(This is an aerial view from the aircraft my husband was traveling in during his tour in Iraq.)

I know the picture I chose to share today is not of a mountain (as the Scripture I chose to share refers to)...or rather, it doesn't look like it from our point of view...down here in the valley. But since we really can't see the mountains from Heaven's view, like God, I thought this aerial photo would suffice, as this is the closest we can get to seeing how very small the mountains must seem to God.

A couple of things struck me today about this passage. The first is that we see what Peter (don't you just love Peter?) suggested to Jesus as he was just in awe of what was happening and obviously didn't want it to end, so he asked Jesus if He approved of them making tents for Him, Moses and Elijah, so they can stay, sit and chat a while. You notice, Jesus didn't answer Peter. Instead, He continued with the business He had with Moses and Elijah. The other thing I found peculiar is, this passage said that Peter asked this question, and he asked this because he didn't know what to say. Don't you find that rather humorous?

The first thing I thought is "Boy, I sure love that Peter! He reminds me of me!" How often do I say, "I don't know what to say." Then I go ahead and say something! Have you ever done this? Oh, how gracious and patient the Lord is with me!

The second thing that struck me in this passage is that our Lord Jesus, after allowing Peter, James and John to witness this awesome work of Heaven, right before their eyes, Jesus took them back down the mountain. And for what? Well, we see right after this, they were casting out a demon from a young boy. Which brings me to what Oswald Chambers so wisely wrote:

"We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God's standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only, something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among the devil-possessed and lift them up.....The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time."

~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Mark 9:2 ~ October 1

I am very convicted this morning as I take heed to this warning from my brother, who penned this hundreds of years ago: "but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time." I so often don't want to deal with people (God is so much easier to be with, isn't He?), that I don't want to reach out to anyone. I would much rather have "quiet time" all day, never answer the phone, never leave the house, never share on a blog, or anything that would cause me to open up and love others as God loves me....for fear of being hurt, rejected and humiliated.

This is a sad fact about me, but it is also very true.

I share this in hopes that it will comfort and encourage some of you who may have, are now doing, or will come to this point in your life where you so enjoy your time with God, that you grow spiritually selfish, like I have, and no longer want to share Jesus in you, with anyone. When I behave this way, I apologize to those I've neglected by saying, "I'm sorry I'm not working out my faith and being such a spiritual pig and hoarding Jesus all to myself!" And what foolishness this is anyway! As if any person could contain (limit) Christ at all, in any manner!

I'm just a silly girl, totally in love with my Savior!

And so I shall. I shall lift up the cup of salvation and I will exalt the Name of Jesus Christ as I share how He chose me for Himself and with His great compassion, amazing grace and endless mercy, saved my depraved, wretched soul from the bondage of sin, Satan and eternal torment in the Lake of Fire - Hell.

I pray as I share this, that you will be encouraged and inspired to draw deeper into the wellspring of Life, who is the LORD God Almighty, through His Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. I also pray that your heart will be more stirred by God's salvation of my soul, His protection and every demonstration of His undeserved, loving-kindness lavished on me, more than you are moved by the pain and persecution I have been blessed to endure.

I want you to fully grasp the generosity and glory of God's salvation and His kindness in choosing to save me by first sharing with you who I was before.

You'll never really know and appreciate how sweet, sweet is, unless you've tasted sour.

My Life Before I Knew Christ

I am a Korean-born, citizen of Heaven and an ambassador of Christ here on earth. I am the youngest of three (3) children, to first generation immigrant parents. As can be imagined, it was very difficult growing up in the south during the 70's. Although segregation had been abolished by law, the people in the towns were still practicing it secretly. Sure, all the signs went down, but the hearts of the people remained just as stubborn and wicked as they had before the law to abolish segregation was passed.

My parents took lowly jobs in which they received much abuse from their employers and co-workers. They worked very hard, for very little money and endured much ridicule and exclusion. There seemed to be no escape from this torment as returning to Korea was worse. They were truly between a rock and a hard place and chose to stay in America as it was the lesser of two evils. My parents were Buddhists and did not know the LORD, therefore were very susceptible to the wiles of our enemy the devil. The devil seduced my parents into believing that it was "okay" to find their own escape from this very challenging life of being immigrants during our countries tumultuous times.....and so they did.

Up until the age of three I was "Daddy's little girl" and a complete spoiled brat. We were poor, but in my sin, I managed to demand my poor immigrant parents give me everything I wanted. I still remember being only 3 years old, wanting to go run an errand with my dad because I knew I could get him to buy me something. We barely had enough money for rent and food, but I didn't care, their struggle was their problem and I wanted stuff and lots of it! After causing much strife and dissension between my parents, my Daddy, once again, gave in and took me on his errand. He bought me a teddy bear....and I still have it! My teddy bear is probably older than most of you, he's 36, nearly 37 years old! And that was the last memory I have of being "Daddy's little girl", as my life drastically changed shortly after that day.

Something just happened today that has burdened my heart to pray for all our children!

A sister in Christ, who is a single mother, lives in my neighborhood and my heart truly hurts for her right now. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for her to raise her children in the Way they should go....alone. I know she's not alone, and that our Lord is always with her, but I do know that God allows challenges in the lives of single parents (different challenges), just as our gracious and good Father allows challenges and trials to take place in families with both parents in the home.

She is going through a very difficult thing, expressing "tough love" with one of her boys and truly, my heart hurts for her. I completely agree with her and support her, but I still can't help but want to just hold her for a bit and let her cry......or something. She's such a tough lady, and I imagine you'd have to be, as a single parent, but I know that she's hurting and I so much want to give her a safe place to just "let go" and rest. I'm sure she's doing that with God and I know His lap is a much better place than my arms so I'm grateful for that! BUT, that doesn't mean that we are not Jesus' hands and feet and should just say, "Well, God's got her, so I guess I don't need to do anything." I know that's just from the enemy who would LOVE for her to be kept alone so he can get to her....but I won't let him do that!

So, I'm going to reach out to her and see if maybe I can take her out to dinner or just sit with her in a quiet place and listen.

In the same way, it's wrong for me to tell my neighbor that I will pray for her, yet, not attempt to do anything to bring her any comfort from her trials.

Please pray for my neighbor, her family and for all our children! Pray that Satan be stripped of his influence on our children! And ask our Sovereign, and good Father God, who IS in Heaven to give us strength and endurance to battle for our kids on our knees; and to give us wisdom so that we may quickly recognize the schemes of our enemy so that our children are not deceived and led astray to do Satan's will.