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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Time for an Eye Exam and a Heart Check-Up?

Have you ever gotten a little speck or an eyelash in your eye and it was so painful until you managed to get it removed. Even though we know we shouldn’t rub our eye to try to remove it, we can’t help ourselves and, oftentimes, we just makes the matter worse.

What about those conversations we have with someone and that conversation goes awry. It becomes negative and we are mutually complaining and becoming angry about something or someone….. and just as naturally as rubbing our eye when we get a speck in it, we chime in and the conversation just goes SOUTH. We don’t help to deter the conversation to a more positive place. We just add to the brewing animosity. We just helped make the matter worse.

Maybe it’s time for an “eye” exam and a “heart” check-up so that our eyes will be clearer and our hearts will be softer and more understanding. Rather than “seeing” the worst in someone and “feeling” animosity toward them, we can purpose to have our Father’s eyes and heart – that sees the best in others, regardless of whether or not they are exuding “their worst”. Rather than taking on an attitude of blame or misunderstanding, just maybe we’ll start approaching our brothers and sisters with kindness, love and better understanding of the struggles they may be going through. What if that cashier who was cranky or grumpy, just received a notice that her house was being foreclosed on? What if that car driver who was speeding past you, was rushing to get to a family member that had been in an accident? What if that young person who was so disrespectful, was abandoned by his family?

Matthew 7:5 says “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

What do our eyes see? And what does our heart feel? Anxiety or peace? Envy or encouragement? Doubt or optimism? Anger or love? Wherever WE are at can be places where love is lived, where people sense God’s peace and acceptance. It may sound simplistic, but it is still true: our calm, peaceful, and loving presence can be infectious.

What if we had our 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. Knowing what others are going through and feeling it the same. Just like our Father’s eyes. (Thank you, Amy Grant, for those words!)

Yes, it just may be time for an Eye Exam and a Heart Check-Up!

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?"