We can easily spot a "smile" when we see it across people's mouths...but can you spot it in someone's eyes?
Nancy gives a deep and fun outlook on this in her latest word. Her father, Wade Taylor, was my spiritual father before he graduated to Heaven years ago now. I sure miss him! I am thankful for Nancy carrying on her father's legacy as she publishes Wade's and her own words as well.
Enjoy this article as I know it will bless you in the midst of these serious times. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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The other day as I was grocery shopping, a lady stepped in front of me. I smiled to smooth the situation, then, all of a sudden, I realized I had my face mask on and she couldn't see my smile. I exclaimed, "Oh, you can't see I'm smiling!" She replied, "I can see you're smiling by the crinkle in your eye!" And we both crinkled our eyes.
The song "Hallelujah to the Lamb," by Don Moen, helps express what is in my heart today. This song speaks of standing in the midst of a multitude from every tribe and tongue, people and land—all of us, as God's people, "redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb," giving thanks to the Lord for what He has done in our lives.
In this song, a commitment is made that, with all our strength, we will continue to give thanks and praise to the Lord all our days. Then the song becomes a prayer, asking the Lord to release His power to work in us and through us, making us more Christ-like so that others will see His glory and worship Him too.
Some years ago, I was in a place where men and women of all ages—from different places in the United States and different countries around the world—from the depths of their hearts, and with all their strength, were singing this song over and over. It was powerful as the presence of the Lord bore witness to the oneness being expressed in the room. How the Lord loves us and delights in our coming together in Him! This is the Lord's desire for mankind.
Yet we live in a fallen world where not everyone is living by Christ's standards. We see hate and injustice, and its often heart-breaking. How are we to respond?
Our Example of Forgiveness
One of the most powerful wars we will ever win is when we act contrary to a prevailing spirit. My role model for this has always been Corrie ten Boom. She did not give in to the hate all around her in the concentration camps but continued to believe in God's Word and pray for others, even praying for those who were persecuting her. As I saw what she endured, yet the impact she had in the midst of suffering, I said to myself, "If she could forgive them, there is no one I can't forgive." The day came when Corrie was released from the cruel oppression of the prison guards. She then went around the world speaking about God's love. (Photo via Wikipedia)
We see this same example in Jesus on the Cross. He committed His own spirit to His heavenly Father as He prayed for the very ones who nailed Him to the Cross. What He endured never changed who He was or marred His spirit. In spotless perfection, He paid the price for our sin, that we might have new life in Him; that together, every nation, tongue, tribe, and people might become one in Christ Jesus.
During our daily Bible reading, my husband Allen has been reading from the Epistles of John, first in one translation, then in another. I've highlighted a few of the Scriptures here... (continue reading)
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Let's face it...no one likes wearing those masks as we are out and about. It makes us all creative in reaching out to others and seeing them in a new way. You're going to find out about this in Nancy Taylor Tate's new article.
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In the midst of this pandemic, one of my prayers up until now has been, "God, please reform my heart. Refine it to become like gold. Change whatever needs to be changed in my life and ministry so that I am in perfect alignment with Heaven. I invite the fire of God to come and purify my heart, thoughts, motives, and passions. I sense there is more—not just for me but for us all. God, give us a reformation... (
