​We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 
 - 2 Cor. 3:18, HCSB
 
What is the glory of the Lord? It's one of those Christianese phrases we say a lot, but what is it? What is Paul talking about in the above verse?
 
Let's jump back to the Old Testament, to Exodus 33 & 34. Here Moses asked the Lord to teach him God's ways (33:13). Then a few verses later, Moses asked to see the Lord's glory. The Lord responds by telling him to get in a rock crevice and that Moses would be allowed to see the trailing edge of the Lord's glory.
 
In chapter 34, the event is described for us. The Lord told Moses to prepare two stones and go up to Mt. Sinai in the morning. Moses did what he was asked and the Lord passed in front of him (34:6). As the Lord passed, He listed some of His attributes: Yahweh is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and truth...but will not leave the guilty unpunished. So, the Lord directly tied His glory to Who He was and is - to His attributes. His attributes are His glory.
 
Immediately, Moses bowed down and worshipped. This is the first time the Scriptures say that Moses worshipped. He had seen a burning bush, had been given a huge task by God to lead out a captive nation, had taken on the leader of a major world power at the time, had brought plagues to that powerful nation, had seen an army drown in the Red Sea, had participated in the celebration following that event, had seen God work miracles to keep the Israelites fed and watered in a desert, but this is the first time he worshipped! The end result of this encounter with the Lord is that Moses' face was somehow changed. He had to wear a veil over his face so people wouldn't be frightened.
 
Paul refers to this event in 2 Corinthians 3, stating that with unveiled faces, we look at the glory of the Lord as we would look at a mirror and we are changed - transformed - just as Moses' face was transformed when he looked at the Lord's glory.
 
This truth really challenges me. Am I busy serving the Lord, even singing His praises, but not truly worshipping Him? Have I been changed by my encounter with the Lord? Do others see a difference in my countenance, my appearance because of this transformation? Do I reflect (as a mirror) the Lord's glory, being compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in love but always speaking truth and not going along with sin?
 
If not, why not?
 
Let Your glory fill this place, Hallelujah.
Let Your glory fill this place even now.
Do a work in each heart, let it show on each face
Let Your glory fill this place.
- Geraldine Turner
 

When I am afraid, I will trust in You. - Psalm 56:3, HCSB
 
My youngest son was born premature with many health issues, the most concerning one being a serious issue with his heart. We have known since the day he was born that at some point in his life, he would need open-heart surgery.
 
God blessed us with a wonderful pediatric cardiologist. The care regimen that she set up for Jude allowed for him to grow and flourish in spite of his serious heart condition. Most folks would never know by watching him that such a critical problem resided inside the active child they saw.
 
This past summer, a new procedure was offered to us that would be minimally invasive but fix the problem for Jude via a catheter instead of opening up his chest. It was wonderful news and we agreed to let the hospital try this new procedure.
 
The night before the scheduled procedure, I didn't sleep at all. I discovered something rather unpleasant about myself. I struggle trusting!! I've always had difficulty trusting people because of past hurts and betrayals. Yet, I was struggling trusting God.
 
Now, God and I have been through many dark valleys together. At times, I have felt I was drowning in oceans of despair, but not once did God fail me. Don't get me wrong! Those dark experiences were difficult and in the middle of the furor, I did lose sight of God's comfort and help. Still, looking back, God did not fail!
 
So why was I struggling so hard to trust God now? I wanted to trust Him. Desperately! I wanted the words from the songs that echoed in my mind to be true. I wanted to go through this experience with absolute confidence in my Heavenly Father, but I struggled. All night, I wrestled with my fear and lack of faith. I repented over and over again for my doubts, but still the struggle raged in my heart.
 
An esophageal echocardiogram revealed that Jude was not a good candidate for this new procedure, so we are still looking at open-heart surgery. I don't know exactly how I'll handle the days before that happens. I'd love to think that I would rest confidently in my Father's love.
 
However, if that doesn't happen, if I find myself gripped with fear and doubt, I will trust. Notice that is an action, a deliberate choice. I will trust! Even if I must choose to trust again and again, every moment as the battle of fear goes on in my mind, I will trust. Why? I remember the dark times we've been through. I remember the answered prayers. I remember His incredible mercy in saving me. I remember His grace that I live in every day. So, in spite of the storm, I will choose to trust!
 
No matter the storms that come my way
No matter the trials I may face
You promised that You would see me through
So I will trust in You.
(written by Michael Popham, Regi Stone)

​ For You are my hope, Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth. - Psalm 71:5, HCSB
 
When I was about 11 years old, my parents went through a very difficult time in their lives. My mom was very pregnant with her sixth child. My dad resigned from pastoring a small church in Rincon, GA, so they were suddenly without an income. The reasons behind the resignation are an entirely different story, but I'll just say that my father was trying to do the right thing, even if the right thing was extremely difficult.
 
A friend arranged for our family to stay in a tiny little pull-behind trailer that couldn't have been more than 18 feet long! I don't think many women would have managed to keep it together like my mother did. She had a 2-1/2-year-old toddler, two rambunctious boys, 4-1/2 and 7, and two girls, 9 and 11. She has 8 months pregnant so I don't know how she even turned around in that little tiny trailer. She hung two blankets outside the trailer to make a shower, using the side of the trailer as the third wall. Dad would pour water over the blankets for us to "shower" in. There wasn't a 4th wall; it was open to the woods!!
 
The lot that this magnificent little trailer was parked on had a well, but the water was full of sand. Every drop of water for cooking and drinking had to run through a dishcloth to catch all the sand.
 
To top things off, Mom and Dad tried to plant a garden (yes, while she was 8 months pregnant!). Her reward for her efforts was a horrible case of poison ivy all over her feet and hands. I remember a few tears of frustration at that point!
 
Just before the baby was born, someone arranged for us to move into a two-bedroom mobile home (on the same lot with the sandy well!). We thought it was a mansion compared to the little bitty trailer we had been trying to live in! My sister and I and the newborn slept in a bedroom on one end, and the other three children slept in a bedroom on the other end. My parents slept on the floor in the living room. Every morning, my mom had to put her "bedroom" away so we could have a place to sit.
 
Looking back now as a parent, I realize just how difficult that time must have been for both of my parents. My parents never argued or complained in front of us children. We played, ran, jumped, explored - all the things children love to do and we were happy. We were blissfully unaware of the dark, emotional trial my parents were enduring. We weren't troubled at all! We just knew we were loved and had absolute confidence that Mom and Dad would always watch over us.
 
If only we had that same absolute faith in our heavenly Father! Perhaps that child-like faith is what Jesus was referring to when He said, "I assure you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3). It doesn't matter what storm, trial, or trouble is brewing, my Father watches over me!
 
Let not your heart be troubled
His tender words I hear,
And resting on His goodness
I lose my doubt and fear.
Tho' by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see,
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
 
(written by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel)