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| 2011 PostingStudy for All of Us!We will be continuing this section, since we really enjoy sharing
24/7
Being
Hungry for Christ
 I
have been praying for the past several months about what kind of posting I
could offer for 2011; as a follow-up to “Higher
Ground-2010.” If you missed Higher Ground...it is below for your enjoyment.
I wanted to develop
something similar, but reflecting a "breakthrough" concept "having no limits" - to truly come into His presence. As I prayed through several topics, I kept coming back
to the ideal of “Being in Christ 24/7”
or “Being Hungry for Christ 24/7.”
Most
of us interact with Christ based on our needs, as if He was there to
serve us (like a genie in some golden lamp). Most of the time we think we can handle
the situation and only asking for help when the task seems
impossible. We
need to change thinking; we need to be "hungry for Him 24/7" as if our next breath depended on it and it does!
There is no
better place to start then at Matthew 4:17 through Matthew 6:34 - the beginning of Christ's Ministry to the world. The Synoptic Gospel would suggest John 1:35-51 also offers us some insight into the start of His ministry, but for our study we are going to stay in Matthew. In verses prior to 4:17 we see Christ being tempted to just walk away for His assignment; thank God He didn't. In 4:17 we see Christ wanting to share kingdom values with His Disciples in
hopes they would see the big picture.
Matthew 4:17 – From that time
on Jesus began to preach, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
There are several points that are very important to point out.
- Repent -
the concept of asking for forgiveness from Sin! This was the primary purpose of Christ coming to earth; to help us realize that we are sinners and repentance was required.
- His kingdom was near - I truly believe that we are closer today then we could possibility hope for to Christ’s return. Certainly the Disciples thought, along with many others, Christ came to earth to bring His kingdom. Although He said it was near, the important factor was, He wanted to have a relationship that was more than just following His teachings. He wanted a 24/7 relationship!
So, how should we handle Christ’s
statement in Matthew 4:17. Should we be concerned and should that concern change our present attitude - knowing that the kingdom of heaven is NEAR! The concept of "being in Christ 24/7" should certainly take
on a whole new meaning!
Over
the next few months we are going to shake-out what that relationship should look like. Hopefully, by the end of
our postings, we will be able to look back over a progression; one that allowed us to grow closer to
Him. To allow us to live the way He Desires – 24/7.
7-April-2011
Right from the beginning, Jesus
had an agenda; one that included some followers to walk with Him along the
way. The calling of Christ's Disciples took into consideration the common
man; not those of education or high society status. The common man can be
used more, if he is willing to walk in Christ's foot-steps. We see this in Matthew 4:18-20. He choice Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew, who where simple fishing; casting nets into a lake for food. There is one difference - Christ stated "Come, follow me...and I will make you fishers of men." Right then, Christ was asking for a 24/7 commitment; one that would need training to work out, but one that needed to start right then and now without questioning the outcome. When Jesus got to James and John (two other brothers), they too left their father Zebedee in the middle of repairing the net and followed. 24/7 doesn't allow you to prepare, to get your bank account in order; to pay off your car or house to step out and follow the One who calls; you just have to do it IMMEDIATELY! When we came into Mercy Ships, trust me, there was a multitude of concerns, but the call was real and the task set before us was specific. We dropped everything and simply left; not knowing the outcome, but simply trusting Him for the direction. It has been 8-1/2 years since the beginning; some things have changed, but He has not. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but know He is still leading us; so what and how is He leading you? Do you drop your nets and simply (IMMEDIATELY) follow, not knowing what will happen tomorrow? What is stopping you? Only you can answer the question God is asking. Pray about it and ask for a "breakthrough that has no limits!"
10-April-2011For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that no of yourselves,
it is the gift of God (Ephesian 2:8).
The Road Ahead - We are all
traveling down this road of life  and though we like to think we have the way
mapped out, we are woefully inadequate to plot a safe course through the twists
and turns that lay before us.
Our plans and dreams are often in conflict
with the will of God and a U-turn or another course correction may be in order
if we are to move forward.
Are you following with the lines that God has given you? Do you follow
His commands? He as give us His Word as a testimony of His love and as a
way to know the direction we need to take for life, but are we listening?
His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path and the direction it points us is to Him...all the rest is secondary. The road we travel leads to Jesus that is all that matters; for He directs our path. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one will come unto the Father but by Him and the Way truly is narrow.
There are signs along the way and I urge you to get acquainted with them by meeting with other Christians, going to a healthy church, being part of a Bible study, and very importantly studying for yourselves and spending time in the Word.
Higher Ground Study offered in 2010 (to see a NEW MONTH...move down the page) All of us experience difficultly; whether it is within our family, our current job situation, or in other areas that we have no control over. We sometimes question: where is God leading, what will tomorrow bring, or how are we to survive when all others all around us seem to be falling apart? We feel pressure from all sides: feelings of hopelessness that give us cause to worry through many sleepless nights, or just feelings of being alone with no one to help us through each day. I want to offer a challenge for all of us during 2010 to step beyond our daily concerns, allowing us to climb those mountains, get through those valleys, and regain God’s Will for our lives. This will not be an easy task; some will fall away or be troubled with the changes God offers. This is how we, together, will do this! Each month, for the next 12 months, I will be posting a study within this tab (http://www.anchorofmercy.org) that will offer hope, inspiration, and encouragement to allow us grow in Jesus Christ. We will be climbing this together, as we both seek God’s face, asking for help as a group to understand what He wants for our lives, and thus, allowing us to share Christ to others in a whole new way. With this comes a warning: We need to stay the course no matter how hard the task. When people climb, they are “tethered together.” If one needs help, another is there to support.; if one loose footing, another carries their weight. If we are to climb or walk through our valleys, we need to do it together. This opening section then serves as an introduction. From this point forward...simply scroll down the page to each month's entry. Feedback is critical! You can contact us through our tab marked "CONTACT US." There is a section at the bottom for email responses. We hope you enjoy our time together as much as we have preparing it. May God Bless you as you work through each month.
JANUARY Step 1 - Renewing Spirit 
At this time of year, each of us tends to focus on renewing relations, especially with our Lord. Whether we plan to commit more time to daily prayer or to read through the Bible in a year, we all seem to desire a closer walk with God. Like most New Year's Resolutions, they don't last long and we get busy with other things. We soon forget our resolutional assignments and typically feel bad. In a genuinely loving relationship, each person wants to know more about the other. As belivers, we're sometimes guilty of taking a more self-interested approach and forget that God should be the rightful center of our attention. Instead, we head to church or into quiet time looking for something to inspire us, motivate us, or help us verses simply asking Him "what do you want me to do today or even in the next hour to further your Kingdom?" Part of the problem is that we would like to practice our faith in the safest way possible. Bible study, prayer, and chuch are relatively easy, compared to stepping out in faith or enduring persecution. But to know God intimately is not a purely intellectual pursuit. Any truth about Him is not truly ours until He works it into our daily life. So, how do we CLIMB TO HIGHER GROUND? - We must spend time with Him. Attending church regularly is great; for me...it is my quiet time that I gain my greatest spiritual growth. We need to be alone with God, we need to get away from all the daily distractions, and/or anything that might interfere with our communion with Him.
- Intimacy with Him depends on our ability to listen. Most of the time, He will speak through Scripture, but He can speak through other circumstances. We need to stop and just listen to what He is saying.
- We must speak to Him transparently and hold nothing back. A loving relationship is built upon open honesty. Each person should feel comfortable about expressing both positive and negative emotions. God already knows our heart, so why hold back?
Our climb maybe difficult, at times; especially when there is a situation where life seems like it's not fair. To reach HIGHER GROUND we need to simply start forward; many times not knowing where we are heading. The hardest step is the first one. I believe FAITH is an ACTION WORD! Meaning, may times we need to step out in faith before we know the full assignment. It is our faith that moves us forward into uncharted waters. We need to depend on Him for all the unknown answers.
FEBRUARY Step 2: Begin at the Beginning 
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. The Lord is always working to take His people to yet a higher level; to give them a better understanding of His love, grace, and mercy. He wants us to share our experience with others. But every journey begins with the first step. For some, this starting point may take time to develop. As in every venture, we need to continually consider where we came from. We need to get "back to the basics" many times to rekindle our original passion to serve one another. That first flicker of commitment must be rekindled to continue our love relationship with Christ; we must first spend time in prayer and reading His Word. If we are to experience a life change, we need to know Him personally.
Our God is a very personal God, and He desires a personal relationship. We must take the time to walk and talk with Him throughout the day as we word to others we depend on. When we start applying God's word to our daily lives and claiming His promises, He becomes alive in us and to us. We become excited about Him, as He shows us the path we are to walk! A quiet time, alone with Jesus is an critical for growing in a relationship. If you find that this isn't as easy as it use to be, then ask God for help and consistency (Psalm 51:10). He understands our weaknesses and He is able to help us in overcoming (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our relationship and love for Christ will be restored! (Psalm 51:12)
On several occasions throughout the Gospels, we read that Jesus "went up into a mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28 and Mark 6:46). In His relationship with the Father, Christ gave us a pattern to follow (John 15:10). But with every mountain top experience, there is will assuredly be a time when we experience a valley. When we talk about climbing to great heights, we also need to address the valleys that we experince along the way. Our journey, in either condition, begins with the first step. For me, FAITH is an ACTION WORD; for only by stepping forward into the unknown can we truly see faith at work. We simply trust in God for yet the next step.
As we all climb and walk through life's situations, we must continue to review our first steps to ensure we are still going in the right direction. Whatever season we find ourselves from this point forward, we always must remember to never loose sight of our first love. For that love will keep us going forward.
MARCH Step 3: Renewing your mind in Christ I have found out that when you tell someone that they should have a renewed mind, why is it they look at us like we are speaking in Greek. Maybe its because most people really don't know what it means to have a renewed mind in Christ Jesus; or they have been brain washed by the world for so long that they have start to look like the world, and try to fitting into it instead of taking the time to spend with God to gain a renewal. God does not work through conformity. He is looking for evidence of real transformation; a transformation that takes place only through the renewing of the mind. When the mind is renewed, we have the mind of Christ. With God's spirit constantly flowing into our spirit we find that we are becoming more and more like Jesus and we will also have less "I AMness." Scripture records Jesus boldly saying, "I AM the Truth; I AM the Light; I AM the Vine. I AM. I AM, I AM." The "I AMness" separates Him from everyone else. He was unique in His birth, life, and resurrection. He did not confirm His life to the customs and traditions of the culture during His life on earth. For example it was against the custom and traditions when He spoke with the woman at the well and healed the sick on the Sabbath. When we have a renewed mind in Christ Jesus, we have the mind of Christ and we won’t do what is not necessarily "POLITICALLY CORRECT" or traditional. Having a renewed mind will mean that we will start to walk in the Spirit, and not in the flesh. Why…because we have a renewed mind. The Bible says, be in the world, not of the world. Our mind is set upon a HIGHER LEVER (higher ground) because we are renewed through our connection with the Holy Spirit. When each of us can say, "Get the shackles off me. I am breaking out of these chains because I have been transformed by the renewing of my mind." Thus, Satan no longer has control over you because the chains have been broken because we have a renewed mind in Christ Jesus. We have stepped into the world, but we are not conformed to the world. We are transformed by the renewing of our mind, and with the Spirit of Christ connected to our spirit, we are a new creature-an original, which cannot be imitated or duplicated. We are in control of our mind, because we have a renewed mind. We have victory in our mind, power in our mind, joy in our mind, and we are climbing to higher heights. When we have a renewed mind in Christ Jesus, we can walk in the world, but not be governed by the environment and standards of the world. If we want to know God, we have to know Jesus, and we can't know Jesus, if we don't know our Bible, and its impossible to NOT have a renewed mind after diligently getting into the Word of God, and renewing our mind!
APRIL Step 4: Despite Your Circumstance - KEEP CLIMING! Few people in the first century had a deeper understanding of God’s grace than the apostle Paul. Redeemed from a life of vicious brutality as a rigid legalistic Pharisee, the man turned the corner, repented, and through Christ’s empowering became a gentle soul, gracious and affirming. Understanding. Forgiving. Approachable. He reached the place where he was willing not only to offer hope to the Gentiles, but to live among them, though he himself would bleed pure Jewish blood.
No one that I know endured the level of hardship Paul did as a good soldier of Christ. What makes him all-the-more amazing is this: never once does he leave a hint of complaint over being chained to a burly Roman soldier or about the inconvenience of being confined to such cramped quarters. The man simply would not grumble. By God’s grace, he lived above it all. I repeat, he had learned the secret of contentment.
The great temptation is to allow that to embitter you—to turn you into someone who lives under a dark cloud, where doom and gloom characterize your outlook. Life’s hard. You live in a situation that resembles a house arrest. You feel chained to your past, unable to escape the restrictiv e circumstances. Maybe you’ve lived this way so long that negative thinking has become a habit. You can’t imagine thinking any other way.
I’ve got wonderful news...there is hope beyond your circumstances. You can live above them. If a man named Paul could live above his unbelievably trying circumstances, so can you. But Christ must become your central focus. He, alone, can empower you and teach you to live above the duress of adversity. Your external circumstances may not change, but deep within, you will. As Christ is allowed first place in your thoughts, changes will occur. Those changes will be evident to your mate, your children, your friends, and your coworkers. Instead of seeing yourself as a victim, you will begin to realize a strength that is not your own. The result? You will make a difference because of the way you respond to the circumstances that once defeated you. To the people closest to you, your contentment despite your circumstances will be nothing short of heroic. Cling to hope! Focus on Christ, despite your circumstances. And remember..KEEP CLIMBING...to reach High Ground for Christ you must always look up no matter what circumstance.
MAY
Step 5: The Ability to Keep Climbing (Becoming a Change Agent) We can be a change agent, both within our own lives and the lives around us, but it will take specific steps to move forward.
- Faith - FIRM FOUNDATION
- Virtue - ACQUIRING A DESIRABLE NATURE
- Knowledge - RETRIEVING SPIRITUAL WISDOM
- Self Control - WILLPOWER IN GOD'S WILL
- Steadfastness - DETERMINATION
- Godliness - HOLINESS, NOT SIMPLY RELIGION
- Love - IN ADDITION TO GRACE AND MERCY TOWARDS OTHERS
2 Peter 1:2-7 reveals how we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires by climbing the seven levels of the mountain:
And for this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Each of these qualities builds on the previous quality. Each level contains a gold mine of wisdom, if we take the time to experience and investigate each level. As we climb ,each level should bare greater fruit -- Fruit of the Spirit as a character.
We begin the mountain climb on the faith ledge. We ascend to the glorious top to find perfect love. Trust is an essential trait for those who climb the mountain. We get a sure footing on this ledge by believing in God, knowing He is real, and understanding the He loves us. If we move to another level before we have this sure footing we will later fall.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
In life many of us have fallen. We tried to climb from ledge-to-ledge too fast. Accepting the love of God through Christ is a basic faith step that offers us a firm footing. Not understanding God's love causes us to stumble; never allowing us that critical footing needed to advance forward to the next higher level. Unforgiven tension or resentment towards others who may have wounded us will always hinder our climb. Forgiving others helps to heal wounds and allow you to climb strong again. Remember, hurtful wounds cause more sin and obstructs your climb.
Dusting off and climbing again. Praise God, for I know He allows us to slip and stumble, but never fall so far that He can't pick us up again, dust us off, allow us to regain our footing, and begin to climb higher. Isaiah 58:8-9 states: Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Rejoice in the Adventure! The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. God's paths ware straight, His paths are narrow. To follow keep you eyes on Him. Climbing these levels can be very hard, especially when faced with unexpected or particularly difficultly. But, the climb can be seen as exciting adventure, especially when you reach the top. He has given each of us the chance to climb higher. Remember, the first step is the hardest.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? Psalms 121:1 (NASB)
JUNE
Step 6: ALWAYS - LEAD ME HIGHER! 
Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Which way should we choose to live life? Should we live above the clouds, allowing us to look down on all that God has created or try to deal with daily tasks know that no matter what we do, the job will never get finished? Do we strive towards having that higher plane or are we content living out our lives on a lower level?
For me, I definitely want to find a way of live life that looks down from above, don't you? But we can't possibly arrive on that higher ground apart from the Lord's leadership! When we yield to the Lord's leadership we can and will safely arrive on higher ground. Those who stubborn and resist God's direction choose to live at lower levels where doubts and fears can certainly take over. They never seem to grow as a child of God or reach those new heights of maturity.
To climb to a higher plane it takes a lot of work -- It's a lot of work getting up that mountain, but once we reach the top, the view is breath taking. We can see for miles; it is wonderful to just sit there and look over the surrounding areas and reflect on God's goodness. It takes a lot of determination to finish any journey once we start it, but we must!
From this point forward I am not speaking of an actual mountain, but a spiritual experience. We have some who are are afraid of trying to reach for higher ground. They are afraid of what God will require of them. What if He wants me to stop doing this or that and going here! What if He wants me to preach, witness, sing, teach a Sunday class, etc. Let me tell you I stand here, not because I want to, or because I feel that I am qualified. I stand here only because God spoke to me and told me He wanted me to do this. When we feel God speaking, we only have two choices. Yes…which moves upward closer to God and higher ground? Or No…which lets us stay there in your comfort zone lolling around at the foot of the mountain.
In our constant efforts to move towards higher ground, it is essential that all of us seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him to direct how we should plant our feet so that we're moving upward. Trust me when I say, the devil will be dogging your footstep in order to throw obstacles in your path. Satan wants us to move sideways or, preferably, downwards. We must watch for any obstacles before us so that we can detect when the Lord is redirecting our footsteps and when Satan is trying to move us off the right pathway. Christians ought to be constantly in touch with what the Lord desires through daily reading the Bible and praying. We need to leave behind those who want to live in doubts and fear in order to move onto "higher ground," and we need to be reaching out to draw others along with us so that together we may scale the utmost heights.
Paul said- "one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13, 14).
Remember two things:
First - Once we start trying to reach higher ground we need to keep your eyes on Christ. Don't look down or around there will always be someone to distract or discourage us. Don't think about how easy it was serving God on the lower ground. Think of the view that awaits us on higher ground. We should not being discouraged by Satan's obstacles, but we should move forward from doubts and fears to higher ground. In a world were the darkest of sins are creeping through out the land. And man's degradation is casting its shadows everywhere he dwells; it is certainly time for Christians to look for higher ground.
Secondly - God will always there helping us to get up; always urging us to walk with him, in his shadow, under his care. Yes, there are times I have found myself slipping. When we begin to let doubts and fears and confusion assail me, we are not looking for Him within the situation! God continually calls us to look up and to reach up.
I hope He will call you too, to that HIGHER GROUND!
JULY Step 7: HOPE FOR HIGHER GROUND
Our hope is to live each day at a higher level; a level that will allow us to just live, raise our families, and not have to worry how the next bill will be paid. In Mike  Huckabee's book: From Hope to Higher Gound, he offers a way to restore America's Greatness by attempting to boost self-esteem through folksy wisdom and good old-fashion tough love. Although he has a self-deprecating sense of humor and presents a refreshing look at what America should look like, this former Baptist preacher can only offer a feel-good, common-sense fix to our situtation.
Now I admit, I really believe Mike Huckabee would have been a much better president then Barack Obama, but only Christ can fix our current situation in the USA and around the world. it is not a quick fix formula to stop bad choices or habits developed over the centuries; it is asking for forgiveness, confessing our sins, and accepting Christ as our Savior. Let's begin at the beginning and build a concept to correct our situation during this month. - When a father misleads his family, the effects of that misleading are often felt for generations. This is because the father is being covenantally unfaithful and God has stipulated that there are punishments to breaking the covenant with God. I Satan wants to breakdown families, the first thing needed is remove the father. Now that can be accomplished in several ways, but the primary way is through income. But what determines our income? Many families over extend spending, forcing a father to work one or two jobs just to keep up with the Jones. When you compound governmental taxation, it only adds to the situation. We presently are experiencing such a time where no matter how hard we try, we can't get ahead. Our Hope for Higher Ground only leads to disappointment when we see our paycheck decreasing. What are we placing our hope in should be the primary question. Government programs that always see to disappoint those most needy seems to be the common fallback. Christ has a better way, but we don't want to ask or be dependent on His direction. Life is hard enough, but when we add sin, life becomes impossible.
- When people refuse or just don't get up to vote in their local race, things change on a larger scale up line that will come back and make life difficult later. If we truly wish to gain ground to yet higher levels, we need to start with small steps and let the larger steps worry about themselves. We need to get involved and stay involved.
- We need to allow Christ to lead us each and every day through the situation life presents. No task or assignment is too large or too small to bring to Him. That is why He went to the cross...to help us through situations of life...trusting in Him in everything.
- Only Christ can make the difference...we can't do it on our own. If we first truly believe that statement, no situation will be too great.
AUGUST
Step 8: GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN
This month I decided to do something different by taking something that was already developed and modifying it just slightly to meet our mountain concept. It is found in Joshua 14:6-12...so go ahead and look it up as our foundation. Hold on to your socks...it is a long study.
Introduction: Colonel Sanders was famous for his fried chicken. He started out with one restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, and built a global chicken empire. The Colonel was 65 when he launched his business. When others were retiring, he was just getting “warmed up”! His amazing energy and zeal caught the attention of the Congressional Committee on Aging, and they invited him to Washington to testify before the committee. His appearance was unforgettable. Decked out in his traditional white suit and black tie, he said: “If you want to keep from having problems about getting old, for goodness sake don’t think about retiring. It’s the worst mistake a man can make. It’ll kill him quicker than anything. A man will rust out quicker than he will wear out.”
Colonel Sanders reminds me of an octogenarian in the Bible named Caleb. He and his friend Joshua are remembered for their confidence in God. We meet Caleb in the book of Numbers when he is 40 years old. Let’s take a look at the qualities that characterized Caleb.
1. He was courageous from the beginning (Numbers 13:1-16). - The reconnaissance mission: We need to remember that God gave Canaan to the children of Israel. The mission was not to decide if they should go in or stay out. It was to plan their strategy for conquering Canaan. The land was a gift from God, so victory was assured. But they still had to fight their enemies and “dispossess” them from the Promised Land. Each tribe sent a leader to spy out the land. Caleb represented Judah and Joshua was voted in for Ephraim. The text lists 10 others, but they are long forgotten because of their fears and doubts.
- His remarkable report: How could 12 men take the same journey and see the same sights, but return with such different conclusions? For the 10, it was all about giants, but for Caleb and Joshua it was all about God (13:20-33). I like what F. B. Meyer writes about the reports: “The rest of the spies had turned aside, dismayed by the spectacle of giants and walled-up cities and vast battle array. They had ceased to keep their eye steadfastly fixed on the movements of God’s will, and the might of His hand; and instead of following hard after Him, they had yielded to panic, and made the hearts of the people melt. But there had been no panic in the heart of Caleb. He had only been considering that, when God delights in men, He brings them into the land of milk and honey, and makes it theirs by deed of gift. And as he thought in his heart, so he spake with his mouth. In his rough soldier’s phrase he even dared to boast that the Canaanites were but bread waiting to be eaten by the hosts of Israel” (Joshua, p.160).
- His resolute devotion to God (Joshua 14:14). When Caleb received his long-awaited inheritance, we learn the secret of his confidence: “He wholly followed the Lord” (nkjv) or “He wholeheartedly followed the Lord” (nlt).
2. He was steadfast in times of testing (Numbers 11). The judgment of God for the unbelief of the majority was 40 years of desert wandering until an entire generation of doubters perished. Only Caleb and Joshua entered the land flowing with milk and honey. What is remarkable to me is what these two stalwarts had to endure. For, after all, their faith in God could have been rewarded with a 40-day journey, instead of the misery of 40 years of aimless wandering. Desert experiences are testing times for God’s men and women, past and present. Moses was tested and refined in the wilderness. Paul was sent to Arabia and learned much from the Lord. And Caleb and Joshua lived in the desert for 40 years. Think of it! Forty years of watching graves dug as a whole generation died. Forty years of listening to complaints about manna and water. Forty years of enduring the rebellious talk of returning to Egypt or overthrowing Moses as their leader. Yet there is no record of bitterness in the heart of Caleb. He did not join in with Aaron and Miriam as they railed against their brother, Moses.
In many places across our land, criticism of pastoral leaders has reached epidemic proportions. Moses collapsed under the complaints, wishing he were dead. If anyone could have rightfully complained about the long journey, it was Caleb. He could have been full of rebukes. But Moses had a supporter in this man.
3. He was adventurous in old age (Joshua 14:6-13). Caleb was ready to claim the promise of Hebron. F. B. Meyer speculates that young Caleb couldn’t have viewed the white buildings of Hebron for longer than an hour or two. But God made a promise that He would keep him alive until Hebron was his. Now at 85, he was ready. “Hebron, beneath whose oaks Abraham had pitched his tent; Hebron, whose soil had been trodden by the feet of the Incarnate God, as with two angel attendants He visited the tent of Abraham; Hebron, where Sarah and Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah lay buried.” Caleb made a bold claim that he was as strong at 85 as he was at 40. He promised to war against the Anakim giants and come back with victory. You can hear the joy and confidence as he said to Joshua: “Therefore, give me this mountain” (14:12).
In keeping with our mountain theme…what is your Hebron—what is your mountain? What promises from God have you claimed and been holding on to for many years? Is it a son or daughter not yet come to faith in our Lord? Is it a grandson or granddaughter far from God? Is it a desire for a Christian husband for a single daughter or a job for a desperate family member?
Remember what Caleb did and join with him and cry to God...
“Give me this mountain.” 
Allow God to gain the higher ground through and within each situation of life... Trust Him to have your best interest at heart and to work out all the details.
Remember - always give Him the honor and glory in all that you do!
SEPTEMBER Step 9: WHAT IS OVER THE NEXT HILL? 
Did you ever consider where you will be tomorrow, next week, or a year from now? Many of us don't consider where God will lead until He does something unexpected. We go through life as if we don't know or even care what is just over the next hill. If something happens, we tend to question God, as to what He is up to, whether He was asleep and it took Him totally by surprise.
Philippians 1:12-14 - Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else; and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
Circumstances in the life of the growing Christian don't just happen. They are controlled. Humanly speaking, our circumstances may be a blast or a bummer; they may be pleasant or tragic; they may be just or unfair; they may change overnight or stay the same for years. Divinely speaking, our circumstances are controlled as to what, when, where, and why. From our point of view, our circumstances may appear at times to be completely out of control. From God's point of view, our circumstances are never out of control. Romans 8:28 says that for those who love Him, "God causes all things to work together for good." This certainly means control of all circumstances in the lives of growing Christians.
"Hey, wait a minute," you say. "If God is in control, then what about all that circumstances affecting me which involve injustice and cruelty and suffering and other forms of evil? What kind of control is this? And what about my circumstances when I sin? If God is in control of the circumstances, has He programmed me into sin?" NO WAY!
The Bible teaches that when we sin it is our own fault and we cannot pin the blame on God. (James 1:13-15.) But even when we sin, it doesn't mean that God has lost control of the situation. He may use the very circumstances in which we failed to teach us a lesson and draw us back to Him. Furthermore, the Bible never teaches that all the circumstances surrounding a Christian are good. Romans 8:28 does not say that all things are good! It says God causes all things to work together for good in the life of a Christian. Many circumstances affecting the Christian are anything but good. Your circumstances right now may be very bad. In fact, the Bible teaches us that circumstances touching a Christian can be quite evil--and even manipulated by Satan himself! (Job 1:6-2:10) Notice two points from this passage in Job. First we see that although God permitted "evil circumstances" to strike Job, God was not the source of evil. (James 1:16-17 in this connection. Notice that only good things come from God and that we are deceived if we don't believe this.) Secondly, we see that God never "lost control" of Job's circumstances, but rather used them (evil and all) for His own purposes. He caused them to "work together for good" in Job's life. Read the rest of Job and see how God used these circumstances as a test of Job's faith, and see the final results in the last chapter of Job. So God is in control of all our circumstances. Although we are free to commit sin, and in spite of Satan's power (limited power--it's like he's on a leash temporarily, awaiting final judgment), God is still in control of our circumstances. Things are never out of control!
In Philippians 1:12-17 we have a striking example of how God caused some "unfortunate" circumstances in the life of the apostle Paul to work together for good. When Paul wrote Philippians, he was waiting for his trial before Caesar in Rome. The possibility of death by the Roman sword was a reality he had to face each day. Pretty heavy circumstances! Already Paul had spent about two "wasted" years in prison in Palestine while the establishment played politics with his case. It seemed as if circumstances were out of control. Finally, Paul had appealed to Caesar, and so he was brought to Rome to wait for his case to come up before the highest court in the Empire. While Paul waited, he was put under house arrest. This meant that he was not thrown into a dungeon, but was kept under arrest in his own rented house. (See Acts 28:30-31.) However, it was still imprisonment (Philippians 1:13) because a Roman soldier was always kept there on guard. In fact, Paul and the guard were chained together at all times. Because the escape of a Roman prisoner would cost the life of the Roman guard, there was no bail system in those days. The chain was always there! Now the chain had several feet in length and allowed the prisoner a little movement, but think of the inconvenience and annoyance of these circumstances. Every word Paul spoke was monitored. Every curse and obscene remark of the Roman soldiers had to be tolerated by Paul. He could not walk away. He had no privacy for his personal needs. The chain was always there. How could God allow such circumstances? For the guards it was only so many hours of duty, and then they were free, but for Paul, it was the same hard circumstance day after day. What possible good could come out of this situation? Was God still in control?
There was one further circumstance in Paul's life at this time which was hard to handle--maybe the hardest of all. From Philippians 1:15-17 we learn that some other Christians in Rome who sometimes disagreed with Paul were taking advantage of the situation. Because of their jealousy of the apostle, they were bad-mouthing Paul and proclaiming the Christian message to gain a prominent position for themselves in the Christian fellowship. If ever there was a Christian who had a legitimate right to complain about his circumstances, it was Paul. Cut off from a very successful and fruitful ministry; shut up in a house and constantly watched; put down by the very brothers and sisters he was trying to serve. Can you identify with Paul a little at this point? Yet Paul never complained about his circumstances. In fact, he was able to rise above them and rejoice in them. (Philippians 1:8 and 3:17.) Why? Because he knew that God was causing these circumstances to work together for good.
Paul elaborates on some of the good results from his "bad circumstances" in Philippians 1:12-14. First there was the greater progress of the gospel (v12). All the imperial guards had heard about Christ (v13). It was impossible to be chained to the apostle Paul and not hear the good news about Jesus! You can imagine how word of their unique prisoner and his cause quickly circulated within the ranks of the soldiers--and filtered out to everyone else (v13). Apparently anyone who was interested or curious was allowed to come and visit Paul. (See Acts 28:30-31.) Soon the good news was even being heard and believed by servants (and maybe officials) in Caesar's household (Philippians 4:22). God was using Paul's "regrettable circumstances" to penetrate barriers which, up until now, had seemed impossible. Think of it; the gospel spreading to the heart of the Roman Empire because Paul's rights and freedom had been taken away. God was in control of these contrary circumstances. Is it possible that God has permitted you to be placed in a dorm or class or a job or a neighborhood or a relationship or a hospital bed which is not exactly to your liking? Maybe this is the way God has chosen to reach someone "special" with the love and good news of Jesus Christ. You've been chosen because no one else could handle the particular situation.
Philippians 1:14 tells us that another good result was the greater courage of most of the Christians to spread the Word of God. It took quite a lot of guts to preach Jesus Christ in pagan Rome. It was much easier to be a "secret Christian" than to risk your life for what you believed. But the Christians in Rome were "turned on" by Paul's circumstances. If Paul could take so much abuse for the cause of Christ, they could certainly take a little heat too! Even the Christians who were jealous of Paul were at least made bold enough to get out and proclaim Christ, and for this Paul rejoiced (v18). What an amazing working together of circumstances for good! Because Paul's freedom was restricted and his rights taken away, Christians were encouraged to carry on the work boldly. Is it possible that God has allowed some of your freedom to be restricted and some of your rights to be yanked away from you? Maybe because of the way you handle these limitations, other growing Christians will be encouraged to get turned on and carry on the work of the Lord. God has chosen you to be the example so He can multiply the good results.
God caused all kinds of good things to come out of Paul's unfavorable circumstances. During this imprisonment Paul had more time to write, and four books of the Bible were written: Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. In the same way, our God is working together all our circumstances in accordance with His good purposes. Don't be discouraged! The Lord is in complete control!
OCTOBER
Step 10: WHAT IS IN YOUR VALLEY? Psalm 23 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
 There is always a valley between two mountains. Before each mountain top experience comes a walk down below. Some can live on the mountain top with the Lord for extended periods of time, but some cannot for some reason or another.
We reach the mountain top, live there a while, but then comes the winds of defeat or discouragement and it blows us right down to the bottom of the mountain again. Some valleys are wide, some are narrow. Some are on rough ground and some on smooth. Most suicides occur there and most marriages break up while one or both mates are experiencing a valley.
I know I am talking to several today who are there and some people who will be there tomorrow or the next day. It maybe due to physical, emotional, or spiritual reasons; but whatever the reason, too many of us have their primary home address affixed in our valley location. If you and I are going to successfully climb out of our valleys and gain elevation to again sit on that mountain top, we must recognize who is standing with us during these times; in either place!
GOD IS WITH US...verse 4 "...for thou are with me." God only desire is for us to hear Him, whether in the valley or on the mountain top. Some Christians get high up the mountain and their ears get stopped up...they can't hear God speak. Yet others during a valley experience draw into themselves and again can't hear God speak. Remember...God is in both places; all we need to do is look for Him.
Ground Zero is There...verse 4 "...yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." In the early days of the automobile, the driver had to get a long run at the next hill in order to get up and over. I had a Volkswagen in 1963 that had that problem. If we get a running start before leaving the valley...we too will have a head start to get up that mountain...let God give you that extra jump-start...He is good at it and has had lots of practice.
GRAPPLING is THERE...verse 4..."thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." This place is always a place of decision. Am I going to stay here or am I going to climb the mountain? we must grapple with our decisions and trust the Lord so we can make the right choice. There is a battle between the flesh and the spirit. Will I make the decision to stay in the world or climb the mountain to spiritual attainment. Will I trust myself or the Lord? Will I depend on my strength or the rod and staff of the Lord?
GRACE is THERE...verses 5-6..."Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Luke 3:5, "Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be brought low." That means that the mountain is accessible to all who trust the Lord and start climbing. Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to them who love God." What should be fear when God is on our side.
Conclusion: What about it? Are you going to stay in the valley the rest of your life? You don't need to. Why don't you get out today? Why don't you decide to start climbing the mountain right now and see where God leads you tomorrow.
NOVEMBER
Step 11: CLIMB UNTIL YOUR DREAM COMES TRUE (Helen Steiner Rice)
Often your tasks will be many,
and more than you think you can do
Often the road will be rugged
and the hills insurmountable, too
Always remember, the hills ahead
Are never as steep as they seem,
And with faith in your heart start upward
And climb 'till you reach your dream,
Nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the courage to try it
And you have the faith to believe
Faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God's wisdom and will
Faith is a mover of mountains,
There's nothing that God cannot do,
So start out today with faith in your heart
And Climb Until Your Dream Comes True Climbing helps you to grow, so climb as if you life depended on it!
DECEMBER
Step 12: A TWELVE MONTH STEP We have come far in just twelve months; climbing our individual mountains to yet HIGHER GROUND of serving Him. As we look back over these past months, one things was present throughout...that of evaluating how we can better serve Him!
These past months, for us, many things have come forward; in and outside our family. We have been blessed with health and an increase in grandchildren...now totaling eight. We also have seen God work out conditions that typically would be a concern for most, but He guided us through it all to come out the other side praising Him. Mercy Ships has reached out to many during 2010; sharing the love of Christ to those who may not have heard the Good News. We have also been involved with a truck ministry on the weekends. We just completed a 21-Days of Praise and Worship Revival, which met the need of many who came through our areas (Love's Truck Stop, Exit 540, I-20 in Texas. http://www.kingdomdrivers.org
To close out the year I wanted to offer a "reason for the season." Christmas time is about family, but it is also about a Savior...born for us all. Jesus Christ will always remain the "reason for the season" no matter what the world thinks or would suggest. We live in a critical time where the world wants to change the "reason," but Christ never changes.
As you too think back over this year...think about how Christ has made a difference in your life. Share it with someone you know...share it with us. We love to know how He has changed your life and what He is presently doing within your heart today. Feel free to contact us through the following tab http://anchorofmercy.org/contactus.aspx or email us at hensmanj@mercyships.org
We love you all in Christ, John and Ruth
HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS...
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