mountain

i've been reflecting on the word 'lesson' lately. everyone keeps asking what lesson i am learning right now. or they seem to think they know what lesson God might have for me so they tell me. but the problem with a lesson, in fact the whole concept of a lesson, is that there is a test at the end. no one takes a lesson or learns a lesson without a test. and i have a problem with this at the moment. for those of you that weren't great test takers maybe you will understand. but i always feel like i've failed a test. i never really know if i have passed or if i have failed. and sometimes we never know if we just squeaked by or if we aced it even when we know we passed. and my real problem with lessons is that we can make God out to be a task master, standing over us, judging us, willing us to do better, and never stopping until we've learnt our lesson and passed the test. and frankly that is not a God i want to serve or spend my life loving. so honestly i don't know what lesson i am supposed be learning right now or if i am making the grade and passing the test. however i do know that i am climbing a mountain. its a mighty big one, there have been set backs, and it is hard yet God has never left me. He is right beside me, helping, encouraging and reminding me that its just a mountain and that He has the power to move but right now its is just best if i learn how to climb it. climbing and thankful for:

* that we serve a God of love who is never an evil task master!

* some nice long sunny walks along the canal :)

* that spring is on its way for real!

please keep praying for me - the requests are the same. i've also been really homesick for england and my friends this week so please pray for some extra love and encouragement from God this week.

we tested the teens abilities to work together last we- i thought it was a success :)