The Great Outdoors All Nature Proclaims

     Hey there, people. Tonight I want to talk about nature. I'll try to not be a total hippy here, but you've got to understand how much I love the outdoors.  I absolutely love to go hiking, camping, backpacking, snowboarding. It's great. Here's a picture from one of my most recent experiences with this earths vast beauty: 

     This picture was taken atop Sonora Peak which is at an elevation of around 11,400 feet. Needless to say, it was well worth the hike. From this rock fort built at the summit to block the observers from the harsh winds one has a jaw dropping view of the Sierra Nevadas and might even be able to catch a glimpse of Yosemite National Park if they look hard enough. It was hands down one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. I have never experienced God's amazing handy-work to such an extent. The vast mountain ranges and the jagged ridges perfectly contrasted the smooth blue sky filled with fluffly white clouds. The verse from Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands," rang so loudly in my ears that day. 

     Now, my ventures haven't been that extreme lately, what with college and all, but i still make time every week to get out and just love this earth that God created. Admire His Creation's beauty. There's this club at my university that deals with the dealings of nature and has a day hike every Sunday morning. Yes, this is the same time as church, i know, but to a certain extent, getting out in the wilderness and just experiencing God's great work is my own little version of church. I have never felt closer to God than the times when i've been out in the immense nature of His great world. Just listening and watching the skies and earth proclaim his great name. It brings me this peace that i have never known before. 

     While on this subject I've got to bring up those intense stars up there on those dark, peaceful nights. 

Now those beauty's up there that light up the night, those declare the greatness of God just as much if not more than those vast mountain ranges of the Sierras. It's almost impossible to look up at night, far from the harsh city lights, and not just feel incredibly small. It is so humbling, and difficult, to face that extent of awesomeness at times. It used to scare me to look up at the night sky and see those balls, thousands of light years away, and think about how minuscule i was in the grand scheme of things. But now it brings me nothing but comfort. For my God is holding all of those huge stars in place, and created those beautiful mountains, and loves little old me just sitting admiring the whole thing. 

Holding Tightly to God, But Lightly to What He Gives

     So I guess i'm doing another post about a book here. This one is called Daily Guideposts 2013 and is this devotional that has a huge compilation of authors in it.

      I read one last Sunday by Shari Smyth that really hit hard so i thought i would share it with you all. Now, i'm not going to go into the whole story but here's a little excerpt from it: "Walk humbly with your God means trusting Him enough that if tomorrow i lose it all, I know that in God I still have everything." Just think about that. Think about the most valuable thing you have. Now think about the fact that at any second you could lose it. Now make it more real and say that you have lost it. Whatever that thing may be, it's gone. But what Shari is saying here is that even though your most valuable possession here on earth is gone, God still has you. Isn't that crazy? That no matter what, absolutely anything could happen in this world and God is still going to be enough, that you still have everything in Him. You could literally have nothing, and still have everything. Crazy.
     I think this is one of the biggest reasons why i believe in God. Because it makes sense that this wouldn't make sense. That we cannot possibly understand every part or even a portion of an infinite all knowing God or how He works, we just know that He does and is working in our lives every second.
      Shari then goes on to say "Father, as Your child, I hold tightly to Your hand, but lightly to what You give." That is probably one of the hardest things that i can think of that a person can do. But once you've got it, once you've understood this concept of holding tightly to God and loosely to what He gives on earth, then you cant really fear losing anything, because you'll always have everything in Him. And to me, that is one of the scariest and most comforting things I have ever heard.

Light, God, and Beauty on The Open Road

Hey Everyone!
My name is Gabie and I'm a new college student taking my first strides on the open road. Now before i get into my life I would like to give credit where credit is due for the title of my blog. If anyone out there has ever read any Donald Miller books, then you know why, and to those of you who haven't, you should. Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on The Open Road is one of Miller's lesser known works. Over this past summer I went through some pretty tough stuff, some typical some not, but whatever the case Miller helped me through. His views and ideas on God and Love and Life were crafted in such a way that they really hit home. I hope to those reading this out there who happen to pick up one of his books out of curiosity find the same value in it and treasures that I did.

 Thanks for listening and i guess welcome to my life on this open road!