On A High Hill

09/26/2026

Giving God Permission to Let the Worst Happen

There was a meme on Instagram this week that starts, “You are not afraid to give it to God. You are afraid giving it to Him gives Him permission to let the worst happen.” This thought struck a nerve. My daddy died this week. His life was an example of someone who gave his life to God and things happened that we might consider the worst. Witnessing my dad’s relationship with God and the way he accepted suffering has often caused me spiritual growing pains as I consider my own Christian walk.

As we look at my dad’s lifespan we might say, “What does any of this have to do with your dad? He died in old age!” Oh, so true, thank you Lord! What does not show in the statistics are all the health problems he experienced beginning in young adulthood. As I have observed others, and even myself, I can affirm that even one of his five health issues is often enough to make a weaker Christian turn from God in anger. Not my dad! He kept giving everything to God and giving Him permission to let the worst happen. God did not allow Satan to test my dad like He did Job, but God did allow my dad’s ailments to pile one on top of another over the years.

I saw my dad cope with a lot of pain, but I never heard him complain about God’s lack of care. He never doubted God’s love. He did not shake his fists at his Creator. He just kept serving the Lord, often in ways that I did not even realize. I have heard more stories this week about ways my dad touched people’s lives with his encouragement, his smile, and his appeal to follow Jesus than I have in all my years as his daughter.

Christians suffer. The Apostle Paul is proof of that. He gave up both his health and his wealth to follow Jesus. Like Paul, my dad did not consider anything he gave up worth being considered compared to what Jesus had given for him.

Jesus suffered on our behalf, but before He did He asked the Father if He would remove the crucifixion ahead (See Luke 22:24). That suggests that it is not wrong to ask the Father to take away our suffering, but when God clearly says no, we must persevere. Jesus gave everything to God the Father and the worst happened. But the worst thing for Jesus was the best thing for us. His suffering was a sacrifice. Through His stripes we are healed. (See Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

The way my dad gave everything to God was an example to those of us who witnessed how he managed his afflictions. Dad gave God permission to make of his life what He would. I cannot think of a better inheritance for a parent to leave his child. I look forward to seeing my dad again in eternity where he will no longer be in bo***ge to suffering and neither will I. Until then, I hope I will follow my dad's example and give everything to God.

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

08/30/2026

The Master’s Voice

Francis Barraud’s painting, “His Master’s Voice” depicting a dog named Nipper hearing the voice of his master through Edison’s phonograph, is a famous piece. Many people are familiar with it through its adaptation for the RCA Victor trademark.

I was reminded of it this week when reading Psalm 29. The psalm describes many ways that we hear the voice of the LORD in everyday events, but are we listening to our Master? Sometimes we do, but we seem just as perplexed as Nipper does in the painting.

The psalm begins by telling us that we are to give unto the LORD, our Master, glory and strength because it is His right to have it. The giving of glory is actually worship and it is beautiful. (See verses 1 and 2.)

Where do we hear our Master’s voice?

A. Upon the waters (verse 3). Our area recently experienced unusual flooding after terrible thunderstorms. Locations that do not normally flood were caught by surprise due to the amount of water that came down in such a short time. We can become terrified as we realize how little control we have over any of the elements, including water.

God’s power upon the waters has been on display since the Creation Week (Genesis 1:2,6-10). The Holy Spirit moved upon the waters and then separated them, putting them where He wanted them to be. Since the Hydrologic Cycle is a closed system, the same water continuously moves from place to place.

Evangelistically, we are to be God’s voice as we spread and water the seeds of the gospel. Some plant, others water. It’s true that water can destroy, but it is also true that it is necessary for growth. God has the power to destroy with water such as He did in the days of Noah or cause growth in a previously unregenerate heart with the water of the Word. It is God’s system and He moves us where He wants us to be.

B. In His power and majesty (verse 4). The Gospels provide many examples of God’s power over sickness and death as Jesus, God in human form, walked throughout Judea and surrounding areas healing the sick and raising the dead. One day each of us will hear the majestic voice of God calling us to stand before Him (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15). The redeemed and the rebellious alike will fall to their knees as they behold His majesty.

Jesus said He came to call the lost. Those who hear His voice and follow Him will be saved. He alone possesses the majesty that causes us to worship Him (Mark 2:17). Jesus is the voice of power and majesty found in verse 4 of this psalm.

C. Within other destructive forces of nature (verses 5 and 6). In this psalm, David references the Cedars of Lebanon as being merely toothpicks against the power of the LORD.

The Cedars of Lebanon were known for their durability. These evergreens grew large and strong which made them highly prized. David used them to build his house. His son, Solomon, obtained many from Hiram to build the Temple.

These trees were used to build God a house, but this prescient psalm makes it clear that the magnificent Temple that would be built from them was no match for the God who promised to dwell within it if the people humbly worshipped Him. God would one day cause it to be crushed to pieces because “His People” worshipped everything about it except the God for whom it was built.

D. A dividing fire (verse 7). We have all seen pictures of the devastation that uncontrolled wildfires can cause. Whole areas containing large populations disappear as flames divide and spread throughout communities.

Smokey Bear posters warn that only we can prevent forest fires. We should be careful, but the statement is not true. Sometimes flames result as an act of God as lightning strikes dead wood in a dry forest.

I do not think that actual fire sat upon the heads of the believers who spoke in tongues (foreign languages that the believer had not previously studied) on Pentecost but believe that it was an appropriate symbol of Psalm 29:7. The flame was kindled when Jesus was present with His disciples, but after His Ascension the fire divided and spread quickly among the nations. We see that in Acts and in the epistles.

The Great Commission has not been rescinded. We are still to take the fire of the gospel among the unreached. This is how everyone hears God’s voice in the dividing fire!

E. In the earthquake (verse 8 ). I have never been in a serious earthquake although I have felt small tremors in my hometown. On a visit to the Griffith Observatory several years ago I witnessed the seismograph’s constant movement as it picked up small earthquakes in the region. It was sobering to observe.

The Bible speaks of several instances of earthquakes when God spoke in them, including when God was giving The Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. God’s speech against Korah also caused an earthquake that opened the earth and swallowed him and those who rebelled with him. There were other earthquakes, but two notable ones occurred at the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus, the Word.

Scripture says that one day the unconverted will wish for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from God (Revelation 6:16). There is no escaping their Creator because He speaks even in the earthquake.

F. In events pertaining to current life and the future life to come (verse 9). God’s voice can be seen in the lives of all His creatures. Even those around His throne witness the wonder of His creation and worship Him as a result. He is the King of all creation now and forever.

One day, God will give His people peace. No longer will the cacophony of the world distort the Master’s voice! No longer will we fear the destructive forces of nature when our King reigns in the peace that comes through His power and majesty!

Listen carefully and you will hear your Master’s voice.

08/09/2026

Battling Complacency

Everyone needs a reminder about becoming too complacent once in a while, even people who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time. Or perhaps it is especially people who have been followers of Jesus Christ many years that need reminders often. Jude wrote a short letter packed full of warnings to believers, asking them to be concerned instead of complacent.

His letter is as timely today as it was when he wrote it. If first century Christianity was as mercurial as recent times, Jude watched the pendulum in churches swing between legalism to licentiousness a few times. Licentiousness did not look much different in the decades following Jesus’ Ascension than it does now. It’s an old trick that Satan still uses because it is effective. Neither legalism nor licentiousness is biblical Christianity, but the licentious position is more popular because of its self-centered, anything goes morality (or lack thereof). In other words, it seems more fun, however temporary that might be, and it often comes at a higher cost.

Jude is not written as a warning against joy-killing legalists. That battle is taken up by others elsewhere. This letter is written as a warning about reveling licentious persons. In his plan to overcome licentiousness, he advocates that we “earnestly contend.” These are fighting words! Consider this his warning to the church that a Trojan Horse had entered their midst. The enemy was among them, and they did not realize it! It is among us also, so we are to battle it, not sit ringside and watch as it happens. We each enter the battle by fighting our own sinful lust. These lusts can obviously be sexual in nature, but they can also be a desire for power or prestige.

Jude provides scriptural examples to make his point:

1. The Exodus – God saved His chosen people from slavery in Egypt. He showed them numerous mighty works to prove His power and His glory so they would love and follow Him. Their reaction was to worship a golden calf and participate in a drunken o**y. The golden idol was destroyed but their hearts remained perverted. Therefore, that rebellious generation was punished and did not enter the Promised Land.

2. The angels – Satan, a created being, led a rebellion against God. He convinced one-third of the angelic beings to participate in this rebellion. Imagine seeing the glory of God and all that Heaven has to offer and instead of being awestruck at the privilege of being chosen by His Majesty, you decide to overthrow your Creator, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Holy God. Dr. Henry Morris believes that the beautiful Lucifer took a look at Adam, the man formed from earth’s clay, and said, “I will not minister to that creature and his descendants!” We do not know everything that transpired, but Jude indicates that some of the rebellious angels are already imprisoned while awaiting judgment.

3. S***m and Gomorrah – two communities that became so sexualized and perverted that the relationship between a man and a woman became boring! God rained fire down upon these cities on the plain. Some scholars suggest that these cities were located where the Dead Sea is now.

4. The Archangel Michael arguing with Satan about the body of Moses. Michael called upon God to rebuke the devil. Deuteronomy 34:6 tells us that no one knew exactly where God buried Moses in Moab. Moses was forbidden entrance into the Promised Land because of his disobedience to God’s command to speak to the rock for water to flow. (Moses struck it twice.) The rebellious people needed a godly example to follow, not one who symbolically desecrating the Living Water.

5. Cain, Balaam, Core (Korah) – three men who sought glory for themselves by refusing to worship God by doing things God’s way. Instead of sacrificing in the manner that God required, Cain decided what should be a sufficient offering. The only blood sacrifice he was willing to make was spilling righteous Abel’s blood.

Balaam couldn’t bargain with God, so he devised a plan to seduce the idolatrous, lascivious Israelite men with sexual immorality with the Moabite women.

Korah was a man who was jealous of Moses’ authority over the people. He would eventually have held a position within the ministering tribe of Levi if he had not rebelled. Instead, he and all who were associated with him were swallowed alive when the earth opened beneath them.

Jude is warning that they are among us. “They” are the rebellious. The licentious. The God-mockers. By “among us” I mean in our churches. They look like us. They seem to act like us. But they are deceivers. We are to be on guard just like the early church that received Jude’s letter.

There is hope. We are to remember the words of the apostles just as that early church was told to do. Jude and other apostles warn us that mockers and seducers will come among us, but we can be ready for them. We must keep ourselves pure so we can pull others out of condemnation. As Jude says, our Savior is merciful.

This is not a time to be complacent. This is a time to be concerned as we see so many who name the faith falling. We hear reports of this almost every day.

Protect your heart! Warn others. Do not fall for the temptations like the examples found in this small book.

06/29/2026

Boldness When Presenting the Gospel

Soul-winning can be difficult, but it is not always because the people to whom we are witnessing are belligerent, although sometimes that may be the case. Sometimes, though, we are the problem.

Our church has several additional opportunities in the summer to present the gospel that we do not have other times of the year. These include having a booth at a local festival where we set up our bounce house, provide treats, give away copies of scripture, and speak with parents about Jesus while their children jump with abandon! We also have annual events like Vacation Bible School and a week of summer camp.

We know the assignment. Sometimes we even fulfill the assignment, but more than once I have missed an opportunity to present the gospel and chastised myself later for my lack of boldness. I have been a Christian since I was fourteen, a pastor’s wife since I was eighteen, have worked for a Christian ministry for over eleven years, and have taken advantage of many opportunities to give the gospel through the years but sometimes I fail anyway.

What determines whether I follow through or fail? I do not know the answer except to say I know I am not alone. That is not an excuse, nor am I giving myself or you permission to not give the gospel when an opportunity arises. The verses that I am about to share recently encouraged me as I read them
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, ‘and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel,’ for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein ‘I may speak BOLDLY, as I ought to speak.’” Ephesians 6:18-20 (emphasis mine)

Do you know who requested prayer for boldness in witnessing? THE APOSTLE PAUL! The man who was instrumental in spreading the gospel to the Gentiles in the first century!

Wow! If the Apostle Paul requested prayer for boldness, how much more must I need prayer to be bold to speak when I ought to speak? I am going to go out on a limb and say that you need prayer, too. Let us pray for each other to have boldness to speak as we ought to speak when the Lord gives us every opportunity. Summer provides many opportunities to introduce others to the Savior.

06/13/2026

It Only Takes One Man

Looking at the state of our world today, I question, “What can one man do?” According to scripture, one man can change everything! It took only one man to plunge us into chaos, but it also took only one Man to provide the promise of a better world to come. I love the parallelism of Romans chapter 5.

By one man/Man:

*Sin entered the world (v.12-14)
*Grace was offered as a gift to the world (v.15)

*Death reigns (v. 14, 17)
*Righteousness shall reign (v. 17)

*Judgment brought condemnation (v. 18)
*Justification offers eternal life (v.18)

*One man’s disobedience made us all sinners (v. 19)
*One Man’s obedience made many righteous (v. 19)

Take hope today, my friends! And take the gospel to a condemned and dying world. One man, Adam, plunged the world into brokenness, but Jesus Christ, the God-Man has provided the remedy.

06/07/2026

Saying The Blessing

“And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” (Luke 24:28-31)

Luke’s gospel tells of an amazing conversation that a disciple named Cleopas and an unnamed one had with a stranger as they walked the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The “stranger” amazed them when he seemed not to know of the events of recent days. To their credit, the men then provided the gospel details concerning the works of Jesus, their hopes that he would restore Israel, the deeds of their country’s religious and civil rulers that led to his crucifixion, and the astonishing resurrection news that certain women and men provided that very morning. The “stranger” was the risen Jesus, but they did not recognize him.

Despite the “stranger” seeming to be unaware of recent events, he launched into a sermon that covered the syllabus of a thorough Old Testament Survey class as given by a knowledgeable professor. They still did not recognize him.

Cleopas and the other man were hospitable, so they offered the “stranger” a meal and a place to stay for the night. It seemed safe to do so. His sermon proved that he was sympathetic. And yet they still did not recognize him.

What was it that finally opened their eyes? The “stranger” took it upon himself to offer the blessing. That did it. They recognized HIM! When they did, He suddenly vanished!

There are many lessons within this passage, but one is how important it is to say the blessing before a meal. There are at least two types of people who will benefit from hearing it.

The first type is the person who has heard the blessing before. Cleopas and his companion had probably shared at least one past meal with Jesus and heard Him offer the prayer of thanksgiving to the Father for what they were about to eat. When they heard Him say it this time that memory coupled with His recent sermon opened not only their eyes but their hearts also. We know this because they returned immediately to Jerusalem to confirm the testimony of the women and other disciples. Jesus, no longer a stranger, would meet them there, appearing just as suddenly as He had recently disappeared.

Perhaps you are parents whose children have heard the gospel but still do not have their eyes opened to who Jesus is. A heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for the food can instruct a child about the God who provides for the family’s meal whether that be through a parental paycheck or the benevolence of others. Or perhaps offering a prayer while eating in a restaurant might remind someone of hearing “grace” in the past and open their eyes to the Savior that a loved one once proclaimed to them.

The second type is the person who has never heard a prayer of blessing. As our world becomes increasingly more secular, seeing someone “offer a blessing” in a public place like a restaurant is unusual. Pausing to say it prior to eating the meal is the perfect opportunity to be a quiet witness to those around us. Have you ever looked up after the “amen” to see strangers staring at you? That is a good thing. Some of them may never have heard the gospel, but their curiosity might cause them to seek more information.

Offering a blessing over a meal may not directly present the gospel to the people who overheard it, but it certainly might remind them of the last time they heard a blessing, or it might open the door to further discussion. Either way, it is a valid means of beginning a gospel conversation. Perhaps it will allow us to share information from our own Old Testament Survey class!

05/24/2026

Juxtapositions

"Juxtaposition is the act or state of placing two or more things side by side, often to compare, contrast, or create a striking effect. Merriam Webster"

As a Bible teacher and student, I "compare, contrast" or notice "a striking effect" when studying scripture, I find the juxtaposition of words to be of particular importance. For example, 1 John contains several examples of comparing and contrasting words or phrases that the Beloved Apostle used to striking effect.

The Bible contains several other examples of juxtaposition. For instance, Jesus is called both the Lamb and the Lion. A lamb is an animal denoted as prey and a lion as predator by David when describing his exploits as a shepherd boy to King Saul prior to facing Goliath. {See 1 Samuel 17:34-36.)

Satan is also described as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. At Calvary, it looked as though he was ultimately successful when the Lamb of God was sacrificed for our sins. But the sacrificial Lamb arose and rightly took His place as the Lion of Judah who now sits on the right hand of the Father! (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3)

There is the juxtaposition of life and death. I wrote a few weeks ago about the mystery of a dead kernel placed in the ground that grows into a live plant that produces in abundance. From death comes life. Again, this is a mystery and yet such a blessed hope as we face eternity.

I also mentioned in that previous post that I have an ill parent. As I help care for him, I am constantly noticing situations that remind me of memories from long ago. My memories of the past are often juxtaposed with events in the present. For instance:

* When I was 6 years old, my dad took the training wheels off my bike and held the back while running along behind me. The hold he had kept the bike and me from falling. This week, I put his robe on him and threaded the belt through the loops backward so that I could have a firm grip on him as I helped his frail body maneuver down the hall. My hold kept him from falling.

*When I was a few years older and a more proficient biker, my parents bought bikes for themselves. A segment of the circle freeway around our city was being built nearby so every Saturday afternoon after the chores were completed, we rode for several miles downhill and then back up. We collected fossils and discovered natural water springs from which we drank and washed. Now I drive that segment of freeway several times a week going to my parents' house. I think of those days and their discoveries often as I cross distances in minutes by car that consumed a few hours each Saturday.

*There were times as a child when I disagreed with my mom about something that needed to be done. When she was no closer to gaining my cooperation after our back-and-forth banter, she unleashed her secret weapon, my dad. Calling in the big guns always resulted in my change of behavior however begrudgingly. Now roles have reversed. When my dad disagrees with my mom about something that he must do, she still unleashes a secret weapon but now it is me. I'm the big guns and amazingly her tactical maneuver still works. I hear dad grumble under his breath as he does whatever it is that must be done for his own health and safety and I remember my own past grumblings.

This role reversal is poignant. As a child, I wanted the ability to boss my parents and now that I can I find that it doesn't bring me the joy that I imagined it would.

I have noticed other juxtapositions recently. For instance, Dickens opened his book, "A Tale of Two Cities" with this one that reminded me of a recent day of reminiscing with my parents that was only marred because of the circumstances surrounding it:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

Note that "we," meaning my parents and I, are all going direct to Heaven, but otherwise it was the best of times during the worst of times.

As much as I love the opening of Dicken's book, I find the scriptures to be more uplifting. I am reminded of Solomon's juxtaposed words in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV):

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace

I never want to forget the juxtaposed words of comfort penned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 KJV:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And let us not forget the words of our Saviour himself when addressing his disciples prior to his death:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 KJV)

Be of good cheer, my friends.

Send a message to learn more

05/18/2026

Division

I've never been fond of division. It is unpleasant, to say the least. Contention is painful if you are one of the participants and heartbreaking to witness if you are not. People who once worked well together no longer do, and the belief is that there must be someone who is right and someone who is wrong. Either way, division seems to cause harm to the cause of Christ. But sometimes God uses it. Looking back through episodes of division I have witnessed, I see how despite the division, God used it in some way to advance his Kingdom. As the scripture says, God can bring praise and glory to Himself from wrath. (See Psalm 76:10.)

Several references to contention are found in the Acts of the Apostles but usually they are between the Apostles and the Jewish religious leaders or the Apostles and civil or religious leaders in Gentile cities. One notable exception occurs between Barnabas and Paul.

Barnabas was a Levite believer who lived on Cypress. His nickname was "The Son of Consolation" because of all the comfort he provided to the persecuted Jerusalem Church. Ananias and Sapphira died pretending to do one of the works that Barnabas did. Barnabas also vouched for Saul/Paul when the Christians did not trust that their former tormentor had become a convert. And Barnabas personally traveled to Tarsus several years later to bring Paul back to Jerusalem after Paul's years of being tutored by Jesus. The church there then sent the pair to the Antioch Church in Syria to see how the dispersed believers were faring.

You know the story. The Antioch Church later commissioned Barnabas and Paul for a missionary trip to spread the Gospel and they took Barnabas's nephew, John Mark, along. Mark had a good pedigree and probably a good testimony, too, but he quit early and returned home. When Uncle Barnabas and Paul decided to take a second evangelistic trip, they disagreed over whether to take Mark. The scripture says the division between them was so contentious that they parted ways. Barnabas chose to take John Mark and Paul chose to take Silas.

Who was right? I can't answer that. The Acts of the Apostles followed only the ministry of the Apostle Paul from that point, and we read the account through the writings of Dr. Luke who later joined Paul.

The scriptures never tell us what Barnabas and John Mark accomplished on their mission trip, but it does hint that there was a transformation in John Mark and a reconciliation between him and Paul. In one of Paul's later writings, 2 Timothy 4:11, he requested that Mark come to him because he would be "useful" to Paul for ministry. The same man whom Paul found not useful before was the one person he asked to come later. Mark had somehow earned Paul's trust. This John Mark is also believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark written with the Apostle Peter as his source. The Bible does not tell us what happened to Barnabas.

There are lessons to be learned from this story. Those who are of like faith and order but have had disagreements in the past need to find each other "useful" again for the furtherance of the gospel. But if they cannot, God is still working for His own glory even through contention and wrath. Whenever God is part of the equation, division results in multiplication.

Send a message to learn more