Sometimes it pays to ask directions. I read a humorous story the other day and thought I'd pass it along.

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn’t stop for directions.
I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.
I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.
And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.
As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”

Plain Living

 Have you ever spent time on a mountain, breathtaking isn't it? There is something very special about being above the tree line so to speak, a certain exhilaration in being able to look out and see for miles. It seems clearer, brighter, and quieter on the mountain.


The question is, are we made for mountain top living? We love it there, special things happen both in the spiritual and physical realm. We feel closer to God because we're on a higher plain and most of the things that so easily distract us are far below. We can take in the wonder and majesty of God's creation. It can be a time of thanksgiving and reflection, of wonder and awe and a time to draw near to the Creator of the world, but we must remember the mount is not meant to teach us anything, it's meant to make us something.
Moses saw the Burning Bush on Mt. Horeb, the Law was given on Mt. Sinai (Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Exodus 24:16) and Jesus was killed on Golgotha. 

Many things happen on the peaks, some very good, some not so good. What's clear is the fact that we don't live our lives on the mountain. Hills and mountains are for inspiration, prayer, meditation and rest. 
Living takes place on the plains, in the valleys and through the desert. This is where we spend the majority of our time, dealing with ordinary stuff. All to often it's the mundane, trivial, challenging, hectic, tragic, boring and sometimes devastating things of life that consume so many hours of the day. This is where we prove our mettle, work out our salvation, use what we received on the mountain. It is in the desert where we learn to trust and obey God. It is in the valley where character is formed. (Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:1-4)                                        
 The moments we spend on the mountain tops are rare, precious and brief. Enjoy the experience while it lasts  because invariably it will end and it's back to the valley.
 "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (Deuteronomy 8:2) 

Neither did they say, 'Where is the LORD, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no one dwelt?' (Jeremiah 2:6)  

I guess the thing to remember is, the valley experience is a passage through... not a destination to....
"yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"

We should never forget that the God of the mountain is the same as the God of the valley and He is more interested in our character than our comfort. As we study scripture it is evident that God uses both mountain tops and valleys to accomplish His purposes. 

On the mountain top you see Him as the God of all glory;
In the valley you see Him as the God of all comfort.
On the mountain top you see Him as the Lord who reigns;
In the valley you see Him as the Shepherd who walks beside you.
On the mountain top you see Him as the Judge of all the earth;
In the valley you see Him as the God of all mercies.
On the mountain top you see Him as the exalted King;
In the valley you see Him as the suffering servant.
On the mountain top you see Him as the Lord God omnipotent;
In the valley you see Him as your loving Heavenly Father.
___Roy Lessin
Ultimately, we must Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

What Will We Do?

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
___Proverbs 19:17 

The bible states that the poor will always be with us. The question is, what will we we do, how will we address this issue. 

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, (1 Timothy 6:17-18) 

I recently met someone who has a vision of feeding the poor in Ethiopia, and in fact, has been doing so for a number of years. Shiferaw Gobezie and family have been supporting several families in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, out of their own family resources. Knowing firsthand the devastation that is currently taking place the Gobezies felt a need to step up to the challenge of meeting that need.

Faced with a prolonged drought, increasingly expensive supplies in the market place, few resources and sky high food prices, it's no wonder that many people have nothing, literally nothing to eat.

Shiferaw recently founded the International Covenant for Elder Care in Ethiopia, a not for profit organization with the hope of providing food and other necessities to the people of Ethiopia.
Currently, there are around 4.6 million people are at risk. The government has acknowledged the crisis and has made an appeal for humanitarian assistance.



This video, produced by UNICEF, gives a glimpse of devastation caused by hunger and although conditions are bad, they will grow worse if help isn't forthcoming. ICECE would like to enlist your help in the ongoing effort to meet the needs of an impoverished people. First, please PRAY for this ministry. Pray that they would persevere and continue to 'knock, seek, and ask'. Pray that resources would flow into the ministry: skilled and passionate people, organizations willing to invest time and money and for the future recipients who will be blessed through the efforts of this organization.
For more information go to: iceceinc.org

FOFM PrayerWeek

Please join us as we pray for the ministry.

Self-Made Man

SELF-MADE MAN

We take great pride in the benefit of of being a self-made man or woman. We love hearing stories of people that have pulled themselves up by their own boot straps. We look out and find someone to pattern our lives after. We mold, fashion, and shape ourselves along with our own predilections into the perfect person. On the surface this is admirable, but there is one caveat: while all this construction is taking place, it is not God's blueprint we are following, but our own.

You see, God knows what character traits need to be developed in your life. I think it's worth mentioning the fact that self-improvement is an admirable goal. But did you ever stop to consider that we usually want to acquire the type of character traits that are associated with a life of ease and prosperity? And let face it.......it's all about us.

• We want to learn generosity which implies that we'll have so much wealth we can afford to give some to others.
• We want to develop humility which means that we first must achieve greatness in order to have something to be humble about.
• We want to be known for greatfulness which suggests that God, through people and circumstances, has been so kind to us we should respond with appreciation.
• We want to reflect a tranquil spirit of contentment which supposes that we have a fret-free life of ease.

But what if God determines that we need to develop an entirely different set of character traits? And what if the character set He has in mind can be forged in our lives only through adversity? What if He knows we need character values such as the following?

• Patience. Staying calm without complaining when the need is urgent but the solution is not yet a reality. The problem with patience is that it is only developed in desperate times.
• Endurance. The ability to bear prolonged pain or hardship. You enjoy prosperity; adversity must be endured. Thus, the precedent to endurance is tragedy and misfortune.
• Forgiveness. Graciously excusing an offense that was committed against us. If everyone is always nice and polite to you, you'll have no chance to forgive. Your only chance at developing forgiveness is to take a few harsh, undeserved shots from others.
• Integrity. Sticking to your moral principles even when it means you will suffer unjust adverse circumstances. There is no ethical dilemma if there is no downside. Integrity is forged only in the furnace of criticism and consequences.
• Honesty. Being truthful when it is the difficult and unpopular thing to do. Honesty comes naturally if praise and rewards are involved. But you develop honesty only in those tough times when it would be much easier to avoid the truth. 

If you think you know what is best for yourself, then you can design your life any way you want it. Pick and choose those character traits that require no effort or discomfort, be sure include sloth and selfishness. Byt if you truly believe that God knows what is best for you, then you can't pick and choose by disregarding what is important to Him. Some of the character traits in His grand design can be achieved in your life only through harsh conditions. Remember this: God doesn't design hardship to make you fall flat; but He does hope that you'll be brought to your knees. 

Two Cow Explanation: Part 3

An Italian Corporation: You have two cows but you don't know where they are. You break for lunch.

A Russian Corporation: You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A Mexican Corporation: You think you have two cows, but you don't know what a cow looks like. You take a nap.

A Swiss Corporation:  You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you. You charge for storing them for others.

A Brazilian Corporation: You have two cows. You enter into a partnership with an American corporation. Soon you have 1000 cows and the American corporation files bankruptcy.

An Indian Corporation: You have two cows. You worship them.

Two Cow Explanation: Part One

A Christian Democrat: You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.

A Socialist: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.

A Republican: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So what?

A Democrat: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office who tax your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money and buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous.

A Communist: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk.

A Fascist: You have two cows. The government seizes both and sells you the milk. You join the underground and start a campaign of sabotage.

Democracy, American Style: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.