The Eyes of God

"His eyes never slumber, and His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens." Charles Spurgeon

Grace is found in the eyes of God-Genesis 6:8

The LORD looketh on the heart- 1 Samuel 16:7

Souls are precious in His sight-1 Samuel 26:21

The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth-2 Chronicles 16:9

His eye seeth every precious thing-Job 28:10

His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all of his goings-Job 34:21

The LORD looks down from heaven to see if anyone seeks God-Psalm 14:2

He instructs us, teaches us and guides us with His eyes-Psalm 32:8

The eyes of the LORD are upon them that fear Him and hope in His mercy-Psalm 33:18

His eyes are upon the righteous- Psalm 34:15

His eyes behold the nations-Psalm 66:7

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints-Psalm 116:15

The ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD-Proverbs 5:21

His eyes are in every place-Proverbs 15:3

He lifts up His eyes to heaven to pray-John 17:1

His eyes are over the righteous-1 Peter 3:12

His eyes are as a flame of fire-Revelation 1:14

When God sees, He is moved to compassion-Mark 1:41, Mark 6:34

And God's eyes wept-John 11:35

To know that God sees me, is an amazing thought...

    But that's just me!

The Voice of God

 "Only after all the noise has spent itself do we begin to hear in the silence of our heart, the still, small, mighty voice of God." A.W. Tozer

The voice of God is:

-A voice that is recognized-Genesis 3:10

-A voice when obeyed brings blessings-Genesis 26:5, Exodus 19:5, Joshua 24:24

-A voice that answers-Exodus 19:18

-A voice that is still and small-1 Kings 19:12

-A voice that thunders marvellously-Job 37:5

-A voice that is upon many waters-Psalm 29:3

-A voice that is powerful and full of majesty- Psalm 29:4

-A voice that is glorious-Isaiah 30:30

God's voice was heard in a Newborns cry! Luke 2:16

-A voice of Authority-John 5:28-29

-A voice that that called Lazarus from the grave! John 11:43

God's voice brings salvation, (Hebrews 3:7) shakes the earth, (Hebrews 12:26) and is as mighty thunderings. (Revelation 19:6)

God's voice is heard in heaven and from a cloud.  His voice is heard in a garden, in the wilderness and on a mountain.  His voice brought forth all of creation, and His voice is heard in prayer.

At time's God's voice was audible and loud, at other time's God whispered. 

God's voice can be heard as he tugs on the heart of the lost to be saved...

    And it can be heard as he tugs on the heart of the saved to seek His Will...

        God, help me to hear your voice and obey...

            But that's just me!

Snow

In the thirty plus years I've lived up North, I've only seen one month without snow; August.

With warmer weather, and the forecast for an early Spring, it was quite disappointing when I woke up to falling snowflakes and a snow-covered lawn.

But that disappointment soon disappeared.

First, I thought about how happy my oldest son used to get whenever it snowed.  In his teenage years, he and his friends had their own snowmobiles, so when there was the slightest chance for snow, excitement filled the air!  He once told me that his teacher had asked him what his favorite verse in the Bible was, and he referred her to Job 37:5-6. "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength."

I smile just thinking about it.

Then secondly, I couldn't help but think of the prayers being sent up to our Heavenly Father from the lips of our local farmers.  This extra moisture is needed for their Spring planting. How could I begrudge answered prayers?  I view this falling snow with a new perspective, and instead of disappointment, it brings gratefulness to a God who always knows what we need, even when we don't recognize the need ourselves.

Thank you Lord...

    For our Spring snow...

        But that's just me!

"It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich!" Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it." A.W. Tozer

Ambassadors

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13:1

When I was a little girl, I was taught to respect those in authority.  I didn't have to like them, but I had to respect them for the position that they held and represented.

When I watched the President of the United States address the Nation the other night, I was mortified by the behavior of some of our Nations Representatives.  Instead of behavior becoming Elected Officials, they chose to dress and behave like little children.  Our Nations Dignitaries acted undignified.  I found that to be very sad.

There was no compassion, no independent thinking, no regard for what was right and good.  I witnessed Isaiah 5:20 come to pass: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

While I continued to watch, a member of Congress was escorted out for his rude behavior; others chose to walk out by their own accord, and still others remained seated waving their opposing thoughts on placards with little or no thought to the persons being recognized on the Floor.  Such a tragic display from our Leadership.

Witnessing such behavior, I had to ask myself, "What type of Ambassador for Christ am I?"  (2 Corinthians 5:20) "How do I represent my Lord and Saviour?"  "In a moment of discontent or disagreement, is my response carnal? Do I embarrass my Lord?"

"How do I behave in church?  Am I respectful to my Pastor as he opens the Word of God?  Do I cause distractions?  Am I influenced by other's negativity and go with the flow, or do my thoughts, actions and words reflect God's Word and reflect what is right?"

C.S. Lewis once said, "When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world."

As an Ambassador for Christ...

    May my behavior always reflect...

        My Lord and Saviour in a way that will bring...

            Honor and glory to Him, and never shame...

                But that's just me!

  

Never Too Old

Adam lived to be 930 years old.  Methuselah lived to be 969 years old.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  Noah was 600 years old when the flood came, and Moses went before Pharoah when he was 80 years old.  I say all this because I was gently reminded by a seven-year-old little boy yesterday at church, that I was old.

Between church Services, this young man was showing me one of his rocket toys.  As he played and showed me the goal of this game, the game became more familiar to me.  I told this little boy that I thought that my boys had a similar game when they were little boys.  Interest peaked; this little boy asked me what shape their toy had been?  "A shark?  A ship? What was it?" he asked.  As I tried to remember exactly what toy my boys had had all those years ago, I finally told this little boy, "I don't remember."  That's when he turned to me and said, "That's ok, sometimes old people forget things."

Out of the mouth of babes.  Since I believe 60 is the new 30, I laughed when he had drawn such a conclusion, and yet the more I laughed the more I realized that, yes, I am old in the eyes of this little boy.

And yet in the eyes of my Heavenly Father, I am still a child, and still useful to Him.

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Psalm 92:14

I remember my mom telling me, "You are only as old as you feel."  And coming from my mom, I knew that to be true.  She was always going about doing things for her family, friends and neighbors.  I believe the older she grew in age, the younger in heart she became.

There is a grace required for growing old...

    It's maintained by our continued Service for others, and...

        For the honor and glory of our Lord...

            But that's just me!

"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  Isaiah 46:4

"I have the problems of, I must confess, old age."  Billy Graham

Godly Counsel

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

Have you ever had a problem constantly plague your thoughts to the point where it repeatedly plays over and over in your mind; A conversation you had with another person that didn't turn out the way you expected it to? You tried to rectify, resolve and restore a relationship only to walk away more perplexed?

I have; and after two weeks of not redeeming my time wisely in my thoughts, I decided it was time to seek godly counsel.

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in the latter end.  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Proverbs 19:20-21

Once the decision was made to seek godly counsel, I made an appointment to speak with my Pastor.  After talking things through and voicing my concerns, he pointed me to Philippians 4:8.  A very familiar verse to me. A verse I often sing.  As my Pastor put this verse back into perspective for me, I realized that I had become so familiar with the 'tune' of this verse, I had missed the 'truth' of this verse.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

We are told in God's Word to think on things that are true, so what are true things to think on?

We are told to think on things that are honest, so what are honest things to think on?

What just things can we meditate on? How about things that are pure, lovely and of good report?  Then we are told to think on things of virtue and praise! 

The more my Pastor expounded on this verse the Better Thoughts I had to think on!  I began to realize that the more thought I put on things that are true, honorable, righteous, clean, friendly, acceptable, well-spoken of, excellent and commendable, there would no longer be room to think on my problem.

I was reminded to take inventory of my thoughts; to esteem, reason and suppose everything I meditate on.

I also realized that each thought listed in this verse...

    Is a description of the character of my Lord...

        And He is worthy to meditate on and Praise...

            But that's just me!

*Sometimes we can turn to the wrong person for godly counsel, and the guidance we seek can turn into gossip spoken.  Friend, make sure you seek a person who can help you with your problem and not hurt you; a person who is sound in God's Word and will speak the Truth in Love.

I'm thankful for my Pastor and Praise God for the wisdom he has to discern God's Word.

Un-Forgiveness

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Words of Jesus. Matthew 6:14-15. 

I thought things were OK.  I thought the issue had been resolved and the relationship restored.

I was wrong.

Over time, the schism had grown into a chasm.  After months of silence, I chose to do the right thing and face my greatest fear and approach my friend.  After asking my friend if I had done something or said something to offend them, it was their turn to speak.

I was not prepared for what I heard.

My friend has chosen to hold a grudge and not forgive.

As I walked away with a broken heart, I realized I was not hurting for myself; I was hurting for my friend.

I also realized that although you may speak the truth in love, truth is the hardest to hear when you are not walking in it.

Un-forgiveness does not bind the unforgiven, it shackles the person who has chosen not to forgive.

Un-forgiveness severs friendships...

     cripples your walk with the Lord...

             and it will hinder your prayers...

                    But that's just me!

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Lewis B. Smedes

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you"

C.S. Lewis