“HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY”

As I look around me, at the world, my city, my nation, there is such sorrow and woe.  We hear of suicides, men taking their own lives, as they perceive they have no hope.  We hear of cancer and great sorrow in peoples’ lives.  People are despondent, lost and alone.  My heart breaks for the “lost” of this world.  I want to tell the world about the “Altogether Lovely One.”

“His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely.  This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” Song of Solomon 5:16.

Our Lord Jesus, the “Altogether Lovely One” stands at the crossroads of our lives, calling, pleading for a lost world.  He is calling for you, my dear friends.  This “Lovely One” is the one who bore all our sorrows on the cruel cross of Calvary, shed His precious blood for my sins, for your sins.  He is Glorious in His resurrection and sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, praying and interceding for a lost world, a world He came to save.  Listen to the words of Charles Spurgeon as he wrote of this “Altogether Lovely One.”

f we had time to think over this subject, we should say of our Lord that He is lovely in every office.  He is the most admirable Priest, and King, and Prophet that ever yet exercised the office.  He is a lovely Shepherd of a chosen flock, a lovely Friend, lovely Husband, a lovely Brother:  He is admirable in every position that He occupies for our sakes.

Our Lord’s loveliness appears in every condition:  in the manger, or in the temple; by the well, or on the sea; in the garden, or on the cross; in the tomb, or in the resurrection; in His first, or in His second coming.  He is not as the herb which flowers only at one season; or as the tree, which loses its leaves in winter; or as the moon, which waxes and wanes; or as the sea, which ebbs and flows.  In every condition, and at every time,” He is altogether lovely.”  (Charles F. Spurgeon)

He was there before the world was created.  This “Altogether Lovely One” was there at the beginning of time.  He is the great I AM of the burning bush in Exodus 3.  He is “The Word” in John 1:1-5.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him noting was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

He came to this earth, shining in the darkness, and the world did not understand or accept His light.  And He shines in your darkest hours, my friend.  He is there in the midst of your storm, walking on the water.  This “Altogether Lovely One” is there in the midst of your sin and sorrow and your lost hope.  He shines through the darkest of nights, when it seems that all is lost.

“The LORD is high above all the nations, His glory above the heavens.  Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?  He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes –with the princes of His people”  Psalm 113:4-8.

This “Altogether Lovely One” is higher than all the nations and their plans, and His glory shines even beyond the heavens.  But our Lord humbles Himself to see all that is going on in the heavens and the earth.  In other words, He is very much aware of the struggles that you are going through, as He is aware of the hearts of men.  And He longs to lift you up, even if you feel that you are in an “ash heap.”  Even if you feel you are the lowest of the low.  He wants to lift you up right now, at this moment.  He wants to seat you with Him in heavenly places, as the Apostle Paul shares in Ephesians  1:3.

And this “Altogether Lovely One” is our soon coming King.  And He will come in all His glory and beauty to gather His loved ones home.  Our minds cannot comprehend the glory of this King until we see His lovely face in all its beauty.  Will you be ready?  He could come at any time.  And He is not willing that any would perish or miss His coming.  His Word also says He is coming as a thief in the night,

1 Thessalonians  5:1-3: “ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.

Please don’t miss Him.  We live in that time, my friend, when the world is looking for peace.  We hear it in the news constantly.  So, again I plead with you out there.  Be ready, for we do not know when our Lord is coming, but He tells us to watch and wait.  Right now is the time for salvation.  Just call upon Him, my friends.  He will come into your heart and bring you peace and hope and joy, and faith in knowing that when He does come you will go to be with Him.  And we do not know what a day will bring.  Are you ready for eternity?  Don’t put off the most important decision of your life.  Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.  Please be ready and don’t put off the Holy Spirit’s conviction in your heart, listen to His pleading and give it all to Him, He is waiting and He loves you so much, this “Altogether Lovely One.”

In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon

MY STONE OF REMEMBRANCE

As we continued on our journey, it was a time of memories, a time to reflect on our fifty years of marriage and what God has done in our lives.  Do you have “Stones of Remembrance?”  Those are the places where God has met you on your journey.  I shall tell you of one “Stone of Remembrance that has been precious in our life as we have walked with Him and depended upon Him for help and strength in times of trials.

It could be a place where God answered prayer in a particular way.  It would be a place where God rescued you out of a storm in your life.  It may have been a storm where it was so dark you couldn’t see your way ahead, and God met you there and brought great peace to your soul.  There are many “Stones of Remembrance” we could recall in our walk with the Lord and our journey toward our heavenly home, but this “Stone” is one of “Help.”

We were so young when we started our journey in life together.  And then the children came, and sometimes we did walk through stormy places, but God was always there to meet us.  One of the “Stones of Remembrance” that I recall is when our second daughter was born, and how God answered prayer. 

The delivery was complicated and we nearly lost our precious baby, but there was a pastor friend on his knees in the early morning hours praying for our baby, and we took her home from the hospital in two days.  There were many times when our young family had financial needs, and our God always intervened in marvelous ways.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the LORD has helped us” I Samuel 7:12.

This was the time when Samuel was the Judge in Israel, and Israel had just defeated the Philistines, with God’s help, and Samuel set this stone up to help them remember what God had done.  And we can also set up a “Stone of Ebenezer” and remember how the Lord has fought the battles for us all down through the years.

No matter where we have been in life, or where we are at the present, God is always there and has never left our side.  No matter what the age, down through the generations and years of time, God is and has always been there.  He has always been the help for His people

He is the God of today, the God of whatever experience you are going through right now.  In our fifty years of marriage, He was always there, even when at times we drifted from Him, but His arms were open and ready to receive us as we ran back into His arms.

I am reminded of Moses and the burning bush: And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”  And He said, “Thus shall you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” Exodus 2:14.

And Jesus in the Temple facing the Jews declares in John 8:58: Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  Jesus was the God of the burning bush! 

 So as we look back over our “Stone of Remembrance” we remember “I AM!”  He was the God of that very hour, God of that very day.  He is the God of yesterday, today and forever, but He is the God of “Right Now!” He is the very “Rock” upon which we build our faith.

 There is a wonderful hymn that has become very dear to me.  And it is the second verse of “Come Thou Fount” which reminds us of this “Stone of Help.”

“Here I raise mine Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’m come; and I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.  Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.”  (Robert Robertson)

So my friends, is He your “Stone of Help?”  If you are wandering from the fold of God right now, He is waiting to receive you into His fold.  He shed His precious blood for you, to bring you into His eternal home.  Call upon Him now, time is so short.  We see the world falling apart all around us, and Jesus is coming soon.  Don’t miss Him, please?  Just bow right now, right where you are and asked Jesus to come into your heart, to wash away your sin, make you a new creation in Him.  And He will bring you joy and peace whatever you may be going through right now.  He wants to be your “Stone of Help.”

Then I would encourage you, my friend, to find a good Bible believing church, and a pastor who can share more with you about the love of Jesus and encourage you in the Word.  And there you will find fellowship with other believers and can grow in Christ.  I pray that many of you out there will be encouraged to seek the Lord for whatever needs you may have, and may God bless you and be your “Ebenezer”, your “Stone of Help.”

 In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

FINDING GOD IN A

DRY PLACE

I have again been on a journey.  This journey showed me many things that reminded me of my journey and your journey as we travel on this road of life, looking forward to our Heavenly Home.

As we traveled south and on into California, we encountered miles and miles of desert, sage brush and dry places.  We observed the surrounding hillsides, devoid of any green shrubs or evidence of water. We also traveled thru the great Mohave Desert with its cactus and dry stream beds.   We traveled miles and miles between rest stops.

Then up ahead would be an “oasis” of green trees, a place of rest, a place to stop and be refreshed, as we continued on in our journey across the desert.  As we neared our first destination, my home town, we saw more desert and miles and miles of absolute desolation.

This latest journey was one of dry places, one of renewal, one of memories, and one of fellowship with family and friends.  We also saw places and people who need Jesus, who are lost eternally unless they encounter the Lord Jesus Christ.  I experienced heart breaking moments of realizing how much this nation needs a great revival.  My heart broke over the darkness of sin.  Who is going to tell them of Jesus?  Who is going to pray and intercede for the lost?  Are we doing that?  Or are we just going about our own lives, unmindful of the places of sin and darkness?  I asked myself what I was doing for God’s kingdom to win the lost.

This nation is truly a thirsty land, and we are a thirsty people.  We have all the “things” our hearts could desire, but these “things” do not satisfy our souls.  People are wandering in the deserts of sin and heartbreak, of loneliness and despair.

“They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in.  Hungry and thirsty, they soul fainted in them.  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.  And He delivered them out of their distresses.  And He led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” Psalm 107:4-9.

The Psalmist here is reminding us of the journey of the Children of Israel through the wilderness, and it is a picture of people today, wandering in the wilderness of despair.  They are lost without direction, wandering in a dry place, desolate, souls hungry and thirsty for the Living God.  Are you wandering in a desert place right now, my friends?  Maybe you have known the Lord, walked in the green pastures with your Shepherd, but you wandered away into the desert of despair, and you are like the Children of Israel, your soul is fainting within you.

But when they were lost in despair, they cried out to the LORD in the midst of their trouble, and our Wonderful Lord delivered them out of their distresses.  And if you are lost and wandering today, cry out to Him in your trouble, and He will set you on the right path, and lead you to the eternal city for your eternal dwelling place, Praise the Lord!

And then the Psalmist desires that men would then give thanks for the LORD for their deliverance and all the blessings that He desires to pour out upon them, and He wants to fill your hungry and thirsty soul with peace and joy.

“The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes” Isaiah 35:7.

And what happens to a dry and thirsty land when water is brought in, especially by irrigation?  Green grass begins to spring up, flowers bloom, the desert will literally “blossom like a rose.” The parched land becomes green and lush and bears much fruit, so with us when we encounter the Living Lord, the Lord who walks with us through all our desert places.

“On that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Yes, in the midst of your desert place, in the midst of your parched soul, in the midst of your thirst, in the midst of your restless heart, hear the words of the Lord Jesus.  He is the Living Bread, He is the Living Water.  He is the One who will bring joy and refreshment to your parched soul.  And your desert will indeed blossom like a rose, your life will again bear fruit and you will experience such peace and joy, the like of which you have never experienced.

Call out to Him my friend, He is waiting for you.  He died for you, to give you eternal life with Him forever.  If only we could reach the lost in those places of darkness and despair and tell them about Jesus.  Jesus is the only answer to this world and its darkness and despair.  You believers out there, won’t you join me in prayer for the lost, for the dying?  Jesus wants to bring light into the dark places of this world, into the lonely and darkened hearts of people everywhere.  He is waiting and watching and not willing that any should perish.

I will be bring more of my journey in my next blog, a blog regarding “stones of remembrance”, those places along our path that we stop and reflect on the memories of those places, the blessings of those places, and sometimes there are places where times were hard, but our God was always there along our path, Praise the Lord!

In Christ’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

OH, LORD, HOW LONG

MUST WE WAIT!

As I look around my city, my nation and my world, I see violence everywhere.  It seems that nothing is right in the world anymore.  We see the economy failing and people losing everything.  And people, even God’s people, are losing hope.  They are longing for peace and there is no peace.  Their hearts are troubled and in despair.   People are asking God, “Why don’t you do something?”

Then we can go to God’s Word and find hope and encouragement to go on.  For we find there that our God is still in control, and He is not unmindful of the hurts and despair that you and I have to go through here.  And it is only in God’s Word and through salvation in Jesus Christ that mankind has any hope at all.  And God’s people have a wonderful hope for the future.  We know the end, as we have read the end of the Book.  Praise the Lord!  Sometimes, even though we know that, it is still hard to see through our tears and sorrow, and through the storms that come into our lives.

So as we look to God’s Word, we go to the Old Testament and we find the Prophet Habakkuk crying out against the evils of his day, and like many of us today, he was wandering why God was not doing anything about the present situation in his world.

The people of Judah were in deep sin, worshipping idols and had forsaken the God who had loved them and brought them up out of Egypt and provided for them.  And he wondered why God was not punishing them for their sin.  He asked why a just God would allow such sin.  But we see that God was going to punish Judah by allowing the Babylonians to come in and destroy them and take them captive.  But when Habakkuk cried out to God, God promised hope.

“This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received from the LORD in a vision.  How long, O LORD, must I call for help?  But you do not listen!  “Violence!”  I cry, but you do not come to save.  Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me?  Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.  I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.  The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts.  The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery” Habakkuk 1:1-4. (NLT)

Habakkuk was saddened by the violence and evil he saw all around him, and he poured out His heart to God.  And today evil and injustice are also rampant, but we must not let our concern cause us to doubt God and His purposes. When we see the message that God gave Habakkuk, we will realize that God has long-range plans and purposes, and God is on the Throne and in control even when we do not understand why He works as he does.

But look at God’s answer:  “Look among the nations and watch – be utterly astounded!  For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (vs.5).

God told the prophet to watch and see the amazing things He was going to do.  But again, He is in control and He will judge evil doers in His time.  He is doing mighty things in our world today.  The Holy Spirit is moving and countless numbers are coming to accept Jesus as their Savior.  We think things should be going our way but remember that God is not willing that any should perish. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”  II Peter 3:9.

At the beginning of chapter 2, Habakkuk says he will set himself to watch and see what God will do. (vs. 2:1).

 Listen to God’s answer:  “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.  Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (vs. 3)

God’s answer to Habakkuk is the same answer He would give us today.  He tells us to just be patient!  It helps us to remember that God hates sin even more than we do.  God’s punishing of sin will surely come.  As He told the prophet, “Wait for it.”  To trust God totally means to trust Him even when we don’t understand why certain events happen as they do.

“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” (vs. 4).

This verse has inspired countless Christians down through the ages.  Paul quotes it in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11.  The write of Hebrews quotes it in 10:38 and just before that marvelous chapter 11 on faith.  And it reminds all of God’s people who must live through hard times, without seeing any signs of hope.  We must simply trust in God, put our total faith in Him, that He is working out all things according to His purposes.

And then in chapter 3, after we read the wonderful prayer of Habakkuk, and he praises God for answering his questions.  And we can read this wonderful  hymn of praise to the LORD his God, describing God’s glory and His majesty.  I would advise you to read this wonderful prayer in thanks to God for His mercy and His mighty power.

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. (vs. 17-19).

Though we may lose everything we hold dear to our hearts, the prophet is saying that God will give His people surefooted confidences through these difficult times.  We can run like deer across rough and dangerous places.  And at the right time, God’s time, He will bring about His justice and completely ride the world of evil.  In the meantime, we, God’s people, are encouraged to live in the strength of His Holy Spirit, and to keep our eyes on Jesus, as we look for our “blessed hope,” and in the day when there will be peace and joy forever.  Praise His Holy Name!

In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon

My Dear Friends,

We are off on another journey, a journey to celebrate our Golden Anniversary, 50 years!  God has truly blessed Art and I.  We love the Lord and have served him from the beginning.  The Lord has given us 3 lovely daughters and 5 grandchildren.  But I ask, "Where have the years gone?"

I will be looking around me as I travel, and asking the Lord what He wants me to share with you when we return.  I will be back with you on Tuesday, the 26th of October.

God bless you, keep your eyes on Jesus, no matter what the storm may be in your life.  Isn't it wonderful to know He walks in the storm with us, and then calms the storms? 

We serve a Wonderful Lord and Savior. 

"The LORD Bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His

countenance upon you

and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

In His Name,

Pastor Sharon





LORD, TEACH ME TO BE STILL

AND KNOW YOU

 We live in a world that is moving faster and faster.  It is a busy world, and many of us just don’t take the time to rest.  Our lives our full of stress, and we are so tired.  God is calling us to just slow down, to stop, to relax and to remember that He is God and He is in control of this world, and whatever happens, He is reminding us to stop from our busyness and to be still.

“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.

In the whole context of this chapter, the Psalmist reminds us that even though the mountains may crumble around us, the earth may shake or the waters roar, He is with us and He is our refuge (v. 7).  And we are reminded to not be fearful when these things come upon the earth.

We are called to just relax our hands and just be at peace.  And then in verse 10, He promises that He will be exalted among the nations and someday He will be exalted over the whole earth and we are all looking forward to that day when our Lord will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.  What a day that will be!

All through God’s Word we are reminded of this stillness and quietness.  Even our Lord withdrew from the multitudes to seek quietness with His Father.  In Luke 5:15-16 we see Him surrounded by crowds thronging around Him and He withdrew to spend time in prayer.  Sometimes He would get up before dawn or other times He would withdraw to the wilderness to have some solitude and quietness.

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” Isaiah 32:17-18.

Righteousness brings peace and quietness and confidence forever in our souls.  We can live in confidence and safety wherever we dwell, and we can be at rest with our Lord.  Now, isn’t that a wonderful promise?

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save.  He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.

God is in the midst of His people with His wonderful presence, and here He is called the “Mighty One.”  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  And when we are stressed by the pressures of this life, the struggles we all go through, He is the one who will quiet us with His love.  And then, He actually rejoices over each of us with singing!  Praise the Lord!

In this stressful world that we all live in, He is calling us to come and rest and learn of Him.  There can be storms all around us and maybe you feel like your world is caving in upon you.  He wants each one of us to know Him and to find shelter under His wings while the earth quakes around us.

Take some times now to just sit and be still before the Lord.  Give to Him those things that are heavy on your heart today.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-29.

A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen.  It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull.  You may be carrying burdens of sin, grief, depression, fear and anger, and you may just be weary in body from all the stress of this life.  Our precious Jesus frees us from these burdens.  The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, peace, quietness, and joy in this troubled world.

So rest today in His arms, learn to be still in those quiet times with Him.  Spend much time reading His Word and in prayer.  Make a special time every day just to be with Him and you will discover the peace and joy of everyday as you start your day with Him.  You will discover how different your day will be when you start it with Him, just a quiet time in the Word and in prayer.  You will be amazed at what your Lord will accomplish in your life.

Blessings to you,

Pastor Sharon

WHEN I AM IN THE VALLEYS,

THERE I WILL GROW

It seems that lately I have been in the valley in this journey toward my heavenly home.  Oh, I love the mountain tops where the sun brightly shines, and where I have such sweet times with my Lord.  I am sure you have had those glorious mountain top experiences with the Lord also.

I remember as a child and on into my teen years going to church camp.  Do you remember such experiences?  We sang and worshipped the Lord, there was laughter and joy, and our counselors ministered to us, as we knelt to pray.  Many accepted Jesus there on the mountain top, and went home with glorious testimonies.  I remember those times around the campfire, dedicating our lives anew to the Lord, and oh, the glory of His Presence.

But then it was time to descend that mountain and go back down into the valley.  And for many, it was back to a life of abuse, loneliness and tears.  Some years back, I was a counselor in a youth camp situation, where the girls were brought up from foster homes and homes where there was alcohol abuse and other situations.  These little girls would literally cling to me when the cars came to take them back down the mountain, “please don’t make us go back” they could cry, and I would cry with them, knowing of the “valley” they would have to go back to.  They had had a wonderful time those few days, they were loved unconditionally, and told all about the God who loved them, and Jesus who died on the cross for them.  And we led many of these girls to Jesus, but they had to go back down off the mountain top and back into the “valley.”  But now, they knew a God who loved them, and would help them in any circumstance they would have to endure.

If I had stayed on that mountain top at camp, or those little girls had stayed there, we would never have appreciated the love of God through the trials we all must go through.  Many things have happened this week, and it certainly has been a “valley” time.  But I also have had some glimpses of His glory in my time with Him.  So many I know right now are in that “valley” of sorry and pain.  There are those who are grieving the sudden loss of a mate after so many years together.  Others are facing illness in their families and loved ones with cancer, and the future does not look well for some.  Some of us are having times of pain during the nights, when sleep does not come.  But I know, my Lord will see us through this time.

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” II Corinthians 4:16-18.

The Apostle Paul had wonderful mountain top experiences, but so much of his life was down in the “valleys” of persecution and suffering.  He wrote most of his epistles from jail, and he could still admonish his readers to “rejoice.”

He says even in this “valley” experiences we do not lose our hope.  Yes, this outward man is perishing, we will experience pain and suffering, grief and loss.  This “old” body is destined for eternity, and these afflictions, which on the other side of eternity, will seem but for a moment.  And think of the glory ahead of each one of us who love Jesus!  These trials we go through down here are just temporary, we can see those things,  but think of the eternal joy and peace that awaits each of His children!

We are reminded again of the cross, and the suffering of our Lord, and the pain and suffering he went through for us.  And the trials we experience, our little “valleys” of suffering cannot compare to the horror of the cross of Calvary, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.  He looked past the cross, even in His suffering, and saw you and me, and looked forward to the joy that salvation would bring.  Praise the Lord!

I don’t understand why some things happen as they do.  I don’t understand how a loved one could “beat” cancer, and then suddenly it is back, spreading to other parts of his body.  I don’t understand why some are healed and some are not, and the Lord takes them home, despite all our pleading and tears.  But I know my God is still in control, He is still the Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords and someday we will understand.  It seems that some people are in the “valley” a long time, and they never seem to be able to ascend the mountain heights of victory.

Someday the “valley” experiences will be over, and we will ascend His “Mountain of Joy” forever!  It will be a place of eternal joy.  I am looking forward to that day, ever looking toward my heavenly home.

 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” Hebrews 12:22-24.

So if you are in the “valley” today, keep looking up toward the mountain top of joy.  And remember, as the poem says, “Forgive me Lord for complaining when I am feeling low.  Just give me a reminder that it’s in the valleys I grow.”  (Jane Eggleston)

In Christ,

Pastor Sharon