I have seen the Lord!

“I have seen the Lord!” John 20:18

This week has been filled with sad goodbyes, but with each goodbye I have written a letter of encouragement to students leaving the DR and heading back to the hustle and bustle of the USA. One of these letters convicted me. I know I wrote it, but as I was writing it my eyes were filled with tears and God spoke to MY heart!

One of my absolute favorite stories in the Bible is when Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb following the death and burial of our precious Savior.

In John 20:11 it talks about how Mary wept outside of Jesus’ tomb. Heart-wrenching sobs. Often times we rush through these verses and get to the resurrection part, but can you imagine how you’d feel if you didn’t have the end of the story? That was Mary. All she knew is that her Lord, the One she loved, the One she worshiped was gone… and she cried. Standing beside the tomb she stoops to peak in and there are 2 angels and no body! Dilemma number two. Not only has Jesus died, but Mary believes that someone has stolen His body! She is heartbroken.

Then we get to verse 14. Mary turns around only to see a “gardener” who asks why she is crying! She begs Him for the body of her Lord and all He had to say was, “Mary.” She knew immediately.

So she squeezes Him as hard as she can and then runs off to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

In the midst of heart ache, in the midst of suffering, in the midst of confusion, in the midst of loneliness, Mary declares… “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!”

Friend, I write this blog with tears streaming down my face. I tell you this not to gain sympathy or spiritual points, I tell you this so you can see my heart. How many times have I been consumed with feelings of loneliness, ungratefulness, anger, bitterness and even jealousy to the point that my eyes are SO clouded that I don’t see the One that matters? Many times He stands right before me as I see the works of His very hands… and yet I look right past Him.

I trust I’m not the only one.

But my GOD is ALMIGHTY...

MOST HIGH REDEEMER...

ETERNAL...

ANCIENT OF DAYS...

MIGHTY...

REFUGE...

ROCK...

FORTRESS...

LOVER OF MY SOUL...

HE IS LORD!

Let me tell you how I have seen the Lord this week.

Monday we traveled to Bani where God’s Word was declared and young baseball players accepted Christ as their Savior!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday young women and men were taught how to grow in the Word through discipleship, taught how to make their faith their own and taught how to shine bright so that their lives point to the Light Source!

Wednesday – Sunday I saw FIRST-HAND how God can transform an Atheist in to a Jesus-loving crazy woman J Her faith is now HER OWN! I am SO PROUD of the growth I have seen in a dear friend of mine!!!

Thursday I received a call from a lady we met in Boca Chica street ministry to let me know that we wouldn’t see her out working tonight and “not to worry!” J She stayed home!

Saturday a friend and I sat on the beach and watched the power in God’s fingertips as a storm rolled in over the ocean.

Thursday-Saturday Robersy saw the Lord through the pure preaching of the Word in a men’s conference!

Saturday I saw the Lord’s protection as I drove the biggest truck I have ever driven (a Ford 150… I’m only 5’1”!!!) filled with people AT NIGHT. I prayed all the way there and back (40min drive total) AND SURVIVED J

Sunday we saw the Lord in the worship time and teaching of the Word at church and was reminded how the family of Christ is truly knit together with His love.

I can keep going and keep going because I have SEEN THE LORD! Lest I forget and look past Him again because of my selfish heart… I have seen the Lord!

Friend… don’t forget to seek Him. In the midst of crazy, in the midst of busy, in the midst of me-mindedness… may we open our eyes and heart to see the One who truly matters.