Not that I mind all of this excess caffeine flowing through my veins
. . .
After all, even when he’s home because he’s recouping from the
minor surgery that was finally rescheduled (Praise God!)
I am seeing that he is still the adventurous one,
and I am still suffering from the
reactive-glazed-over-effect.
Maybe.
I am not so sure about this whole thought process of mine, that blames my husband for setting us off on crazy adventures. Because you see, the Lord has recently reminded me that I have a hunger inside of me for adventure as well.
Not that many years ago, my man and I were visiting our local amusement park. He, as usual, was excited and thrilled to ride every roller coaster there. I, as usual, was glad to just be walking in the fresh air and beautiful sunshine, taking in some shows and eating fun shacks. Watching the clock, and thinking about the wait times for the new ride in the park, it suddenly dawned on me that if I hurried, I might be able to run across the park and catch a glimpse of him for his first excursion on that new ride. So off I went, arriving there, out of breath, and scanning over all the visitors, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. There! I spotted him at the top, just as he was about to swing around for the giant drop, and I started waving. Wouldn’t you know it, he saw me, and started waving back! I thought how much like a silly little boy he looked, so happy and carefree . . . until I realized I was standing in the middle of that huge crush of people, waving like a silly little girl.
God knows the heart that HE has created deep inside each one of us. And when HE is the one inviting us on the adventure, I wonder if He stands waiting and watching us to see if we will respond with wide-eyed wonder and a silly crazy grin?
A few years ago, not long after the roller-coaster adventure, I heard God’s whisper to me,
“Will you come with me? I have an adventure planned, and it’s going to be a crazy, wild ride”
I thought long and hard about my answer, because I had been through enough adventures already, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for another one. But eventually my heart couldn’t help but give Him my “yes!” After all, there’s a hunger deep inside of me for the adventure that is God-Planned, and God-sized.
His ways are great, and unsearchable to us in the beginning of the journey. It’s in the going forward with Him that He reveals more of Himself to us. It’s in the daily climbing that He shows us the view from the rocky ledges. And it’s in the Calling Out that we can hear His answer to us. So, I have a confession to make. Here, in this place of Rheumatoid Arthritis/Fibromyalgia slow, I’ve heard His whisper again:
“Will you come with me on a new adventure? It’s not like anything you’ve seen before.”
And my quivering, shaking heart is finding the “yes!” to His bidding to join up with thousands of other writers as we commit to writing a post for every day this October.
I’ll share with you the theme He’s placed on my heart next week. But for now, where is God asking you to go? Are you up for a new adventure?
Jesus follower, Wife, Mom, and Grandma, journeying through chronic illness one day at a time
View all posts by Bettie G
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20 thoughts on “Share the Adventure”
Bettie G. I can hear your heart's desire to live fully alive and the beautiful courage with which you do that in your everyday with fibromyalgia and arthritis. Thank you. I wonder if your husband ever quotes Dr. Seuss like mine does: adventures we will have! Visiting from Jennifer Dukes Lee's #TellHisStory.
Hi Bettie, I love your recounting of the day at the amusement park! And what a beautiful thought that God sees us as excited children ready for the adventure with him. You are so inspiring that you share with us that you're ready for yet another adventure — I love that about you! God plants those seeds of adventure deep within us and when he calls out, we're ready for the ride with him — it's always better with him at our side, isn't it? So glad your husband is back home and cranking up the espresso machine too! xoxo
Hi Summer, Thanks for stopping by! I love that Dr. Seuss quote; how fun to hear it from your husband! Isn't God good to show us the true adventures that our hearts long for? I am so thankful for the brave He brings to us! –Blessings to you!
Hi Valerie, Thanks for your encouragement and prayers! And, yes, I love it that even if we don't feel adequate for another adventure, God knows our hearts, and “He calls us out” and makes us ready! Sort of like that espresso makes us “ready for the day” right? 🙂 –XOXO
Oh Bettie – I would be wandering the park with you, while my family joins your husband on all the rides. 🙂 I used to love those crazy things, but after having babies years ago, I can't stomach them… all though, I just returned from Disneyland and I can do those ones, with a few exceptions… I am excited you are saying yes to this journey with God to write for 31 days.. you have an adventurous heart ! Blessings, glad to be your neighbor again at #TeaAndtheWord
Oh yes, we would have had fun wandering thru the park while our families were on those crazy rides! I'm so thankful that God knows which adventures we are best suited for! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by here, and for bringing encouragement with you! –Blessings & Hugs!
Bettie, your words brought a laugh and smile to what has otherwise been rather a bleak week where joy and hope feel thin on the ground! I love seeing the adventurous side of you revealed here, and how you relate the way God looks at His child with such special attention and love. Your 31 day writing challenge sounds awesome. I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. May you keep on crazy-smiling your way through the days while God looks proudly on with a that's-my-girl expression on His face. Our relationship with God is one faith adventure after another, isn't it? Though sometimes we just want to get off the particular ride we are on! I'm rooting for you, friend. Blessings and hugs. Xox
I love this so much! God is always calling us to adventure but it's so hard to take the leap. (And you are the second person I've seen posting about the October challenge. It is intriguing to me…) Blessings! #livefree
Oh Joy, I'm glad I could bring a smile to you this week! I am so thankful when God stirs up those feel-good memories at just the moment we need them. You have been a great encouragement to me to keep looking up, even when my shoulders seem slouched in the forever-down position! God is so good to let us share this journey together! –Blessings and Hugs my friend!
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for your kind words! Yes, it is hard to leap, especially if we've done it grudgingly before, as Suzie wrote about today at #livefree. I know I have in the past, but I want to more joyfully follow Him now! Check out the website for the #write31day challenge–I neglected to say that it is a Christian group of bloggers putting this together! Pretty amazing! –Blessings!
I would be down on the ground with you, Bettie. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this adventure with us. It's such a wonderful thought to think our life is a series of adventures in which God calls us out. I'm looking forward to hear more of the adventure He is setting you on. 🙂 You are so brave! Hugs!
Oh thank you, Trudy, but I don't feel very brave! 🙂 My heart longs for those adventures, but my mind quivers at the thought! I'm so thankful that we walk this digital path together! You are a blessing to me! –Hugs!
Bettie! I am late getting to read this, but I am so glad I did. I love your honest reflections and steps of faith. I can definitely understand the inner child surfacing, and ready to grasp the Father's hand for another adventure. My heart so resonates in our season of life too! I am excited to see what you will be writing about!
Hi Meg, Thank you for your words of encouragement! I like the thought of being “ready to grasp the Father's hand.” I know that I'm going to need His help with this journey so much! Glad that we can travel through this season together friend! –Blessings & Hugs!
I read this like it was the first time, Bettie. (Throwback post) I still giggled at the part where you were waving, I have done this too. I love your adventurous spirit even in the midst of the unknown and rocky ledges. Sharing today!
BettieGsRAseasons 
Bettie G. I can hear your heart's desire to live fully alive and the beautiful courage with which you do that in your everyday with fibromyalgia and arthritis. Thank you. I wonder if your husband ever quotes Dr. Seuss like mine does: adventures we will have! Visiting from Jennifer Dukes Lee's #TellHisStory.
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Hi Bettie,
I love your recounting of the day at the amusement park! And what a beautiful thought that God sees us as excited children ready for the adventure with him. You are so inspiring that you share with us that you're ready for yet another adventure — I love that about you! God plants those seeds of adventure deep within us and when he calls out, we're ready for the ride with him — it's always better with him at our side, isn't it? So glad your husband is back home and cranking up the espresso machine too! xoxo
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Hi Summer, Thanks for stopping by! I love that Dr. Seuss quote; how fun to hear it from your husband! Isn't God good to show us the true adventures that our hearts long for? I am so thankful for the brave He brings to us! –Blessings to you!
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Hi Valerie, Thanks for your encouragement and prayers! And, yes, I love it that even if we don't feel adequate for another adventure, God knows our hearts, and “He calls us out” and makes us ready! Sort of like that espresso makes us “ready for the day” right? 🙂 –XOXO
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Oh Bettie – I would be wandering the park with you, while my family joins your husband on all the rides. 🙂 I used to love those crazy things, but after having babies years ago, I can't stomach them… all though, I just returned from Disneyland and I can do those ones, with a few exceptions… I am excited you are saying yes to this journey with God to write for 31 days.. you have an adventurous heart ! Blessings, glad to be your neighbor again at #TeaAndtheWord
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Oh yes, we would have had fun wandering thru the park while our families were on those crazy rides! I'm so thankful that God knows which adventures we are best suited for! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by here, and for bringing encouragement with you! –Blessings & Hugs!
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Bettie, your words brought a laugh and smile to what has otherwise been rather a bleak week where joy and hope feel thin on the ground! I love seeing the adventurous side of you revealed here, and how you relate the way God looks at His child with such special attention and love.
Your 31 day writing challenge sounds awesome. I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. May you keep on crazy-smiling your way through the days while God looks proudly on with a that's-my-girl expression on His face. Our relationship with God is one faith adventure after another, isn't it? Though sometimes we just want to get off the particular ride we are on! I'm rooting for you, friend. Blessings and hugs. Xox
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I love this so much! God is always calling us to adventure but it's so hard to take the leap. (And you are the second person I've seen posting about the October challenge. It is intriguing to me…) Blessings!
#livefree
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Oh Joy, I'm glad I could bring a smile to you this week! I am so thankful when God stirs up those feel-good memories at just the moment we need them. You have been a great encouragement to me to keep looking up, even when my shoulders seem slouched in the forever-down position! God is so good to let us share this journey together! –Blessings and Hugs my friend!
LikeLike
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for your kind words! Yes, it is hard to leap, especially if we've done it grudgingly before, as Suzie wrote about today at #livefree. I know I have in the past, but I want to more joyfully follow Him now! Check out the website for the #write31day challenge–I neglected to say that it is a Christian group of bloggers putting this together! Pretty amazing! –Blessings!
LikeLike
I would be down on the ground with you, Bettie. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this adventure with us. It's such a wonderful thought to think our life is a series of adventures in which God calls us out. I'm looking forward to hear more of the adventure He is setting you on. 🙂 You are so brave! Hugs!
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Oh thank you, Trudy, but I don't feel very brave! 🙂 My heart longs for those adventures, but my mind quivers at the thought! I'm so thankful that we walk this digital path together! You are a blessing to me! –Hugs!
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Bettie! I am late getting to read this, but I am so glad I did. I love your honest reflections and steps of faith. I can definitely understand the inner child surfacing, and ready to grasp the Father's hand for another adventure. My heart so resonates in our season of life too! I am excited to see what you will be writing about!
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Hi Meg, Thank you for your words of encouragement! I like the thought of being “ready to grasp the Father's hand.” I know that I'm going to need His help with this journey so much! Glad that we can travel through this season together friend! –Blessings & Hugs!
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I read this like it was the first time, Bettie. (Throwback post) I still giggled at the part where you were waving, I have done this too. I love your adventurous spirit even in the midst of the unknown and rocky ledges. Sharing today!
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You did a wonderful job in telling the story of the seeing your precious hubby on the roller coaster. What a joy! Great job!!!!
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Dear Meg, Thanks for your sweet words! What fun to remember the ways that God has blessed us over the years! 🙂 Thanks for sharing too! xo
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Thank you! I appreciate your kind words so much! Joy in the memories too! 🙂
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This is so good. Such a great picture of the Father. He is calling us to the ultimate adventure!
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Thank you! Yes, you are so right, our Father calls us out to adventure!
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