Unchartered Territory

I'm so guilty of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Many times I'm running the kids from place to place, running to business or church meetings and trying to pick up and clean my house that most of the time I don't even get to sit down all day long. This busyness starts to take a toll on my body, my mind and my relationships. Where we live is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Rocky Mountains are less then an hour drive away. We live on rolling hills next to creeks and towering cotton woods and here I am living this fast-paced life that doesn't allow for me to always enjoy what I've been blessed with. So I've made it my mission for each day to get out and enjoy God's creation, even if it's a trip to the barn.

The other night I was doing just that, it was late and cool. The skies were covered in clouds making it very dark. There was a light breeze blowing and something just told me to stop. I looked over to the west. In that direction is Ft. Collins, a bustling city that lights up the night sky. But to the east it's basically bare. Most everyone who lives to the east of us are farmers or ranchers and their yard lights are not visible from our house. When I studied this view I heard so clearly from Holy Spirit..."I'm taking you to uncharted territories." When I hear from Holy Spirit it's usually such solid confirmation of what has already been stirring in my heart. Do you ever have that same feeling? It's like God says, "You know that feeling you've been having, well here you go. I'm here to help you with it and it's from Me." It's so cool!

I think back to Joshua in Joshua 1. God was telling him to cross over the Jordan and take possession of the Promise Land. "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses." Joshua 1:3. God was telling Joshua to take new territory. This was a dangerous mission because of the people who currently lived there, but this was also an exciting time for God's people. Being slaves in Eqypt for 400 years and wandering in the desert for 40 years after that, these people had not had a true home. Something that was theirs. God told them over and over (8 to be exact!) just in this first chapter to be brave and have courage when they were ready to go. He told them to step out, be bold and don't worry because He would be with them wherever they went. They couldn't fail. I've always loved the question, "What would you do with your life if you couldn't fail?" Would you start that business that you've always dreamed about? Would you write that book that's been on your heart to write? Would you quit your job and go on that mission to India that's been pulling on your spirit? Ask yourself that question, because most likely God has put it inside of your heart and remember, if it's new territory and He's leading you to take it, you can't fail! He's with you wherever you go!!

For me, I'm still letting all of this "new territory" stuff rattle around in my heart. But I know for one thing, my inspiration to write and share what God has been showing me has never been stronger. I have such huge desires to let out all that God has poured out in me through the written word. I remember reading C.S. Lewis the first time, it was actually the Narnia series when I was a kid, "You would not have called to me, unless I had been calling to you." This was Aslan the Lion in the Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis really understood the heart of our Father and he conveyed that through the characters in his books. That's what I hope to do, I want to be so entrenched in my Father's love that my writing comes out the way that makes that love tangible to every person reading it.

God is always talking to us, but are we listening? His voice may come through a thought that you know wasn't from you, from a song on the radio or through the Bible. But don't limit God to those mediums, He's so much bigger than that. Just get your heart right, get outside away from technology and your phone and just be there. He wants to take you places you've only dreamed of. Fall in love with His character, learn who He is and how BIG His love is for you.

Candace