Now I See...

My new glasses arrived recently. When I went to the eye center to pick them up, the nice young lady at the counter asked me to try them on to see how they fit. As I paused for a moment and stared blankly, she asked “Are they uncomfortable?” “Yes,” I replied. “They fit just fine, but I can’t see!” The sales clerk confidently told me that that’s normal and to give it a couple of weeks to know if I’m still having difficulty.

I reluctantly told her okay and left the store thinking, this place got it really really wrong. 

From the time it took me to drive from the eye center back to my place of employment (with no glasses on), the holy spirit began to remind me: the optometrist did say that my prescription had changed quite a bit. And it also dawned on me that the last eye exam I’d gotten was some 20 months prior. So, upon my arrival at work, I decided to actually try the glasses again, perhaps these trained professional eye care specialists did know what they were talking about.

I put the new glasses on and once again, everything seemed wobbly, disjointed, 4Dimensional even! But despite this discomfort and foreign existence, I was determined to TRY. It’s been two days now, and I can honestly say that my experience is far less dramatic than it seemed on day one, and I can only imagine my eyes will continue to adjust to this corrected vision in due time.

How often do we make the same mistake spiritually? I was so familiar with seeing incorrectly that my first instinct was to reject and remove the very thing that was custom designed to help me. Because the new vision altered what I had taught myself to be comfortable and correct, I immediately chose the headaches, watery eyes and muscle spasms that accompanied my previous state of existence instead of embracing something that was created to assist me.

From this experience I learned that it is possible to get so comfortable in our sins that when righteousness is introduced, we could interpret it as an unfamiliar, foreign existence and run away from it when its presented. But, if we would only TRY to live the new lifestyle that Jesus exemplifies, in due time, the corrected, custom made, cleaner lifestyle will become part of us and that will be our new normal.

Quote: “Wake Up Every day and Try”

Song: “Strangely Dim” by Francesca Battistelli

Meditation Verse: Psalms 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from your law.

Seems Doesn't Make It So...

Some of the most frustrating challenges Christians face include contesting the reality of our view with the reverence of our vision.  Saul and the Israelites went through it when it seemed as though Goliath the Philistine was too terrifying to defeat [1 Samuel 17]. Caleb’s counterparts went through it when it seemed the people in the land were too mighty to possess [Numbers 13:26-33]. Even today, there are situations that we encounter that seem insurmountable, but the God of all things good has the final say. And as history proves, He specializes in making something out of nothing (check out the dry bones story [Ezekiel 37:1-14]). So the next time your life presents you lemons, take a moment to breathe, then recall the promises, provision and preeminence of God and watch Him turn those lemons into something as amazing and unexpected as apple cider! Then praise Him for his favor, and feast on His faithfulness.

Quote:  “Don’t let the view distort your vision”

Song:  “The Voiceof Truth” by Casting Crowns

Meditation Scripture:  2 Thessalonians3:3  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

"Beautifully Virtuous"

“Beautifully Virtuous”

Angelia Clinton

Many people wonder where my secret lies.

Is it my breast, legs or firm backside?

No!

In fact, it's nothing that your eyes can see;

the secret to my beauty lies deep within me.

As I walk into a room, folks smile and look upon my face.

I greet them with words that are seasoned with grace.

They glare and they stare, some still can't see

What makes this woman unique is the God in me.

Normal women sleep when there's work to be done.

Virtuous women arise before the shining of the sun.

We take great joy in helping those in need.

For every step we take, we're planting God's good seed.

--I am woman, virtuously. Virtuous woman, that's me.--

Look into my closet. You won't find the latest Prada dress.

I invest in the eternal and adorn myself with righteousness.

I no longer value my worth by the opinions of men.

But by the spirit of truth that dwells within.

When I look into a mirror I see more than a flawed reflection.

Beyond the mascara and makeup, I see my Savior’s selection.

I do not boast in self, but only in His sacrifice.

For in His hands the Potter fashions purpose into this present life.

Anyone with eyes can spot an attractive woman in their midst.

But it takes more than eyes to perceive a beauty like this.

I'm more sought after out than treasures of silver and gold.

My worth far exceeds rubies—so I've been told.

--I am woman, virtuously. Virtuous woman, that's me.--

From my speech to my smile, to my style of dress;

All things speak volumes to the light I possess.

Although most men chase after the superficial kind,

I won’t descend from my tree top, for I am well worth the climb

The virtue chapter has been continued although there’s no Proverbs 32

For her story has been torn from the pages and embedded inside of you.

Charming tongues are deceit and outward beauty fades eventually,

But a woman who fears the Lord will be celebrated for eternity.

--We are women, virtuously. Virtuous women, both you and me.--