Enjoying the Mountaintop

For he will hide me in his shelter

    in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent,

    he will set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:5 (RSV)

Bill and I enjoyed another mountaintop in our lives this past week as we visited the good people of Woodland Baptist Church, Peoria, IL.

We were honored to help in providing some music for the wedding of two young adults who grew up in the church.  We also stayed with one of our close friends there, a lovely lady who provided our lodging and meals.  It was good to catch up and share stories and renew our friendships.

God provides many mountaintop experiences in life but sometimes we just walk past the mountain, too busy to look up.  God wants to raise us up and place us "high upon a rock" if we'd just let him.

Look upward and find your mountaintop today.

Photo Credit: Trekking Rinjani on Flickr

You Can Run...

Who can hide in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:24

  

  

 It's useless to hide from God.

Fess up and face it.

 Photo Credit: MSSaraKelly on Flickr

The Scarecrow

An idol is no better
    than a scarecrow.
It can’t speak,
and it has to be carried,
    because it can’t walk.
Why worship an idol
    that can’t help or harm you?

Our Lord, great and powerful,
 you alone are God.

You are King of the nations.
    Everyone should worship you.
No human anywhere on earth
  is wiser than you.

Jeremiah 10:5-7

There are so many idols man makes for himself and his kingdom.  I'm on the lookout today for idols I've made and of which I'm not aware.  I hope I don't find any.

Photo Credit: Donald Lee Pardue

God's Blessings

He makes my feet 

like the feet of a deer;

 he causes me

 to stand on the heights.

Psalm 18:33

Yes, we have deer in our backyard.  Well, we have but this is a picture of our neighbor's yard and garden.  We are blessed being so close to God's creations and are grateful.

You have a blessed day, too.

Photo from personal files.

Surprise!

FOUND!

One Frog

in our toilet!

SURPRISE!

This is a picture of him just after his release.  He is about 2 inches long.  We don't know how he got there but we think it was when we came in the night before.  One frog startled us WAY enough.  I don't know how I would have been able to take a plague of them.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”

Exodus 8:5

Motto or Mantra

Who among you fears the LORD?

 Who obeys the voice of His Servant?

 Who walks in darkness 

And has no light?

 Let him trust in the name of the LORD 

And rely upon his God.

Isaiah 50:10

Our Vacation Bible School theme was "Trust God."

That seems like a simple thing to do but when things are chaotic, it's not so simple.  Teaching children to trust God when they are very young is the best defense.  Allowing them to ask God for things, like comfort in distress or healing for a friend, helps them learn early to depend on God for everything.

My little grandchildren are afraid of thunder so I've been telling them to pray and thank God for the rain then to trust God and ask Him to make them brave.

One of them is inordinately afraid of buzzy, stinging bugs.  Next time we have an encounter, I'm going to try and remember to tell her to pray for the bug and that God makes them for a reason and to trust that He will protect her.

Yes, I've been stung before but was I praying for the bug?  No.

  It's too bad that most of our society hasn't been taught  to Trust in God.  It's too bad that the motto,"In God We Trust," is just a motto and not a mantra.

Photo from personal files.

Covered

Above all,

 love each other deeply,

 because love covers over

 a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

I'm glad God chose to cover my sins 

with His Son's life.

Photo Credit: Robb North

The Lord Is Good

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:5-6

I'm enjoying the gifts from the Lord today.  He is so good.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer on Flickr

The Small Gate

 But small is the gate

 and narrow the road

 that leads to life, 

and only a few find it.

Matthew:14

People get very testy when one speaks of there being only one way to God.

  "You know, we want to be inclusive, don't you?  You don't want to leave anyone out, do you?"

"No, I really don't. That's why I'm telling you this.  The Bible isn't a novel or just a book of historical data.  It's truth.  Why do you think it has survived all these years.  Man tried to destroy it and is still trying but God has kept it alive through his people.  Read and believe."

Photo Credit: Tim Green on Flickr

Mountaintop Experience

Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.

Psalm 90:2-4

We're here on this earth such a short time in the scheme of things that we need to take advantage of every wonder we can.

I've always loved the mountains and Yosemite provides a world of wonders.  I'd like to return some day but until then, photos will have to do.  This shot was taken in the evening and the streak of light were cars leaving the site. 

Photo Credit: Kartik Ramanathan on Flickr 

Perhaps Not Cursed This Week

A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!

Jeremiah 48:10

Sometimes when serving the Lord, we find ourselves in a spin.  It seems like a never-ending merry-go-round of activity.  We're resting on our only night free this week but it's been a good one and looks like it will continue in that direction...even if it rains the whole next three days.

We've taken our two oldest grandchildren living near us to VBS every morning.  With a three-month old and a 2-year-old, a 30 min. drive, and having to be there at 8:30 a.m., Mom was afraid they would not be able to go.  Grandpa and I said they would. Period.

We had our own obligations at our church at VBS in the evenings so it has worked.  Ours was Sun. night through Wed. night so...here we are tonight.

It's a bit dizzying but fun.

Photo Credit: Hitchster on Flickr

A Little Rain Cloud

A gentle answer 

turns away wrath,
but a harsh word 

stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

It begins with a little cloud that hangs over my head caused by something said or done by another...or myself.  Before I know it, out of nowhere, that cloud becomes a storm cloud full of raining anger.  Beware the person who walks under my cloud.  I'm able to rain all over you and you never knew what hit you.

Well, that's a bit dramatic but my family can attest that it happens to all of us at one time or another...as it does in most families who are honest with themselves.  Turn the cloud into blue skies and see if anger is averted.  It takes the strength of the Lord and the determination of the bearer of the feelings to make the change.

"Raining" on a person can affect that victim for a lifetime.

Photo Credit: Huw on Flickr

Cheer Up!

Here is a message for all
who are weak,
trembling,
and worried:

“Cheer up! Don’t be afraid.
Your God is coming
    to punish your enemies.
God will take revenge on them
    and rescue you.

Isaiah 35:3-4 

Contemporary English Version

I'm not in trouble now but I have been in this situation before.  There's nothing better than being rescued by God after a dangerous encounter.  Hope you don't have one today but remember the times you have and praise God for His strong, protective arm.

Enjoy the amazing photography of Craig Deakin HERE.

The Key to a Sure Foundation

The LORD is exalted, 

for he dwells on high;

he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

 He will be the sure foundation for your times, 

a rich store of salvation

 and wisdom 

and knowledge;

the fear of the LORD

 is the key to this treasure

Isaiah 33:5-6

Photo Credit: Abhinaba Basu on Flickr