My daughter, Michaella, and I enjoy the super hero movies: Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Captain America, and more. There is something glorious, weighty and true in the story of the battle of good against evil. I love watching from the comfort of my couch with seltzer and snacks, curled up in a warm blanket. The heroes are strong, noble, and always flawed, some more than others, but at the end of the day they win... in the movies. We long for good to win.
The battle feels different when I am a key player, and the battle ground is my home, my church, my neighborhood, or community. At times what seems most tangible and near is the weightiness of the conflict. The danger and uncertainty stir doubt, fear, anger and discouragement. And, today, we can watch and even participate in battles being waged across the world on our television or computer. What if the "weight" we felt most heavy upon us was the weightiness of God's glory and presence rather than the reality of the battle?
Jesus makes a way for relationship with the glorious, almighty Triune God. So much better than a super hero. When we experience a glimpse of God—His glory, the weight of His reality—everything changes.
In Jesus Christ the veil is removed, and we are released from our blindness. In the season of Advent we prepare for the gift of Jesus' coming, God's light dawning so long ago and today. God entered our darkness in a way that we could begin to understand—God became like one of us, human. Yet, he is God, the flawless super hero.
Hardship is real, and I want to be honest about the battles of good and evil, sometimes around me and sometimes within me. I must name the suffering, the discomfort, the struggle, and emotion. Yet. And. Still... the Triune God is present and full of glory. I want to experience His presence and glory. I desire my perspective to be shaped by the reality and glory of God's presence.
So I turn to the Lord. I offer my attention, my focused gaze. I turn to Jesus, again and again, fixing the eyes of my heart upon Love incarnate.
The Triune God is sovereign and fully good. As we gaze at His glory, he actually forms us, transforms us. What a mystery and a miracle. We can't help ourselves—we turn to God, lean into God, walk with God and we will be transformed from one degree of glory to another. We will experience the freedom we are created for in an intimate relationship with the Glorious One who loves us. God prevails so the good wins. Such hope.
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Retreat opportunities to attend to God virtually in the New Year.
See information and video below.
Encounter Zoom Retreats
2021 is coming
The new year is an opportunity to reboot and
intentionally attend to the inner life
after the fullness of previous seasons.
Three virtual mini-retreats
January/February 2021
Saturdays 9:00am - 10:40am
The themes will follow the three sections of my new devotional Encounter
We will connect via Zoom
Downloadable retreat packets will be made available before retreat day
Join me to attend to God through the Scriptures, prayer practices, reflections and images.
Repent and Follow - January 9, 2021 $10
Attend and Trust - January 23, 2021 $10
Align and Partner - February 6, 2021 $10
Registration is Open!
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