God is God Over All Hills & Valleys

I played guitar for the praise team at our church this past Sunday, and there was a new song (to me) that has stuck with me ever since I heard it. It is called Hills And Valleys, by Tauren Wells. Below is his testimony about how he wrote the song.

"When you are on the mountain tops of life learn to bow low;
when you are in the valleys of life, learn to stand tall."

This mimics so much the truth from an older song I sang many years ago and my group the Men of Mercy sing called, God on the Mountain. I can remember testifying at a church in southern Ohio I was serving as youth pastor, and had a similar revelation come to me. It was,

whether we are on the mountain or in the valley,

if we keep eyes on Jesus, we will never know the difference.

Tauren's lyrics communicates that truth much better, much more to the heart, of what I was hearing from the Lord.

So today, are in you in the valley? Or are you on the mountain top?

Wherever you are, remember, God is God right there, His grace is sufficient for you, and keep your eyes on Christ--the Author and Finisher of your faith!

I Wish We'd All Been ... Left Behind

Perhaps you have heard the group DC Talk sing the remake of Larry Norman’s’ song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”? There is something tragically deceptive about the lyrics though. As we sing along, we find ourselves participating in a couple instances where we wish we had been ready to be taken instead of left behind. But that is not how Jesus tells his side of the story. The words are inspired by Matthew 24:40-41. But let’s look more closely, shall we? MATTHEW 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away . That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ...

Knowing as Assurance in Faith Secures Our Hearts in Christ

Romans 8:1-17 starts with the words, "there is now no condemnation." That sounds like good news. This passage tells me that it is not God's plan to condemn me. If I feel condemned, it is not because of God. Instead, God made a way for me to be out from under the law of sin and death that brings fear (of the unknown). It is God's plan for me to know He does not condemn me, and that He has set me free from sin/death/fear/the unknown. How? He has a plan. God's plan is to help me to fulfill another law He has in mind: the law of righteousness. God will enable me (through the Spirit) to walk in this new way--a way by the Spirit--a way of life and peace, the way of righteousness. It is the only way to please Him and He actively guides me on this way to do so. God's plan is that He wants: -me to know that the Spirit of God dwells in me and I belong to Him! -to reanimate my body by the Holy Spirit to live before others to show them what living...

What's in a Seed, Part 2

In part two of this discussion of What is in a seed, I decided to research a little about the effects of a seed's environment . Here are some things I learned. 1. When a seed grows in an alternate environment and survives, it is said it has adapted. How many times have you adapted? Whether we like it or not, adapting is a part of life. Our attitude about it is something we can control. 2. Some seeds planted in harsher environments, and live, can have its DNA restructured to become a hardier plant for that environment in the future. This is simply fascinating! It reminds of what James tells us in those first few verses in his opening chapter about counting it all joy because of those trials and what they produce! 3. The seed within the fruit of a plant gains information from its “mother” about what she experienced in her environment to better suit it for the next generation (this is called maternal environment effects). Experiences modify the DNA a...

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