Are you curious why I named the ministry Mountain Light Ministries (MLM), and the significance of “a place of revelation?” I would love to answer that.
In 1976 I was living in a resort village in the High Sierra, and the mountains were literally within walking distance. Coming from New York, I was instantly in awe of the grandeur and found a new strength from these granite towers, and found revelation of deeper things within me that I had not known before, and it was as if I wanted a relationship with those mountains. Instead, I was about to enter into a relationship that would change my life forever!
I was introduced to, and accepted, a personal relationship with Jesus and the Creator of this power and glory. With it, came the revelation that I could have both! The Light streaked through the mountain peaks and brought me into deeper revelation of who I was truly created to be.
In recent months, I told a friend that if I could live life over (knowing what I know today about my strengths) I would have trained to do mountain climbing, and maybe even professionally. I love the feel of stretching out my body while reaching from ledge to ledge – exerting every muscle. The thrill of the challenge, the absolute joy of ascending, and the eagle-eye view from the summit. I can feel in my spirit a real connection (and revelation) while climbing. All of this was significant to the call upon my life. No wonder I would meet my Savior while being introduced to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
My friend Sarah was training to climb Mt. Everest last year and she learned that the key to accomplishing this incredible feat was to understand (and live by) discipline and perseverance. A year in advance, she was concentrating on exercise, nutrition, and hydration. It included rigorous workouts 5 days/week, eventually becoming 90 minutes a day and a training regime of 6-8 hour hikes carrying a loaded backpack.
Like a mountain climber, a healing prayer minister will need to be acquainted with the rigors of on-going training and perseverance in order to be equipped to meet people right where they are. The prayer minister must be able to lead them to the next level where there is a freedom that cannot be experienced at any other level. Climbers have the aid of pitons, cams, and carabineers to let them scale the walls. Our tools are the revelations in the Word of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit Who uncovers why a person can’t go “higher.” We look at what is holding them back, how are they struggling with using the tools, how have the tools not worked for them, why do they seem to linger at this one level of a “learned belief system” where it’s “normal” to be precariously hanging on a side of mountain wall – till, who knows when?
Our mountains were pushed up from the internal pressure of the earth. They erupted from the surface of the earth’s crust to proclaim sheer Majesty and the glory of God in all His splendor. At MLM, prayer ministry works by finding where those internal pressures are that are about to erupt, and letting them erupt with an anticipation of seeing the true beauty that is hidden deep inside! Bring it forth Lord, expose the truth of who they are, explode with Your glory, reveal that it’s safe and good to release that pressure in order for them to know they can survive and bring forth who they were created to be. Help them get beyond being cradled on the side of mountain wall thinking it’s the best there is. In 1976, I found “beauty beneath the crust.”
The heart of MLM is in the revelation of God. Yosemite Valley was carved by a river and glaciers. El Capitan is 3,000 feet above the valley floor! That’s a lot of carving. Will we let Him carve in order to reveal His design? He is carving me and He is carving all those He is bringing to me from all over the United States. What a privilege and a joy. I can feel it in every part of me – just as I have loved the climb.
Back down to “ground level” I want to express how thankful I am for all those who donate(ed) to this ministry, thus, enabling me to remain in this beautiful office building right in the heart of Reno; for the faithful intercessors who pray and fast; for the donations to buy cloths, gas, and getaways; for the contribution of the monthly cost of this newsletter; for the pastors/leaders (current and in the past) who have been a vital part of my life and helping me to keep focused on my vision statement; and for the tender hearts of those who come for sessions – and how they say “yes” to God, “I want to see from the summit.”