Uphill-- both ways

Some of my best times in the week are our morning jogs. The colleagues' house we are occupying at the moment is nested in the hills outside the city, at the the foothills of a waterfall (which we have yet to explore). The jog from our house (up to the waterfall park) is all uphill... winding up a paved road flanked by occasional houses, friendly and not so friendly dogs, bamboo groves, ferns, and the brook from the waterfall. The fee the local bus charges at the top of the ascent (three times the price for the same distance) is directly proportional to the altitude of the climb... and the ache in our legs when we finally get to the top.

So you could imagine my chagrin on our first jog, after reaching the top and heading home, to feel my much deserved descent down the mountain to disappear into another climb UP. "How could I be going uphill, AGAIN", I thought to myself.

The next time I jogged, I took notice of the short dips in the road up, and now find myself looking forward to those few pauses in the road, thanking God for a bit of respite in the work of the climb.

It reminds me of my reflections on thankfulness lately. It seems so easy to go about life, only focusing on the uphills (of which there are so many). Our transition here has felt much more uphill than I expected, considering we have been planning, preparing, and praying so long for this life. There are definite challenges in the work, and discouragement keeps a tent near our door, so I need to remember to thank God for the dips and know that good things are waiting at the top of that hill.

Psalm 50:14, "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God."
Heb. 13:15, "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name."
Psalm 50:23, "Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me."

Speaking of uphills, it's been a long time since I wrote about my mom's battle with cancer. The last time I called home, mom was out in the apple orchard, picking apples! (How I would've loved a nice crunchy bite of those sweet sunshine "Reds"--Red Delicious). She is pretty much pain free these days. Praise God! I'm really hoping my sister Esther and mom can come visit us in Asia sometime soon. These verses on God's power have been a great encouragement this week... and are good fuel for praying for total healing for mom.

"You ask, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth! Tell Me, if you have under-standing.' By Your word, O Lord, the heavens were made and by the breath of your mouth all their host. You uphold all things by the word of Your power. You are the Mighty One, O God; You have spoken, and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" (from Job 38:4, Ps 33:6, 50:1; Heb 1:3; Ex. 15:11)