Adventures on Ordinary Days
Relationship with God really is an adventure! In the many years I have walked with Jesus I have learned there is always something to discover, both about myself and about Him. I was a worship leader for nearly 30 years, and my heart has burned for Jesus since I gave it to Him when I was four. I have longed to reveal Him as I have stood before His people; desired to provoke them to pursue Him by following hard after Him for myself in passionate, public worship. I loved that life and never regretted one moment that I dedicated to that way of pursuing Him. It was all I knew…and it was good.
Anchor Point, Alaska (Kenai Peninsula)
Still, I sensed a growing frustration with my status quo, and an impression that there was something that I was missing…the MORE of God that I know is available to all of us if we will simply seek Him.
It was then that I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say, “Come up here, I want to show you something.” I had no idea when I gave Him my “yes” in that moment that I would have to let go of everything that I thought was good to embrace something better. But, I no longer wanted to be a compartmentalized Christian who led worship on Sundays, worked as a patient educator through the week and hiked once in awhile on the weekends because my “love” for God kept me tethered to my ministry responsibilities and limited my vision. I wanted to know the wonder of who He is more strongly and more clearly. And now, I understand that the MORE of God is not an either/or experience, it is an all-encompassing spiritual adventure!
This Burning Pursuit is a travel and adventure journal of sorts, where I will share my thoughts and observations with you as I see and experience God both on the hikes and in the ordinary living of life. If you decide to stick around, I’ll tell you what I see, hear, and discover along the way. I hope that by sharing my experiences I can provoke you into pursuing Him for yourself. Welcome to the adventure!
Concision/Brevity Disclaimer:
I am a songwriter and overall wordy person once I get started. So if you have an aversion to alliteration, rhyme, or puns… prefer that one gets straight to the point… or have somewhere to be in the next half hour… these blogs and their entries are probably not for you. You have been warned. (wink)
Lake Gaston (Sunrise) — North Carolina
About Me
Hello, my name is Amy Murray.
I’m the mother of two grown children; a son, Dakota, and a daughter, Jessi. My son-in-law, Tyler, joined the tribe in November 2021. I’m crazy about all of them and love the time we spend together.
I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life. It’s an amazing place to live and fantastic place to hike! Raleigh is currently my home. I can hit the road, head west and be in the mountains in about three hours, or head east and be at the beach in about two and half.
I’ve been a guitar-playing worship leader and Bible teacher for more than thirty years. If I had to choose just one verse from Scripture, Psalm 27:4 has defined my pursuit of God up to this point for those many years. “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.” (ESV) I long for deeper encounters with Him and have a strong desire to help others seek and find Him.
I’m a total introvert, which makes the worship leader/Bible teacher thing a total miracle. I’m a sunrise junkie (especially if I can catch it in a new place) and obviously, a morning person. I love music, reading, and words in general, so I guess being a songwriter would be only too natural.
I’m really good at asking questions…just ask my friends…and the natural sciences fascinate me. I might know a little about a lot of things, but never a lot about any one thing. Exploring the natural world and anticipating what’s over the next hill or around the next bend excites me, so of course hiking is a passion.
I’m not into stupid humor; give me witty and creative. Needless to say, I am a TOTAL Dr.Who fan, which I can be found binge-watching often.
My biggest pet peeve is a bumpy shopping cart (yes, I will take it back to the front of the store and get another one). Do not serve me anything with curry in it. I will not drink rootbeer, and licorice and jelly beans are also out of the question. But, if you’re going for Japanese food, I’m absolutely up for it!
Finally, I guess I would say I am a traveler on a journey back to the heart of God in His fullness. I am anticipating what eternity with Him will be like, while trying to be who I am and do what I love, with those I love, as I seek to know Him better, right here and right now, in this space. It has taken me a long time to get comfortable with how God uniquely made me and believe He loves me as I am, but I suppose that’s all part of the trip.
Welcome to my continuing story!