Showing posts with label mountain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountain. Show all posts
Take a look at the television schedule, the Twitter feeds,
or the daily newspapers. If you haven’t
noticed already, football season is in full swing. Everyone is rooting for their favorite team. Whether or not you are an avid football fan
or not, I want you to consider the fact that life is a lot like a football
game. We run interference, we may even
fumble the ball, but with God’s help, we will ultimately find ourselves on the
winning team. And before we victoriously
make every touchdown, we can rest assured that God will help us tackle the
giants we encounter along the way.
David knew firsthand that God would help His children
overcome the giants in our lives. And in
his case, he went up against a real, live giant named Goliath. Other people doubted this young man’s
ability to defeat Goliath, but David knew that God was on his side. David said, “‘The Lord who
delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver
me from the hand of this Philistine’” (I Samuel 17:37). David didn’t read a book on how to slay a
giant. He didn’t Google what weapons he
needed to attempt to fight such an enormous man. He simply relied on God to provide a way when
there seemed to be no way. David knew in
his heart that all things are possible with God.
Moses encountered a similar problem. He needed to lead a large number of people to
the other side of the Red Sea. There was
one major problem though. They did not
have even one boat. There wasn’t a large
bridge spanning the distance either. To
make matters worse, they were being pursued by the Egyptians, so time was of
the essence. Moses turned the problem
over the God, and raised his hand. The
Bible says, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove
the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry
land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21). Moses didn’t use his GPS to find the nearest
ferry station or use his cell phone to call 911. He put his trust in the One who is able to do
abundantly more than we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
David and Moses are not the only ones who have faced giants
in their lives. I have encountered my
share of trials and tribulations as well.
When I was little, my two baby brothers passed away as infants. At ten years of age, I lost my first
grandparent. Since then, I have lost
three of my grandparents. I’ve spent months
in the hospital, including the weeks when I was born premature and lifeless and
the weeks I nearly lost my life when I was a teenager due to a perforated
colon. Most recently, I lost my
Mama. This was the most difficult thing
I have ever had to face. But through it
all, one thing has never wavered. That
is my faith in Jesus Christ.
Life is not always easy.
The news is filled with giants that threaten our health, our finances,
our environment, and so much more. But
even with the uncertainty in the world, I find sweet rest in the fact that
Jesus is always with us. He will see us
through. I am reminded of a song I sing
with the Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra: “No matter the storms that come
my way, No matter the trials I may face, You promised that You would see me
through. So, I will trust in You.” I do not put my trust in secular entities,
religious and political figures, or any other thing on this earth. I put my trust in Jesus Christ, the Truth,
the Life, and the Way. He is the only
hope we have in this world.
What or who is the giant in your life? Is it a pile of financial burdens or a severe
illness that has you bedridden? Could it
be a job that has you overstressed?
Perhaps it is a friend or family member who constantly torments you with
negativity. Whatever circumstances you
may find yourself in, rest assured that God is with you. He is aware of the giant you face. Just as he provided David with smooth stones
and a slingshot, Moses with a staff, and me with peace in many heartbreaking
and uncertain situations, He will also provide you with the means to face your
giants. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. He will restore your joy, fill your heart
with peace, and help you tackle the giants in your life!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Have you ever experienced something in life that tried to
rob you of your peace? There are minor instances
where our peace is suppressed only momentarily, such as when we have a flat
tire on the way to work. Sometimes in
life, though, we endure hardships that seem too difficult to bear. I know firsthand what the latter feels
like. Nearly six years ago, on August 2,
2008, my mom went to be with the Lord.
That night, my world was shattered.
But even in the midst of the most horrific night of my life, Jesus
Christ wrapped His loving arms around me and my dad. Although our human eyes saw what looked like
a devastating storm raging in our lives, He showered our hearts and minds with
peace beyond our understanding.
All of my life, I have read Philippians chapter four and it
still one of my favorite passages of scripture.
But it wasn’t until I went through the tragedy of losing my mom that I
truly began to understand the meaning of verse 7. Here is the verse in context, “Do not be
anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). The
Apostle Paul tells us that we should not be anxious. That means we should not worry about
anything. Instead, he tells us to pray
in every situation.
You might be thinking, how could I possibly not worry and pray when I am
upset, stressed, or grieving? I know, it
sounds nearly impossible. But I can tell
you that a life with constant anxiety is much more difficult than a life with prayer
at the center. That night, as we called
loved ones to give them the devastating news, Psalm 121:1-2 ran through my mind
repeatedly. It says, “I lift up my eyes
to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I looked up at the silhouette of the
mountains under the moonlit sky and prayed that God would give us strength in
the coming hours, days, months, and years.
You see, even as I stood outside our camper with a broken
heart, I knew that Jesus Christ was not only standing beside us, but He was
holding our hands, to keep us from falling.
He is the Prince of Peace.
Although the circumstances were anything but peaceful, Jesus brought
peace to our troubled hearts. My dad and
I sat beside my mom and sang, “Living by Faith.” Our faith was the only thing that kept us
going in that heartbreaking moment. We prayed
that God would send the Comforter to us.
Through our faith in God, we were showered with the peace that Paul
wrote about. We had peace in a situation
where it doesn’t even seem to belong, according to our human perspective. This kind of peace is a peace that exceeds
all understanding.
One day my parents and I were enjoying a family vacation in
the mountains and the next day, my dad and I were going to the local funeral
home. My heart had shattered into a
million pieces. My dad and I were
exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But we still had peace. It wasn’t the peace like one feels while lying
in the sun at the beach or listening to the raindrops go pitter patter on a
metal roof. This was the kind of Heavenly
peace that I cannot understand nor fully explain. Inexplicable peace that comes from Heaven
above when the current circumstances seem like peace should not be found. That is the kind of peace Paul writes about
and the kind of peace that we experienced that night.
Six years later, I still miss my mom daily. But my dad and I have found a new normal and
a new purpose. The same God who gave us
peace in the midst of a tumultuous storm six years ago is the same God who
gives us peace now, whether we are on the mountain top or in the valley. Life without my mom is not easy, especially
on days like her birthday, Mother’s Day, or even this coming Saturday, August
2. But our lives are made glorious by
the peace and joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ! He is the reason we live, the reason we
laugh, the reason we love! I thank Him
every day for His countless blessings and His peace that passes all
understanding.
I want to encourage you today. Whatever it is you are going through, put
your unwavering trust in Jesus Christ.
He will never fail you. The peace
that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is unlike any
other you will ever encounter on this earth.
With Jesus Christ living in your heart, you will experience a truly
abundant life. Through the good times
and the bad times, He will guard your heart with peace like no other. He will fill your heart with joy
unspeakable! You will be able to face
each and every day with the calm assurance that God will give you peace beyond your
understanding!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
A few summers ago, my dad and I traveled to Washington State. Following a picturesque cruise to Alaska, we planned to visit Mount Rainier National Park where we would spend a few nights at Paradise Inn. Built in 1916, this lodge is designated as one of the “Great Lodges of the West.” The only thing more beautiful than the lodge itself is its surroundings. For this particular lodge sits in the shadows of Mount Rainier, a majestic mountain that is crowned with a snow covered cap year round. No matter where you stand in and around the lodge, you are captivated by the 360° views of mountain vistas. The lobby is adorned with gorgeous woodwork, hand-painted lampshades, and enormous stone fireplaces. The dining hall serves succulent dishes that would satisfy the taste buds of the most discerning palette. But of course, the main attraction will always be the mountain.
The first time I laid eyes on Mount Rainier, I felt as if I was one step closer to Heaven. The atmosphere is so clean and fresh, with the smell of Evergreen trees permeating the air. The views are so breathtakingly beautiful, like a National Geographic postcard. The location is aptly named because it truly does feel like you have stepped into paradise. I’ve been blessed to travel to several locations in my life where I felt entirely safe, where I was utterly stress free, and where it seemed like the peace filling my soul could never be jolted, even for a moment. While our entire stay at Paradise Inn certainly fit this description, we encountered a major interruption on the way to the airport. For this seemingly perfect day that started with a huge smile on my face would transform itself into one where my face was streaming with tears.
You see, it wasn’t the deer for which I was primarily grieving over. I saw myself in those precious fawns. One moment they were walking with their mother, having a perfectly good day. The next moment, their life turned upside down. The shock, the sadness, and the disbelief all came back to me in a wave of emotion. I had cried before, but this time I let the tears truly flow. I couldn’t control them anyway. But somehow, someway, I feel as if God used these tears to cleanse the sorrow that seemingly overshadowed everything I did, including the bittersweet feelings I had whenever my dad and I visited a new destination. Through this moment filled with shock, God showed me that life does go on. He showed me that even though life would never be the same, we could truly find a new normal, something I thought was not even possible up until this time.
Since that day, I have realized several things that were not apparent to me in the midst of those circumstances. First, God sent His angels to protect us, bringing our vehicle to a complete stop. Neither my dad nor I received any injuries. The air bags did not even deploy. How much worse it could have been. The volunteer fire fighter we spoke to before heading back to Seattle said a local family could use the venison from the mother deer and he was hopeful that another deer would adopt the two orphan fawns. While none of these things on their own made this a “good” experience, I see now that God did take this unfortunate situation and turn it around for good. Through this detour on our journey, food was put on a family’s table, and my dad and I were reminded that God has not forgotten us. For no matter what we are facing, I know for certain that God never fails.
What about you? Are you struggling to find emotional healing from a detour in your life? Is there a mountain that you just cannot seem to climb? I want to encourage you today. Jesus will help you move that mountain out of your way. All you have to do is have faith and believe. No matter what you are going through, Jesus Christ is the answer. He will pick you up, dust you off, and give you a brand new beginning. Do not let anything or anyone stop you from living your life. Get back on the road of life, keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep on driving. You can’t change the past, but you can find a new future. Jesus wants to give you hope and life eternal. Whatever you are suffering from, whether it is drug or alcohol addiction, verbal or physical abuse, grief over the loss of a friend or family member...whatever it is, Jesus will meet you right where you are. He loves you more than life itself. That’s why He gave His life for you. Call on the name above all names, Jesus Christ, today. Then watch that mountain move!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
As a little girl, people always asked me what I wanted to
be when I grew up. While I considered
being a veterinarian, lawyer, or nurse, I always wanted to be a teacher. And I especially wanted to be a writer,
singer, and musician. Now that I am
older, there is one additional occupation that I’ve determined to strive toward. I want to be a mountain mover!!!
Now, before you start jumping to conclusions, please allow
me to explain. I don’t really picture
myself sitting atop a gigantic piece of machinery, maneuvering dirt, rocks, and
gravel from one place to another. And I
realize that no matter how hard I try, I cannot physically pick up a
mountain. Nor can I bring a mountain
home from North Carolina, Switzerland, or any other gorgeous mountainous region
that I have had the opportunity to explore.
A mountain is just a little too large to set in the back of my SUV and
drive home to Florida. Even though I
would absolutely LOVE to have a mountain in my backyard! I am not even talking about a literal
mountain that may be standing in my way.
I’m talking about those mountains that I encounter every day.
In life, there are many mountains that we must climb
over, dig through, or go around. They do
not have trees, streams, and waterfalls covering them. Instead, they have sicknesses, financial
crises, and other difficult situations that arise to create obstacles for us to
traverse. But even in the face of
adversity, when the sun is going down, our alternate light source is burned
out, and we still haven’t even made it to the top of the mountain yet, God is
right ahead of us. He is walking each
step ahead of us to ensure that no danger ensnares us. He will always be our guide, over mountains
and through valleys. And sometimes, we
can just tell the mountains to move!
You may be wondering, “How could I tell
a mountain to move?” It’s very simple. Matthew 17:20 (NIV) says, “‘I tell you the
truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this
mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” God’s Word is telling us that we can do
anything! Nothing is impossible for us,
if – yes, it’s that little word “if” that seems quite big at times – if, we have faith. Now, the good news is that God can take a
little bit of faith and make it go a long way.
The scripture says we need “faith as small
as a mustard seed.” Did you know that
the average mustard seed weighs only 0.002 grams? That translates to 2 milligrams or 0.000070548
ounces! By comparison, a U.S. dollar
bill weighs 1 whole gram. One single plain
M&M candy weighs 2.2 grams. But in
order to move a mountain, we only need faith the size of a mustard seed! Think about it. God doesn’t require us to have the faith of a
giant in order to move mountains. We
only need a small amount of faith to move seemingly insurmountable objects!
Recently, I wrote a song titled, “Pray and
Believe.” I pray that God will use the
lyrics from the chorus will minister to you in a special way.
Pray and Believe
Words and Music by Jennifer Campbell/BMI
Chorus
Anything is possible,
When you pray and believe.
God still works miracles,
If you have faith to receive.
Don’t give up on broken dreams,
There’s still dreams left to dream.
For anything is possible,
When you pray and believe.
Whatever you may be facing in life, remember
this one thing: God wants you to be a mountain mover! Nothing shall be impossible for you if you
have faith to receive the miracle that God has in store for you! I know firsthand that many things in life are
difficult to handle. There will be times
when you feel like giving up. I want to
encourage you today. God will never give
you more than you can bear. God is
greater than anything that may come against us – divorce, war, cancer, anything! Have faith.
Pray. Believe. God will work a miracle in your life. With a mustard seed of faith, you can move
mountains!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer