The Apple of God's Eye

Day 290 of Photo Inspirations -- The Apple of God's Eye
My niece posted this first photo yesterday -- she and her husband were making character pumpkins for their daughters.  Immediately, I shared that photo with a dear friend from my Life Group that maintains an attitude of being present with God throughout her day.

And, in doing so, God surprises her and shows up in so many amazing ways -- ways that she knows He's with her AND giving her sweet messages throughout her day.  For instance, she is always seeing big eyes everywhere (also pictured here are some she's sent me or I have sent her throughout our days) and she correlates that to God watching her and His reminder to her "to keep your eyes on ME!"    I know she is the "APPLE OF GOD'S EYE".  And when I thought that -- I found  scriptures where "APPLE OF GOD"S EYE" is used many times.

Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the APPLE OF YOUR EYE"; hide me in the shadow of Your wings."

Deuteronomy 32:10 "In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the APPLE OF HIS EYE"

Zechariah 2:8,9 - ‘For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the APPLE OF HIS EYE".

Proverbs 7:2 says ‘Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the APPLE OF YOUR EYE".

Isn't God and His Word so amazing?  Taking a deep dive into those words' meaning, I found that we are considered "the pupil" of God's eye, or the center of His eye or vision. I think we could safely say we are the center of His attention.   With audacious passion, He loves us so much He always keeps an EYE out for us.   The Lord in return asks us to think the same of Him AND His Word.  He wants us to keep HIM as the APPLE OF OUR EYE -- focusing on Him, watching for Him, seeing Him literally in EVERYTHING!  After all, He IS our God, and deserves OUR attention.

I pray today that you will ‘guard His teachings as the apple of your eye.'

Lord, I'm Keeping My Eyes On You

Day 272 of Photo Inspirations -- Lord, I'm Keeping My Eyes On You
I’m home from Seattle, but now on an amazing retreat – no electronics allowed, so my FB posts had to be pre-scheduled.  Hopefully, this one posted for today.

I loved having special one-on-one time with my two youngest grandsons over the last week.  Since we’re only able to see each other every couple of months or so, I often wonder if they’ve grown out of me yet.  You know – the cuddling, hand-holding, games playing, kisses, hugs, telling stories, etc.  But, thankfully, not yet.   At ages 8 and 11, they’re still so lovey dovey and precious.  They still love to cuddle while we watch a movie on TV and have the “usual” -- chocolate shakes and popcorn.
 
Bryson (the 8-year old) is especially tender-hearted and wants undivided attention.  He’ll get right in my face so I completely focus on him.  He wants to be the central focus.

That makes me think about our relationship with God.  It’s so easy to be distracted from focusing on Him – the phone, TV, computer, people, our needs and wants, etc.  Can we possibly imagine how much He wants one-on-one cuddle time with us – where He is the center of our attention?  And when He’s the center of our attention, we focus on what’s good and lovely and the question about whether we do what He wants or not  is easy because we will focus on what He focuses on.

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”