Bright and shining faces

Isaiah 2:1-2  

There will come a day when God's house - his habitation or dwelling - will be established or firmly fixed or settled as the chief or head of all mountains.  His house will be the choicest and best.  It will be raised above all other hills and places of worship.  It will be THE PLACE to worship and ALL nations will flow together to it and shine because of it.  Gesenius puts it this way:  "to be glad, rejoice, from the light or brightness of a happy face". 

In my other Bible study today I learned how important it is that we live a life of contentment.  Sometimes when we are in the throws of life we (or I) forget to be content.  Timothy said that if we have food and clothing - it is enough, we should be content, but as a mom of three young ones and a wife, instead of being content with food and clothing we see the piles of dishes and dirty laundry that calls to us each day. 

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."  I Timothy 6:8

Paul put it this way, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."  Philippians 4:12

You see when we worship God the way He desires us to worship Him (throughout our day, in the laundry room and in the kitchen) it should lighten not only our hearts, but it should show all over our faces. 

Psalm 34:5 puts it this way, "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

When I think of a radiant face I think of the story of Moses who met with God. Is radiance shining through you during your day?  While you are scrubbing that pot or picking up dirty socks?  Have you met with God like Moses did?  Are you filling yourself up with Him and delighting in Him?

Jeremiah 31:12 says this, "They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more."

Lastly Micah 4:1 echos Isaiah's words, "In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it."

Oh to see that day as Isaiah did as he said in verse 1, "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw ..."

Isaiah got a glimpse of this day when there is no more sorrow (no more dirt or piles of laundry) and all peoples are rejoicing in God's bounty, where His house is exalted and high and lifted up!  Can we get a glimpse of that joy that is set before us because to be content here and to do a job well done as we talked about yesterday is what will get us there.  It's part of the journey ...

So may we keep our eyes on Him today, seeking to do His will and bringing a little heaven on earth until that day when His House will be established and settled here and we can go up to the House of the LORD and shout and dance with all joy.

I long for that day!  Oh how I long for it!

May we (I) be content today ... oh may I be content ...



Blessings Abundant,





Transform me LORD in the midst of this life, that my face would radiant joy and my attitude contentment.  We have food and clothing LORD and for this I should be content and grateful!