"Come to the Mountain of the LORD"

Isaiah 2:3 "Many nations will say "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him."

This passage is speaking of the time during the Millennium...and I look forward to being there saying the same thing. But I also want to be saying that today too...."Come, let's go up to the Mountain of the LORD and learn His ways, obey Him and worship Him.

And look at the heart of the people...they are excited to go to the mountain of the LORD, to be in His presence, to learn his ways and obey Him. Father, give me a heart like that today and continually.

And look at the results of the total surrender of the nations to God: Isaiah 2:4c "All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end." Ah, I look forward to seeing and experiencing that during the Millennium. But for now...I want that in my own heart and life...absolute surrender to the LORD day by day.

Isaiah 2:5 "Come, people of Israel (Come, people of Harvest, California, United States, the world), let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Blessings,

Sharon

"Taking a Hike"

Galatians 5:16 "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

"Walking" is a word that we all know...it's a word we can picture. Walking simply means going somewhere, starting out at one place and ending up at another..making progress.

It makes me think of one of my favorite walks which is going up Mt. Rubidoux. Whenever I invite someone new to walk up with me....the first thing they usually ask is, "how hard is it?" Well, there are two paths to choose from, the hard one and the easy one. The easy path has less resistance...and less benefits too. The hard path, well it's harder...but you'll like the end results.

One thing I have learned, once I start the climb if I stop and take breaks along the way...my endurance is affected and it becomes more difficult to get moving again. So, the less breaks the better.

A cool thing about Mt. Rubidoux is that there's a cross on the top of this mountain. We can actually see the cross from our front yard...but from where I'm standing....the cross looks small. But as I walk up the mountain...the cross gets bigger and bigger....and the things we left behind get smaller and smaller.

It might seem funny, but I can see a picture of what "Walking in the Spirit" means in my Mt. Rubidoux walks. I can choose the path of least resistance...but if I do...I won't be walking in the Spirit long and the fact that I'm saved...will be hard to see. And if I stop moving forward in my spiritual walk...it'll get harder to get back on tract...to get up and get moving again. But, if I keep walking and growing in the Spirit....the important things will become clear...the reason why Jesus went to the cross will become larger to me...and the things I left behind (sin) will become smaller and smaller in me. Oh the sin will still be there....but the CROSS - Jesus will be bigger and easier to see.

Blessings on your day,

Sharon

"Walking Skillfully"

Proverbs 28:26b "......but she who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered."

"Walking Skillfully" reminded me of the climb that Sarah Palin did a few weeks ago in Alaska. Climbing the most challenging peaks in the Denali National Park was something she had always wanted to do. So, along with her husband, Todd, and their guide they started the adventure. As I watched, I couldn't help but think of the parallels to our Christian walk.

The whole way up the mountain Sarah followed her guide. He taught her how to use her legs, told her to look for the footholds and use them. He also encouraged her when she considered giving up and turning back.

II Samuel 22:34 "He makes my feet like hinds' feet (firm and stable);

He sets me secure and confident upon the heights."

Sarah said that it wasn't until they were almost at the top that she realized how dangerous this climb really was. This is when they began to encounter the "hidden crevasses" in the ice. They are hidden because they are covered in snow. One false step....it could be lethal.

Job 18:10 "The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way."

If you watch the clip, you will see her guide... going ahead and checking the safety of their path. And as he encounters the crevasses, he determines how wide they are and then he jumps over them. Next is Sarah's turn to jump and she says that she's scared and her guide is again encouraging her, reminding her of why she is doing this and what lies ahead...she will reach the summit. And then you hear her say right before she jumps, "God, help me" and she arrives safely on the other side.

Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long."

What a picture of our walk with the LORD....His Word is our guide and the path He asked us to walk on is a "trodden" path...He has walked it and He knows the safest place for us to put our feet. If we will walk according to His guidance, His instruction, His encouragement, we will continue to move forward, grow in our walk with Him (not lagging behind) and we will arrive safely on the other side.

Micah 4:2b "....Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..."

Walking in Him,

Sharon

"Words are Fat-Free"

Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or

any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect

it, as I shall not pass this way again. --William Penn

Words are free, recyclable, fat-free and their proper use can encourage,

inspire, motivate,

activate, and most importantly they can glorify God.

Psalm 12:6 "The words of

the LORD are pure words,

Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

No mater where we go or what do daily....the words we use have great potential to

either build someone up or tear someone down.

Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue

has the power of life and death.”

Words have great power and the quote, "Sticks and stones may break my bones

but words will never hurt me." is simply not true.

Our words can crush a person’s

spirit,

and they can leave people feeling hurt and hopeless.

But

they can inspire,

encourage, and

give life as well

Proverbs 15:4

“A

wholesome

tongue is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,

sweet to the

soul, and health to the bones.

I once heard it said that "Words are the medium with which the soul paints a picture.

Challenge yourself and others to paint masterpieces. " The way to do that is found

in

Psalm 19:14,

“Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be

acceptable

in thy sight,

O Lord,

my strength, and my redeemer.”

With all this in mind LORD, who needs to hear from You, through me today? Do

I

need to call someone, write a note of thanks, or is there a family member who needs

to hear "I love you." Help me LORD to be ready to give a "fitly spoken word" YOUR

WORD today. In Jesus name, amen.

Blessings to you,

Sharon