Expedition: A Journey Undertaken for a Specific Purpose

October 8, 2012

Expedition: A Journey Undertaken for a Specific Purpose

“… the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness.”

Mark 1:12 NLT

Over the next forty days, I am planning to go on a spiritual expedition. A spiritual experiment of sorts. Not a forty day fast. Nor a forty day retreat, but forty days of preparation. Forty days from today marks the weekend before Thanksgiving. The weekend after Thanksgiving will mark the forty days of Advent.

As the end of this year approaches, I am surprised by an invitation to continue to rest. I started out the year with a forty day Sabbath, seeking to be ready for what I hoped would be a new season of encouraging women in my home. I wanted to offer a place to retreat and be refreshed by God. This vision birthed out of my own desire to practice more solitude in the midst of a world that distracts so easily.

Even last year, this desire was growing. I wrote about it in a journal entry dated: Tuesday, June 22, 2011.

“…but what I really want is my life to matter. To enjoy what I have—to share what I have with others. Out of the overflow of this…I long to invite women to retreat and be refreshed, renewed and restored.”

By now, I thought I would be offering day retreats in my home to weary souls. Yet God in his ability to see beyond my thoughts has invited me to wait in His presence. To soak in His Word and rely on Him as the Spirit moves me into this “wilderness” season.

Jesus was led into the wilderness for forty days. We know that part of the purpose was a testing, but I think mostly it was a time of preparation. And that is the specific purpose that leads me to a season of staying home more, reading more and praying with intention to discover and develop ideas that have been whirling around my heart, soul and mind. To test them, and see if this is the direction God would have me to go.

Pray for me as I embark on this expedition. You may hear more musings about it here. Who knows? I just know that I must follow hard after Jesus, and trust Him to lead me on into New Frontiers.

Linking up with:

expedition, journal, journey, Monday musings, rest, wilderness

Posted by:

kelrohlf

5 responses to “Expedition: A Journey Undertaken for a Specific Purpose”

Lynn Morrissey

October 8, 2012 at 4:45 pm

I will be praying for you, Kel, and ask that you pray for me. So often our hearts and souls parallel. I have been having a similar experience. Hmmm….what is He showing us? I was even thinking back to our mutual friend and her Radical Sabbatical next hear. You are seeking new horizons, and I am seeking completion, but in the end, both are sought in solitude and silence, things which to man seem empty, but with Christians are pregenant with God.Can't wait till we share in person (and would love to see that lovely journal collage). Sending you much love, prayer, and hope for the journey.Your soulful scout,Lynni

Reply
Kel Rohlf

October 8, 2012 at 5:02 pm

Thanks Lynni! So thankful to be on the journey together…resting in Jesus is the best place to be…praying for you, too…looking forward to comparing "notes" next week… i will bring some collage creations…and my pen to take down all your insights! Love-Kel

Reply
Anita

October 8, 2012 at 5:21 pm

Hi Kel,Thank you for visiting my blog today, and leaving a comment.:)I pray that your 40 day expedition into God's Word, will be such a blessed time -'Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.’ Psalm 36:5 NLT

Reply
Laura Boggess

October 10, 2012 at 3:42 am

"What I really want is my life to matter…" Oh, I hear you, friend. But resting in Him? This is. True surrender. And that matters.

Reply
Behind the Smile

October 11, 2012 at 11:34 pm

I pray you find direction/guidance from father God as you wait on him. Sometimes a preparation time, a time of rest can be longer than we expected. It is when we think nothing is happening that God is working , preparing and in his time will it all come to fruition. The waiting time I find is the hardest for me though. Blessings.

Reply

I love a dialogue. Be the first to start a discussion! Cancel reply

About Me

Hi! My name is Kel Rohlf. I am an intuitive mixed-media artist, creative writer and performer. Life is a performance. I often attend.

souldare