In the last few months, I’ve been focusing on walking in the spirit – the SPIRIT of God, that is.

One month in Germany started with walking through the whole security issues with an assistance dog, and abuse issues if we needed the pat down screening.

Some of the stairs in the Hohenekan Castle

Then, walking up hill EVERYWHERE in Germany! Stairs to my room, UP to go to the bathroom. UP to take Gabe to the bathroom. UP to any castle.

Then, the walk back to the airport, with folks that don’t speak English all the time. We got through security, and wheeled to the plane just before it flew off…PERFECT!  God was with us!

Now, the walk of moving out of an apartment – into the RV for the next phase of our lives committed to God’s work.

The wires burnt right under the brown spot on the cover

See the brown spot, where the heat was starting to come through?

But, we had a fire in an electrical box, which endangered our lives, and the RV, and everything we had moved into it.

Now, we are walking around an apartment with little to no furniture – because it’s all gone!

Why did I go to Germany? To bless our daughter and son-in-law, and to be blessed by them.
Was there a struggle? Yes…
Was it worth it? Yes…
Would I do it again? Yes…
But some steps were VERY hard! But that was last week….

NEXT….. today’s walk….

Why did we give away our stuff? To bless others that they might bless others in return.
Was there a struggle? Not until now, when we’re sitting in the empty apartment…until repairs are done.
Was it worth it? We are in the middle of this valley – we cannot see the ‘worth’, though we can trust that God is faithful to HIS promise.
We can count the blessings:

1. I was watching a movie, Jim was working later than usual on the computers…therefore: We didn’t go to bed at the usual time, and put on our CPAP’s and miss the burning electrical smell.
2. Jim is an electrical computer guy…he was not about to quit looking for it…he tore off some plywood to find the burning box.
3. Jim smelled the burning…many times, he doesn’t smell the smells I smell…but this time, he smelled it, and reacted.
4. we are under warranty…and so is the RV!
5. we have two more weeks of an apartment…before we have to be OUT!
6. we have the mattress out of the RV to sleep on…on the floor…just like when we first got married!

Was this worth it? Well..I think I’m too close to it, right in the middle of it right now…but I KNOW that God’s work in our lives is ALWAYS worth it…because it brings us closer and closer to HIM. And, this has caused a lot of prayer time and personal reflection in Jim’s and my life in the last 18 hours.

Would we do this again? – where I’m at right now…NO WAY! This was a valley of the shadow of death! IF, IF, IF…if we’d gone to bed at the normal time, in the normal way…we would be a story on the front page.

These steps are VERY HARD! I’d rather climb to the top of the Heidelberg Castle twice, maybe three times…maybe up and down all day…to not have to have this feeling that we could have been burned to death.(confirmed by the service manager that looked at the thing).

BUT – GOD!
That’s the story.
BUT GOD – had me decide to watch a movie that kept us up longer than usual.
BUT GOD – had Jim working with the computers, and notice the smell.
BUT GOD – the thing didn’t burst into flames when we opened the container to spray it.
BUT GOD – we are alive – we did not die – we are here to declare the glory of God.

This morning, as I walked with God, I asked “What happened to Psalm 91..no evil shall befall your dwelling?”
“Did your dwelling burn?”
“Well, no…But…”
“But what? Why didn’t it burn?”
“Because YOU had your hand on it, and us, and YOU prevented ANY evil from coming near our dwelling.”

…insert humble pie, and grateful heart…..

We could have been out on our trip to Ohio…and have to spend the time in a hotel.
We could have been in it…as I’ve said.

Ps 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.

Personally, I think ‘at thy side” and “at thy right hand” is pretty “nigh” me…but, the point is…it isn’t ME!

Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Walking “through the valley of the shadow of death” seems to be surrounded by evil…the key is “I will fear no evil”. The evil can surround me…but I am dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High…and in His shadow, I am safe!!!

Walking this one out means to face a fear I have dreamt about  all of my life…dying in a fire.

• will this get fixed so that it won’t happen again?
• is there something else that could happen?
• how can we make sure that we don’t burn in this RV?
• Is this safe?

Where is my trust?  In what/Whom is my faith?  Was this something that we did wrong?  Or was this an attack to test us?  Or was this just something that happened..that we have to learn from, and walk on?

The main issue here is in Whom do I place my trust? And, I have to admit, I have placed my trust in safety measures…rather than in Jesus Christ.  I’m NOT saying to practice unsafe things, to tempt fate, or test God, but make sure that once having done the practical measures…the trust is in Jesus.

This thing should not have even been working…it was to connect to a generator THAT WE DO NOT HAVE!!! And yet, power went through it and burned up the wires, and started to burn the box that held it. All the safety features FAILED! In fact, there were NO fuses, we did not trip ANY of the safety features!

BUT GOD DID NOT FAIL!!!

Here are my confessions of faith…to walk on through this valley:

Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:(OR FIRES DESTROY-author)
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

John 15: 1-14
verses 4&5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Ps 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Ps 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

I’m walking…I’m moving forward…and God just isn’t finished with me yet.  I’m rechecking my spiritual armor, checking on my spiritual focus, and my spiritual roadmap…and keeping in close contact with my Spirit Guide…not the wierd one, The Holy Spirit( John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26), given to me, by Christ Jesus to teach, comfort, and guide me along this path of life.  Maybe, there is something special to this walk!

Eph 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Doing a search for walk and Spirit starts up a whole ‘nother discussion…So, I’m thinking that when I get through this valley, God will have done some more boot camp work on my Spirit walk, and I will look back and say it was worth it.  I don’t know if I’d say I’d do it over again…but then again, the repeat parts are walking with the Lord through the valley of death…and on the other end, there is that table set for us in the presence of our enemies, anointing with oil, and cup overflowing.

As I walked to the top of each of the castle mounds…I actually thought, I want to do this ONCE…and not do it again.  And yet, I did it again, for the next castle, and the next.

I choose to walk with the Lord, on the mountain tops AND IN THE VALLEYS, over and over and over, until HE is through with me, and takes me home.

After Jesus told the disciples about the coming comforter, He said this:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I remember the Mandie  book series – and whenever they got into a rough spot, she would quote this verse:

Ps 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

As I sat down to write out my thoughts…I was focused on Ps 91 and 23…but, through this writing, as I’ve confessed my fears, and confirmed my trust in Jesus Christ, God has led me to John 14, to talk about being led by the Holy Spirit.  Interestingly enough, as I am walking through the testing of the possible loss of my dwelling…here is the beginning of John 14:

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

Isn’t that just like God?  I’m worrying about my little RV, while He’s reminding me that HE has a mansion for me…and He’s preparing it for me…and what’s more….

John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

He has shown me the way…and if I forget, or am confused…The Comforter – John 14:26…shall teach me and bring back all things to my memory.

Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Not the things of this world…but being led on the path that takes me to that mansion prepared just for me.  Now, for that, I’ll walk up a mountain again!

The highest peak in Germany - Zugspize

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

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