glimpses and glimmers

Someone asked me recently what my title to the blog meant. I thought about it after giving the short answer, "Well it's glimpses of God's love and Glimmers of his glory as he reveals them to me." That is true enough and the answer was certainly sufficient for that moment. There is more to the name than just that though.

I love corporate worship. You may know what I mean. I don't care if we are singing a hymn, a chorus, a child's song, or everybody singing "in the Spirit" as one; however we do it as long as we are together as we enter the throne room I am filled up and happy. There is a sweet and intimate sense to personal worship that is reflected in a healthy marriage, the oneness of being with God is such a powerful while tender and perfect experience. Yet, the experience of lifting my voice or standing in silence before him as "the bride of Christ" with other believers is also a powerful thing and not only solidifies my faith, my understanding of who I am and to whom I belong; but it also connects me in a deep and spiritual way to those who stand with me in that moment.

It was during a corporate worship several years ago in a little wood building in Elkton where I felt the stirring the Holy Spirit and in that moment I felt as if a curtain was pulled aside and a glimpse was captured like a photograph in my heart. The overwhelming sense of his love and the magnitude of the glory made me cry. I stood there and just burst into tears. I felt giddy and lightheaded and I think I crumpled as I went to my knees. There was no standing in this perfect and complete moment. I felt wrapped in his presence.

A few years later there was a similar experience when someone prayed for me. He touched my head as he began to pray and he said "hello mother" and the call in my life rose inside me like the full thunderhead the farmer hopes to see when he longs for rain. That glimpse pulled me forward into things I had only begun to understand and gave me the courage to believe for them and wait for Him. As the man prayed I fell to the floor, for there was no standing as the Holy Spirit encircled me like a new layer of skin. You can call it whatever you want. All I know is He was there with me and I came away from that moment with a hunger for more of Him, less of me, a better glimpse of who I am, and certainly a glimmer of His glory radiating in my heart.

I have found that I truly only need the glimpse of his love, the glimmer of his glory. In fact I think that in this present state perhaps I can only handle that much. For his presence is overwhelming, his love is beyond anything we know, and his glory is indescribable. The closer I come the more I see how far off I truly stand.

The Father's gracious love and continuing leading has brought more and more and each glimpse gives me a fresh moment, a new start. His mercies are new every morning, and his love endures forever. So my prayer for this coming year as I write these weekly thoughts is that you also will find glimpses of His love and glimmers of His glory pouring through your life and that you will be blessed. Happy New Year friends.