Hiking in the rain around the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. ⛈
Shout out to the brothers from NCIC II who accompanied me on the journey. Much thanks to Pastor D who allowed me to share this message at the Hosanna City Church - Yucca Valley, Monday Night Men's Bible Study. Very grateful to Jesus for calling me on this journey and His Spirit which carries me through the storm. ☔️

The footage was shot in 4K using a DJI Osmo Action strapped to my forehead. Unfortunately, I did not have the RockSteady function enabled, so the footage is a little bouncy. This hike began at the parking area of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (Sand to Snow National Monument) in Morongo Valley, Ca. We proceeded south along the Marsh trail to the Mesquite trail then to the Canyon trail, west up and across some of the ridges connecting back to the West Canyon trail following that trail back to the Mesquite trail and on to the Marsh trail leading to the parking area.

Trip Distance: 2.59 mi / 4.17 km
Elevation Gain: 1,257 ft / 383 m
Max Elevation: 3,093 ft / 943 m
Avg Heart Rate: 132 bpm
Max Heart Rate: 175 bpm
Moving Time: 58:43
Avg Moving Speed: 2.7 mph / 4.35 kph

The cost to follow Jesus is everything but the reward is eternity. Jesus teaches His disciples the cost of discipleship. He tells them that they must take up their cross and follow Him no matter what.

Matthew 10:27-39
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

For the audio-only version of this message, check it out here:
https://archive.org/details/matt-10-27-39-110920/Matthew+10_27-39+110920.mp3