Hello again and welcome to the program. We're here with A Little Strength for today. We're going to start a series entitled A Land of Hills and Valleys. We read that in Deuteronomy 11, 11. For the land whither thou goest in to possess it is not as the land of Egypt from whence ye came out, but the land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys. That is what it's like for a Christian life. We get saved, Egypt is the picture of the world from whence we came out, but the land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys. Well, we like those mountaintop experiences, not so excited about the valleys. The thing is, mountaintop experiences are short-lived. We spend most of our time in the valley. Mountaintop experiences are there so we can learn how to live in the valley. Moses was on the mountain getting instructions on how God wanted him to do things in the Old Testament, and the disciples of Jesus were on the mountain getting instructions in Matthew chapter 5 concerning how to live in the valley. We read in Matthew 5, 1 and 2, and seeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain, And when he was set, his disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth, and he taught them. The same thing is true with Paul the Apostle. After he got saved, he went to Arabia. He went to Mount Sinai, the same mountain that Moses got his instructions on. And we read in Galatians 1.17, Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me, but I went unto Arabia and returned again unto Damascus." Paul went to the same mountain that Moses went to for a very special meeting with the Lord. Moses received information concerning how things were to be done under the law. Paul received information concerning how God wanted things done in the local church. Paul spent the rest of his life establishing local churches and writing the books of the Bible that are designed to tell us how to establish churches and how to live the Christian life. Haggai 1.8, we read, God said, go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house. To get the material you need, get down in the valley and get to work. Years ago, when I was going through some rough times, I wrote the following poem. Down in the valley helped me to know That I'm in the place where you want me to grow. I want to climb to the mountain above, but you keep me low because of your love. You know that nothing on the mountain will grow. It's just a rock all covered with snow. Down in the valley you've taught me to know that I'm in the place where everything grows. So thanks for the mountain, and thanks for the snow, and thanks for the valley where you let me know that flowers and grass and things that are dear grow down in the valley where it becomes clear that you keep us there because of your love. So help me forget that mountain above, then for a season I'm up for a time, bring me back down that the growth may be mine. Be sure to be with us for our next program as we look at the adventure with the Lord in a land of hills and valleys.