To see Christ glorified

Today I'm thankful for:

* the sight of kiddos working together on some math problems
* a crazy student who made it halfway down the hall without shoes before realizing she in fact didn't have on shoes
* Jude asking if he can tell me a story.  Which he proceeds to make up.
* A short conversation with my sister, who I will get to see this weekend
* the fact that Jimmy can bring up a song and it can lead in to an entire theological conversation.  I love talking about 'deeper' things, and it's lovely to have my soul nourished and thinking like that
* candle light in the windows
* my Christmas cards which came in today
* the handmade snowflakes which are currently hanging from the ceiling of my classroom
* an afternoon of Bible verse sharing with some of my favorite teachers.  And encouraging each other to love our kids a little better.
* getting to share the joy through my friends moments with their kids

Thoughts on 2 Thessalonians:

1: 11-12  With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, acccording to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I read these verses and thought about what it meant to allow Jesus to be glorified in me.  Jesus' glorification came through his resurrection.  He conquered death and then showed His Father's power through that.  For me to show Christ as glorified is to show Him in his resurrected state.  To show his victory over sin and death.  His glorification is the very crux of the gospel.  The gospel is the hope of Christ's glorification and resurrection over all that enslaves us.  For me to allow Christ to be glorified in me, I need to be showing his power at work in me.  I need to be constantly sharing how I can't but Christ can.  I need to be boasting in my weaknesses because in those moments Christ's resurrection shines forth.  Yesterday, I mentioned being freed for a purpose- to praise God.  But I think these verses show what I'm praising God for.  Praise God, Christ is risen.  Praise God, Christ conquered the sin in my life.  Praise God, that these weaknesses no longer control me.  Praise God, Christ is in me- in all his glory- and my shame and fear is gone.  No. Longer. There.  There is only Christ, Christ glorified.  If I am always remembering who I was before Christ and who I am now in Christ, I will always be glorifying and praising the One who saved me.

I can't praise God and show Christ as glorified without humbling myself, though.  I have to be willing to set aside all praise and love of others for His glory.  When people tell me I'm a good mom or a good teacher, the things I want to think are mine, I have to lay them down for the glorification of Christ.  And acknowledge that the good you see is Christ alone.  Christ glorified in me, changing me.  Showing that God's power really can resurrect the dead.  It resurrected and is resurrecting me.  People today can't witness the original Resurrection.  But they can witness my life.  They can watch me allow myself to be transformed by the grace of God from one controlled by greed or pride or bitterness and see me become someone who lives with their eyes on Jesus, always thanking Him for the grace and the resurrection.  I want to live, truly live.  And that can only really be found in the one who brings life from nothing.

To live IS Christ.