Friday night alive

okay so my second night was much better than my first. . .

got to the camp site around 5ish -- began to look for more wood and get fire ready

Mrs. McCracken - the lady who donated the land -- came by -- she is so sweet. she gave me her number and said to call her i needed anything and she bought me an oil lamp -- i realized i was not alone -- if i needed help i had it!

dinner was great -- i tried a new way to make chicken -- salsa style -- the corn on the cob wasn't as good as i've made it - but that's okay.

even though i left my bible in my office -- was in the Word! -- tonight i really feel i broke before my Savior! -- after dinner I walked up the hill to this huge cross Mrs. McCracken had erected. it over looks the entire area -- there is a natural staging to it -- as i looked up at it, i began to cry -- the song by al dension came flooding into my mind --

"take me to the cross, high above the steple, the place where Jesus died for the lost people. if you can't find home, know your not alone, take me to the cross"

that's how i've felt lately -- like i could find my way home -- but alas i'm there!

i spend the night watching the fire, playing with the fire, warming up to the fire, putting wood on the fire -- can ya see a pattern? - i love fire! i learn so much just by watching it -- take this for example: at the end of the night around midnight or so, i was watching the fire die down -- i realized just how perfect the coal were for cooking -- much better than the open flames i had cooked on and burt myself on earlier -- i wanted to cook a hotdog but wasn't hungry -- anyway, as i stood feeling the heat from those bright brilant glowing red coals -- it hit me -- the wood was only half as effective while it was just being burnt.

yes, it produced enough heat to cook my chicken - but how easily my meat could burn from being exposed too much to the flames -- but once it was consumed totally - then and only then was the wood completly usable without seriuosly burning much. that 's how i need to be -- i need to be totally consumed by my Lord - yes, i will be usable but not to my fullest potential.

but that's just one of several things i learned last night. the rest of the night consisted of me, dave platt - the cd's from last year's ridgecrest - my baptist hymnal and my heart fully exposed - longing for restoration, cleansing, forgivness, healing, and renewal.

the rest of the story yet to come!