Blog Archives

Thank You!

12/29/2016

Many blessings and thanks to all of our partners and friends who have so graciously supported Holy Hill Ministries throughout 2016. Your kindness and generosity enabled us to be a blessing to those in need locally, nationally, and internationally.

Holy Hill Ministries was able to help:

B'Nai Zion (Ahava Village) in Israel
Children's Rescue Initiative
Danita's Children (Haiti)
Families in Gloucester and Camden County, NJ
Mission RescueLIFE
Orphan's Promise
South Jersey Food Bank
VA Hospital of Philadelphia
Volunteers of America

Thank you again for your support of this ministry. We look forward to continued partnerships and the establishment of new ones! May God continue to bless you as you bless others (Proverbs 11:25)

--Lauri

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You CAN Handle the Truth!

12/27/2016

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“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
--John 8:32(NKJV)

Do you remember that infamous quote made by Col. Jessup in the film,
A Few Good Men, "You can't handle the truth!"? Even if you did not see the movie, it is likely that you have heard this quote. Col. Jessup also goes on to say that we live in a world that has walls. Would you say that this is true of the human heart?

As human beings, we have an innate basic need to feel safe and secure. This was something that Adam and Eve had in the Garden of Eden, prior to the Fall (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2). They walked in undefiled wholeness, intimacy, acceptance, and safety. There was no pretense, no facades, no defense mechanisms, no insecurity, no bondage, and no hiding. It was well in the Garden.

After the Fall, in Genesis 3, we see a dramatic shift--there are efforts to hide, cover shame, and blame-shift--because the truth can be hard to handle. The tactics that Adam and Eve employed, we still carry out today. We have an inherent need to self-protect because we long for a sense of security and safety in efforts to protect our hearts from perceived threat(s).

We go to great extremes to fortify the borders of our souls by errecting impentrable walls and making vows in our hearts to defy anyone to cross the boundaries we have meticulously set. This often happens in childhood. For example, someone once shared a story with me about getting an answer wrong in class. This young student, now an adult, received a severe reprimand from the teacher as the rest of the class laughed uproariously. At that moment, the child made a vow in his heart to never speak in class again. Additionally, over the course of time, the child developed a mask/facade of pretense; presenting himself as a skilled, knowledgeable, and intimidating. Yet, behind those walls was a shamed, humiliated, and scared little boy.

Is this too much truth to handle? Well, I have good news for you! God has sovereignly equipped us to receive, handle, and acknowledge truth so that we may confront the things that are keeping us bound. The adversary of our soul, Satan, wants us to walk in deception, bondage, and fear. He does not want us to live life abundantly, so he will make things appear too scary or unpleasant to examine and confront.

As 2016 draws to a close and 2017 approaches, may I encourage you to take some time to be reflective? Are there fortified areas in your heart? Are there experiences and memories that you have not been willing to look at or confront? Is there history you have conveniently "forgotten". Are there secrets, unresolved guilt, or hidden shame that has become taboo? If so, please know that God wants you to know (G1097 ginosko: perceive, understand) truth (G225 aletheia: the candor of mind which is free from pretense, falsehood, deceit) so that you may be made free (G1659 eleutheroo: set at liberty from the dominion of sin; made free).

God gives us the grace and strength to do the hard work. We are equipped to look at what may be unpleasant. And, for those who put in the work, God promises to give comfort, peace, hope, rest, safety and security
(Matthew 11:28).

If this sharing resonates with you, receive it! It is a word from the Lord for YOU. Talk with your pastor or a trusted counselor/therapist. Grab hold of the truths of God. Be free of the pain of your past and walk in the victory you have been predestined to obtain through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess that I have not been open to confronting what has been keeping me bound. I confess that I have learned to adapt, adjust, and function from a place of brokenness. I pray for your grace, help, and strength. I thank you for the truth of your word that I am more than a conqueror. I receive that now by faith in Jesus' name. Amen and so be it according to your word.

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The Gift

12/22/2016

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"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
--Isaiah 9:6(KJV)

As Christmas quickly approaches and we scurry about to wrap gifts, bake cookies, spend time with family, and engage in the festivities of the Holiday--let's take some time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas; the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior. It is a contemplative time to meditate upon the role and significance of Christ in our lives.

Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus as:
1. "Wonderful": (H6382-pele'): a marvel, wonder, extraordinary

2. "Counsellor": (H3289-ya'ats): one gives advice, counsel, guide

3. "The mighty God": (H1368-gibbowr): strong, valiant, champion, brave

4. "The everlasting Father": (H5703-'ad): ever, eternity, evermore, perpetual

5. "The Prince of Peace": (H765-shalowm): peace, well, welfare, soundness, health, tranquility, contentment

Each of us have been given the Gift that surpasses anything the world can offer. Through the gift of Christ, we have been given the gifts of the Kingdom God. As a believer, you have love, peace, hope, joy, acceptance, compassion, grace, mercy, strength, power, and authority. No one and no thing can take these gifts away from you. Covet the gifts that you have been given and do not relinquish them. Jesus came that you would have the right to live abundantly on the earth, and eternally in heaven.

Hebrew translations and definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

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Merry Christmas

12/20/2016

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Walking in Love

12/14/2016

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"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
--Ephesians 5:2(KJV)

"Walk in love", this command may seem like a pretty daunting task. Right? How does one "walk in love" particularly when there are unresolved areas of hurt, pain, rejection, shame, offenses, fear, or anger? How does the offended one walk in love? How does the broken one walk in love? How does one who is consumed by fear walk in love? Does it almost seem unfair on insensitive of God to give this command? What does "walking in love" even look like?

To get a better understanding, we have to unpack Ephesisns 5:2 and grapple with the reality that God would never ask us to do something that we were not equipped or able to do (I Corinthians 10:13). We must remember, that in all things, he is a loving Father who desires that we live life abundantly (John 10:10). We must also remember that Jesus experienced suffering and rejection. He was despised and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:5).

So, what does "walking in love" mean?  Strongs Exhaustive Concordance indicates that to walk (G4043 peripateo) is to make one's way, to progress, to make use of opportunities, to conduct one's self. "In" (G1772 en) is a positional state of being that is fixed within the limits of a place. Love (G26 agape) meaning affection, good will, benevolence, brotherly love, a love feast. Therefore, if I am walking in love--I am walking in a fixed, perpetual state of warmth, acceptance, security, freedom, liberty, care, compassion, fearlessness, wholeness, and wellness.

You may be thinking, yeah right! You may be thinking, easier said than done. To that, I say, yup. It is easier said than done when we apply biblical truths to our natural logic and reasoning. Humanly speaking, it is impossible to walk in a perpetual state of love. That is why we are called to follow God's example and love others as Christ loved us (Ephesians 5:1); activating his perspective and style of relating in our lives is the key to walking in love. We have the "mind" (G3563 nous) of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16), which is the ability and power to consider and judge soberly, calmly, and impartially as Christ did. We have been given the capacity for spiritual truth, recognizing good and hating evil. We have the faculty of perceiving divine things.

Heeding the command to walk in love and relating to others with the mind of Christ are spiritual disciplines.  They must be practiced, as they do not come naturally. But, there are dividends and unforetold blessings when we anchor our lives in the word of God.

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for your word. We thank you that you are LOVE. We receive your love now. We thank you that you have given us the mind of Christ. We receive that truth now. We thank you that you are aware of the cares of our hearts. We give them to you now. We give you our hurt, pain, sorrow, grief, shame, guilt, anger, fear, anxiety. We give you our brokenness. We give you our feelings of rejection and abandonment. We cast every care upon you because you care for us (I Peter 5:7). We trust you as the Healer of our hearts
(Psalm 147:3). We thank you for giving us the capacity to walk in a perpetual state of love even when it doesn't line up with our present realities. We decree that you are greater. We pray for grace to apply the spiritual disciplines of walking in love and taking on the mind of Christ. Amen and so be it according to your word.

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The Accessible God

12/8/2016

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"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."
--Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself having an "Are You Serious?" moment? You know, those moments in life when you are in utter disbelief. It can be an uncomfortable, lonely place. It may seem like "no one understands" or "cares". These moments can alter our sense of security and safety, leaving us feeling vulnerable and fearful. How we govern ourselves in these moments of real distress and adversity is critical. Do we self-soothe and employ maladaptive coping mechanisms? Or, do we bring our angst to the Father?

One of my favorite books is The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer. I love his teaching on the presence of God. So often, we view God as a far away, distant entity that can only be accessed by the most pious and holy people. We may even view ourselves as too sinful, too wicked, too "far-gone" in certain behaviors, essentially disqualifying ourselves from pursuing God.

If you have ever felt this way, I have good news for you! The word of God tells us that all have sinned and missed the marked (Romans 3:23). We also know that nothing (attitudes, poor choices, bad decisions, habits, behaviors, etc.) can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35). We further know that God so loved the world (all humanity) that he gave his only Son (John 3:16). We can never merit or earn his love, acceptance, or mercy. He has already given us these things by grace. We must simply receive them by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The key to moving beyond the "Are You Serious?" moments of life, is not avoiding the presence of God--but rather running into it. If you have found yourself asking (audibly or internally, "God! Where are you?", the answer is with you.

“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.”
― A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

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Thank You!

You CAN Handle the Truth!

The Gift

Merry Christmas

Walking in Love

The Accessible God

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