The CupBearer & The Cups

 

The CupBearer is God. In His hands are two cups. One cup contains His wrath and one cup contains His blessing. Which cup do you want Him to pour out on you? 

THE CUP OF WRATH

    In the cup of wrath is the wine of God's fury (Revelation 14:10). As told against the nations in Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 25:15-38), this cup is dreadful and has horrific consequences for those destined to drink it. 

    This cup is the sword of The Lord (Jeremiah 25:16); it brings destruction and madness to the people whom it touches. This sword is blood-bathed in heaven (Isaiah 34:5,6) and brings death with it. It is a devouring sword, this cup of wrath (Deuteronomy 32:42), on God's enemies. 

    Who will drink this cup? The wicked (Job 21:20; Psalm 75:8;) will drink of the cup of wrath. Babylon (Revelation 16:19) and all who participated in Babylon's wickedness (Revelation 18:3). Those who burn incense to idols (Jeremiah 44:8). They who are called by The LORD but refuse to answer Him (Isaiah 65:11,12).

    What is the awful wine they will drink? Destruction, sulfur, fire; drunkenness and vomiting; death. Yet it will taste sweet on the tongue (Psalm 75:8), for it is a fermented intoxicating beverage mixed with spices. But its result is far worse than a hangover and no bloody Mary or hair of the dog will take away the pain of having drunk from this cup. 

    Do you really want to be one of those people who will have to drink from that cup because you rejected The Word of God and refused to believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God? 

THE CUP OF BLESSING

    In the cup of blessing is Life Eternal. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul tells us, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?". This is the cup from which we should want to drink. 

    In this cup is fellowship with Christ, a commitment to follow Him all the way (Matthew 26:26,27). Jesus has said that all who follow Him must take up their cross. (Don't worry about what your cross is: it will be revealed to you when you really need to know.) We will have many burdens to bear in this life, but we must lay them all down at the feet of Jesus, and let Him take care of them. Let us drink together  this cup of blessing and sacrificial love which The LORD God has prepared for them that love Him and obey His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 John 5:3,4). 

    The psalmist had a few words to speak regarding The LORD's cup. Psalm 16:5 "The LORD is My Chosen Portion and My Cup; You have made my lot secure." and again in 

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." And here in 

Psalm 104:15 "Wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart." 

    Wine that makes the heart happy. Oil that causes our faces to shine. Bread which sustains us. The wine of God's love, His grace and lovingkindness expressed through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, is what makes the heart happy. 

    The wine is the sacrifice we make when we choose to leave everything we have loved and follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads us. It is bittersweet and costly. Yet it is a greater loss to not drink this wine. John wrote, "He must increase, but I must decrease." It's not about me and what I want: it's about Him and what God wants. 

    The anointing of His Holy Spirit shines the reflection of God's love from within the born again believer that the whole world cannot help but notice, there's something different about that person. And we know that the difference noted is the indwelling of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the power of The Holy Spirit. That's what you see when you see a real Christian. 

    Bread to sustain, strengthen, the heart. Not just any bread, but the Bread of Heaven, taken in daily when we read and study and pray over it, asking The Holy Spirit to apply it to our hearts and help us to live it the way God wants us to live it. 

    That's what's in the cup of blessing. I'm drinking from that cup. And I'm holding on to it with all my strength, no matter how much I struggle daily, because that's my blessing. And I'm not letting go. 

WHICH CUP WILL YOU CHOOSE?

    We can't drink from both cups, we have to choose one or the other. 

Paul writes in the letter to the church in Corinth:

    1 Corinthians 10:21 "You cannot drink of the cup of The Lord, and the cup of demons: you cannot be partakers of The Lord's table, and of the table of demons."

    And Joshua told the people they had to choose which god to serve and which God he chose to serve:

    Joshua told the people in his time (Joshua 24:15), "If it seems evil to you to serve The LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve The LORD." 

    Paul reminds the church in Corinth (and us) in his second letter to them that unequal partnerships will fail and cannot intermingle. Where light is darkness cannot remain. 

  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 reminds us to be equal partners in righteousness and communion. That we are the temple of God: He lives in us, walks in us: The LORD is our God and we are His people. 

THE CUPBEARER & THE CUP

Behold The Lamb - Stuart Townend

My Portion - Isla Vista Worship

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

Drinking From My Saucer - Michael Combs

Fill My Cup, Lord - (Hymns of Faith)

Where You Go, I Go - Jesus Culture

Lay It All Down - Will Reagan, United Pursuit

Just As I Am - (Hymns of Faith)

A Crucified Life - - Is An Ambassador For Christ

 

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4243

Ambassador: to be the elder, to take precedence

From the Greek word 'presbeuó' (pronounced pres-byoo'-o): a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God's emissary (represent His kingdom).

Used twice in the New Testament; both times by Paul, as here in the letter written to the church in Corinth. The second time was in a letter to the church in Ephesus: Ephesians 6:20 "For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should."

    2 Corinthians 3:6 says God has made His ministers fit, qualified, to speak the gospel, "He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life."

    In the Old Testament God's authorized emissaries were His priests and His prophets, His messengers. While this verse in Malachi is a warning to God's priests, it also serves as a reminder to us of who the messenger is representing and speaking for.

>Malachi 2:7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts."

    As an ambassador for Christ, this messenger can only speak what the Spirit speaks to her, to me. I never know until the morning of what the message is going to be. I usually am given the primary Scripture(s) a few days in advance, but not what the Spirit speaks. 

    It's called Daily Bread for a reason. Just enough at the beginning of the day to get us through that day. Though we hunger for more, we are given enough in each day to feed our souls and our hearts. And what we are given we are prompted to share with others, that they (you), too, would receive a blessing from God in the Word. 

    May you receive such a blessing. 

    As an ambassador for Christ, my life must mirror His. Daily I am given not only a Word for myself and others, but I must take up my cross. I must surrender what I want and desire each day to what God wants and desires for me. I must bring my body into submission to His Word. The stronger our relationship in Christ with God the greater our desire to see God's desire fulfilled. And the less we have any inclination to give into life's little temptations. Oh Lord, let this my prayer be: draw me closer. 

FERNANDO ORTEGA's GREATEST HITS - One Hour of Beautiful Music

Guard Your Heart - - Guard Your Blessing

 

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of The LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 6238

Enriches: to be rich, to become rich

From the Hebrew word 'ashar' (pronounced aw-shar'). 

    In this verse the word 'enrich' means 'to make rich'. Therefore, the blessing of The LORD makes rich the person He is blessing. Having a right relationship with Him is all the riches I need. 

    So just what is the blessing of The LORD that I should desire it? 

THE BLESSING OF THE LORD

>Prospers the one being blessed (Proverbs 3:33)

>Is on the wise (Proverbs 2) 

>Is Life Eternal (James 1:12)

>Is Abundant Grace (1 Timothy 1:14)

>Is with they who seek with and  walk with Him 

(2 Chronicles 17:3, 4)

>Is on His faithful (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

>Is a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)

>Multiplies (Leviticus 25:21)

>Is on His people who persevere in The Name of The Lord 

(James 5:10, 11)

ENRICHES

    Not for personal gain nor to increase one's own finances or bank account, but to prosper in the ways of The Lord. God's blessing is on His faithful: faithfully following His Word, faithfully hearing His Word, faithfully living in His Word. 

    1 Timothy 6:9, 10 Self-Enrichment

    God's blessing is NOT on the unfaithful. Their riches are by their own hand for their own glory. When men (and women) enrich themselves, they praise themselves and are praised by others. 

    1 Timothy 6:11 Godly Enrichment

    When God's hand is the source of the enrichment, then God gets the glory and praise. The blessing of The Lord is "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

   

    Let us receive the blessing of The Lord by seeking Him out and meeting with Him in private {prayer}, by surrendering ourselves fully to Him (submission) and by faithfully living a life that honors God in all His ways (surrender). Let us have joy in the God of our salvation, who showers us with His grace, His mercy and His compassion. 

GUARDING OUR BLESSING

    1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Fight the good fight of the faith. Hold onto the eternal life we have been given and confessed before many that we have. 

    Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own."

I press on. I persevere. I endure. With His grace. With His help. In His strength. In His love. In Him. 

GUARDING OUR BLESSING MEDLEY 

All To Jesus I Surrender - Robin Mark 

I Surrender - Hillsong 

Submission - Piano & Song Cover

At Your Feet - Casting Crowns

Find Us Faithful - Steve Green

Crown of Life

 

What is this Crown of Life? It refers to a crown received by a person(s) who has run a race and won, as we can see by reading the verses below.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!

 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].

In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

1 Peter 5:4

And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory.

Revelation 2:10

Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. Be aware that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested [in your faith], and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown [consisting] of life.

Blessed Is Israel

The Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lies within you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:17-18
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Peace. A much sought after product, but seldom found by today's diggers. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? They who promote peace, instead of war, instead of division. They who introduce peace by way of the gospel, instead of hate. 
To be a Peacemaker is to reflect the heart of God, for God is Peace. "But now is Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He Is our Peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us....For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:13-14, 18
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
Peacemakers are trouble-brokers, they settle disputes, disperse justice and judgment fairly. They disperse blessings on their attackers instead of vengeance: peacemakers do not  get even. Nor do they sue the wrongful, but leave everything in a situation in God's hands and let Him settle things, beginning with themselves. 
In this way, the Christian is recognized as a child of God. For only a true Christian, a true follower of Christ, will be proven by their actions and words of peace and blessing where none would be expected to be found. 1 Peter 2:8-9 "Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion on one another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing." 

Blessed are we who bless each other and are a blessing to each other, who show compassion and mercy fairly, with guileless hearts: for we shall be called the children of God. 

Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One

God blesses us with so many blessings on a daily basis that we can only try to number them when we give thanks. What we lack in memory we make up for in praise and worship and thanksgiving. But if we could 'count our blessings and name them one by one', where would we start? With number one, of course.

1. Thank You, God, for Who You Are.
2. Thank You, God, for creating me.
3. Thank You, God, for loving me.
4. Thank You, God, for saving me.
5. Thank You, God, for calling me to serve You.
6. Thank You, God, for air to breathe, eyes to see, ears to hear.
7. Thank You, God, for how my body works to serve Your purpose.
8. Thank You, God, for blessing me with a godly husband.
9. Thank You, God, for blessing me with a good family, but even more that my family chooses to honor You. 
10. Thank You, God, for the blessing of children in our home.
11. Thank You, God, for blessing me with a faithful, faith-filled church family, who show by their example what it means to be the Bride of Christ according to Your Word.
12. Thank You, God, for giving me Your Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me through Your Word all the days of my life.
13. Thank You, God, for both answered and unanswered prayer. For choosing what is best for me in the long run, the enduring run. 
14. Thank You, God, for saving our children, giving them a desire to know You better, love You more, serve You faithfully and with an overwhelming joy.
15. Thank You, God, for strong friendships that withstand the test of time.
16. Thank You, God, for beautiful sunsets, sunrises and cloudy days.
17. Thank You, God, for the rain that falls gently, nourishing the earth You created, that the earth might nourish us, as well.. 
18. Thank You, God, for the food on our table, the clothes on our bodies and the shelter over our heads.
19. Thank You, God, for saving a wretch like me, who could have died in her sins, but who was prayed for and then prayed herself to have a lasting relationship in Jesus Christ and You.
20. Thank You, God, for sending Your Son to die in my place, becoming my sin, that I might receive salvation through Him.
21. Thank You, God, for rolling away the stone after He rose from the dead, conquering the grave and death, that He might walk out of the grave and into the garden, giving me everlasting life.
22. Thank You, God, for the ability to read and comprehend, to enjoy study time and apply it to my life.
23. Thank You, God, for the mercy You show me everyday, when I have let You down.
24. Thank You, God, for the lovingkindness You give me everyday, that I do not deserve, but am thoroughly pleased to receive. 
25. Thank You, God, for meeting my needs, giving me the desires of my heart and filling my cup to overflowing that I might bless others with the abundance of what You have given me. 

This is only 25 blessings. Surely there are many that have not come to mind, but nonetheless are present in my life. For this I give Him praise and thanksgiving, too. 

We sing that song, Ten Thousand Reasons, in church sometimes. How long do you suppose it would take us to count 10,000 different reasons to praise God? What if we tried?

For Want of A Nail

 

Start Again 

--by Hy. Pickering/1,000 Tales Worth Telling

"Therefore, my beloved brethren  (brothers and sisters in Christ), be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of The LORD, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in The LORD. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

A Christian man was giving away Gospel tracts on board a steamer. A gentleman who accepted one in a gracious way, said, "I have not much faith in that kind of work." Said the Christian, "It was through a Gospel tract given to me in Glasgow twenty years ago that I was converted." The gentleman showed considerable interest , and asked for particulars. On hearing the young man's story about the tract, the gentleman said, "I am the one who gave you the tract. For years I ceaselessly distributed tracts but I saw so little result form my efforts that years ago I ceased scattering them. But by the grace of God I shall start again." 

(Treasury of Gospel Gems, 1944)

Waiting On God

Waiting on God does not mean doing nothing on our part. In this passage 'waiting' means 'to bind together (by twisting {think braiding] ). Waiting on God means to 'wait upon'. We wait for Him to speak to us, then we obey what we have heard Him say to us. Each of us has a purpose which God wants to fulfill in us. Each of us has at least one mission field to which God not only sends us, but goes with us.
Do you not understand even yet that God goes with you? In His Word He tells us that He will never leave us: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (cf. Genesis 25:15, wherein God makes a promise to Jacob).

Wherever God is fear is not. Speaking to Joshua: "Have not I 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.

Speaking through King David to Solomon: "All this, said David, The LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. And David said to Solomon, Be strong and of a good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for The LORD God , even my God, will be with thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of The LORD." 1 Chronicles 28:19-20.

So, don't be afraid to wait on God. Be more afraid of not waiting on God.

When Samuel first heard God speak to him, he did not know it was God speaking, for "he did not know The LORD yet". He ran to the man he thought was calling his name, only to be informed on the third call that this was God's voice, not Eli's. It is only when we know The LORD that we will learn to listen and obey His voice.

You are not past the point of no return. You can still learn to listen to God, learn to know His voice. It is the voice of love, mercy and patience.
God is patient with us. Way more patient than we are with each other.
God is longsuffering. He puts up with quite a bit of our unrighteous acts. Why? Because He loves us and He only wants to bless us. He can't do that unless we obey His Word.

Obedience to God's voice brings God's blessings. Disobedience to God's voice brings God's curses, His wrath.

See this little scale? God has treasures set aside for each of us on a daily basis, when we obey His voice, His Word. But on the other end of the scale? Nothing. No blessings, no treasures, no gifts.

Waiting on God means to go where He sends us and to not be afraid when He sends us in a direction we are fearful of going. That bend in the road will glorify God. That steep climb will glorify God. That speech, that marathon, that song will glorify God. Whatever it is you think you can't do even though God has called you to do it, you can because God will be with you wherever He sends you, whenever He sends you.
Waiting on God means to be patient. (Warning: do not pray for patience. God will give you trials to learn to be patient in). Actually, when we are filled with The Holy Spirit, we have patience: we just need to exercise it. It is, after all, part of the fruit of The Spirit -- Galatians 5:23 -- "longsuffering".

Waiting on God means to live in love, as Christ loves us. John 15:12 "This is My commandment, That you love one another as I have loved you." How has God loved us? Unconditionally. Sacrificially.

Waiting on God means to do God's will. "And this is the will of Him that sent Me (Jesus speaking), that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, should have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

Waiting on God means to serve Him, not as slaves, nor servants, but as friends. We like to do things for our friends, do we not? To show them how much we love them. We bring them smiles on cloudy days. We clean their houses, when they are laid up. We care for their children when they are overwhelmed. We prepare meals when they are grieving. Because we love our friends we choose to make them happy, at times meeting their needs before meeting our own. Why? Love.

God loves us and wants us to obey Him in love. "We love Him because He first loved us". 1 John 4:19

Are you truly waiting on God? Do you wake up in the middle of the night, when you hear Him speaking to you? Are you digging into His written Word, eagerly turning pages, seeking Him out? Have you heard Him speak and known it was God who was speaking?

It's not too late. God is calling you right now. Some of you He is calling to salvation. Some to service. Some to healing. Some to rest. Some to the baptism of His Holy Spirit, to be filled with power to walk in His Word. Some of you He is calling for the last time. I hope you are ready. I know I am.

River Blessings

The river of life that flows out of the born again believer can only flow with the power of The Holy Spirit. For it is The Spirit of God that calls us all to salvation. 
He woos us into God's holy presence, where we realize we are sinners: unholy, unrighteous. Our hearts break with the weight of our sin and shame. When we believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation, that only He can save us from the punishment for our sins, then God forgives us and wipes away the tarnish from our souls. 

When we ask for God's Holy Spirit, we are asking for power to walk/live in, and according to, God's holy Word. The disciples could not witness of God's redeeming grace until The Holy Spirit had filled them with power to testify.
For we know that after Christ died and was buried, each went back to what he had been doing before walking with Jesus. Their understanding of His Words was not fulfilled until they had received the baptism of fire, of The Holy Ghost, upon each individually.
Even now those who only read the surface of The Word of God are not able to grasp the intent or wisdom of The Word. This only comes about through The Holy Spirit living in us, flowing through us.
The Holy Spirit guides us in God's Word. He is Wisdom. The Wisdom of God reveals God through God's Word. We need this blessed Holy Spirit to reach us, to teach us, to bring us, into God's eternal presence.
Revelation 21:17 reminds us that "..The Spirit and the bride say, Come...." That is God's Holy Spirit speaking to all who will listen:
"....And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely".

Latter Rain

     The latter rain is neither soft and gentle, nor a hard downpour. Matter of fact, it isn't even what we would define as rain. It is the dew that settles gently on the ground and everything setting on the ground, whether it sets on grass or cars, flowers or houses. 

     In Scriptures, this latter rain is not a challenge, not a trial: it is the blessing that comes with having the favor of God in one's life. 

     I want this latter rain in my life.

Caleb's Song

CALEB'S SONG

I AM A WARRIOR

I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

I AM A FIGHTER

I WILL DIE FOR YOU

I WILL TAKE UP MY SWORD

AGAINST OUR ENEMY

I WILL LIFT UP MY SHIELD

FOR HIS ATTACKS ON ME

FOR I SEE WITH MY HEART

AND I RUN WITH MY SPIRIT

ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD

CARNAGE EVERYWHERE

I WANT THAT MOUNTAIN

GOD GAVE IT TO ME

EVERY STEP I TAKE

FOR ALL ETERNITY

I CAN FIGHT THE GIANTS

I CAN WRESTLE THEM

BUT IF THEIR SEEDS STILL LIVE

I WON'T WIN

I AM A WARRIOR

I GO TO BATTLE FOR YOU

I AM A FIGHTER

I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

I HAVE MADE MY STAND

AND I WON'T RETREAT

TILL YOU REMOVE YOUR HAND

AWAY FROM ME

FOR I SEE WITH MY HEART

AND I RUN WITH MY SPIRIT

ONTO THE MOUNTAINTOP

GLORY EVERYWHERE

I CAN SEE YOU CLEARLY

I CAN HEAR YOUR VOICE

I CAN KNEEL IN WONDER

THAT YOU'VE MADE ME YOUR CHOICE

I AM SERVANT

TO THE MOST HIGH GOD

I AM HUMBLED

BY THE MOST HIGH GOD

UNDER THE WEIGHT OF YOUR GLORY

I AM PRESSED

AND IN THE SHADOW OF MERCY

I AM BOWED

IN THE TRUTH OF REFLECTION

I SEE MY NEED

FOR YOU

ONLY YOU

YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH GOD

AND YOU SEE ME

YOU LOVE ME

YOU SAVE ME

EVERYDAY

MORE OF YOU

ON MY MOUNTAINTOP

MORE OF YOU

IN MY MOUNTAIN VIEW

MORE OF YOU

WHEN I STAKE MY CLAIM

ON WHAT YOU

HAVE GIVEN ME

I AM YOUR WARRIOR

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR YOU

I AM YOUR SERVANT

AND I HAVE LIVED FOR YOU

I AM YOUR CHILD,

I AM YOUR SEED,

YOU LIVE IN ME.

Molehills

The molehills are those little mounds in front. You can see the edge of a bigger hill, possibly mountain yonder.

Molehills ARE mountains. Until they are behind you......and then they become molehills again. So, when we ask God to "Move That Mountain", He replies, "What mountain?".

Our troubles, our circumstances, our situations appear across our pathway like the molehills do in the above photograph. Our eyes see only what is in front of us and not what is ahead. Seldom do we look behind us and see the faded hills we have crossed. I, for one, have seen God move many molehills. The party scene (unlike some people: I inhaled). Single parenthood. Shunned from church and friends. Becoming a step-parent and then a divorcée with 3 kids. Surviving a bad divorce. Working to support us on a low income wage. Falling through the cracks when it came to health care and food stamps. Being abandoned by my oldest son, who was 14 at the time. Waiting on God to move miracles in my direction without fully realizing He was constantly working on my behalf.

Marrying for the second time. After not only learning to wait and see what God would do, but to accept God's will and not just asking Him what it was. I must've sounded like a two year old toddler: "Why?". Burying a son who fell asleep at the wheel when he was 23 years old. Having a 16 year old son run away from home because of how he viewed the world within our home. And God moved mountains. That son moved back in and let us know that compared to other homes he lived in, this one was heaven. We maintain peace and quiet within our walls. Here is sanctuary. Here is home.

Being stricken with a neuromuscular disease that has no known name because not enough people have it to qualify it for research. Losing my ability to walk has greatly hampered my independence. Gradually losing my ability to talk is now also affecting my ability to sing. I would ask God "Why?" but I already know the answer. "Because you let Me. You asked Me to make you a blessing and I am. You asked me to save your family and your friends by whatever means possible and I am. You asked Me to use you to advance My Kingdom. You asked Me and I answered. I am using you because you let Me."

And, so, I no longer ask God to move mountains on my behalf. Now, I get to move them with His authority and His blessing. I'm moving one now. I'm here.