Turn Up the Truth

NOTE: This blog has moved.  So, when you finish reading this post, be sure to head over to www.StillLearningToFollow.com! :)

One of the times when I find myself particularly grateful for the gift of spending extensive time in rural areas is when I'm running.  Let me tell you, running in Joliet, Montana sure beats running through a Seattle suburb.  Of course, I have to be alert for rattlesnakes, mountain lions and grizzlies, but it's well worth the view! ;)  Don't worry, the scariest animal I've encountered running out here is a cow that was a little closer to the fence than I'd like and was watching me with a disconcerting level of interest! (Honestly, he was probably wondering why someone running sooo slow could be breathing sooo hard!)
Anyways, the views during my runs lately have been breathtaking!  I set my ipod to play Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche, Hillsong and the like and find myself grinning ear to ear as I watch the beauty of God's Creation roll past (rather slowly). 

This morning, I was thinking about how encouraged I feel when listening to music proclaiming the goodness and mightiness of my God.  Then I was wondering if that makes me too impressionable and fickle.  I mean, why is it that I can feel stressed, impatient, and down one minute, but if I turn on worship music or open up the Word or talk to a sister or brother in Christ, I find my attitude dramatically shift.  Is this just an emotional "high"?  Am I too easily influenced?   Maybe, but the conclusion I came to this morning is that this world is loud and in your face.  I can't even grocery shop without magazines screaming lies to my eyes.  Everywhere we go, the enemy is watching for an opportunity to trip us up with temptation and discouragement.  BUT where light is there can be no darkness, right!?!  And where truth is there can be no lies!  With this in mind, I've determined that the only reasonable response is to turn up the truth in my life.  If I fill my eyes, my ears, and my mind with whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...excellent or praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8) then the voices of the enemy and of this world will be much harder to hear!

P.S. - Passport applications are all submitted!  Now, we just pray that there are no hiccups and we receive them without any complications.  Can't wait to be the hands and feet of Christ in Guatemala!