Eating breakfast one morning, my oldest passes me our devotional book. “Mom, will you read to us?” He looks at me with expectation. My youngest, yogurt encircling his mouth, smiles wide. They love when I read to them in the morning, filling their souls as well as bellies.
The story for that morning was Moses asking to see God’s glory. “The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” Exodus 33:19,20
The boys and I talked about how it was Moses’ frustration with the Israelites that prompted his desire to see to see God’s glory. They were “stiff-necked” and disobedient and he wanted to show them God’s goodness.
When life gets frustrating, hard, and painful, we can ask to see His glory. Seeing His glory gives us strength to love others and to live more like Christ. Like Moses, the closer we get to God, the more we reflect His love and grace.
I ask, “Where do we see the glory of God?” (thinking of the Bible). My oldest replies, “Well, it’s all around us.”
His glory is all around us. It’s in the raging sea and in the snow-capped mountains. It’s in the strength He gives me to endure trials. It’s in the love of friends and family. And it’s in the faces of two smiling boys.
It’s in all the graces I list here each week.
And like Moses, will my experiences of His glory shine through me? Will it radiate for others to see?
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Counting my experiences of His goodness this week (1421-1442):
Safe and uneventful flight home
A sinus infection where my head feels like it’s floating in the air-a reminder that Christ grounds me
Strength when I didn’t have any
Strawberry breakfast bread pudding
Philemon
Babysitter getting a snake off our porch so I wouldn’t have to:)
Cup of tea and books to read by myself
Listening to Ian practicing whistling around the house
Less than sixty days until vacation with friends to TN
Tazo Passion Tea
Thunder and lightning, listening to rain on our metal roof
Soccer getting rained out so we can spend the day at home
New friends over for dinner
Sunlight shining through raindrops
Seeing God at work in friend’s life
That nothing takes God by surprise
Finishing science display board
Unconditional love
Reading a new book by Brennan Manning
Broken water softener reminding me that Jesus is the living water
Lunch with our church family
Linking up with:
So glad that he hears us and shows himself to us in our time of need. Awesome is His glory all around us! I love your boys desire to hear the story. It’s awesome when they ask with such childlike faith to be fed! Great list!
May we all ask to see His glory each day. It is amazing when He works through young ones. Thanks as always!
nothing takes Him by surprise. there is something just so comforting about that! fabulous list!
So very true! Thanks for stopping by!
oh yes…will all allow HIs Glory to shine through…counting His glory with you…if I may ? where in Tennessee? blessings~
On the Tennessee River outside Chattanooga. Can’t wait!
So glad the flight home was uneventful. I admire mothers who can travel easily with kids in tow. I’m a bit too high-strung for that type of adventure but I’m working on myself! For some reason, we’ve had a lot of snakes in our little neighborhood this year. I too love books - seems as if I’m always placing an order for books. Gotta love Swagbucks! Hope you’re feeling better! Blessings!
I’m always surprised when traveling goes smoothly:) I really don’t like snakes but it seems they are part of life here. At least that one wasn’t poisonous. Blessings to you!
It was such a blessing to read your post and your list of thank-you’s. I’m not sure about that snake thing. NOT one of my favorites in life. I’d be thankful for that babysitter, too!
I have so many snake stories:) And I am very thankful I wasn’t part of this one. Thanks for visiting!
It so wonderful to come together and share our blessings and thankfulness
that GOD allows us to have and enjoy !!! Stopping by from Multitude on Monday
Have a great 1440 today and each day
Glenna
Thank you for visiting! It is wonderful to share thanks with others.
ooh i like that; a reminder that Christ grounds me… he sure has been grounding me a lot too lately! and i agree, soul-full mornings are the best start.
I need this reminder often, it seems. He always keeps me grounded even when I don’t realize it. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, out of the mouths of babes! AMEN! It is ALL around us. loved reading this and hearing such wisdom from your little guy. Your posts always bless me Christina!
And you are a blessing to me! So thankful for this community!
I love the scripture references here… the relationship that God had with Moses, and Moses had with God is one that I desire…
Wonderful blessed gifts, too
Oh yes, I desire that same relationship. And I look forward to the day when I can stand in His presence without fear. So thankful for Christ and the hope of heaven. Blessings to you today!
Hi Christina,
Stopping over from the Soli Deo Gloria community. I took a peak at your bio page-I’ve got several friends from church who either attended or are attending Covenant. And, I know the battle with depression-it’s been a part of my story, too. Participating in the Gratitude Community was a big part, for me, in waging that battle.
So glad a kind soul helped you dispatch the snake from your porch-they just creep me out. Big. Time. Blessings.
I have a special fondness for Covenant. I tell the boys that’s where they are going to college:) I enjoyed visiting your site as well. Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for stopping by my blog- and for sharing your gratitude in this space! I love reading what others are thankful for, it reminds me to see the beauty in every situation. Tazo passion tea, cold, with lime- my favorite! Which Manning book are you reading?
Passion tea with lime sounds great! I’m reading All is Grace, his memoir.
“Sunlight shining through raindrops” — one of my very favorite things…in fact, when I sing that Sound of Music song, I change the words to just that. : )
and I was just introduced to Manning! he’s since been introduced to my kindle. anxious to read his words!
beautiful post, friend. His glory is all around us. Striving to seek. Striving to see close up…
Manning is wonderful to read. He’s real, flawed, and broken like the rest of us. So glad you stopped by!
Yes, yes, His glory is indeed ALL around us. This is why counting these gifts is so important - it reminds us of His glory that has been there all along, even when we can’t always see it. Love this!
It always takes my children to point out to me what I don’t see clearly:) blessings to you!