Reflections of His Love

Last evening I took my usual walk to the neighborhood "pond", and as I approached the edge of the little cove, I was stunned by the beauty of the reflections on the water that was as smooth and clear as glass....pictures don't do it justice...but the reflections were so clear that it almost took my breath away...

 Just let your eyes focus on the reflections in the water...

  I know I've shared many pictures from this same place, but it seems as though I am always surprised to see just how perfectly the water reflects the trees and grasses and foliage around the shoreline and even in the middle of the pond...

 Even this is a reflection of God's creative beauty at work...

I mean...the reflection was so clear...I could even see my own face in the water... and I was reminded of this verse:

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known..."  

I Corinthians 13:12

And of course this all made me stop and think and pray...because I have a lot of questions about  God's plans for us now and in the future...many things...and this message also came to me:

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3

And as I turned away from the beauty of the pond to head back home,  I looked down on the ground and saw this snakeskin that had been recently shed by one of the local black snakes...and I know some of you are squeamish about snakes in general, but I saw this shed skin as a very positive message from God at that moment...giving me encouragement and hope regarding our future:

"Behold, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I declare;

Before they spring forth I tell you of them."

Isaiah 42:9

and also from Isaiah 43:18-19

"Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness 

and rivers in the desert."

And these words encouraged my heart and helped me to put "old" things into perspective and look forward to the "new" thing that God is planning to do.  He is going to help me shed this old, dry skin of the past and the things that hold me back from moving forward and give me a fresh new start.

I love this promise to the children of Israel in Isaiah 44:3-4, and I'd like to claim it for my own as well:

"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,

and floods on the dry ground;

I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,

and My blessing on your offspring;

They will spring up among the grass

like willows by the watercourses."

Yes, Lord...pour it on...pour out Your Spirit upon us, and bless us for Your Kingdom's sake, Amen.

Moments of Grace: Who Do You See in the Mirror?

Yesterday as I was going through my morning routine of washing my face, brushing my hair and putting on makeup, I caught a glimpse of my face in the mirror that reminded me of my maternal grandmother.  It was a fleeting look, a certain pose that I remembered seeing in a photograph of her that used to hang on the wall in the home I grew up in.  It rather startled me at first, but then it was such a pleasant thought..."I look like my Grandma Tedlie".  No one had ever said that before.

 Since I've recently retired, I have more time on my hands it seems...and I suddenly felt like playing with this little scenario.  After searching out a copy of the familiar portrait of my grandmother, I decided to dress up similar to the way she was dressed, and then see if I truly did look anything like her.  My husband was willing to humor me and said he would do the honor of taking my picture.

Here's my beautiful Grandma:

And here I am, trying to look like her.

Then, crazy woman that I am, I put this on Facebook.  The reviews were mixed.  Some said yes, definitely! Especially the cheekbones. And others said they couldn't see any resemblance at all.  Those who know me well declared that I must be "losing it" and that I need something more to do with my time.  Could be.

As I pondered this I wondered to myself just why did I do this kooky thing? Am I "losing it", or am I just having a little fun and playing "dress up" like a little girl again.  Is that so bad?  One of my friends said that she thought the side by side pictures would please my grandmother very much.  I like that thought. I never got to spend much time with my grandma.  We moved to Florida when I was only five, and my grandparents lived in Ohio.  Consequently, we got to see them only once a year when we took a summer trip to visit.  Unfortunately, my grandmother was not well for quite a few years, and then she passed away when I was fifteen.  So I always felt like I really didn't get to know her and she truly didn't know me either.

Okay, enough of this nostalgia.  What is really going on here? Perhaps it is a type of search for my identity.  I've often wondered about my ancestors, and have thought how wonderful it will be to meet them all face to face someday in heaven and discover who they are and who I really do resemble.

More than all the ancestors, however, I look forward to seeing my Lord and Savior face to face...and hopefully discover that He is the One Whom I resemble most of all.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  

2 Corinthians 3:18

Here is an old hymn that expresses my thoughts and desires:

O To Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer  By Thomas O. Chisholm, written in 1897.  (Click on the link to hear this beautiful hymn)

O to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming
Now to receive anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Refrain

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Refrain

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I Corinthians 13:12

Lord, I pray that day by day I am being changed into Your glorious image. 

Forgive me when I take my eyes off of You and focus more on me or the things of this world.

And thank You, Lord, for the marvelous gift of God...Salvation...

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,

it is the Gift of God,

Not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Amen.

Face to Face

I Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face..."

This blog will be short and sweet...I've been away for a few days...I wonder if anyone noticed?  I was just reading a blog from one of my other blogger friends that answered a question I've been wondering about..."If you don't get many comments from readers does that mean that no one is reading your blog?"  The "Blogging Bistro" assured me that just because no one comments doesn't necessarily mean they aren't reading...they just don't always take the time to comment because they either don't know how to, or they are busy reading many blogs and don't have time, etc....which is fine. I understand that. We are all busy these days...and often don't even take time to read our "real mail", let alone all our emails, facebook posts, and blogs.  Time just flies too quickly.

The reason I have been away was to attend the funeral of a dear and sweet lady, my husband's Aunt Nellie.  Aunt Nellie passed away at the grand age of 93 years.  She would have been 94 in October, but Jesus had other plans...He wants to celebrate her birthday with her in heaven...and with all her other loved ones and friends who have gone on before her.  I can imagine that they are having a huge celebration there today...and having a grand time showing her all the amazing sights and scenery throughout the halls of glory.  But there is one scene that I wish I could have witnessed...when Aunt Nellie first met Jesus face to face, and when she felt His warm embrace and heard Him whisper in her ear, "Welcome Home, Nellie...We've ALL been waiting for you!" 
"Face to face with Christ, my Saviour, Face to face-what will it be?  When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, Who died for me?  Face to face shall I behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!!" (Carrie E. Breck, 1855-1934)

I have no doubt that Aunt Nellie is with Jesus today...she loved the Lord with all her heart ever since she was a very young girl...and she was responsible for leading many others to Christ throughout her years as a Sunday School teacher and devoted servant of the Lord in her church and home and community.  My husband has often said that Aunt Nellie was one who had a very profound impact on his life and a strong influence in his walk with Christ at an early age.  She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt grandmother and great-grandmother...leaving a legacy of faith and victory for her family to follow.
I would call that a very successful life...an example that we would be wise to follow...and the kind of heritage I know I would love to leave for my family someday.

Whether or not anyone ever reads my blogs or pays attention to the things I may write now or in the future really doesn't matter.  What really matters is how I live my life...how I share my faith with others, and what kind of testimony and legacy I am handing down for my loved ones and friends when I leave this world to meet Jesus face to face.  I know I am not perfect...neither was Aunt Nellie.  But we both know the ONLY ONE Who IS perfect..."Jesus Christ, Who loves me so!"  Do YOU know my Jesus? It is my greatest desire that in some way you may see Him living in me...and that you would also desire to see Him face to face when that day comes and He calls you home. That would bring great rejoicing in heaven on your behalf as well.
Thanks for being a part of my life...and I hope we all will meet someday in that grand and glorious place.  Amen!