THE GOD OF THE VALLEY - There is a valley that each of us must enter, usually unwillingly, in order to experience the God of the valley-and to experience His faithfulness in the valley. Once we have spent time in this valley, we come out with something we would have never gained if we had not entered it. The valley brings much fruit into our lives so that we might plant seeds into the lives of others. God does not waste valley experiences. If we are faithful in the valley, we will enter a new dimension with God that we never thought possible. There is a harvest of wisdom and virtue that can only be grown in the valley. Know that the valley is a place of fruitfulness; it is a place of testing. It is where God brings what you know in your head into your heart. The only value of knowledge is when it becomes part of your heart. Look for God in the valley today. - Whenever we stand on the mountain, we are able to see clearly. It is the best vantage point to see what lies ahead. Wouldn’t it be great to live on the mountain all the time in order to anticipate what is ahead? God allows us to experience the mountaintop at times. Joseph’s first mountaintop experience was as a young man. He had the favor of his father, Jacob. He was given a fine coat and even had a dream about his future. As a young man, Joseph had a sense of destiny about his life. God often gives us a picture of our future so that we will remember this picture when we are being tested to trust Him in the valley.

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The God Of The Valley

There is a valley that each of us must enter, usually unwillingly, in order to experience the God of the valley-and to experience His faithfulness in the valley.  

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Once we have spent time in this valley, we come out with something we would have never gained if we had not entered it. The valley brings much fruit into our lives so that we might plant seeds into the lives of others. God does not waste valley experiences. If we are faithful in the valley, we will enter a new dimension with God that we never thought possible. 

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There is a harvest of wisdom and virtue that can only be grown in the valley. Know that the valley is a place of fruitfulness; it is a place of testing. It is where God brings what you know in your head into your heart. The only value of knowledge is when it becomes part of your heart. Look for God in the valley today.

by: Os Hillman

 

“The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord”’.” 1 Kings 20:28

 

Whenever we stand on the mountain, we are able to see clearly.

It is the best vantage point to see what lies ahead.

Wouldn’t it be great to live on the mountain all the time in order to anticipate what is ahead?

God allows us to experience the mountaintop at times.

Joseph’s first mountaintop experience was as a young man. He had the favor of his father, Jacob.

He was given a fine coat and even had a dream about his future.

As a young man, Joseph had a sense of destiny about his life.

God often gives us a picture of our future so that we will remember this picture when we are being tested to trust Him in the valley.

This picture usually does not reveal how God intends to bring about the visions for our life.

However, none of us really derive the character qualities God desires for our lives while we are on the mountain.

It is in the valley where the fruit is planted and harvested. It cannot grow on the mountain; it must grow in the valley.

God is a God of the mountain, but he is even more a God of the valley.

In the valley, it is more difficult to see ahead; the clouds often cover the valley and limit our sight.

Joseph was thrust into a deep valley that left him wondering if the God of his father had forsaken him.

Jesus hoped that He might be able to avoid the valley that caused Him to sweat blood.

There is a valley that each of us must enter, usually unwillingly, in order to experience the God of the valley-and to experience His faithfulness in the valley.

Once we have spent time in this valley, we come out with something we would have never gained if we had not entered it.

The valley brings much fruit into our lives so that we might plant seeds into the lives of others.

God does not waste valley experiences.

If we are faithful in the valley, we will enter a new dimension with God that we never thought possible.

There is a harvest of wisdom and virtue that can only be grown in the valley.

Has God brought you into the valley?

Know that the valley is a place of fruitfulness; it is a place of testing.

It is where God brings what you know in your head into your heart.

The only value of knowledge is when it becomes part of your heart.

Look for God in the valley today.

Os Hillman  is Founder and President of Marketplace Leaders Ministries, an organization whose purpose is to train men and women to fulfill their calling in and through their work life and to view their work as ministry.

Os is an author of 21 books, speaker, consultant and recognized authority in the role that faith and ethics play in the marketplace. Os began sending out a daily internet email newsletter entitled TGIF Today God Is First in 1998. Today TGIF is read daily worldwide in 104 countries. Os has equipped leaders in 26 countries. Marketplace Leaders has an online bookstore, TGIFbookstore.com serving the faith and work movement.

Os has been featured on CNBC, LA Times, NY Times and many Christian media. He has been a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com, Charisma online, and Christian Post. He has spoken at Harvard University and was a visiting professor at Regent University for a season.

Before starting Marketplace Leaders, Os owned and operated an ad agency from 1984-2001. During this time he served clients such as American Express, Steinway Pianos, US Kids Golf, Peachtree Software, ADP Payroll Services, Parisian Department stores (now Belk), Thomas Nelson Publishers and many non-profit organizations.  His company won many prestigious awards from the Direct Marketing Industry such as the International Echo Award, Direct Marketing’s highest achievement for excellence in direct marketing for specific ad campaigns.

Os attended the University of South Carolina on a golf scholarship and was a golf professional for three years before going into business in 1980.  Os also attended Calvary Chapel Bible School. Os is married to Pamela and Os has one married daughter, Charis. He and his wife live in Cumming, Georgia a suburb of Atlanta.

https://todaygodisfirst.com/the-god-of-the-valley/

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COME AND SEE - John and Andrew did not ask Jesus for greater power or spiritual gifts. Instead they asked Jesus something more personal and intimate - they wanted to know where Jesus lived - they are seeking to live with Jesus. They are searching for the dwelling place of God. Our Father wants us to ask for spiritual gifts and special blessings of health and financial prosperity. To desire these things is not wrong - it is just not enough. Inside the heart of a God-seeker is a quest for more. We are in search of the "dwelling places" of God. Our destination is nothing less than oneness with Christ. All fruitfulness comes from living in spiritual union with Jesus - apart from Him, we can do nothing. Abiding in Jesus leads to walking like Jesus. John and Andrew began their spiritual commitment to God's will as disciples of John the Baptist. In fact, they had actually been standing near the prophet when Jesus walked by. As the Baptizer saw Jesus, he cried out, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" And from that moment the two disciples began to follow Jesus. This was an insightful account. It is John's handwritten testimony of how he came to the Son of God. Yet John has deeper truths to reveal beyond this historic portrayal. He is also going to reveal what we should each ultimately seek when we come to Christ. The Lord's heart is also moved toward those who follow Him, though they may walk limping.

 

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“Come and See”

Abiding in Jesus leads to walking like Jesus

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John and Andrew did not ask Jesus for greater power or spiritual gifts. Instead they asked Jesus something more personal and intimate - they wanted to know where Jesus lived - they are seeking to live with Jesus. They are searching for the dwelling place of God. Our Father wants us to ask for spiritual gifts and special blessings of health and financial prosperity. To desire these things is not wrong - it is just not enough. Inside the heart of a God-seeker is a quest for more. We are in search of the "dwelling places" of God. Our destination is nothing less than oneness with Christ. All fruitfulness comes from living in spiritual union with Jesus - apart from Him, we can do nothing. 

By Francis Frangipane

John and Andrew began their spiritual commitment to God's will as disciples of John the Baptist.

In fact, they had actually been standing near the prophet when Jesus walked by.

As the Baptizer saw Jesus, he cried out, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

And from that moment the two disciples began to follow Jesus (John 1:35-37).

This was an insightful account. It is John's handwritten testimony of how he came to the Son of God.

Yet John has deeper truths to reveal beyond this historic portrayal.

He is also going to reveal what we should each ultimately seek when we come to Christ.

Let's pick up the narrative. The two disciples, having heard and believed John's messianic proclamation about Jesus, are now walking, perhaps hurriedly, to catch up to Jesus.

They are within conversation range.

“Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see.” --- John 1:38-39 KJV

There are many reasons one comes to Christ.

We may seek Him for health issues or to possess the keys to prosperity.

Perhaps we need deliverance or are burdened with the cares of a loved one.

Yet, as the Lord asked John and Andrew, so He asks each of us: What are you seeking in life? 

What goals compel us?

When we approach the final season of our lives, will the things we have achieved be transferable into eternal accounts?

Or will we have spent our time and energies on that which is void of true life?

Jesus asks, "What are you seeking?"

It is a very important question.

The Lord desires that we take inventory of our passions and objectives and then chart our course toward heavenly values.

You see, many say they love Jesus. What they mean is that, in time, they hope to get around to loving Jesus.

Right now, however, they barely know Him and almost never spend time seeking Him.

The proof that we love Him is that we keep His commandments (John 14:15).

What must He think when so many who say they love Him are, in fact, not loving Him but actually having an affair with this world?

May God have mercy.

Yet this is not your situation.

In spite of your flaws and weaknesses, you sincerely desire to possess more of God.

You have emerged from your trials determined to walk closer to the Lord.

Indeed, Christ sees this holy desire and, to Him, it is the most precious part of you.

The Lord's heart is also moved toward those who follow Him, though they may walk limping.

To those wounded by injustice or the effects of sin, the Lord's promise remains faithful: "A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish" (Isaiah 42:3).

Surely, He will bring to victory the justice due you.

Like John and Andrew, we, too, "behold the Lamb of God."

Just as He asked them, so He turns and asks us, "What are you seeking?"

The Dwelling Place of Christ
In response to Jesus' probing question, the disciples' answer may seem strange.

For they did not ask Him for greater power or one of His many spiritual gifts.

Instead they asked Jesus something more personal and intimate: "Where dwellest Thou?"

I'd like us to consider the poignancy of their answer. They wanted to know where Jesus lived.

There are times when a question transcends the simple boundaries of intellectual curiosity and actually reveals one's quest in life.

Such is now the case: they are seeking to live with Jesus. They are searching for the dwelling place of God.

Our Father wants us to ask for spiritual gifts and special blessings of health and financial prosperity.

To desire these things is not wrong; it is just not enough. Inside the heart of a God-seeker is a quest for more.

We are in search of the "dwelling places" of God.

In truth, our hearts have been divinely programmed. There are within us "the highways to Zion" (Psalm 84:5).

Our destination is nothing less than oneness with Christ.

All fruitfulness comes from living in spiritual union with Jesus.

In contrast, whatever we offer as service to God that is not the result of our union with Christ, that labor is in vain; it is a weak comfort.

For apart from Him, we can do nothing.

John tells us in his first epistle that those who say they abide in Him ought to walk "in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6).

Abiding in Jesus leads to walking like Jesus.

Beloved, there is yet much more to learn and discover concerning our Lord!

We must beware of spiritual complacency.

Recall the prayer of Moses: at the end of his life -- after being used by God to confront and defeat the gods of Egypt, after dwelling in the Lord's glory and beholding miracle after miracle for forty years -- Moses prayed, "You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand" (Deuteronomy 3:24).

"You have begun?" 

No matter how much we attain, no matter what revelations of God's glory are ours, we have only begun to see His glory.

The disciples answered astutely, "Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?"

May this become our prayer as well: Where do You live, O Son of God? Where is Your dwelling place? 

To all who feel similarly, Christ says to us what He promised them: "Come and see."

Dear Master, I turn to You now. You are my life's greatest goal. I desire to live with You, to abide in the wonder of a life united with You.

Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, I Will Be Found by You, available at www.arrowbookstore.com.

Francis Frangipane was born in 1946 and grew up in Lodi, New Jersey. After graduating from high school in 1964, Frangipane entered the U.S. Air Force, where he was discharged honorably as a sergeant on February 2, 1969. He relocated briefly to Berkeley, California and then Honolulu, Hawaii before returning to the mainland U.S. These were the days when the hippie movement was emerging, and Frangipane, like countless other young people, was searching for meaning. He traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. Eventually his travels brought him to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where he became a Christian on November 26, 1970. Five months later he met his wife-to-be, Denise Piscitelli, and led her to the Lord. In October of 1971 they were married.

https://francisfrangipanemessages.blogspot.com/2018/06/come-and-see.html

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