Calling All Mountain Climbers and Mountain Movers!

It seems everywhere we look, there are unconquerable mountains in front of us – both in the natural and the spiritual. This photo prompted me to write this blog. Mountains symbolize obstacles, immovability, challenges -- and if it’s a mountain the size of Kilimanjaro -- maybe hopelessness. But mountains also symbolize conquering, overcoming obstacles, making progress and winning some really huge victories!

Mountain-moving faith is possible because Jesus said so: “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” (Mark 11:23). Jesus meant those words as a catalyst for us to get out of our hopeless mindset and into “Nothing is impossible with God", so, Lord, please give me that mountain-moving mindset!

We are meant to move mountains and see the impossible occur through faith in the unending promises of our sovereign Lord. Maybe there are some who are reading this blog and you have some personal mountains that need to be moved. God is in the mountain-moving business. Don’t doubt or underestimate what He wants to do in your life. You do your part in “climbing in faith” and He'll do His part in moving the mountain!

In spite of our own personal mountains, we are involved in conquering mountains of a different sort. We are no longer sitting silently about the mountains of negativity, evils, assaults on faith, respect for life and are climbing those mountains, too! We can no longer hide behind the excuse, "I don't want to get involved." Whether we like it or not, we are involved. The real question is "whose" morality will prevail. Whose mountains will crumble?

We’ve already seen the great outpouring of people who attended the movie “Unplanned”. This headline came out yesterday after the box office totals were revealed: “Breakout Box Office Hit: Pro-Life Film ‘Unplanned’ Edges Out ‘Captain Marvel’ in Key Screen Stat”. Despite opposition from so many media outlets and anti-Pro Life endorsers, it dominated in audience reviews, scoring a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and earning an A+ rating from CinemaScore. That’s what I call mountain-moving results because we wouldn’t keep silent.

We can't legislate morality, but we can restrain evil and deter wrongdoing. God doesn't need a super-majority, but He does need a humble minority that is willing to look at some mountains with audacious faith and say “Move. Get out of our way!” God's call is not to Washington or Hollywood, but to "if My people humble themselves" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It's time for us to put on our mountain climbing gear and be willing to climb some mountains and expect to see change – with the common goal of brotherhood and respect for life and each other. Yes, it may seem mountains are looming before us and the sheer magnitude of the mountain makes us feel incapable of going over it, around it or through it. But we're not climbing without the support of unfailing support. God is on our side. As followers of Christ, while incredibly joy-filled and blessed, God clearly allows mountains in our lives – the difficult and narrow path, but He assures us He is walking side-by-side with us. Oh, but in the end, the rewards are so much more than the struggle. Ready to go mountain-climbing with me?

Take the World By Storm

I saw this sign on the chapel entry at Concordia University where Payton and Alexia are in their Regional Speech & Debate Finals. I'm sure it's referring to their team's name, The Tornadoes, but I believe the second connotation is to live our lives by taking this world by storm in our "can do" actions and attitude.

I had been thinking about the storms that have raged havoc in so many states over the last few weeks. What made me think that because I moved from Tornado Alley in Oklahoma, that they didn't have a Tornado Alley in Texas also?

The most notorious thing about Canton, TX to me was the First Monday Trade Days held there. They are the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor flea market in the United States. But now, Canton is also known for the devastating tornado that raged through there on Saturday night, April 29th. Homes leveled that looked like tinker toy pile ups, many lives lost and injured. A community in mourning because of the nightmare they experienced.

I'm well acquainted with living in "tornado alley". Over the years, we witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath. We watched our barn roof be taken off (yes, I said "watched"). The tornado worked its path down Keystone Lake and our home and acreage backed up to it. We took to our under-the-stairs closet for safety when the winds grew to such ferocious velocity. My husband's parents lost their home in a tornado, but they were safe in a bathroom shower stall. They came out with not a scratch on them.

A few weeks ago, my new home in Frisco encountered damage from a severe hailstorm with tornadic winds that hit the area. My kids and hundreds of other homes had damage also.

Bottom line -- that's why, on a daily basis, I've come to realize that I must stay connected to my survival source. "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Him I trust." That's always my emergency 911 number. Psalm 91:1 that is. I pray and speak safety and protection to all of us in the pathway of storms -- whether they are weather storms or life storms. I pray and speak to the storm and tell it to cease and desist. (God's Word says we can do that: Mark 11:23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.") I quote my Prince of Peace's words as I speak to the storm -- "Peace -- be still." And, personally, MY peace is still.

But, here's what I surmised from that sign at the chapel here at Concordia University. We have the choice of being stormed inside and outside by the prevailing winds and storms in our lives -- those natural storms, as well as those we face in life's circumstances and adversities, or we can TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM by being in a conquering attitude to everything that comes to steal from us. We've been notified that WE WIN and "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world," (1 John 4:4) and "We are more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).....so shouldn't we be on the offensive with the enemy of our souls rather than cowering down to his tactics that try to paralyze us with fear of what the storms can do to us. We can still make it through any and everything by finding peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness. We might as well realize that storms, of any kind, are no surprise to God and so let's just TAKE THE WORLD ON BY STORM! After all we know the maker, creator and peace maker of the storms!

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Day 85 of Photo Inspirations -- Peace in the Midst of the Storm
Dark clouds looming.  Tornado warnings. Hail warnings. Heavy rains and flooding warnings. News reports kept urging those in the path of the storm, to take cover.  Family calls to check on  me.  I'm in the toy closet with pillows over and under me.  Granddaughter wants me to go to a storm shelter.  I'm quoting scripture..." I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Him I trust."  That's always my emergency 911 number. Psalm 91:1 that is.  I pray and speak safety and protection to all of us in the pathway of the storm.  I pray and speak to the storm and tell it to cease and desist. (God's Word says we can do that:  Mark 11:23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.")   I quote my Prince of Peace's words as I speak to the storm -- "Peace -- be still."  And, personally, MY peace was still.   Just a short while later, I heard on the news station, "Cold front is pushing the tornado activity out of the area."  While there was calamity and devastation from yet another Oklahoma storm, it could have been so much worse.  I'm so grateful that it wasn't.

I'm well acquainted with living in "tornado alley".  Over the years, we witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath.  We watched our barn roof be taken off (yes, I said "watched").  The tornado worked its path down Keystone Lake and our home and acreage backed up to it.  We took to our under-the-stairs closet for safety when the winds grew to such ferocious velocity.  My husband's parents lost their home in a tornado, but they were safe in a bathroom shower stall. They came out with not a scratch on them.

And, with natural storms, as well as those we face in life's circumstances and adversity, we can still make it through by finding peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.  Wednesday night, I was singing an old song.... "So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise. They don't worry me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me, and not of earth shall harm me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God."

After being in the toy closet for just a few minutes, and hearing the "all clear" report, I got up and turned around and looked at that closet and realized it's still Spring cleaning time around here, and since I'm here, I might as well get this toy closet all organized and cleaned out.  "All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28.  "Thanks, God, for the light-works, wind-works, and water-works Wednesday night.   You definitely got our attention."