LIVING ON THE MOUNTAIN ~ INTRODUCTION

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

INTRODUCTION

Living on the Mountain is all about rising above the chaos down here on Planet Earth. I decided to begin this journey into Matthew 5:9 for a column in successandfailure.net . Please visit this wonderfully inspiring website for other articles. Articles under "Bible Study" are quite helpful for daily life. The 500-word articles from this blog will be posted under "Insights for Today".

My online selling adventure began two weeks ago on eBay. So much to learn as a brand-new eBayer! I was excited to be selling many books - 12 in the first week. Yahoo! Score one for my team... Then the peace love and joy all around ended. An unhappy person lodged a dispute against me on only my 7th day of positive cash accumulation in my Pay Pal eBay account.

If you are familiar with eBay, you know there are so many feedback options, ship now, pay later, link to Pay Pal and of course the many 'Messages' in your eBay "Outlook" account. I was so busy with learning the system that I sent my husband off with the already disgrunted person's paid order.

My wonderfully good-intentioned husband forgot to drop off that package at the UPS Store. This person's order was abandoned in the trunk of the car. When I realized the order was still there, I hounded my husband for three straight days before it landed at the UPS Store. Needless to say, per eBay I was officially two days late in fulfilling my seller obligations. I emailed my customer and explained, "I am so very new to Ebay and please forgive me for this order being slightly delayed".

This customer gave no grace. Zero. Zilch. Nada. 

After I finally figured out how to close the case (I finally had a tracking number in process to provide), I prayed he/she would give me good feedback. I would forge ahead to get my blue star. Not that this negativity was a big deal. Repercussions? Possibly my ranking would suffer but eBay selling was not my primary income. I did not plan on paying my light bill with this sale. Thankfully.

Round Two
Thud - my heart hit the floor. My disgruntled, impatient buyer again. I rolled my eyes as  a new case against me flashed in my eBay 'Messages' Outlook. Yikes. This customer now decided there were missing parts and that I had promised him/her something other than what I had listed. Huh?

So much time had been spent learning how to resolve and defend my eBay seller ethics. I realized then that my notes on this column lay untouched on my desk. I didn't blog for three straight days as I complained and questioned how people could be so cruel. I had glowing marks until this cranky customer ruined my good track record. I had such good intentions and had given such a good deal. I was simply done trying to work things out with this person.

Peace? No. I was not peaceful, peaceable or interested in being a peacemaker. I wanted to tell him/her to depart my life forever and that he/she did not even deserve the deal I provided. To take it a step further, I wanted to respond, "YOU are a poison plant that I would like to spray with toxic weed killer!!"(smiling)

I did honestly want to respond with this comment. Sorry Mom. Okay, Roundup. It's safe for animals.

Then the Lord reminded me, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Yes Lord, I remember I was supposed to focus on Matthew 5:9 this week.

And so, I disputed the claim with the truth, prayed for this person, cranked up iTunes and got busy on my keyboard. Of all days, today was THE day to launch this column on peacemakers!!! I did not respond to my customer but instead decided to be silent.

And so this blog series begins with a passionate plea to be given the words to explain the peace as outlined in the Truth of the Gospel of Matthew. You will understand meekness is not weakness, never confuse humility with cowardice - and agree we can only live in peace when looking to The Prince of Peace. As a result of pondering these entries I pray you will respond to God's radical calling. I pray the fact that Jesus came not to bring peace but a sword Matthew 10:34 causes you pause. To reflect, to question, to wear out your Bible. Don't be surprised if you are challenged and yes, a bit irritated as you make your way out of the valley to the mountaintop.

After all, the goal is for all of us to come to the realization that Living on the Mountain isn't impossible when we live in holiness actively pursuing peace in its fullness. Peace in the midst of chaos? Yes! God's perfect peace.

Shalom!

P.S. I promise to continue to pray for my disgruntled eBay customer. Even if he/she causes me to lose each and every Pay Pal privilege I will praise God for this person. Grace - learned from the Prince of Peace. 'Cause everyone knows there's not much of a view from the valley (Philippians 4:7)!

Turducken

Turducken. I heard the word mentioned recently on the Cooking Channel. Turducken. Could it be what it sounded like? Three birds in one?

So I looked it up. And alas quickly found the 1 reference given. The definition (noun): a boned turkey stuffed with a boned duck that is stuffed with a small boned chicken, sometimes also containing a breadcrumb or sausagemeat stuffing. Cite source

Fascinating. So I googled again. Apparently this poultry invention had been prepared by cooks for centuries. But it was brought to the American table in the 1980's. A company in Louisiana actually prepares around 5,000 turduckens per week around the American Thanksgiving holiday. Oh my! Visions of endless deboning and de-feathering!

Not that I would want to make a turducken, but if I did - who would I call? So I googled instead as I know no cooks with the claim of preparing three birds in one. When in doubt, food network always helps me out! In five hours you can cook like Paula Deen does - Turducken made easy! Click here for the recipe.

And so the poultry mystery - solved.

As I so often question the meaning of words and the importance of doing anything in life I pondered the reason for this creation. Why was one bird not enough on the American family's Thanksgiving table? And why the order of the word - turkey - duck - chicken? I may never know the answer to that question.

Three things all rolled into one when one was good enough on it's own. Some things though need all three to make up the one thing created. If one component is removed, the entire product will suffer as a result. The American flag for an example. Red, white and blue. Necessary to have all three.

Pep Boys Manny, Moe and Jack. How sad if one were not included on a bobblehead? A triathlon. Swimming, cycling and running. Without one of these activities it would have to be a biathlon! One more example? Baseball, hotdogs and apple pie. No 4th of July celebration would be complete without all three of them!

But Turducken? Not sold on the fact that this triune combination is necessary. After all, a turkey is delicious with all the dressings. A duck would be a wonderfully excellent meal on a chilly evening accompanied by hen in the woods mushrooms and wild rice. Chicken? Any day of the week chicken is welcomed by chefs worldwide.

And so I delved deep into my Bible to come up with some necessary truths about the Trinity. As a Christian, I serve a Triune God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One. One without the other would never exist. All work together to achieve the purposes and plans for God's people.

The Trinity:
God the Father  John 1:1
Jesus Christ the Son Matthew 3:17
Holy Spirit John 14: 16-17

Matthew 28:19. Some well-meaning people believe God exists to serve them. However, the complete opposite is true. With the Trinity in place, we are able to do anything (Philipians 4:13).

I sure am glad some things are not negotiable in life. What we eat, activities we enjoy, advertising campaigns we embrace, patriotic traditions we uphold - yes all have meaning and value and if one element were removed, we would lose the totality of that established icon. However, nothing, Romans 8:38 & 39 is as crucial to living life the way it was intended to be lived as the Trinity. It must remain together - all three.

The Truth of the Trinity gives the Christian believer freedom and is key to living a victorious life. Knowing this, the choice is simple.

It really is okay to deconstruct a Turducken and still serve a successful Thanksgiving meal. After all, many things in life really are just a fanciful version of something that was just fine on it's own. But, if you are going to prepare a Turducken please consider inviting me. I really would like to see three birds all rolled into one. Just one time I would like to eat a turkey, duck and chicken in one bite.

Now what kind of gravy would one serve with this poultry paradise? Paula Deen no doubt will solve that quandary. Or possibly we can concoct  our own. Possibly use churkey stock with duckey giblets and duckling spices - hmmm - save me a seat!

Re-Do's

68 lbs. Impossible! My digital scale must have had a 1/2 of a solar cell operation. Well more than half (gulp!)... Not wanting to (smiling), I stepped off my digital scale, hit reset and got back on. 127 1/4. "Well haleluiah Praise the Lord a 1/4 lost today - NOT!". I was not happy. Why did I do a redo? Couldn't I have just believe the lie? Couldn't I have been 68 lbs. - just for today?

How many times in my life could I have used a redo? For the better, not the worse like today's weigh-in. So many mistakes. So many regrets. So many plates of crow instead of caviar I had to eat because I had not listened, had not used my two ears instead of my one mouth and had not heeded the voice of reason hidden in my heart from God's very Word. I knew what to do - but did the opposite!

Re-do's are those times when the demon sat on one shoulder and jeered at the angel on the opposite shoulder. Each time the angel sat silently but I gave away my attention to the demon - - just because the demon wouldn't be silent.

And the pathetic part is that that angel was likely involved in incense burning on my behalf. Angelic pleading for me to listen to the Holy Spirit instead of pridefully attacking. That angel no doubt cringed as I spewed venom at that innocent soul. Just because the snake provided the poison I took it and flung it far. Had I prayed, had I hesitated, I could have prevented the need for a redo. No doubt as I sat in the dark and hid from God that demon did the victory dance. There was a party in Sheol and a dirge in Heaven.

How many times the saints in Heaven probably hid their faces in their hands and cried out, "No, Christina. No. Not this time. Wait. No! No!.....oh! not this time...why aren't you listening???????"

A redo would have been nice that one sunny turned dark day. The day I decided to take matters into my own hands. Oh, I had taken many matters into my own hands. Many days. But this particular day I made a mistake I will forever regret. And never forget. The demon agreed with me that I was making the right decision that day. Convenience. This was the right decision. But for who? Me. All for me. The demon won that day. The angel had a hard time hanging on.

In Other Words
Redo's could also be called Second Chances. I Googled 'second chances' (why not?!). I found this link Good Second Chances Website. So many verses about men and women throughout the ages needing or desiring a redo!

I love what Jonah had to say in Jonah 2:1-10:

 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head ...

Read on and you will cheer and be happy for him. He had a redo just for the asking.

How about Manasseh? Oh my! He is referred to as the King of Second Chances Learn More About Manasseh. More?
Abraham - He was a lair
Peter - denied the Lord three times


Jacob - He was a cheater
Moses - was a murderer
David - was an adulterer and murdered
Paul - arrested Christians and had them thrown in jail

Wait! Back up. Peter - - denied the Lord - three times? That would be one mess up, first redo, and do the math - that is a second redo!! John 21 - 3 times he answers.

Then....

uno ~ And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, “And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied, saying, “I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest.” And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (Mark 14:66-68)


dos ~ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, “Art not thou also one of this man's disciples?” He saith, “I am not.” And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. (John 18:15-18)

tres ~ And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, “This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the man.” And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.” Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, “I know not the man.” And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, “Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:71-75)

What happened? Peter took his eyes off Jesus. He heard only the demon. The angel silently wailed as Peter hid in the dark. The demon did a victory dance in the dark that day no doubt just like he still does whenever we fail to hear His voice and heed His direction.

Who will you listen to when the Pastor gives the call? Look forward, not to the right or the left. Listen for the silence. Listen for the voice of the Lord. God is the god of second, third, fourth infinity chances... But why wait til the scale tips in your favor? Today the redo was not better than the original plan. But in God's economy the redo was in our favor for all of eternity.

Romans 10:9-11.

Make the decision today - before the angel leaves your shoulder and it's too late.

Matthew 24:31, "And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Redo's are possible. And so is Jesus Christ.