This blog is designed to create community for believers and provide support for seekers. I encourage all readers to share their faith in an effort to lift and encourage one another.
“You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.”
― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
God, I am so unaware of the ways you constantly work to refine me and make me into your image. Just like the butterfly, resting in her cocoon, I have no idea of the beauty you have in store for me one day. Help me to keep my eyes on you and rest in the knowledge that you will create the beauty of the butterfly in my spirit. Thank you.
Lord, why do we see people who disagree with us as our enemies? Satan must be dancing for joy when he sees us doing this. Help us to focus on combatting the real enemy with prayer, studying our bibles, and loving on others.
The Eyes Have It
As I taught the simple rhythm game, dozens of pairs of dark brown eyes danced with glee. Huge smiles covered the faces of the beautiful children sitting on the floor with me in this church in the poorest section of Matamoros, Mexico. In spite of the language barriers—the children spoke no English, and I spoke only a little Spanish—we communicated. As we clapped, snapped, sang, and did crafts together, their eyes sparkled. Later in the day, whenever I glanced up from my work preparing for the next day’s bible school, one or more small brown faces peeked through the church windows. When I smiled and waved, their hands waved furiously, smiles broke out, and brown eyes danced with glee. Pure joy shone out of those huge, dark brown eyes.
Maria, the mother and grandmother of some of those children often sat, watched, and listened at our daytime Bible school. Even though she spoke no English, she loved to watch us and the children. Part of the day she stayed at her tiny home a block and a half away. There, she watched the men in our group saw boards, pound nails, and paint turquoise walls. Her eyes watched as the new edition to her home, a 10 foot by 16 foot room, nearly doubled the size of her tiny house. Maria, mother of ten, one deceased, watched her house grow. Maria, quietly sitting in a folding chair at the church, watched the children laugh, play, and learn at Bible school. Maria, active member of her church, sang praise songs at the top of her voice and knelt on the hard tile floor to silently pray. In her eyes I saw tremendous gratitude. In those big brown eyes, I saw amazing peace and amazing faith.
Seventeen of us had traveled to Matamoros, Mexico in two rented vans. For six days we worked in Mexico, joining God in the work he was already accomplishing there. I looked into the eyes of my 16 companions. Some eyes glowed the same dark brown as the residents of Matamoros. Others
shone bright blue or green. At first glance all I saw in those eyes was fatigue. They worked all day in the heat—110 degrees plus heat index—and slept at night together on the roof, praying for a breeze, scattering when it rained. All this produced deep fatigue. Looking past the fatigue, however, I saw more. In those eyes was resolve: pound one more nail, paint one more board, help one more child, serve one more meal. In these eyes I saw true servanthood. In spite of the unbearable heat and the extreme tiredness, I saw the eyes of eager servants wishing to do God’s will.
The eyes…the eyes are what I remember most. Whether the brown eyes of the locals or the multi-hued eyes of their guests, I saw something special shining in all those eyes. Through the eyes, as clear as a cloudless sky, I saw the love of Christ shining through.
In what ways are you letting the love of Christ shine for others?
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
― C.S. Lewis
Lord, every morning you make the sun rise, infusing the world with light. Thank you. Every day you live in the hearts of believers, infusing us with your light. Thank you. I pray that each of us will use that light to see others as you see them, as the precious children you have created. May we use your light to see with your eyes, to love as you love.
Thank you, Father, for your faithfulness. I’m thankful that you are my Savior, and I pray for the souls of those who have not yet accepted your saving grace.
“At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear Him.”
― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
When I’m in those dark places, Lord, open my ears that I might hear you and learn from you. Open my eyes that I might be aware of the light of your presence even in the darkest places.
My God, my rock, forgive me for times of worry or despair. Let me remember that you are stronger and more powerful than the most majestic mountains, and you are faithful. I put my trust in you.
One summer Scott and I flew to San Diego to visit our cousin Zelda. While there, we spent time at the Pacific Ocean’s shore. Just standing at a very small edge of this huge body of water was awe-inspiring. Looking outward from my vantage point on the sand, I could not imagine the immensity of this vast body of water, stretching for thousands of miles in every direction. I spent some time wandering along the shore, always looking out to the water.
The waves never ceased. Constantly they rushed the beach, always the same, yet always different. They followed one another, curling and rolling, white spray flying high. White gulls skimmed the water’s surface, diving into the tops of the waves to capture fish for breakfast.
Each wave must have contained thousands of gallons of moving, roiling, rushing water. Their strength amazed me. Even when I stood ankle deep at the very edge of this ocean, the waves, running to the shore and then back home, pulled at me, nearly knocking me off my feet. “Come out into the deep,” they seemed to say. The locals said, “Always face the waves.” I learned to keep my eyes on the waves and never underestimate their power.
I tried to discern a pattern in the way the waves ran at the beach, but the variety was endless. They came in intervals—for a time many smaller waves hit the beach, then bigger waves—wave after wave—pounded the shore, rolling, breaking, rushing to the sands, and then retreating.
The sound of the waves was astounding. Right at my feet was always the soft, sibilant sound of waves running at the beach, scrubbing the sand, then running back home, pulled by the ocean as a small child runs back to her mother and father. But farther out, where the waves curled on themselves and broke, the waters boomed and roared, boomed and roared. Even from a half mile away their crashing noise echoed. I closed my eyes and soaked in the sounds of this majestic ocean. The early morning air was cool, and I basked in the amazing experience, wishing I could stay longer. I stood, I looked, I listened, trying to absorb it all.
It occurred to me that the incredible beauty, immensity, and power of the ocean are, on a small scale, a reflection of our miraculous God. When I stood on the beach and gazed at the ocean, it seemed so enormous, yet I viewed only an infinitesimal portion of this massive body of water. So it is with God. We are privileged at times to catch glimpses of God’s immensity, but we see only a small portion. We glimpse His power, yet we experience just a tiny glimpse of His majesty. In Isaiah 45:15, we read, “Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.” Paul reminds us how little we know of our awesome God in I Corinthians 13:12. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
God, thank you for the tangible reminders of Your greatness.
Psalms 93:3-4 “The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty.”
I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out all right.
— Billy Graham
Yes, I’ve read the last page, so why do I worry, question, and doubt? I know who created me and who died for me. Creator and Savior, teach me to have complete trust in You.
Today I’m thankful for sunshine and flowers, for family and friends. I’m thankful we were able to travel to see our 17-year-old grandson preach at his church for youth Sunday. I’m thankful his great grandmother was also able to listen to him preach.
Every day we have so many reasons to be thankful, in good times and in bad. What are you thankful for today?
Growing Our Faith Together 