Absolutely BREATHTAKING

Breathtaking: beautiful, awesome, amazing, astonishing, heart-stirring, magnificent, thrilling, awe inspiring

When it came to traveling, my husband and I lived with no regrets. In our younger years, when our budget could only afford weekend trips to nearby places and lakes, we thoroughly enjoyed time away with our children and we embraced God’s creation in the sweetest ways.

On our 25th wedding anniversary, we took on a new fervor for traveling to foreign and distant lands. One of our “must do’s” at every place we went was to visit cathedrals (in these photos are The Berlin Cathedral in Germany, Notre Dame in Paris and Cathedral of Milan, Italy). I continue to make that a priority today. BREATHTAKING are those cathedrals as they soar toward the heavens. My breath was always taken away at the architecture, and symbolism found in those buildings that presented us with an overwhelming experience of wonder and magnificence. We were captured by the those early master craftsmen and artists who, by hand, created such majestic monuments to God.

Those structures were built to reflect God’s all-surpassing splendor, but I wonder how we could possibly recapture in our hearts that BREATHTAKING feeling of God’s grandeur and be reminded again of His majesty. My blog, yesterday, was about being heavenly minded. We can’t be heavenly minded without acknowledging the ONE Who made the heavens and the earth.

Just think about the greatness of what God has created. All we have to do is to take one look at a starry night sky and think of God’s power as He spoke the universe into existence. I remember the snow-covered mountains of Alaska and the majestic Pacific Ocean that was teeming with millions of God's creatures and I imagine the power that holds this earth and all its wonders together. I remember the BREATHTAKING moment when I held my newborn babies and grandbabies in my arms and I thanked God for the miracle of life itself.

Man isn’t wrong to reach for the sky with those BREATHTAKING structures that are intended to point us to God. But our truest BREATHTAKING moments should be reserved for God Himself as we say to Him, “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

Lord, You do take our breath away with Your greatness. Thank You for reminding us of Your grandeur in Your world and in Your Word.

So Heavenly Minded, No Earthly Good

Clever and catchy cliché, isn’t it?
Heavenly Minded: Having the thoughts and affections on heaven and heavenly things, devout, holy, godly

I confess I said “She’s so heavenly minded, she’s no earthly good” about this super pious Bible college student who stayed in her apartment, fasted and prayed, and studied the Bible all day. At the same time, she hadn’t paid her rent or college fees because she didn’t work to earn an income. She expected God to provide for her since she was devoting her time and life to Him. Whether she was right or wrong in her thinking, how shameful of me to have judged her.

I stand corrected because it occurred to me that this quote may be more accurate than not. In fact, I wish that it were said of me in this way “She’s so heavenly minded, she’s SO GOOD on earth.” Colossians 3:2 says “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth."

When we get ready to go on a vacation, our minds are fixed on where we're going. We count the days. We plan our wardrobe. We calculate the cost and plan the timing. We fine-tune everything at home for being away a period of time. We ask someone to take in our mail and to watch over things while we’re away, and we look forward, with great anticipation to the great time we'll have once we get to our vacation site!

Contrary to popular opinion, being heavenly minded really does inspire us to be more earthly good. So, our goal as Christians should be on planning our one-way trip to heaven, and also to love and faithfully serve the Lord on this side of heaven. C.S. Lewis offered these quotes about heaven:
~ “It’s not that we think about heaven too much, we think about it too little!”
~ “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
~ “The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply, is proof that Heaven must be our home.”

Maybe that little Bible College student needed to be a little more balanced in her desire to please God, but I can’t say those words anymore “So heavenly minded, no earthly good”. Being heavenly-minded, changes our perspective about everything. The fact is one day our heart will stop beating. That will be the end of our body and our time on earth, but it will not be the end of US. Our earthly body is just a temporary residence for our spirit.

In Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose-Driven Life", he says this about heaven: "When we fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and we realize that life is just preparation for eternity, we will begin to live differently.. We will start living in the light of eternity and that will color how we handle every relationship, task and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty and unworthy of our attention. The closer we live to God, the smaller everything else appears. When we live in light of eternity, our values change. We use our time and money more wisely. We place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Our priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions and popular values just doesn’t matter as much anymore."

God has a purpose for our life on this earth, but it doesn’t end here. His plan involves far more than the few decades we will spend on this planet. I’m thinking – I want others to say that about me…..”She’s so heavenly minded – she is earthly AND heavenly good!” How about you?

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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BLESSED

Day 129 of Photo Inspirations -- B-L-E-S-S-E-D
To make running on my treadmill more enjoyable, AND causes time to fly, is watching pre-recorded TV programs: The Voice, American Idol, Survivor, Amazing Race, Fixer Upper, Shark Tank, Biggest Loser, etc. -- yes, my guilty pleasure is reality shows. You know the saying "She's so heavenly minded, she's no earthly good!"  Well, that's not me.  I know I'm still earthbound, but, I also do what I can to keep me heavenly-minded as much as possible.  My heaven-on-earth photo inspiration came from Beth Moore.  This photo is a screen shot from her teaching yesterday -- the acronym for BLESSED.   For almost 5 years now, I've been posting the most optimistic, positive and meaningful posts that I can.....even though during these 5 years, I've met with disappointments, times of sorrow, some  painful experiences, and challenges.  But who wants to hear about somebody else's woes, when they've got plenty of their own to deal with...and especially, on social media?

Beth Moore's message reminded me of why I try to only speak about the best things in my life.  I'll admit I cringe when I see women post about their struggles when their kids mess up their house or when those kids are whiny.  I so want to say: "STOP!!!  There are women who would do anything to just be able to conceive and have children!  Count yourself BLESSED!"  Then I see women post about the shortcomings of their husbands.  And I want to shout "STOP!!!!  There are women who have never been married or whose husband passed away and would do anything to be married! Count yourself BLESSED!"

Yesterday, a friend was sharing with me about all the negativity that is going on in her life......and there were so many things.  In fact, I thought to myself, but didn't say it, "If it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all!"  But what came out of my mouth to her is "You are still so blessed.  You are healthy.  You are strong.  This won't last forever."  She agreed.

When I post about God's blessings, it's not bragging, it's "boasting about the Lord's goodness"  (1 Corinthians 1:31).  I will ALWAYS choose the BLESSINGS to talk about, rather than complaining about ANYTHING!   Between the lines, there may always be something to fuss about -- but why grumble when I'm so bountifully BLESSED with God's extravagant love?  He has saved me from what I deserve, and empowered me with His Holy Spirit and I've been delivered from a life of sadness, pain and grief.  The next time we start to utter a complaint, let's flip it on the enemy and say, "Thank you for reminding me how BLESSED I am!"