Someone asked me once how you know if you are in God’s will?

The question perplexed me until I felt the burning in my heart- like something new and exciting was pressing to burst out. Right about that time every book I picked up and every second spent contemplating my dreams seemed to stretch me back- like an arrow in a bow surrounded by pressure just before being propelled to it’s target. 

Find your true aim…

That takes some searching, and intentional focus straight ahead, with your eyes locked on your Hope and the Creator of the best kind of dreams. I searched for my target and I begged God for confirmation, and the beautiful gift, so far, has not been a clear picture. Instead, He’s shining His light just on the step I’m on, and He’s beckoning me forward with the command to trust Him.  

God always honors faith in action; the Bible says it moves His heart. So, this is how and why Soul Fitness was created.

Before taking the steps to launch an expanded Soul Fitness program, Kristin and I poured ourselves into service at Camp Timberline’s amazing Faith & Fitness Retreats. This past year, as we geared up to lead the Retreat, we stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Estes Park (Coffee on the Rocks) to fill up on yummy coffee and soak in a moment of quiet time with our Father. It was one of those gorgeous October days, with the mountainside blazing with bright yellow aspen. The sun was warm and my heart was feeling overwhelmed with the task at hand. I had selected Isaiah 58:6-11 as our scripture for the weekend and had boiled down the speaking focus to topics on Love, Hope and Peace. At that moment, I was questioning if that was what the Lord wanted me to share with all of the lovely women that were making their way through the Rocky Mountains to a Retreat they hoped would restore their souls. So, I cried out to God for reassurance. With my eyes closed and heart open, I was jostled out of my prayer by the snort of a little Chihuahua. His presence made me laugh, and I asked his owner what his name was. The woman looked at me square in the eye and said, “Peace…his name is Peace.” “What? You named your Chihuahua Peace, why did you name him that,” I exclaimed! Her response settled me, “Because we all could use a little peace.” In that moment, God reassured me that peace was important to talk about.

Filled up and encouraged, we headed up the mountain to Camp T to kick off our Faith & Fitness weekend. Kristin was going to be teaching the yoga first, so she headed up to the Rocky Dome to work on her class flow and connect with the Lord. The feeling of heaviness and uncertainty settled into my spirit again, so I retreated to the outdoor stadium that sits in the heart of Camp T. My task for the night was to deliver a devotional, so I began to cry out to the Lord for words, courage and pretty much any other lifeline He would throw my way.  What I received in those moments will be something I will never forget. With tears streaming down my face, Joshua 1:9 came to my mind. “Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous, do not be terrified do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The words strong and courageous resonated with my spirit, and as I lifted up my eyes, I was shocked to see a HUGE bull elk grazing on the grass, not 20 feet from me! I was not afraid, and neither was that elk! I sat in the shadow of that majestic beast and gazed upon it’s strength, and was in awe of the magnificence of the Lord’s creation. My heart just overflowed…

I slipped away greatly encouraged and our evening began.

Our weekend began with an outdoor, mountain-top yoga class. Halfway through the class, a loud bugling broke through the praise and worship music. Perplexed, we ran to the edge of the Rocky Dome, and saw that the bull elk had brought his entire herd to the outdoor stadium! He ran wildly around the cows and calves bugling. And Isaiah 55:12 came to fruition, “For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with PEACE; THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS SHALL BREAK FORTH BEFORE YOU INTO SINGING, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” FOR REAL, GOD?!!!

~Psalm 31:19 “How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”

I have to say, all of this stunned me. In disbelief of what we had witnessed, we proceeded to the Party Barn for our devotional. Surrendered at this point, I opened my heart and mouth and words spilled forth. I’m not sure of what I said, but God’s final encouragement took hold of me. A precious woman, named Sarah, came up to me after my talk and said, “I admire your strength and your courage.” How could she know that those words would carry so much meaning? More than anything, I was clinging to that Joshua 1:9 verse to carry me through that talk! I didn’t feel strong and I didn’t feel courageous, I just felt God’s pleasure….that burning in my heart….that still small voice that asks,

“Will you trust Me?”