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CLIMBING MOUNTAINS
DRAWS US CLOSER TO GOD
Kent E Heaton Sr
Life has been patterned as
a journey and through our journey, we pass through valleys and over hills. Sometimes the valleys are deep and sometimes the
hills turn into mountains. These are the challenges of life we must all face. The hills and mountains before us seem insurmountable.
We look at the top and think it is impossible to reach. The valleys grow dark and forbidding and fear follows our every step.
While Satan goes about like a roaring lion to cause dread and fear, God reminds us that He will not forsake us or leave us.
These times of difficulty are to bring us closer to God. With
each step we take and each day we climb, the way seems hard and the burdens great. We strain as the loads of life bear down
upon us. Some paths up the mountain are more difficult than others. Disease controls our body, frailties of life oppress us,
doubts and worry overshadow our lives and forces around plague us. Our footsteps seem unsure and we fear for not knowing what
lies ahead. In the valley of shadows, we try
to find our way through the ravines and chasms of tears and woe. Darkness closes around us and our hearts fill with doubt.
The sounds in the valley send chills of fright through our bones and we are afraid. These are emotions born in us as we face
life with its challenges and troubles. Death invades our lives, sorrow fills our cup and depression looms over our heads.
Whether in the valley low or the mountain steep, a voice rings clear from the throne of God - “The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:6). For the
child of God, climbing these mountains bring a peace that gives calm assurance to the journey. As we struggle with the difficulties
of life, we know that we are drawing closer to God. Paul expressed this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 when he talked about his
thorn in the flesh. He asked the Lord three times to remove the thorn but the Lord said that His grace was sufficient. The
result was then that Paul used this mountain of difficulty to draw closer to God. He said, “Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then
I am strong.” Paul was content in whatever
state he found himself in. He did not give up nor think the way too hard - even though it was a difficult journey. His assurance
came in the knowledge that as he climbed his mountain, he drew even closer to God. He understood the path through the valley
was filled with fright and fear but his confidence in the power of God led him with every step. His strength came from his
trials and his troubles. His power was not of his own but the power given to him by God. Our lives are filled with many mountains and valleys. How we climb those mountains will determine
our outlook in life. If we can but remember that climbing - facing the challenges of life - will bring us closer to God. It
is only with the presence of God that we are able to climb. The valleys are only momentary pauses in our lives that we must
pass through. The Psalmist declared the wonderful love of the Shepherd in Psalm 23 that no harm would befall the child of
God. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod
and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Brent
Hunter once said, “Even if the outlook is dark, the uplook is always bright.” Whether from the mountain top or
the end of the valley, our God will be with us each step of the way. With each step, we draw closer to God - with each step
we draw closer to our home where “God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow,
nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
 Subject Unto A Higher Power
by Alma
Norman
Rom. 13: 1-2 "Let every soul be
subject unto a higher power. For there is no power but of God:....whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinances
[laws] of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."
God never turns his back on us,
making us feel abandoned. If God is not with us, we've left him; he didn't leave us. We've turned our backs on
him and we've chosen to be self-willed, rather than obey God. One of the devil's tools used to separate us from God
is this feeling of being independent, self-reliant, not needing anyone but ourselves. We forget to acknowledge and be grateful
for all the many blessings that God has so richly blessed us with. For all that we are and all that we have is because of
God.
Gal. 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but,
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit real everlasting life."
God desires our obedience; for he
doesn't want anyone to be lost. He wants us to live our lives in a Christ-like manner.. Jesus lived here giving us the
perfect example to follow. We'll never achieve the perfection that he did; but, we are to strive towards living Godly
lives. God wants us to study his word and apply it to our daily lives. By doing this, our faith will be grounded in the truth
and bring us closer to God. Those Christians who remain faithful in their love, devotion, and service to God will someday
be greatly rewarded, reaping everlasting life. This should be every Christian top priority...obeying God and loving Him more
than anyone or anything else desiring to make heaven their home. Gal. 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but, he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit real everlasting life."
God desires our obedience; for he doesn't want anyone to
be lost. He wants us to live our lives in a Christ-like manner.. Jesus lived here giving us the perfect example to follow.
We'll never achieve the perfection that he did; but, we are to strive towards living Godly lives. God wants us to study
his word and apply it to our daily lives. By doing this, our faith will be grounded in the truth and bring us closer to God.
Those Christians who remain faithful in their love, devotion, and service to God will someday be greatly rewarded, reaping
everlasting life. This should be every Christian top priority...obeying God and loving Him more than anyone or anything else
desiring to make heaven their home.
Pain stayed
so long, I said to him today, "I will not have you with me any more," I stamped my foot and said, "Be on your
way," And paused there, startled at the look he wore. "I, who have been your friend," he said to me; "I,
who have been your teacher-all you know Of understanding love, of sympathy and patience I have taught you. Shall I go?"
--unknown
What do you think about this quote? I picture pain as a type of soil that the seed of the word of God can be planted in and while it can be fertile ground
that brings awareness and recognition of what was previously unknown, it is the Word of God that is the teacher of love, sympathy
and patience. Without our Lord, pain is nothing but destructive. With God, pain can jolt us out of self-dependence that will
bring us to our knees and help us see our need for Christ. The
humbling quality of pain is probably what the Psalmist had in mind when he wrote, "It is good for me that I have been
afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." (Ps 119:71) Years ago Cheryl Morris and I were having a conversation about
our illnesses (at the time Cheryl was nearing the end of her life) and what we had learned. We were wondering, if we were
completely free of disease, would we remember all the lessons we learned and do those things for others that we would like
done for ourselves? Would we remember these lessons without the constant pain reminding us? I'm not so sure what I think about this popular quote from C.S. Lewis, "God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world," but I do know it took
the "megaphone" of pain to arouse me from self-sufficiency to more dependence on God. I hadn't realized how
self-sufficient I had become until I was laid flat out on my back for months at a time. However, I don't praise pain,
only God who gives us direction, support and wisdom to persevere, as well as numerous blessings that far outweigh the pain.
-Pat Gates
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation (pressure from without), or distress (pressure from within; anxiety of mind), or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted
as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor
depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom
8:35-39
What, in our lives, can separate us from
the love of Christ?
- Can day by day by day by day by day by day fatigue coupled with the
delusion there is no purpose in life?
- Can pain, ongoing,
unrelenting, constantly wearing-on-the-nerves pain?
- Can grief
that seems to tear the heart in two and fills the deep inner recesses of the soul?
- Can loneliness that bears down on us, no matter how many people surround it?
- Can injustice where the sting of tears are in the eyes and despair fills the heart?
NONE of these things can separate us from the
love of Christ!
- Life (the promise of physical life in times of persecution) can not
separate us from the love of Christ.
- Death (the threat of
death, fear of death or death itself) can not separate us from the love of Christ.
- Angels, principalities, powers (no spiritual or physical powers) can separate us from from the love of Christ.
- Things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of Christ. (Sure
takes away fear of the future doesn't it?)
- Height (possibly
meaning prosperity, honor, elevation, wealth, honor, splendor, rank and function) and depth (possibly
meaning lowest circumstances of depression, poverty, contempt, and want; the very lowest rank of life)...no possible circumstance
can separate us from the love of Christ.
- No created thing
(in other words, nothing) can separate us from the love of Christ.
Did
you realize you have so much power in Christ's love? Rom 8:31-32: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against
us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things?" "His giving his Son is a
proof that he will give to us all things that we need. The argument is from the greater to the less. He that has given the
greater gift will not withhold the less." (from Barnes' Notes)
And on our part, "love bears all."
Our love for Christ conquers all opposition. We can be more than conquerors through Christ who loved us in His example
of conquering this painful world in His daily example and in giving of His life, wherein lays salvation and hope.
Bible love is symmetrical, balanced. It is
not mere sentimentality, nor a reckless emotional abandonment of truth, but is guided by intelligent, rational reasons. In
Philippians 1:10, Paul calls for that balance as he prays "that your love abound yet more and more in knowledge and in
all judgment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent." Love is the "motor" for all purity, but it
is guided by intelligent and judgmental choices. -Dee Bowman/Christianity
Mag./Jan. 1991
"Love." Put whatever definition you want to it and
it still comes out charity, at least the Bible kind does. In fact, our word charity is the closest word in the English language
to the Greek word, agape. --Dee Bowman/Christianity Mag./May 1995
GOD
LOVES US AND HE CARES by
Alma Norman Psalm 139:2, "Thou knows my sitting
down and mine uprising; Thou understands my thoughts afar off." There are times when we're guilty of feeling all alone, depressed, troubled and sad. We think no one knows how
we feel and we question within ourselves if there's anyone who really cares. In these times of feeling helpless and without
hope, we fail to acknowledge that God is always there with us and He cares. Our problem lies in our inability to lean on God for strength. It's our nature as humans to struggle and to try
and work things out on our own. But, as Christians, this is not the way God wants us to feel or to act. He wants us to put
our faith and trust in Him. He knows our troubles and our heartaches, and He cares. And He patiently awaits us with open arms
to comfort and soothe us when trials and tribulations come our way. Proverbs 5:3, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Life will bring us times of joy and peace, contentment, and happiness with a mixture
of sadness and discontentment, troubles, heartaches and pain. We will have times of joy, high on the mountaintops and experience
pain, low in the valleys. But, we need to remember that regardless of where we are, God is there with us; He loves us and
He cares. And during these times when our faith is tested and we choose to put our trust in God, it is also during these times
that we'll grow closer to God. Our faith will increase once God has calmed those storms in our lives. Why? It is because
we have seen firsthand the evidence of God's presence working in our lives by our faith, confidence and trust in Him.
Now, we truly know that He loves us and He cares. Psalm
46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
When
we pray, remember: 1. The love of God that wants
the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it. -William Barclay
August 6, 1955 .... In the rush and turmoil of life, it is easy to forget God and things divine.
The greatest temptation to disciplines today is to become an integral part of this changing world. The world shall pass away
— the great things here will seem nothing before the judgment at the great white throne. May God help me to see Him
through the clouds and smog of worldliness and live for heaven. Forrest D. Moyer
(Copied from bro. Moyer's journal
when he was 25 years old)
http://www.studywell.org
“If
we don’t cut off your leg below the knee,
you’re going to die.” by David Powlas
David Powlas has preached, either full-time, or part-time,
ever since I’ve known him. He is not a stranger to dealing with loss due to serious health problems. When he was 34
years old (1987) he had open heart surgery to have his aortic valve replaced. In 2000, that valve needed replacement, requiring
open-heart surgery again. Yet his sense of humor and determination encouraged all who know him. But I believe the most difficult
situation for him and his wife, Anne, was losing his leg in 2001. Once again many of us were amazed at his attitude and how
he faced that challenge. And the challenges continued well after that leg was removed. I’ve asked David to share his
thoughts and how he met this loss and its consequences. Here are his words. cg On
April 13, 2001 (three days after my forty-eighth birthday), my left leg was amputated about six inches below my knee. That
drastic surgery was necessary due to gangrene caused by poor blood circulation as a result of diabetes. Here is how the vascular
surgeon explained it to me – "If we don't cut off your leg below the knee, you're going to die." Hence,
the correct choice seemed rather obvious at the time! In such a situation,
most folks would probably lament “Why me, Lord?” However, I didn’t think or utter that question on that
occasion – I learned better a long time ago. In 1987, when I had my first open heart surgery, I did address that desperate
inquiry to my Heavenly Father. However, after a serious study of the book of Job, I decided that a much better question is
“Why not me?” The patriarch Job was a very righteous man (Job 1:1,8; 2:3), yet he experienced physical suffering.
If Job wasn’t exempt from such calamity, then why should I be? The
people who know me well are familiar with my “warped” sense of humor. My ongoing joke about the amputation was
that I’d be getting a peg leg and a parrot so that I could be a pirate! I was determined not to be someone who always
feels sorry for himself and tries to make other people feel sorry for me (Proverbs 17:22; 18:14)! Before
all of my stitches had healed, I fell while getting into my wheelchair. My “stump” (residual limb) hit the floor,
but since it didn’t hurt, I didn’t think any damage had been done to it. My dear wife (Anne) convinced me to go
the hospital emergency room to have it checked out. Even though it didn’t hurt, most of the stitches had popped open
and couldn’t be restitched. That mishap resulted in my stump healing with very little “padding” over the
end of the bone. Eventually, I was fitted with a prosthetic leg and was
able to walk again. However, due to the lack of “padding” described above, the front of my stump would be scraped
when I wore my prosthesis for a long time. Furthermore, I was taking two pain medications several times daily, but was still
in much pain when wearing the artificial leg. I finally concluded that I’d rather be in a wheelchair without pain than
walking around in much pain! My sense of humor has helped me to stay
upbeat and positive; nevertheless, God’s grace has aided me so much more. After all, the Lord told Paul that “My
grace is sufficient for you...” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Because of God’s grace, the apostle could write these words
in 2 Corinthians 12:10 – “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Now, I can also affirm that when I am weak
(by myself), then I am strong (with the Lord’s help). At this time,
Anne and I live in an apartment that is very “wheelchair friendly”. (The previous apartment was not.) My current
position as a customer service representative for 1-800-MEDICARE involves answering telephone calls. (I don’t have to
be able to walk to fulfill my job duties.) I teach an adult Bible class on Sunday mornings – while seated in my wheelchair. People like me are usually described as “disabled”, “handicapped”,
or “mobility impaired”; but I prefer to think of myself as being “hokey pokey challenged”! Hopefully,
my story will help others to deal with their own or someone else’s physical difficulties in a better way. – John David Powlas
See It Through When you're
up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet
and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you
may conquer,
See it through! Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't
let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that
you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through! Even hope may seem but futile,
When with
troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall
still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through! by Edgar Guest
Keeping things in Perspective Losing a part of you doesn’t change your character or who you are. One
day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor
people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their way home, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did
you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,”
said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?”
asked the father. The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog
and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have
imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole
horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve
us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have
friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.” The moral of this story is: We often tend to focus on what we don't have instead of
recognizing what we do have. Perspective. It’s a magical thing.
author unknown
good from suffering THE
PSALMIST who wrote from a heart filled with sorrow said: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might
learn thy statutes." ~Psalm 119:71~
JOB, after suffering many, many heavy trials, spoke these words:"I have heard of thee by
the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." ~Job 42:5~
PAUL often spoke of the personal value of suffering in his life. He referred to his suffering as his
"thorn in his flesh". Paul's past was filled with the awareness that he was responsible for causing the persecution,
that so many of the believers and their families endured. He also realized that this earth was not his home and he looked
forward to seeing: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
~2 Corinthians 1:3-4~ -selected
www.ourhopeonline.com 2006
Time and Chance in Suffering
by Pat Gates
Recently, when talking about a Christian who was stricken
with a terrible disease at a young age, I heard a Christian say, “God had other plans for him.” Many times I hear
Christians say similar things, as if all suffering that takes place is God’s plan and will. Often, Time and Chance isn’t
considered. God doesn’t strike us with a horrible disease so we can fulfill a plan He has designed specifically for
us. Rather, God’s plan of salvation and servitude is the same for all mankind and we obey and serve in whatever capacity
we find ourselves in, knowing our Lord is strengthening us daily.
Does your suffering seem too great
for it to be just an outcome of Time and Chance? Do you feel there has to be a much bigger picture of why you suffer? It seems
like the greater the suffering, the more people (including some Christians) want to make God a part of the reason behind the
suffering, as if God doesn’t just hand out a few sniffles from a cold, but rather His plan is to give us the greatest
physical damage He can think of. Let’s be very careful in our thoughts and speech. Instead of turning disease into something
noble sent from God, let’s reason according to God’s word and recognize Time and Chance and Satan’s impact
on mankind throughout the ages has been the cause of great suffering. Nobility comes not from the greatness of our suffering,
but in the great God and Father who offers all mankind the same plan of salvation, through His Son, and provides the same
great work for us all, “For [we] serve the Lord Jesus Christ,” Colossians 3:24.
OUR
HOPE ONLINE January 2006
AUTUMN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER Pat Gates
It's the last day
of 2005 as I look out my kitchen window and enjoy these days of autumn. No, I'm not confused, I live in central Florida
and December is the time of year we experience the changing colors and the falling of the leaves. We even have a bit of spring
going on-one of our maples has sprouted buds. And as you look out the swamp area behind us, the trees have the winter look
as they have dropped all their leaves. No, we don't have the brilliant colors as the states north
of us, but we do have some trees that turn various shades of orange or yellow. The neighborhood I live in now has more color
than any I have seen in central Florida. I don't know if it's because of the type of trees that grow in this area
(there are a lot of red maples and trees that grow in low-lying areas) or if because of the low land the area holds more water
which brightens the leaves. This coming month winter will arrive. Many of the trees in my
yard will be barren and we will have a few cold mornings now and then, maybe even some ice. And then comes the beautiful
spring when the trees put forth their buds. I have experienced all the seasons in the north and I'm not comparing our
seasons to them, but unlike what many snowbirds think, Florida does have its changing seasons. Now,
with that said, once in a while there comes a year where it almost seems to be summer all year long, with a light autumn
in the winter months. I remember a winter a few years back where I only wore a light sweater now and then. "Winter"
turned right into the terrible heat of summer, seemingly bypassing spring all together. Our
lives are much like Florida's seasons. Some of us go through the birth and youth of spring, growing into summer,
maturing in autumn and experiencing old age and the final hours of our life in the dead of winter. Others, however, seem to
have the seasons confused as they may bypass summer or autumn and go directly into the darkness of winter. Their days on their earth
may have been cut short or their health deteriorated at a young age and have had to face the problems of old age in the prime
of their life. These missed seasons burden our hearts and weigh on our minds, but God, in His
infinite mercy, brings spring once again to all; everlasting life in all its glory. This hope greets us in the new year
and holds us close in the loving arms of our Savior and when we or our loved one reach winter, it comforts us and bears
us up to the promise of a new life.
Dead trees draw life when
the days expand and the sun fulfills
its promise, oft delayed by the clutch
of ice.
Clotted, gnarled, knotted twigs on the trees sense sap and the death of death. They stretch, begin to puff green on the end.
Men sing new songs of a Life laid down for rebirth when Resurrection is the Spring and
the branch is Christ.
Mark Noll
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