Mountains or Beach?

This is a common question on get-to-know-you either/or lists. Up until a few years ago, I was a firm member of team mountains. Having lived in Tennessee all my life, I have been surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. In high school and college, I had the privilege to take a few trips to Alaska and a trip to Hungary with a brief stay in Salzburg, Austria. On every trip, I was in awe of the sheer beauty and grandeur of the mountains, much taller than I had ever seen in the eastern United States. On the other hand, when it came to the ocean, I only had vague childhood memories of scary waves and sand that got everywhere.

In 2021, my family took a trip to the beach to get away and relax after the stress of 2020. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect and mainly looked forward to reading by the pool where we were staying. But from the moment I walked onto that beach, I was mesmerized. Everything from the vastness of the ocean, the unpredictable pattern of the waves, to the feel of the wet sand beneath my toes captivated me. After a long year of staying indoors with limited travel, it was wonderful to be awed by such beauty. My whole family loved that vacation, and we have made that location a regular visit. Now I have a hard time choosing between mountains and beach. Both are magnificent in completely different ways, and I have had amazing experiences surrounded by both. 

Why is it that the mountains and the ocean captivate us so? Why do we often choose to visit places that feature one of the two? As human beings designed in the image of God, we are drawn to appreciate beauty, but I think it is more than that. There is greatness in the height of the mountains, mystery in the depths of the sea, and power in the might of both. The mountains and oceans point us to God.

In Romans, Paul writes that all creation points to God: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Rom. 1:20 ESV). But not only does creation point to God, His power is demonstrated through His command over creation. Throughout Scripture, the mountains and the seas are used to demonstrate the power of God. The following is a sampling:

“The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth” (Ps. 97:5).

“May the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!” (Ps. 104:31-32).

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains” (Is. 2:2).

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” (Is. 40:12).

“The mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing” (Is. 55:12).

“O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves” (Ps. 65: 5-7).

“Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (Ps. 93:4)

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ’Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” (Mark 4:39-41).

“When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened” (John 6:19).

The greatness, mystery, and power of mountains and seas point to God, but their great power is unmatched by the power of the Creator who formed them. Whether you’re going on vacation to the mountains or the beach this summer or staying here in the hills of Tennessee, let yourself take a moment to take in the majesty of creation. Stand in awe of beauty you cannot understand, then let it remind you of the unmatched power of God. 

--Concetta Swann

 

Simply Put

 

Would you say that you live a simple life? 

What does that even mean? A Google search led me to this definition from livingvalues.net (loosely quoted): Appreciating the small things; freedom from material and emotional desires. Permission to “just be.” Simplicity avoids waste, teaches economy, avoids value clashes complicated by greed, fear, peer pressure, and a false sense of identity. I also found, keeping things uncomplicated; less is more; easily understood. 

I found these tips, but I did not write down the source and cannot find it again, but they are good, so I must share and expound (and these principles are biblical!):

Make room for stillness. There’s a funny meme about a man sitting in a coffee shop just drinking coffee and nothing else. Not looking at his phone or laptop or even reading a book. “Like a psychopath,” the meme stated. I think of that often. Why do I find it so hard to just sit still, breathe, and enjoy a cup of coffee or the sun on my face? I cannot hear God’s voice if I do not embrace stillness. It takes discipline, doesn’t it?

Declutter. Too much stuff makes life hard to manage. You are constantly shifting things around and cleaning is difficult. I knew this man and woman who bought a cabin envisioning all the fun they would have as a family. They finally sold it, because it was not worth all the time they spent mowing the grass, cleaning it, and fixing things. The more you have, the more you have to manage. If you struggle with this, I recommend the book, “Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-ending Battle with Stuff,” by Dana K. White. It is different from any organizing book I have ever read. Ms. White knew the struggle and wrote this book from a messy’s point of view.

Cultivate contentment and strive to have financial margin. Some people chafe against having a budget, but living on a budget is free-ing. The burden of debt and living paycheck-to-paycheck is heavy and exhausting. In a nutshell, it means knowing the difference between wants and needs, having an emergency fund, cutting excess spending, giving as God commands, and spending only what you earn. Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace” has helped us tremendously. (Thanks to the Swanns.)

Allow others to help. We all need help sometimes, and we must set aside our pride and accept it. We steal other people’s blessings when we do not allow them to help us. We wear ourselves out for no reason!

Have margin in your schedule. As a society, we are overcommitted. Identify your priorities and say no to extra things. We cannot adequately rest when our schedules are too full. It’s hard to say no to good things, isn’t it? But we must do that sometimes. We trade the good for the better.

Limit social media. Is that in the Bible? Well, the Bible says to “think on these things,” and much of what we see on social media is not good and is designed to divide and anger people. So…

Be thankful. Try not to complain or covet or compare. Look for the everyday blessings. We have many.

Have I mastered all of these things? Of course not, but it is something for which to strive because of all the benefits. Here are 15 benefits (American Behavioral Clinics website) of choosing to live a quiet life that deliberately chooses to minimize noise and distractions.

Less stress

Deeper reflection

Better health

Enhanced creativity

Stronger relationships

Financial freedom

Improved concentration

Appreciation for nature and beauty

Reduced environmental impact

Contentment/ peace/ happiness

Time for hobbies

Mindful living

Less clutter

Freedom to choose what matters

Resilience: strength in simplicity and adaptability

Simply put, a life of simplicity is simply better. And it’s simple, right? Carry on!

 

joyce hague

Casting Away Our Cares

 If you were asked to quote, I Peter 5:7 I’m sure most of you could quickly spout off,

“casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.” This is a verse we’ve all probably

learned since we were young.

We all experience times of anxiety or concern in our lives. Whether it be for a

loved one struggling with illness, poor decisions, financial concerns, etc., the question

can be asked, “How do we deal with it?” Do we attempt to solve the problem on our

own? Do we share our concerns with those closest to us? Do we take it to the Lord?

The word “cast” in the Greek is a very decisive, energetic action word. It could be

described as a fisherman casting out his line into the waters. Peter is telling us that we

need to take our anxieties, cares, problems and literally throw them or hurl them to the

Lord. Let them go!

This action, though, requires something else on our part. If you notice verse 7, it

is only part of the sentence. There are two words that begin this sentence in verse 6,

which require another action on our part. “Humble yourselves”! Verses 6 and 7 need to

be quoted together to realize the true message that Peter is presenting. I know in my

own life, I have often said that in anxious moments I try to give it to God because I know

He is in control, BUT, I’m still holding on to a little thread and not giving it completely to

Him. Why? Because pride won’t allow me to let go. How often have we heard the

phrase, “Let go and let God!”

Notice also the words, “at the proper time." God’s timing is always best. We may

want solutions to our problems now, but God’s timing will always be the best timing. We

just need to let God work all things out for His glory, not ours.

I love what Alistair Begg says in his devotional Truth for Life, “To do this requires

us to give up our pride—our desire to control and triumph over circumstances. Being

humble is what enables us to give our worries to God: humility’s presence leads to

anxiety’s absence.” That thought needs to be on a wall plaque in my house. We need

to daily realize that God always knows what is best in every situation and if we just let

Him work everything to His glory (not ours), our lives would be so much more peaceful.

So, remember the words of the old hymn “All Your Anxieties”:

All your anxieties,

All your cares,

Bring to the mercy seat,

Leave it there.

Never a burden

He cannot bear.

Never a friend like Jesus!

--Bonnie King

Psalm 34

 

Psalm 34 has always been one of my favorite psalms. The verses in it are helpful along the ups and downs (particularly the downs) of life. In January, I started studying this psalm with a fine toothed comb – never more than a verse a day – looking up the Hebrew definitions of every word, and trying to understand the nuances of the Hebrew verb structures used. Not wanting to forget the rich word pictures and jewels of truth I was discovering, I decided to make my own paraphrase type of translation. Several times since then, I have gone back to reread the chapter, encouraged by what David penned after a rocky time in his own life. Our God never changes, and as He delivered David, He will deliver us. I hope the truths below are a blessing to you as well!

-MaryBeth Hall

Psalm 34

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed (see I Sam. 21:10-15).

1

I will kneel before Yahweh to adore Him at all times; His song of praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2

The core of who I am will boast in (shine in a flash of light toward) Yahweh; those bowed down by affliction will hear and brighten up.

3

Oh intentionally magnify Yahweh with me, and let us lift up His name together!

4

I frequently beat a path in seeking Yahweh, and He answered me, and snatched me away from the storehouse of all my fears.

5

They looked unto Him; His light reflecting on them was like the sparkling sheen of sunlight on a flowing stream, and their faces were not ashamed.

6

This afflicted man cried out, and Yahweh heard him and intentionally saved him out of all his distresses (the tight places where he felt crowded in by his adversaries and therefore under emotional duress).

7

The Angel of the LORD (Jesus) sets up His military camp in a circle around those who deeply revere Him and defer to His right to govern their lives, and is intentionally in the process of arming / equipping them for successful war.

8

Good it is, and see - Oh taste it for yourself - how blessed is the warrior who will seek refuge in Him!

9

Yahweh: O deeply revere Him and defer to His authority, you His set apart ones, for there is no poverty to those who deeply revere and defer to Him.

10

Even the young lions are impoverished and famished, but those who frequently resort to Yahweh shall not lack anything good.

11

Listen to me, children, and come; I will teach you how to deeply revere and defer to the authority of Yahweh.

12

What man desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13

Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

14

Turn aside from evil, and do good; ask for peace, and chase after it.

15

Yahweh's eyes are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.

16

Against those who do evil is the face of Yahweh, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17

To Yahweh the righteous call out, and He hears them. He has caused them to be snatched away out of all their distresses.

18

Yahweh is right by those who have continually been made brokenhearted, and He is causing the crushed in spirit to be saved.

19

Yahweh is causing the righteous to be snatched away from great evil.

20

He is guarding all His bones; not one of them has been broken. (Jesus, Jn. 19:36)

21

Evil will intentionally kill the ones who do evil, and those who are hating the righteous will be held guilty.

22

Yahweh is redeeming the soul of His servants, and none of the ones who are seeking refuge in Him will be held guilty.

The Family of God

 

Some of you know that I have worked at Grace Baptist Academy for thirty years. During that time, I have seen many, many students come and go. A teacher’s life is one of perennial heartbreak. We learn to love the young people who sit before us day after day, and then they leave. Next year—same thing. But it’s also a life of much joy and reward.

Recently I had the privilege of attending an event where GBA alumnus Drew Box was talking to the graduating class. Drew talked about his first days as a student at Grace, the people he met, and what those people continue to mean to him. He went on to review various memorable times in his life when a fellow alumnus was there to help or to celebrate special events—everything from an emergency room visit to a child’s birth. Then Jeff Reese talked to the young people about his experiences connected with GBA. I must say, I was moved to tears. (I cry easily these days. I have learned to accept it.)

Both men discussed their view of the “Grace family.” This is a term one hears often around the school. Like a family, students are grouped together in classes without much choice. Teachers and staff take the assignments we’re given and teach the students who show up in our classrooms. And like a family, we learn to work together and to develop a love and respect for one another that deepens with shared experiences and our connection to Grace.

I thought of that relationship when Roy Seals was speaking on Sunday morning. Though we don’t know personally the people he knows, though we have never met that good doctor and her husband, they are part of our family. We share a kinship with them, and we are working with them from a distance to do God’s work in the Dominican Republic. In fact, we at Grace have such a privilege to work with missionaries all over the world. All true believers are part of God’s family. I kept wanting to burst out in song: “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God!”

Brothers and sisters we have never met are all over the world. They’re part of our family. How will we respond when they need help? I once heard another story about a young man who had a wreck in Atlanta. He was wearing a Grace Academy t-shirt, and someone, seeing that shirt, stopped to help him because of a family member in Chattanooga who goes to Grace. Christians around the globe don’t have identifying shirts to wear, but we do have the Holy Spirit “bear[ing] witness . . . that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). You have likely been as encouraged as I have by the Christian love we at Grace—church and school alike—have felt from other members of our  Christian family in our recent difficulties. The folks who let us use their facilities are just helping out a needy bunch of relatives. While we don’t quite understand God’s timing or methods, we can appreciate that he placed us all in his family where we can receive love and care from one another.

Let’s look for opportunities to help out our family when we can, and when we get to the big family reunion in eternity, what great stories we can tell one another.

--Sherry Poff

A Tribute to the Women

 A Tribute to the Women

I’m going to name names. I know, sometimes that makes people feel uncomfortable, and you run the risk of leaving someone out or forgetting someone important. And to be honest, posting this might make me squirm a bit, too because here it is - all out there, but I believe that life on this earth is short enough and the people God gives you are valuable enough to let them know how much you love them. So I am going to be unashamedly gushy…

On Mother’s Day, we reflect on our relationships with our own mothers, perhaps your role as a mother, and sometimes the other women who have “mothered” us in various ways. Sometimes this day brings with it hurt and pain because of a desired relationship that wasn’t there, or disappointment and shattered dreams. With an empathetic heart toward those feelings too, I want to take a few minutes to thank the women who have largely shaped who I am today.

Thank you, mom. You were there for all the soccer games, (and other sport games), doing a replay on drives home, discussing what I could work on and improve. You worked long hours so you could spend more time with me in between. You made the little things count. You are the greatest example of befriending those who need a friend. You are a loving Grammy to my kids. Oftentimes it was just the two of us, battling some hard days and times. And here we are again, just the two of us… figuring out these next days together.

Thank you, Kim. I am often amazed at the great relationship God has allowed us to have. In the early dating days, having Sunday dinners at  your house, you made me a part of your family from day one. You have been an example in building solid relationships with others, putting God and your family first, mentoring countless young women and being brave in the face of new challenges and changes. I am grateful to have you to talk to about anything and thankful that my kids have you as their Nana.

Thank you, Jessica, for being the big sister I never had. When I look back to the influences I needed most in high school, you were the golden one. Thank you for going a few years ahead in marriage, parenting and ministry and being honest about the difficulties of all three, but making it clear how much they matter too.

Thank you, Rebecca, for being my first official “mentor”. In my junior year of college, when there were some dark days in my family and the struggle of academic stress was real, you walked me through all of those things. You exemplified what being a mentor to someone was: listening, offering, caring, remembering. I think of you often when I have the opportunity to sit down with those younger than I am.

Thank you Rosemary, Sherry, Kelly and Nancy for befriending “little-ol’-me”. I am often humbled that you would invest time to have a meal with me, celebrate life moments, invite me into your home. Thank you for giving me honest counsel and being someone I can be fully myself with, baggage and all. Because you see through the struggles and walk with me toward Christ. 

Thank you to the MOPs Mentor Moms who have always been encouraging, listening hearts. Thank you for laughing alongside the craziness of motherhood, crying with me during the breakdowns and reminding me that His mercies are new every morning. Thank you also for reminding me that I’m not alone. It’s a joy to serve alongside you and to count you as a friend.

Thank you to all the women and friends God has placed in my life. I am beyond blessed and beyond grateful. There are those of you who are in the same stages and I love “doing life” with you. There are those of you who have gone before, and I love learning from you and seeing your example and faithfulness.

On this day, full of differing emotions, I pray that you would find the women who have mattered, cared, walked and poured, and praise our God for the community He gives. Maybe take some time to thank those women who have shaped you. And think about how you can be that friend and mentor to someone else.

I am thankful for you. Happy Mother’s Day.

God Sighting!

   One of the things I loved at Grace when I first came to the church was Dr. Euler’s scheduling of God sightings.  On the designated evenings members were encouraged to share God sightings–specific instances where God had shown up, perhaps had arranged a meeting where they had a chance to be like Jesus.  I loved hearing others’ testimonies.  So let me share with you my recent God sighting.

 

 My daughter Sarah and her family, including her mother-in-law, and I, went eclipse chasing.  We headed for southeastern Illinois where there was to be totality for just over four minutes.  We were tent camping, which is a whole other story.

         

Before we arrived at our campsite we stayed in a hotel in western Kentucky on Saturday night.  Before we went to bed, Daniel emphasized that we had to be up early, ready to leave by just after 7 a.m.  I made a mental note and also set an alarm.  Here is where it got dicey.  My brain was on Eastern time, but we were in the Central time zone.

         

The next morning, I woke early and glanced at the time. I decided my alarm had not gone off and we were late.  I jumped out of bed, turned the light on, and began getting dressed and packing my bag.  Obviously I woke up Jan, Daniel’s mother, who was sharing the room with me.  She also started dressing and packing her bag.  When we were ready we woke up Ruben, my grandson, and got him dressed.  About then we realized there was no light under the door to Sarah and Daniel’s room, so obviously they had also overslept. 

 

We knocked on their door, only to be told that it was only 5:30, and they were going back to sleep. Oops!  I was still on Eastern time. Of course, we were wide awake by now and there was not a chance we would get back to sleep.  

         

We finally wandered out into the lobby, hoping they were serving breakfast early. They were. We got our food and I headed around the corner to get coffee.  Here is where God showed up.  The young man who had worked the night shift came to get coffee just as I did.  We began chatting and the conversation moved quickly to spiritual things.  He didn’t know the Lord, but he wanted to and had been thinking about it a lot.  He didn’t have a Bible, but promised he would get one and start with the book of John.  I showed him how he could download the Bible app onto his phone, and he did it right then. The phone rang at the desk and he had to go back to the desk to answer.  He got off work right after that and disappeared.

         

So why did my brain get mixed up and wake me up early?  I am convinced it was God, just to give me a chance to talk to Devan, that needy young man.  

       

   The first verse that popped into my head about that day was I Peter 3:15, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”  I am not always ready to speak.  Sometimes I have good excuses (reasons!) why I cannot speak up. Maybe it’s not convenient. Maybe I’m afraid I won’t know what to say. Maybe I'm feeling shy. But my longing is to be used of God, to speak when the Holy Spirit prods me.

         

As I pondered the whole experience, I realized that I had missed an important illustration. In Mark 1:17 Jesus said to Andrew and Peter, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” That was only one of a number of meetings where Jesus said, “Follow me.”  Jesus asked the rich young ruler to follow Him, and he turned away sorrowing. The price was higher than he wanted to pay.

         

So what is a major part of following Jesus?  He looked for opportunities to minister to people. He looked for God sightings. He saw the woman at the well trying to hide her background.  He saw Zacchaeus up in a tree, just trying get a glimpse of Him. He saw Bartimaeus crying out at the edge of the crowd.  He saw the woman with an issue of blood hiding in the crowd, wanting just to touch the hem of His garment. There were hungry hearts then, and there are hungry hearts today. Only today we are the hands and feet and mouths of Jesus.

         

Help me, Lord, to be on the lookout for those who are hungry for You.

                   

                                                                      ~~Faith Himes Lamb