Tag: Delight in God

Seeing 20/20 In 2020

The Eyes of Faith – Seeing 20/20 In The Year 2020

having clear vision 20/20 in 2020

We used to love watching hawks fly around at our old house.

Have you ever seen a hawk up close?

They are truly fascinating birds of prey.

Fascinating, but take it from me, they don’t pick up after themselves.

Seriously.

Once we saw a hawk with a snake in its mouth land directly on our back fence.

We quickly grabbed our binoculars to see what cool thing it would do next.

It didn’t take long.

It dropped the snake in our yard, and then flew off.

Hey, not cool.

You can see one of our frequent hawk visitors in the center of the picture below.

seeing clearly in 2020

Did you know that hawks can see eight times better than we can? That works out to about a 20/2 on the vision chart.

That’s pretty amazing.

My 20/20 pales in comparison.

I want to always see the world around me through the eyes of faith.

Seeing 20/20 in 2020

The other day, I came across the following verse in my Bible reading, located in 1 Samuel 16:7.

God is with the prophet Samuel in Bethlehem. God had a clear message for what Samuel was to look for in the search for a new king over Israel.

Check this out.

through God's eyes

The Lord looks at the heart

He sees us, not just for what we are on the outside, but more importantly, who we are on the inside.

Have you ever noticed in your Bible readings whom God chooses to use for His glory?

Did He always choose the most attractive, richest, strongest, and powerful people?

God often chooses unlikely people to do His work, so that all know the work is God’s work, not man’s work. He wants to work in a way so that people regard His servants as they regarded Samson: they wondered at the secret of his strength. (Judges 16:5). – David Guzik, Christian pastor and author. 2

Don’t you love that?

The Eyes of Faith

Delight yourself in the Lord, take shelter in Him, and see everything going on in the world with a Godly perspective.

Things may appear impossible right now, but through the eyes of faith, we know that, in God’s timing, everything will fall into place.

And then it will all start to make sense.

As hard as it can be sometimes, we have to try and look beyond our circumstances.

Choose to view life through God’s eyes. This will not be easy because it doesn’t come naturally to us. We cannot do this on our own. We have to allow God to elevate our vantage point. Start by reading His Word, the Bible…Pray and ask God to transform your thinking. Let Him do what you cannot. Ask Him to give you an eternal, divine perspective. – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor and author.3

Amen!

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God bless.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

2 Quotation from Christian pastor David Guzik. “1 Samuel 16. God Chooses David.” n.d., Web. Accessed 26 April, 2020. Retrieved from https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-samuel-16/

3 Chuck Swindoll, influential Christian pastor and author. Swindoll quotation, courtesy of AZquotes.com. 

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No Time To Pause

We Have No Time To Pause

Easter (or more accurately, Resurrection Sunday) just wasn’t the same this year, was it?

Several Christians I’ve spoken to have described it as:

Strange

Surreal

Different

Heartbreaking

Whether you were watching a service online, or sitting in your car at an outdoor church service, all of us had to face the reality that we are not in control.

The world is temporarily on hold, but Christians, we have no time to pause . . . in faith matters, that is.

The time is now.

There are hurting people out there who don’t know the Lord. All they’re hearing about is a seemingly out-of-control virus, and what the media tells them every night.

This is an opportunity for us to shine the light of the gospel in the midst of a global panic.

What We Know About Godreaching the lost

Christians – we have the answer for lost people.

Although this pandemic may have temporarily caught us off guard, the fact is, the Bible speaks to us about calamities and pestilence.

But, I never thought I would see something like this in my lifetime.

I sooooo get it.

I’ve had my own moments of tears and frustration.

But, our Sovereign God already knew about this virus.

He will accomplish His will through this.

As this virus continues to attack our sense of peace, please try to take comfort in the fact that there are lost people coming to Christ all over the world through this awful contagion.

Shelter in His Wings

At a time like this, many Christians are turning to Psalm 91.

When you read through it, you can trust the reassuring words that God is our refuge and we need not be afraid.

Psalm 91

The Lord has graciously given medical experts the knowledge to work towards a cure, He has given a heart of compassion and skillful hands to all of our brave emergency responders to help the afflicted, and He has given us (the people of God) the ability to add to this fight with fervent prayer.

no time to pause

I love Charles Spurgeon’s expository lesson on Psalm 91, a small portion below.

Upon the child of the Lord’s own heart, pestilence has no destroying power, and calamity no wasting influence: pestilence walks in darkness, but he dwells in light; destruction wastes at noonday, but upon him another sun has risen whose beams bring restoration. – Charles H. Spurgeon, influential pastor and author.2

Every day is a day that the Lord has made.

A Wake-Up Call To Reach The Lost

This pandemic is a global wake-up call for each and every one of us.

Dr. Michael Youssef quotation

The Great Commission has not gone away.

The best way we can delight in God is to take the truth of His Word to the lukewarm and to the lost.

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Photo source credits:
– Window photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash.
– Oswald Chambers meme regarding Prayer, released into the public domain , via pixabay. It is an allowed derivative work of the original, and is licensed under a  Creative Commons CC0 License by Gracie Jane.

1 Scripture quotation, courtesy of the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Quotation from Charles Spurgeon, influential Christian preacher and author, (1834-1892). Taken from The Treasury of David by Charles H. Spurgeon. “Psalm 91. Exposition.” n.d., para. 10. Web. Accessed 8 April, 2020. Retrieved from https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps091.php

3 Quotation from Dr. Michael Youssef, influential Christian pastor and author. Taken from The Christian Post. “2 Things God is calling us to do in the age of COVID-19.” n.d., para. 11. Web. Accessed 14 April, 2020. retrieved from https://www.christianpost.com/voices/2-things-god-is-calling-us-to-do-in-the-age-of-covid-19.html

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Wonderfully Made

What comes to mind when you think of a worm?

Yuck, right?

A creepy-crawly, I-don’t-want-to-step-on-one, icky creature.

Did you know that some people even eat worms?

I know, crazy right?

Take the silkworm, for instance.

If you live in South Korea (and a few other places), you can order your silkworms boiled or steamed.

I won’t show a picture because . . .  gross.

But, before you go thinking that every species of worm is ugly, have you ever seen a picture of a Christmas Tree worm?

In my opinion, these beauties defy all worm definitions.

They’re like the “Cinderellas” of worm species.

Photo courtesy of Nick Hobgood1

Christmas Tree Worms come in a variety of colors too . . . just like the human race.

Photo courtesy of Nick Hobgood2

If you ask me, God’s creation paints a wondrous picture of the magnitude of His love for us. Everything He created is perfect, and beautiful in its own way.

We don’t always understand the purpose for some of these created things, but we’re not God.

God knows, and that’s all that really matters.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

So much love, but what does God hate?

All of our sins are ugly, it doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside.

God hates our sin.

“Sin is not just breaking God’s laws; it is breaking His heart.” – Adrian Rogers, pastor/author.3

But, God.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23, (NASB).4

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Through faith in our salvation through Jesus Christ alone, we are transformed into “new creations.”

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  – 2 Corinthians 5:17, (NASB).5

As Christians believing in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, we are new creations – how amazing is that?!

We will face many challenges in this rapidly changing world, but God alone will change what’s ugly inside our hearts into something beautiful – a transformed heart.

It happens every day, and all of heaven rejoices.

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1 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, 30 July, 2006. “Spirobranchus giganteus Red and White Christmas Tree Worm.” By Nick Hobgood – Own work, [CC BY-SA 3.0, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51941881)]

2 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, 2 October, 2005. “Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) from East Timor.” By Nick Hobgood – Own work, [CC BY-SA 3.0, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51941881)]

3 Adrian Rogers quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info

4 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

5 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Does God Seem Silent?

Waiting On God

Does God seem silent

Does it ever feel like when you need God the most, He appears silent?

Perhaps your heart is breaking over something going on in your life. Your mind is wrestling with conflicting emotions.

Where is God?

 Doesn’t He hear me?

 Has He forgotten about me?

No, dear one, God will never forget about you.

Remember The Two P’s

 

waiting on God

When you’re in a dark place, you might not even feel like praying.

Resist that temptation!

The Lord hears your prayers.

Every single one.

He knows we have doubts and fears at times.

Pray for His strength and comfort and keep on praying!

Remember the two P’s – Prayers and Perseverance.

That goes for me as well  🙂

These are two essential foundations for a strong faith.

There is purpose in the waiting, even if we don’t always understand God’s timing.

I think fellow Christian Writer, Jennifer Woodley, describes this insight especially well in her article below.

My favorite point that she makes is this: “Allow God to hold us a little longer.”

That is so encouraging.

Thank you, Jennifer!

When God Seems Silent
by Jennifer Woodley 
01/07/20

‘Then they sat on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.’ Job 2:13 (NIV)

There are times when we experience deep grief. The death of a loved one. The loss of our home. A betrayal by our partner. An unexpected chronic illness. Our world becomes dark. No words bring relief. And God seems silent.

Actually it is not words of comfort that we crave. It is a comforting presence. For now, that is all we need. Like Job’s friends who sat with their grieving friend, Jesus sits wordless with us in our pain. Just to know He is there is enough. Initially our grief and pain is too deep to be healed with words. We need empathetic silence and loving companionship. When God seems silent, He offers us this instead.

We have so many questions. Yet as we sit quietly with God for long enough, slowly the answers come. It’s the patient act of waiting in the darkness with our Heavenly Father that eventually unravels the answers. The promise is that when we seek long enough, we shall find. First is His comforting silent presence that holds us, then in time comes the words of life we are waiting for.

Do we find ourselves waiting in a dark place full of pain and grief right now? Does God seem silent to our pain and questions? Don’t attempt to rush past this place. Stay here. Allow God to hold us a little longer. Don’t lose hope. Light will break through darkness. God knows. God sees. And in time, He will speak to our grief.

He Will Hold You

There’s an uplifting song by Selah that comes to mind. It’s called, amazingly enough, “He’ll Hold You.”

The song is from several years ago, but the lyrics and beautiful harmonies? Timeless.

I hope you enjoy.

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*Article shared, courtesy of Jennifer Woodley, from FaithWriters url: https://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=185177.

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What If We’re Not Perfect?

Got A Minute?

What if we're not perfect

Please take a few minutes and think about a friend in your life, one whom you hold especially dear.

Even though that treasured friend may live thousands of miles away, the distance doesn’t matter, does it?

All you have to do is pick up your cellphone and call that special person.

God has blessed us with amazing technology, hasn’t He?

Fortunately, we don’t need a cellphone to talk with God.

No iPhone required

Special apps? No

Cell towers? No way

The signal strength and connectivity are buried deep within your heart.

Do you want to thank God for His blessings, or talk about problems in your life?

He will hear you right away.

How fast do our prayers travel up to Heaven?

Faster than the human mind can even measure.

What if we’re not perfect?

We’re absolutely not “perfect,” so why would God want to hear anything we have to say?

He owes you and me nothing.

There was only one “perfect” person on earth.

Jesus Christ – fully God and fully Man – sent to us by God as our redeeming Savior.

Son of the living God

For God so loved

So why would God even consider us, wretched sinners who often fail Him?

Because He loves us.

Delight in the Lord.

Make your life count for Him!

What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are His — completely. That means there are no locked closets. Nothing’s been swept under the rugs. That means that when you do wrong, you admit it and come to terms with it. You long to please Him in your actions. You care deeply about the motivations behind your actions. God is not looking for magnificent specimens of humanity. He’s looking for deeply spiritual, genuinely humble, honest-to-the-core servants who have integrity. – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor, author and educator. 2

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Chuck Swindoll quotation, courtesy of Insight For Living, “Becoming a Man or a Woman after God’s Own Heart,” Insights (April 1997). para. 4. Web. Accessed 4 January, 2020. Copyright © 1997 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

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