In the valley

I read this on a blog, and thought it was very applicable to where I'm at right now.

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After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained.
It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?

— Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest (via katiepricehill)

The Secret of Living

These are not my words, so I'm not taking credit for them, but I thought they were so inspiring that I'd share them!

The Secret of Living

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Philippians 1

When money is our objective for happiness, we must live in fear of losing it, which makes us paranoid and suspicious. When fame is our aim, we become competitive lest others upstage us, which makes us envious. When power and influence drive us, we become self-serving and strong-willed, which makes us arrogant. And when possessions become our god, we become materialistic, thinking enough is never enough, which makes us greedy. All these pursuits fly in the face of contentment and joy.

Only Christ can satisfy, whether we have or don't have, whether we are known or unknown, whether we live or die. And the good news is this: Death only sweetens the pie! That alone is enough to make you laugh again.

The Living Bible states: "For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying—well, that's better yet!" (Phil. 1:21). The New Testament in Modern English, J.B. Phillips's paraphrase, reads: "For living to me means simply 'Christ,' and if I die I should merely gain more of him."

What is the sum and substance of all this? The secret of living is the same as the secret of joy: Both revolve around the centrality of Jesus Christ. In other words, the pursuit of happiness is the cultivation of a Christ-centred, Christ-controlled life.

When Christ becomes our central focus,
contentment replaces our anxiety as well as our fears and insecurities.

Thoughts from this morning

I changed it a bit!  It helped me understand it more, and be more motivated!


Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge YOU, in view of God’s mercy, provision and love, to present/offer/surrender your WHOLE self (body, strength, thoughts, gifts, words, actions etc) as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (for Him to own) - this is your spiritual service of worship. Do not conform any longer to the trends/passions/desires of this world, but be transformed/metamorphosed by the constant renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”