Mark in StudyThat popular phrase to help you learn what to do if you ever catch on fire could also describe my night. I tossed and turned as if I was Jacob, wrestling with God.

It is strange for me to feel a need for this degree of crystal clear direction. As an ENTP (old school Myers Brigs), I am fairly content suspending decision in preference for more information. I was after all, able to suspend determining OJ Simpson guilt until moments after he was pronounced innocent.

Yesterday, Caleb and I created lists of pros and cons. We thought through implications of decision outcomes. We read Scripture from the Psalms and prayed asking God for wisdom and guidance. As we spent hours seeking God, the one conviction we both shared was that He met us there.

As we looked from a place high on a rock in the middle of Beaver River we laughed out loud at what was both perfect and at the same time a “beautiful mess” (a phrase that has become a central operating motif at TJN). There were logs that had fallen and lodged against rocks by a raging river that has long ago fallen back leaving them hanging far above the waters movement. Trees bowing to unseen powers and boulders that look as if they were just tossed about with out any thought of design, made the river look un-kept. All this chaos and yet so beautiful – perfect!

We found ourselves thinking of the Church in general and The Journey North in particular. We could see her brokenness, her imperfections, blemishes, sinfulness, chaos, and pain. We also saw, God’s sustaining hand, His majesty, the awesome way He was revealed in His creation and in His Church. It really reminded us that it is in our brokenness that Christ is seen in power. He is made perfect in our weakness. And I am so thankful for that.

So in the end we have walked away from our time in prayer feeling like God has showed us a picture of The Journey North and stirring my heart for her again and afresh. I am so thankful for God, His Bride the Church and the role I get to play in serving the The Journey North as I serve Jesus with my whole heart.