He Glows Like Moses

I thought I would open up with something that's always been a personal goal of mine:

For people to look at me and be drawn to me --- not because of who I am or what I can offer... but because of who I spend the most time with.

Last Saturday I was at a concert. Imagine with me, if you will, a crowded teenage/college hardcore music scene filled with a vast array of kids starting with the preppy clean-cut type to some covered in tattoos and piercings (like myself). This is not the place you would bring your grandmother.

You'd expect that the crowd be a group of cynical judgmental kids filled with angst... and I'm sure in some cases you'd be right. But this night... some of them managed to put that aside for a few hours to engage in something a bit unplanned. I was surprised to find some of the men that even I might been afraid of in any other circumstance with their hands raised in adoration.... their faces tilt toward heaven maybe with the hopes of catching just a glimpse. This, ladies and gentlemen, was not a proud group of people... this was a true display of thankfulness to their provider and maker.

After the worship and after the music had continued on as planned, I was able to spend a little time with one of the guys I had seen worshiping from afar.

This guy was really and truly glowing like I imagine Moses did.

The way he responded to people around Him was just beautiful. There wasn't any one cute phrase he said that won me over. There was no method to his actions. No pickup lines or anything of the sort. He just radiated with such warmth. I could honestly say I felt like I could see his skin just glowing.

I know this wasn't just the lighting... my new friend had just met up with the King. This was a few nights ago... and I still think it was one of the most beautiful things I have seen in awhile - I haven't been able to forget about it. I have not seen too many men with that brilliant and warm glow on them. I could honestly see Jesus when looking at this guy. It was so refreshing. I had almost given up on the idea that people like this could exist.

I'm at the point now where THAT is who I want to be. I'm craving to have and show the love this man was radiating. Not a human and selfish love. But the real love of Christ. I am convinced... if I was to spend more time seeking the face of God, more time with my hands lifted high just trying to reach Him... I might be more effective. It doesn't have to come from someone you would anticipate it from. After all a guy at a concert in a War of Ages shirt showed me more of Jesus than I have seen in the past 4 churches I have been in. If I can only get over myself for a little bit of time. Stop worrying about what people might think about me.... and just find time to make a little more room for the king.... I might become that change the world needs to see. A mirror of Christ that can't be ignored.

- Jess Stacy



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The Radiant Face of Moses

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

Okay so this is my first attempt in writing something about the nature of worship.
Firstly,
the term worship is skewed.
Why?
Because what immediately comes to mind when you think of "worship" (according to the church)
The part of the service in which we "SING" songs.
But really "worship" has nothing to do with "singing" songs.

The way we live our lives is worship.
The reason we sing songs is because, well, our hearts can't help but singing about the amazing story of this.
God created man to bring glory to Him in the way they live.
Man(woman) failed to do so.
All of humankind awaits the coming of their Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Christ comes, carries the weight of sin, wipes it out completely, defeats the devil, Rises from the dead, ascends into heaven, makes a way for us to finally reach God the Father whom we were once enemies with because of our sin, unites us as sons and daughters, fills us with the Holy Spirit so we can live through Christ, through grace, mercy and forgiveness, We are free!
Now we await the coming of our Lord, who will once again restore his Kingdom where we will rejoice forever in the presence of God.

How can we not help but want to give our lives fully, to our Creator, Lord, Savior Jesus Christ.

Together as a body of believers, we come to sing songs, not worship, but rejoicing because we are free, sons and daughters of the most high reconciled because of what Christ has done... we should already be worshiping God through out the week,

Romans 12:1-3
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

We have been given grace to live for God, through Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
This is worship.
Not singing songs, but the way we live.
Everyday,
in everything.

My prayer is this:
Jesus, forgive us for thinking worship is singing songs to you,
Help us to rejoice together for the mercy and grace given at the cross.
Let us live everyday, renewed, changed, worshiping you in spirit and in truth, in everything we say and do. God we want to be thankful for the amazing gift of life in you that you have given us.
Even when troubles may come, we know that we can still worship you, submitting ourselves to you Jesus, knowing that your Grace is enough for us.
That nothing will separate us from your love.
We want to live in your love, and want to share your love.
Teach us your ways, Holy Spirit have your way, guide and direct our paths, so that our lives may be worshiping you always, when we sit, when we rise.
Thank you for doing this,
in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

In the next few weeks the Jess' are going to post up their thoughts and feelings about music and worship. They hope to bring a different perspective about what goes on in their world as young women. Stay tuned for some interesting stories & thoughts.