Ponderings

Life has been good lately.

November is coming to a close, and December is upon us. I have much to be thankful for, and I do enjoy pondering over the month of November everything that I can count as a blessing. Some years I share publicly my thanks list, some years, like this year, I keep those ponderings and musings in my heart. Having a week off with children for the holiday truly gave me time to reflect on the past and the future.

December....my favorite month. My house has been decorated for over a week already. Trees are up, ornaments hung, stockings in place, nativity sets in place. A time for baking bread and cookies. Christmas programs, driving to see lights, some cold weather (somewhat cold), hot chocolate and marshmallows. But more importantly, the birth of Jesus.

Jesus. Emmanuel....

This name of Jesus has been with me lately. This past week I created a piece of artwork for our patio area with the names/attributes of God. Down the center, an offshoot of NOEL, I put EMMANUEL. And, there is the wonderful song Emmanuel by Amy Grant - which I LOVE hearing all through the holiday season. (song link)

[1]
From the Hebrew name עִמָּנוּאֵל ('Immanu'el) meaning "God is with us". This was the foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament. It has been used in England since the 16th century in the spellings Emmanuel and Immanuel.

God is with us. I get so much comfort from this.

Shootings in churches, earthquakes across the globe, children being killed, countries still unable to recover from hurricanes. I have known that the world is broken (i.e. sin), but, it actually feels broken now. And this has me longing for what is to come. I am ready for my Messiah, for the trumpet call. I am dismayed that so many will be left behind, I have prayed that as many will come to acceptance of Christ before it is too late, but still my heart longs.

Part of my waking thoughts is on what is to come, the 1,000 year reign, how those of us who will reign with Christ will do so and even what our appearance will look like. My mind goes to Moses when my thought goes to that part. How after 40 days in the presence of the LORD, his appearance was radiant, his face shined, so much so, he had to wear a veil.

Exodus 34: 27-35

27 And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

The Shining Face of Moses
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Can you imagine what we will look like? If we have not died bodily when the trumpet is called, then we will get to spend 7 years in the presence of the LORD.

7 years! Can you imagine the shining? The light of our appearance? What about those who have been in heaven say 10 years, 100 years....the appearance of Paul, Peter, John, Luke, Matthew? What about the Old Testament saints?

It might seem trivial, and honestly I don't think I will worry about anything once the time comes, but I enjoy thinking about the future future. The future where the world is made right, and our only reason for existence is to worship the LORD, and live in the wold as He originally intended.

[1] https://www.behindthename.com/name/emmanuel