Show me your Glory

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”Exodus 33:18



In the early days shortly after the Exodus we read of God's people quickly giving up on waiting on the promise of God and choosing to do things their own way.  They chose to "find" their own way and in turn almost lost it;  many dying for their rebellion.Ornaments, jewelry taken off; an offering if you will  to make for themselves a "god" they could bow before.  A people who fell down before a false god, though they had belonged to another;  the Deliver that had just parted the waters and allowed them to walk on dry ground while their enemies drowned.

The Lord knows all about us and the road we are to travel.  As we entertain desires that are not from God, the Scripture says that is will lead to death. (James 1:15)  We have to filter every thought through God lest we find ourselves sinning against God.


 A promise from God to lead his people to the Promise Land.  God knows us well.  He has placed our feet on a road that leads to life; will we divert and at what cost?


Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:1-3)


Wow, those are difficult words to hear.  The Golden calf did not speak, but here is God delivering a message that caused their heart to tremble; gripped with fear and rightly so.  It's like when our parents warn us of imminent danger or we go against their protective guidelines and we find ourselves in sin.  We at time might hear the words, "go ahead son...go ahead daughter"  but the repercussion are yours.  That's what God said to the Israelites.


But Moses cries out on behalf of the people.  Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth (vs 15-16)?”


 A desperate cry for mercy.  Moses even goes as far as telling God to blot out my name; Lord if you dismiss these people; dismiss me too.  An intercessory cry on behalf of the people.


Are we willing to cry out to God on behalf of the LOST!  My brother in Christ, Victor gave this great acronym for the word LOST.

Let
Others
Save
Them


See, we have to remember that the Lord in his mercy has saved us so we can in turn share the GOOD NEWS!  Yes someone, God himself, loves us and sent his son to die on our behalf because of our rebellious way. Jesus, took our place so our names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life.  Glory to God! Nothing escapes God.  We might sin in secret but He knows.  We think no one will find out, but the Lord knows the heart.
 

A quick run to the Mercy Seat of God is what we need.  A desperate cry for mercy. Look how God answers Moses: And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”





And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen. (vs 17-23)” How merciful and gracious!  This is the God I serve. Thank you for mercy Lord. Show me your Glory!


He knows when I have fallen, he knows the hairs on my head, he knows when I do wrong, yet he calls me to himself and allows me to cry out in repentance and he restores me again. He allows me to see his Glory once again; his Presence that causes me to bow in worship.


God bless you!~Liz www.LizRod.com

What am I?

It's seems like just the other day I could see from the horizon life so beautiful and new.  As time goes on and change occurs, because it does; it will come, I have a sense of apprehension but also anticipation. 

I know I was not made to remain the same and even now the transformation is occurring.

 

The seasons are so beautiful and yet I have my favorite time of year.  Life brings gentle breezes that cause me to want to soar, almost clap in a symphony as scents of every beautiful flowers emit their fragrance.

 

Have you ever taken a vantage view from the top of a mountain; the large landscape to behold?  It's all creation in its place sharing and acknowledging the beauty He has made.

 

It's time.  I have matured and there is evidence. 

 

I have been made for a purpose and another passing moment has arrived. It reveals a new sense of beauty in me.  It's a visible change for all to see.

 

There is a sense of urgency to want more; the light is what I want but it escapes me. Alteration and transfiguration, is part of my life.

 

I look around and I see separation.  The tenderness is gone and I feel parched and yet I can no longer drink.

 

It's the breeze again but this time it seems as if it wants to take me away.  It seem darker and colder but I am not afraid. 

 

I hear what seems to be like a fire when it cracks; like crumble paper tossed to the ground as the wind moves it without any direction.

 

I have fallen and the end has come.

 

What am I?

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

A Jealous God

Deuteronomy 4:24
For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

What a week; my every thought has been consumed with this great love that God has for me.  It  has reached a peak that has caused me to weep even at my desk at work.  I think of God's warning in the Garden.  I reflect on how Jesus came down to his creation (me) and was willing to be marred, spit on, hated, rejected and ultimately put to death because of his love for me.  There have been layers of his love presented to me in these last two weeks.  Oh how great is our God! 

During a Bible Study last week a young man by the name of James gave a beautiful analogy of how God saw me.  A created being made to reflect the image of God; like an antique mirror tossed into a rummage sale.  The mirror was not left discarded but purchased; tenderly restored to it's luster to reflect the image of the Purchaser.  God sees himself in me!

Of all the things that God created, he chose to have his image reflect in me........in you....

A jealous God; a passionate God pursuing after me.  He guards and protects and challenges anything that dares to intercept his chasing after me. 

A song has resonated in my heart, Relentless Pursuit.  Jesus has come after me and flooded my heart with an incredible love for Him and I run, run after him....for he only satisfies!!!   Taste and see that he is Great!!!

So can anything change this great love that God has for me or for you?  Can anything cause us to ponder if its true? Only the enemy can try to come in and whisper to us that we are of no value, that life is not worth enjoying every precious moment that he gives us.

What's your story today?  Are you happy, sad, disturbed, confused, dismayed, wishing somehow things were different.  More time, more money, better health, different job.....and on it goes.

Have you made a decision to involve our Great God on all things?  Have we committed that we will not allow the thief to come and destroy our joy--our peace? 

See, the thief can only steal what we hand to him.

I CHOOSE to give him nothing!  I have been made perfect in the sight of God, reflecting his face so that all can see we have a Creator who lavishes us with his love. 

DARE to intercept his goodness toward his own and you will encounter a jealous God!

He is a wall of sea water engulfing the enemy (Exodus 14).  He is in the sound of the trumpets and glass routing the enemy (Judges 7).  He is in the earthquake as the words are spoken, "It is Finished" (Matthew 27).

In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33).  The world is fallen and cursed (Genesis 3). But listen to what the Lord says as he speaks through his servant Paul; For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). 




GET IT...NOTHING!  This life is short and the Spirit of the Lord is pointing us to a higher ground...a place of perfection with the Lover of our Soul!  He is coming back for ME!  I am not left at the alter waiting; but the Bridegroom is coming!!


Sickness, disease, disappointments, in plenty and in want---I CHOOSE YOU JESUS because HE YOU CHOSEN ME!

God bless you!~LizRod
www.lizrod.com