Pitching My Tent

We weren't raised camping. I think my mom thought it was "too dirty" but I am not sure. Julie (my sister) told me that they tried camping twice - too many inconveniences (mosquitoes) and a few safety issues (Coleman stove flying off of the log when she sat on it)! I love camping. It is a lot of work. Planning ahead to make all of the meals, loading all of the stuff, making sure that we won't get "too cold" at night. It is just so great, once you get where you are camping. The anticipation, laughter, lots of sleep (no TV, cell phones, etc), nature. I love being out there.

I was thinking that it is strange that I love this so much since I wasn't raised around it. I think I might be growing up!

I heard Beth Moore speak the other day at Women of Faith. She said that we were going to "camp" on Deuteronomy 33 that day (the inspiration behind my blog title). We went camping. We stayed there and we studied and we focused. There wasn't the distractions of "other" things. In that moment we just camped on the scriptures.

In the Old Testament, the tents were set up with a lot of "pomp and circumstance." It was a place fitting for only the Holy Spirit to be. Only those worthy could approach the tent with their sacrifices. Special tribes were called to be the "tent bearers."

I want to be called to be a tent bearer. I want to be worthy of the Holy Spirit. I want to approach the word and my prayers with sacrifices - making it my first and last stop of the day. I want to plan ahead (like I would for camping) preparing what I will bring, making sure I have on the appropriate clothing of righteousness. I want to clothe myself with splendor (Ps 45:3), with compassion (Col 3:12); with humility (1Peter 5:5) when I go camping on the word.

Camping takes time, effort, and it is certainly an inconvenience. Ahh, but the beauty and satisfaction when you are there! I have to eek out my camping on the word. I have begun packing my tent daily. My spiritual tent is my Daily Bread devotion in my purse (for when I get stopped at the railroad crossing). I have my bibles and journal and camera, and concordance with me - where ever I may me. Just in case it is at that moment I need to pitch my tent and hear the Lord whispering to me. It the middle of my day, in the middle of my commute, in between the craziness of lifes obligations - I need to just "pitch my tent."

A tent is protection from the elements. May my tent be worthy of what I have been given. I pray that my tent will protect me from whatever will distract me and pull me away from him.

Lord,

I pray that you make me a tent bearer. Help me to "pitch my tent" where ever I can. Help me to plan ahead so that I can "camp" in your word. Prepare me. Clothe me for the journey. And Lord I pray that whoever reads this, will find a new satisfaction in camping.

Amen

Peace...and posting at night.

Well, this post is for all of you morning bloggers! You know before I was married, I was a night owl. I stayed up really late, most nights and dragged myself out of bed in the morning. However, I married a morning man. Early morning man. I don't enjoy mornings as much as he does, but I have to say that my schedule has shifted to match his more than the nocturnal tendencies of single hood. The best part about waking up later than my man, is that I get coffee in bed each morning. It is Mark's "service" to me. I love it. I never knew that I would love this sweet habit so much, but it is grand. A kiss on cheek and the smell of coffee, with hazelnut creamer. It just doesn't get much better. But, alas, Mark is hunting; when Mark is gone, I revert back to my former self...so here is to all of the night owls out there. Making my own coffee just isn't the same!

I have waited awhile to post. I have had a major step in my PhD due. I had to get my first three chapters submitted to my committee this week. I am two days late, but I am happy to say that I put my proposal to bed tonight. The references are checked, the table of contents is accurate, its proofed and ready to go. All 60 pages of it. Late. But done. I am so very thankful. It has been a week full of blood, sweat and tears, and the flu. It has taken an act of perseverance and faith. I fully know that I could not have done this without HIM. Proverbs says "In all your ways acknowledge him, and HE will keep you paths strait." Well, maybe it wasn't straight, rather windy and steep, but HE was faithful. Praise.

I have a deep, deep peace right now. I love posting at night after a long, difficult day. The thing about blogging, is that each moment makes you think differently about things - about its true meanings, about how life experiences might help others, about how the Lord led me through the day. I can see his hand on me, pulling me throughout the day. Even when I didn't know it. I can see it now. I'm tired and thankful. That's a great way to end any day. Anyhow, the blogging was my reward for finishing. I can't believe that I am actually writing more now! But I am tired and wore out. In a very good way.

Lord, I pray for those that may read this. Help them to see your blessings in the morning and in the evening. Give them energy for their day ahead if they read this in the morning. Give them a thankful peace for a great rest if they read this at night. Thank you for the blessings that you give me. Thank you for "calling" me and reminding me that I am yours. Amen.

The Beginning (Volume II)

Don't you just love fall? I love the cool mornings and the crunchy, frosty, grass (first frost last night!). I love the way the sun is so much lower - and hardly hits the back yard. I love the colors of fall (I should decorate my house in these colors). I love pumpkins. I love pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, soup and hot chocolate. I love now when I take Boone for a walk n the mornings that I have to put on a sweatshirt and Mark's polar fleece (his is just so much better than mine). I love that it is actually cool enough at night that my husband will snuggle with me. Wasn't it in "You've Got Mail" where they talk about fall and bouquets of newly sharpened pencils. I love fall.

The picture of the tree is one that is on my way to work. I always take a back street just so I can see this tree. It started to turn colors at the very tip, and each day I can see the color come further down the tree. In Colorado we get great color on trees, but hardly ever this beautiful organge-red. I decided I would try to take a picture of this tree as I go to work in the morning. I am a little worried that the people in the house will think I am a stalker...but I just can't help myself. Don't you think that it is strange that the trees become ever more beautiful as the leaves die? I was thinking about this and think this is so much like my savior. He had to die to be beautiful to me. I think I so take them both (my savior and the beauty around me) for granted. I pray for a thankful heart.

This was part of the bible study. That the key to not being greedy, covetness, envious, is to be thankful and content. Whew...it hit me like a ton of bricks. I am not always so good at this. You know that I want to move to the country so badly...and I covet the two of you (it's true). I just so long for the peace of a little town, a little hillside. But in an effort to be content I have decided to find a bit of country everywhere I look. I pray for a new heart that is content in our house in town (where we may be for a very long time). I pray to be content with all of my failings (who has time to clean, anyhow)? I pray to let go of my perfectionistisms that prevent me from my dissertation writing. I pray for contentment....and woudn't you know that on my walk with Boone this morning I found this house. I have walked by this house nestled between town homes and condos a million times. And there is was. A little piece of the country two blocks from my home on a frosty morning in Colorado. Praise be! I love the windmill just visible between the trees and the sun coming up behind it. Could it be that I can be content right here, right now?

Agur, the author of Proverbs 30 wrote:

Give me neither poverty or riches. Give me my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say "Who is Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of the Lord.

So tonight, with a heart of contentment and thanksgiving, I pray for my daily bread. That's it. Just my daily bread.