Eyes To See My Own Heart

This year I have done one of those "check off the list" things. As an older person, there are just things that come along typically with age and need to be taken care of. I found my eyesight failing, especially at night, which was a sign that I needed cataract surgery. My doctor agreed. Many, including my husband, told me that color would appear brighter, and I would see much better after the cloudy lens was removed. They were right about the color popping and better vision far off, but I had an unintended result that has changed since the surgery. Before the surgery, I only rarely needed readers to help me see the print on a page, but I can’t see without them post-surgery. Therefore I have to have glasses with me everywhere I go. Can you relate? I can see a car in the distance quite well, but it is impossible to read a label in the store without glasses. I find this to be a truth in life and with my relationships with people. I seem to see the faults in others looking at them from afar but fail to see my own faults, which are upfront and personal. My far-sighted view puts me in danger of judging others. To put it biblically, I might try to remove a speck from my friend’s eye while all along, I have a log in my own eye, as written in Matthew and spoken by Jesus. I need God’s readers to see correctly. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:3‭-‬5 NLT So, my prayer today is to have eyes to see what is in my own heart before I attempt to see what is troubling my brother or sister. Help me, Lord, to rid my heart of anything that would hinder my testimony. Holy Spirit, grant me perfect vision as I look at my own life, and may I stop squinting to critique others. No readers needed!

Jesus Knows Me This I Love

One of my fondest memories is the tradition of taking our newborn babies to the church’s front to have them dedicated to the Lord. The creator of the universe had given us the privilege of raising this little one so fresh from heaven, and this was an opportunity to promise the Lord as well as our fellow Christian that we would bring them up to know our Lord, Jesus. Many times after the ceremony, the congregation would be led in a familiar children’s song, “Jesus Loves Me.” As we returned to our seat, baby in tow, the familiar words rang out as we passed the smiling faces wishing us well, Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so. Such simple but true words. Loving this song and the beautiful words made it easy to love a little phrase, a play on the words if you will, that tells of yet another part of Jesus’ wondrous character. “Jesus knows me this I love” was the words that added depth to my already great love for Him. Just think about it. When others might seem to “not get you,” as they say now, our Lord does. The bible tells us that He knows us whatever we are doing or wherever we are. The Psalmist even asked the Lord to “search” his heart. O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalms 139:1 NLT There have been times when even those who love me most did not know what was in my heart. In some situations, that is not bad because the heart can be deceitful, and my thoughts not so pretty. Then there are those times when my thoughts are pure even though some do not perceive that purity of my heart and so, judge me wrongly. But the Lord sees all and knows me. Those who are not dog lovers can’t see why I would feel comforted as my furry friend sleeps next to me this morning as I write and study. Ordinary people can’t see why I put Christmas trees up in October, but the One who came on Christmas Day does. Some might not understand my determination to awaken when the sky is still black to be with my Lord. Only my fellow journalers understand the closeness I feel to my creator when I record my thoughts in my journal. Others do not know the urgency that propels me to pass this love on through my writing, but the One who counts the hairs on my head knows my thoughts. While I was being formed in my mother’s womb, the one who saw me knows my motives and hears my prayers. What glorious ponderings the Lord has given this girl who could never deserve such love. Jesus loves me this I know!..... Jesus knows me this I love!