Last night was good. Really good. Read a decent amount in Psalms. Then Job. And then Matthew. All "The Message" version (I know, I know...not good for studying, but it IS great for reading in chunks and seeing the big picture.

The message of the Bible, what God wants from us, is really quite plain and obvious. So why do we miss it and get so distracted the majority of the time? It's stupid.

I also read some of "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris. I think it will be a good read.

After that, I spent an hour or more (not really sure) just laying on the picnic table, looking up at the stars and talking with the Guy who made them. It was emotional. And needed. And it will most definitely happen again tonight!

Off to climb Table Rock mountain!

On top of the mountain! SO BREATHTAKING. As it turns out, I'm really out of shape (so, it's quite literally breathtaking). Geesh. I decided about 1/2 hour in that I will NOT be climbing the mountain in Colorado this year.

It's SO quiet and peaceful here. Amazing view. Stead breeze. Fresh pine. Hawks soaring...below me.

People who don't believe in God are flat out stubborn. You cannot look at what I'm looking at and state with any conviction that there is no God OR that He's no good. It's only because people don't like the idea of God, mis-understand who He is, or think His followers are idiots that they don't believe. But He's made Himself quite obvious. People just aren't looking for truth.

Going to take some requests from home to the Big Man.

Read the book of Romans and spent time under the stars again, praying.

Romans is an amazing book - just lays out the whole story for us. We're a mess...but God fixed it all, for good. We just have to accept His amazing FREE gift...and then live it.

It's all stuff I already knew, of course. But it's so good to just sit and read the whole things all at once and be reminded of the big picture.

A few things that stood out:

1. Am I REALLY serving others out of love, or is it really more about what people will say about me?

2. NO ONE'S opinion matters but God's.

3. I keep screwing up and God knows it. But His concern is more with my heart, not my actions. I need to be better about resting in His grace, and at the same time, fighting the good fight and consistently growing.

4. If I believe something is right or wrong, I need to go with my gut and live accordingly...no matter what the world around me tells me.

5. If other Christians disagree with what I believe, it's okay. Don't argue. They need to live by their convictions.

6. I MUST share Christ with more people who don't know the truth. I live in fear of rejection and it HAS to stop. People need to know. And if I care about them even a little, I'll face that rejection head on in order to help them. I am horrible at this is and ashamed.

7. I need to figure out a way to be around and just help people more in my ministry. There shouldn't be so much "prep" work and time in the office. It's needed, of course, but I think we're over-doing it. I feel a deep need to do less paperwork and more time just helping people. I didn't get into ministry to sit at a desk. I know our American churches work in such a way, but I don't think it's what God intended or what He wants.