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Focus (In “Other” Words…)



"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in HIS wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, by the light of His glory and grace."

~ Helen Limmel ~


2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”


Kids squealing in the background, cars puttering by, an off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday,” smells of charcoal and squeaky swings cannot crowd out the silent beauty of the lone duck gliding across a kaleidoscope lake of rose and azure hues. The effect of the clouds and sunset reflected there is like tie-die.

Is this peace amidst the chaos? No one else seems to notice God’s artwork on display. They are too busy with life. How many times have I passed by God’s majesty in a hurry to keep up the pace of a hectic life?
Beauty satisfies and fills me in an unexpected way. Even the little squirrel munching on a dropped cracker captures my attention. As I relax, I hear the birds over the hubbub of people.

Is this focus? I want to breathe deeply as if I could inhale this image and fill my lungs with the beauty of it. My eyes are feasting on every detail.

It was easy to center my soul on Jesus that day at the park even with the crowd of people surrounding me. God drew me into His presence with the gift of beauty. But it is not always so easy to turn my eyes upon Jesus. It is in the moments when life is crumbling around me that I most desperately need to find this inner focus.

It is in the midst of troubles and the days when outwardly we are wasting away (2 Cor. 4:16-17) that we must fix our gaze upon the eternal God. It takes conscious effort to put aside the worries of today and redirect my mind to more important things, namely Christ.

Today, I will stop in the middle of frustration and look up to the cross. Today, I will kneel down not only in the quiet of the morning but in the raucous afternoon. Today, I will make the extra effort to turn my eyes away from the world and onto the Creator of the world.

Thank you Lori for hosting In Other Words today.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Praying that we see God's majesty in the midst of the ordinary today. Blessings...
Anonymous said…
God is moving today especially in this realm among busy mothers like us. He wants us to purposely pause and take in the beauty around us, and in us. It's beautiful that in the hustle of life's demands, schedules, and events we are mastering what I believe to be the key to contentment.
lori said…
We live in such chaos...It is so wonderful to be reminded by 'another mom' walking the same path to 'stop and turn our eyes upon HIM.' How blessed are we that we CAN do that anytime, anywhere...in the car with chatting teens, in the bathtub with the splashing baby, in the carpool line...ANYWHERE..we can turn..
I loved your thoughts on this one!!
Always good to be reminded to 'notice the details' that God is placing on my path...
I have to pay attention...I don't want to miss any of them..and I know sometimes I do!
peace,
and thank you for joining us!
lori
Anonymous said…
Looking up to Jesus with you today! Thank you for sharing your thoughts today!
Denise said…
Such beautiful thoughts, bless you dear one.
Denise said…
Visit my blog when you get time, I have an award for you my friend.
Lisa said…
Heather, you captured my thoughts when you wrote...

Today, I will stop in the middle of frustration and look up to the cross. Today, I will kneel down not only in the quiet of the morning but in the raucous afternoon. Today, I will make the extra effort to turn my eyes away from the world and onto the Creator of the world.

Thanks for sharing them so beautifully.
Diana said…
Beautiful post...may we all become more and more aware of the presence of God and the gifts he showers us with!
I love this reminder! Thank you for sharing!

Blessings~!
Sarah said…
BEAUTIFUL!! I can feel God the best when I am outside in his beauty too.

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