The book My Utmost For His Highest is a classic read by many Christians through the years and has been in continuous print since 1935. Although the author, Oswald Chambers has thirty book titles bearing his name he really only personally wrote one. Chambers became a Christian as a teenage under the ministry of the famous Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He then knew God has called him to teach the Bible and he did this in teaching and filling leadership roles in places all around the world. MUFHH was written from the pen of his wife of seven years. She was a court stenographer and would take verbatim shorthand notes when she listened to his sermons. Oswald Chambers was only 43 years old when he died (1874-1917).

A few years ago at a family Christmas party during a present swap, Danny and I won an updated version of the book from my little sister Deena. I spied it on the book shelf the other day and decided to read from it each day. (It contains a five minute devotion for each day of the year.) I wanted to dig into it to see if I could find some golden nugget quotes to cheer me on as a Christian. I found one on October 1. Last weekend I got to see Deena we started talking and she said she had found a good quote in a book she was reading and began to describe it. I nearly shrieked. I couldn't believe it she was talking about the same quote I read from MUFHH! The quote is simple but obviously something we both could relate to. Here it is:

"We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life-- those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength."

In the next days devotion it was repeated:
"The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God."

If I practically apply that to my life, I must realize that within my humdrum ordinary life I must strive to do right. Daily routines get old after many years of doing them. Getting up in the morning, going to work, raising my 4 children, helping my husband, trying to overcome wrong in my life. . .not spectacular events but God considers them important. So, honestly, I should work to have an attitude of acceptance not frustration and I should thank God for "the here and now" of my life. If I try hard to do the things He wants today surely He will give me a fulfilling life.