Skip to main content

Gifts; A Joyful Face

I sat at the booth and checked my phone to make sure my friend knew where to find me. She had just parked and was walking over. Perfect. I ordered a cup of tea and was contentedly sipping on it when she entered. Seeing me immediately, she made a beeline for our table, took her seat, and looked up. 

 Her face was filled with joy as she asked how I was. 

"I'm good," I said, slightly amused. "Why are you so happy?"

"Oh," she shrugged. "I just am." 



"I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices." ~Psalm 16:8-9a

"As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects the man." ~Proverbs 27:19

Amidst all the sorrow and anger and fighting of our broken world this woman's face stood out. The joy in her eyes reflected the joy of her heart; a heart that had spent time with Jesus. 

Throughout the rest of the day her genuine smile stayed with me and prompted a question that I had to ponder seriously; does my face reflect that I have spent time with Jesus? Does it reflect a soul that abides in well-being (Psalm 25:13) and a heart that has waited for the LORD and therefore can be strong and take courage (Psalm 27:14)? Or does it reflect the stress and frustrations of the day? 

I do not understand how God transforms us from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). It is a great mystery that can only be accomplished by His power and wisdom and carried out by the Holy Spirit. But I do know that if any of us are going to be changed we must "behold the glory of the LORD" and that means we sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer, Bible reading, fasting, singing, and corporate worship. 

If our faces do not reflect that we have been with Jesus perhaps it's because, very simply, we haven't been. 



On the other hand, my friend probably does not know the encouragement she was to me that day as she simply ate her breakfast, talked about every day things (which included hurts and joys), payed her bill with kindness, and then carried on with her day. Her simple obedience was a blessing to me; and all because she no doubt started her day at the Throne of Grace. 

Actually, I'm still encouraged when I think about it. And it inspires me to spend more time in my prayer closet with my Bible open so that my face will not reflect her face, but the countenance of my Beloved Saviour. 

What about your face? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Actually, I'm engaged

If you are a Christian you are part of the greatest love story every told to mankind. This story begins with God speaking and it ends with an "amen". It's found between the covers of this book called "The Bible" and if you haven't read it I suggest you begin immediately because you will be amazed at the love recorded there. If you are a Christian you are described as a member of God's church and if you are a member of His church you are also part of the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5). You might say that Israel in the Old Testament was God's church and He made His love story very clear to them as well...though not because they deserved it. Song of Solomon tells the deep, intimate love of Christ for His church and the adoration of the church for Jesus; it's the story of how it should always be . Sadly, in a few books later we read a story that is heart wrenching. Ezekiel 16 is titled "The Lord's Faithless Bride" because this bride, t...
2 comments
Read more

Surprise Sin

Over Easter weekend I had the opportunity to visit my grandparents. We caught up over soup and egg salad sandwiches and then migrated to the living room with cups of tea. Gradually the conversation turned to a couple young siblings from their church whom they've observed seldom fight. Sometimes these kids do get angry or annoyed with each other and then they fight, but that is not their normal relationship. My grandfather made this observation, "isn't that just like sin? You are living your life of obedience and then all of a sudden its like sin gets the better of you." It was a comforting statement coming from my elderly grandfather who has been walking with the Lord for over 80 years. Even as a seasoned saint, sin still creeps up on him. But it has also made me think quite a bit. Sometimes I am tempted to think that if I do everything right (regular devotions, get enough sleep, listen to good music, eat well, have Christian fellowship, exercise) then I won't fal...
Post a Comment
Read more

a different perspective

Henry was walking quickly down the sidewalk one sunny summer afternoon. He had finished his chores and so his mother had let him go out to the park to play baseball with his friends before Dad came home for supper. Henry was quite excited about this adventure but he stopped suddenly when he passed the white church and saw his pastor sitting on the steps with a downcast expression on his normally joyous face.      "Hi Pastor Clay," Henry greeted him as he came to a complete stop just on the other side of the white fence.      "Hello Henry," Pastor Clay's answer was sad.      "How are you today?" Henry asked again, hoping all was well so that he could go play.      "Oh alright," Pastor Clay answered.     With all his might Henry wanted to nod and smile and be on his way...but he couldn't. Instead, he lifted the gate's latch and walked over to the step. Once there, he seated himself beside the pa...
2 comments
Read more