God's World, My Lens

God's World, My Lens

black & white sketch of open book, eye glasses on top, a throw and a mug beside

My Lens:         Encourage women to enrich their relationship with the Lord
God's Lens:    by seeing themselves through His eyes and
Your Lens:       hearing & seeing Him from your heart

God's World, My Lens

black & white sketch of open book, eye glasses on top, a throw and a mug beside

My Lens:         Encourage women to enrich their relationship with the Lord
God's Lens:    by seeing themselves through His eyes and
Your Lens:       hearing & seeing Him from your heart

book – Reflections of God

shed with wooden American flag centered between the windows with Oliver, golden doodle sitting in the foreground

The flag

A summer or two ago we bought a beautifully crafted 3-foot by 2.5-foot wooden American Flag. Deciding where to put it was a no-brainer for us. We have a shed with two windows that face the street. The windows give it the appearance of a tiny house. Even more so when we centered the flag between them and planted sunflowers amidst wildflowers to give it a homey look. My son-in-law decided it needed a light shining on it in the dark. He secretly bought a solar one, crawled up to the shed (so our dog would not bark if he saw him) and strategically placed it to light up the flag at night. What a sweet surprise it was! Especially on breezy nights when the flower’s shadows dance silhouetted by his thoughtful gift onto the flag. ​It is one of my favorite views on my nightly stroll with my dog. Tonight, it was not illuminated. The day was overcast with little to no direct sunlight. As I was staring at it, I told Oliver (my dog, who happens to be a good listener when I ramble on about things) that it was to be expected since the sun was so scarce today. ​ Then it struck me, aren’t we a bit like solar lights? If we don’t make time for the Son (Christ) in our lives daily, we won’t be able to reflect Him. If my day is so filled with…? (I’m not sure I’d like to admit some of my useless time wasters.) And if I only take a few minutes to pray as I’m falling asleep it is as a cloudy day is to solar power. When I have not made time for my Lord, how can I expect to be a light to others? The solar lights shine brightest with constant, unobstructed sun. We too shine brightest in this dark world when we have focused unobstructed time with the Son, Jesus. When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

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Fog

I really don’t like to drive in the fog. Especially in an area called ‘Thompson Hill’ on route I-35. Because it is higher ground the fog is denser on the hill where there is no lighting for a long stretch. I usually pray there will be taillights of a truck or even a car in front of me to give me an idea of where to go. I’ve not been in an accident or driven off the road, but it makes me extremely tense. Fog is usually caused by water vapors in the air and/or tiny dust particles called aerosols (I thought that was a brand of shoes). I know this is true from personal experience. Aside from driving in it, I am out with Oliver (my dog) at night even in the fog while armed with a flashlight that has good size beam (always on the lookout for coyotes). Because I am who I am and see things a little differently than most, one day while playing with the flashlight, I aimed the light towards the sky. I was fascinated by what I saw. Swirling through the beam were tornado-like aerosols. I watched them for so long I started getting dizzy. Once again, I was in awe of God’s incredible imagination to come up with zillions of tiny particles to create fog. Now every time I go out in the fog, I am enraptured while watching the tornado-like swirls dance in the light beam. (Though I still don’t like driving in it.) I got to thinking if I was able to isolate a tiny aerosol, I’d probably need a microscope to see it. But collectively those tiny aerosols can block our vision of things. It has caused accidents. Prior to current technology it caused ships to be rammed into rocks, planes to crash and has wrecked all kinds of havoc. I wonder if sin could be like an aerosol. An isolated little sin, maybe a white lie, seems like nothing. Not enough to even think about (everybody does them) but after weeks, months or years each tiny sin can collect into a sin fog. The sin fog could become so dense it blocks the view of God. Just like in a true fog, you’d only be able to see what is right in front of you. And right in front of you are the taillights of this world. A dark world that values self, fame and fortune and has no room for God. That thought makes me realize the importance of not ignoring the little sins in my life. It reminds me that I need to let in God’s light by confessing my sins and turning away from them. When I start feeling distant from the Lord, could it be I started creating a sin fog…something to think about. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8-9

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MY HOME

My Home Cambridge Dictionary: noun Home Someone’s or something’s place of origin, or the place where a person feels they belong. When I think of home I think of my safe, comfy place. A place where I can relax, veg-out, and be me. My husband is there, and he is what makes my home special. We’ve been married over 53 years. He brings me comfort, safety and is always an encouragement (and he cleans the toilets…like the best husband ever…right?). Then there is the golden doodle that makes us laugh even when we are crabby. And that is what makes my house a home. But there is still a restlessness, it’s a spiritual restlessness. There is a song that resonated with me from the first time I heard it. The chorus is: All I know is I’m not home yet This is not where I belong Take this world and give me Jesus This is not where I belong * The French philosopher Pierre Tielhard de Chardin once said “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” This I think explains song lyrics like the ones above; explains why people are always searching for meaning; and explains deep desires that can only be filled by a relationship with Christ. Those of us who have chosen Christ and who are children of God have dual citizenship. I think it’s kind of awesome to know I am home here and when I leave this world, I will be home too. But that time I will be home for eternity. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1​

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Glitter

It’s a cold brisk night though sadly no snow. 2024 is a strange winter for the northlands. Last year at this time I was struggling to hoist the shovel over the 4-foot banks of the pathways. ​ Each night, closer to midnight than to 11 pm, I venture out with my dog Oliver, so he can do his thing before bed. I hesitate in opening the door, I look at him and say “Let’s see what God has for us tonight.” He’s a smart dog but I don’t think he catches the gist of it and just gives me an impatient look questioning why I haven’t opened that door yet. I delay because I love that sense of wonder…Will there finally be snow? Will the stars be out? And the moon? Or will it all be clouded over? We don’t stay out long but it is enough time to enjoy the majesty of the God who created me. Tonight the ground was packed hard, grass was dead, and patches of dirt soon to be mud when the weather warms greeted me. I shine the beacon from my flashlight and smile. What could have been an ordinary winter ground had turned into thousands of tiny little reflections. It looked as if God had shaken glitter all over the lawn. How can you not be in awe of a God who cares so much for you that He glitters the lawn to make you smile? And then I look up. The moon is hiding behind some trees, but I find it. The stars are radiant against the black sky. And once again I smile in appreciation of my Creator whose mind I cannot fathom. I kind of feel sorry for Oliver because his nose is to the ground sniffing for whatever animals have crossed his path. He doesn’t look up to see the delights in the sky. But then maybe he feels sorry for me that I can’t explore all the scents produced by creatures he may never meet but knows in his unique way. So now you may wonder what happens when the door opens, and the clouds hide the lights in the sky and glitter is not sprinkled on my lawn? I walk out and smile because I know that behind those clouds, my stars and moon are still shining. And I know behind the millions of stars and galaxies is my Creator God! This is a comfort for it reminds me when things in my life aren’t going how I want and I wonder where God is, I can reach back in the recesses of my mind to the cloudy nights remembering my Loving God is always there. He may be blocked by circumstances for a time, but I am reassured of His love because He never leaves me or forsakes me. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

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