Yesterday Peggy, Amanda, Emmi and I went trail riding with the Mineral Point Cowboys for Christ group.  Dr Dale Linebaugh invited us to see their new Barn Church and the beautiful land behind it!   It was truly breath taking, a huge valley was before us, large rock out croppings to ride down thru, a large roling hills in the distance ...and a river!  Something inside me just knew we would be crossing a river... I laughed out loud when I saw it because niether Kisses or I had ever crossed water before and Kisses JUMPED 8 inch streams.  I have been looking for challenges in my life that I had been afraid of previously of.  I got what I wanted!  I wasn't afraid of water, I was afraid of taking a completely novice horse that reacted huge to every new experience, across big water.  )When we'd crossed the wide expance of pasture and approaced the bank of the river my heart started beating faster.  As Kisses looked at the 3 foot drop down to the WATER her head and pace picked up.  Her eyes were wide and she began to side pass away.  We all rode toward what we hoped would be an easier acess to the water.  Eventually we got to a place that was easy to get in.  The approach was muddy but even.  After some gentle coaxing she went in.  Her eyes were big, she snorted, she splashed, and she crossed!  Yea!  A rush of pure pleasure rushed over me!  Another fear faced and overcome!   And then....we met up with some more riders...and we headed back to river...again.  This time not at an easy access point (for us anyway).  This time the acess was the three foot drop with two rutts that cut in about 12 inches across.  Everyone else had crossed.  Kisses would get about 4 feet from the rutts and back up.  Because of her fear she could not even listen to my cues, all she could see was the monster river with evil mudd.  I got off and decided to lead her to the river.  I knew she would go with me.  She did, almost.  She go to the rutt and went half way down.  She started sliding toward the water and  freaked out.  she reared up, fell over and nearly got stuck in the mudd for a bitt.  Now I was concerned she'd hurt herself.  A wonderful man offered to pony her into the river and get her used to it.  Great idea!  He took her rope, and lead her in with his well seasoned gelding.  He was in the water, Kisses trembling on the bank.Kisses sat back and launched at least 10 feet above the river.  She was above the mans head!  She landed in the river at a stop.  Eyes wide.  He lead her around.  All I could do was thank God I wasn't on her back, I know I wouldn't have been able to ride that one out.  I had him bring Kisses to me and I mounted her from the waters edge.  We made it to the other side...  A few minutes later...another crossing.  Great.  This time a muddy approach and a bank.  I was led in by a kind women this time.  I think the man had had enough of me and my GI Barbie in training, horse.  This time Kisses went thru the mudd pretty well, until the end.  She jumped from the deepest mud into the water, and stopped dead.  Whoa!  I didn't fall off...that's something.  This time I walked her around in the river a bit before we got our.  She walked out calmly.  And then.... yes... another crossing.  This time I waved Peggy over.  Peggy is the Trail Master at Unbridled Faith Farm.  I knew that Kisses had always looked to her mare as the lead horse, and she found comfort going thru new terrain with her.  I asked Peggy to take a close hold on my filly (bye the way, I only had a halter with a lead rope on her...we'd left her bridle at the barn by mistake).  This time, Peggy, her mare Hayda, Kisses and I, walked in, flat footed, thru the mud and into the river.  When we got to the middle a cheer went up!  The riders at the other side were celebrating our victory (and the fact that they didn't have to wait for us...again).  Kisses took a big fear cleansing breath.  We walked in the river a bit and then stepped out calmly.  AAHHH...we did it...at leaste we'd made alot of progress!  Another fear faced and more Unbridled Freedom attained!  As I thought about it on the way home I realized that it was only the Connection between Kisses and I, as well as the Connection between Peggy and Heyda, and Kisses and I, that got us across without fear.  Both Kisses and I trusted Peggy and her mare, we'd traveled enough trails, had enough experiences, to know that they would come thru for us!  I was again reminded of my Connection with Jesus.  I have been facing some giants and mountians lately.  I have been learning how to trust at an even higher level.  Jesus is showing and teaching me how to exercise my faith muscles.  I do that by remembering what we've already been thru together, remembered what HisWord has already taught me, and so I step into my "river", knowing that I can TRUST my GREAT TRAIL GUIDE to get me to the other side!  I have that Fear Faced equals Freedom.  Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.  Fear freezes you, causes you to miss out on your Trail Ride.  

Maybe you could look at some of the things that have been causing you fear.  Are they keeping you from living the life you've always dreamed of?  Why not ride right up to one of those fears and ask our GREAT TRAIL GUIDE to help you across your 'river' to the Unbridled Freedom on the other side!  Create some faith experiences! Each experience will create a closer Connection with your Great Trail Guide.  This is the Great Adventure!  Enjoy the ride of your life!