Wednesday, May 18, 2011

When Mountains Won't Move

Jones Valley, Huntsville, AL

A simple sharing of Psalm 24...

I am surrounded by mountains.  In the winter months, their brownish peaks tell of both dormancy and awaiting life.  In spring, their leaves of verdant hues fill in empty spaces in my horizon, creating beauty and expanding joy.   

Our city is flanked by the foothills of the Appalachians, so their blue-green peaks are ubiquitous.  One of my favorite places to tread is Jones Valley.  Just eleven years ago, when we first moved to Huntsville, it was only pastureland.  Now it is also now a vibrant, growing shopping center.  Most of my buying ambitions are satisfied there.  I love to bargain shop!  When I come out of Target or Marshall's or Ross (my best places), I am always taken back by the mountains in the distance before me.  God's creative force forces praise from my soul.  I walk to my car, humbled and thankful that He is my God and that there is no other!

Mountains are a statement of God's power!

Is that the powerful force David discussed in Psalm 24?  "Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?"  The Psalmist continues to write that purity ushers us into God's presence.  Purity levels the mountains of separation between us flawed humans and our holy God. 

The desperate need of God's presence and power in my life compels me to seek purity.  Every day.  At morning, noon, evening, and in-between.  Each moment, I seek wholeness, so that I will be whole in His presence, so that I will "receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God" my Savior (v.5).

If I seek purity, I meet with majesty.  Yes, God's majesty awaits a sanctified heart. 

Yet, sometimes, I must admit, purity seems so far, so unachievable.  Because it is.

It is unachievable in my own strength.  Without the cross, without grace, I am hopelessly abandoned to self-will and sin. 

So, the seeking of "the mountain of the Lord" and "God's holy place" begins in determined abandonment of my own nature.  I am thinking of Mary whose great solace was taking "a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair (John 12:3).  I am thinking of Ruth, who told Naomi,  "Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16).  I am thinking of Paul who wrote to the Corinthians,  "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him (2 Corinthians 11:2). 

Inspiring and urging voices lead me to purity.  Father, how I need your purity, so the glory of God will be seen in me.

I see the "holy hill" before me now.  Yes, it is a long walk and is up a hill.  On that hill stands a cross, and below that cross is ground for kneeling....   

  



Scriptures used are from the NIV Bible.

16 comments:

  1. Dearest Andrea,
    You write so beautifully. A pleasure to read.
    d

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  2. How heartening to see a post from you again, Andrea!

    I basked in the thoughts you communicated - thankful for the Cross; longing for purity (as you said).

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  3. Andrea, so glad to read your post. I've missed you! Yes, I'm thankful for that ground to kneel on.

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  4. Beautiful my friend. I've missed you so....

    Love to you this day. I'm so thankful that is room for me at the foot of the cross.

    Love, Rebecca

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  5. Andrea, you have been missed! How glad I am to see a new post from you.

    This is another beautiful post.

    Like you, I love mountains. They speak to me of majesty, stability, and strength.

    I was thinking of you during the recent hurricanes and floods that swept through that part of the country. Glad to see you were kept safe.

    Praying for blessings on your days.

    Love
    Lidj

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  6. I love the mountains and so enjoy them when we visit our son and daughter-in-law in Colorado. God made some majastic views, did He not?

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  7. I can't help but think of Hannah Hunard's book: Hind's Feet for High Places. He makes us able to go upon those mountains!

    I'm so glad to see you, dear friend. Thank you for warming up the landscape.

    Hugs,
    Kathleen

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  8. I am so glad to see you back here today Andrea. Your gently and beautiful words and spirit are missed.

    Yes, I love the mountains too... those very mountains can either loom large and impossible or just wrap us up in the majesty and awesomeness, and many times it seems to be both.

    Love you, praying for you.

    xo

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  9. I am crazy about the mountains, Andrea. We also are surrounded by them. Coming out of the grocery store in the midst of the strong red rocks of Sedona never ceases to be a thrill. Great examples here of pursuing holiness. I'm on this quest with you!

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  10. Love the psalms and love the mountains! A beautiful post as always.

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  11. I pray you are enjoying your mountains.

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  12. I too love the mountains.....We have a house in the mountains of N.C. and I stay up there as much as possible.....The mountains have always touched my heart in a deep way......

    It's nice to meet you.......Your blog is so encouraging and inspiring....

    Hugs and blessings,
    Nancy

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  13. HI ANDREA,
    Oh my goodness, How I needed to pop in here today....I have visited you in the past....several years maybe...but somehow GOD knew I needed to read some of your blog posts today. GOD is so good and in Complete control of our steps...literally. I must remember that God places things in your life for a reason, sometimes not what we think or need but certainly there for a reason.
    I need to be Grateful and Remember ALL the Blessings God has given us, keeps us safe, among the TOP and if all else falls apart..GOD Is with me/us.
    Thanks for being such a Blessing to me today
    hugs,
    jamie--MIMI

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  14. Kindred Spirit, I know exactly how you feel about the mountains. When I look at them, and Green Mountain is practically in my back yard, (I live in Big Cove) I can't help but think about how small they are and how big God is. Early in the morning when I let my pups out in the yard, I hear the birds welcoming the day in. I am thankful for my hearing. Dawn and dusk are my favorite times of the day. They let me know that He is still in charge, He turns the lights on and then turns them off for me. I toyed with the idea of moving to Florida, but it only lasted for 10 minutes. I couldn't leave my Appalachi birthplace. My ancestors came from France, Germany, Ireland and Scotland and settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the early 1700s. Those mountains make ours look like dwarfs, but I still love ours. I often wonder what kind of life my people had though I know it was hard, but they were free to wonder. Love you Kindred Spirit. AWE

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  15. Just read-When mountains won't move. The words touched me so much that it made me cry. (In a good way that is)..... Thanks-Lynne Barker.

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Thank you for visiting. I cherish your thoughts. You are special to me, but most of all, you are special to God, who loves you with everlasting love. May your life be swept into His joy and peace.

In the Wonderful Love of Christ our Savior,

Andrea