Jesus is my Friend!

So I just became a fan of "Jesus" on facebook (FB). As I clicked on his face I thought...."how crazy is this?" And yet what a great reminder that 'Jesus is my friend'. And yes, I'm a fan of his but he is a much bigger fan of me. He made me and crafted me with gifts, passions and even longings that can only be fulfilled by Himself. "We love him because he first loved us". And I'm so glad he first loved me because he has drawn me into an incredible adventure in this life. He has given me the "Abundant Life" (John 10:10). And I can't imagine living without the purposes he has given me in serving him.

Up On the Mountain
This weekend I rode my bike up the steepest mountain in the area. It's called "South Mountain". It's 6 miles up and 6 straight down. Now being a Florida girl I'm not so familiar with mountains but I did do a lot of spinning and we simulated mountains. I was using parts of my bike I've never used before (like the lowest gear). The first couple miles were torture as I tried to figure out how one proceeds up a mountain on a bike. But I was so inspired by the challenge that I kept saying "Caye, you can do this". I quickly figured out that I needed to be in a low position, a low gear and I needed to keep a constant cadence in my pedal stroke. I was only going like 6 mph but I was making progress. At one point there was a little chipmunk in the road on the other lane. I had never seen a chipmunk before but I swear he was taunting me. He was hopping right next to me, in the same direction and he was going AS FAST AS I WAS. I smiled as I imagined him saying the words in a chipmunk voice, "Alvin, Simon, Theadore". It must have taken around 1 hour but as I began the ascent down I was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman sing:

I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain

I can't tell you the worshipful time it was cruising down mountain with those words. Of course, I was desperately clutching my brake as well:) But it was beautiful scenery that I could have only enjoyed by first going up the mountain. Sometimes it's so much harder seeing the summit on the way up. But we have to trust that God is leading us there and if we keep pedaling and hearing his voice say, "You can do it".....we will reach the top.

If your on the mountain or in the valley I hope your strengthened by knowing the Lord is with you. And where he is .... that's where we most want to be.