Mountain Cedars Ministries

06/02/2026

June 2 - 30 Ways to Pray
Teach Your Children to Pray

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Does anything warm your heart more than hearing the voices of children lifted up in prayer and praise? My favorite part of Sunday morning worship service is hearing the children singing in the congregation.
I think our Heavenly Father agrees!
He considers us all His children and He loves to hear our praises.
Why is that do you think?
Well it’s not for the sake of His ego, that’s for sure.

A good example in the Bible is the Israelite nation in the wilderness. When they moved, the tribe of Judah “praise” always led the way first.
2 Chronicles 20 tells us that when a vast army was spotted marching toward Jerusalem, King Jehoshaphat called a fast and he prayed along with the people.
The Lord gave him a strategy to send the praisers out ahead of the army. When they approached the battlefield, they saw their enemies slain all over the valley.
David was first a worshipper before he was a warrior.

When we pray and lift up our voice in praise we are in essence inviting the power of heaven into our situation, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬

Abba,
Thank You for Your promises and Your powerful presence. You promised never to leave us and we invite You into our every day lives, moment by moment. You are able to rescue us from every situation. Through Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.

06/01/2026

June 1 - 30 Ways to Pray

As we launch a new month we’re going to explore several prayers from the Bible.
Beginning with the Lord’s Prayer,
we’ll talk about different prayers and the effects of them.
Many ministries have called for a season of focused prayer as we approach America’s 250th year, with good reason. There are so many issues facing our nation and the world as a whole. Our prayers can make a difference.

““This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV

As Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began with worship, acknowledging the first and third commandments.
“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬, ‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Abba,
We worship You this morning and we say, “May Your name be great throughout the earth!”
We turn our hearts and our thoughts to You as we begin this new month, filled with promise as we put our hope in You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

05/31/2026

Retire From or Graduate To?

So I have officially worked my last day for USPS this past Friday. I spent the rainy afternoon sitting on our upper deck listening to music and searching my thoughts. My life of working for a paycheck was coming to a close. Of course the most asked question I have heard in the last month is “So what are you going to do with yourself now?” Good question! We do happen to live on 5+ acres with a lot of trees that need tending and a honey-do list as long as my arm. (And I’m 6’3”. I have long arms ;D ) As I was thinking my thoughts, they turned toward the fact that this coming week also marks our 50th anniversary of graduating from high school. Libby and I graduated from the same school, BTW. Since I finished third in our class, I was honored to give the speech on “Seniors’ Thoughts At Commencement”. My speech was titled “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”. I talked about some funny and crazy and proud and sad moments of our class’s past. I spoke of the excitement as we finished our high school studies and celebrated the achievement of a major goal in our lives. I closed with thoughts of what the future may hold. Our plans. Our goals. Our hopes. Our dreams. Can they be fulfilled? Can they bring us the success we want? The joy and happiness?

It occurred to me that I stand at the same point. The only difference is the “Yesterday” is a LOT longer that what it was then, and the “Tomorrow” is probably going to be much shorter. Though the timelines have flopped, the mission hasn’t changed. Jesus told a great story that directly addresses this.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:12-13

OCCUPY TILL HE COMES! And that’s the answer to what I am going to do with myself. Libby just came across something I wrote for a class I taught several years ago. It still holds true. It was a class on defining your identity. In coming up with my life mission statement, I wrote: “I am a difference maker in the Kingdom, faithfully teaching and mentoring God’s people.” Yes, I worked several jobs to earn income to support my family. But THIS has been my purpose most of my adult life. And that doesn’t stop now. In fact, it will take an additional facet of ministry as we take the next steps into what our ministry here among the mountain cedars will be. Most of all, I am going to occupy. I am going to be about the Father’s business. I am going to enjoy the life my Lord has given me all my days and encourage all within my voice to embrace the abundant life Jesus gives us.

Abba. You are so amazing! Thank You for bringing me to this point and this time. Continue to work in and through me to do Your will and spread Your mercy, Your grace, and Your love wherever I am. I love You Lord. Amen.

05/30/2026

May 30 - See and Reflect His Glory

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we wrap up the theme for the month of May, I would say the message is, we don’t just See the Light, but we are called to Be the Light.

We are called to advance the kingdom of God for the sake of the lost and hurting. Yes we celebrate the Lord together, and we rejoice in His presence, AND, (there’s that word again,)
We put on our spiritual armor, Ephesians 6.
We spend time in building our faith in worship, prayer and study, AND we put our Good News shoes on our feet and Go.
Where the Holy Spirit leads us we must go. And we must tell!
Share the Good News, the Great News, that Jesus took our sins, bore our shame, restored us and has set us free to love Him and obey His Word.
That’s it. In a nutshell.

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬, ‭5‬ ‭NLT

We must make a difference. If you believe Jesus is Lord, let your life reflect that truth.

Abba,
The greatest blessings are in our walk with You. What an amazing thing that we who are like clay carry within us the very power and presence of Your Spirit.
Thank You for making the way back to You through Jesus, our Savior and Lord, in His Holy name, amen.

05/29/2026

May 29 - I Looked Up

We are living in Biblically historic times!
Most of you will say, “Aren’t ALL times Biblically historical?”
And of course yes, they are. God holds all times in His hands.
I’m referring to the days that the prophet Joel spoke about when he said, ““Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.”
‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We know that the “thing” that God is doing is correcting and confronting a lot of evil in our world. It has happened over and over throughout history.
Purging the land, cleansing and restoring what the enemy has stolen.

Many of us have different view points about who is right and who is wrong. When we look around us, it gets very confusing.
I am here to say that confusion and conflict doesn’t come from God. It’s a tool that Satan uses to steal, kill and destroy.
We’re in this world right now, but we who love the Lord are not “of the world.” Our hearts and our lives belong to Jesus.
So no matter what is going on around us, our Hope in Him is secure.
Let’s remember this, in good times, look up in gratitude.
When things are challenging, look up in hope and prayer. When you’re in over your head, (and who isn’t?) raise your eyes and see above and beyond your circumstances. Jesus our Redeemer lives always to intercede for us!

Abba,
One day we will see You face to face, meanwhile You have given us everything we need to find You.
Jesus our life line and Holy Spirit our guide. In this way we see You, we know You and we have the ability to hear You.
Thank You Lord, for clearing the way through the noise and confusion of this world, thank You for helping us keep our eyes on You. In Jesus’ name and by the power of His blood and the Word of our testimony, amen!

05/28/2026

May 28 - Heard in Darkness- Shouted in the Light

“What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said this to His disciples, as well as very clear warnings that they would be persecuted.
In all of their travels, they met with resistance.
We would love for life to be easy; everybody gets along, we think a lot alike, we love each other, we’re all blessed and healthy.
That is heaven on earth, and it’s part of the promise of what is to come. Not that we will all agree on everything; but we will agree on the one thing that matters, Jesus is the Lord our Redeemer!

That’s not how it is as long as Satan is still roaming about, looking for someone to devour.
We have an enemy who stirs up trouble everywhere.
We live in a fallen world.
When you read Matthew 10, it clearly identifies the kingdom of the world.
People don’t always like a light shining on them.
Demons don’t either.
But Jesus encourages us to share the truth, shine our light, and don’t be afraid.

Abba,
The challenges that the first disciples faced are no different than what we face today.
The power of God is also the same; yesterday, today and forever. Thank You for sending Holy Spirit to lead us, empower us and encourage us to walk the walk of faith.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In Jesus’ name, amen.

05/27/2026

May 27 - Eyes Have Not Yet Seen

“For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭64‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What God has in store for those who love Him exceeds our wildest imagination!
Do you ever stop and think about that?
The world we see, the hustle and bustle that consumes our lives, the pressure of issues we can’t resolve, the sorrows, the fears.
Then there are the joyful moments, the accomplishments, the love of family and friends, the strength of community and excitement of wonderful experiences. And yet…

Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You Lord!
This is the wisdom that Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 2.
If the rulers had understood, they would have never crucified the Lord of glory.

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abba,
You confuse those who think they are wise, and give insight to small children.
The clever twists and plots of the enemy of our souls was made a mockery at the cross as Jesus, the Son of God, defeated wickedness, by His death and resurrection. The penalty of sin was satisfied, and Jesus ascended to heaven and then sent Holy Spirit to live within the believers. We are now living temples with the law of love written in our hearts instead of on tablets of stone.
Our minds can’t begin to grasp the magnitude of this, nor of the things You still have planned, but we trust You with all of our hearts as Your Spirit makes our spirits come alive! Lord, You speak mysteries, truth and the ways of wisdom to us by Your very Spirit in us! Thank You Jesus! Amen

05/26/2026

Set Up A Memorial

As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants.
The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”) Genesis 28:12-13, 18-19a NLT

We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7

As I am writing this we are nearing the end of the day set aside in the United States as Memorial Day. For many this day kicks off the beginning of summer. Many schools have finished for the year, coupled with rounds of graduations. and vacations begin. First and foremost, however, we pause and remember all of those in our military through the years, from 1775 until today, who have paid the ultimate price in the establishment and protection of our nation. Libby and I watched the Memorial Day Concert broadcast by PBS last night as they recognized the fallen as well as those who did come home, but did so missing parts of themselves. Some physical and many mentally and emotionally. Many individual stories were recalled from many of the conflicts we have faced over the years, and many heartfelt tears were shed. We celebrated them in the original sense of the word. We honored and remembered them.

Establishing a memorial, a remembrance, is nothing new. I quoted two instances above, but the Bible is full of times where the people of God set up memorials to remember specific instances of the Lord’s salvation, deliverance, or wonder-working power. The greatest of these memorials was set up by Jesus Himself.
Whenever you eat this bread...Whenever you drink this cup...Remember ME!

So as we finish up the last burger and ear of corn, pause for a moment. Remember the ones who gave their lives so this nation under God can stay free. Even more, pause and remember the One, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who sets us free INDEED!

Abba, thank you for the gift of life that You gave us through the broken body and spilt blood of Jesus. We do remember. Amen.

05/25/2026

May 25 - Jesus, Light of the World!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ NIV

Sometimes we are lulled to sleep by the droning in our own heads.
I don’t know about you, but my thoughts tend to chase in a circle like a dog chasing its own tail.
I think about what needs to be fixed, can we afford it, what’s next?
Then I spiral down into, I need to do better, get healthier, stop this, do that. I did this wrong, or I shouldn’t have said that.
Then I have this chores list.
And I have friends and family who need prayer.
…And then there is world peace.
Next thing I know, I start to believe there is something deeply wrong with me.
Is that what my prayer time is supposed to look like, a check list of cares, and worries?

Yesterday morning, very early, I woke up with a start as this pattern was already forming in my dreams. And I heard these words,
“It’s Me talking to you!”
I thought I was raising objections and arguing with myself. That’s what it sounds like. You see, for every concern I raised, the Word of God came very clearly and fit the circumstances exactly.
And folks, I’m just not that good at knowing how to do that.

That is an example of how we resist Holy Spirit. I fell into thinking things through. Still praying, reading my Bible, worshipping, and writing every day, but the songs began to sound hollow.
The excerpts I’ve written this month, (I should say, every day,) are for me!

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Abba,
We sometimes “go through the motions” not realizing we’ve grown cold, numb.
But Lord, Your Word cut right through the rumble in my head!
Thank You Jesus!
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭130‬ ‭NIV‬‬
In the midst of the mental load, You are with me, even in my thoughts and in my sleep. You know me better than I know myself, and I trust You.
Lord, it’s not about the list, it’s about the greatness of Your love, who You are, who we are in You, and the fact that we are joined forever in You, amen, Jesus, thank You!

05/24/2026

May 24 - Pentecost Vision

Shavuot: Pentecost Fire | Rabbi Jason Sobel

Today is the day that the church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost.
“Come Holy Spirit!”
We are listening to Rabbi Jason Sobel teach a study on the subject and we recommend you check it out on YouTube.

He shares a story about ministering in a church as a guest speaker and after he preached, a blind man was led to the altar for prayer. He asked to be able to see. The word that the Lord gave Rabbi Sobel was, “I (the Lord) am not going to physically heal your sight now, and I’m not going to heal your marriage now. ( Even though the man hadn’t asked for that.) If I were to physically heal you right now, which you think is the problem, it would not take care of your problems and you would be worse than before. The problem is, you need healing for the eyes of your heart, and you aren’t willing to receive that yet.”
(Paraphrase)
The question Jesus asked of the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda was not, “Do you want to walk,” but rather, “When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”” John‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT

The Greek word for “well,” in this case is “Hugies” (hoog-ee-ace')
It means wholeness, soundness in mind and body.
Well you know the story, Jesus heals the man at the pool.

As we celebrate Pentecost, the question is not do you want your immediate need to be met, but do you want all the of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your life?
We say “Yes!” But we must recognize that we still have places in our lives that we have not yet surrendered.

Abba,
We do long for You in our lives. Help us Holy Spirit to walk in surrendered trust to the work that You must do in us to bring us to wholeness in Jesus.
Thank You Jesus, amen.

SHAVUOT: PENTECOST FIRE 🔥 Transformation & ActivationWelcome to this special live online event with Rabbi Jason Sobel and Fusion Global.From Sinai to the U...