July 01, 2014
When I began keeping a journal on November 16, 2009, I thought I was just being obedient in following the LORD's footpath and keeping a personal record of my thoughts, feelings, and what I was learning while reading through the Bible. I never could have imagined—even in my wildest dreams—that one year later my private journey through the Bible would end up being caught up in "the storm." NEVER!!
Because the judge temporarily reopened the discovery time of the lawsuit, and because journals were listed as a discoverable item, my private journals from Genesis – II Chronicles 10:17, had to be made available to the very people who were seeking our ruin and financial destruction—my sister and brother-in-law. My private thoughts, prayers, and feelings were going to be read and dissected by people who were trying to destroy us. It felt like my worse nightmare and a violation of my privacy. I couldn't believe what was happening.
My sister and brother-in-law did indeed dissect my writings. They declared me homicidal, emotionally unstable and irrational. They (and their lawyer) claimed to be scared of what I might do and threatened to take out a restraining order against me. They took bits and pieces of my writings and tried to make it look as if I was unbalanced and radical enough to seek their harm. All of their claims were nonsense; just another one of their stop-at-nothing attempts to further their agenda.
For a period of time I regretted keeping a journal. I questioned myself. Why? Why did I start a journal?!? If only I wouldn't have started a journal. Why?? As time passed, I began to realize what felt like my worst nightmare was actually part of God's Sovereign plan.
The Journey: Part One – My journal entries* from Genesis to II Chronicles 10:17.
*2020 Update: For privacy reasons, I decided to remove from Blogger the portions of my handwritten journals which included private details about my sister and brother-in-law's lives, their behaviors and actions, and the lawsuit they filed. The ugly details are not what is important. HIS Story is not about them—HIS Story is about our journey while following HIS footpath and how the amazing Hand of God protected us from them.
My husband and I are going to take some much deserved time off. In three days we are going to head out and hike another section of the Appalachian Trail. I am so excited to step foot on that well worn footpath once again. Part of the area we will be seeing and hiking is close to the area where Jane (Her Name Was Jane) lived and walked. How cool is that? The Appalachian Trail, the first thing that linked Jane and myself together, and where the whole analogy of following God on His footpath began.
The last time we were able to go and hike the trail was two years ago; our 2012 trip to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania was an eventful trip. While we were driving out to PA. my husband and I spent the entire time reflecting on the many, many ways God's Hand had already protected us and guided us while on our "the storm" faith journey. It was during this same trip that I understood for the very first time that the Appalachian Trail was an integral part of God's overall plan. What I thought was solely my idea wasn't—it was God's. That trip is also where we unexpectedly knew we were to begin praying about The New Beginning.
As I began to type this paragraph, I accidentally misspelled the word "trail" and I typed "trial" instead. Interesting. I never thought about that before. An innocent switch of two letters becomes a profound thought.
When you are Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead), the final rewards FAR outweigh any temporary hardships. Remember: The hardships we face are TEMPORARY when we view them through eternity's lenses; the valley times in our lives are BEAUTIFUL when viewed from a mountain top.
The decision has been made. The stake is in the ground. What we are facing is not an impossible and insurmountable trial. It is a TRAIL! It is a blessed opportunity to follow HIS lead! We are on HIS footpath and we will follow it wherever it leads.
Next Entry: The Last Chapters: Preview
When I began keeping a journal on November 16, 2009, I thought I was just being obedient in following the LORD's footpath and keeping a personal record of my thoughts, feelings, and what I was learning while reading through the Bible. I never could have imagined—even in my wildest dreams—that one year later my private journey through the Bible would end up being caught up in "the storm." NEVER!!
Because the judge temporarily reopened the discovery time of the lawsuit, and because journals were listed as a discoverable item, my private journals from Genesis – II Chronicles 10:17, had to be made available to the very people who were seeking our ruin and financial destruction—my sister and brother-in-law. My private thoughts, prayers, and feelings were going to be read and dissected by people who were trying to destroy us. It felt like my worse nightmare and a violation of my privacy. I couldn't believe what was happening.
My sister and brother-in-law did indeed dissect my writings. They declared me homicidal, emotionally unstable and irrational. They (and their lawyer) claimed to be scared of what I might do and threatened to take out a restraining order against me. They took bits and pieces of my writings and tried to make it look as if I was unbalanced and radical enough to seek their harm. All of their claims were nonsense; just another one of their stop-at-nothing attempts to further their agenda.
For a period of time I regretted keeping a journal. I questioned myself. Why? Why did I start a journal?!? If only I wouldn't have started a journal. Why?? As time passed, I began to realize what felt like my worst nightmare was actually part of God's Sovereign plan.
What felt like a nightmare turned into an amazing gift. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know. God knew I needed to be given a voice. During a lawsuit all communication stops. Everything I couldn't verbally say to my sister, was written in my journals. There was no anger—only peace even in the midst of "the storm." There was no revenge—just total surrender to God and His will for our lives. My journals—full of God's words about the importance of repentance, the reoccurring theme of change your heart and lives, the contrast between blessing and curses, and my prayers and concerns for their spiritual condition—was put directly into their hands. God, in His Sovereignty gave me a voice to express my heart-felt thoughts in an unexpected way. It was written without any pretenses and left nothing unsaid. It released my mercy giving heart and my empathetic tendencies from any unsettling feelings caused by the lack of communication. Anything I would have ever wanted to say to my sister was included in my journals.
Thank you, LORD, for giving me the gift of sharing my voice. Thank you for providing the way for my spirit to be released from any feelings of sadness over the loss of a relationship with my sister.
The Journey: Part One – My journal entries* from Genesis to II Chronicles 10:17.
*2020 Update: For privacy reasons, I decided to remove from Blogger the portions of my handwritten journals which included private details about my sister and brother-in-law's lives, their behaviors and actions, and the lawsuit they filed. The ugly details are not what is important. HIS Story is not about them—HIS Story is about our journey while following HIS footpath and how the amazing Hand of God protected us from them.
*****
My husband and I are going to take some much deserved time off. In three days we are going to head out and hike another section of the Appalachian Trail. I am so excited to step foot on that well worn footpath once again. Part of the area we will be seeing and hiking is close to the area where Jane (Her Name Was Jane) lived and walked. How cool is that? The Appalachian Trail, the first thing that linked Jane and myself together, and where the whole analogy of following God on His footpath began.
The last time we were able to go and hike the trail was two years ago; our 2012 trip to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania was an eventful trip. While we were driving out to PA. my husband and I spent the entire time reflecting on the many, many ways God's Hand had already protected us and guided us while on our "the storm" faith journey. It was during this same trip that I understood for the very first time that the Appalachian Trail was an integral part of God's overall plan. What I thought was solely my idea wasn't—it was God's. That trip is also where we unexpectedly knew we were to begin praying about The New Beginning.
As I began to type this paragraph, I accidentally misspelled the word "trail" and I typed "trial" instead. Interesting. I never thought about that before. An innocent switch of two letters becomes a profound thought.
We have a choice on how we are going to view the difficulties we face in life. We can choose to view them as a "trial"—something to endure, or we can choose to view it as a "trail"—an opportunity to follow God's lead on HIS footpath for our lives.The Appalachian Trail and the "trail" God has planned for our lives are both footpaths with a goal. The summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine is the goal for those who step on the Appalachian Trail footpath at Springer Mountain in Georgia. Heaven is the terminus for all those who step on the footpath of following Christ, and who by faith have confessed their sins and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. The footpath of the Appalachian Trail journey and the footpath of a faith journey bear striking similarities with important life lessons for all of us to learn.
- Footpaths can sometimes be strenuous, narrow, rocky, and steep. Hold on! The stressful times will pass. Keep things in perspective. The path will not always remain so treacherous. It will level out again.
- Long and difficult footpaths can be emotionally challenging. There are feelings of euphoria and accomplishment as we summit high mountains and periods of discouragement and frustration as we steeply descend into a valley. At other times our journey may almost feel like a "PUD" (Pointless Up and Down), neither reaching the height of a mountain nor the depth of the valley. Stick with it! You can learn to find joy in spite of your circumstances and you will soon discover that nothing in life is pointless.
- Along your footpath there will be obstacles and barriers to face. Large boulders, wild animals, poisonous snakes, downed trees, rivers, annoying insects, and sometimes even threatening people. Be careful. Be patient. Take one step at a time. A meandering brook can be crossed on stepping stones. A dangerous river requires a lifeline. Learn to know the difference. Accept help when it is needed. Grab onto a lifeline and don't let go.
- Footpaths teach you that even with good planning unexpected things can happen. There are times you feel vulnerable and exposed with no place to take cover. Like a sudden pop-up summer storm with flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder, unexpected events can catch you off guard. Remain calm. Remember Who is in control. The storm will pass and whispers of hope can be found in the calm gentle breezes.
- Sometimes the footpath is stifling hot and dry, your throat is parched, and the earth seems like barren land. Don't quit. Keep going—the troubled times are only a season. Rain will once again replenish the earth and springs of cool water will flow again. What looked barren will once again become a lush carpet of green in due time.
- At times your footpath and the battles you face may feel crushingly lonely. At other times you crave the solitude and you are mesmerized by the serene peacefulness as you walk alone and commune with the Creator of all things.
- Your footpath journey may seem confusing and not well marked. Sometimes the fog is dense and the path seems obscure and difficult. You aren't sure which way to go or what you should do as you try to discern your way. Seek out help if needed. Eat, sleep, and rest your body, mind and soul. Suddenly the fog lifts, your thinking becomes clear, and the path before you is visible and well marked again.
- At times the journey may seem monotonous, like you are walking through an endless green tunnel with no end in sight. Keep the faith! The green tunnel won't last forever; when you least expect it the tunnel opens up and an overlook suddenly comes into view. The panoramic views of the beautiful valley beneath you and birds floating on the air streams below you reminds you that valley experiences are beautiful when viewed from a mountain top.
- Footpaths that lead into the deep wilderness and the unknown can be frightening. Learn to have faith and learn what it means to trust. There are blazes (God's Word) that will guide the way. Take comfort in knowing that it is a well-worn narrow path and that you are following in the footsteps of others who have gone before you.
- Pay attention. Keep your eyes on the path. Don't become complacent. It is easy to become distracted, fall, get off course, or lose your way. Stay alert. Make corrections. If you've lost your way—STOP—turn around and go back to where you got off track. Find the fork in the road, get on the right path, and begin your journey again.
- A journey can seem long, never ending, and impossible to finish. Don't look too far ahead. A trail of 2200 miles is really just a continuation of many small steps. Take that first step. Take the next step. And the next step. Keep moving forward. You will eventually reach your goal.
- No one else can walk your journey for you. Others may walk beside you, but only you can walk your journey. You truly do have to "hike your own hike."
- Be thankful for the "trail angels" who show up unexpectedly and provide you with welcome relief and replenishment for your worn out body, spirit, and soul.
When you are Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead), the final rewards FAR outweigh any temporary hardships. Remember: The hardships we face are TEMPORARY when we view them through eternity's lenses; the valley times in our lives are BEAUTIFUL when viewed from a mountain top.
The decision has been made. The stake is in the ground. What we are facing is not an impossible and insurmountable trial. It is a TRAIL! It is a blessed opportunity to follow HIS lead! We are on HIS footpath and we will follow it wherever it leads.
Next Entry: The Last Chapters: Preview
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