I want to share with you something that happened to me just a few weeks ago. There is a place that I go to write, read and to simply relax. This place is in the mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenery is beautiful and I go and pray and take in God's beauty. I love it there because it is quiet and the only thing that I can hear is the chirping of birds and the wind. I embrace the silence. That's peculiar of me since most of my life has been classified by business and noise because I never wanted the silence. I was scared of it. Months later, I love it.

The other day, after a busy day at work I asked a friend if she would like to join me in an adventure to "my" spot in the mountains. She eagerly accepted. When we arrived she walked around exploring the beauty and taking pictures. I sat on a rock and tried to pray and sort out my confused mind. My mind started to wander off and I began to think, I wonder what is ahead of this spot. I thought that we were pretty much near the top of the mountain so I was sure that it wasn't too far off. I had never gone past this spot. I liked my spot because it was beautiful and I felt safe. There was a little table there where I could sit and read. It was just me and the Lord; and I loved it.

So we got back into the car and started to drive further up the mountain. About one mile later we turned a corner and gasped for air. The scene before our eyes was absolutely majestic! I had never seen such a beautiful picture in all of my life. It was as though we could see for forever. We saw mountain ranges in the distance that appeared like ant hills. It truly felt like a surreal experience.

My friend was so moved by the beauty that she was brought to tears. For me, I was in awe and excited. I screamed for joy. We parked the car on the side of the road and began to walk around. While I was sitting admiring the beauty, the Creator spoke to me. He said, "Look around you. All this is only one mile up the road. You, my child have no idea what is in store for you." I thought about my little spot just down the road and how I thought it was so nice and comfortable, but I never went any further. My lesson for the day was that I could have stayed there forever and never went any further. You see, I was content. My Lord was waiting for me to just come a little further. He's calling to all of us. He's telling us to keep moving, keep getting up when you fall. Do not become complacent where you are. Even if you feel that you have arrived, the Lord has bigger and better plans for you. His plans are beyond our comprehension and his dreams for us are full of prosperity. He wants to bless us and see smiles upon the faces of His children. He is a good and wonderful God.

This experience opened my eyes to the fact that the original spot that I loved, I had just recently found. Before that, I never went further than a hiking spot that was ten minutes down the road. For years I never even thought of going further up the mountain. Until one day I was set free from the noise and I started moving forward. The Lord moved quickly to meet me there. Actually He was already there, waiting for me to move towards Him. I can't wait to see where I go next. I encourage you to explore your God given potential. Don't live your life by man made limitations. Live by His promises. Please don't ever give up because you never know what's in store just one mile up the road.

"I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!" Jeremiah 29:11-13

Alison Keiser is employed as a counselor and works with at risk youth at a local hospital in Southwest Virginia. Her desire is to write for the Kingdom of God.