The Face of Jesus

Do you have a picture of Jesus in your home? There are several portraits of Jesus that have become popular through the years, some might be very familiar to you. Perhaps you have seen them hanging in your church, or in a friend's home, or in a Christian book store. What do you imagine when you think of Jesus? What does Jesus look like?

I'm not sure anyone knows for sure. The scriptures don't give us a description of Jesus' physical nature. It isn't what was important to the writers. I wonder when the common portraits of Jesus were painted. And what inspired the artists? I have a beautiful picture of Jesus that was drawn by an artist who used the words of the book of John to create the face of Jesus. It took the artist 11 years to complete. It was an impossible feat that was completed by a man. Truly incredible.

There is a line in an old hymn that always intrigued me. "Look full in His wonderful face." The song may not be familiar to you but the words of the refrain speak volumes to me and the title... I can often answer yes to.

"O Soul, Are You Weary and Troubled?" was written by Helen H. Lemmel in 1922.

"O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!" "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace."

"Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion--For more than conquerors we are! "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace."

"His word shall not fail you--He promised; Believe Him and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace."

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart," (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV).

"Look full in His wonderful face" today and every day!

The Blessing of Light

This weekend John and I were on a mission to brighten up our house. When we moved in almost three years ago the house had 60 watt bulbs everywhere. Our living room was so dark we had to sit under a lamp to read. The pendants over our kitchen island were absolutely useless. Our bedroom was so dim that I needed a flashlight if I was searching for something in the evening.

No more hiding in the darkness for us. John discovered the wonder of LED lights. While changing out the pendant shades, a customer assistant at Menards explained the difference between light bulbs. And I do mean explained, expertly. John was impressed. It got him thinking and before we knew it we had replaced most of the bulbs in our upstairs. So here I am in my office seeing things I hadn't noticed for awhile! Mostly dust and cobwebs, but also my computer and keyboard. Wow, it is awesome!

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light," (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).

Light is wonderful!

Our little lighting escapade made me realize how thankful I am for the light Jesus brought to the world.

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it," (John 1:4-5 NIV).

With Jesus we no longer have to struggle to find the way in life. We can follow His light on our path. We can see the sin and avoid it. We can move forward as Jesus shines light on our days. We can follow Jesus in the light and receive the salvation He offers believers. What a blessing.

Jesus called His followers the light of the world, for when we believe our light will shine for others.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:14-15 NIV).

As we begin a new week let us practice letting our light shine, and notice the light that others reflect into our days and praise God!

Who Am I?

I've been thinking a lot about my identity. Our sermon series this winter is focused on the book of Ephesians and titled, "Letting Christ Define You".

My initial thoughts went to all the ways I've been identified during my lifetime. First I was a daughter and sister. Then I was a student, a teenager, a housecleaner, a bookstore worker, then a wife, a mother, a nurse aide, a receptionist, an insurance data entry person, a newspaper writer, a college student, a marketing supervisor, a grandmother, a retiree, an AARP member, and a senior citizen.

Many of my titles have been consecutive, others have overlapped for long periods of time. I wonder if God planned for me to have all those identities or if I just charged ahead and did things of my own idea. I'd like to think God uses all of those identities to get me to where He wants me to be: the person He wanted me to become all along.

But, maybe I'm not there yet. I still have so much to learn. As I work through the Bible again this year, I continually find new wisdom that I'd forgotten or that got overlooked in previous readings. I feel I will never be able to take it all in and preserve it. Yet, God shows me new knowledge every day. My ball of understanding gets larger and my foundation in Christ grows stronger and stronger.

So, who am I in Christ? Who does God want me to be? Am I following the right path? Am I growing as Christ desires?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).

It is all by God's hand; His perfect workmanship. God is crafting me to be the individual in Christ that He intended from the beginning. Wow. I'm so thankful it isn't in my hand to accomplish it all. God has it all under His control, under His authority.

I am saved by grace, through faith, to be the creation God has planned for me from the very beginning of time. Not by anything I can do, but by God. Through Christ Jesus I am His workmanship. What a blessing it is; to know that I'm not finished until God says my final breath is here.

Lord, make me forever Yours.

It's Amazing

We spent the weekend with our grandchildren at their home that just happens to have an Amazon Alexa device (?). Apparently, the kids have whatever control is needed. John and I were new to such a device. At rest, she quietly scrolls some interesting things that you can touch if you want to know more. If you address her, she speaks in conversational English and tries to do whatever you ask of her. It is quite amazing.

The kids have several favorite songs that they request of Alexa, so I now have "Timber" and "Thunder" and "Believer" in my repertoire. I loved watching them dance to the music and sing along. I now know how they learn the words... Alexa shows the words as the song plays. It is really cool. John tested his skill and had her playing songs that I loved from the seventies by Bread and The Monkees. The kids thought those songs were crazy. But, I was transported back to the time when John and I were dating. I almost felt 18 again. It was awesome.

Music is emotionally moving. It reaches down to my soul and literally moves me. I can not sit still when music is playing. I tap my foot or move my leg to the rhythm; I tap out the drum parts on anything nearby. I allow my mind to float to the music and I am moved.

One song that touches nearly every believer is, "Amazing Grace", written by John Newton in 1779. in 2006, contemporary worship music writer and composer, Chris Tomlin, added his own retrain (My Chains Are Gone). The song just keeps getting better and better.

"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.

My chains are gone, I've been set free, My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains, Unending love, Amazing grace. The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine. But God, Who called me here below Will be forever mine. Will be forever mine. You are forever mine.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun."

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work," (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV).

It's amazing!

The Best Medicine

Being someone who suffers from chronic depression isn't something to laugh about. But I'm drawn to people who make me laugh. People who can overlook my demeanor and give me something to smile about or that big belly laugh is even better.

Sometimes I just can't laugh. Something in my soul is just not made the same as others. The heaviness of my heart is too much to let the laughter spill from my lips. The week of gray days, one after another, becomes a weight on my shoulders.

Distraction is good. Exercise is good. Grandchildren are great.

I have hope.

"It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles. We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations--"God was wonderful to them!" God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people. And now, God, do it again-- bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing," (Psalm 126 The Message).

What a wonderful promise The Word has given us! Even someone like me who suffers a lifetime of depression will one day be a "happy people". We "will shout hurrahs at the harvest".  We will laugh and sing and be amazed at our bountiful blessings!

God has promised that one day we will "come home laughing, with armloads of blessing"!

Yes, do it again, Lord. Heal us, Lord, with the best medicine ever, laughter.

A Melody of Love

I love music. I grew up in a family that stood around the piano and sang together. Even though I wasn't blessed with a musical voice, I love to sing and listen to music. Much of what I learned about Jesus, when I was a child, was through music and the verses we sang. Children learn songs easily, it seems, and they can retain the melody and words for a long time.

My study bible lists nine Psalms that inspired hymns, but I'm sure if you also consider contemporary worship songs, there would be many more. Music has a way of reaching your soul, touching your heart, moving your spirit. It can lift a saddened soul. Music can heal a broken heart. It can transport your spirit to another place and time.

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV).

What better way to start a week than to fill your mind and soul with a song. One song I remember from childhood is "I Have a Song That Jesus Gave Me," written in 1924 by Elton M. Roth.

"I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heaven above; There never was a sweeter melody, 'Tis a melody of love." Refrain: "In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven's harmony; In my heart there rings a melody; There rings a melody of love."

"I love the Christ who died on Calvary, For He washed my sins away; He put within my heart a melody, And I know it's there to stay." Refrain.

"'Twill be my endless theme in glory, With the angels I will sing; 'Twill be a song with glorious harmony, When the courts of heaven ring." "In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven's harmony; In my heart there rings a melody; There rings a melody of love."

May your heart sing all day long with a melody of love.

Just One Blog

Today is just one of those days when I don't know what to write about. I read my devotionals and prayed for God to share an idea, an image, or a subject with me and I sit down and begin to type.

Yesterday I noticed there were no geese on the pond behind our yard. Usually they arrive shortly after sunrise and depart shortly before sunset. We have windows that overlook the pond and can often hear and see them fly in and out. Yesterday there was nothing. It was a cold 20 degrees and the wind was very brisk so I imagine the geese were hunkered down somewhere for the day. I wonder where? I often wonder why they don't go south. Did they know the south would get more snow than Iowa this year? Do the same birds winter here every year?

I wish the geese could talk and answer my questions. Not yet, anyway.

"But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'" (Job 35:10-11 NIV).

Job was smart enough to know that God was there, even when He didn't get immediate answers to his pleas. Just like I'm confident that God is answering my prayers, though I may not realize it. God's plan is always perfect. It is greater than I can imagine. Even after I've written a blog and think no one will even bother to read it, I'm often surprised when someone says, out of the blue, it spoke to them. God works through me, using me to share a message that only I would share.

Writing a blog is humbling. I don't expect my blogs to be read or that they will make a difference in your life every time I write. But, sometimes I am so blessed to hear from a reader who gets a morsel of truth that will help them through their day, or make them smile, or notice a goose on the ponds of Ankeny.

This is the 460th blog I've written since I started writing twice a week in 2014. It is my prayer that somewhere along the line of these words I share, you will see Jesus' face. May you be blessed to know Him, too.

Thank you. I am blessed to have you read Gloria's Glimpses.

The Big Picture

I have been trying to clean up my computer. It is getting old and as the new computer salesman predicted, it runs slower and slower. I know one reason why. I have too many photos stored on it: more than 101,000. I've been trying to copy them to a memory stick but the job seems impossibly long. It seems that what I end up doing is doubling the number of images. I need to delete as I go but I'm nervous. Ridiculous, isn't it?

Can you imagine being the persons who first gathered the books of the Bible together? Did they realize what they were working on? Or how many people would read their final work of art? I'm so thankful that these people were not overwhelmed by the task.

Sometimes we look at the big picture and are able to understand things better. That is the way it is with life. Looking back over the entirety of my life, I am able to see things I didn't realize when I was in the moment. I can see how things happened for a reason - all by God's plan for my life. Some things I will never understand until this life is over, perhaps.

Sometimes it is better to look closely at each piece of the puzzle. If we don't look at the pieces individually we can't match the colors, the purpose, the reasons, the details of each day. Every little thing that happens in our lives eventually fits into a perfect picture. Like a quilt, until the pieces are sewn together, the pattern isn't revealed.

"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. We are intimately linked in this harvest work... This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing." (Matthew 10:39-42, The Message).

Perhaps today I will begin deleting the photos I've copied from my hard drive. They are only pictures.
If there weren't any pictures, I could always use words to reflect on the past. Or are words more powerful than pictures?

Today creates a thousand images that fit into your life story.

A Sheepless Year

This year will be the first year the Stewart family does not have sheep. As John and Brady have been closing out the last of sheep equipment, it has become real to me that there aren’t going to be any more sheep shows for us, or our grandchildren. That makes me sad. They are so talented at showing sheep that I hate to see this come to an end. But, there are new possibilities ahead and I know they will make us proud in different ways in 2019.

Sheep will remain precious to me because I love sheep. They remind me of my Savior and Shepherd, Jesus Christ. They are a symbol of my life, of my needing a shepherd to follow. Sheep remind me that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the One who sacrificed His life to be on the cross to cover my sins and your sins so we could have a relationship with God.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through he valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” 

(Psalm 23:1-6 NIV). 

As you begin a New Year may the 23^rd Psalm be precious to you, giving you a vision of what God holds in store for us today and when Jesus returns. Amen.