Mountain Climbing: Survivor 101

“I’m comin’ up on the rough side of the mountain,

I must hold to God, His powerful hand,

I’m comin’ up on the rough side of the mountain,

I’m doing my best to make it in.”

~Rev F C Barnes

I wanted to figure out how I could best tie in today’s topic and its analogy. I’m a visual learner and often make use of analogies or comparisons to increase my own understanding and comprehension. I’m sure you have picked up on that trend with my previous topics :o)

The lyrics above are from a song I remember hearing on television when I was little. The song, “Rough Side of The Mountain,” always provided me with a visual of someone trekking up a steep mountain, attempting to reach its peak. Do you have an image of someone ascending a mountain? Good. Keep that visual.

A friend of mine once shared his journey of finding Christ. This friend stated that he ran from salvation for years although deep inside he felt a pressing need to seek God’s will/path. This friend admitted that his stubbornness led him down a dark and painful path. It wasn’t until an acquaintance delivered an almost prophetic message that this young man began to pay attention. You see, during a conversation the acquaintance simply stated, “God wants you. Now, He can get you by choice or by force.” This acquaintance meant that because God is so powerful, whatever He speaks into existence, the same will be done. My friend had the choice to take the easy way or the hard way.

Now make no mistake about it, God still gives us free will. In my friend’s case, because he was so stubborn- although he felt Christ calling, he still chose to turn away. That choice led to a lot of heartache and pain. Unnecessary heartache and pain. In the end, my friend found Christ and is immensely happy now, but at what cost?

Some people argue that the outcome, the end product, is the most important. Basically, it doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there.

Well, the issue with that mentality, especially where God is concerned, is the outcome has already been decided. God’s words become bond (which is another reason why we shouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain or use it so loosely- but that’s another discussion).

So if you know the outcome- better yet, the path, the plan, the final product- wouldn’t logic tell you to take the straightest route? Wouldn’t sense teach you to carry out the necessary steps to reach that outcome?

As saints, or even if you have been debating if you should seek Christ, it is a fact that those who seek Christ already have the victory….in Jesus’ name. Because Christ overcame the world, those who seek Him, believe in Him, and accept Him into their lives have the victory as well. In Jesus’ name, we are sealed and protected:

“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

John 3:15-17

“These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

What a marvelous outcome!

So what sense does it make to take detours and pit stops along the journey? While I do believe the journey or the experience is important, I believe it’s equally important to be smart about the path you decide to take.

Why get sidetracked when we already have the plan or outcome before us?

Well from my experience it’s been a result of doubting that outcome. I didn’t believe I already had the victory. I mean, I didn’t do anything to deserve it, so why would it be that simple?

That concept is common in a lot of societies: those who are fortunate or successful have earned it. They worked earnestly and steadfastly; they achieved it. If you look up the definition behind achieve it would list “to accomplish; to get or attain by effort; to obtain.” We have been brought up in most societies to believe that the victor gets the victory through hard, good, earnest work, while those who are lazy are unaccomplished or unsuccessful. Those who catch a break are considered “lucky” and are even viewed negatively because they didn’t do anything to earn their reward; they didn’t deserve it.

I can say in most earthly circumstances that concept has validity. I can even go as far as to say that I didn’t do anything to earn my salvation. But please keep in mind we’re not talking about an earthly entity. We’re talking about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Trinity is not of this world, so earthly laws need not apply. Would you like to know another thing? After you accepted Jesus into your life you became a new self that is unearthly too:

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Ephesians 4: 22-24

So yes, I had to accept that I already had the victorious outcome because of Jesus Christ. Thus, pit stops and detours are not needed or necessary and are, in fact, counterproductive. I will get to the outcome regardless, so it makes perfect, logical sense to take the straightest path to reach the peak.

Now that we’ve covered the outcome, let’s talk about paths. We have two options: our will or His will. Both are paths and both involve journeys. Here are a few things I’ve learned:

1) My path leaves me at the mercy of dangerous traps and snares, while God’s path provides 100% protection.

Because God loves me, I learned that He will still protect me even when I decided to go down my own path. Yes, He cares that much! However, it’s typically in the form of catching me before I fall off a cliff or became completely ensnared. Think Batman, Superman, or better yet, MacGyver- the heroes who always come in the nick of time to save the day.

Although God catches me before I plummet to grave valleys, I still end up with injuries, scraps, and bruises due to my foolish need to insert my own independence. What I learned: FREE WILL + IGNORANCE= DISASTER!!!

2) I typically don’t make any lead way on my own path.

Basically, I don’t break any new ground. More so, I find myself walking in circles. A prime example: Due to some circumstances in my life I disclosed to my mother that I felt I was turning my wheels and getting nowhere.

In fact, it seemed that as soon as I decided to seek God’s will, I was brought back to the same place I started. God had been attempting to guide me, however like my friend, I allowed my stubbornness and need for independence to dictate where I wanted to go. Fortunately, God heard my cry, my request for His will to be done and guided me back to the right point where His path led.

Let me emphasize this important factor: I must choose to follow His path/His will in order to prevent falling back into the circle-walking routine.

Does that make sense? I hope it does, because I feel it has been the deciding factor between climbing up the mountain and just circling around it.

Now, because of God’s power and grace, He is able to take our will (ie walking in circles) and use it as a learning process. Maybe you discover skills you never thought of. Maybe you come across someone who can assist or help you along your journey. Maybe that person even accompanies you during your journey.

However make no mistake about it: You will come back to the same point or fork in the road you first started on. You will be going in circles.

Because I’m human, I know I’m going to make mistakes. Rather, it’s what I learn from those mistakes that will determine how straight, or rocky, my path will be to get to the peak or reach the outcome. My latest detour (walking in circles) lasted a year.

A year!

While I’m appreciative of that journey- I discovered some survival skills to assist me along the way and I also met some wonderful people who have provided positive companionship during the journey as well- I can’t help but to think: “Wow, did I really waste a year?”

Now, while I’m too optimistic to view any experience as a waste, I do want to learn from my detour so that I won’t be likely to take a similar path down the road.

This takes me to my final lesson:

3) I need God’s discernment to ensure I get to the right path and stay on it.

With each path, my will/path versus God’s will/path, there will be tribulation and strife. Again make no mistake about it, a life of a saint is not an easy one, but it is rewarding and very necessary. His path will take me to new heights and elevation. Mine?? Yeah, I got over my “scenic” route rather quickly :o)

And there lies the difference between both paths: one path will take me to victory and the other will provide a delay. The journey down God’s path will always bring a heighten, elevated breakthrough or stage. While I will face steepness and rocky roads during my trek up the mountain, God has assured me I will overcome them through Christ. Not only will He prepare me with the necessary tools to face a rocky point in the journey, His blessings will elevate me higher so that I’m closer to reaching His peak.

So with this in mind, His path calls for complete trust. In order to get us to that mountaintop, we have to trust Him. We mustn’t become afraid or begin to doubt whenever we face rockiness or adversity. A lion may cross our path, but God will provide the means to overcome it (think about David). And if God’s path requires that you climb up the rough side of the mountain, please remember you’re climbing up to His glorious outcome.

Be blessed saints!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Jeremiah 29:11

God's Will: The Ultimate Collaboration

It's so funny how I landed on today's topic today. Well, not funny, more so, strange (I call everything funny or interesting- force of habit).

I was sitting down doing my budget. Cringe! I've gotten in the habit of not worrying as much and simply focusing on the now and present. Tomorrow's burdens will take care of itself when that time comes. Plus, I can look at my past and recognize that I have made it through times I first thought were simply impossible. God has been consistent- He has taken care of me. I praise Him and thank Him. That mentality sort of helped to transition me into today's topic. I'll break down the sequences because sometimes on the outside looking in, it may seem that I jump around a lot.

Okay, to help me focus on today and not worry about tomorrow and those struggles I had to remind myself to focus on God:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

Well that led me to think about God and doing His will. So I began to ask myself questions:

1. What's my job? Well, I first landed at glorifying His name.

In relation to that first question I wondered:

2. What's my role, more specifically as it pertains to God's will.

I had to challenge myself to look at the bigger picture. What exactly was the bigger picture and where was I in the grand scheme of things?

And that's whereI got stumped...

I needed to marinate on this one a little bit- What exactly is God's will? So of course I started researching into various sites and scriptures regarding God's will. I landed on one particular site: Scripture on God's Will (http://psalm40.org/verses.html) and read a few scriptures from that site.

I must admit that I was still stumped until I came across a set of scriptures:

"having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth- in Him.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

Ephesians 1:5-12

From that set, two scriptures stuck out- "having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself" and

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will".

Since my background is in counseling I, of course, zoned right in on that word "counsel." Anyone who is familiar with counseling, is probably aware of the dynamics of that relationship between the counselor and client. It's typically a friendly, bi-directional relationship set in a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere. The counselor and client typically work, or collaborate together to meet the goals established at the beginning of that relationship. Both counselor and client become acquainted with other and acknowledge that power struggles do not exist within that relationship or setting. Simply put, it's two people with a common goal: walk together through whatever journey gets created by their dynamics. It's a team. An unit. A collaboration.

That's when my wheels began to turn.

In order for me to do things according to God's will, I must walk with God, become familiar and acquainted with Him.

Let me stop for a moment to tell you about a very special person in my life: my best friend. She's the "Frick" of my "Frack." Sometimes it seems as if I know exactly what she's thinking. Sometimes she even finishes my sentences for me. How? Because we have gotten to know each other. We have shared and disclosed things; we have spent time together.

From the beginning, it almost appeared that we were somehow, magically on the same wavelength. Yes, even from the start. It was a very natural and easy transition into our friendship.

Wanna hear some really exciting news? The same can be said about Christ. Because He is in me, we're on the same wavelength:

"having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth- in Him."

Ephesians 1:9-10.

Thus, God and I are already on the same wavelength. So that part of the "battle" is already accomplished and me, as a mere human, really didn't do much work (just believed in Christ and accepted Him into my life).

The next part, to me, has been the hardest though. I actually have to allow Him, listen to Him. Continually. Consciously.

Why has this been hard, especially given the fact that I continually ask Him, tell Him, give Him permission to completely reign over me and use me how He sees fit?

Well, this request is different from other prayers, I feel. You see, God gave us His word of free will. That particular aspect of His word (free will) doesn't necessarily work like a permanent contract though.

Okay, you know those contracts that you sign with a business or service and acknowledge that the entity may change their conditions within the working relationship (ie the date they take out their payment from your banking account, when the actual bill or statement is due, any "extra" fees that may come up where they would charge you). You know, those contracts. And as long as they give you the heads-up before it happens- and yes it will happen regardless- you acknowledge your agreement with those terms.

Have you ever had that happen to you- where you find yourself looking over your bill and think "Where did that come from?" or "Why did they change that?"

How did you feel afterwards? Cheated? Conned? Did you feel that particular business was sneaky and consequently gave yourself a "Time to wise up to the game" lecture? I did.

Well God doesn't work like that. Praise Him! He doesn't pop up and show you the contract you foolishly signed months ago and say, "Remember when you signed here, here, and here and initialed there and there? Well you gave me permission to do so..."

God's not sneaky. God's very open. Why? Because He loves you. He loves me. So although He has the power to do whatever He wants, He's loving enough to let us collaborate with Him. He really does care about our opinions and insight.

It's so funny- a few weeks ago I had this dream where I was talking to God. It was an actual conversation too. Not like the ones I've had with my friends where I'm half listening or not even listening at all because I'm just waiting on that person to shut up so I can make my point.

Oh don't act like you've never done it :o)

Well, in this conversation, I could feel, sense, that God was asking questions out of genuine curiosity. He really wanted to get my opinion on the topic. Even more so, He reallyconsidered my comments afterwards. He gave them serious thought before He said, "Okay."

Yup, that's the God we serve!

So to go back to my point- we have to allow God into my lives and decisions. That's part of the collaboration. He's never going to force us- He doesn't work that way. He would be going against His own word of free will, which is impossible for God.

So yes it would be simple to say, "Okay God, use me. I give you free reign" and then step back and let Him perform His works. But think about it like this: if God did all work, you wouldn't be necessary or needed. Your role would be of no importance. And always remember you do have a role....I have a role. And yes, you are important to God...I'm important to God.

So, yes we have to make a conscious decision each and every time. Each and every moment. Each and every minute to allow God to work through us. Again, it's collaboration, not dictatorship.

This is where I have always gotten stumped though. I sincerely wanted to do His will, I just didn't know what He will was....

But the bible called me out on my bluff: "having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,"

Because Jesus sacrificed Himself in order to give up His precious spirit, so that all who believe in Him would have that spirit within them, I do have the information within me.

I've been been taught that God gave us everything we need to survive in this realm. To survive through the struggles and trials. And He did- through Jesus Christ:

"These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I have the knowledge and the wisdom to do His will, but because it's His will, I need to communicate with Him. That's the piece I was missing...

That's why I would become so frustrated and cry out, "I can't hear you! You won't tell me Your will so I can do it."

And that's when I had to call my own bluff and say, "He has planted the will in you, thus you know it. And better yet- how to get to it. You're just too lazy, and scared, but lazy to go after it."

Yeah, the truth isn't always so easy to swallow :o/

Where does this fear come from? Well, I truly believe in Him and His power. In the last few months alone He has revealed some BIG and HEAVY things to me. And I know He hasn't even put a tiny dent in showing His breadth or width even after all of that. While that fascinates me, it also scares me.

Where does the laziness come from? That fear. I have always kept within my comfort zone. It was safe. It was familiar. It was comfy. At first I thought I didn't push myself because of fear of rejection- my perfectionism wouldn't be able to handle the disappointment or let down.

But now, I know it was because of my fear of what I could do. My possibilities. My success. I wasn't scared of failing, I was scared of flying. That fear of allowing God to expand my breadth and width almost paralyzed me. Please note that I said almost.

Do you remember a while back when I shared my dream about flying? Well that's what I feel I can do. Not because of me, but because of Him. Because I have God. Thing is, God will only work miracles based on how much I trust Him... how much I allow Him....how much Icollaborate with Him:

"Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Galatians 3:5

So how do we walk this journey? We're already on the same wavelength because of Christ. That map is already instilled in us. In me. But I have to become familiar with it. Like my relationship with my best friend I have to spend time with God. I have to read God's word, the bible. I have to meditate on His word. I have to fast so I can hear His voice more clearly. I have to talk to Him constantly.

Have you ever spend hours on the phone with your best friend? Females may nod their heads more readily than males :o) During these conversations you and your friend talk about everything and absolutely nothing at the same time. You share your dreams, your fears, your joy and your pain. You call her up just to tell her about something that happened earlier that day that was so funny or silly. Sometimes the conversations last only a minute- just a quick "Oh my gosh- I gotta tell you what just happened!"

And sometimes you're just silent because words are not necessary. Over time, your friendship grows, deepens. You find yourself immediately going to that friend over every little thing. And there's no such thing as secrets.

I find that I go to my best friend because I know she'll listen, give sage advice, and/or cheer me up. And she'll do all of that with 0% judgment and 100% care.

Well God is like that, but better! Infinitely better!

How quickly I find myself calling my best friend, I have to do that with God. My best friend's number is on speed dial; God's accessibility is even more open. He's always available. I just have to reach out to Him. I just have to communicate with Him. I just have tocollaborate with Him.

I look forward to the moment when I can readily pick up His thoughts for me. When I can readily finish His sentences directed towards me...

Be blessed saints! I leave on this scripture:

"Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the LORD, thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Joshua 1:9

Smudged Mirrors...Blurry Images

Have you ever found yourself using the sleeve of your shirt to clean a mirror? Maybe you're in the bathroom and the mirror is fogged up after a hot shower.

Or what about pictures??? Have you ever had to tilt your head sideways because you were attempting to make out what image you were looking at? It was so blurry that you didn't know if you were staring at a thumb or Big Foot :o)

Earlier I was looking through some pictures and I thought, "Man! If only this picture came out better! It's so blurry!"

Some things are certain: smudged mirrors don't show clear reflections and blurry images don't provide accurate portrayals.

Because I have embraced my role as a saint, I have really given serious scrutiny regarding the image I'm portraying. I'm supposed to be the salt and light of the world, right? My actions are supposed to glorify Him, right?

Okay, let me stop and provide some intimate details about myself: I'm a perfectionist. Yup, that's right- I said it. Hi, nice to meet you, I'm a perfectionist. And as a perfectionist, I challenged myself to do the best and be the best. When I succeeded, I felt great. When I didn't make the bar- you guessed it, I was my own worse critic. Well fortunately I started to work on my relationship with God and recognize that while I'm not perfect, in Christ I'm made whole and complete.

Now as a saint, you would think that I immediately stopped beating myself up and accepted that I was good enough because I had Christ. As a saint, you would think that I could now lay off the pressure just a wee bit because I now have a solid and consistent foundation in Christ. Right???

Wrong! Ha!

Let's just say that I'm a reforming perfectionist and I'm slowly, but surely, letting go and letting God. W.I.P. (work in progress) as I like to call it and yes I am making progress!

So being the reforming perfectionist I am, you can see how seriously I took my salting job, huh? Lol! Oh, I wanted to salt the whole world! Part of my reason for publicly documenting my journey was that I wanted people, who were just like me, to see my up's and downs, my high's and my struggles, and want to seek a closer to relationship to God too. That somehow, people could feel my joy and elation over the web and become thirsty for that intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

Can I share another intimate detail about myself? Even as a perfectionist I bomb in the tact department. For some reason for as long as I could remember, I could never keep my mouth shut at the right times! I would blurt things out before thinking about them. And I'll admit that it's still a W.I.P. Just this very week I found myself reacquainting my foot to my mouth!

So after yet another "Doh" moment, I wondered if I was actually doing a good job at seasoning. I questioned if I was truly in a position to be an example for others. I questioned if people would say that they saw Christ whenever they looked in me.... I began to wonder if my own mirror was smudged.

Can I share one last intimate detail about myself?

My mirror is smudged. While I pray over and over for God to use me to glorify Him, I find that I still struggle with my smudged mirror. Oh, I begin to doubt if I'm clear enough. If I'm clean enough that people can look through my reflection and see God.

So what does the perfectionist in me do? Well, that perfectionist attempts to clean that smudged mirror herself. Using my sleeve, I attempt to polish that reflection until it's spot less and it glistens.

Have you ever tried to clean a dirty mirror with a dirty sleeve? Not really effective, huh?

Although it seems almost instinctual to go into damage control- after I make a mistake or say something silly, I immediately attempt to correct the situation myself. But I find that not only do I goof up the situation more (ie my mirror becomes even more smudged), but I also find myself retracing my steps to seek God and ask for His help, His forgiveness- oh, and His wonderful glass cleaner....

The fortunate thing I can say is that God is so amazing that He and only He can turn messes into blessings. Only God can correct the mistakes I've made and also deter me from future mistakes. But I have to allow Him to do so...

I realized that my need for clear perfectionism, my need to be certain at all times I am spot-less and accurately reflecting Him only led to me blurring the lenses. You're probably thinking, "Well shouldn't you seek to be spot-less, or sin less? Shouldn't you seek to accurately reflect Him and His love?"

Well, yes.

The difference was that my focus was off. Instead of focusing on Him, I focused on my need to be clear. I focus on my own actions and thus, I began to doubt myself. Instead of simply praying that God would use me, and then focus on Him (believing that He heard me and would answer my prayer), I shifted my focus back to myself- scrutinizing my every step and word. The consequence: blurry images.

I realize that it's only when I step back, when I trust that God can take my words and actions-yes even the times when I goof up- that He can turn them into miracles that all glorify Him. Only God can clear my smudged mirror so that He shines through....reflects through. And what glass cleaner does He use? Jesus Christ!

Praise Him!

So two sets of scriptures I want to leave on that help to color my perspective. The first set is to show what a wonderful and perfect glass cleaner (ie Savior) we have in Jesus. The second set is to show that your mirror will continue to need cleaning (ie W.I.P.)

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

~Ephesians 2: 5-8

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

~Philippians 1:6

Be blessed saints! :o)