Glorify

Tomorrow I head to the dreamy Pacific Northwest on a last-minute-6-day-hiking-backpacking-cycling vacay. Did I know I was going a week ago? Nope. But I hoped and prayed for an opportunity to travel this summer... and it somehow shows up in the form of Portland & San Fran. Not the original summer exotic foreign vision... but yet, even better.

Beauties at the beach. These friends remind me of God's creativity & faithfulness.
He granted me these treasured friendships that bring so much encouragement to my soul.

And I forget that God works in this way. I forget how often I take the reins on piecing things together, creating excitement around a path I'll take, or decision, or last-min option... I like to be in control of the adventures, formulating dreams and chasing them as they take shape in reality. 

But I return to the raw truth of every ambition, goal, dream in life... of every great adventure lived and story told... they are worthless journeys if they do not magnify the One who gives all Life.

"HE is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." :: 1 Cor 1:30

This dear Jackie is engaged! Her story of how she met John on a spontaneous solo Greek Isle cruise is testament to the fullness of life He wants us to live... greater than our dreams for our life are HIS dreams.

Can I give credit to any of life's twists & turns... risks & rewards... questions & answers... to my own wisdom or discernment or abilities? Are these mine to claim of my own doing? Each emulation of delight, peace, & joy has been in acknowledging "it had to be God." Chance happenings. Random conversations. He brings me to a point where my response can only be to glorify Him; the work HE is doing in my life is only, fully, wholly HIM. One step that leads to the next and then the next, until I'm on a road I never suspected or conjured in my mind... yet it turns out better than my imagination. It soars past my own plans. Some blessings only noticed in hindsight, others more obviously Him.

He has brought restoration and healing to brokenness in my family. I adore them.
Thank you God.

When He gives us these glimpses, it builds faith to trust Him, walk with Him, and know Him more deeply... to say Yes & Amen to where He leads. To boast in HIM, not ourselves. To let HIM claim the story He is writing through us... no matter how hard we try to make it the best thriller, mystery, or drama. The response is "Thank you God for the grace to live this adventure with you."

So Lindsay & I are flying standby before the sun comes up tomorrow morn to Portland to spend a few nights in a treehouse, bike some trails, rent a car and drive the coast down to San Fran for the next week. Giving thanks for this friend who loves jumping into the unknown with me and figuring it out as we go... acknowledging that all things beautiful in this life are to give HIM the glory, not us.