The Mountain Mover
It was during the first whispers of Fall’s arrival that “bravery” made an appearance. The thickness of Georgia’s humidity had lifted and the cool evening air invited us for a walk. Dinner was done. The sun was setting. Grandchildren had excess energy; a walk was in order.
Our little troop of walkers was 7. Son-in-law, Ray, daughter-in-law, Shelby (whom you know as a RFM writer), four grandchildren, along with myself — this was our happy parade. All was wonderfully beautiful…..until.
Across the way came a deep, roaring, bark followed moments later by a massive Saint Bernard who looked n-o-t-h-i-n-g like the storybook images of the rescuer with a barrel on his collar. Saint Bernards are known, in high mountain regions, for their strength and fortitude to find stranded climbers, carry a small barrel of needed supplies, and then guide the wayward back home. That was not the mission of the barking, fur-covered-mountain halting us with a fervor implying the extreme opposite of “rescue”.
With four little people to protect, my son-in-law, Ray, and I stood in front of the children while Shelby scooped up the smallest in her arms and froze. For long seconds, Ray and I stood firm against the quick movements and intense aggression of this dog who was proving himself quite capable of causing terrible harm. He barked, and we “barked back”. Maybe 30 seconds later the dog’s owner, horrified at the scene, came running to retrieve her dog —— but even this proved challenging. Eventually she was successful. An assessment of the children brought relief that no true harm had come.
We let the children share their feelings and amazingly watched as fear was slowly defeated, evolving into exuberant story-telling, deflating fear and transforming into feelings of bravery. They felt b-r-a-v-e.
They had seen our bravery.
They felt connected to bravery beside us.
Courage had won.
Afterwards, as hours and days unfolded, gratitude flowed. So grateful for God’s protection that no one had been harmed. Grateful the children had seen Ray, Shelby and I handling an intense, scary situation and remaining steadfast and brave. They got to see us face danger. They got to see what they can become too. Experiencing scary and passing through to the other side where bravery gives way to victory can only happen in one way……by experiencing it and growing in it. We can read about it a thousand times or hear others’ stories, but until we ourselves feel the flow of the hard moments and determine to rise above the fear and stand firm with courage —— until that happens, we won’t truly know if we are capable of it. We can know what we’re made of ,when we grow it and use it. Never forgetting that in Christ, our garden grows for His purposes, not our own.
Fleshly bravery grows pride —— oh but, Godly bravery grows courage.
No one wants bad experiences. Of course not. However, when we can recognize the value of passing through difficulties and choosing courage rather than fear —— we become more and more of what God intended us to be. More and more of what He dreamed of when he formed us in His hands. Moreand more of what is needed in this world filled with trouble. For He does not knit a spirit of timidity into us!
David faced the bear and the lion as he protected the sheep. He defeated fear with bravery and found courage. God can do so much with the one who chooses courage over fear.
Days later, early in the morning, Steve read a devotion to me. I sat in my chair beside him as he read. Internally I went to my knees over the power of the goodness of God’s call to be courageous. For God does not call us to bravery and courage so we can become superheroes or arrogant achievers in battle. No. God calls us to bravery and courage so we can stand in hard places, care for those who have lost their way, keep holding up the Light of Christ when life feels dark, and with eyes set like flint on the Father above —— resist evil.
When a bully is bravely resisted …….he loses his power.
When the roaring dog was aggressing towards us…..he did not know what to do with our brave stance against him. He didn’t attack. He was confused at our courage.
It is what we children of God are created for; to bravely hold stones in front of any giant. For when we have endured and been equipped, we find ourselves wrapped in courage that speaks of our Father —— and that courage defeats fear as bravery takes the field.
The devotion Steve read to me is written by Ivan Tate and found in his book entitled: “Letters from God: If God wrote you a letter, what would He say?”
The Lion’s Heart (September 9th)
“And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.” Job 8:7 | AMP
(Ivan Tate writes as if God were speaking to us based on scriptural truths.)
Everyone has always underestimated you. They always expected you to fail, but I gave you a lion’s heart even when you were young.
You were My best kept secret, and now it is time for you to come out of hiding into the light.
Let them see Me shine through you and show everybody, with your gifts and talents, who you are.
Bless the poor.
Rescue the rich from their false loves and idols.
Heal the sick from their inherited infirmities.
Feed the hungry.
Storm the gates of hell for the defenseless!
Shout the names of the forgotten!
Live your life with a lion’s heart.
Remember your regiment.
Stand at the gate of your old masters and shout down the fortresses.
Watch their walls crumble and turn into dust and powder. Not one stone will be left of their fortress of lies.
“Bless the poor. Rescue the rich…”
Don’t we so often get that backwards. We think we should rescue the poor, and bless the rich. Oh how we need our Father’s guidance. It is right and good to bring blessing to the poor, but in the flow of blessing we need to equip them and help them stand on their own two feet.
It is right and good to work to rescue the rich from idolizing their possessions. But in truth, only God can do this. We can live in “green pastures beside still waters” and not become enamored by immense wealth. All of it is God’s —— may we use it all for His purposes.
“Heal” (as God heals).
“Feed” (as God provides).
“Storm the gates for the weak and defenseless!!” It takes intense courage to storm the gates —— but how very able we are if we have let the Father grow us.
“Shout the names of the forgotten” —— who would that be for you? For me, it is the saints who have gone before us and lived so bravely, shown such courage, stood on Holy ground, and stormed the gates against the schemes of evil. Corrie Ten Boom. Billy Graham. Watchman Nee. Esther and Ruth. Amy Carmichael. George Muller. Oswald Chambers…….Jesus! Shout the names of those who have braved the storm and held their ground for God’s purposes.
“Live with a lion’s heart and remember your regiment” —— the family of God around you is your regiment. The old saying, “Blood is thicker than water” has, so often, been wrongly applied. Family is important, HOWEVER, if familial blood pulls us from the ways of God, we have a chance to still have family and regiment in the Body of Christ. We can turn our eyes to Jesus who shed His blood for us. His blood that paid for our sins, that is the thickest blood of all; He covers us. Live with the heart of a lion as you stand shoulder to shoulder with God’s family resisting the schemes of the enemy.
And lastly —— “shout down the gates” of old worthless masters that bullied you when you were weaker. No wall of their fortresses can be allowed to remain. You are not confined in them. You are free.
No barking, raging, scary roar shall be allowed to keep you from the plans of your Father, in Jesus’ Name!
Bravery!
Courage!
Shout down the gates!
Take the field….
The Mountain Mover is already there.
