climbers

“the slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve all the problems of the human race.”  calvin coolidge

there are only 3 types of people in this world:  quitters, campers & climbers.  the truth is that i’ve been all 3 at different times in my life, but i know that God wants me to climb - to embrace the upward call that He has put on my life.  the psalmist wrote, “the way of life winds upward for the wise…”.  paul wrote, “i press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

quitters abandon the climb - they give up!

campers delay the climb - they give in!

climbers live for the climb - they go up!

God has called you to a life of climbing, not camping or quitting.  i’m sure right now in your life there are circumstances that make you want to give up - but resolve not to - don’t let anything stop you from pressing on and taking another step up the mountain.  after all, isn’t that where God is - up.  He is the high and lofty one, He resides on His holy mountain.  He pulled us out of the pit and set our feet on the rock.  He has called you (and given you the strength) to ascend to the high places.

maybe you have reached a certain altitude with God and feel like you have given enough.  maybe you feel like you have served enough and helped enough and now it is time to kick back a bit.  i’m so thankful Jesus didn’t have this attitude.  this lukewarm condition that plagues so many in the church today.  i fully realize that people camp due to fatigue, frustration, or just a lack of focus (or vision).  campers forget why they are on the mountain in the first place - they are there to climb it - to summit.   purpose not to camp in your spiritual life - break camp, get rid of anything that slows you down and get moving again.

“the Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon the high places.”   habakkuk 3:19

“…stick with what you believe and don’t quit… it won’t be easy… anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”  paul, acts 14:21-22 (msg)

may God strengthen you and inspire you to continue to move upward. refuse to quit or camp or let anything distract you from your climb today.

hovering

in the very opening thoughts (literally the first few sentences) of the bible, we see God’s Spirit hovering over the earth - ready to unleash an inconceivable amount of power in the creation of the galaxies.  by nature, this is what the Holy Spirit does… He hovers… He is fluttering between heaven and earth… He is lingering overhead… He is suspended over every person and every situation on every continent… He is ready to do something - eager to create something new and amazing!  He is so close (if you want to) you can feel Him.  you are so close to a breakthrough - don’t give up!  He will empower you to breakthrough the frustration, breakthrough the disappointments, breakthrough the fear, breakthrough the hurt, breakthrough the pain, breakthrough to an entirely new dimension in life.

my thoughts recently are along these lines… i sense God is ready to do something big, but have no clue what it is (yet).  i’m convinced that there is so much more for my life, for the turner fam, and for the summit.    i know that the future is going to be so much greater than i can imagine.  God is hovering… He is directly overhead… He is closer than you think… He is ready to unleash something fresh over you… you are under the mighty shadow of His wings!

a few scriptures i’ve been thinking about:

• “God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”  ephesians 3:20a

• “God will give you your heart’s desire and help you fulfill all your plans.”                                                                                                           psalm 20:4

• “I know what I’m doing (says the Lord).  I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”                                                                                                   jeremiah 29:11