Yesterday I climbed down into Linville Gorge, which from what I have read is the “Grand Canyon” east of the Mississippi. I basically climbed down from 4050ft elevation to the river at the bottom, which was at around 2500 ft. then I climbed up and down on a loop that was probably 3-4 miles long, and took me 2.5 hrs. The last time I was as exhausted was when I ran a half marathon, but this felt worse. I had to backtrack (lost) and find the right trail 3 times, and I also saw three baby black bears on the trail ahead. Here’s my way zoomed picture of one:

Yes, I was freaked.
Tommorrow I’m supposed to go climb Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. I’m really debating whether or not to go. I don’t know if I’m in shape enough to brave a 13.5 mile trail with 5000 ft. of elevation gain.

Then the LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”Gen 12:1-3 (NLT)

Tomorrow I’ll being going off to the mountains to retreat with God.  I’ve never really done this before, and it is kind of scary.  I’m going to seek God and establish a new kind of relationship with Him, and there is definitely a part of me that is scared He won’t show up.  I guess that is because there is a place in me where I have been disappointed over and over again by my own Father.  This is the reason I’m going up there in the first place.

Today I was pretty emotional and was talking to Abby and I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews 11:

“So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”  Heb 11:6 (NLT)

I want to have a God-sized life and have a God-sized vision.  I want to live a life that is bigger than me, a life that only God can accomplish.  To do so, I have to have a deep walk with God, because it has to come through Him.

Through faith.