Mountain Cedars Ministries

09/06/2026

Sep 6 - Coping vs. Healing

What does it mean to cope with our hurts and habits? When we’re uncomfortable in some situations, around certain people, or when we are under “scrutiny”, we may stuff our feelings deep inside, deny they exist, “I’m fine”… but are we? We all have coping skills that help shield us from feeling the pain of past hurts. Denial, minimizing, projecting the blame on others, bypassing, even hyper self-discipline, are some of the tools we use to deflect attention to an area that needs healing.
When a child has an injury; they may pull back, cower, cry, protect, run from us, and refuse help. We have to be able to see the injury, assess it, and then apply first aid if we’re going to be able to help.

Our loving heavenly Father wants to heal our hurts too. His method often involves revealing the wound in order to heal it. This isn’t meant to embarrass us, but rather as the Light reveals, it heals the dark shadowy places in our souls. This is the point of confession: it brings to light areas that hinder us. Our role is to surrender them to the healing power of God’s love and forgiveness.

“God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:5-NLT

Abba,
May we be quick to repent, run to You instead of from You when we need forgiveness and healing.
May our eyes be open to see our real need for You Jesus, amen.

09/05/2026

Sep 5 - Help! I’m stuck!

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the LORD.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I understand that checking my rampant emotions at the door while I pause and think is a challenge sometimes. Especially when it’s a new habit I’m trying to learn.
I’d like to give you a few tips over the next few days from therapy methods (how it works,) and give you Lady Wisdom’s advice alongside. (why it works.)
Two of my favorite studies.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an overarching practice with many different methods.
The main point is to confront our thinking patterns that may be founded on childhood wounds or bad habits. Try questioning your beliefs with some deep-dive questions.
Why do I believe ‘this’ is true?
Am I catastrophic in my thoughts?
(This is the worst thing that could happen!) Thoughts like, “I’ll never amount to anything,” are often imbedded in our memories from angry words spoken to us as children.
We confront those thoughts with truth. This is where Lady Wisdom comes in. There are no original lies. Every lie is a distorted story about what is really true.

Cognitive Restructuring is exactly what it sounds like:
Take my negative thoughts captive and reframe them with Truth statements. It doesn’t happen over night, but we can change the way we think with repetitive restructuring of our thoughts. It works because our brains have the ability to change, process in different ways, and reroute the negative thoughts.
This is called neural plasticity.
Dr. Dan Seigel is famous for saying, “Where attention goes, neural energy flows.”
In other words, we become what we focus our attention on.

Abba,
We know You equip us for every good work. When you command us to “Change the way we think,” You also equip us to do that.
Thank You Holy Spirit for reminding us to think good things.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

09/04/2026

Sep 4 - How We React/Respond

We’ve looked at the fruit we want to see in our lives and agree that we want good fruit.
So what if we aren’t seeing them?

Certain situations, or people, can sometimes set us up for a stumble. My mom used to say, “You’re driving me to the brink of my endurance!” That sounds extremely scary! And what is it about traffic that makes us feel like an angry reaction is completely justified?
We all have those precipices, what we do when we “hit the wall,” and can’t go any further.

We have automatic, involuntary survival reactions triggered when our nervous system detects a threat or extreme stress.

- Some of us run into the conflict headlong like David with his sling and rock. (Fight)
- Some run the other way and avoid the problem. (Flee)
- Some of us tend to armor up, protect ourselves, throw on the mask or helmet, raise the shield and the sword. (Freeze)
- Some try to win the opponent over with charm, people-pleasing. (Fawn)
- Some of us fall out into a dead faint. Like an opposum. (Flop.)
Can you recognize your tendency in this list?
I catch myself freezing up when the conflicts arise. I usually feel very frustrated with myself later.
So what should I do?
This is again an opportunity to practice the pause. Give yourself a deep breath and a few seconds to think before you act. It allows your thinking brain adequate time to process the best response to a particular situation. For freezers like me, don’t overthink too long.

This is when it is very helpful to have a habit of studying the word and spending time in worship and prayer. The thoughts that will float to the top when you have given yourself time to breathe will be God’s words, His solution for the moment.
I’ve come a long way from the “raging fury” teenager my siblings used to taunt, but we are never too old to practice the pause.

“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abba,
Sometimes we are “arrested” by our own thoughts, habits, and doom scrolling. Thank You for making the Way of Escape through the shed blood of Jesus.
Holy Spirit, please continue to teach us to walk in Truth and in love so that we can be lights, shining for You. Amen.

09/03/2026

Sep 3 - Abide in the Vine

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can choose to bear life giving healthy fruit, suitable for eating, sharing and sustaining ourselves and others. Or we can choose to plant seeds of discord, selfishness, and hatred.

The way we think leads to actions, and the way we act leads to consequences, whether good or bad.
Let’s take a look back at one of the exercises Ed shared last month (Aug 28-Contemplate). This is about practicing the “pause”.
I’ve tried to practice the pause in the present moment.
What should we talk about right now Lord?
Don’t even try to place myself an hour ahead of this moment.
Just BE.
I have to actively choose the exercise of my thoughts.
It doesn’t come naturally or without intention. There’s a reason it’s called “practice.” Don’t give up! This is an exercise of Romans 12:1-2: Change the way I think!

“Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abba,
May we be wise in the Way of the Lord, able to be used to speak life and see our families and our friends prosper, our cities and our nation yield to You and our world swept in the glory of Holy Spirit presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

09/02/2026

Sep 2 - Identify the Fruit
What Fruits Do I Want to See in my life?

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:22-25 NLT

In an article by Harold G. Koenig in the magazine, Christian Counseling Today, volume 25, number 2, he states, “The benefits of religious faith on social health were reported in more than 80% of studies conducted prior to 2010.” (Koenig, et al., 2022) This and several other studies were cited to affirm that spiritual health directly and proportionately aid mental, physical well-being, and positive social integration.
Science most often proves and supports what we learn from our studies and practice of Biblical standards. If it does not, I suggest there is more yet for science to discover.
So the question remains, what fruit do we want to bear? We are given a choice. More on that tomorrow, but keep in mind:

“There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Abba,
May our hearts burn with passion for Your Way, Your Truth, and Your Path which leads to everlasting life. Through Jesus and in His name, amen.

09/01/2026

September 1 - Roots and Fruits
30 days of Identifying, Defining, Overcoming, and Growing

Libby here: What a tough act to follow! Who agrees, Ed needs to write more!

Introduction
September is harvest season!
I love this time of year; the colors, the crisp, cool air, the business of harvest, the celebrations.
As we drive up and down the hills here, we see so many beautiful fields in the process of the fall, or last harvest of the year.

The autumn season brings about a sense of completion on the one hand and a sense of beginning a new year ahead. In Biblical culture we see a cyclical pattern of planting and harvests, rest and growth, celebration and sobriety.
Jesus uses these ideas in His parables to help us understand the spiritual context of the Kingdom of God.
Our first responsibility in this time is to take a deeper look at our own life. How have I done with the stewardship of my responsibility to the Lord, to others, to myself?
Let’s take the time to look within. Reflect on our own heart or “root” condition and turn back to the Lord.”

This is an invitation:
To discover the rhythm of the ebb and flow of the seasons;
the press of work and the release of rest;
the intersection of reflection in the Word and prayer toward healing, and the expression of that wholeness toward others in relationships.

Are we simply coping, or are we open to healing? Are we choosing life, or are we forfeiting power to other people or things to control us?
Holy Spirit invites us to wisdom, healing, and integration of spirit, soul, and body.
Let’s grow together, reap the harvest, and learn to intentionally and actively “Choose Life!”

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abba,
May we be sensitive to not only understand the signs of the weather and the seasons, Matthew 16:3, but may we also be able to apprehend the spiritual signs of the times and the environment we live in. Holy Spirit help us to know how to hear and follow Jesus. Amen

08/31/2026

August 31-Another Place for Hearing

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29b NLT

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT

From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.
Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:23-24 NLT

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already
doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

Several years ago we led a book study of “Searching for Sunday” by Rachel Held Evans. At one point, she and her husband had decided to leave the church they had grown up in because of differences of belief between them and their church. After they sat down with the pastor and deacons and came home, she had a thought that really hit hard. “When I have my baby, who is going to make me a casserole?” It spoke to me so strongly that it still resounds in me. Who is going to be there for me when things are hard?

It popped back up in my mind because of hard things going on in my (Ed) extended family. One of my nephews passed away a few days ago at age 46. I don’t even know the why yet, but I know he had a “history”. And he was one who was like so many around us. In fact J.D. Vance shared the same thought in his autobiography. People who know Jesus, believe Jesus is the Son of God and died for their sins. People who believe He rose again. People who asked Him to forgive them and come into their lives. Yet they don’t get connected to the one place that they can HEAR. Where they can hear the word taught and can learn what the Scripture wants to teach us. Where they can hear how the Lord worked in the lives of those there. Where He brought healing, wisdom, and provision, and salvation. Where they could hear how the Lord was there in their greatest need.

God did not make us to walk the walk of faith by ourselves. “It is not good for man to be alone.” He put us in community together for a reason. We need to hear each other's stories. We need to be there for each other. Be the one who is there. The one with an encouraging word. A helpful hand. A casserole.

Abba, Your wisdom is amazing and Your plans are perfect. Holy Spirit, give us the courage to step outside of ourselves and be willing to share what You have placed in us with others, and the humility to admit when we are stuck and need help. We love You. Teach us how to love our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Let it be so through the mighty name of Jesus.

Welcome to Mountain Cedars! We offer retreats in a peaceful cabin above Obey River Tn, focusing on prayer, marriage, and family relationships. Whether you're an individual, couple, or family, come renew your faith and strengthen your bonds.

08/30/2026

Great teaching on baptism!

08/30/2026

August 30-Finalizing Our Feast

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my heart’s delight, Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never
be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35 NLT

Usually August seems like such a long month! Maybe because it’s the second 31-day stretch of hot days and it never seems to end. They do call it the “dog days” for a reason. This year, though, it has gone by very quickly. We’ve spent the month talking about hearing and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) Over the last couple of weeks we interspersed the practice of Divine Reading, lectio divina, so as we come to the end of the month let’s summarize our steps in one spot. If you would like to read the fuller descriptions you can click on our profile picture and find the posts. Once again, this isn’t some super mysterious weird way of handling the Bible. We just want the Word to speak to us.

1. Take a bite. Read: Choose a short passage of Scripture. It can be from daily devotional or other reading you already do. Keep it to about 4-10 verses. It should be something that really jumps out at you. Reread it a few times slowly, and read it out loud if you can. This isn’t something we are trying to check off of our to-do list. What grabs your attention?
2. Chew. Meditate: We are not emptying our mind but filling it with this Word. We aren’t analyzing here. Instead, ask yourself questions that apply it to your life and your situations as you sit with the passage. Why does this speak to me? How can I apply this to my life? Again, take your time with it.
3. Savor. Pray: It’s time to take your insights and impressions to the Lord in prayer. Whether it be gratefulness or confession, surrender or celebration, or just a sense of being seen, speak WITH the Lord about all that is going on in your heart. Again, take your time.
4. Digest. Contemplate: Now is the time to sit quietly. Just as you like to lay back after a big meal, just rest in His Presence. Allow “deep to call to deep”. Allow Holy Spirit to work in your spirit.

As you begin this process, we believe that you will find, as have the believers through the centuries, the Word truly becoming a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.

Abba, You created us for fellowship with You. Teach us Your ways through Your word. We want to know You in all of Your fullness. We love and bless You! Thank You through the precious name of Jesus. Let it be so!

08/29/2026

From the archives

Restore
“Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬
A song is going through my head this morning, from Ps. 51, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.”
The restoration of all things; wow! That’s impossible to wrap my head around. Even in my own life, I don’t know or see all of the things I do that aren’t right.
How can I fix what I don’t even know is broken?
Restoration comes when we enter the presence of the Lord.
His glory reveals our own shortcomings, but also heals us as we submit to His overwhelming love. As in the verse above, He longs to refresh us, renew us in His love, and restore us in harmony with Him and one another.
Father,
Only Your presence can heal the broken places in our hearts, our relationships, our communities, and the world. We long for You Lord, like people wandering in a desert, our souls are thirsty for You! May we seek You, and may Your glory restore us to the joy of our salvation through Jesus. Amen.