Turning Point 

I was struggling with depression around the age of 17 and with a silent cry of my heart and my parents being moved to pray for me: God “smiled” at me! I experienced Shekinah Glory: ( the visible manifestation of the presence of God. It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men ) and I experienced Shalom: completeness, wholeness, peace, fullness, harmony, safety …… Heaven! Jesus was the bodily presence of God on earth; the Shekinah Glory Cloud that covered the tabernacle of God, the Glory Cloud that entered Solomon’s temple is now here with us!
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ……. John 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth”. Jesus said in John 14:26-27 “….the Counselor (or in some verses Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace (Shalom) I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you.” God, Jesus sends His Spirit, to live in those who choose to receive Him …. we are now His dwelling place … His temple.

And so He smiled … smiles at me. I cannot paint or describe the experience …. it is beyond illustration or description! Here in this painting I have given somewhat of an impression.

In Psalm: 69 verse18 King David says: “Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.” This is what Christ did for me …. for us all!
In Colossians: 1:26-27 Paul says: “the mystery which has been …. revealed to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory …. which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY;”

Spurgeon says “The near approach of God is all the sufferer needs; one smile of heaven will still the rage of hell. It shall be redemption to me if Thou wilt appear … to comfort me”.