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Mona's Devotional - February 17, 2019 - Vision Board

2/18/2019

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A few weeks ago we took a few days to go to the desert. We spent time with my 2 brothers and their wives in Arizona in their RV’s. It was relaxing and a great celebration for my birthday. We wanted to take the opportunity to be close to both my brothers and keep our relationship close. We were also able to see Ed’s cousin and see a few friends who have moved to Arizona form here. We had a few opportunities to minister the love of Jesus to 2 friends near the end of this life on earth. One has already gone on and we continue to pray for the other. It was  such a special day as the 6 of us of us went and ministered together and then ministered to one another as we knew we probably wouldn’t see our friends on this side of heaven again. Precious memories.
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          We had full, fun days but also found some great time for reflecting in my own life and seeking what the Lord is speaking to me. When life is full we can still hear but it’s the quiet times that I can see and hear very deeply. There have been many situations and trials that I’ve managed to carry around that weigh me down, especially the last year. I pray - get prayer – send away and somehow choose to pick up the burden again. I’ve spent hours in His presence seeking His wisdom – soaking in His love – crying tears of sorrow as I don’t always know how to keep some of the situations from going into my heart. I fight the feeling of failure, condemn myself for picking up these burdens again. Each day the Lord speaks softly and gently to my heart and assures me of His love. He shows me visions of my answered prayers and the victories that are mine. These trials are opportunities for me to see the Lord doing amazing things in my life and I can see some of my greatest victories right now. Sometimes it looks impossible. What I see with my eyes isn’t too promising. That’s when I look beyond what is seen and see by faith His promises for and to me. “For we live and walk by faith, not by what we see with our eyes.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
 
I am choosing to believe despite what I see with my physical eyes and to be aware of His presence in all I do. This faith life I desire to live is about reaching, believing and embracing what my eyes don’t see as possible. There are no boundaries in faith as His ways are unlimited and I can’t think with natural understanding and be in faith. Jesus becomes my source and nothing is impossible with Him. He is always assuring me of His love. He tells me to look in the mirror and see Him in my eyes. That’s a hard one for me but I know I need to do that and how powerful it is in my life. “Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in your word”. Psalm 119:18
 
 “Lift up your eyes around you and see.” Isaiah 60:4
 
 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?” Psalm 121:1
 
“The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in!” Matthew 6:22
 
Right now we have a grandson who is living a life that could easily kill him. He is in with the wrong people and making very bad decisions. Sometimes I look at what’s happening with him on Facebook and my eyes see things I don’t want to. Maybe I shouldn’t look there but it lets me know what is going on in his life. It shows me how to pray. He is very messed up. His profile picture is evil. So I have pictures of him from when he was young to a couple years ago when he was better than he is now. I have these around the house before my eyes. Faith is believing no matter what I physically see but I also need to put a new vision of him in my mind. “Help me turn my eyes away from illusions so that I pursue only that which is true; drench my soul with life as I walk in your paths.”  Psalm 119:37 I know the truth is that he is my inheritance, he doesn’t belong to the enemy and he knows about the love of God. That’s where my focus has to be right now. As I pray, I see him whole and preaching the Word of God to the world. I see him sharing his testimony of deliverance to others who are lost. I see the girl he is with and the others he is hanging with coming to Jesus also. I pray for them all. They are someone’s grandchildren just like Caleb is mine. If I don’t keep my eyes on the hope of the Lord I would give up on him.
 
“And you will open their eyes to their true condition, so that they may turn from darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the power of God. By placing their faith in me they will receive the total forgiveness of sins and be made holy, taking hold of the inheritance that I give to my children!’” Acts 26:18
 
“Lovers of God have been given eyes to see with spiritual discernment and ears to hear from God.”  Proverbs 20:12
 
“How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice in prayer.” Song of Songs 2:14
 
 “What bliss you experience when your heart is pure! For then your eyes will open to see more and more of God.”  Matthew 5:8
 
“And the crowds marveled with rapture and amazement, astounded over the things they were witnessing with their own eyes! The lame were walking, the mute were speaking, the crippled were made well, and the blind could see. For three days everyone celebrated the miracles as they exalted and praised the God of Israel!” Matthew 15:31
 
We know the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. I remember when I realized that even Jesus had to get His focus off the circumstance and onto the Father. “Then Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, gazed into heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and the two fish and distributed them to his disciples to serve the people—and the food was multiplied in front of their eyes!” Mark 6:41 He took the food and looked to His Father in heaven. He didn’t look at the 5000 and get into doubt. He didn’t see the fish and bread multiply in front right then but He told the disciples to feed the people. It happened as they went that there was plenty. What an example He gave us. I can’t look at my problems with my natural eyes. I must see what He is showing me and keep my eyes focused on the Father and His love. He gave me a book of promises and that has to be what I see with my eyes.
 
“You have good eyes, yet you still don’t see, and you have good ears, yet you still don’t hear, neither do you remember.”  Mark 8:18
 
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, ‘You are set free!’ I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great acceptance has begun.” Luke 4:18-19
 
I must keep His promises before my eyes. I sing His promises to me, I speak His promises. I read over and over many of the words He has given me lately and I declare these over me. I am making a vision board with His promises so that during the day when my mind starts to see things that are not His promises I can bring my focus back. If we read anything today, watch any TV, look at any social media stuff our eyes will see a whole lot of lies. It is so easy to start believing those lies and even if you don’t believe the media you can start fighting inside yourself or with others about what you see. I may see that stuff but I can’t leave it in my mind or I will get negative. I have done that a few times this past year and it is the way of death. When I choose to put stuff in my mind that makes me negative I am not choosing His life. Our minds are never on neutral but also seeing Life or death. The Word says to choose Life or death. It is something I must on purpose – intentionally. I am realizing that I need to make intentional choices and not just let things happen. This isn’t faith. This isn’t keeping my focus on Him.
 
“I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!”  Ephesians 1:18
 
This is a process I am in right now – me and my Father. I let my mind get so overwhelmed last year that I am now taking back what I let the enemy steal and choosing Life instead of stress. I didn’t even know I was choosing the way of stress until I was exhausted and run down. Now I am headed back and taking my thoughts captive. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”2 Corinthians 10:5
I never stopped being with the Lord, listening to Him or serving Him but I let my thoughts and probably fears take me to a place that I didn’t want to be. I became exhausted, condemning and just not a good place. I pray you can search your heart and see if there are areas you need to choose to intentionally change some thoughts. What a joy it is to be in His presence with my thoughts!! 
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Mona's Devotional - February 3, 2019 - 2 Eyes to See, 2 Ears to Hear.

2/10/2019

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​February 3, 2019
We are already a month into this new year! Doesn’t seem quite possible but I like this time of year. I like the new beginnings, new goals and new directions the first couple months of a new year brings. One of the words I heard for 2019 was CELEBRAATE! I did some celebrating in January and thank the Lord for showing me I needed to do more of that. Another area the Lord has been talking to me about is what I see, speak and hear. Since I have been home from Kenya the Lord has spoken so much to me about what I see and hear. I know I have shared about what we put before our eyes and listen to before but for myself it is such a vital part of keeping focused on Him.  The Lord reminded me of a word He gave me a few years back. He told me that “You have 2 eyes to see My truths---1 mouth to speak My truths---2 ears to hear My truths - 2 hands to give Me---1 heart full of My love---2 feet to go and tell about Me.  What I see and hear is that people are hurting, struggling, seeking and asking. I can’t be so busy self-absorbed with negative thinking that I am not walking by faith but by sight. My declaration is that mouth shall proclaim His glory – His loving-kindness – His Wisdom – His peace – His Hope – His faithfulness – and our worth and identity in Him. Each of us has a part in proclaiming His Good News and should know our call and walk in it. We should know and see our vision and head toward it. We are His mouth to spread His Word. We are His hands that give unconditional love to everyone. We are His feet that take the Gospel to every part of the world. If He is your Lord and Savior then He is in you working through you to reach those in your life with His love. The prayers this week are about the calling that He has given to each of us. We aren’t all going to go and reach the world in the same way. We all have an individual call that will bless people in a way only you can. I will be sharing more about what we put before our eyes in the next couple weeks. These prayers are for this new year and I pray you are able to see your value, your worth, your importance in doing the things the Lord has put on your heart to extend love to others. The greatest goal and vision any of us can have is to know Him so intimately. When I know who I am in Him and Who He is in me then it is easier for me to see all He has given me and what He has called me to do. If you don’t take time to know your gifts and visions then it is hard to see them accomplished. Be blessed and have a wonderful week in Him!!
Sunday: Father, thank You for this new year! How exciting are each and every one of Your days. As I begin this time frame I like to think of it as a time of renewing, refreshing and reminding myself of what You have spoken to me. You have given me visions, dreams, goals and a direction to head. Sometimes I let everyday life get in my way and I forsake what I want to follow. I know that I don’t always stay on the track as I begin new each year but I do know that if I don’t refocus occasionally I will never get even close to Your direction. You say in Habakkuk 2:2 to “Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes by may be able to read it easily and quickly as he hastens by.” Today I desire to write again the vision You have given me. Writing it out gives me a direction and helps me better define what I see. Also, Lord, I believe if I write this word or vision from You and let others see it then I have others to help encourage me to head toward and fulfill that I see. I thank You that You have given me a direction, a dream, a vision, a call. I will write out what I see for now, though it may not be complete, and keep Your words before my eyes. “Where there is no vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18 Amen
Monday: “But let him who glories glory in this; that he understands and knows Me personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character, that I am the Lord..” Jeremiah 9:24  “Let be and be still, and know, recognize and understand that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.” Psalm 46:10   “Yes, let us know, recognize, be acquainted with and understand Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord, to appreciate, give heed to and cherish Him..” Hosea 6:3 I think I will just mediate on these verses today. These words can be hidden in my heart. Just thinking about recognizing, understanding, being acquainted with, being zealous to know, appreciating, giving heed to and cherish You can consume my every thought today. I desire to still my mind of all the stuff and dwell on You. I love You, Lord and cherish my relationship with You. I believe that knowing You is the beginning of knowing the call and vision You have for me. Amen     
 
Tuesday:  Lord, “For my determined purpose is that I may know You, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of Your Person more strongly and more clearly..” (Philippians 3:10) That is my prayer today, Lord. I believe there is no greater purpose for my life than to intimately know You. There is no greater or deeper desire for this year  than to deeply and intimately become acquainted with You. When I know You I will know the answers I am looking for in every other area and situation in my life. I will begin to understand the vision you have for me, the calling You have called me to. Without knowing You I cannot do this. This is not about me but about You so I want to live this year with this determined purpose. I praise You always and lift Your Name on High! Amen
Wednesday: Lord, as I’m seeking to know You this week I still have the desire to know answers to the many things that are on my heart. It seems that worry can get into my thoughts so quickly. Today I want to meditate on Matthew 6:33-34 which tells me not to worry. “But seek, aim at and strive after first of all Your kingdom and Your righteousness and then all these things taken together will be added given to me. So I do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble” Starting a new season – a new year can bring fear and worry if I don’t know You and trust You. As I’m seeking Your truths and receiving Your unconditional love I see that all that I want to worry about has already been taken care of through You. I know that living for You does not mean that my days will be trouble free but that as I seek You I know each day will be filled with You and all You give. I bow before You and send away all the junk that is holding me back. I thank You, and praise You. Amen
Thursday: Along with knowing You and becoming intimately acquainted with You, Your word also tells me how important it is that I come together with others that are like minded. “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as believers.. but admonishing, warning, urging, encouraging one another and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 If I keep myself from other Believers I will get caught up in the lies and deceptions of the world. Together we can do everything but alone I am self absorbed and in danger. “Two are better than one, because they have a good more satisfying reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ..A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Thank You for giving me others I can stand with and come together with. I am so blessed to have these special friends that stand on the same truths as I do. Together – united. I praise You always. Amen
Friday: “Stand firm and hold fast…” 1 Thessalonians 2:15  “Do not become weary or lose heart in doing right.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 Father, I thank You that I have been taught Your Word and I can stand on what I know is Your Truth and not have to be tossed to and fro in doubt and confusion. I am blessed with teachers that teach me Your Good News and I can walk each day in joy, peace, love, hope, strength and comfort because I KNOW You and don’t just know about You. I praise You always and rejoice in this day that You have made. Amen
Saturday:  “And so that I can know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of Your power in and for me because I believe..” Ephesians 1:19 Father, may all I have prayed, believed and spoken this week go deep into my heart so that I can experience Your ways and Your love every day and be able to send away all the thoughts that are holding me back. My determined purpose is knowing You and not knowing all the other things that seems so important to me. I cast these cares on You for You care for me. I will keep these words and promises close and in my heart so that when I begin again to want to know my stuff more than I know You I will have Your Word to guide me back to the path of knowing You more than anything else. I thank You and praise You forever. Amen
 
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    Author
    ​Mona Shirley

    Mona has been in ministry since 1982 and her and her husband, Ed Shirley have been the Senior Pastors of Mountain High Chapel since 1994.

    Their heart is to share the Good News of God’s unconditional love all over the world. They have traveled to much of the USA, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, India, Nepal, Venezuela, England, Canada, Peru, Africa and Portugal. They have sponsored and helped to build an orphanage in Kenya.

    ​Ed and Mona have raised 5 children who all have a heart to serve the Lord. They have been blessed with 22 grandchildren.

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