The masked lady at the front end of my bumper stared at me while I was quickly trying to get into my car at the Hobby Lobby. Her obviously long blonde locks of hair were tied on the top of her head creating a bushy type ponytail.  Big black, thick-rimmed, round sunglasses with very dark lens covered her eyes and her arms were full of packages with a large purse dangling from her right elbow.  She looked like some sort of insect, transformed with human-like qualities!  The way she tilted her head seemed to imply that she was trying to communicate with me. With some struggle, she suddenly positioned her arms like a child pretending to be a sheep, and she vocalized a few loud baaa….baaa’s!  By this time, my head also cocked, eyebrows furled with inquisitive confusion, and I froze (one leg in) from entering my car, stunned at this lady’s behavior.  My husband, Brian, didn’t have a clue as to what was taking place! With my intense stare back at her, she lifted her shades and then I immediately knew her identity.  We both belly laughed as I called out her name!  Kri---st----y!  Many years ago, Kristy was considered one of my adult choir “sheep” that was happily my responsibility to tend and shepherd.  We had this thing of making sheep sounds and laughing together every time we met or communicated on the phone or voice mail.  We still do! 

​Some have felt the need to stay masked and others have not.  And really, I don’t mind as long as I can be present with them.  Personal gathering allows me to keenly hear every intonation and inflection of the words spoken during conversation, which often convey deep and actual meaning. Outwardly expressed on the face, inward emotions are revealed. Seeing a face reveals much about one’s character and personality.  It’s how we best recognize a person.  Seeing one’s face tends to represent the whole person.  I’ll have to admit, discerning the intents of others, when they are masked, is a little scary when moseying through public places.  I’m sure others feel the same about me as I don my own mask!  And I’m sure the cause of Kristy’s tilted head was evidence to discerning if it was, in fact, me!  

​Brian and I have had some great conversations over scripture lately.  The one that resonates with him during these days is from 2 Chronicles 7:14.

As we discussed it, the phrase seek my face is the one that stands out.  Sure, we should pray, humble ourselves, and repent; but to seek the face of God proves quite interesting and intriguing.  Instantly, I wonder what exactly the face of God looks like?!  Moses caught a glimpse of God’s back side and came away reflecting the glory of God with a shining face because he had talked with LORD.  It shone so bright that Moses felt the need to veil (mask) it.
We cannot actually see God’s face and live as Exodus 33:20 states.
 
Sure, we can read another’s face to discover their character, personality, or emotion; but it is only our opinion and can be skewed.  To discover who they really are is to continually be in their presence, to be in relationship with them.  This is what we mean by intimacy – close familiarity or friendship with another.
 
The Bible is full of scriptures that call us to seek the face of God and it’s usually issued to His people because they have left their first love, abandoned Him, and need to return to Him.  In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for “face” is often translated “presence.”  It is actually His presence that we are seeking when we seek the face of God.   What does that presence look like for you?  How is it made manifest?

Interestingly, while chatting with another friend today on the porch (in between paragraphs of this blog), we discussed the challenges of wearing a mask and the difficulty of seeing and reading peoples face.  My friend casually stated that speaking words have become more important for communicating.  My soul lit up at the sound of that statement.  Yes, I thought, God’s WORD is His one of His greatest tools for communication!  I ask, “What, of His WORD, has been resonating with me these many weeks?” And I wonder, “What He is speaking to you?”  And on another flip of the coin, “For what purpose are we seeking?”  Are we diligently seeking His face only for instruction or so that we can build that intimate relationship with Him?  How faithful do I find myself to seek Him as an individual?  As a couple?  As part of a small group or even as a leader or partner in ministry?  What proud thing stands in my way of a humble heart?  I think these are all good questions to think about as we study 2 Chronicles 7:14 within its context of then and now.  

​This Scripture verse, and Seeking His Face, has led me to learn more about Moses and his relationship with the LORD in Exodus 33.

Like Moses, I cry out to see God’s glory.  I want Him to cause all of His goodness to pass in front of me and to speak His name, the LORD, so that I can hear it and know it is him.  I want to lean on His kindness [favor] and mercy [compassion]. I want to intimately know Him, look to Him and His strength and learn His wisdom.  

​I love that God offers a place near Him that is steady and firm.  A rock!  And when the hard things come into my life that cause His glory to shine, He offers a place of shelter.  A large crack or cleft in the rock and His gentle and loving hand shields me.

God’s glory will be revealed.  There is an outward reflection of one who spends time with Him.  Moses confirmed that for me!  And when I think about Moses’ personality and character, I am reminded that meeting with God doesn’t mean that I have to have it all together!  There is no mask required to meet face to face with Him.  At the crucifixion of Jesus, God’s son, the veil was split from top to bottom making a way for me to come to Him, boldly, just as I am.  
​You know what I found interesting in this passage?  Verse 34! 
Anytime Moses met with God, he took off and removed his mask!

​It is my prayer that as we re-open our city, state, and nation that all will see and take note of the display of the glory of God that shines brightly on our changed faces.  May we all continue to meet face to face in intimate knowledge and fellowship with our Savior, for He is our only Living Hope!

I could go on and on about the experiences and blessings that I have had as I have met more purposefully with my Savior.  I’ll save those for another time.  And, I hope that when we see one another face to face, that we will notice something different and wonderful about each another!
For His Purpose,  
​Sherry

As we approach Mother’s Day this year, my heart is full of love, gratitude and longing. I have two grown daughters, two granddaughters and I was one of two daughters. I see a theme here!

Since my girls were eight years apart after many years of infertility, I mothered children in my home for decades. Much like in your homes, in ours there were countless hours of homework, art, dance, piano and singing lessons, school and church musicals, soccer and football games. There were projects on the kitchen table, hours of carpools, cooking meals, and endless loads of laundry. There seemed to always be a mess on the floor and a rush out the door, and the constant juggling of work,  ministry and home. There were fun movie nights and popcorn, shopping days, birthday parties, and tea parties, hours of discovery on road trips and vacations and hours of listening, giggles and snuggles with bedtime stories as we watched them grow. 
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Like you, I have seen the building of friendships and spent sleepless nights in tears for their broken hearts. There have been hours of prayer that they would draw near  to the Savior, and that God would heal their pain, and protect their tender hearts. There were days of exhaustion so deep I felt it would overcome me and days of joy so deep I felt it would explode out of me.

We have celebrated graduations and all the hard work to get there. I have also known that aching in your soul when they go far off to college and you must learn to let them go. I have prayed that they would learn to dream the dreams that Jesus has for them knowing that those are the only dreams worth chasing.

We have celebrated  the marriage of our oldest daughter and welcomed the son-in-law we prayed for since her birth. We have seen joyous birthing of grand babies and watched our baby girls become beautiful young women with loves and dreams of their own.  You miss the wonder in little eyes and the pitter patter of little feet down the hall and then God gives you the gift of reliving the wonder through the eyes of your grandchildren. 

Motherhood is about celebrating victories, bravery, discovery and giving. It's about learning how to love and learning there's more love within you than you ever imagined possible. Motherhood is about sacrifice, perseverance, and the gift of cultivating wonder, joy, beauty and adventure.

My girls are all grown up now and gratefully, I have grown up in the process. In the shaping of my children the Lord has shaped me. There have been laughter and tears in the growing, and there has been the abundant giving of grace. And there has also been the learning to slow down, rest in forgiveness and love, so much love.

I have known deep joy and blessing in being a mother, but one of the greatest gifts has come through my failures.
Motherhood has a way of exposing our sin, doesn’t it?
You learn your strengths and your weaknesses. Often, the more I strove to be the perfect mom, the more I would get frustrated at my impatience, my lack, and my words that would often cut and wound. 

I wonder if any of you have ever felt that way? And surely in these days of sheltering at home, young moms, especially, are tested to be it all and do it all perfectly. They strive to meet everyone’s expectations and often feel like they have come up short. All moms know that weary feeling that there is simply not enough of them to meet all the needs. Nurturing and caring is hard work and life giving.

There can be a blessing found in that striving and failing if we look for it. During my season of young motherhood, I had the gift of great Bible studies and teaching.

• I learned in those days to ask for forgiveness for my sin and I learned to forgive myself.
• I learned to focus on Christ and His love on the cross and the counsel of the Holy Spirit within me.
• I learned that as long as I insisted on doing this mothering job out of my own strength I would inevitably fail. I had to learn to release my children into His care.
• I learned to treasure God's Word as His love letter to me and wisdom for life.
• I learned that there is a love that is wider and deeper, longer and higher than any love I could give. His love will carry them.

I need that kind of love, Christ’s love, for my children. I need His grace and I need His rest. I need His wisdom and I need to surrender to His presence in the depths of my soul.​

I believe motherhood is one of the Lord’s most profound ways of refining and molding us into the image of Christ. I find I am often still in that refining fire, but I have learned to run to the cross and my Savior who knows my need.
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I have often written about my own mom who is 91 and living with severe Alzheimer’s in a nursing home. She hasn’t known me for several years, but it is still so hard not to be able to see her face to face in this pandemic. I find myself thinking often about her generous spirit, always offering her help in whatever way I might need. Her love and legacy shaped my own mothering which in turn I believe has shaped the way my oldest daughter mothers her children. I still long for the times when I could ask my mom for advice, get one of her hugs or words of encouragement, recipes or gardening tips or simply let the tears of weariness flow on her shoulder. I always try to make my last words to her, “I love you, mom.” 

Our mothering is never done. I am so proud of my daughters and grateful for the incredible gift that they have been in our lives. I see the beauty of Christ's character rising up in them and spilling over into the lives they touch.

As moms we’ll never love perfectly, but we can point our children to the One who does. And Jesus will cover us with His grace, draw us close and give us the strength and courage to face another day with grace.

Last fall I heard this beautiful, authentic song about the joys, struggles and wonder of motherhood by Caroline Cobb. I wept. It told my story and I think the story of so many moms as we seek to love well, but often fall.
​May we always seek to honor the gift of our children and pursue the Savior's heart for them. Take a moment and click the link below to listen. 
https://youtu.be/eq5544xC6WQ