I peeked ahead to the next day (Sept. 5) of my Jesus Calling devotional:

I am your best friend as well as your King. Walk hand in hand with me through your life. Together we will face whatever each day brings: pleasures, hardships, adventures, disappointments. Nothing is wasted when it is shared with Me. I can bring beauty out of the ashes of lost dreams. I can glean joy out of sorrow, Peace out of adversity. Only a Friend who is also the King of kings could accomplish this divine alchemy.

There is no other like Me! The friendship I offer you is practical and down-to-earth, yet it is saturated with heavenly Glory. Living in My Presence means living in two realms simultaneously: the visible world and unseen, eternal reality. I have equipped you to stay conscious of Me while walking along dusty, earthbound paths.

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I smiled as I read it because this has become such a reality to me. My days and nights are so much more beautiful when I make the conscious effort to include God in them. The days that I am not mindful of God’s presence are often filled with unexpected bouts of anxiety, anger or sadness.

I recently watched an interview of an atheist arguing the validity of God. I was amused by how much effort she put into trying to dissuade the viewer from believing in God. I was amused, but also saddened by the probable reality that this atheistic woman was so intent on denying God’s existence, that of course she was missing His Presence. If she’s never experienced God’s Glory by choosing to shield herself from it – then no, sadly God doesn’t exist. For her.

In a way this is comparable to a deaf person arguing about the reality of music and sound. If they’ve never touched something to feel the vibration of sound, proof that it exists, how would they know?

My perception of God was often viewed through a hazy sheet of glass. I could see glimpses here and there if I squinted and peered hard enough. Then Nora came along, as a bottle of spiritual Windex and cleared all the “schmootz” off the glass. Not only do I see God’s glory more vividly, but the Son shines through all the clearer–saturating me.

Here is a video of one of Nora’s baths today:

She still has a little bit of a cold, but seems to gradually be getting better. Here are pictures from today of the sweetest little 20 week old:

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 8:13-14 NIV)