tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39777712778794340292024-03-10T03:50:53.591-07:00Reflections: From Glimpses to GloryBeverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02238313321476097929noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3977771277879434029.post-62247815173218001772011-04-01T13:46:00.000-07:002022-06-01T20:34:16.924-07:00Glimpses<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 20pt;">Can You See Her?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In my experience of loving, serving, and working alongside women, I have discovered that most women do not simply jump into ministry.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Often they must be coaxed, prompted.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Uncertain</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> of their value, they must be convinced.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Doubtful</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> of their calling, they must be persuaded. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Unsure</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> of their ability, they must be affirmed.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I grew up with pronounced bucked teeth … and a crooked mouth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you noticed that a person’s life can </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">pivot</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> on the smallest hinge of time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That each minute whispers either </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">promise</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> or </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">warning, </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and contains the</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"> potential</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> for momentous change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My name is Beverly, and I experienced </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">just that</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> early on in my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, at recess, someone decided to call me Beaverly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">estimation,</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> it was really quite brilliant:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just change a short vowel into a long one, and</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">, voilà</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">,</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Beverly becomes Beaverly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a simple change, a playground diversion, a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">seemingly innocuous</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> taunt, </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">but one whose consequences reverberate even today.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">was</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—sometimes </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">am</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—the woman described in the first paragraph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">was</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—sometimes </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">am</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—Much-Afraid, the main character in “Hinds’ Feet on High Places”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She, interestingly enough, also had a crooked mouth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> of us may share an affliction that leaves our appearance marred, and our confidence diminished.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Many</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> of us, however, share the common feeling of being Much-Afraid.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Afraid: That we’re not good enough, or smart enough, or valuable enough.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I long to share with women the truth God used to set me </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">free.</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years ago, He gave me a glimpse of the woman He intends for me to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a glimpse of the woman </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">He had in mind</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> before He ever knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And, guess what? She looks nothing like me and everything like </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Him!</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> How I </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">look </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">now matters far less than who I </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">am</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Whose </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am being transformed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into His image!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to exclaim to the Lord</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">, “I Can See Her! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Can See Her! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see the woman You mean for me to be.” </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He faithfully responded by proclaiming, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“And I Can Help You Be Her! </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">reason</span></b><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">you can see her</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">And I can help you be her.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">promise </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">promise</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> that </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">emboldens</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> crooked-mouthed, buck-toothed girls, who are now </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">women.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Women:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Who have cast off the hurts of yesterday, for the promise of tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Who have exchanged ridicule for redemption, fear for faith, </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and reticence for resolve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Who will </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">take God up</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> on His offer of transformation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Who may look the same, but will not </span><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><strong>be </strong><span style="font-size: small;">the</span> s</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The Glimpse </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 22pt;">Will </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">give way to Glory.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The Vision </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 22pt;">Will </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">become Reality.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That, dear ones, is a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">guarantee, </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">because Our </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Father </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Wills</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">that it be so.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 22pt;">That</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">truth </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">that set me free, and the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">promise </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">that spurred me on, to serve and to love. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is the promise that rendered me usable in His hands.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 20pt;">Can you see her?</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">I can. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mouth may be crooked, but her heart is </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">fixed.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Her scars may be visible, but her hurts are </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">healed.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Her memories may intrude, but her value is </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">assured.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Embrace her, </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bask in the love of God, your </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Vision-Giver, </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">as He plots your paths, and orders your steps …</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">All the Way to Glory.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This inaugural posting was prompted by an offering that I found on <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><span style="color: #888888;">Ann Voskamp's blog.</span></a> Her writing is truly annointed. I am entering a contest for a scholarship to a<span style="color: #888888;"> <a href="http://shespeaksconference.com/">SheSpeaks Conference</a></span> that will be held in July in Charlotte. I have heard wonderful things about the conference, and know many women who have been encouraged and empowered to employ their gifts as a result of what they have received at these conferences.</span></div>
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Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02238313321476097929noreply@blogger.com10