Go to the Mountain

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.  And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles...  Luke 6:12-13

Have you ever had to make a huge decision?  I'm sure you have as we all have been down that road before.  We have all been at that place where we can look into the future and get a glimpse of what might be down both roads, but it still makes it difficult to make a decision on which way to go.  I'm facing that road right now.  In front of me are two paths and both of them are good, scary and uncertain.  So how do you decide which way to go? 

If we are to follow in Jesus's footsteps, then we must simply go to the mountain.  The more I understand God, the more I realize that His PLANS are bigger than my PATHS.  His purposes for my life will take me down many paths for three reasons: to prepare me for the future, to touch the lives of those I come into contact, and most importantly to glorify His name in all of the earth.  And because of that, the decision of which path to take isn't as important as the preparation to make the decision.  So what must you do to choose the way to go...Go to the Mountain!  Go to the place that is free from distractions, the place where you can see the bigness of God, and the place where proper perspective is gained from overlooking his creation.  This place, "the mountain", may not be a physical place, but it should be a place that takes you away from the noise of everyday life.  A place where you are allowed to truly focus and hear what God might say.  Jesus did it everyday and we should too.

I really wonder if more believers had "a mountain" how might this world look?  I think our churches, communities, and world would be totally different than it is today.  So what about you?  Are you going to the mountain?

Psalms 5

¹ Listen to my words, LORD,
   consider my lament.
² Hear my cry for help,
   my King and my God,
   for to you I pray.
 ³ In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
   in the morning I lay my requests before you
   and wait expectantly.
⁴ For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
   with you, evil people are not welcome.
⁵ The arrogant cannot stand
   in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
 ⁶ you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
   you, LORD, detest.
⁷ But I, by your great love,
   can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
   toward your holy temple.
 ⁸ Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness
   because of my enemies—
   make your way straight before me.
⁹ Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
   their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
   with their tongues they tell lies.
¹⁰ Declare them guilty, O God!
   Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
   for they have rebelled against you.
¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
   let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
   that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
 ¹² Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;
   you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Leafy Brown Monster

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  Romans 1:19-20

Have you ever heard of a Weedy Sea Dragon?  I can't remember that I had, but I came face-to-face with one today at the Tennessee Aquarium.  Wow, what a  fascinating creature.  As I stood there and looked many thoughts went through my head.  Why was this animal created?  What is it's purpose?  However, the longer I looked, the more amazed I became; fascinated really.  You see as it was swimming, I noticed it's body stayed dead still, almost like it was drifting in a current.  But as I studied it closer I could see this species has it's own built-in propulsion system.  The system consisted of tiny fins on the neck and backside working together and independently to move the animal along as smooth as butter.  And it just hit me.

I don't necessarily believe this animal has a particular purpose in itself.  I mean come on, this is just an appetizer food for any fish that wants a bedtime snack.  Can we say shrimp anyone?  So if this fascinating creature doesn't have a purpose, then that only means that it's creation is pure and simply for my [man's] wonder and awe of it's Creator.  God clearly shows each of us many wonders when we simply slow down and allow ourselves to look, ponder, wonder and realize that His creation is His masterpiece given to us to recognize Him.  To realize He exists.  And to praise Him for it.

His creation is not what is worthy of our worship, rather His creation leads us to the Creator of all things, and our job is to bring honor and glorify Him as His creation already has.

A Tall Oak

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all he does, he prospers.  Psalms 1:1-3

Every time I read this verse I get excited.  Excited in the sense that for someone who truly desires to follow God, there is the possibility of attaining something greater, something more fulfilling to this "Christian" life.  I want to be this man!  I want to be this guy who is "planted by streams of water."  Or put another way, planted by streams of living water.

Doesn't that sound so refreshing?  Isn't that what we desire in following Jesus?  Yet many times I feel that James 1:8 is more appropriate; "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all of his ways."  I don't like that.  I want to be planted, to be rooted deep and stable in my stance, stable in my thoughts and stable in my actions.  I want to drink the living water that nourishes, feeds, grows and builds a strong warrior for God.  And then He reminds me, long-term results only come from long-term commitments.

What are you committed to friend?  What are you willing to do to become the fruit bearing oak planted firmly in the stream of living water?  Enjoy your time with Him today.

Sweet Aroma

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.  And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it.  When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."  And his disciples heard it.  Mark 11:12-14

I don't know about you, but there are times when I'm reading Scripture when I have to ask myself a simple question...huh?  As I was reading today about the story of Jesus' interaction with the fig tree, I found myself wondering why in the world would Jesus go up to a tree that he already knows doesn't have any fruit on it to eat.  If he was really hungry, why not go to someone's house, or make a loaf of bread out of a rock.  I mean come on, this is Jesus we are talking about right?

I love how Jesus teaches those who were with him on a daily basis.  It's simple, straightforward and right to the point.  He didn't have to say anything to the disciples about the fig tree, but rather all he did was curse the fig tree for not bearing any fruit.  It's a simple lesson he already taught them in Matthew 7.  You will be known by your fruit.

What kind of fruit is being produced by your faith in Jesus?  Is it the sweet aroma of a life expressed through genuine faith and repentance?  Or, well you know.