Sane, Simple, Sacred: Give Me This Mountain!

Give Me This Mountain!

I'm climbing a mini-mountain the next 14 days (if you're interested, see my health blog). The phrase, "Give me this mountain" kept cropping up in my mind from past Bible reading. They are the words of Caleb, an Old Testament hero of faith. (Maybe a better translation would be "hill country" - but mountain is how I first heard it.)

So I've put a picture of a mountain as my desktop background to remind me of my commitment to follow the example of this man who at age 85 came to Joshua asking for the personal allotment of land promised by Moses. He had a right to sit down and take it easy - take off his army boots and put on his slippers. He'd survived 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and then the invasion of Canaan. Of the thousands who left Egypt, he and Joshua were the only ones the Lord allowed to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. But sitting down and taking it easy wasn't Caleb's mindset! He was ready for a new challenge!

What kind of characteristics did he possess? What qualities can I emulate from this faith-climber? He was (1) Smart. (2) He did his research. (3) He refused to be discouraged. (4) He exhibited faith and hope. (5) He demonstrated energy and self-discipline. (6) He maintained good relationships with others. (7) He was wholehearted in his obedience to God.

That's MY kind of guy! Give ME this mountain!

What are YOUR mini-mountains?

7 comments:

SueMarch 21, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Hi Rebecca, Beautiful post, My mother who is 82, always tells of Caleb's request, especially if I am whining about getting old his story was such an inspiration to her. Thank you for sharing this great post..And my best as you climb your mountain.
Hugs,
Sue
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DeniseMarch 21, 2010 at 5:20 PM
Climb on sweet sis, love you.
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DeeMarch 21, 2010 at 6:57 PM
Sounds like you have all the right equipment for the climb. :) I need to start a climb myself with exercise.
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Patrinas PencilMarch 21, 2010 at 7:44 PM
That's may kind of guy too! Good post. Thank you for sharing and thank you for visiting the Bridge and picking up the pencil to let me know that you were here.

Nice place you have here. I see that you also love the old hymns that I grew up with. Ther's nothing like them in my opinion.

I joined your place today - so I'll browsing you many blogs from time to time - how do you keep up with all those blogs?? I can't even manage one sometimes :)

Blessings
Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall
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EileenMarch 22, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Oh, Rebecca, your determination and discipline amaze me.
Today I have fallen on every promise I've made to myself (health-wise, family-wise, relationship-wise). I don't even want to think about it anymore. It's one of those days that I just wish was over so I can quick start anew.
Say a prayer for me and I'll say one for you.
Love to you,
Eileen
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elaine @ peace for the journeyMarch 22, 2010 at 8:21 PM
Perfect, perfect fit with my current season! I'm going to head over to Caleb's story this evening for a read. Now headed to your fit blog to see what that's all about.

peace~elaine
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RebeccaMarch 22, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Eileen AND all of you who are "climbing" with me...You are NOT alone. I AM praying for you as I write. God is a God of second chances, full of mercy and grace.
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"We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Christ. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ!" (Donald S. Whitney)

Dedicated to my sister-in-law, Beth--a TRUE home manager....

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." --Lydia Sherman

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day of his life,
in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contentment makes poor men rich.

-Benjamin Franklin

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

C.S. Lewis: "To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in trusting a person if you wouldn't take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him."

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony." William Henry Channing

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted. It has also taught me alot about living in the immediate moment. I am somehow managing to live one day, one hour at a time." Madeleine L'Engle

FIVE CERTAINTIES
WITH WHICH TO
START YOUR DAY

God holds you. Each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
God sustains you. THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. Psalm 23:1 AMP
God covers you. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust. Psalm 91:4 AMP
God pours His love upon you. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me. Psalm 42:8 NLT
God will not fail you. The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Lamentations 3:22 NLT

THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER Lord, help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family. Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well. Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life. And help me, dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.
Love, The Dust Bunny Hostage

Sane, Simple, Sacred

Mercy

Give Me This Mountain!

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