Glory to God Everywhere and Here!
As we drove through the N. African countryside in the wee hours of the morning on our way to the airport after a “glorious” reunion and stay with our kids and grandkids, I was the only one awake. I stared into the inky darkness and I kept seeing rounded hills of light and Jesus words spoke quietly to my heart. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise (glory to) your Father in heaven.” ~Mat 5:14-16~
We had just spent two weeks in a land of oppressive darkness but the truth remains, light will always penetrate darkness. It will be seen no matter how deep the darkness! I want to shout “Glory!” We don’t use that word much but the Bible sure does over 290 times. It means joy, to rejoice, boast about and in the New Testament is almost always associated with JESUS!
How do we get the glorious light into the darkness? Love in the name of Jesus! When you can speak, speak but always “speak” through your deeds! In one of our favorite memories, a North African woman and friend of Robbie and Jody invited us to her home for tea. Her whole family graciously welcomed us into their home and treated us as if we were the Lord Himself. In reality that is exactly who we were to that family and the reason HE (we) was invited into their home was because of all the love our kids had demonstrated to them. Jesus steps His way into people’s lives through our love!
I came back with a new appreciation for being able to speak freely but more than that I came back with a new conviction and excitement to love people!!
Imagine with me a “city on a hill” called College Heights as God steps His way all through our neighborhoods, places of work, school and in the places of greatest darkness and pain- SHINING! May the world invite us into their homes and lives because of love! When that day comes, there won’t be a worship center big enough to hold us, this city will be full of True Worship and GLORY!!!!!!
Until that Day,
Love and prayer,
Jay