God Is On The Mountain
By Barbara Chadwick

The mountains where we live are beautiful. 
The trees, the rock formations, the lakes and streams,
the animals and the birds show the majesty of God’s creation.
The air is cool and refreshing.
It is quiet and peaceful.
Most of the time.

But when there’s 5 feet of snow on the ground and you want to go to church or you need some food from the store it quits looking beautiful and just seems hard.  Or when the wind blows 90 miles an hour and the house shakes it doesn’t feel peaceful and quiet it feels uneasy and fitful. Or when a bear is on your porch you don’t see the majesty of the creation you just feel scared.

Or when your husband is having a heart attack and you need to get him to the hospital it seems like a long way to town. On that day I wasn’t admiring the mountains, the trees or the rocks. I was praying as I drove. The Lord rode with us all the way.

Did you ever hear the song, God On The Mountain by Tracy Dartt? It’s a simple song but has a powerful message:
Verse 1
Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain and you’ve got peace of mind like you’ve never known. But then things change and you’re down in the valley, don’t lose faith, child, you are never alone.
Chorus
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley, when things go wrong, He’ll make them right; And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times, The God of the day is still God in the night.
Verse 2
We talk of faith when we’re up on the mountain, but the talk comes easy when life’s at its best;    
 it's down in the valley of trials and temptation, that’s when faith is really put to the test.

Isaiah 65:24 - It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Part of a Song
by Barbara Chadwick

Photo from http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/songbird-1.jpg

As we were driving to town one day I heard a few notes of a bird’s song. It was so pretty I wished we could have stopped to hear the rest.

Now isn’t it amazing that driving along the country highway 74E at 55 miles per hour with all our windows and vents closed we could hear part of that bird’s song?

Isn’t it that way in life too? We go along singing our song, blessing others and being blessed in return but something happens. The evil one whispers in our ears, “Do you really think things are that rosy?” and we begin to get negative about things. We begin to close off all our receptors to the Holy Spirit and the joy He brings to our hearts. When we hear negative comments we nod our heads in agreement. When we hear criticism of anyone we concur. When someone says something positive we say, “Yes, but there’s this ugly thing …”

There is a woman in our church. At first I thought, “What a pretty lady” because she is very attractive and outgoing. But as I got to know her I began to realize I didn’t even want to be around her because she was so negative and critical. What happened to her song?

Then there is another woman – not nearly as pretty but just as outgoing. I look forward to seeing her every Sunday. She always has a smile and something positive and happy to say. I love her song.

You know in the grocery store how you overhear someone? When it’s a grumble it makes you feel bad that you heard that part of their song but when you hear someone laugh it’s like a tinkling of a bell and you involuntarily smile. You feel blessed that you overheard part of their song.

From Exodus to Revelation the scriptures instruct us to sing a new song. How happy our hearts are when we can sing to the Lord. Our songs (our words and language) need to encourage and lift.

Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to, Be imitators of God…as dearly beloved children and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Then in verse 19 we’re told to Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So you’re not going to go about your days as if you’re in a musical singing every word. But live your days as a fragrant offering to the Lord, loving and encouraging others and always giving thanks to God for everything so that if someone hears even a part of your song they will be lifted up.

The Impact Of A Life

THE IMPACT OF A LIFE

by Barbara Chadwick

I saw the end of Whitney Houston’s funeral today. She was a Christian who was famous who tried to live out her faith. She made quite an impact on a whole lot of lives.

I read again yesterday some of the scriptures in the Biblical book of Esther. She had an amazing impact on history.

So what kind of impact is your life making?  In Esther 4:14 Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, says, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Her personality and her character pleased the king and it pleased God to use her in that impossible situation.

Perhaps God has placed you in a difficult situation – or even an impossible situation. He is using your personality and your character to accomplish His purpose.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Take me and enable me to glorify You now in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.”

The apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:6-7 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. And again in Philippians 2:13-14  For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Do everything without complaining… The Biblical message seems to be very clear. Walk in Christ just as you were taught – and do it with thankfulness!

You know we can never make an impact in our own strength. It is God working in us that makes the difference.

R. Maines Rawls wrote these words in 1916:
Take my life, lead me Lord. Take my life, lead me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.
Take my life, teach my Lord. Take my life, teach me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.
Here am I, send me Lord. Here am I, send me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.

I copied these words from The Baptist Hymnal of 1991that my son, Kerry Chadwick, gave to me. On the flyleaf of that hymnal he wrote:

“Dearest Mother,

     In our home we grew to love music. We praised and worshipped our heavenly Father from our childhood. I owe you and dad a lot for the richness of life that you share with us.

     I hope this hymnal brings many happy moments to your life. There is something about it that really touches me down deep. Maybe it is the plan of salvation on page 167. More likely, it is just the music.

     Mr. Bill Green, who served on the Hymns Recommendation Committee for this book, was my teacher this semester for the class, Introduction to Church Music. He has opened my eyes to music like they have never been before. I almost want to shorten all the preaching and talking to sing the Word of God into the hearts of people.

     Oh to sing the love of Jesus!

     Dear Mother, my prayer for you is that you would always be able to play and sing to touch the hearts of  people, just as you have sung and touched mine.

With deepest love,
Your son,
Kerry"

Kerry has sung Mr. Rawls song, Take My Life many times.  He has said as Mr. Spurgeon said, “Take me and  enable me to glorify You now in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.” Kerry is pastor of First Baptist Church, Sitka, Alaska. I can’t tell you how many people have told me how he has made an impact on their lives. It blesses me every time I read that note and it blesses me every time someone says, “You’re Kerry Chadwick’s mom? Awesome!” 

What Have I Done?

So, we had an argument. I told him how offended I was because he was making light of things that I thought were important. He didn’t get it. Then I was even more offended. How could he NOT get it? Then I was silent. Then he was silent. Then he tried to change the subject. Then I decided I was even more offended. Then we went to bed … not exactly full-on mad … but not reconciled. Then I had a dream.

In my dream I kept running into situations of social injustices that we had become accustomed to, old people who didn’t have anyone to help them out, single moms & dads who just didn’t fit in socially, teenagers boys that had no man who was willing to get involved in their life, social misfits who are marginalized because they don’t “fit”. It wasn’t a scary dream. But there was this person in my dream that kept making all of these situations into a big deal. And I was thinking, this is really not a big deal, I mean it’s not an ideal world what do you expect? And I began to wonder, why am I dreaming this?

Then suddenly, almost, I was wide-awake … I had been holding him to a higher standard than I was holding myself. I realized that I had been doing the same thing to God. I have been kind of flippant and careless in our conversations. Spending our time together asking Him to do things for me, or explain things to me, or just be there for me, but not asking Him what was on His heart. Expecting that He would still talk to me and communicate to me and be happy with me. In my prayers I certainly wasn’t asking Him what it was that He wanted to talk about, or what was on His mind, or asking Him if there was anything that I’d done that might have offended Him. It was all about me.

God, what is it that You want from me? I prayed

Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up and plead your case … let[s] hear what you have to say.

Hear … the Lord’s accusation … listen … for the Lord has a case against His people …”

“…what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer Me. I brought you up … and redeemed you from … slavery … I sent [people] to lead you … remember your journey … that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

… Will the I be pleased with thousands of [sacrifices], shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression (No, but God did give His firstborn for my sins) … “

He has show[n] you … what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:1-8

But how would that work? What would that look like? How would I know that it was something that He wanted done? That would take a lot of faith … faith … “the evidence of things not seen.”

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

The first two-thirds of that chapter talk about the faithful experiencing awesome answers to prayer; amazing miraculous victories. But the last third of the chapter details some faithful people, God honoring people, whose answers to prayer were that God enabled them to remain faithful. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better …” Hebrews 11:39-40

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 11 the story of faithful people who suffered because they believe God was who He said He was and because they wanted to obey Him.

“If you love Me, you will obey My commandments” John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:12, 17.

How do we know if someone truly loves God? They obey Him! Matthew tells us that Jesus said “Love God, Love others” Matthew 22:37-40

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind and true. No one else could take my life and fully change me. …”

Then I remembered my attitude towards him and our argument ( = discussion :-) and remembered that forgiveness is a decision; it’s a choice, and it leads to freedom in Christ.

“But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:15

And the story from Matthew 18: 21-35, basically that God will forgive you THE WAY that you forgive others. And,

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Just as I needed to reconcile, get right with God, so also I needed to make things right with him. Even if it wasn’t my fault I still needed to forgive, to seek reconciliation. The forgiveness I received from God was so great that I longed to be right with him.

“I’m sorry that I got offended so easily. Will you forgive me?”

“Sure. I guess I didn’t realize how big a deal it was to you.”

“That’s ok. Let’s talk some more.”

Awesome Grace

AWESOME GRACE

By Barbara Chadwick

Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado is a great devotional book.

Yesterday I read:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

God justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26

            “God keeps His promises. You are guaranteed that your sins will be filtered through, hidden in, and screened out by the sacrifice of Jesus. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see you; He sees the One who surrounds you. That means that failure is not a concern for you.”  Max Lucado

I am humbled – blown away – and so comforted, by that thought.

Failures of last year. All the times I didn’t measure up. All the times I didn’t do what I should have done. These things weigh me down. I get depressed about myself.

I often sing:
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole.
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe.
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. by James Nicholson.

So when it snowed yesterday ... don’t you love it – the beauty of God’s creation draped in that blanket.

The stillness, the expectancy, the beauty. The scarred earth is covered. Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

My mother-in-law, Clara Chadwick, said that after she gave her heart to the Lord and asked Him to be her Savior, she looked at her hands and they looked so white and clean – new. She felt amazed!

Oh, the wonder of God’s grace!

So, …forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead… let us … Press on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13

Let us not get bogged down, depressed and hindered by our past failures. Let us dwell on  "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, ..." Philippians 4:8,9

So we can know that when God looks at us He doesn't see our failures and imperfections, He sees

 the One who surrounds you! Awesome Grace!!

A NEW YEAR!
A NEW SONG!
by Barbara Chadwick

52 matches. That's how many matches the ESword Bible program gives (in the Holman version) for "Sing a new song"

That's what I'd like to do in this new year of 2012.

The stanzas for my song in 2011 included grief, change, frustration and illness. There were blessings to be sure - but I didn't pay as much attention to the blessings as I did to all the rest.

Some of the old songs bless my soul and fill my eyes with tears.  I will always return to them. But somehow, I sing them - then return to discouragement, depression and disillisionment.

But in my everyday life this new year I'd like to make stanzas of encouragement, love, positive words and hope.

God, I will sing a new song to you. I will play on a ten-stringed harp for you. Psalm 144:9 (HCSB)
(I will probably play my new song on the 88 strings of my grand piano though!)

The Most Wonderful Event In History!
by Barbara Chadwick




Today is Audrey's birthday. What a treasure she's been. What a gift!

One week before she was born I felt - well, fat mostly! - but also I felt an inner joy for the life I was carrying inside of me. I felt an awe that I would soon hold in my arms this treasure growing in me. I was excited and a little impatient. But there was a calm assurance that God was in control.

I wonder what Mary felt the week before Jesus was born?

In the beginning the angel Gabriel had called her, "favored woman" (Luke 1:28)  Her cousin, Elizabeth, had called her, "blessed" (Luke 1:42)

I believe she also felt - well fat mostly! - but above all, awe, wonder and a calm assurance that God had orchestrated this most wonderful event in all of history!