfriend, Austin, so much. And I feel like my answer to this question reflects and meshes well with my thoughts above and the relation to the subject of crazy.

There has been a lie that I had been slowly stumbling to believe in my past years of pursuing God and the ways in which He's been calling me. And it was that perhaps I shouldn't be so passionate about physical sacrifice. Perhaps I shouldn't be so "intense" about the enjoyment of suffering for the sake of others through long bike rides, long runs and manual labor. I shouldn't be such a strong, independent woman that does insane things like climb mountains ski harder than most guys I know. That perhaps guys couldn't keep up with me so there for the guy I date I just need to tone down and put these passions away. And these things aren't just physical. They are also within deep conversation, digging and depth of thoughts and hard talking points that I have seen bring so much life even though the subjects can be hard and exhausting.

Lies.

Snowmass Tough Mudder 2015

In fact, Austin has redefined a term in my life that I had adopted a few years back in California and that is "Do hard things". While learning more about Austin and the things that we commonly share that include doing crazy things like climbing mountains, destroying our skin on off-width and crack climbing, leaving bits of ourselves on the trail while mountain biking and suffering through various obstacles while running Tough Mudders... Never once has he held back or put me on what a lot of people in the climbing community would know as "The Girlfriend Belay". He pushes me further away from what is comfortable in my physical strength as well as closer to my Abba Father. Challenging me to approach life more and more from a Christ centered perspective and grace. It is incredible how much God uses each of us as tools in each others lives to chisel, file, and mold to grow strengthen and build up so much of us for his glory!

Snowmass Tough Mudder 2015

For the first time in my life I haven't been holding back or believing that lie that I need to tone down what God has created and cultivated deep with in me the passions that for the first time I can share with a significant other. Which God has been blessing tremendously with the opportunity and ability to multiply that passion and creating the opportunity to bless and serve others through what He is creating in us as a couple.

Whether it is Biking, running, backpacking, climbing or simply sitting and resting and being challenged to grow in conversation and Gods word...

You could even say that literally doing nothing is crazy.

So what kind of crazy will you get into today?

Here are some suggestions for you if you need some ideas:
Venture Expeditions
Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries Trips
Marathons and Half Marathons
Tough Mudder
Join my Monthly Support team! (It's pretty crazy!)


-Keep Adventuring.

Own It.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe."- Proverbs 18:10

NEEDTOBREATHE- Brother

There has been a common pattern this week in conversations that I have had. This common theme is faith. This common theme is belief, understanding and continual surrender.

There is something to be said for the faith that is shared within the body but also the truth of the struggle to build upon that faith continually, to keep trusting. With in writing this post this week, I had originally emphasized on saying things like "we" or "us" or "our". While rereading this post I decided to take an honest step out and replace every single one of those words with "I", "myself" and "me". 

I'm owning it this week guys.

Through our hardships and short comings VS our joys, blessings and celebrations, for me, it always seems to be easier to see Gods goodness through the less abrassive seasons of my life. Perhaps it's easier to trust and "surrender". Yet when the hard things begin to rampage and rush into my very own fishbowl, I openly admit that I struggle to let go of what is chained to the bottom of this bowl. I water log myself when I hold on. My situational focus goes to these chained things continually wondering why I am consumed. Wondering how I could ever get through it all this time.

 "And in the Synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And when the demon thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm."- Luke 4:33-35

"Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And the demons also came out of many, crying,"You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ."-Luke 4:40-41

Demons know of the Holy One! Nothing needed to be proved, said, taught or revealed to them. Just like the creation of the world! How...Why... is it so hard for me to trust and know that Jesus is who He says He is...GOD. Why have I feared he will fail us in some way? Why does that anxiety creep back in through all of the steadfast history of His continual renewal and strengthening. Through His historical promises and faithfulness in my own life and the witnessing of others lives?

It is his will not mine... HIS not mine. And it is his grace and mercy that soaks me daily through this loosening of grips.

I drown myself daily in my sin and lack of surrender by holding that chain at the bottum of the bowl wondering why I can't focus, breathe or give it up. If I let go the weight will disapear. If I let go, I will breathe in life. If I let go, I will have light shed upon me and God will pull me out of all of this darkness that rushes in and consumes my life in this fish bowl type world.

I am deceived though it is so easy to see truth. I am blinded when the truths of Jesus and his faithfulness are so easy to identify. Even demons know God. and they do not deny that he exists. They don't have a choice. satan can't even break that truth.

"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

 "He will command his angles concerning you to guard you," 

and

 "On their hands they will bear you up, least you strike your foot against a stone.'"

And Jesus answered him, "It is also said,

 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

And then then satan had ended every temptations, he departed from him until an opportune time."

-Luke 4:9-13 

Just read the entire book of Luke

Stop questioning... Let go of the chains in the depths and let him revive you. Let the veil be torn and let the holy spirit flood you continually. It brings redemption, healing, light out of darkness and truth... And satan freaking knows it!

 Hallelujah!

Thank you Jesus.

-Keep Adventuring.

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Check it!

Please Leave Your Candy Coat at the Door.

"In Resurrection stillness there is Resurrection power."- Streams In the Dessert, daily devotional.

A friend of mine recently sent me this webcomic on Anxiety and depression:
I struggle with anxiety and depression.

It has been about a month since I've gone completely off of my Anti-depressant. I wish I had the praise report in a way that brought good news of life feels great and I haven't looked back once. Hence the title this week.

I don't care again. It gets worse as the days go on. And I am torn between sharing and not wanting to speak. Not wanting to "burden", yet not having anything in me that cares. I sigh loudly internally as interactions come. I don't want to pick up the phone, I don't want to give the negative report of how nothing's changed. Of how today isn't even slightly better than yesterday. I don't feel like praying or even speaking of this feeling of being slowly sufficated. It feels like this in my bones.

Brain in a jar with eyes connected in some strange out of body experiential way, distant from my zombie body. I wish I had forgotten what this feels like but this feeling causes years to blend together while sifting from the good to the sorrowful. Sorrow is good. Dwelling is good but it is not good to continually dwell... I'm not dwelling, I'm roaming in this mind struggle of brain chemical imbalances like walking on teeters that tot with the heaviest of weights on my heart and soul. Stifling my spirit while it tries to rebuke. While it awaits the lifting and settling of me.

The backs of my eyes feel swollen as if I've been crying rivers. Yet the only things that have been brought to the surface are stoic stares with longing to not feel so distant yet still not caring at all.

There seems to be a slight contentment in sitting and starring.

My eyes feel swollen from the inside out that causes my blank stare  to flood my body and fumble my steps. Reality... Experiement gone wrong or perhaps a small success above the surface that becomes more and more distant as I slip numbingly deeper and deeper below to the depths of foggy water and paralizing pressure. It is not the good pressure that one feels from hugs rather a kind that prevents you from speaking properly, seeing reality and thriving outward.

These depths bring out survival skills...

 Instead the praise report is that I gave it a shot. I ventured out to find, in fact, that I still need to be on Anti-depressants. This week has been harder than any other specifically through the "detox phase" and my denial about detoxing. The denial broke when my head became more foggy and my energy level plummited while my anxiety levels began to rise. But I am hopeful like I've mentioned, if God wanted to take it away, he would. But he hasn't so there is purpose and reason behind that.

This truth is what I cling to. Purpose.

-Keep Adventuring... Through it all.




 



Ben Howard has been a continual part of my sound track this week.