Mountains and Valleys

"There shall be abundance of grain in the soil upon the mountains [the least fruitful places in the land]; the fruit of it shall wave like [the forests of] Lebanon, and [the inhabitants of] the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth."  Psalm 72:16

I think Switzerland is the most beautiful place on this earth.  The Alps are the most majestic thing I have seen anywhere on this great planet.  I was born for the mountains, I have always loved the mountains.  The mountains don't change.  Whatever is going on around me, for good or bad, the mountains are there.  They don't move, they are (to me) the greatest picture of "absolute" in our human experience.

And yet, as I've spent time learning and observing mountains I realize one thing.  While I LOVE to stand at the summit, and I actually don't mind the challenges of the climb, and the view is astoundingly breathtaking.....but there is nothing growing.  A climber knows they are nearing the summit when they stop seeing trees, because it is when we step above the treeline that vegetation cannot survive.

I pray, according to Psalm 72:16, God will put supernatural soil above our tree line, for we are there.  We are experiencing an incredible view of all that He has done through Ignite International since 2003.  But as we near the summit, it is not only the most challenging part of the climb, but it also is a seemingly fruitless place.  As the Psalmist reminds us, it is the least fruitful place in the land.

Our  human nature desires the "mountaintop" experiences and we think the valleys are the place of challenge that we must walk through to in our quest to get back to the top.  I'm starting to think the reverse is true.  The most fertile ground is actually in the valley.  So when we are standing on those mountaintops, we can actually see the valleys before us, and we should embrace what awaits, because the fruit and the fruitfulness is in the valley!

We will keep climbing, then we will enjoy the view....then we will go till the fertile ground. I still love the mountains.....more than anything else......but the air is thin, and some fresh fruit sure will be refreshing.  

At whichever place you find yourself, press on, Friends!

Be Careful What You Ask For

I remember a few years ago standing in a church where the speaker commented something like, "If you want to see God do the miraculous, wave your hand."  (or something close to that).  The congregation's enthusiasm had been heightened throughout the message, and at this comment roared with a great cheer.  I found myself saying aloud, "God, I want to see miracles...." and AS those words were escaping my lips, I heard a voice inside say very calmly, "Catch yourself."  I noted the soft, but firm tone.  "What do you mean?  I do want to see miracles happen."  He continued, "Catch yourself......be careful what you ask for.  It's not a miracle unless you need one.  So when you ask to see miracles....what you are really asking for is to be in a position where you need one.  Do you want that?"

Be careful what you ask for!!  He just might answer!!

"I'm Not A Very Good Christian"

I keep hearing that statement that was spoken by a guy that I've come to love as a brother in Palestine.  I've heard him answer as such several times now when asked about his personal beliefs.  His answer is consistently, "I'm a Christian.  I'm not a very good one...I mean I don't go to church regularly, but I try to treat people right."  He went on to tell me that he intentionally treats people with respect regardless of their heritage.  If they are Israeli or Arab, he respects them the same.  When someone is in need, he reaches out to help.  When someone is discouraged, he tries to encourage them.  When someone has fallen, he does what he can to pick them up.  When someone is happy, he celebrates with them.  He believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross and was resurrected.  He believes that Jesus is his Savior and wants his daughters to grow up with hope, even though the hope of freedom politically, in his opinion, is not likely.  He has chosen to forgive the enemies of his people, and he refuses to live in bitterness even though he resides on the side of a wall built by humankind, where life is difficult.  He chooses to love when there is plenty of reason to hate.  He chooses to look forward and not behind.  He chooses to talk to God instead of lashing out at those who mistreat his homeland.

I think you're actually a pretty good Christian, Brother.....the world would be a better place if we were all your kind of Christian!!

To Walk Where He Walked

It was Sunday morning, May 23, 2010 and I was in the middle of a run along the promenade between Tel Aviv and Jaffa. The team was preparing to leave the States later that day, so while I was running I prayed for them, their safety in traveling, as well as covering the trip in general. A saying that many people use (and I have often – in the past) when thinking of visiting Israel is “…to walk where He walked”. As I pondered this saying for a brief second, the Holy Spirit responded in a way that I had not expected. I said that phrase a few times in my own mind, “….to walk where He walked….”, “……to walk where YOU walked…..” when all of a sudden, I heard His voice – “What does that mean……to walk where He walked? Is it just about stepping your foot in the same dirt that He stepped in? Or do you REALLY want to ‘walk where He walked’? Because if you DO – then go find YOUR Samaritan woman at the well, the one that has been looked down upon and is cast out, and give her hope. Go find YOUR blind, the ones who have lost their vision or who just can’t see, and bring healing to them. Go find YOUR deaf, the ones who cannot or don’t want to hear, and touch their ears with the truth that can set them free. Go find YOUR lame, the ones who are not capable of walking on their own, and help them take up their mat so they can follow Me. If it’s about stepping in the same dirt that He stepped in, then you’ve missed the point. But if you really do want to walk where He walked……then really do walk where and as He walked and you will change your world!!!”

Home and Ready to Update

Hi Friends,

I've been back for 2 weeks from our trip to Israel and Palestine.  It was AMAZING, eyeopening and convicting all at the same time. I will be submitting some thoughts over the next few days that hopefully will cause you to pursue a deeper understanding of the realities of the area in which we served.

Thank-you to so many for your prayers - we will become more regular in posting to this blog.......as if there's not enough already to do.  But we'll make it happen. As time allows, we'll get more pics and other things like that up here too!

For now - God bless you all and good night!
JF