I See God!
This was the second day of Grace Gathering 2007 and it will stand forever in my heart as one of the most inspiring days of my life. I looked into the eyes of fellow travelers from several parts of the country and I saw God. I saw His perfection, I saw the treasure, I saw the love, I saw the Christ.
It is now 12:13 AM and I still can’t sleep. My body is exhausted, but I am filled with such a peace that I knew I had to attempt to put into words what is overflowing from my entire being. What are the words? What are my thoughts? To answer those questions requires of me a lanquage that only God speaks. There are no human words, and yet my eyes have seen the glory of what fills us all.
I look foward to what lies ahead. I look foward to a walk with God that includes every single human being that lives on planet earth. The clouds are rolling back and perfect blue sky is giving me a clarity of vision that is beyond what my physical eyes can see. All of this is more then I ever dreamed or asked for. What more can the Father possibly show me? That’s why I can’t sleep……..my anticipation of what might be revealed next is like my grandchildren on Christmas day waiting to open the next present.
Yes, I see God, and the most wonderful thing about this is that He has always been there for me to see Him, just as He is for everyone else. He has never been far from any of us and He will never let us get beyond His reach.
I thank God for the gift of teaching that He has given to my friend Mike Williams, and I thank Mike for choosing to use it. Oh, what a foretaste of Glory Divine, Oh, what peace that will always be mine. I know who I am, I have looked into the depth of my soul, and it is good, very good.
Amen, and love to ALL.
It is good to read this Cliff. I listened to Mike’s friday evening teaching on George’s site and it is just awesome. Am I surprised it was an awesome teaching? No of course not as he is the finest teacher of the Gospel of grace and peace that there is. Wish I could have been there with all of you to enjoy this remarkable weekend that I am sure you will never forget, but that was of course not possible. After listening to the Friday evening teaching, I as well was reminded again of who I am in Him and to be honest with you, it just made my day. I am looking forward to listening to the reaminder of the weekend sessions. Give my greetings to Mike.
Cliff,
I know the sleeplessness you speak of as I was up at 4:00am this morning listening to the recordings from yesterday. I am putting up on the stories of life that people shared yesterday first. Then as I get a chance over the next week I will post all of the recordings as I get time.
Cliff, I LOVE YOU! YOU TOO NANCY! You are Christ in the flesh to me and whatever happens as a result of this weekend please know I am here whenever you need!
Peace
Geo
Hi cliff and geo and all.Yes cliff the gospel message does this to the heart and mind I also loved this teaching it is so great to hear the wisdom of the cross comming forth from a human being.I can see by your words that you have indeed been refreshed in your spirit.Give Mke my love and all my friends there love you all.
kenneth
Cliff, your heart magnificently demonstrates the grace of God in the way you see Him, and love Him, in others.
Certain people are given special gifts and ministries but often they don’t recognize the richness of those gifts and the purpose of them. You are a gift to those who look to you to help them see God and it is heart warming that you respond by seeing Him in them. I hope they appreciate how rare that is…..in the way that you point, not outward to a future appearing, but inward to a abiding Presence, a river of Life flowing from the heart of man.
Maybe part of the reason that I see no need for a pastor is that I never saw one with such a heart to build up and encourage and to bring out and reveal the Christ within us, just as we are, as you do. It is good to be free of any other mediator between God and myself but if I needed someone to guide me I hope that I could find one with a heart such as yours. But then I guess I already have in men such as Bruce & George & my brother Wes, who I had dinner with last night.
I know that I probably missed something very special this weekend but at least I can feast on the richness of the love that flows from the hearts of those who will post here concerning it.
My thanks to George for the efforts you are putting forth to bring this weekend to us who couldn’t attend.
Grace and peace to you all. Love ya.
Steve,
I am fortunate enough to have had a Mike Williams in my life always. That would be Cliff, my Dad. I always thought my Dad was the only man on the face of the earth that had a gift he could share with others about how to let Jesus out…not in. I thought I had come to the realization that I would never hear another man preach the truth until now. I not only met a man of God who preaches the truth, but I have met others who like me have been saved from the ignorance of Righteousness. It has given me the strength to love myself and others unconditionially. I am perfect.
Sure did miss you. When I saw Bruce, George..well everyone, it was as if I had seen their faces a million times before. It was if I had known these people all my life. I couldn’t explain it only that everyone else said the same thing. It wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t strange. It wasn’t scary. I wasn’t nervous. I was calm and really eager. When I got there it felt like home.
Oh WOW… I am not sure words can explain how I feel about the Grace Gathering. This weekend will be one of many more moments to come that I will always hold near and dear to my heart. It was a connection that I don’t think I could ever explain. It can only be experienced.
Mike Williams?? Well…he floats on a cloud…now with a few others who float along with him.
Mindy,
WOW! You my sister are sure enough A Pearl of GREAT PRICE!
Me and bonnie feel the same way as though we have know you from the beginning of life. And indeed we have! WE LOVE YOU! I can’t wait until we see face to face again and next time Steve will be there along with his beautiful wife Bev.
Peace
Geo
I can’t wait to see you guys again!! Hopefully we can do another Grace Gathering and get to meet even more people and then you will be able to meet my little family. I am sure Dad has talked about all of us, but my husband and my best friend is Charlie and my little one and only girl is named Abby. When I got home Charlie knew this must have been pretty amazing because I went straight to bed and didn’t get up until this morning. LOL I hope you all had a safe trip home.
By the way…if you want to know a little more about me (it is not much) I am on myspace. At the grace gathering I heard several people talking about how they use myspace so I will throw my address out there for anyone who wants to share through that as well as boldgrace.com
http://www.myspace.com/mhazelbaker
Cliff, thanks so much for all you have done to bring this thing together. I appreciate you and your family, and all the effort (and expense) that went into it. It truly was a wondrous time.
You’re right, Mindy. The comfort level was awesome! Folks came together with accepting hearts and open minds. This is the first “church” gathering I’ve ever been to where people were more important than doctrine, and the single, overlying principle was… love. Simple, pure, wonderful… love.
Love you all!
And for our friends who couldn’t make it - may our paths cross real soon! I so look forward to meeting others who have hearts of acceptance and inclusion. And I will eagerly anticipate those times of incredible love between God’s children.
I’ve been away for a day or so and thought of you folk as you gathered. I am not surprised by what I have just read. Mike W’s is not only an incredible teacher but an incredible human being as well. When He was with us last Sept., I truly enjoyed hosting him in my home.
As I read through this post all I could think of was how much love was oozing out from each of you towards one another. This must so please the heart of the Father, it just doesn’t get any better than that. Grace and peace to all of you.
Thank you each for your words of love. You are all perfect in my eyes and I hope you see yourself that way too.
Hey Everyone!
I’m new to commenting on websites, but I just want to tell you all how wonderful it was to spend part of my vacation with such beautiful, loving people! I can’t explain it. It doesn’t make sense. The weekend seemed to be over so fast - - - yet I felt like I knew everyone for years! ? ? ? ?
I know that I do not understand everything about the true Gospel. I’m still trying to answer questions in my mind from all I’ve been taught from birth.
All I know is that it doesn’t really matter. God has all those answers. I just try to look at others through the eyes of the Father. And we (George & I) try to share with others how the Father sees them. We didn’t even leave Richmond before stirring it up! The hostess at the “Bob Evans” now has to search for answers to some questions of her own. (Her Dad is a Deacon in the Catholic Church.) And the waitress at “Eat ‘N Park” (local restaurant), whose father is a pastor, was challenged today with new revelation of being perfect in the eyes of God. Oh yeah, we’re still causing waves in “traditional” churches.
Anyhow, I’m glad we had sharing time. Your personal stories were extraordinary!
Cliff and Nancy, I’m so glad we had Sunday afternoon together! I love ya both! And Nancy, thanks for encouraging George about the pool! Ha! Ha!
I cannot wait until God brings us all together again. Only He knows what
wonders He will pour out among us then!
Love you all,
Bonnie
Bonnie, It’s so wonderful to have you comment and to hear your words of grace. Nancy & I both feel like you have been our friends forever. We can’t wait until we can see everyone again. Until then just keep sharing this awesome gospel of love, grace, and peace.