The Chief Mountain

"In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it." Isaiah 2:2

Tanya and I had the privilege of climbing to the summit of Mt. Fuji (12,389 feet) when we went to Okitsu, Japan on a Let's Start Talking project in 2001. It was amazing! I'd never seen the world from that height before or since. As we rested after our incredibly intense, four-hour climb, we enjoyed the spectacular, awe-inspiring view of Japan. There were no other mountains even close to the height of Japan's tallest mountain! Nothing blocked our marvelous view.

As I read Isaiah 2:2 at the beginning of this Christmas break, I wonder what other "mountains" in my life may be blocking my view of God's world as it is meant to be viewed. This break is a good time for me to consider some of my high, established mountains. Perhaps the mountain of fear towers over all else for me. Maybe it's school or family or future. I bet the mountain called "being in a relationship" tempts some of us with the promise of an amazing view.

I wonder if this Christmas break will be for you the picture of the "days to come" that Isaiah paints. Will Christmas break be the time when the mountain of the Lord's house is established as the highest of the mountains in your life? Will you raise during this Christmas break this mountain above the hills, rightly identified as hills instead of competing mountains?

Dwell in the House of the Lord

Psalm 27:4 - "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

When I read this entire Psalm, I get the sense that the psalmist had an intensely close relationship with God. No matter what was happening he never waivered from his trust in the Lord. It was in the Lord that he found his well-being, not in the circumstances of life. In due time, the Lord would come through.

Dwelling with the Lord gives me an image of contentment. If I dwell at someone's house, I have bags packed and am staying a while. It is not like one of those, "Hey, I'm just stopping by to say hello." It is one of those visits that says, "I want to know what it is like living here." We are dwelling with the Lord in contentment.

Let's make an effort today, this week, this month, this year, and this decade to dwell with the Lord.