Through the Lord's Eyes

We say 'I just don't like my body shape'

God says 'I have designed your body just the way it should be'

We say 'my face is too crowded with spots'

God says 'beauty is far more than spots'

We say 'my nose is all wrong'

God says 'what do you mean?'

We say 'my face really isn't shaped right''

God says 'that is only though the eyes of the world'

The world's perceptions of physical beauty

differ day to day but God looks on the inside.

Though the eyes of the Lord;

"Your beauty should not come from

outward adornment... rather it should be that

of the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Be Wary Of Words

Words.

They can be innocent, soothing, hasty,

harmless, reckless, and perplexing all at the same time,

and even within the same breath.

We speak abruptly, and with careful consideration.

Both of which have consequences.

For with a word you can change a mind, wound a soul, and warm a heart.

All this is done with tools of communication - the spoken and written.

Indeed it was once observed that we use our tongues

to both praise our Lord and curse our fellow man.

Words are used by different people to achieve two very different purposes.

Some, use words to deliberately cause humiliation and hurt to those around them.

Others use this gift of vocabulary to build people up.

Remember, that the words that we use

to belittle or to encourage

come from the same mouth.

One made by our loving Father in heaven.

Formed that we too, might impart

to others our thoughts and emotions.

So be wary of the words that you chose.

Use the unique gift of speech wisely.

For some, sadly, do not possess such a privilege.

Faces

What is a face?

It is a place where a range of expressions is portrayed

and by which many of their owners are betrayed.

It is avowed by the general populace that faces are worn only by those

through whose blood pulsates.

I however entertain a different belief...

For I am certain that such faces are not alone possessed by those afore mentioned.

Countenances are common amongst numerous subjects of the natural kingdom;

over which Christ rules and shall not forsake.

When one perceives those occupants of the courtroom of creation,

identifying the individual designs of their demeanours

one cannot disengage from the inspection of such shapes that form them.

The knobs in the trees, the indentations within the rock, the upturned petals of the flowers,

the ripples of the sun-lit water, and the soft curves of the clouds.

The faces of the natural world surround us day by day.

All we need to do is turn our own around and look.

The Hope of Heaven

I dream.

I dream that one day (however distant that may be),

that one day I will see that preverbial light, that is freedom.

When I walk into that light, I will take with me no more

dark and dismal disappointments, sorrows,

perpetual fatigue, and chains of captivity within my life.

For that light shall cleanse me of all that living life in a sinful world brings.

In that glorious light I shall join others

whose chains have begun to break and disintegrate.

Most importantly I will wander,

hand-in-hand, eye-to-eye, and voice-to-voice with my saviour and my God.

And this will be the epitome of fulfilment and freedom.

I wait, work, live, and belong to that day (as do many others),

the day when the tears will be wiped from all increasingly scarlet eyes.

For now I merely glimpse pieces of the puzzle of the immense joy yet to come.

In those fragments I can observe the faces of

my brothers and sisters in Christ and all that surrounds them,

including the many marvels of creation that captivate me daily

along with the many gifts and talents that he has granted unto us all.

We await with patience and hope the day when he will return.

On that day we will see some, (if not all), of those that we love and grieve for at present.

And in all of these things God provides us with the greatest gift that he could give;

HOPE.