Tag Archives: Cascades

A Long Way to Go

Posted on by
1

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Psalm 24:3 NLT

Lord, I want to walk close to You.
But I fear I’ll trip and stumble,
exhausting the riches of Your grace.
Your forgiveness will I grasp and fumble?
Then someone more deserving takes my place.
and I am alone overcome with gloom.
Thank God, You have made it so none can boast.
Not my effort, but Your Spirit is the guarantee
Surrounding me with Your love,
I must trust You, not rely on me.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

“You hem me in—behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139:5-6 NIV

Waking the mountains

Posted on by
1
Sunrise over the Cascades

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5 NIV

How can I love and praise the Lord if I am asleep with worry or guilt?

Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 57:8 NIV

Wake up heart!
Sing to the Lord a new song
Give thanks for the Lord is good,
and His love unfailing forever.

Wake up soul!
Sing with thanksgiving and praise.
for Jesus has conquered death
You are free to live in Him forever.

Wake up mind!
sing and rejoice. 
God has given me His Spirit—
as a guarantee of His everlasting goodness and mercy.

Wake up!
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
He will never leave me nor forsake me.
For He takes joy in me.

Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

The Good Work of God

Posted on by
Reply

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV

Blessings of abounding goodness,
in the work we’ve been given to do.
Transforming life from menial,
to purveyors of life made new.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 3:10 NIV

A Sure Foundation

Posted on by
Reply
Holding up the sky

A Sure Foundation for These Troubled Times

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;  (Isaiah 28:16-17)

A precious cornerstone on which to build,
perfect in every direction.
Upon Jesus we rest as God willed,
A sure foundation of strength and protection

Tranquility in the Storm

Posted on by
3
Rainbow over Wedge Mountain

Lessons from the Pandemic (It is hard to be tranquil)

It is easy to get covid. It is hard not to spread it to others.
It is easy to protest. It is hard to see another perspective.
It is easy to go back to old ways. It is hard to change.
It is easy to criticize. It is hard to receive criticism.
It is easy to believe a lie you like. It is hard to accept truth you don’t like.
It is easy to get anxious. It is hard to let it go.
It is easy to see other’s mistakes. It is hard to see your own.

We all need help to do the hard things
Jesus said, “My yoke is easy My burden is light.”
It’s easy to say I want God’s help.
But, it’s hard to give Him control.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

A Prayer For the Pandemic

Posted on by
1

ench.t&c-bleach

Standing on a rock in the Enchantments

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:2-3

Take heart my friends, for Jesus, the Rock of Ages, is a sure foundation for these troubled times. We can take refuge in Him.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Finding Rest

Posted on by
3

SH_190708-8938-Edit

Be still

Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary;  Isaiah 8:12-14

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.  Psalm 116:7

Take a moment to be still before God and remember all that He has done and find rest.

A reminder of the real battle

Posted on by
4

SH_181009-7046-b-Edit

The war between light and darkness

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12

Some days I feel beaten down. But then I remember the battle, and who is with me in the fight, for my courage comes not from me.

When You Need a Friend

Posted on by
3

SH_140320-9218-Edit

Flying home with friends

As I face this day, I am thankful that I do not face it alone.

“The Lord is with me; he is my helper.”  Psalm 118:7

I can let the anxiety of life go, knowing God will be with me. Oh, how good it is to know the name Jesus (God saves) and Immanuel (God is with us). I can truly rejoice in Him, for He has saved me and goes with me forever.

“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

In the Midst of a Storm

Posted on by
Reply

SH_181009-7008

Facing tough times

Hasten, O God, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me. Psalm 70:1

The circumstances for this psalm must have been very dire. The psalmist needs help quickly for he is under attack and will soon lose his life.

May those who seek my life
be put to shame and confusion; Psalm 70:2

Here the psalm takes a surprising turn.

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
“Let God be exalted!” Psalm 70:4

Always say: “Let God be exalted!” These are not as some magical words that will force God to intervene miraculously. These are words of worship that knock our troubles and circumstances out of preeminence in our life… and put God on the throne. Worship changes us, reassures us, moves our focus from what we are praying about to God.

The psalm ends with the troubles still bearing down.

Yet I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay. Psalm 70:5

What is different is the psalmist—“Let God be exalted” in me.