Shekinah Glory

The term "Shekinah Glory" is one that I haven't thought about in 20 or more years. The term popped into my head while I was at a funeral a few weeks ago.  And it has continued coming to mind over the last several days.  I thought, Perhaps this is something that the Lord wants me to write about on my blog...The only problem was that I couldn't remember what it meant.  I decided that I should do some research on it since I felt sure that the Lord had been bringing it to my mind.

Skekinah Glory is the Hebrew term for God and His abiding presence!  It isn't found in scripture but is found in other outside Hebrew documents.  There is a derivative of it in the Old Testament though which translates "to dwell".    Just like God, Himself, dwelt in the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of clouds by day,  His glory dwells in His Son, Jesus Christ.  As it says in John 1:1 and 14, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (NIV)

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,  and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over every power and authority."  Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. "  Luke 21:27 (NIV)

"I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me.  The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us.   Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.  The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are—I in them and you in me.   Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.  Father, I want those you gave me to be with me, right where I am, so they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, having loved me long before there ever was a world.  Righteous Father, the world has never known you, but I have known you, and these disciples know that you sent me on this mission.  I have made your very being known to them—Who you are and what you do—And continue to make it known, so that your love for me might be in them exactly as I am in them."  John 17:20-26 (The Message)

The funny question is, why am I thinking about it now?  Why did it keep popping into my head even when I didn't remember what it meant?  Do you think He wants us to remember that He is with us,  that He is present and always in control even when we don't see it or feel it?  And that most of all, He, Himself, dwells in His Son, and in us through His Holy Spirit? Amen!

Dear Lord,  Thank you for Your abiding presence.  Help us to remember that you are always with us even when we don't see you or feel you. Thank you that You dwell among us and that we have beheld Your glory, glory as of the only begotten.

Image courtesy of Photobucket.com.

It is Well...

"Please run now to meet her and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?'" And she answered, "It is well." 2 Kings 4:26 (NASB)

Horatio Spafford wrote the amazingly beautiful hymn, "It is Well With My Soul", in response to the tragic loss of his four daughters who perished in the shipwreck of the Ville du Havre on November 22, 1873. Some believe that the above verses from 2 Kings may have inspired the wording. Please be sure to watch the YouTube video which I have also posted here. The amazing story of continued commitment to the Lord in the face of horrible tragedy doesn't end here. The rest of the story seems to be avoided by many, probably because Horatio Spafford suffered from mental illness near the end of his life. You may be wondering what could cause someone with such great faith to suffer with mental illness. But mental illness is an infirmity, a disease like any other disease, and can strike anyone like any other disease. I read something about this when I googled it today and a random blogpost by "whomever" mentioned that it was not well with Horatio Spafford's soul after all. I would venture to say (although I was not there in the late 1880's with the Spaffords) that what was wrong with Horatio Spafford was not wrong with his soul. If it can be well with your soul while you have a physical illness, it can also be well with your soul when you have a mental illness. Horatio Spafford spent much of his life helping the poor and destitute and serving the Lord. It's just too bad that when he needed help, there may have been none to be found.

It Is Well With My Soul by Horatio Spafford
1873

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know:
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Refrain

It is well, it is well,
with my soul, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Tho' Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin - oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin - not in part but the whole -
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

Refrain

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so - it is well with my soul."

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live,
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou shalt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

Dear Lord, Thank you that You are with us at all times even when it seems not to be true to others looking on. Thank you that You will never leave us or forsake us, not in sickness or in health.

Have a wonderful weekend!