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Showing posts with label My Father's eyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Father's eyes. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Oh, To Have My Father’s Eyes and Heart

A few days ago in my post, I said “Nothing is impossible with God. What’s going on in politics and our world doesn’t define our happiness. Those thoughts pale in contrast to those of us who rise to the 30,000 feet view that our Father has when He looks at us and this world."

The meaning of that “30,000 feet view” is best explained by looking out the window of an airplane. We see puffy, white clouds that look like cotton and we may be inside those clouds and see nothing but white matter all around us. Down below there could be fires raging, traffic jams, floods taking over lands and lives, and chaos of wars and conflict.....but we can’t see it because we’re tucked away inside a protective cloud that blocks our view. It’s like a state of peace and contentment -- flying high above it all and not seeing what is “earth-bound”.

When there are no clouds that block our view, all we can see is methodical organization of fields and lands marked by dividers (roads), gorgeous mountain ranges, valleys and hills, rivers and lakes, towns and cities with spectacular skylines, neighborhoods that are perfectly aligned. We can even see little cars. We don’t see the chaos that's going on in those homes, cars or buildings. Oh to have that 30,000 feet view of life. It sounds heavenly, doesn't it? Oftentimes, that's the way we live. When it comes to living in God's peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) -- it's a great way TO live. The eagle stories we hear about how they can fly above storms is a great analogy for us.

As peaceful the thought of not knowing about what's going on down below the clouds, or the thought of eagles being able to fly above it all, that wasn't God's life plan for us. He orchestrated our debut ON this earth and brought us to this place, at this time, to be right smack dab in the middle of LIFE and all that it holds. People are hurting. They are in need. Their world is falling apart. They need someone who SEES them and wants to do something to help them. We've heard the saying "They're so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good!" We're here to be earthly minded to LOOK and SEE -- SEE and BE the answer to someone's prayers, needs, heart cries, because we are servant minded -- like our Father and heavenly minded enough to want to take them to heaven with us!

We are here on assignment. When we make the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives, we are given an assignment by Him to BE His disciples and His light to shine brightly in this hurting and cynical world. We see and hear those who claim to be Christians, but it’s hard to identify them because of their anger issues, the backstabbing, and word-slinging that accompany their talk and walk and their positions that oppose God’s Word. It’s up to us to be the beacons of light that “preach a sermon” every day – not so much by what we say, but how we live, how we talk, and how we walk. Not only having our Father's eyes to see those around us in need but to be His hands that hold the hands of those who are hurting, touching the untouchable and reaching out to the unlovable. To be His feet that travels to the captives and the outcast and free them. To have His heart full of compassion that SEES others as valuable brothers and sisters in need of a role model. Matthew 9:36 "But when He SAW the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them......"

When people look inside our lives.....don't we want to hear them say "They've got their Father's eyes, His hands, His feet.....AND His heart?"



Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Looking Through My Father's Eyes

I took this photo from one of my recent flights. Those puffy white clouds, that looked like cotton, hid what was down below. There could have been fires raging, back-to-back traffic jams, floods taking over lands and lives, and chaos of wars and conflict.....but I didn't see it. I was oblivious to what was going on down below. All I saw were those puffy, billowy, white clouds. I was in a state of peace and contentment -- flying high above it all. That sounds quite heavenly, doesn't it? And, oftentimes, that's the way we live. And, when it comes to living in God's peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) -- it's a great way TO live. The eagle stories we hear about how they can fly above storms is a great analogy for us.

But, as peaceful the thought of not knowing about what's going on down below the clouds, or as peaceful the thought of eagles being able to fly above it all, that wasn't God's life plan for us. He orchestrated our debut ON this earth and brought us to this place, at this time, to be right smack dab in the middle of LIFE.....and all that it holds. People are hurting. They are in need. Their world is falling apart. They need someone who SEES them and wants to do something to help them.

You've heard the saying "They're so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good!" It's time for us to LOOK and SEE -- SEE and BE the answer to someone's prayers, someone's needs, someone's heart-cries because we are servant minded -- like our Father.

Amy Grant's notoriety took off at the age of 18 when she wrote and recorded "My Father's Eyes" and I share those lyrics with you to make my point:

"I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl.
And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world.
But that's all right as long as I can have one wish I pray.
When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say....
She's got her Father's eyes, her Father's eyes --
Eyes that find the good in things, when good is not around.
Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can't be found.
Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain.
Knowin' what you're going through, and feeling it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes. My Father's eyes.. My Father's eyes
Just like my Father's eyes
And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done,
Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone.
When you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me,
More than anything I know, I want your words to be......
She's got her Father's eyes.”

And, not just our Father's eyes to see those around us, but His hands, that held the hands of those who were hurting, that touched the untouchable and reached out to the unlovable. His feet, that traveled to the captives and the outcast and freed them. His heart, that had compassion for those who followed Him -- even when He just needed to get away from them all so He could rest.....but He didn't. His compassion failed not. Matthew 9:36 "But when He SAW the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them......"

When people look inside our lives.....don't we want to hear them say "They've got their Father's eyes, His hands, His feet.....AND His heart?"





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Friday, October 9, 2015

Looking Through My Father's Eyes

Day 278 of Photo Inspirations -- Looking Through My Father's Eyes
I took this photo from my airplane seat as I flew back from Seattle a couple of weeks ago.  Those puffy white clouds that looked like cotton, hid what was down below. There could have been fires raging, back-to-back traffic jams, floods taking over lands and lives, and chaos of wars and conflict.....but I didn't see it.  I was oblivious to what was going on down below.  All I saw were those puffy, billowy, white clouds.  I was in a state of peace and contentment -- flying high above it all. That sounds quite heavenly, doesn't it.  And, oftentimes, that's the way we live.  And, when it comes to living in God's peace that passes understanding.....it's a great way TO live. Eagle stories about flying above storms is a great analogy for us.

But, as sweet as the "Good Ship Lollipop" is (er...rather, "Good Airplane Lollipop"), God brought us to this place on this earth, at this time, to be right smack dab in the middle of LIFE.....and all that it holds.  People are hurting.  They are in need.  Their world is falling apart.  They need someone who SEES them and wants to do something to help them.  You've heard the saying "They're so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good!"   It's time for us to LOOK and SEE -- SEE and BE the answer to someone's prayers, someone's needs, someone's heart-cries.

Amy Grant's notoriety really took off years ago with her song, "My Father's Eyes" and I share those lyrics with you to make my point:

"I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl.
And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world.
But that's all right as long as I can have one wish I pray.
When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say....

She's got her Father's eyes, her Father's eyes --
Eyes that find the good in things, when good is not around.
Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can't be found.
Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain.
Knowin' what you're going through, and feeling it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes.  My Father's eyes.. My Father's eyes
Just like my Father's eyes

And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done,
Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone.
And when you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me,
More than anything I know, I want your words to be......
She's got her Father's eyes.

And, not just our Father's eyes to see those around us, but His hands that held hands with those who were hurting, that touched the untouchable and reached out to the unloveable.  His feet -- that traveled to the captives and the outcast and freed them.  His heart that had compassion for those who followed Him -- even when He just needed to get away from them all so He could rest.....but He didn't.  His compassion failed not.  Matthew 9:36 "But when He SAW the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them......"

When people look inside our lives.....don't we want to hear them say "They've got their Father's eyes, His hands, His feet.....AND His heart?"