September 27, 2001
The Mountain
Steven Curtis Chapman/Geoff Moore
I want to build a house up on this mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain
CHORUS
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain
I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain
CHORUS
I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
CHORUS 2
You bring me up here on this mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain
I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain
Pretty much I've had my quiet time out of this song which has it's roots in the account of the transfiguration in Mark 9:2-9. I played it over and over again on my way t work and a few things in particular have really helped me see God more clearly today. It's relatively easy to be happy and at peace in the 'mountain' times.. mountain top experience.. those times when I been able to get away on a retreat, I've gotten a lot of great time with God.. my heart is moved, I see him, I've spent time with him where I've been still and known he was God (Ps 46:10). But then I have to come down from the mountain and go back to my day to day life and keep those same thoughts and feeling alive and fresh in my heart... it would be so much easier to stay there where life is peaceful and I'm untroubled by life ( the only thing I can understand about Monasticism)... but I can't stay there. I think it's the first chorus that helps me the most today.. I promised God I'd go wherever he sent me when I became a Disciple, I was thinking mission team at the time but I know I need to trust as God leads me into and through hard times. When I can step away from the fear that comes from going through something hard (or anticipating it) the truth is I'd rather go through hard times with God than easy times without him!! I want to know that God is holding my hand whatever that means for my life. It doesn't make the pain go away but it does give me a confidence. I can look back and see all that he has done... he has given many mountain' times over the years and those strengthen me to walk the valley without losing sight of him... but I do have to keep that thought before me. Mountain times are preferable but I can let God take me in the valley because I know that if I remain faithful I get to go to heaven - THE mountain top experience!!