Glory

The day started off really good...I was listening to the radio and one of my favorite songs came on.

I caught a glimpse of Your splendor In the corner of my eye The most beautiful thing I've ever seen And it was like a flash of lightning Reflected off the sky And I know I'll never be the same

*Third Day :: Show Me Your Glory

Glory. Hmmmm...I love that word. As I listened, I sat down at my computer to look up the lyrics. Life was good.

But then...it turned into one of "those days". I wasn't feeling grateful. I was cranky. I didn't feel God near. As we drove into town that night, these were the scenes before us. Brilliant sunlight shining out from the clouds and a rainbow splashed across a dark and dreary sky. In an instant, I thought..."GLORY".  I was reminded of that morning and the song.

I love it when He speaks to me so clearly...through His creation and music. Two methods that I can understand easily. I watched the sky...and my heart finally understood what He had been trying to tell me all day. If He has the power to create these works of art in the sky, He certainly has the power to work in my life.

Once we've seen God's glory...we are NEVER the same. But thankfully, He is ALWAYS the same. He never changes. He never stops loving me even through my darkest days and my lack of faith. He is patient and loving. He is LIGHT...the rainbow that cuts through even the darkest of days.

Rainbows of Living Color

I've written in the past about contentment and wanting and living a life without complaining. It's a theme that comes up in my heart over and over. And that's because I haven't quite mastered it yet.

The attitude of my heart ebbs and flows in direct proportion to the amount of time I spend in connection with Jesus. When I hear myself complaining, feel discontentment, or when I feel any sort of fear starts to creep into my mind, I know something needs to change in my walk with Him. After examining my life, it's usually pretty easy to determine what has crept in and stolen my heart away from Him. It could be idol time spent online or time spent pursuing passions. But whatever it is, I have to work diligently to re-focus and re-connect.

One way that I reconnect is to listen to and sing worship music. I've been listening to Jesus Culture a lot lately (thanks Steph!)...and one of my favorite songs they perform is "Revelation Song". Every time I hear it, I come into a place of longing to know Jesus more. I will often pray and journal as I listen...writing down the lyrics that really melt into my heart. Today I wrote...

Filled with wonder, Awestruck wonder At the mention of Your Name Jesus, Your Name is Power Breath, and Living Water Such a marvelous mystery

Clothed in rainbows, of living color Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder Blessing and honor, strength and Glory and power be To You the Only Wise King...

Even just mentioning His name is powerful. If you are at a point where you don't know where else to turn or what to do, just speaking His name aloud will bring peace. He is a living, amazing God. Jesus IS the ONLY Wise King. And as I hear those words, I am reminded that He is wise BEYOND MEASURE. I can trust Him. I can rest in Him. Regardless of what my heart feels, I can still choose to place my focus on those rainbows of living color that he wraps around me.

**Photo is available for purchase in my Etsy store.

Rain

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. *Psalm 56:3

We've spent the last 6 days in rain. Pouring, pounding, rain. With a little tornado thrown in for good measure. The irony is that we are in the desert. We thoroughly expected for it to be warm, sunny, and generally amazing. It wasn't.

But today, the sun is out. Things are drying out...and we are moving on. I am slowly learning to appreciate the beauty and the process in the rain...and not focus entirely upon the storm.

And such is life. Things don't go as we expect. Our ideas of how things are "supposed" to be are shattered. But we serve a sovereign God who KNOWS what He has planned for us. And they are good things. We may not see the purpose of the hard times initially. But He is always forming, always planning, always knowing, always doing what is BEST for His children. He knows about the rain and He can handle it. Rest and let Him. And after the rain...a rainbow.