A Daily Epiphany

Last Sunday we celebrated Epiphany – the manifestation of the Lord – when the magi’s eyes were opened to the King of kings. I desire a daily epiphany when my eyes are opened to my King.

I post my blog for today. Now I’m in my cozy chair with my throw blanket tossed over my lap. I reach for my well-worn Bible, my daily devotional and my journal. A deep breath in and a slow exhale. It’s my time, it’s His time. It’s our time to be together.

Before the electrician arrives to do some repairs. Before I go on errands. Before I go to Weight Watchers. Before the day’s activities are in full go-mode, I get to be with Jesus. For a few quiet moments, I don’t have to share Him with anyone. The words are always fresh to me. A new reading in His Word and a new reflection. What will He show me today? What will be my “epiphany” today? I take it in like it is a required prescription to keep me alive. After all, it is the Bread of Life – physically and spiritually.

But, sometimes, my mind is overactive with my to-do’s and it’s simply a “routine” that must be done. Please forgive me, Lord, for those times when I only give you a quick glance. Sometimes I have an “aha” when I read a verse that I know was written with me in mind. Other times -- not so much. I pause and whisper, “Lord, open my eyes to see the wonderful things in Your Word. Help me understand what You’re trying to show me.” I don’t want to miss a single thing that God has for me. I don’t want the distraction of the clock or daily assignments to pull my thoughts away from His. I really do not want my time with Jesus to be a quick “meet and greet”. I really do want to pray, ponder, understand and respond.

My sweet mother-in-law, Lydia, has been that kind of pray-er and ponder-er. Every time I read Acts 16 where a woman named Lydia is introduced, I think of Mom. Lydia and her friends are having a prayer meeting on the riverbanks. The Apostle Paul and his traveling companions stop by the prayer meeting. Lydia is already a worshiper of God, but as Paul shares the Good News of Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross, Lydia has an “epiphany”: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul”. (Acts 16:14).

I absolutely love that: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention and respond.” Oh, how I desire that my heart is opened to pay attention and respond to my Lord. Lydia’s mind is opened and she receives a fresh revelation of Jesus. He deposits a desire in her heart to learn more about the gospel of grace that Paul is sharing. I think of an old song that is actually a prayer. May it be our prayer today.
“Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch Him, and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.”

May this be our heart’s greatest desire — today and every day! May we open our hearts wide so we can receive a fresher revelation of Jesus. No matter how much we think we know about Him, let us long to know Him more!

Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.”

Full Moon in the Morning

Day 37 of Photo Inspirations -- Full Moon in the Morning
This was the feast that greeted me this morning as I looked out of my living room window at 7 am.  A Full Moon going down in the Western Sky.  The Moon was a treat for my eyes. Seeing her was a much welcome start to my day, and I wanted to share the image with you.  Maybe you happened to catch her presence last night when she was full in the Eastern sky.  And, maybe you're like me and managed to say goodbye to her this morning.   I quickly Googled "moon in the morning" and this is what I found:  "At full moon, the moon is exactly opposite the sun. This means that the moon rises just as the sun is setting, and sets just as the sun is rising. Two things contribute to the moon being visible in daylight. First, it is bright enough that its light penetrates the scattered blue light of the sky. Secondly, the moon must be high enough in the sky to be visibleI

I am loving this daily "photo inspiration" quest that I absolutely know that God assigned to me for this year.  I am noticing the beautiful world around me.  What was I thinking before now?   I know that "life" happens with all its busy-ness, all its appointments and schedules and itineraries and much more "to do's" than there are hours in the day,  I heard Sister Barbara Austin speak at a luncheon yesterday and she said this, "Soon you'll reach the season of life when you're able to slow down and sincerely find inner peace -- it's that place where you de-stress.  You are God's women and if we're God's women we listen to hear Him say, 'I love you. I love you. From the beginning of creation, I've been loving you."

And that resonated with me -- "from the beginning of creation"  when He was creating the skies and the sun and the moon and all of creation.....He was thinking about you and me.  What do we do with that?  We go the gratitude route -- thanking Him for all He has created.  Inner peace is finding Him in the midst of the busy-ness.....being consistently aware of this beautiful gift of life.   We can find that peace sooner than later if we purposefully make a point of looking for Him -- and finding Him -- in our day.  Perhaps it will be in the morning full moon, or seeing Him in our little children, or the precious loved one in a nursing home.  He's all around us.....and He awaits our noticing Him.

"When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you established—"   Psalm 8:3
#PhotoInspiration #MoonInTheMorning #GodCalling

Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Four years ago, I came home to Tulsa after spending a beautiful Thanksgiving week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with my son and his family after a whirlwind previous couple of weeks of decisions to be made, funeral preparations, and all the "to do's" after my Honey graduated to heaven.

Cabo was just what I needed – to get away – find that place of consolation, peace and serenity. Everything about the previous few weeks – in fact, the last eight months seemed quite surreal. But, I had walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and, because of this profound place of peace, I literally feared no evil. God was there to comfort me – that was His promise in Psalm 23 – He had kept His promise. I was comforted.

My eyes welled up in tears as I walked from my plane down the concourse and approached the waiting area, as this was the first time that I arrived back in Tulsa, with my Honey not waiting for me.  BUT, what to my wandering and teary eyes would appear…. but my two, then, “Tulsa” grandkids, running to me with open arms and screaming, “Nana, Nana! We made you cards and presents!"  Oh, sweet distraction from my previous thoughts! Getting into the car, they excitedly displayed their “Welcome Home” handmade cards and ice cream stick creations – one to hold my pens and pencils, and the other, a drink coaster and ice cream stick crosses. They were little chatter boxes all the way home.  Oh, how my Heavenly Father gave me exactly what I needed, once again – “good tidings of comfort and joy” that comes from a loving Father in the form of the purity of two little children who love me so much.

Of course, when I arrived back at home -- I had waves of emotions -- when I saw his pictures, his clothes, the fingerprints of his life all over our home.  I missed him beyond words, but I was never overcome with even a moment of grief (definition: deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement) or sorrow (definition -- mental suffering or pain caused by injury, loss, or despair). Both of those words talk about "mental" suffering. I refused to go there. No, I was not in denial. I was in that "secret place” of the Most High – abiding under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). I had a choice – to be in sorrow and grief – or to celebrate each day that God would give me.  I chose to open the windows wide – to listen to joyful Christmas music – to shine the Christmas lights brightly -- to laugh with my grandchildren while making Christmas cookies -- to call a friend and encourage them –- to raise my voice in song, especially singing, “God is so good”. I will finish strong! I will be a conqueror!

I purpose to live out my faith with joy instead of sorrow, dancing instead of mourning, wearing a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. Yes, at this beautiful time of the year…we can all sing the words “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, let NOTHING you dismay, remember Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day, Oh tidings of comfort and joy!”