What's Your Mountain?

Have you ever hiked up a mountain or, if you live in Minnesota, a large hill?  Often times, there is more than one way to climb the mountain.  Some routes are easier and more tested than others; some are a bit more challenging and require more skill and more knowledge.  It’s that way in life too. 

We all have mountains in our lives that we face every day.  Some parts of our lives are easier than others; some days are easier than others. Then there are parts of our lives and periods of our lives that are more challenging.  Sometimes we face something that seems insurmountable and too hard for us to conquer.  It could be an illness, health-related issues, grief, loss of a job, addictions, loneliness, depression or any other type of problem in our lives when we find ourselves saying, “Where is God in this?”

A number of years ago, when I went through the deaths of both of my parents within a few months of each other, I felt like there was a huge mountain in front of me and I found myself asking that same question.  While I was in the wilderness of my despair looking for God and asking all those questions, a friend gave me a book by Ken Gire called The North Face of God.  He compared the pain and suffering we go through as a walk with God up the north side of Mount Everest. 

“Sometimes in the midst of suffering, God can seem distant, cold, and strangely silent—an Everest of indifference,” Gire says.  When we come to Him with our questions and doubts, sometimes it seems we are climbing the North Face of Mount Everest, scaling unstable rocks, unsure of our next step.  What we need to remember is that God is there in the climb with us – holding us tighter than ever before.  God is an expert mountain climber!  Even when we face those tough climbs in life, and we all do, He is with us no matter what. 

We need to remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past and His mercies that never cease.  Just as Jeremiah went through one adversity to another, he remembered.  We too are called to remember: 

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him.’ ”  (Lamentations 3:21-24)

I want us to dare to hope, just like Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations did.  Dare to hope!  I know many of you are going through some tough challenges in life right now and feel as if you are not going to make it.  Through God, we have a fresh hope every day.  Nothing can separate us from His love and nothing can rob us of our hope in Him.  Hope is found simply by remembering His faithfulness to us in the past and never letting go of God’s promises to us.

Here’s a song by Third Day called "The Mountain of God" that reminds us that God is faithful and His mercies are never ending. 

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol

You Can Trust God!

When I was little, I remember being taught to sing a simple song in Vacation Bible School that went like this:  “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God the B-I-B-L-E.”  Well, this past week we had 350 elementary kids taking part in VBS!  Can I just say “wow!”  Each morning they would gather in the Chapel and would sing “cool” hip songs with actions.  They were rockin'!  This was not your “grandma’s VBS"! 

And while the songs get a little more hip each year and the technology that is used has changed since I was in VBS, the heart of VBS has not changed!  The love of God is shown, taught, experienced and felt by the kids,  leaders and helpers.  The Word of God is still what our kids stand on! 

Our kids learned some four simple truths about God that we as adults might benefit from reviewing: 

No matter who you are…trust God!

No matter how you feel…trust God!

No matter what people do…trust God!

No matter what happens…trust God!

Let Mark 10:27 be part of your personal devotion time with God today.  Claim it and remember it:  “Everything is possible with God.”

Here is a song from the SKY VBS this week called "You, You, You Can Trust God."

So today, I invite you to remember that no matter what you are going through in your life or struggling with today to remember to trust in God, your Creator, Redeemer, Savior and Friend! 

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol

Take God with You on Vacation!

Over the next three beautiful summer months, many of us will be taking time to go to the lake, go on a trip or two, maybe travel to visit relatives in California or to the ends of the earth of Iowa, or just take time to sit in our own backyards and breathe in the summer smells of flowers and fresh mowed grass, along with the smell of a BBQ. Perhaps some of you are going on a summer mission trip or to places far and remote from your normal day-to-day routine.  Wherever you go, however, regardless of the place, don’t forget to take God with you! 

Now, I know some of you are asking, "How would I ever forget to bring God along?"  Well, sometimes we need to “intentionally” pack Him in the car, along with the floaties, the foam noodles and blow-up inner tubes.  God is never on vacation and He longs to go WITH us.  Now, I’m not saying you have to travel heavy and bring the biggest study Bible you have along, but what I am suggesting is that we not forget to have some intentional times with God on our trips.  

Maybe that might be a walk or hike in nature with the kids.  Just take time to behold God’s creation and spend a few minutes talking to God and listening for His small still voice.  I always loved the early mornings at the cabin – the water was still, the loons were making their funny noise, then without missing a beat, God’s majestic sunrise appeared on the horizon.  I remember some of the wonderful God moments I had when I sat by the water just talking, praying and listening for God in my heart. 

Sometimes our vacations and quiet moments in unexpected places can lead us to a deeper encounter with the Living God.  Don’t miss out on that encounter!  Be sure to bring God along and find new ways to deepen your faith walk even while you are away from home and from church. 

God is always ready to travel.  He travels light and He’s with you wherever your go and whenever you call on Him.  Don’t forget to invite Him along! 

The Newsboys’ song “God’s Not Dead” reminds us that we may be dry and worn out from this world, but God is alive and with us!

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol