Hinds' Feet On High Places

I have been reading this piece of classic Christian literature- Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It is an allegory a lot like Pilgrim's Progress except the main character is a woman. I was looking for something new to read and have seen this on the shelf many times. I picked it up finally this week and it's been hard to put down.

The main character, Much-Afraid is from the Fearing family. She broke away to follow the Shepherd and now He wants to take her from the Valley of Humiliation to the High Places. The book chronicles her journey with her two companions- Sorrow and Suffering. I have so identified with this character. Being at home at night while my husband works second shift really brings out my anxious heart. Also, this new chapter in our ministry is a little scary. I prayed that the Lord would speak to me through this book and He has especially through the dialogue shared between Much-Afraid and the Shepherd.

One in particular comes when Much-Afraid is faced with a sheer cliff she must climb in order to follow the path of the Shepherd. The Shepherd knows her concerns about having to go this way. He reminds her if she wants hinds' feet she must go the way of the hind to develop them. She says she's not sure she wants them if that is what it takes. The Shepherd almost laughs as he says: "Oh, yes you do, I know you better than you know yourself, Much-Afraid. You want it very much indeed, and I promise you these hinds' feet. Indeed, I have brought you on purpose to this back side of the desert, where the mountains are particularly steep...." He reminds her of something He said earlier "Now thou shalt see what I will do." She says "Why, it's too preposterously absurd! It's crazy! Whatever will you do next?"

That sums up exactly how we have felt from the beginning of this journey. We know God has called us here and sometimes everything seems so crazy. There is excitement and fear all rolled up in one. Much-Afraid faces more on this journey and at times she listens to the voices telling her she is headed in the wrong direction, but yet she trusts the Shepherd. Although the Way to the High Places seems at times to lead in the opposite direction, she stays on the path. She is willing to trust even though it means giving up everything.

God sometimes takes us through things in our lives on purpose to develop His Ways in us. May I be like Much-Afraid and follow the Shepherd no matter the cost.

Happy Birthday, Daniel

Daniel's birthday was August 29th but last night he experienced a different kind of birthday. As you have already read, we broke away yesterday for a worship experience in the woods. As we were on the third mile of the four mile hike, Daniel started talking to me. I cannot remember the exact words but he said something along the lines of I cannot have Jesus in my heart because I haven't been baptized. I explained that you didn't have to be baptized first all you have to do is pray and Jesus will live in your heart. He answered okay I'll do that when we get back to the car or we get home. I went on to ask him if he did bad stuff and he said yes as he begins to list his latest offenses. Then he changed the subject. I didn't want to push him so we left it at that. As I was praying with him at bedtime, I prayed first with my usual prayer for his salvation and when I was done He prayed his bedtime prayers which consists of "Dear Heavenly Father, help me to know you." He had barely said amen when he said he needed to kneel down and ask Jesus to come into his heart. I explained he could pray where he was but he insisted he had to kneel down. We kneeled down beside his bed and I led him (more like stammered through) the sinner's prayer. When he got up, he ran out to tell JP and Tera just beaming from ear to ear. JP explained that now Daniel was not only his son but his brother as well. Daniel latched onto that. I went to tuck him in and in the sweetest voice you ever heard-Daniel said "I love you, sister." That was music to this mother's heart. I have had the privilege of leading both my children to the Lord.

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

Following The Right Path

Today was the first time we decided to separate completely from our old routine and begin to allow God to develop a new pattern for worship apart from what we have always known. Until now we figured we would continue in a local church waiting for some kind of message from God saying, "OK, go now and do something different!" But we realized that this already happened when we were called to come out here in the first place. So we took what we already loved to do and became more intentional about it; turning what was a recreational activity into a worship event.




Today we hiked the Little Greenbrier School trail to the Walker Sisters cabin, about a four mile hike. Before the hike during breakfast we read Psalm 119:105-106 together, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep your righteous judgments". Then on the trail we talked about the path we were taking. I asked the kids, "what would this trail look like if it were a moonless night? What if we decided we would forge our own trail and go tromping off through the woods? Why is it important to follow the path already laid out here before us?" The kids already know how to identify several types of plants such as Mountain Laurel, Dog Hobble, and Rhododendron. The know that Dog Hobble are thorny vines that can stop a pack of dogs running through the woods. They talked of the "Laurel Hells" that can trap hikers. These are patches of growth with Dog Hobble and Mountain Laurel (a tangly vine) on the floor of the forest and Rhododendron at body level above the ground. Getting lost in a Laurel Hell means getting tangled up and disoriented so that, even seasoned hikers, could get trapped and end up dying of thirst or starvation before finding a way out or being rescued.

By the time we arrived at the Walker Sisters cabin the kids already had summarized the message for the day. The path through the forest is like the path of life and God's Word, the Bible, is the guide that helps us stay on the right path. Choosing to forge our own path apart from God's Word is to end up lost and entangled by bad choices and disorienting voices in our world. But even in the dark times God's Word will show us the way. Through this exercise the kids not only reinforced things they learned about the forest, but also learned to apply this knowledge to their spiritual walk. These little five and seven year old children could repeat a Biblical lesson on a level of understanding they may have never obtained from a traditional church service. I think we are on the right path!