The Glory...

A long time ago, Jet started the tradition of praying with the girls every night before they'd go to sleep. He'd spend quality Daddy-time singing a song to them, telling them a funny story(usually a 'messed up' version...like Rudolph the blue nose reindeer), and then asking them what they wanted to thank Jesus for. Where they'd sometimes spout off long lists of everything under the sun. (insert: I Thank God for daddies that are willing to put time into the bedtime routine...when mommies are sometimes ready to quick, throw them in the bed, shut the door, and run away) *grin*

Tonight the tradition played out a little differently.

Jet was putting Raegan in her crib and I was reading the girls a story as they sat on their beanbags beside me. We were just finishing up as Jet walked in. And since everyone was already sitting together, we decided to just stay out of bed and pray in a family circle.

Now I have to backtrack and say that Charis has been fighting an odd body/face rash again. Very frustrating. But this time, instead of beating my head against the wall with doctors who say they have no idea what it is, but "we'll just try this medication and this one and...", I have been praying with Charis about it throughout the day. We even wrote out a Bible verse, so she could read it to herself whenever she wanted to and proclaim it over her own body.

"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord." Jeremiah 30.17


So fast forward to tonight, sitting on the floor together. We were praying and thanking Jesus (tonight our dog was the beloved choice of thanksgiving from both girls). But this time, instead of just ending it there, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to do something that the Lord has been challenging me to do as well. To Just Listen to what HE has to say.

I explained to the girls that Jesus also wants to talk to us. To whisper things into our hearts for us to know. And that we needed to quiet ourselves so that we could hear him if he wanted to say something.

Honestly, I was surprised at how receptive they both were. We all bowed our heads. Selah whispered something quietly. Charis shushed her, saying "We're listening. You have to be quiet." :)

Immediately, I heard the Lord say, "This is a priceless time for you as a family." I knew the He was pleased, which completely warmed my heart in so many ways. So after a while of silence, I asked the girls if he said anything to them.

Without skipping a beat, Charis said, "Yes! Jesus said something to me! I heard him!"

"What did he say?"

"He said that he was going to heal all of my wounds. And make them all better. That he was going to heal my face and my leg and so he could decorate them."

"Decorate them?"

"Yeah. Decorate them." (She looked at me like Mom! Don't you get anything!?)
"That he was going to heal them. and them make them all shiny so I can show people."

In that instance, I knew that she had heard from the Lord. That's not the way we talk around here. We don't speak of Jesus decorating our faces...or showing our healings to other people. It's not like we don't think He could do those things or that we shouldn't share the miracles our family experiences with others. It's just that we've never really talked about it like that.

Immediately, I thought of Jesus adorning her face with oil and gold dust. "Making it SHINY." Like He has been known to do with us, our friends, and those that we are hearing about in other churches where the Lord has begun to display his glory in the physical realm.

David Goddard writes, "In the Tabernacle of Moses we see that the Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Most Holy Place as God's temporary dwelling. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest made of Acacia wood, overlaid inside and outside with gold. The mercy seat or lid was made of pure gold with two cherubim, also made of pure gold, facing each other on the mercy seat. Wood in scripture represents humanity. The chest was made of wood, overlaid with gold, gold representing the nature of God. This was a picture of man (wood), clothed with the nature of God (gold). Our Lord was showing us that God's intention for man is to clothe him with glory, both within and without. (Ps 8:4-6)

I've seen and experienced God covering His Church in gold dust. And in oil. (which in scripture represents healing) Why, you ask? Because God is God. And therefore, he can do what he wants. :) But I believe it's a manifestation of His Glory. Because WE are his dwelling place now. Not the Ark of the Covenant. And He is starting to pour out His Glory is greater measures. I've heard of it happening around the world. And I've experienced it, on some level, here in my home and church.

And tonight...God spoke that into the heart of my little child. Who is waiting in expectation for her healing. So that God can "decorate" her...so that she can show others what Jesus has done for her.

...I called Mom to tell her about all of this. And she said that after I was done reading this blog entry, the Lord whispered really quietly into her spirit, "And so it begins."

Open our eyes Lord...to see what it is you are doing. I love watching You at work!!