Creator's hand

The final part of my Exodus "series" is missing yet - Part Five: Glorious God!

However, since it is promising to be a busy week, I thought I would post a picture to keep you all captivated until the time, most likely the weekend, when I feel inspired to write.

I guess this can count as a "welcome April" post. Tomorrow already!

Part Four: Mercy

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19b).

God’s rich,
abounding,
electing grace.

Bestowing on His chosen what they don’t deserve,
through Jesus’ work.
God’s eternal love.

What a comfort for His people!

And what a reminder that they are His ambassadors,
sent to proclaim the One who shows mercy and compassion for a time.
For the time is short.
Mercy and judgment walk hand in hand.

Part Three: Distinct

Distinct.

Separations are sometimes seen in a negative light.
And occasionally they are falsely created.
Yet Christians are commanded to be distinct,
“different,” if you will.
Yet not as some say they are to be different.

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here….What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15)

Moses knew that God dwelling among the Israelites
was the only thing able to transform their lives
enough to make them different.
Good different.

Distinct and set apart in calling,
purpose,
and Power.

Distinguished enough that people wondered
and marveled
and recognized that the God of the Israelites
was GOD.

IS God!

Set apart by God
to reflect God
in Christ
by the Spirit.

Part Two: The Presence

The people have sinned grievously.
Broken communion with a God who had shown Himself to be so faithful and loving.
Unspeakable, piercing rebellion.

And now Moses intercedes for the people,
pleading their case
before the Sovereign.
“Remember that this nation is your people (vs 13).”

Remember, O God, your love for your people.
Not their sin,
not their stubborn selfishness,
but your love and mercy.

A type of Christ.
And God promises His presence,
His very self, to be with Moses.

Beautiful.

That Presence is with us too,
through the intercession of Christ.
The Spirit of God
dwelling among and within us.

Unthinkable.
But true.
Because of Christ and for His glory.

And with his Presence He promises rest.

Moses' conversation, Part One

The passage below from Exodus 33 struck and gripped me this morning.
Many, many things "jumped out" at me, too many for one blog.
So today I share the passage, which of course - as Scripture - speaks for itself.
Throughout the week I'll share a few of my feeble thoughts for your digestion.

12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

a taste of beauty

As we turn our eyes toward the cross,
may our hearts again be filled with wonder
at His grace and love.

May we yearn with our whole being
to make much of this Jesus,
our crucified and risen Lord.

May we glory in Him for our full satisfaction
and radiate,
yes even proclaim,
the beauty and majesty of Christ.

Lord, be glorified in us.

Wurmbrand

Today I offer this link for your edification and reflection. It is a moving summary about Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001), founder of the Voice of the Martyrs, and his wife Sabina.

He was a pastor and evangelist to many nationalities during WWII, distributing Bibles and preaching the Gospel in the face of communism. I find it so encouraging and inspirng to read of people’s passion for sharing Christ in the midst of persecution!
http://www.persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=WurmbrandStory

Of course, we know persecution for Jesus’ sake still happens on a daily basis. Please join in prayer!
http://www.persecution.net/
http://www.persecution.com/

Let me know what you think of the Wurmbrands….

Got hope?!

I want to expand on my citizenship post from last time, but not today. I'm still doing a bit of musing on that inexhaustible topic.
Today, I want to share a passage that came up in three separate things I read today.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear...." (1 Peter 3:15)

So it begs the question: is anyone asking us, the body of Christ, about our hope?!
Are we so proclaiming or even just living the hope - the truth - that people wonder about its purpose and source?
Do we even realize the depth of our hope?!

May the Lord open our eyes to the gracious gifts that are ours, in Christ, and show us how to live joyfully and purposefully out of that hope.

citizenship

I am a Canadian citizen
and a Canadian resident.
And for those freedoms and privileges I am grateful.

Yet lately,
more than ever,
I have felt the weight of my eternal citizenship, which is in heaven.

What does it look like to be a Kingdom citizen here on earth, in Canada nonetheless?
Am I living in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27)?
I desire to proclaim, with the apostle Paul that for me, “to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21), but does my life resound with that proclamation?
I long to live - and even to die - for His sake.
But sometimes I struggle with what that looks like on a daily basis.

What does it really mean to “die to self” and "live for Christ" in the daily, “mundane” tasks of life?
Lord, how do you want me to serve you, for the sake and glory of your name?!!

more good stuff

At the risk of becoming redundant, here is some more really good stuff from pastor Piper....

“God created me – and you – to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion – namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. Enjoying and displaying are both crucial. If we try to display the excellence of God without joy in it, we will display a shell of hypocrisy and create scorn or legalism. But if we claim to enjoy his excellence and do not display it for others to see and admire, we deceive ourselves, because the mark of God-enthralled joy is to overflow and expand by extending itself into the hearts of others. The wasted life is the life without a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples” (page 31).

so there, MOM!

Well, Mom, now it's true!

I was quite kind in my selections, might I tell you! ;)

Any thoughts, now?

Is this "light-hearted" enough?

He he he.