Shimmer and Radiance

Boy does my Lord know how to speak my language by using words like shimmer and radiance in His Holy Word. If we show up to our alone time with God in His Bible, He will speak straight to our heart…should we open up and be ready to accept His ultimate wisdom and powerful words.

This year the Lord put a theme on my heart for me to practice and I believe this theme is for all of us, not just me. This year I have been practicing the art of

~living sensitive to God’s Spirit

~soaking in His glory

~seeking His presence over seeking for what He can do for me.

I call this a practice because it takes some work on my part not to sit down in prayer and check off my list of things I think I need from God. In reality the one thing I need most is His presence. It takes practice for me to set aside my agenda and just tell Him all the ways He is good, glorious, mighty, awesome, lovely, amazing. Here me say that God doesn’t need me to shower Him with adoration. But He loves it when I turn my grateful heart toward His glorious light. The practice of soaking in God’s presence puts my heart in the right place to go out and face the world. To love others more than myself. To live my faith authentically.

As I sat practicing the art of seeking God’s presence, the Lord blessed me with Scripture and sent a spark of delight in my heart by using words that make me smile. I’m a girly girl who loves anything that sparkles or shines so when I read this verse all kinds of mental images of God’s glory swirled in my mind and increased the volume of my worship.

This is the One who—imprinted with God’s image, shimmering with His glory—sustains all that exists through the power of His word. He was seated at the right hand of God once He Himself had made the offering that purified us from all our sins.This Son of God is elevated as far above the heavenly messengers as His holy name is elevated above theirs. {Hebrews 1:3-4 THE VOICE}

Jesus…shimmering with God’s glory. Don’t you love it?! The ESV translation uses the word radiant.Whew!

As I reflect on my year long theme of seeking God’s presence and soaking in His Spirit with sensitivity, part of me ask,

“What’s in it for me to practice this?”

Answer: He is ever so worthy. My benefit is the sheer fact that I am allowed in the presence of God Almighty.

We all have access to the shimmering, radiant glory of King Jesus should we decide to practice sitting still, soaking in Him, setting our heart toward Him above all else. 

If you feel you are not worthy of sitting in the presence of Jesus, please know that He desires your adoration…YOU…yes YOU. When Jesus shed blood on the cross, He did that for you, my friend.

If you feel fearful of the vulnerability in which you might just have to give Him your heart in this practice, please know that He will hold your heart with great care. God is for YOU, not against you.

I encourage you to start the practice of seeking God’s presence, His shimmering glory and His bright radience today. Take some time to write out the verse from Hebrews above as a spring board, a mental image to ponder about our King Jesus. Then join me in this prayer,

sparkle with text

What do you think? Leave a comment…let’s chat!

Live it out Shout Team

One more thing…I would be so very honored if you would join me in ministry by siging up to be  a Stress Point small group leaders.

Click HERE for all the details!

THE LIST

The List

For this week’s LIST I thought I’d share a page in my journal that I wrote last year. Lately I’ve been chewing on the idea of “seeking God’s face” and just stitting still in His presence daily. At the end of the post I list a few ways I can seek His face.

 

Take some time today in prayer with the Psalm below and make a list on things in your life where Jesus shows you His beauty, His glory, His presence and…His face.

 

Here is a peek into my journal…

Lord I’m intrigued by this concept I see popping up in Scripture: Seek The Face Of God. I want to know how to seek your face. David, Moses, Paul, John all sought your face and I don’t want to miss out! I want in on what the angels see––I want to see Your glory, your beauty, your majesty, YOUR FACE.

 

I do know that I need to give thanks to Jesus for the making a way for me to see Your face Lord. Thank You Jesus for the cross. Thank You for opening wide the curtain so I can experience God.

 

 

O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants,you have established strength because of your foes,to still the enemy and the avenger

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,and the son of man that you care for him? {Psalm 8:1-4}

Let me not live in numb apathy––missing out on little sparkles of heaven you surprise me with every day. Open my eyes to see Your face…

in the beautiful sunrise and crystal clear morning

 

in the smile of a stranger on the street

 

in the graciousness of a friend who offers an unexpected hug

 

in the thought that I can curl up next to you and share my heart.

 

Amen.

Your turn…leave a comment!

Live it out Shout Team

***Want to join me on my LIVE IT OUT! Shout Team? YOU can do ministry TOO! Click HERE for info. :)

Announcing the LIVE IT OUT! Shout Team

I’m nervous…very nervous to post this announcement because it is a dream that I’ve hidden in my heart for some time and I hope you are just as excited as I am about it.

 

Today is the start of something new and fun on LIVE IT OUT! I invite you to join me in ministry through my brand new

Live it out Shout Team

Did you know that ministry is not just for those who stand on a pulpit, those who write books and those with a Ph.D. in Divinity? You and I have a chance to LIVE OUT! our faith everyday and encourage those around us to live out the Kingship of Christ in every part of life. Everyday we have the opportunity to express the glory of our King Jesus by the words we speak, the status updates we post and the ways we serve those around us. WE DO MINISTRY EVERYDAY!

Does this get you excited? It gets me totally excited.

Over the next several months I will be rolling out opportunities for YOU to join the LIVE IT OUT! Shout Team. These will be fun and impactful ways for you to do ministry alongside of me.

Today I’m launching the Stress Point Small Group Leaders Connect for women like you who desire to gather a very small group of their friends to dig into the Bible together to grow in faith and in friendship.

StressPoint Small groups

Before you freak out thinking you are not equipped to lead your girlfriends in Bible study check out the video below…

 

 

So here is the breakdown…

~EVERYONE who signs up to be a Stress Point small group leader will receive a digital goodie pack from me packed with great encouragement to get you started. Remember…a small group is well…small!! Think about a a few girlfriends and ask them to join you in studying Stress Point. (see the sign up below)

~The first 10 leaders to sign up will be invited to join me and the other 10 leaders in a video conference. I’m looking forward to connecting with you to get you started in your Stress Point Small Group.

~On May 31st I will randomly pick one small group leader and send her Stress Point group a care package full of my favorite things for Bible study time.

Stress Point

 

 

Click HERE for info on how to order copies of Stress Point for your small group.

 

 

 

 

 

How does this all sound? Will you pray about inviting your friends to join you in a Stress Point small group? Here is my prayer for you…

Father God, I thank you for the women who are itching to do ministry by living out their faith with their friends. Give them courage to make this big step in joining me in the LIVE IT OUT! Shout Team. Tug on the hearts of the women You call to start a Stress Point small group and equip them with Your strength and wisdom as they take this exciting step in ministry. We will give YOU all the glory, Jesus. Amen!

 

Alright! Check out the sign up below. Can’t wait for you to join the LIVE IT OUT! Shout Team.

Hugs!!!

SIGN UP HERE!!!

**This link will take you to a form. You need to fill this form out in order to be included in the Stress Point Small Group Leaders Connect.