Moses met with God there.

The Samaritans and Jews argued over which one people should worship on.

People have called them holy.

Jesus went up them to pray.

We marvel at photos of them, take vacations to climb them, and even use them in reference to the best points of our lives.

Called “mountaintop experiences,” we see ascending to the highest heights we can reach as arriving at the pinnacles of life. It’s there we feel close to the Lord and immensely blessed. Mountaintop experiences tend to fan the flame in our hearts and energize us. They feel like an achievement and a reward all in one.

But what’s so special about a mountaintop? 

I think it’s the view.

What's so special about a mountaintop? I think it's the view...
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When perched on a mountaintop, we look out over the valleys. From up high, they’re beautiful. All the gullies, forests, desserts, roads, and rivers we struggled to ford and forge look small and surmountable. They’re wonderfully placed, textures in a scene hand-drawn by God.

From up high, we feel a bit like we get to glimpse of God’s perspective.

“From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” –Psalm 33:13-15

Looking down from on high, we get to watch as the Lord does. We can peer into others’ lives, into grander plans, to see how all the lows of life are glorious to behold when they are etched out on the landscape of the Lord.

The perspective gives us pause to consider what all the valleys are for and how beautiful the walk of faith is. We get a peek into how life works, and how marvelous His design is. The distance reminds us of the One who is forming the terrain of this world and human hearts still.

Our view from a mountaintop reveals that God is, indeed, making all things new.

Our view from a mountaintop reveals that God is, indeed, making all things new.
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As we trudge through the lowlands, our feet fixed on a path ever moving upward. Let’s take heart in that fact.

The God who made the mountain and its panoramic view is making us in the valleys too. May that be a comfort and joy to you as the new year begins!

The God who made the mountain and its panoramic view is making us in the valleys too.
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{A version of this post was previously published here}

LINKUP PARTY opens on Wednesdays at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINK UP is open! For this year's last #Linkup, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath shares a beautiful post about life's valleys from God's perspective. Join us and share your blog!
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The post View from a Mountaintop {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

They didn’t see his pain.

They didn’t notice his need.

They didn’t care that he was in the house of the Lord.

What they cared about was entrapping their perceived enemy, the one who threatened long-held traditions and the law that elevated them to a pious, powerful place. They wanted to defend what they thought they understood. Their goal was to prove their point.

So what they saw was an opportunity.

“He went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’” –Matthew 12:9-10

Jesus never mistook a person for an opportunity.

The perfect example of love, Jesus never used a person as a way of self-seeking.
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In His response, He addressed the man, his pain, and his need. He also highlighted the God whose house the man was in. He had mercy on him. Jesus healed the man and redirected the conversation.

Much as they tried to make it about rightness, Jesus redirected them to God’s righteousness.

While they used men to serve their purposes, Jesus served men to fulfill God’s purposes.

Sadly, we tend to be more like the Pharisees.

Too often, we regard people as obstacles like when we:

• Are curt with people for efficiency’s sake
• Place convenience over kindness
• See other people’s challenges as hindrances or provocation to compare ourselves

Other times, we use people as a means to our ends, like when we:

• Expect people to be the means to our happiness
• Enable others so we can avoid confrontation
• Complain to loved ones so we feel better, regardless of how it affects them

Will you join me in asking the Lord’s forgiveness for seeing people as opportunities to be served instead of as opportunities to serve?

I’d like to be more Christ-like in my view of others, how about you?

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP PARTY is open! Today, @BethanyMcIlrath invites us ponder: Do we see people as opportunities to be served... or as opportunities to serve? JOIN US! Also for a chance to be featured as next week's Guest Blogger.
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Would you like to be considered for a guest post on next week’s Linkup, June 13th?

All you have to do is: 1) link your recent blog post, 2) tweet that you are joining us and 3) add our button to your blog (code is on the sidebar.)

We will  contact the winner this Friday!

 

The post Seeing People as People {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.