Encouragement
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The beautiful thing about connection is that we were designed for it – first and foremost with God, then to others. The gift (present) of being in the presence of those we love is invaluable (presents the opportunity to engage). I’m grateful for technology that allows me to engage with family – facetime isn’t my preferred way of connecting but works when you live afar. Facetime calling episodes with my grandkids usually end up being more listening than seeing…imagine being drug around virtually with the phone’s camera on the ceiling, then to the floor, then to the dog, then to the dog’s bed, then to a new toy, then down to the view of tiny feet shuffling down the stairs- oh yes, pair that with some shouting by the other sibling who wants the phone.. and then back to the dog. After all this brief buzzing of movement the phone with its camera returns to a face– the parent, which is usually my sons.
What a trip these smart phones can provide us with! It is hard to believe that we’ve practiced this method with grandkids every now and then for quite some time. Boundless energy that explodes through these sweeties – a six- year old, four- year old, and one whom is only 6 months. Their excitement comes alive when we are on the other side of the phone’s screen. We are blessed if we see them for even one minute. It is kind of like hitting fast forward on a movie and trying to keep up with the rapid shifting of scenes with muffled sounds as you wait to get to a stopping point. They do not seem to understand that we want to look at their sweet faces and have them speak to us. However, we understand that they want to show us their things and what they’ve been up to because they saw us face to face for several seconds and just know and trust we’re on the line with them – ever present. Oh, this thought holds!
So much about the word “Facetime” keeps lighting up my mind over the course of the past few months. About four months ago, I was disappointed by the need to cancel a planned trip to visit my daughter due to the Coronavirus. It would turn out that God would turn the disappoint into a reappointment- alone time with Him in a secluded cabin along the lake! Nothing I planned. I was excited at the aspect of spending some quality time all alone with just Jesus. Jesus often retreated to be alone with His Father God- I knew this would prove to be like a spiritual retreat of “Facetime”.
The entire drive up to my destination I prayed and pondered with anticipation. I wondered how many of God’s children might be praying at the same time. Hmmm… how many others were giving thanks, making their requests known, and simply listening with their spiritual ears for what God might be saying to them?! What a beautiful thought! Prayer! I caught a mental mirage of what that might look like if our country was simply all on our faces (facetime) before the Lord right then, seeking Him and praising Him for who He is. Oh, I pray this humbled heart position for myself, family, friends, all our country and its leaders as well! Any time we even sense a smug sense of self-righteousness, we should hit our knees – or better yet, our faces! 2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.
But, back to not only God hearing us, but Him truly listening to us and wanting to tend to us! I can’t even fully fathom what it might sound like to God to hear us all at the same time? How do you hear us all, Lord, I wondered in amazement knowing that He can and does! Do our voices sound like one song in harmony? It is astounding to ponder! I am really trying to become a better listener to others and to the whispers of the Holy Spirit - perhaps you are as well? I’m sure you can identify with being in situations where it’s loud with lots of voices…after a bit you can’t make out what anyone is saying…add some different languages and try to decipher that?! It’s simple to just pray and leave our request with the Lord – you know, and then more times than not, jet out in a hurried state without even taking the time to quiet ourselves and intentionally listen to see if the Holy Spirit might prompt us to take an action at that point. We want to speak to God, but do we want to listen? Maybe He will lead us to an action that makes us feel unqualified, uncomfortable and may seem too big of step for us?
1 John 5:14 speaks of the confidence we have in approaching the Lord, knowing that if we ask anything according to His will He hears. As I think of a few recent times during this Coronavirus pandemic when the uncertainties and waiting have seemed long, I have intentionally taken the physical position of lying flat on the floor with my face down. Of course, I praised Him and voiced my concerns and frustrations to Him. And it never fails that once I start thanking Him for who He is, His peace washes over me and my body relaxes. What a privilege to know and believe the He hears us, isn’t it?! There is always peace knowing that He does hear, but if I’m being totally honest and I’m asking you to ask yourselves this question as well…Do I leave that heart/physical position in that moment after prayer with present-active participle believing that carries me progressively throughout the day? Sometimes our lists or needs may seem long- especially when we are praying for others needs as well as our own needs.
What is it that you need and are waiting for? It is the wait time and the circumstances that come at us that may shift our belief to unbelief for periods of time if we’re not paying attention – faith must be exercised. The Lord’s time frame is never ours and scripture tells us that. Father, thank You that You do not delay and You are not tardy or slow about what You promise, but You are long-suffering and extraordinarily patient (adapted from 2 Peter 3:9)
As the word “Facetime” sunk deeper down into my heart, of course the Holy Spirit led me to remember some biblical events that so gave this a beautiful spin. Falling on your face found throughout the Bible was an act of humility and seeking God in prayer. I love that we find Moses on his face with Aaron seeking God in prayer in front of the assembly of the Israelites in the book of Numbers 14:5. The Israelites were grumbling and complaining to their leadership.
Hmmmm….do you suppose they took this position in front of the people in order to demonstrate to these people of their own need to do this themselves? I mean, they could have privately done this…just the two of them? Something to consider I suppose. I encourage you to read the whole account- it may speak to and jumpstart your heart! Look into Moses and his walk with God from the beginning to the end of his lifespan. He wanted to see God face to face “Facetime”…to experience His presence. God grabs his attention with a burning bush. Moses answers God’s call saying, “Here I am”, then when given his orders answers with a “Who am I”, but he does obey, even after some questioning of his skills and God uses him in mighty ways. God is still doing this in these days. He looks to grab His children’s attention – question is, does He have ours?!
I will wrap this up with what I know the Lord wanted me to jot down for myself and you all – to think that the experience of “Facetime” left me with all of this?! One word and some quiet time with sweet Jesus. These thoughts from the book of John in the twentieth chapter. In the scene, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. She sees Him but doesn’t recognize Him. Not until He asks her a question as she was crying did He choose to reveal Himself to her. Remember here, they saw Jesus put to death! Imagine being on the scene here?! She was grieved and here the savior reveals Himself to her. Holy moment!!! He tells her to tell the brethren that He was ascending to the Father.
Of course, Jesus makes an appearance face to face with his disciples before closed doors “Facetime”. In John 20:19 Jesus stood among them after He rose and said, Peace to you! He showed them so they could see His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with JOY (delight, exultation, ecstasy, rapture). We’re going to the very end here of chapter 20 here friends, to where Jesus tells them again in verse 21, Peace to you! Just as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. But then, refresh again in the following verses after He tells them this, what does He do? This is BEAUTIFUL!!! He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit!
We’re still not finished though because then look what He says…Now having received the Holy Spirit and being led and directed by Him if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. Now one of His disciples wasn’t with them. Thomas. Eight days later Thomas gets his “ Facetime” with Jesus and hears - Peace to you from the mouth of Jesus! Yes, Thomas had to see Him and needed to put his hands on Jesus before He believed. Yet still, Jesus loved doubting Thomas! Look what He says in verse 29 – Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me. WOW!!! Those words, to us today. Timeless and true. All these accounts recorded for all of us humans. Thank you, Lord for the authors you inspired to record these true accounts for us!
Why did these authors record? Well, this is what John 20: 30-31 reiterates: There are also many signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, Your words are LIFE! We want to see you face to face, yet we know that we will only see glimpses of you on this side of the cross. May we be ones that believe and do all that you tell us before we see. Amen
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