Author: moremarsh

The Word of God

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Take a deep breath in, and now out. One more time. Slowly. As you do this, you feel breath leaving your body. You can feel this as you speak too by holding you hand in front of your mouth, and feeling the breath of each word as you speak.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)

This verse has a key phrase in it that you may have already picked up on. It says that “ALL scripture is breathed out by God.” This means that the Bible is the very word of God. The Bible is not like any other book in the world and it will never compare to any other book. That’s not because it’s the most widely known book across generations and centuries, or the book translated into the most languages. The Bible is and always will be different than any other book because it is the very word of God.

The opening pages of the Bible begin with God speaking everything into existence. God says, “Let there be light…let there be land…let there be mountains…let there be frogs…etc.” Everything that exists has been spoken into creation by God Himself. His words hold power, the power to create and give life. The words spoken by God are different than the words we speak because of the power they hold.

So when we read 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we see that the Bible (all of Scripture) is breathed out by God. In other words, it is spoken by God, it is His very breath. Therefore, the Bible holds power. And thankfully, these words have been translated into a language we can understand so as we read the Bible, we find out that these words hold the power of life.

That life is found only in Jesus.

So today, I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read. Spend time in the very words of God. Recognize that He loved us so much that He gave us His very words to know and live by. He is a good God!

Wave After Wave.

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Once I tried to go paddleboarding in the ocean with a cast on my arm. I’m pretty active and enjoy challenges, so I thought this would be fun! I put the waterfree cast protector on my arm, attached the paddleboard to my ankle, and headed to the shore. I was ready to get out in the ocean and prove to all the people on the beach that I had a secret talent.

I made two mistakes that day. First, I realized I have never actually paddle boarded in the ocean, only calm lakes were you basically just sit on a board and float around. Second, I forgot my paddle.

As I took some steps into the salty and violent waters, I realized that the hardest part was going to be getting past the breaking point of the waves. I made several attempts at getting over the waves with my board and cast. By now there was a small group of people on the beach watching the crazy girl with only one swimming arm in the ocean.

The waves continued to knock me down. I remember tumbling under the water several times and losing my board. And then I would get too close to the beach and my board would get stuck in the sand. But the waves never quit. They continued to dramatically push me over, causing me to lose my already very flimsy balance.

Eventually I made it past the breaking point. It was at this moment I realized that my paddle was still on the shore. So now I was in the middle of the ocean, without a paddle, trying to maintain balance on a board, and unable to really swim since I only had one good arm.

If you’ve ever had an experience like this or if you’ve simply been to the beach and watched the waves come in relentlessly, you know that it’s wave after wave after wave. The ocean is relentless. It doesn’t care if you are a child or a bad swimmer or a crazy girl with a cast on her arm. The waves will not stop coming.

And life is often like the ocean: it doesn’t relent, it doesn’t slow down, and it just keeps coming. I’m sure you have felt this in your own life, like I have in mine. Those seasons, or months, or years, where it just feels like the world is against you and nothing is going to slow it down. Those seasons can feel extremely defeating and exhausting. It feels like if you could just have a moment to catch your breath, you would be able to stand again and take a step, even if it’s only a small one.

If this is where you find yourself right now, I want you to hear this: God sees you, He keeps you, and He knows you. He is not unaware of what you are experiencing and He deeply cares for you. You are seen. You are kept. You are loved. It may not feel like you are seen, kept, or loved, but you are. For me, it takes hearing those words from someone else for me to truly believe them. So this is me telling you what is true: God is there.

I want to close by sharing one of my favorite little stories from a children’s book called, “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing” by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago (who also wrote and illustrated “The Jesus Storybook Bible”).

What words does God want you to treasure in the deepest part of you?

“Be good?” “Do it better?” “Try harder?” Are those the words God wrote in the Bible for us, to rescue and free us?

No. Those words only show us what we can’t do.

The words God wants us to remember are just three small ones: “I love you.”

They are the words that stop the Terrible Lie that Satan whispered to Eve in the garden: “God doesn’t love you!” They are the words that heal the poison in our hearts that stops us from trusting God.

They are the words that Jesus came to tell us with his whole life.

They are the words he died to prove.

What words will you treasure today?

“Three Small Words” (Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing) by Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago

I pray this encouraged your heart today if you are in a season of relentless life. And if you are not, I pray you will remember these truths when life hits you with wave after wave. He sees you, friend.

Oh, and I eventually made it back to the shore after a kind man swam out to me with my paddle, but I don’t intend on repeating that experience again. 🙂

Purpose.

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We all want to have a purpose in life, we want our life to matter in this world. Purpose is something I believe we are all searching for in life.

Some people find purpose in their jobs by reaching the highest positions and simply being really good at what they do. Some people find purpose in their families, seeking to raise children with good manors and kind hearts. Some people find purpose in their hobbies, by starting non-profits, giving their time up for charities, or traveling around the world. None of these things are bad. In fact, these are all really good things that most people should aspire to! We should all desire to be good at what we do, raise up families that are known for kindness and compassion, and use our talents and loves to make the world a better place.

But there is just something more when we think of the word purpose.

Purpose. It’s the reason we are created, the reason for existence. And there just has to be more in our purpose than being a good employee, having a good family, and doing the things we love. Purpose is something deeper because we want to matter in this world. We want to know why we were created and then live into that purpose!

For the year 2020, PURPOSE is my word. I want to know what my purpose is and live into it. I want to help others see their true purpose in life too. And I believe that the Bible answers the question: What is my purpose in life?

From the very beginning pages of the Bible, we see that our purpose was to be with God. Yet, sin entered the world causing a vast separation that could never be bridged… until Jesus! And now, because of Jesus, we can be with God again! So our purpose is to be with God!

Not only are we to simply be with God, but we are to be a reflection, an imitation, an image of God to a broken and lost world. The more you are around certain people the more you become like them. This is true about being with God too! The more you are with God, the more you will be like Him!

Purpose. It’s a big word, but it holds a lot of important meaning. And I believe that our purpose is to be with God and glorify Him forever! 1 Peter 2:9 is the verse that comes to mind and the verse I want to live into this year.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

And I pray this year you will find your purpose in God as well. I pray that you will know that God loves you, cares for you, and desires for you to be with Him!

Emerald Lake

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Estes Park is a great place for adventure, but it also holds one of my favorite winter hikes, Bear Lake to Emerald Lake.

Estes is a cozy little mountain town full of quaint shops, people seeking adventure, and some of the best taffy you will ever try! It is also the entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). RMNP is wonderful and full of life! There are tons of trails and animals! Trail ridge road is also park of the park and is the highest paved highway in the USA, as it takes you over the continental divide. You should try it sometime, but only in the summer since it’s closed all winter due to snow.

Now, let me tell you about my favorite winter hike. Bear Lake is a gorgeous lake in RMNP. Many people travel to see this lake nestled into the mountains. There are trails around the lake but the best one is the Emerald Lake hike.

Emerald Lake is the fourth lake from Bear Lake. Beginning at Bear it’s a little under 4 miles round trip out to Emerald. You also get to see two other beautiful lakes on the way out!

The trail begins with a fairly steep uphill that will have you asking if you are out of shape or need to start working out more (or maybe start working out in general). It’s really not that bad, but you are now at over 9,000 feet elevation so everyone will feel that at least a little. The first lake you come to is Nymph Lake. It’s a great feeling to get to the first lake. Since everything is frozen, you can hike right over the lake! This is the lake you will see the most people at since it’s the closest and shortest distance. It’s a beautiful view, but if the weather is bearable I’d encourage you to continue on.

Once you cross the lake it’s another uphill trail, but by now you are likely getting used to the air and know a good pace for yourself and your group. This part of the trail is my favorite section in the winter! Soon you will be at one of the best lookouts on the trail, and it’s a must see! Stop and soak it in. Take a few pictures but honestly, just look and see. It’s a view that you will want to remember!

Continue on the trail, which has some thin and tricky areas, until you get to the third lake, Dream Lake. This is the longest lake and it’s a stunning view in the winter! You will likely not believe that the view could get better than this… but it does! So don’t give up!

Dream Lake is a fun lake to cross in the winter due to the size, but this is also the place I’ve turned around the most often. If the weather is really cold or the wind is strong, you will start to really feel it out on this lake since there’s no tree coverage and you’ve been hiking for a while now. But if you are able, and the weather is good… snap a pic, get across the lake, and head into the trees on the opposite side for the final lake!

The final trail is the hardest to follow in the winter since you are simply following the snow packed areas made by those before you and this is the least traveled trail. But you can do it! There are a few very steep ascents in this section but it’s not terribly long. You will go through some trees right before the trail opens up to the lake. Take a deep breath, step through the trees, and look up.

Emerald Lake. You’ve made it! And you are now at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, two 12,000+ foot mountains where you could see some adventurous people backcountry skiing down the valley of the Tyndall Glacier. It’s the most beautiful on a clear day with a fresh coat of snow, but sometimes you may not be that lucky. This lake will be very cold so you likely won’t stay long. But please, sit for a moment and just take it in.

Once you’ve taken in one of the most beautiful places on earth (and taken a few sips of water!!), you can begin your descent. Follow the same trail you took to come out and keep in mind that sometimes it’s easier (and more fun!) to slide on your snow pants down some of the hills.

That’s it. You made it to one of my favorite places and I hope you enjoyed the journey! It’s a place I go almost every year and it’s worth it every single time. It should take anywhere from 1.5-3 hours depending on the weather, your fitness, and your group size.

A note on snow shoes and then some final tips. In the winter you need either snow shoes or ice cleats. Both of these can be rented in town before you head into the park. If there’s fresh snow then snow shoes are the most fun, though they are more difficult to manage. I used ice cleats for the first time this year since the trails were packed and there wasn’t fresh snow… and I loved them! They were easy to use and super helpful! But again, fresh snow would need the snow shoe. (The people at rental stores are always helpful with this kind of thing too.) And I always rent poles as well to help make the hiking easier.

Final Tips:

  • Bring a portable charger for your phone.
  • Bring water and a snack.
  • Check the weather.
  • Get out early.
  • Hike with a group.
  • Wear layers and water proof clothing.
  • Plan ahead and communicate with your group.
  • Have fun and meet some new friends on the way!
Emerald Lake 12.27.19
Dream Lake 12.27.19

New Year’s Resolutions.

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What’s your New Year’s Resolution this year!? Some people love New Year’s Resolutions and some do not. But almost all people do not follow through with them even if they make them.

A resolution is firm decision to do something or to not do something, to start something or stop something. Common resolutions are typically things like… eat healthier, go to the gym more, or get out of debt. These are all great things, but they seem to fail us. One reason I think these fail is because they are not measurable, so there is no way to be held accountable for reaching these resolutions.

But I think resolutions are important. They help establish rhythms of life and keep your focus on the right things. Resolutions show that you are passionate about something specific and will fight for that thing to be made right. Resolutions could also be considered as “habits.”

So, why do we only make resolutions or good, healthy habits, with the start of a new year? Why can’t we make a new resolution whenever we feel ourselves slipping into a direction we do not want to go or falling out of a good rhythm of life?

Resolutions do not need to be made only with the start of a new year, or a new decade. They can be made all throughout the year! But with the start of a new year, I want to encourage you to think about who you want to become this year and just take one step. Then next month, re-evaluate that step, change it, add to it, do what you need to so that you are still taking steps to who you want to become. Begin new habits and quit poor ones that do not add anything good to your life.

As you decide on this year’s resolution, or maybe just this month’s new habit, consider spending time with God. Ask Him who He wants you to become, and then go in that direction with Him. He loves you, friend. And I bet He has a much better and bigger idea for your life than you can imagine!

Happy New Year! And best of luck on those resolutions! Here are a few of mine for 2020:

  • Read through the Bible in a year.
  • Get off of Instagram for a year.
  • Simplify by donating one thing each day.

A Few Reads From 2019

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To start out my “Reads” page, I want to note a few of my favorite books from 2019.

In 2019 I read a lot. Let me clarify. In the last 6 months of 2019 I read A LOT! I took two church history classes and began a class at my church. Each of these classes required a few hundred pages of reading a week. So when I say a lot, I mean, a lot.

Through these reads I learned that I love church history and I can read more in general. It’s worth spending time immersed in a book and I hope to continue to read more in 2020…and increase the variety of reading types too.

One of my favorite reads from 2019 was “The Care of Souls” by Harold Senkbeil. This book is all about pastoral ministry and what it means to be a pastor who cares for the souls of others. My favorite concept of this book was the idea of being a sheepdog. This analogy worked for me because we had a sheltie growing up. Sheepdogs are herders. They circle sheep (or people in the case of my pet) and direct them in the way they want them to go. If they have a good owner who trains them, they direct them in the way their owner wants them to go. In the same way, as ministers of the gospel, we are sheepdogs in relation to the Good Shepherd. We cannot truly save anyone or give them life, but we can direct them towards the one who can!

Sheepdogs also have a unique personality in that they do things that please their owner or shepherd. Dogs in general are extremely joyful creatures which is why people love dogs so much! The thing they always seem to be after is bringing joy and delight to their owner. So as a sheepdog in relation to the Good Shepherd, I do not need to try to earn my approval or acceptance, I am already His. And I do not need to try to do things on my own because that is not what He has called me to. As a sheepdog, I simply get to do what the Shepherd commands with joy and delight! Pick up this book and read it friends, it’s a really good one.

Another one of my favorite books was “Eight Women of Faith” by Haykin. This is a short read, but really good. In it, Haykin tells the story of eight different women in the Christian tradition who have made impacts on the faith. Some of them are women you would expect, and others you may have not expected or never knew they existed. He does a faithful job in telling the stories of these women. This is a book I hope to reread again this year, so likely I will have another more depth post latter on.

The most influential book of 2019 was the last book of the year I read, which was “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. This is part of the reason why I wanted to get off of social media, though there were other reasons too. I will also have another post on this book since it was highly influential. I don’t think I could recommend a better book to talk about our current issues in culture with technology and our need to be everywhere at all times than this book.

Anyways, I hope that this page will be more like a journal of the books I read this year and give others a place to identify some new reads or at least learn about some books they may not have considered reading before. There may be some movies, podcasts, and songs that are scattered throughout this page as well. Enjoy!

Why Break from Social Media?

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Social media seems to have taken over the world in the last few years. 90% of millennials use social media daily, with averages at 1-2 hours a day. I see this especially in my own life as my world often seems to revolve around social media platforms (mostly facebook and instagram). I’ve always been one of the last of my friends to get on the newest technology and social media feeds, and yet, I see a problem in my own life. Social media can quickly become an idol that we worship as god, give our best time to, and believe gives us life, rest, and fulfillment.

But it doesn’t.

I remember getting an Instagram account and my first iPhone my senior year of college. I know, a little late to the game, but I really loved my little flip phone! I knew my friends were tired of having green messages on their phones and there were a lot of new, helpful things that iPhones did that my little flip phone could not. So, like any good millennial, I gave in and got the iPhone…and along with it, Instagram.

Both of these things have been wonderful parts of my life and have made life a lot easier in so many ways. I don’t have to have a GPS system in my car because my phone has one. I don’t have to keep a paper calendar because my phone has one. I don’t have to live close to my best friends to see what their lives are like because of Instagram. I can keep track of my runs and workouts easily. I can also store music and podcasts in one place, and everything is on one device! There are clearly a lot of benefits…plus those beautiful blue messages that started showing up on my friend’s iPhones 🙂

Yet, over the years, social media has become something that I find myself running to in times of boredom, insecurity, and unfilled desires. It’s easier to run to distractions than it is to just address the problem.

And I think I have a problem. I think we have a problem.

The problem is that we are missing out on life that is happening right in front of us because we are so consumed with capturing the best picture, attaching the most accurate taglines, and accumulating the most likes. And maybe this isn’t your problem, but it is mine.

I’ve found myself desiring to have the best picture, with the filter that makes everything look absolutely perfect, and then adding a clever caption to really seal the deal on those likes. And this always leaves me still wanting and never satisfied.

So with that, I am taking a break from social media. It will be deleted from my phone and my phone will begin to function more and more like a good old fashioned flip phone. And I’m really okay with that.

I’m ok with deleting something from my life that 90% of my friends have because I know there is something better for me. That thing is more of Jesus. And more of life. I know that God has a bigger purpose for me than to spend my life comparing myself to others, seeking more little hearts on Instagram, and trying to post the most clever captions I can think of. I know this because God tells us of a better life, and that is one spent with Jesus.

So this year, I want to spend more time with Jesus, more time doing the things He has made me to do, more time being the person He created me to be and wants me to become, and more time around the people He has placed me with. There is simply more to life than likes.

And friend, there is more in life for you too.