Been thinking a lot about glory.  Been pondering and praying, too.  Been longing.  Been hearing a lot of messages that have stirred my soul and made my heart ache, even more, for glory.  The messages are great.  Praying and pondering is great.  But oh to taste.

I have tasted – a little — but there’s more.  There is so, so much more.  I want it.  I want Him.  I love the things He does, but it’s His presence I’m after.  I’m after His heart.  I don’t want to put Him to work every time He shows up — I just want to be with Him.  And He is the God of glory.

There are many good things I’ve prayed for that remain unchanged.  But the best thing I pray for is His glory.  Maybe when I’m transformed, those other things will be transformed, too.  I’m transformed by His glory.   

“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.” ~2 Cor 3:18.

Ever-increasing glory.  We’re not supposed to top out.  We’re not supposed to plateau.  We’re supposed to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.  He will answer.  Christ in us is the hope of glory — ever-increasing glory.  Oh how I long for glory!

Jesus,

You are the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being — the exact representation of the God of glory.  When we see You, we see glory.  We were created for glory — that’s where we’ve  fallen short and that’s what You came to restore.  You want us to be with You where You are  and You dwell in glory.  You want us to be transformed into Your image and that means reflecting Your glory.  God, stir within us a longing that goes far beyond polite prayers and a quiet desire.  Stir an unquenchable thirst that cannot — will not — be satisfied with anything less than an ever-increasing revelation of glory.  Burn the chaffe from our lives — the distractions, the fear, the pride, all control and even our well meaning agendas — and make us fit for the glory. Let us cast all lesser desires — no matter how noble and good – down at Your feet until our only remaining cry is for glory.  Christ in us - the hope of glory.  In this generation, Lord, find those who are willing to lay it all down to simply be where You are.  Those who literally live and breathe in harmony with Your heart.  Those who are well acquainted with the courts of heaven and who carry the very fragrance of Your Presence into the world around them.   King of glory reign in us; reign over us; reveal Yourself to us and transform us … until the whole earth is at last filled with Your glory. 

Forever and ever ~

Amen

Time.  Seems there is never enough of it.  I find myself running late far too often.  On any given day I feel like I’m behind on dozens of things. That feeling often carries over from a task level to a heart level.  Often I feel like I’m behind in life. I feel like there are so many things that I should have accomplished by now.  There are many things that I thought would be different by this stage of my life.  Many areas where I had no idea breakthrough would take so long.  Beyond my own life, there are so many areas I thought we (the church) would have laid hold of by now.  It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that there are areas where we’ve just plain “missed it” but I don’t think God ever views it that way.

Several times recently the Lord has challenged me to think of time differently.  Not too long ago I heard a Vineyard song from some years back and a particular line kept jumping out and hitting my heart: “Time is my ally in proving Your love to be true.”

Time as an ally.  Hmmm.  Not how I usually think of it.   But in proving the faithfulness of God, time is an ally!  God, of course, lives outside of time.  He is not bound by the minutes on the clock or the days on the calendar.  He is the Ancient of Days and He sees the beginning from the end.  He always was, is, and forever will be the Sovereign of all creation.   He is not late and He is not running out of time.  He has already seen every decision we will ever make, both individually and collectively. He knows the times and He knows the seasons. Time bows to Him.  And my times are in His hands.

He knew the date, hour and even the minute of my birth.  He knew the generation I’d be living in.  He knew my strengths and He knew my weaknesses.  He knew the exact moment my eyes and heart would be opened to the reality of His love - and He’s known every detail of every victory and heartbreak since then.  My job is simply to say yes and then keep listening for, and taking, the next step. And even if I miss a few, He already knew and He’s planned for that, too!

I’m not late.  You’re not late.  We’re not late.  And God certainly isn’t late.  We’re right on time.  The timetable of eternity is intact.  Does that mean we don’t each have a part to play in partnering with God in His purposes?  Of course we do.  We do need to keep saying yes and we do need to keep putting one foot in front of the other as He leads us.  Unfortunately, it is all too easy to miss our hour of visitation.  We still have choices and we can choose to grow impatient and do our own thing.  But if we’re watching, if we’re waiting - then so is He.  Even if you have checked out of God’s purposes, it’s not too late.  He already knew and He planned ahead.  At this very moment, you can jump back into the timetable of heaven.  He is the great Redeemer.  He is the great Restorer.  He doesn’t just redeem the time - He can even restore the years!  (Joel 2: 25)

Time is my ally in proving His love to be true.  Time is my ally in proving His faithfulness.  Time is my ally in watching and waiting for the plans and purposes of God - the promises of God - to unfold.  

Maybe I’m not running behind afterall.  In fact, I think I might actually be right on time.