Glow in the Glory of the Lord

I had the privilege of attending a service at my church last night with guest speaker, Kimberly Taylor.  Kimberly has thirty years of preaching experience, is a recording artist with a beautiful voice, songwriter and has been seen on TBN with Evangelist Nancy Harmon.  It was a wonderful service.  There were a couple of times during the service that I chuckled not because I found anything humorous but because I could all too well relate to some things she said.  For example, she shared with some people there that the Lord was going to take them into “another room” in regard to the spiritual realm where some would think they were crazy.  I chuckled because over the course of the past few months and the journey the Lord has taken me on, there have been times that I have been concerned that some may think I’ve lost my mind and gone crazy.  The great news is that I’ve reached a point in my faith and my relationship the Lord that I really don’t care what others may think.  I really don’t care if some think I’m crazy or not and for me that is a huge accomplishment.  For far too long I’ve been too concerned about what others may think of me instead of what my Heavenly Father thinks of me, when His opinion is the only one that truly matters.

Kimberly also shared with us that she had attended a women’s conference in which one of the evening sessions continued until after midnight.  She said that when she entered the elevator to go up to her room, the hip-hop/rap entertainer Usher and his band entered the elevator with her.  She shared with us how they were all looking at her funny and one of the band members, I believe she said his name was Carlos, looked at her and apologized for the way they were all looking at her but they were doing so because she was “glowing”.  She explained that the ‘glow’ was the glory of the Lord upon her.  “WOW!” I thought.  To glow in the glory of the Lord, that is where I want to go.  Matthew 17:1-8 “Jesus was transfigured.  His face shone like the Sun and his clothes were white” Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory”  2 Corinthians 3:7-18  Verse 18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 

Have you ever seen a Christian and saw something in them that you were not sure what it was you saw in them, but recognized its beauty and wished you could have it also?  It is the Holy Spirit of the Lord within them.  I want the Lord to take me into ‘another room’ and I truly don’t care if some think I’ve gone mad.  I want to learn and grow and be filled with His Holy Spirit.  I want Him to use me for His purpose and His kingdom.  I want to walk in complete confidence, faith and trust in the Lord to the point there is no separation from Him.  I want to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that I too, glow in the glory of the Lord.  I want to walk filled with the Spirit of God, overflowing with Joy and with the Light of the Lord shining through my eyes, hands and feet unto the world.

When All Means Fail by David Wilkerson

Following is a blog post Mr. David Wilkerson posted on his blog site prior to his death in an automobile accident later that same day.  I find such comfort and reassurance in his words.  I’m going through a time in my life now in which I am praying, seeking answers, and trying to find the balance of functioning in this world while walking in faith, trusting the Lord and doing what He has called me to do.   There are days that I am under Satan’s attacks in which he is telling me some of the very things Mr. Wilkerson referenced in his blog post. 

I have witnessed the Lord moving mountains in my life recently, yet because I haven’t received all the answers I am seeking, Satan tries to steal the joy of those victories from me.  Patience is not my strongest asset.  I always want the answers, the miracles, the solutions to come immediately.  One thing the Lord revealed to me this morning during my prayer time with Him is this, “Sometimes we must wait for the Lord because the period of waiting provides the lesson we must learn. The rewards and blessings are not always in the miracles but are sometimes in the lessons learned and the growth obtained during those times of waiting.”  I pray you find peace and comfort in Mr. Wilkerson’s words as well.  God bless!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

“To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.”  By David Wilkerson