Knocking down mountains

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
Psalm 121:1-2 The Message

I have looked to mountains
created mountains
sought support and encouragement there.
Am I smart enough? Am I warm enough? Do I have and use the gifts God gave me?
Am I clever?  Am I wise?  Do I have enough empathy?
Do I go to the Source with my questions and insecurities?
Sometimes.  But too often I turn to my mountains.
And here, where I crawl out of my cave
and pray for boldness to (as Billy Coffey said) write naked
and live with transparent integrity
with my words from the inside out
I have looked to the mountains of comments, mentions,
tweets, and retweets
to tell me I'm okay
soaking in that affirmation
like drinking from the wrong well

For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! Jeremiah 2:13 NLT

So today, the encouragement I seek
the encouragement I need
is that you would help me
shatter the mountains
and direct me back to my Lord
the lover of my soul
my thirst quencher

and if I see you
looking up to the mountains
I'll do the same for you.




Jamming with Bonnie where we're taling about the need for encouragement

Holding tight

On Tuesday morning the Lord told me as I shared here:

You are carrying what I have conceived and it is time to bring it forth.

Since He spoke that into my spirit, I have been walking on the high cliffs of tears but unable to let go.  I feel tense, constrained, not fearful, just edgy.

I know with my head that I shouldn't be afraid to jump, for He Is the net that will catch and protect me.  My wings are fluttering yet held to close to my breast.  Half of me yearns to fly, swooping and diving, but the rest of me is holding tight, my feet planted on what only appears to be solid ground.

My Lord is gentle, almost overly kind with me as He continues to lead me to the precipice:

I Am teaching you trust and with your nature so prone to self-reliance and independance I am creating a need to depend on Me and Me alone.

You want things figured out before you move forward, yet I tell you again that first blind step is essential.  That is the faith step and it leads you right into the centre of My heart and the middle of My will.

Give up.  Let go.  That is the surrender I seek, for how can My Spirit move that which is firmly grounded.

And then yesterday He added:

Your life is for My glory, not your own. My power is seen when bridges are crossed, obstacles are conquered, on the mountains and in the valleys.

Will you dare to scale the North Face of challenges before you?

I Am mighty enough to take you where I want you to go.

Help me then, Lord my God, to breathe in deeply the courage You provide; to stretch and expand wings that You have designed for this very moment in time; to forsake the holding tight for a free fall of release.

Mountains to climb

Another year is ending and I am looking forward to taking some time to sit at the feet of my Master, seeking His heart and His will for the year to come.

I have asked Him for a word for 2011 and so far I have received both persevere and expectation.  As He puts meat on these bare bones for me to chew I shall share more.

I also sense Him telling me there will be mountains on the road ahead.  I can take the long way and go around them.  I can steel and harden myself and with all my natural might attempt to blast through them.  But He seems to be urging me on and upward, whispering that His best plan involves climbing and that He, as always, will provide all that I require for the journey.

2011 will be a year of drawing closer to His heart.  Will you come along with me?