He’s the God of the Hills and Valleys

After a week of the refreshing mountain-cool-air in New Mexico, yesterday we made our way home by way of stopping to overnight in Amarillo, TX. Our trustworthy driver knows when to stop for R & R.

In our travels, we see the mountaintops and the valleys....and in our lives we experience the mountaintops and the valleys. How we look at the landscape and how we look at LIFE -- determines our attitude and altitude!

Tauren Wells wrote and sings a song I love that explains the hills and valleys of our lives. The story behind his song “Hills & Valleys” was inspired by the quote “When you’re on the mountaintops of life, learn to bow low -- and when you’re in the valleys of life -- learn to stand tall.” He explained that he hopes the song encourages his listeners to remember, “We’re standing in God’s grace, and His grace is enough -- He’s the God of the hills and the valleys.” Here’s the lyrics:

"I’ve walked among the shadows -- You wiped my tears away
And I’ve felt the pain of heartbreak -- And I’ve seen the brighter days
And I’ve prayed prayers to heaven from my lowest place
And I have held Your blessings -- God You give and take away
No matter what I have, Your grace is enough
No matter where I am, I’m standing in Your love
On the mountains I will bow my life to the One who set me there
In the valley I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there
When I’m standing on the mountain I didn’t get there on my own
When I’m walking through the valley I know I am not alone
You’re God of the hills and valleys, hills and valleys
God of the hills and valleys -- And I am not alone."

This week, the only thing that represented “the valley of the shadow of death (i.e., the pandemic)” to us was having to wear face masks in stores. Restaurants took all their service to outdoors seating, which were social-distanced. So, you might say we were “on the mountaintops” because we rarely thought about the environment that we are still trying to get accustomed to back home. Still, there are valley-experiences back in Red River. My daughter asked our waitress: “Is there anything I can pray with you about?” She replied: “That it would not rain.” What she meant is her job depends on business and because of seating outdoors, rain keeps them from business. Though this town was hopping with business in our eyes, it isn’t to the retailers who depend on high traffic. It reminds me of so many who have suffered so many loses during these last months.

Mountains AND valleys seem common in our lives. I know mountains. I’ve gazed at their beauty. I’ve skied down them. I’ve driven the winding roads to the top of them and embraced the beauty from the top looking down. And I’ve also known the mountains that are the vast, enormous obstacles and circumstances that seem beyond overwhelming. We think that if only these mountains were removed, our lives might be more peaceful. But, there must be mountains to appreciate the valleys. And perhaps, God, in all His wisdom, is wanting us to scale those mountains. He is wanting us to hike up those mountains for a “mountain-top experience” where we are refreshed, restored, nourished, and where we receive divine revelation. His revelation is always intended to grow our faith, strengthen our resolve, and equip us to take on any mountain that may be standing in our way. Indeed He is with us and holds us tight in the hills and valleys.

"Let the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness." Psalm 72:3

Humility is Sometimes a Tough Row to Hoe

Speaking in planting-a-garden terms, cultivating the soil, which can be rocky, dry and, if by hand is a wearisome task. Then planting the seeds, keeping a watch out for critters that like to eat the new sprouts before they even mature, pulling the weeds that choke out the plant and harvest those taters, carrots, onions, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. That list is what we planted in our Oklahoma garden.

I'm thinking that God is cultivating our soil, rather, cultivating our spirits to become all He's destined us to be. He has us in a sort of holy test tube to see whether we will become bitter or better during this planting and harvesting season of our lives. I believe that His goal is to humble us from our self-sufficient ways to depend and trust in Him and His ways.

During these strange, ominous and strained times, we may think that no one understands all we're doing to survive. How we’re coping. How we’re juggling what to do next for the young ones in our homes to keep them occupied. Maybe thinking that 24/7 together isn’t what we bargained for when we married. And then the frontliners who have given their all may think that not too many even recognize their efforts. But, here is the message that I sense God has for all of us today. He sees. He has a plan.

Remember the children of Israel murmuring and complaining in the desert? We thought we had it bad. They were toting their little ones, rustling their livestock, trying to come up with a new meal plan instead of another day of manna. They didn’t have a decent bed to sleep on. But God had an ulterior motive. To remove pride from them, He had to let them go through stuff to humble them. It was crucial that God prepare them to trust Him as they stepped from the desert into their destined Promised Land. “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” (Deuteronomy 8:2) YIKES! Is that what God is doing to us -- testing us so that we trust Him?

We are all struggling with pride which is the opposite of trust in God. Pride begs us to believe it all depends on us. Trusting God requires us to place our dependence on Him. And the row to hoe or the road to travel that leads us away from pride and into a place of truly trusting God is paved with humility.

What if God is using these humbling times to get us to a place of deep and unshakable trust in Him? If God sees big things ahead for us, and I believe He does, then He must get the “Round-Up” weed-killer out to get rid of all the weeds of pride. I believe God is giving us "insider” information. First of all, for us to remember He is our provider. Number two -- God’s provision for us doesn’t always look like we want it to look. Ugh! Who wants manna day after day? But God knew that was the nourishment they needed. And He knows what we need, too! Number three -- man-made bread AND man-made success will never fulfill us. Only God and His Word can seep into the places of our souls to make us fully alive and deeply satisfied.

So, maybe we need to look at what we’ve been planting. How’s our crop looking? How’s our pride level and how’s our trusting-God-level? I pray that our eyes open to how God isn’t trying to break us but rather He is making us ready for the harvest time up ahead. Dear Lord, help us to surrender our wills, our pride, our weaknesses to You and your perfect plans for our lives. We submit to being a humble vessel of honor that gives all praise and glory to You! Amen.

“The meek shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)
“A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)

How About a Trip to the Desert?

Lent is the time of year when I, with purpose and on purpose, make changes. It's a personal time of interior inspection into my heart and soul…..and an exterior inspection of my body. On the exterior side, I’ve been eating like there is no tomorrow. I’ve used the excuse that I’m too busy to focus on discipling my body. “Besides, Lent is coming up and I’ll pull it together then." St. Paul, I need to take your words into my heart and soul AND body! He said, “I keep on disciplining my body, making it serve me so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:27). So, I’ve started back on my purposeful strengthening and working this young body out so it will serve me and others well. I'm also honing in on better eating habits (The Daniel Fast -- all fruits and vegetables during Lent). I sure don’t want to be disqualified,

But this season is really about taking a deep dive into the journey of our Lord and Savior. It's about "coming clean". "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10). It's about repentance, restraint and preparation for Jesus’ death on the cross and self-giving love that resolutely puts aside our own wants, needs, and desires in favor of obedience to God. Please don't misunderstand me when I say "preparation for Jesus' death on the cross". We're not putting Him back up on the cross. He died once, so we don't ever have to die a spiritual death. We get to do life with Him forever. We are embracing the cross for which He gave His life for you and me.

It doesn't really sound so enticing, does it? There is no party-hardy in the equation. I want my coffee and my chocolate. I want a prayer life that I instantly understand divine mysteries. I want to ease my way through Lent and life without struggles, hunger pains, worry and going to the desert. I want my needs met and my pockets filled to the brim with God’s goodness. I want world peace. And, can’t we all just get along?

But, a BIG but, what I’ve come to know – is Lent is the reminder that all this sort of thinking is, well, ashes and dust. It’s the reminder that none of THAT stuff is going to matter in the light of eternity. Lent is for focusing the mind, heart, and spirit on God and taking a trip to the desert.

That's the first thing to notice about Lent -- the desert. Jesus spent forty days in the desert fasting and wrestling with the devil. But He came out of that wrestle empowered by the Holy Spirit and His miracle ministry began. That's how I hope to come out of this Lenten season -- empowered to love greater, being a stronger, devoted follower of Christ, and shining brighter with His bright light. If we are experiencing struggles, it doesn't mean we are spiritual failures. It means we are participants in the life of Jesus and, in Him and with Him, we, too will be empowered and have great hope of sharing His reward.

“Lord, open my eyes to see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly.”
St. Richard of Chichester

Memorial Stones for Remembering

Thank you for your indulgence as I have been in inspiration overload from VBS this week. The end of Day 5 brought mixed emotions: “Aw! We Made it!” and “Oh no! It’s Over!” The latter are my words as this joy-filled week is over and I return to my quiet and peaceful home. The former are words the volunteers (most of who are parents of the children and they’re worn out). I was amused at them yesterday. Most of those mamas who were volunteering have young and teenage children and their lives carry on each day after VBS is over. They aren’t afforded my sweet spot of R&R.

Yesterday was the big finale of our Israelites wandering 40 years in the desert. They wound up at the Jordan River, where, on just the other side was their Promised Land. It was precious to see a re-enactment of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant up to the edge of the Jordan by kindergartners. When their feet touched the water, the waters parted and they went across on dry ground. Our teen volunteers pulled back the “plastic” waters where there were stones that would be the memorial stones that marked bringing God’s people into the Promised Land. How appropriate for the conclusion of this week. The entire week was a “memorial” indelibly imprinted in their minds and mine. I won’t forget those little faces of wonder and awe.

It may be now, or it may be years down the road, but those memories and memorials that we create in our children DO have an impact on those bright-eyed faces. God Bless you, VBS leaders, crews and volunteers for the eternal investment you are making in the lives of these precious children!

While VBS is a summer staple for families every year, it’s certainly not the end-all. This scripture describes what I see in the labor of love that these families and volunteers provide – way more than just this one week: “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) That panoramic view is much more descriptive of an endless process of training our children in the way they should go – not just for a week – but every day of the year.

The lessons I learned early on, the scriptures I memorized, and the stories of faith and trust in God carried on into my life today. The stories and scriptures are what sustained and strengthened me in my toughest times and have given me joy and peace in my faith journey. I promise you, teaching your children about God and His Word, will carry them through to adulthood and even beyond to the families they will have some day. When you see them teaching their children one day, you'll be ever grateful for the seeds you planted. That's how I felt this week when I witnessed these children shouting out answers to questions in our Faith Station – that came from more than a week at VBS. Those little eyes and ears were watching and listening this week. They also watch and listen in your homes. Keep laying the foundation that will keep them standing strong. That’s a constant, never-changing message to continue sharing and one that I’m willing to stake my life upon! How about you?

Got Desert? Green Pastures Await You!

It’s difficult to think of desert in the midst of the torrential rains we had in the last 24-hours here in Frisco. But, deserts did come to mind when I thought about the “desert experiences” of life.

Not far from the lush rolling hills in Austin where my children live, you can find yourself in the desert. In fact, there are cacti and other desert foliage all around my children’s home. Trust me. I know. Those cactus spikes got my attention coming through my jeans when I got too close to them. But the desert areas around Austin pales in comparison to Mexico where we recently went for a family vacation. Just go for a little walk without water and you’ll find yourself dry, hot, and parched. Oh, for a cool drink of water!

The Season of Easter is synonymous with freshness, new life, springtime, an abundance of flowers and budding trees. But, all that newness means little when we are in a virtual desert spiritually. Beauty is all around, but we don’t see it or feel it. We prefer the curtains drawn and we want the world to go away. I have been there in seasons of personal drought. No matter what scriptures I read or praise songs I sang or words of encouragement that were given to me, I just wanted to wallow in a pool of self-pity. In those “seasons”, I came to realize that staying there was the worst place I could be. Or, was it?

Those dry seasons are like a thermometer. We can read our temperature and know there is something wrong. And in the desert seasons, we know there is something wrong spiritually. When we open our eyes and hearts wide, we know we’re off-kilter. We know we are not nourishing and refreshing ourselves with the Springs of Living Water. We’ve become lackadaisical in our relationship with God. We don’t hunger and thirst for Him. The enemy of our souls is mighty proud of us during those times of living in the desert. The Psalmist David knew about these times. That's why he wrote in Psalm 23 "He MAKES me lie down in green pastures to restore my soul!"

I know there are those reading this blog today who feel like you are there – right in the middle of a parched soul desert. But, I’m here to declare to you this day – your desert experience is almost over. You will soon be revitalized to achieve greater heights and a level of spiritual clarity that you have not even imagined, but it's up to you to get out of the desert. The fast track there is by refusing to live there any longer. Open wide the windows and let the fresh air of the Holy Spirit in. Refuse to live there any longer. A bountiful supply of Living Water is available to you. In John 7:37-39 Jesus cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit Who came to live in us when we first received Christ into our lives. It’s springtime and renewal time today. Run to the touch of Jesus and let His living water saturate you today! Dry spell ended, in Jesus' name!