The Glory of God

I am following the Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumble. He links Mark 9:2-7, which gives the account of the transfiguration, with Exodus 40:34 where the Glory of God filled the Dwelling.

“ After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.  His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ^… Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” (Mark 9:2,3,7 NIV)

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34 NIV)

A cloud settled on Jesus who was radiating the glory of God.

The cloud is symbolic of the presence of God or the Holy Spirit. The Israelites were led by the cloud in the same way we are led by the Holy Spirit, both individually and as the Church. We are filled with the Spirit as the place of meeting was filled by the cloud.

“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b)

I love the picture of the cloud settling on the place of meeting and filling it. God does all the work. He does the settling. In the same way, the Holy Spirit settles on me so that I may manifest the glory of God.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

I can glorify God just by being who He made me to be, just as a flower glorifies God by being a flower or a bird by being a bird.

Image by Marna Buys from Pixabay

One of my favourite quotes is by Ireneaus: “The glory of God is man fully alive, but the life of man is the vision of God.” 

My Prayer

God, thank You that You have done it all. You sent Jesus to redeem me so that I can be a worthy receptacle of Your Holy Spirit Who fills me with Your Presence. Amen.

Rest Stop

We are on our way to the South Coast in our motorhome. The vehicle is heavy, uses a lot of petrol and travels slowly. We tackle manageable chunks. Today’s journey was from Randburg to Harrismith. The advert says, “Life’s a journey. Enjoy the ride.” However, after two hours travelling, it is time for a rest stop. It can be dangerous if the driver gets fatigued and he loses concentration. Luckily, nowadays there are One Stop petrol stations with nice, clean bathrooms, a shop to buy groceries and some kind of fast food or sit down restaurant, as well as petrol pumps. We stopped at Villiers.

The Bible talks a lot about rest and refreshing. God knows that in the journey of life, we also need rest stops. He commanded in Exodus 20, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…” (verses 8-10a NIV) When the Pharisees got obsessive-compulsive about it and micromanaged the law, Jesus pointed that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27 NIV) God knows that we need to rest from our labour regularly. In the same way that a mother of a two-year-old will insist on an afternoon nap, God prescribed a regular rest for our good.

The Bible also talks about “times of refreshing” eg Acts 3:19. This is like splashing cold water on your face when you have been driving for some time. In everyday life we can experience times of refreshing by looking out of the window and seeing God’s creation, going for a walk or run, attending a retreat or stopping to smell a flower.

My Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that You have provided opportunities to rest and refresh myself. Thank You for an opportunity to go away on holiday. May I be a blessing to everyone I meet along the way and at our destination. Amen.

Make a Note

This post is part of Streams of Consciousness Saturday.

When I think of the phrase “make a note” I picture a successful but driven business executive striding to his office followed by a breathless but efficient secretary with her shorthand pad, ready to take notes. Do people even learn shorthand anymore?

Image by SCY from Pixabay

Nowadays with Google Assistant and the like, one just has to say, “Hey Google, make a note.”

My husband believes it is better to write something down rather than trying to remember it. For this purpose he walks around with a thin pad of stapled paper, small enough to fit in his shirt pocket and a short stompie of a pencil.

God also believes in writing things down.

Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.” (Habakkuk 2:2 NLT)

John says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying,’ What you see write in a book and send it to the seven churches…” (Revelation 1:10 )

There’s a lot to be said for writing things down. I like to read my Bible with a pen and notebook or journal. It is so easy to forget from day to day what the Lord is teaching me and the verses He highlights at a particular time. I also find it very helpful to write down my prayers so when God answers them, I have a record. Otherwise i might not even remember that I have prayed for a certain thing or person.

My Prayer

Thank You Lord for Your written word, the Bible. Please help me to read it with attention and to make a note of what You show me. Amen.

Easter Sky

My oldest granddaughter recently acquired a cell phone – ahead of her thirteenth birthday. She uses it predominantly for taking photos and reading. She loves photographing skies and flowers. A few days ago she captured this image of the sky.

The Easter sky

A huge cloud cross dominates the picture. We can’t avoid seeing it.

On Good Friday we can’t avoid the cross, a symbol of God’s love.

Christianity is full of symbolism. We need only remember the ritual of animal sacrifice, an enacted symbol of the one perfect sacrifice to take away our sin and rebellion. Then there was the Passover lamb, sacrificed before the flight from Egypt, when lamb’s blood was painted on the lintel of each Israelite door to protect the people within from the Angel of Death’s retribution. Again, the lamb’s blood was a symbol of God’s redemption and pointed to “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Jesus himself instituted the symbols of bread and wine to represent His body and blood.

“For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].” (1Corinthians 11 vs 23-26 Amplified)

Some of these symbols, like blood and the cross, an instrument of torture, seem bizarre to us. Yet God uses these symbols to bring home to us the lengths to which He was prepared to go to restore relationship with us, and the breadth of His love for us.

I believe that Christ, through His Holy Spirit, also sends us little signs or symbols in our everyday lives to remind us how much He loves us. They will be personal to us. I believe the Easter sky was one such sign. We need only to keep our eyes open and lift our thoughts to Him as often as we can.

My Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross. I don’t like to think about Your suffering on that Friday but it happened. And You did it for me. I cannot even get my mind around such great love. Thank You, thank You, thank You. Amen.

The Good, Good Father

Yesterday my daughter and granddaughter popped into a Bargain Books shop on the way to do something else. Predictably, they spent longer in the store than planned. My granddaughter bought some books with her pocket money but my daughter also bought books – not for herself, but for her three children. She is a good parent and she delights in giving good gifts to her children.

As a grandparent, I love giving gifts to my grandchildren. They are not always something I’ve bought for them, although sometimes they are, but often it will be things that I no longer use and I know one of them will really enjoy. Sometimes it’s the gift of my time and expertise. My oldest granddaughter asked for sewing lessons for one birthday.

God is a good, good Father, as the song by Chris Tomlin tells us. He loves us so much more than we can ever love our children or grandchildren. He delights to give us good gifts. As we take pleasure in giving good gifts to our children and grandchildren, our Father in heaven loves watching us enjoying and benefitting from His gifts.

Image by Pixabay

James 1:17 reads, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change,” (ESV)

Jesus Himself says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11 ESV)

God’s gifts to us are on a different scale to the gifts that we give our children. They are often things that the world cannot give, like peace, or a friend. The best gifts my Father has given me include a husband, three wonderful children and six grandchildren, the house we now live in, and all my talents and abilities. I don’t always get everything I ask for, any more than my grandchildren get sweets every time we pass a sweet shop. Some gifts are experiences or even training, in the same way that a loving parent might give their child a trip to a science museum or ballet lessons.

My Father knows me even better than I know myself. Sometimes when somebody asks me what they can pray for me, I don’t know. I can’t think. But God knows. He knows my needs, my personality and my preferences and His gifts to me will satisfy all three.

I feel so blessed, so thankful and even, sometimes, so spoilt.

My Prayer

God, my Father, how can I thank You enough for all the good gifts You have given me. I am loved by the God of the universe and that is just so beyond my comprehension. All I have, my situation in life, even my body and personality are all given to me as You see fit and the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Without You I can do no good thing. Thank You, thank You, thank You. Amen.

Threescore and Ten

Image by Pixabay

I will be seventy this year. According to the Bible, that’s about my lifespan. “We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90 vs 9b -10 KJV)

At the moment I’m reasonably healthy:- My osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and hypothyroidism are all under control as is my hypertension. However, I am beginning to understand that I am going to become less comfortable in my body as the years go by.

A certain amount of suffering in life can’t be avoided. Paul says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)

It’s not what happens to us that is the issue. It’s how we react to what happens to us that is important. I know that my Father will not put anything on me that I can’t manage with His help. I trust Him with my life, my future and my eternal life.

My Prayer

Father God, I commit my life and my future into Your hands. I trust You. Amen.

Lost in Translation

My husband gave me a beautiful journal for Christmas. Every page has a different scripture verse at the bottom.

The other day the verse was, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him , and he will gladly tell you.” (James 1:5.) That verse spoke to me. I did want to know what God wanted me to do. Funny, I didn’t remember having seen that verse in James before. I thought I’d check it out in my default version which is the NIV.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” That I recognised! I hadn’t realised that wisdom and knowing what God wants me to do are the same thing. I thought I’d check out other versions.

The Message: If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.

ESV: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Amp. If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance] he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame and it will be given to him.

Philips: …if any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem, he has only to ask God – who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty – and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.

In the end I found the version my journal had used. It was the Living Bible. Through the whole process I felt my mind had been opened to that particular verse. I should try that exercise more often.

Image by Pixabay

My Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the richness of Your Word. Please give me wisdom because I sure lack it. Thank You. Amen.

For the Joy Set Before Him

JusJoJan 17 January 2022

Hebrews 12:2 says of Jesus, “…For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NIV)

When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew exactly what He was about to face. He was in anguish and begged His Father to find another way if He were willing.

“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” (Luke 22:43 NIV)

I wonder how the angel strengthened Him. I like to think the angel showed Him visions of the people He loved, the people whose eternal destiny hung in His next decision. I think He saw “snapshots” of us, including you and me, redeemed and with Him in heaven. I believe that was the joy set before Him.

Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will and submitted to His plan of salvation. “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42b NIV)

Jesus went to the cross with a photo of you next to His heart.

Adapted image from Pixabay

My Prayer

Lord Jesus. Thank You for the cross. May I remember that the thought of me brings You joy.

Grey Hair

When I became a granny, I stopped colouring my hair. I reckoned it was appropriate for grannies to have grey hair. I am quite used to my older image now.

The Bible says, “Grey hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” (Prov 16:31 NIV)

In this world where the elderly are often overlooked or treated with disdain, it is good to know that God is no respecter of age. He has a plan for each of us in every stage of life – from the boy, Samuel to the old man, Moses.

Certainly the Lord’s immediate plans for us change as we grow older, but His overall plan remains constant:- that we may be conformed to the image of Christ. We can do no better than to seek all our lives to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

My Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, every day as I seek to see You more clearly, love You more dearly and follow You more nearly, may I gently be transformed into Your image by the work of Your Spirit in my life. Amen.

I am an Arms Dealer

Image by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay

My husband and I belong to the Gideons.

The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments.

While we are often recognized for our work with hotels, we also place and distribute Scriptures in strategic locations so they are available to those who want them, as well as to those who may not know they need them.

The first school term is the time to distribute testaments to the Grade 8’s at all the schools in our area. Because of the Covid restrictions, instead of visiting schools, addressing the learners and handing out testaments individually to those who are willing to accept them, my husband has to drop boxes of testaments at the schools for them to distribute.

In the same way, the ladies used to visit clinics and doctors’ rooms and hand out testaments to the medical staff. We can’t do that anymore. Recently I left a box of testaments at the security station of the Windsor clinic.

Paul refers to the Word of God as The Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

The Bible says “…the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

It occurred to me that we are arms dealers. We put swords in the hands of teenagers, we arm nurses, doctors, policemen, even prisoners. How outrageous! How daring! How dangerous! If opposition comes, it is not that surprising. However, in South Africa, most people we come across are happy to receive their weapon. They value the Word of God and treasure it.

On Sunday we joined Dare to Love at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg. It is the largest hospital in South Africa. We distributed over a thousand gift packs containing a Gideon’s testament, a pen, biscuits, chocolates and other goodies. When those ran out, we distributed packs containing the goodies and a Gospel of John booklet. This was meant as a gesture of appreciation to the heroes who serve on the front line.

It was an exciting morning. We are honoured to be allowed to do this work.

My Prayer

Father, thank you for the Bible, the Sword of the Spirit. Teach me to handle it aright. You know that many of the Gideon members are getting old and even dying. Please send new, younger members to help us with this work of distributing Your Word. Amen.

Image by azboomer from Pixabay