"No One Can See Me and Live"

This summer has been a summer filled with stories. I went to The Great Escape with our Middle schoolers back in June, and the theme was how all of our stories and lives intertwine with each other. It's been so interesting to unpack that a little bit, as I am settled back in the routine of Children and Family Ministry. Everyone that I interact with, affects me negatively or positively.  Ryan Cobb always says there is no neutral encounter. I am beginning to see and understand that more and more. All of you are a part of my story, a part of how I'm learning about Christ, and a part of how I'm learning to love people well... (or better).

I've found myself praying the past few weeks, "Let me see you, let me see more of you, let me see more of your glory." It's often hard, unless you keep a journal, or document every life changing event in your life, to recall God moving in your life and how He is changing and molding your heart day-to-day. I've let the prayer of the summer to be more aware of how the Lord is at work, and how He is revealing Himself to not only me, but to all of you. For me, I'm more encouraged and understand more of Christ's love when I see Him at work in the lives of your children.

I think my most favorite encounter someone has with God in the Old Testament, is when we read a conversation Moses has with God in the Tent of Meeting. I've written before about how Moses was so unsure of His leadership abilities, and was questioning a lot of what God was asking him to do. Moses was wanting to have the knowledge of God, asking God to teach him His ways, and Moses even asked God to show him God's glory. That's a bold request- and as I've been reminded of this passage, It's exactly what I've asked of God the past few weeks.

God responds to Moses by basically saying (This is Elizabeth paraphrasing), "You can't see my glory. It's too beautiful, no one can see me and live. But, I'll pass by, and after I've passed, you can see my back and where I've been."

I've been so encouraged by this passage AGAIN, today. I'm inspired that God allows me to see where He's been....and I'm still living.  He allows US ALL to see how He has worked through the lives of people around us, and through the circumstances of our own faith. We take for granted being able to see the affects of the creator of the WHOLE universe at work. At least, I do. I get to be "in the know" on what GOD has done. I get to have the inside scoop. I get to see it with my eyes, and experience it. It's not this cosmic, far removed, action that's taking place in... Botswana. It's happening here in Dalton, inside the same building that I'm sitting in. The Lord is NEAR!

But, sometimes it is hard to see how God has worked in our own lives. Sometimes, it's more helpful and affirming to have a friend or someone who has spent time with us, come in and point to the places of growth and of renewal. That's where our stories begin to intertwine. When we have people walking alongside of us, who help encourage, teach, or even challenge us. When we have people in our lives who can pinpoint how God changed a way of thinking, or  who can remind us of when we finally surrendered a situation and let the Lord take control.

Who are YOU allowing in your life to see God at work? Who is the person that is able to sit back and know more of God's glory because of your life? We all need to let people in. We all need people to walk alongside of us, and encourage us, and love us, and to point to places where the Lord has been in our lives.

On the flip side, WHO are you walking along side? Where is your story interweaving with someone else's? With who do you get to see where the Lord has been? We have the beautiful gift of seeing where the Lord has been, why aren't we trying to see and seek that in the life of every person we know? We all need to see more glimpses of WHERE He has been. And my friends, He is near. Look up and see His back in passing.