He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,            

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

Traditionally, God has met His leaders on mountains. Abraham would travel up the mountain to make sacrifices. Moses met with God on mountaintops. Elijah communed with God on the mountain and left this world in a whirlwind from atop a mountain while Elisha watched. Micah and Isaiah called the Israelites to go up the mountain to worship the Lord. There is a strong compulsion in the Old Testament to climb up mountains to be closer to God. God is distant and the path to meet Him requires a lengthy and arduous journey.

Jesus came off the mountain and entered our valley. He was born homeless and out of wedlock. He resided in Egypt as an alien. He socialized and even ate with “sinners and tax collectors.” He touched and healed the ill and the unclean. He was killed as a criminal. John wrote, ^“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14a) Jesus did become human and He lived among the least of us. Christ embarked on a lengthy, arduous, and painful journey to come to us. He left the mountain to live in the valley.

At the end of February, we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord. This was a mountaintop experience for the disciples who were with Him. They were so filled with such awe that they suggested setting up camp up there. They were overwhelmed by witnessing the glory of God in such a profound way and wanted to cling to that experience.

Yet Jesus sent them back down into the valley, literally and figuratively. They came down from the mountain and Christ led them into the ultimate valley. We move into Lent toward the deepest valley of Christ’s life and the lives of His disciples – the journey to Jerusalem – the journey to His cross.

Life has mountains and valleys. God alone gives the power to thrive in both the valleys and the mountains. He even strengthens us when we are climbing. He protects us when we are falling.  He is present in our lives throughout all the many and various trials and tribulations. He travels with us and holds onto us when we lose our grip. It is His presence and power that smooths out our lives and sustains us through this earthly existence

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; (Luke 3:5)