“The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain...” (Ex. 24:17,18)

February 2005

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are all fine, and looking forward to a tremendous year of serving God. Please read our 2004 report enclosed in this mailing, and rejoice with us as we praise God for blessing us with a wonderful year. We look ahead to the things He is calling us to do now, and it is exciting! With God, all things are possible, and we never know just how He will work in our midst.

Recently, one morning, I was driving to the office and thinking of the things that had to be done that day. My mind was racing, I was trying to see how I could fit everything in and do it well besides! While stopping for a red light, I took a deep breath and stared ahead of me towards the sky overlooking the ocean. I suddenly took notice of the billowy clouds passing by with streams of sunshine gleaming through them. It was a breathtaking sight, so awesome! My mind became at peace for those few moments, and instead of focusing on the events of the day, I began to focus on the majesty of God. How Awesome He is to create such beauty to behold! As my thoughts began to clear, my body began to relax. I took a deep breath and began praising the Creator of the Universe in all humility, recognizing that He is Holy, and as He created me, He would also orchestrate the events of the day. There was nothing for me to be concerned about, because He was in it. At that moment, sitting in my car, I understood that I was somehow in the very Presence of God, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, My Redeemer, the Lover of my soul! I told Him right then that I wanted to honor Him in all my plans for the day.  

Later that evening, after a wonderfully fulfilling day of ministry, I decided to look up clouds in my concordance. Exodus 24 especially interested me because of the significance of my experience that morning. God had given Moses guidelines for their relationships with each other and with Him. These guidelines set them apart from other nations, and God gave a special ceremony that confirmed the agreement, or covenant, between God and His people. The shedding of the blood from animal sacrifices symbolized forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. God’s people were to follow these guidelines in order to have right standing with Him. Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, and then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying :This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to these words. (Ex. 24:8).

After this amazing encounter with God, God called Moses, Aaron, Nada, and Abidu and seventy of the elders of Israel to come up for a Mountaintop, Holy Ghost, awe inspiring heavenly experience with God Himself! The Bible says they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. They saw God and they ate and drank. (Vs. 9-11) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there, and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” (Vs 12). When Moses went up into the mountain, a cloud covered the mountain. The cloud covered it six days and on the seventh day He called out to Moses in the midst of the cloud. Now get this! “The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (Vs.16-18). Glory!

How many times do we feel as if we are walking in the midst of a cloud where we can’t see in front of us? We feel lost, and afraid, and as if we are in a storm. We long for an ecstatic mountaintop experience with God, and for our spiritual eyes to open so that we can see God! This is where we are built up, encouraged, and challenged to take those steps of faith that will lead us on to victory! The Bible describes God as an “All Consuming Fire!” Jesus endured to the end, He looked ahead to what His sufferings would accomplish. He endured to receive the joy of completing His Father’s will for Him. He did not enjoy the cross, but was able to endure for the joy set before Him. He would present to His Father a Redeemed people. Because of Him, and His Everlasting Covenant with us we are assured of reaching that mountaintop and seeing clearly our Heavenly Father!

When we see things darkly, when the clouds are around us, we wonder if we would ever be able to fully understand God’s ways. It is then that we must sit quietly, and listen. Sometimes God calls us to wait on Him, just as Moses had to wait in the cloud. We may not hear God’s voice, but He is always near. Sometimes He will come show Himself powerfully as He did to Moses on the mountaintop, but other times He will gently whisper to us. Many years ago, I was going through a really hard time, I was in the valley, going day by day as if I was walking in a dark cloud, not being able to see clearly. I prayed, and cried, and begged Jesus to hear my prayer. Just at the time when I was ready to give up, I suddenly heard, not in an audible voice, but deep within me, “It is almost over.” Startled, I looked up, thinking perhaps someone was there, but I was alone. Since I was praying when I heard this, I took it from the Lord.  I was still in this situation, but now I had hope. I was still down in the valley of despair, but knew that my mountain top was in reach! Little by little things changed, until one day there was a radical, God ordained, God inspired transformation that turned everything around for the good! Suddenly, I knew what it meant to be consumed by God, I knew what it meant to have a mountaintop experience with Him. His Holiness and Awesome Wonder drew my heart into His bosom of healing, restoration, and hope! Look to Him today! He is beside you even in the valley and ready to bring you up to show His Glory!

God bless you!