Last week Jeremy and I visited with my mom, sister, brother-in-law and 2 nephews in Seattle, WA for a week. It was our final visit for 3 years. We had a great time together. The running joke for the week was we were in search for the famous Mt. Rainer, an active volcano standing 14,410 ft tall. The gray, cloudy sky prevented us from seeing the mountain from afar, so one day we traveled to its base, still only to see a small portion of the mountain. Only after saying our goodbyes, boarding our plane to return to the east coast, and ascending through the clouds at 10,000 ft did we see the mountain. It was amazing to see Mt. Rainer, Mt. Saint Helen and Mt. Hood from the plane window.
This morning I woke with the images of the mountain in my mind. It brought to my thoughts the Israelites at the base of Mt Sinai waiting for Moses. The mountain was covered by God’s presence in the cloud. The Israelites were not to approach the mountain of God which Moses had climbed. They waited 40 days and gave up hope of Moses’ return to them. They were quick to turn their hearts away from God and worship a golden calf.
So many times we give up on God quickly. We don’t see the answer to our prayers. We aren’t taken out of the difficult situation. We have to endure heart ache and lose. We have to wait for the next step. Why? Has God left us when do not see Him at work? NO. God is always there. Even when we can’t see the mountain through the clouds of life; His presence is there. He is working out all things for those who love Him. It has been a long journey for us to get to the point where we actually go to Africa. It has not been for nothing. God has His plan and continues to work inside of us even when we don’t see it ourselves. Devotional this morning from Oswald Chambers titled Living Simply – Yet Focused said, “If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.”
My prayer for you this morning is you stay focused on the author and perfecter of our faith. Living simply as the lilies of field, not trying to make a conscious effort to be consistent and useful. Believe in Him and He will use you.
Ha3els in Africa 
“Look, you can see the mountain!” Is a favorite joke in our household. We spent a week in Seattle several years ago. It was sunny most of every day. My mother said (usually often) daily, “Look, you can see the mountain!” Our kids thought she was a little over-excited. But, they had never spent weeks at a time there never seeing Mt Rainier. Sorry you didn’t see it in all its glory on this trip.
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Glad you finally got to see Mt Ranier and the other 2 volcanoes! I’ve been to Seattle many times, and it’s really a treat on sunny days to see Mt Ranier! I think almost everyone who sees it considers it their mountain. So glad, too, that y’all had a great visit with family. Thanks for the insight in your post today.
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