Living on the Side of the Mountain...

It's so interesting to me -- how one day you can be on top of the world (on the mountain top) in your relationship with God.  You begin to think -- how was I ever in the valley? Or even descending into the valley? Then all of a sudden *bam* you're sliding down the hill for no apparent reason.  There hasn't been a trial (or not one you've been fighting through already) - there hasn't been some conflict or doubt that has arisen - there is no weariness, no temptation overtaking you.  Just the feeling of that mountain top closeness fading. And where "last week" you were jumping out of bed to spend time with the Lord, you find that "this week" hours go by in the morning with it barely crossing your mind, and when you finally go sit down, it seems difficult and forced, rather than that peace of abiding joyfully. It seems so easy at those times to let busyness win over sitting and abiding.

In my younger years, I might have mistaken a time like that as God being far from me.  I didn't *feel* the presence of God, so therefore He wasn't near to me and I had to search for Him - recreate that mountain top feeling.  I failed to grasp the concept back then that the Holy Spirit lives IN ME.  There's not too much closer on this earth that God could be to me than that! Not only that but I am UNITED with Christ -- that's a concept that still baffles me joyfully. So whether or not I *feel* His presence, He is ever present in me. And because of my union with Christ, I won't ever be without Him. 

These truths have helped me to dig my heels in while sliding or even just living daily on the side of the mountain - fighting not to let the momentum of the downward slide or the status quo take root in my heart - not listening to lies of God not being near me -- from a roaring lion without a bite.  Satan loves to pray on my emotions, and what better emotion to try to trip me up with than a feeling of indifference from God.
 

"... See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are"..."But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

God is not indifferent! He loves me and cares for my every need.  So even though some mornings my quiet time seems more like dry toast than a banquet set out before me, and I can wait peacefully through a "dry time" by remembering these truths (and others!) - when I fight to remember that that my feelings don't dictate who God is to me or my standing in Christ.  

Sun-Shiny Day

Yesterday was a “stormy” day for me.  It was like the challenges I am facing were so huge and I couldn’t see over or past them – they were just overtaking me through the storm.  Although nothing has changed today in relation to what the problems are, today it’s like the storm has passed (amazing what fighting and keeping your eye on the Lord and in His Word can accomplish in our hearts by His grace and mercy!).  I was reminded of the 1st verse of the song: I Can See Clearly Now -- because it’s like I can see now the issues in perspective and they have become smaller (or I have become "bigger" in Christ making them look smaller) – now seeing “all obstacles in my way” and the “dark clouds that had me blind” are removed – and the bright Sun-Shiny Day is here. 

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I really desire to “get” to the second verse and bridge, tho... 

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies

Because although I see things in perspective, the pain and bad feelings are not gone. Looking all around I don’t see “nothin’ but blue skies” – But I know that the Lord is faithful in all that is going on and definitely when my vision is focused forward to Him and trusting Him and clinging to Him that when I “Look straight ahead [toward the hope of heaven there’s], nothin’ but blue skies” in that direction and that gives me hope!!  Romans 5:3-5  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Yay!

I love this picture. It reminds me of what Joy is.  It's like the rain can still be here, but it also can be a bright Sun-Shiny Day and the rain no longer seems overwhelming but a faithful reminder that God is at work...

 I’m teaching Julie poetry this year.  This was one of the poems we read today.  As we analyzed it, I began to love it more and more as I saw the spiritual parallels...

The Crow

Judith Kunst

Was it because

at last

I cleaned the window

that he threw himself

against the glass

I thought, poor crow—

he doesn’t know

the evergreens

and blue sky

are behind him.

I turned back

to my page

But whumpp—

the bird attacked

the glass again

His long claws

scuffled at the pain

and I yelled “Crow!

go away!”

Again his body slapped

the glass.

again,

and then again,

and then at last

he caught my eye—

oh, prophet,

terrified.

 

In this poem the clean window has created a reflection of the trees and sky.  We talked about how the crow was thinking he was flying to the trees and the blue sky, but it was actually the opposite way - he was only seeing the reflection of the real thing.  And we related that to someone who thinks they can find happiness outside of God -- how it’s just a reflection of the real thing (meaning trying to find happiness in the thing instead of understanding that true happiness is the Source of the thing).  And how unsaved people are like this crow, thinking they are headed for something that promises all kinds of good things, but in reality they are going in the wrong direction and end up banging against the window.  We also talked about how the speaker, since she cleaned the glass, is able to easily see out of it - and how that relates to our relationship with Christ, and us being able to "see", whereas those who do not know him, cannot clearly see they are headed for disaster.

But then at the end of the poem, the speaker realizes that this crow banging against the window actually parallels something in her own life (which at the onset of the thought -terrifies her as much as the poor crow who keeps banging into the window is terrified).  We related this to struggling with some sin -- how we just keep "running into the window" thinking, like the unbeliever, that the sin will bring us happiness.  And how we need to repent (turn and go the other way),  and fly towards what is True - and the only source of our true happiness.

Loved this poem!