Monday, August 8, 2016

are we out of the woods yet

When I look back on this hike, I will remember long car rides with road trip games, tired nights spent in my tent, steep, prolonged ascents {#ThisSlopeISTreacherous}, sweat and still air, the truth of John 4, abounding stress, bees, Chocolate Brownie Clif bars, vocal owls, conversations with cousins, mountain mist, and family, family, family.

Sometimes I think it's hard to see the beauty in a difficult trip, especially so soon after it ends, but right now I'm trying to. And I'm praising God for the sometimes underappreciated facts of air conditioning, personal space, and running water. Yes, please.

What are three things you are thankful for today?

23 comments:

  1. There is nothing like a little stress or hardship to make you appreciate what you have. XD

    I'm thankful for all the time that the Lord has given me. I have plenty of time in the day to live according to His divine law and accomplish what furthers my life for Him.

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    1. Oh my goodness, is that ever true! Walking in the woods with sweat pouring down my face really made me miss home and my soft, comfy bed!

      Mmm, time is such a beautiful thing to be thankful for. I'm thankful for that too. :)

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  2. Also. question: Do you think you can lose your salvation? I've run across this question quite a bit and I'm curious what your thoughts on it are.

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    1. Hey, Laura! Thanks for asking. I was actually just thinking about this this morning, so great timing! :)

      I believe that anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior can never lose their salvation. Christ died once and for all, for every single sin, and once we put our faith in Him, there is nothing that can separate us from His love. (Check out Romans 8:38-39.)

      "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."~ 1st Peter 3:18

      I also found this mini-article (https://billygraham.org/answer/does-god-forgive-the-sins-we-will-commit-in-the-future-or-just-those-from-our-past/) that better articulates what I believe. Super helpful site!

      Hopefully this helps answer your question. :) If you ever have any other questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an email at acousticerin [at] gmail [dot] com. :)

      You're the best!

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    2. Woah, that's some weird formatting, eep. Sorry about that!

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    3. Thanks for answering! I agree wholeheartedly. I've come across a couple different people who say different things. :) And no problem about the formatting.

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    4. Anytime! :) I think the beauty of the Gospel is that we always belong to Christ. If there was a chance of losing our salvation, then we would never have true security, and that would be awful!

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  3. I just went on a mountain road trip!!!! But we roughed it in a condo and not tents :) Nevertheless, I /feel/ this post. Oh the simple beauty in being outside in a foreign familiarity.

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    1. That's awesome! :D Honestly, spending time in a condo sounds entirely preferable to tenting it, yo. I may or may not have dreamed about staying in an air conditioned building several times ;) hehe

      It was a crazy time for sure! :) To be encompassed by nature is an awe-inspiring thing.

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  4. It really is SO hard to see beauty in difficult things- I always struggle with being negative and dwelling on everything that goes wrong. But I'm working on thinking more positively, and praising God for the good things in life. Air conditioning, personal space, and running water are definitely three of those things. XD Let's see. Today, I am thankful for mornings with nowhere to go and nothing to do, the fact that the temperature is under 90 degrees, and just summer in general:)

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    1. Oh girl, me too! I have to kick that complaining habit, otherwise I just get mopey. D: I think praise is a perfect counter-act to negativity. Finding things to be joyful about is a great habit! :) I'm thankful for those things as well, especially those radical kinds of mornings. I had one of those today and it was the best.

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  5. Three things I'm thankful for? The everlasting goodness of God, SUMMMMERRR, and the fact that we're never, ever alone. Wow.

    Hiking sounds like a blast though! I'm sure that it is difficult, but I'm sure it's also rewarding in the end. Though AC is a blessing, not gonna lie :) <3

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    1. Those are awesome things to be thankful for! :) Never being alone....what a powerful thing. Getting a proper perspective of that makes me want to share Jesus with others who feel all alone.

      And you're right, hiking is so super rewarding. Even right after the hard climbs, I kind of smiled to myself, sore limbs and all, and was like, "I did that!" It's a crazy adventure. :)

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  6. Mmm, sometimes it takes hindsight to realize the beauty in something hard, doesn't it?

    Three things I'm thankful for? A sunny day after all our wet weather, cashew butter & honey on toast, the fact that God is all powerful. And another one of your posts! :D

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    1. Oh, yes! It may take a few more weeks for me to fully appreciate the hike, but there is definitely beauty in the pain. :)

      Mmm, cashew butter & honey sounds DIVINE. Makin' me hungry, hehe! And you're too sweet. Thanks for commenting, it means a bunch! :)

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  7. I know exactliy what hikes like these are like since my family loved to go on little adventures. But I couldn't describe it as you did, so simple yet perfect to imagine. And yes, after everything out of your routine you start to see things different and appreciate more than you did before! :)

    http://teenapes.blogspot.com/

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    1. "Little adventures" -- what a perfect way to describe them! I really love the way you put that. Thanks for your kind words! :)

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  8. "Sometimes I think it's hard to see the beauty in a difficult trip, especially so soon after it ends... << I FEEL THIS SO HARD OMG. *all the crying laughing emojis*

    Gahhh this post is just stuffed full of beautiful mountain-y feels and I love the title I love everything about this ok <333333

    things i'm grateful for: new music, my driver's license, this moment.

    >><<
    abbiee

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    1. Girl, I'm glad you can relate! I bet your trip was both beautiful and exhausting...but that's life, man. Thank you so much, Abbiee! I appreciate it, yo. :D

      And oooh, new music, so true. Gotta second that one! I have been listening to some new jams and they've got me smiling :)

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  9. Ha, I know what you mean! Those memories are probably worth it though, right? :)

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    1. Totally, 100% worth it! Thank you for reminding me of that. :) I needed it!

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Go with grace.