A Glimpse of Glory

The spray hits our upturned faces.

Braced by the unusually cold October wind,

Bundled in layers -wearing our rain gear

We stand together and take it all in.

Does he see it?  Feel it like I do?

Transcended to another realm we can’t look away

It is all too magnificent

Our eyes are fixed – looking - longing

Rainbows intersecting rainbows

Piercing brightness shining thru the ethereal mist

With eyes squinted we can barely look straight ahead

But we can’t look away - it is too glorious!

The boat moves us closer

The roar of the water growing louder and louder

We are in it now –in the mist

My smile so big it hurts- my heart so full I am about to burst!

The beauty and majesty are so great

We continue to look and are dazzled

Is this precious glimpse a sliver of heaven?

Is this a taste of His glory?

Are we getting close to the unapproachable light where He dwells?

The boat begins to turn around and I look at Phil with my tear filled eyes

Yes he has seen it too.

Our faces glow for we have had a glimpse of His glory

A recent devotion quoting the lyrics of an old hymn brought back the memory of our Maid of the Mist boat trip at Niagara Falls.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes.

1 Timothy 6:16 says that Christ lives in unapproachable light. He is surrounded by such splendor and glory that our human eyes can’t look upon Him.  Jesus chose to leave it all for our sake. The Son of God became the Son of Man so that someday we can have a glorified body that will be able to live in that heavenly splendor with Him.

May I be a Maid of His Midst - face ever upward -eyes fixed on Him - heart full.

John 1:14 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen His glory….

A Season to be Thankful - A Lifetime to be Grateful

During this Thanksgiving season I have so much to be thankful for.  For starters- I am still here!  I am healed and healthy.  I have the most wonderful loving husband in the world. His tender strength has got me through the hard times.  After 31 years of marriage he is still my best friend and my true love. I have two precious children who are my pride and joy. I have been so blessed to be their mom, and now also their friend.  I have a beautiful granddaughter who calls me up to tell me silly jokes, and whose free spirit delights me to no end. I have family and friends who I could write pages about they are such a blessing and joy. I have good food to eat, clean water to drink, a warm cozy house. The list could and should go on and on…

Ann Voskamp inspired me to make a list of  things I am thankful for each day. I want to live a life of gratefulness.  In the easy times and the hard times, in the messes and the blessings- to be thankful in all things.  For thanksgiving is the key that opens the door to his presence

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100: 4-5

Thank him in the good times, and thank him in the hard times.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18

This daily counting of blessing has changed my life, and I would like to challenge each of you who take the time to read my meanderings to start a grateful list.  It will help you keep life in perspective. It will refocus your gaze off of your problems and onto the one who is the giver of all that is good and precious. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thess 5: 16-18

Alive!

Brought in the fig tree from my sister – out of winter’s cold

Leaves slowly wither - all that remains is a stick

It looks dead

It sits in our garage - I water it – occasionally-

My dead stick

I think there’s life under that ground, but I can’t be certain.

(This is my first year growing a fig)

The winter goes on long

Dark in the garage

But I water my stick

Will it come back to life?

I believe it will

I hope it will

Spring arrives – the ground begins to warm

Soon I will see if my stick survived

I bring it into the warmth of the basement

Tiny leaves appear!

I am thrilled- YES!

It is still alive!

When the nights turn warm I dig a hole and plant my fig back outside

Spring showers and summer warmth and sunshine do their work

The fig grows – it flourishes.

I can relate

In the past two years I was stripped till I felt bare as a stick

But underneath I knew my roots were still intact.

The warmth and sunshine of God’s love came through his people,

And the watering of His word did its work

By the grace of God I survived

I am alive and flourishing!

Song in the Night

Sometimes it feels as if the weight of the whole world is upon you.  Darkness fills your soul and your spirit can’t seem to rise above the heaviness. You are hurting, wounded, gripped with fear. Tormenting thoughts fill your mind.  What should you do?   I believe I have the answer.   Sing!  Sing a song to the Lord.  It worked for Paul and Silas, it worked for King David, it has worked for me and I believe it will work for you.

After being beaten, Paul and Silas were thrown into the inner prison cell of darkness.  They were chained, but they knew a truth that would set them free. A truth that can set all of us free from whatever bondage we are in. In the midnight bleakness they began to pray and sing praises to the only one who could release them from their prison. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the prison, the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose! The jailer was so terrified that he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

Paul and Silas had much to complain about and even more they could have worried about concerning their future, but they chose to sing instead. It was the right choice!

After the praises went up to God not only were Paul and Silas set free physically but also the jailer and his family were set free spiritually. (Acts 16:22-34)

The Psalms are filled with every emotion we will ever experience.  David pours out his heart to God many times starting in despair with his eyes focused on his circumstances, but somewhere in the singing the focus changes.  He gets it right.  His eyes are set upon the King, the Healer, the Deliver, and praise rises up and fills his spirit, calms his emotions and brings peace.

Often we don’t feel like singing, but it is just what we need. After surgery, when I could barely make it down the steps, I knew I needed to play and sing to the God who had got me through it all. I had so little energy it was very difficult to sing, but I had to pour out my heart to Him. He is so worthy of our praise!

During a recent struggle I remember singing a song by Plumb that voiced my despair:

How many times have you heard me cry out

"God please take this?”

How many times have you given me strength to

Just keep breathing?

Oh I need you

God, I need you now.

Like many of David’s psalms this song cries out to God for rescue. As I sang this over and over God set me free from worry and gave me peace about the situation.

Maybe you need a song in the night to set you free from the oppression you are under. Maybe you just need to get your eyes off your circumstance and refocused on Him. Put on some praise music or make up your own song. Sing a song unto the Lord.  Sing with all your heart, mind and strength. You will be glad you did!

Need You Now - Plumb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CjYvQDDIo

Clean!

“Would you like to take a shower?” asked an angel of a nurse Friday morning. After a week of lying in the hospital bed, recovering from surgery, I’m sure I looked a mess and smelled even worse. Funny, with all I had just been through, I had not really thought about being dirty or getting clean.  But when she asked the question, my spirit leaped inside of me and a great desire rose up in me - a ray of hope.  “Yes, that would be wonderful!” I replied with tears in my eyes from the kindness of this angel-nurse. She left the room to get things ready then returned and began to unhooked my tubes and wrap everything thoroughly so I would not get my incision or any tube wet.  She wheeled me into the oversized shower stall across the hall, adjusted the water, gave me soap and shampoo and then left to allow me some privacy.  I get goose bumps just thinking about it now.  It was almost sacred. As the warm water caressed my scarred and battered body I sat there in the wheelchair overwhelmed with emotions. Oh how I needed this! As the shower continued to wash over and soothe my body, the tears followed. The more the water flowed, washing over me, the more the tears joined in beginning the inside cleansing of emotions that would continue for months. Oh to be clean- refreshed-oh how that cleansing water lifted my spirits.  The angel-nurse was back. I dried off and she wrapped me in a fresh new hospital gown.

Many years earlier, Jesus asked me a similar question. “Do you want to be clean?” 

At the time I don’t really remember feeling particularly dirty (though I was) and wasn’t looking for ways to get clean.  But when I heard Him ask, my spirit leaped inside me and a great desire rose up in me.  “Yes Lord, that would be wonderful”

Cleansed by the blood

The blood of the Lamb

Precious and Holy the Great I AM 

Bids me “Come, and lay it all bare,”

So He can wash over all sin and cares. 

Cleansed – how I feel it!

All sin washed away.

Cleansed- I receive it!

Rejoicing today.

A robe of righteousness

He bestowed upon me

Cleansed and forgiven

Redeemed and set free.

A heaven sent shower that continuously flows

From God’s Holy throne to the earth below.

Come underneath it and be made new

A brand new life is waiting for you.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

 

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

Psalm 51:7 (NIV)

His kindness leads us to repentance.  

(Romans 2:4)

Stronger

I have never felt particularly strong: physically, mentally or emotionally. When I found out I had cancer, I remember not being fearful of the cancer itself.  The diagnosis had taken me totally by surprise, but I knew it hadn’t taken God by surprise.  He knew.  What did make me fearful was that I didn’t feel I had the strength that it would take to get through to the other side of it.  One of the first things I did was got a notebook and started writing scriptures down that I could take to the hospital with me.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

When I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:10

I have never needed or used those verses more than in the past two years. Each hard, hesitant step of the way, I would remind myself of those words the apostle Paul wrote during his trials and hardships. Many days I felt overwhelmed, but God was there to fill me with His strength and power.

You may feel utterly weak and lack the strength to take the next step.  But take it.  God is with you- holding you up when you feel faint, holding your hand when you feel alone. Nudging you forward when you’d rather retreat.

 

You may feel small compared to the big problem that looms in front of you.  You may feel insignificant compared to the situation you desire to have an impact on. You may feel ill-equipped to handle the task that has been given to you. But all these things are easy for Him.  Let Him take control. He will be:

Strength in your weakness

Courage in your fear

Faith in your doubt

Peace in your storm.

Dear friend, what do you need today? It is all His – at His disposal, ready to hand out if we would just ask.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

A snip and a prayer

The Prayer of Faith, the laying on of hands, the working of miracles, I have experienced all of these through my hairdresser Chrissie and her sweet mother Evelyn at whose house my hair gets primped and styled.   I went there in August of 2012, just two days after my first chemo session, feeling totally miserable.  Even though I was praying that I wouldn’t lose my hair, odds said that I would.  I had picked out a shorter style wig from a catalog and asked Chrissie if she could give me a similar cut. Then I could see how I looked with that style before I ordered the wig, and there would be less hair going down the drain if / when it did fall out. 

A snip here, a snip there “Lord we just thank you for a complete healing.  We curse these cancer cells.”  Snip Snip.  “Get all the way down to the root Oh Lord.”  And so it goes- intercession and work, like the men on the wall in Nehemiah.*  Doing the work of rebuilding the wall with one hand and having the sword ready to do battle against those who would oppose them in the other.  Phil is sitting beside me.  He has driven me, since I am still not able to drive yet.   Chrissie encourages us both.  “No charge” she says as she shakes out the sheet covered with hair.   “Come into the living room. Mom and I want to pray for you.”   I take a seat and Phil kneels next to me.  My spirit tries to rise above the pain I am feeling. Oh Lord, thank you for such special friends.  Lord I receive your answers to these prayers. They anoint us both with oil, lay hands on us, and pray for healing.  Pray for us to be witnesses to God’s great mercy.  And they pray some more. I feel sick and yet full of gratefulness and thanksgiving.  A God that hears and answers prayers.  A mother and daughter with Holy Ghost boldness.  A husband who is always by my side.  I am truly blessed.

Is this how to pray without ceasing - as I go about my work each day?

Prayer... automatic, effortless - 

as natural as breathing

Unashamed, Holy Spirit, faith-filled prayer

flowing from my lips as I go about my day.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18(ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

* Nehemiah 4:17