Optical Illusions

by Audrey Wauson

Optical illusions are fascinating. They seem to be one thing when they really are another. The other day my husband and I were looking at the mountains and we realized that some days the mountains seem very large … like they are towering over the city. And on other days the mountains seem small, insignificant, and far away. Then we realized that it was an optical illusion. When the skies are clear, and all you can see is a light blue expanse in every direction, the mountains appear to be small hills and the sky appears immense. However, on cloudy days, especially on days when the clouds are hovering over the mountains and the sky is a dark gray-blue color. Then the mountains are a huge, massive landmark, enveloping the entire visual space of the city.

Some of my friends have family serving time in prison because of reckless behavior. Some of my friends have destroyed their health because of poor choices and bad habits. Some of my friends have lost their families because of selfish pursuits. Their problem is that they forgot that God is God. And like Samson, King David, Ananias, and Sapphira in the Bible, they just did what they thought was good in the moment. They became large in their own eyes. It looked like, at the time, they would get away with it. They forgot to have a fear of God; they forgot that judgment is coming. Their lives were really an optical illusion. In their own eyes they were big. But when the dust settled, when the clouds of self-importance were blown away, when the sky revealed itself, their true size, their true importance became apparent.

Sometimes I forget that God is God and I am NOT. Sometimes I forget that if God judged me according to what I deserve there would be nothing left of me. Sometimes I forget that I need to have a very large and healthy fear of God. I do not want to become someone else’s example of ‘what not to do.'

One of my husband’s favorite preachers, Mac Brunson, quotes a Greek proverb that says, “’The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.’ In other words do not presume that because God has not judged you for your sin that He will not judge you tomorrow.” We need to confess our sins daily, plead the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23,24

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Who may worship in Your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Psalm 15:2

God, please don’t let me continue my life with any illusions about who I am. Please help me to remember who You are and have mercy on me, a sinner saved by the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus.

Distraction

by Audrey Wauson

My son is a wonderful father to my precious granddaughter. He plays with her, changes her, cleans her up, feeds her, he’s just a great dad. One of the highlights of his day is coming home, because his precious little girl waits for him by the door and then squeals with delight when he walks in the door. She holds her little hands up, expectant smile on her face, longing just to be held in her daddy’s arms.

Recently however, my son’s heart is being tested. Some days when he comes home his brother walks in the door with him. He is the new fascination of our granddaughter. So, first she wants to be picked up and hugged by her daddy, then, she reaches for her uncle and wants for him to hold and play with her. This has been rather difficult for my son. He is after all her daddy. He’s the one who pays for her every need. He’s the one who cares for her daily. He’s the one who will sacrifice anything and everything he has for her well-being as well as for her delight. And she’s now turning her attention to her uncle.

I don’t want to make too much of this analogy. However, follow me for a bit. Our Father, our Heavenly Father, has given us everything. We literally have nothing without Him, we are nothing without Him. He has plans for us, plans that will prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In fact, our Dad was so intent on giving us a future that He sacrificed His first-born Son, He literally allowed Him to be killed in a brutal horrible way, so that we could have a future with Him, so that we could have life now! (John 3:16)

But sometimes we get distracted by other things, other people. We allow other things to come first in our hearts. We throw some token attention to God, like … we go to church Sunday morning or we read a devotional a couple of times a week. Then we’re off to our hobbies, our TV shows, or friends. But what He’s after is our hearts. It’s not that He doesn’t want us to have friends or do other things … but He says that He’s a jealous God … He’s says that there is none like Him … He’s calling us, reminding us, admonishing us … “Get to know Me, spend time with Me and get to know My heart."

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

On Our Way To Town

by Barbara Chadwick

We live in the northwestern mountains of Colorado and it takes an hour and a half to get to town.

We were driving down a long hill with trees on both sides. Above the sky was filled with very dark clouds. We thought we'd be pelted by rain and maybe hail, but coming out on top - on the other side of the hill - we were able to see the whole sky. Blue sky all around! Dotted here and there were thunderheads and that small portion of dark clouds we saw in that tunnel of trees.

Isn't that just like life? We get crushed down by one thing happening in our lives when if we could see the picture from God's perspective we could be encouraged and energized.

Have you heard the song, "Strong Tower" by Marc Byrd, Mark Lee, Jon M. Sumrall and Aaron Sprinkle?

STRONG TOWER

"When I wander through the desert and I'm longing for my home. All my dreams have gone astray. When I'm stranded in the valley and I'm tired and all alone. It seems like I've lost my way. I go running to Your mountain. Where Your mercy sets me free.

You are my strong tower, a shelter over me. Beautiful and mighty, everlasting King. You are my strong tower, a fortress when I'm weak. Your name is true and holy, and Your face is all I see.

In the middle of my darkness, in the midst of all my fear. You're my refuge and my hope. When the storm of life is raging and the thunder's all I hear. You speak softly to my soul. Now I'm running to Your mountain where Your mercy sets me free.

You are my strong tower, a shelter over me. Beautiful and mighty, everlasting King. You are my strong tower, a fortress when I'm weak. Your name is true and holy, and Your face is all I see."

What About the Heart

by Audrey Wauson

My son is a wonderful father to my precious granddaughter. He plays with her, changes her, cleans her up, feeds her, he’s just a great dad. One of the highlights of his day is coming home, because his precious little girl waits for him by the door and then squeals with delight when he walks in the door. She holds her little hands up, expectant smile on her face, longing just to be held in her daddy’s arms.

Recently however, my son’s heart is being tested. Some days when he comes home his brother walks in the door with him. He is the new fascination of our granddaughter. So, first she wants to be picked up and hugged by her daddy, then, she reaches for her uncle and wants for him to hold and play with her. This has been rather difficult for my son. He is after all her daddy. He’s the one who pays for her every need. He’s the one who cares for her daily. He’s the one who will sacrifice anything and everything he has for her well-being as well as for her delight. And she’s now turning her attention to her uncle.

I don’t want to make too much of this analogy. However, follow me for a bit. Our Father, our Heavenly Father, has given us everything. We literally have nothing without Him, we are nothing without Him. He has plans for us, plans that will prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In fact, our Dad was so intent on giving us a future that He sacrificed His first-born Son, He literally allowed Him to be killed in a brutal horrible way, so that we could have a future with Him, so that we could have life now! (John 3:16)

But sometimes we get distracted by other things, other people. We allow other things to come first in our hearts. We throw some token attention to God, like … we go to church Sunday morning or we read a devotional a couple of times a week. Then we’re off to our hobbies, our TV shows, or friends. But what He’s after is our hearts. It’s not that He doesn’t want us to have friends or do other things … but He says that He’s a jealous God … He’s says that there is none like Him … He’s calling us, reminding us, admonishing us … “Get to know Me, spend time with Me and get to know My heart.”

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

HE KNOWS MY NAME

by Barbara Chadwick

God is the one who knows my name. He doesn't say, "You, down there, with the birthmark on your ear." or, "You! Yes, you. You know who I'm talking to!" or, "Will the one who called me at 2:29 AM with a weary load on her heart, stand up?" No! He knows MY name. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by HIM. He knows my weary loads and the things I fret about. He knows it's ME when I joyfully come praising His Name and He knows it is ME that occasionally puts Him on a shelf to pursue selfish ambitions. He also knows it's ME when I come with a heavy burden or bug request, in fact, He knew my burden even before I asked. He loves me with an incredible and everlasting love. He knows my heart and He knows my name.

In Exodus 33:17 (NIV) God says to Moses: "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Isaiah 43:1b-3 (NIV) "But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel." (Insert your own name instead of Jacob or Israel, i.e. "He who created you, Barbara and He who formed you, Audrey") "FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

John 10:27-29 (NIV) "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Did your brain hear that? "NO ONE CAN SNATCH THEM OUT OF MY HAND!"

Don't Hurt Your Father's Heart

by Audrey Wauson


My son is a wonderful father to my precious granddaughter. He plays with her, changes her, cleans her up, feeds her, he’s just a great dad. One of the highlights of his day is coming home, because his precious little girl waits for him by the door and then squeals with delight when he walks in the door. She holds her little hands up, expectant smile on her face, longing just to be held in her daddy’s arms.

Recently however, my son’s heart is being tested. Some days when he comes home his brother walks in the door with him. He is the new fascination of our granddaughter. So, first she wants to be picked up and hugged by her daddy, then, she reaches for her uncle and wants for him to hold and play with her. This has been rather difficult for my son. He is after all her daddy. He’s the one who pays for her every need. He’s the one who cares for her daily. He’s the one who will sacrifice anything and everything he has for her well-being as well as for her delight. And she’s now turning her attention to her uncle.

I don’t want to make too much of this analogy. However, follow me for a bit. Our Father, our Heavenly Father, has given us everything. We literally have nothing without Him, we are nothing without Him. He has plans for us, plans that will prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In fact, our Dad was so intent on giving us a future that He sacrificed His first-born Son, He literally allowed Him to be killed in a brutal horrible way, so that we could have a future with Him, so that we could have life now! (John 3:16)

But sometimes we get distracted by other things, other people. We allow other things to come first in our hearts. We throw some token attention to God, like … we go to church Sunday morning or we read a devotional a couple of times a week. Then we’re off to our hobbies, our TV shows, or friends. But what He’s after is our hearts. It’s not that He doesn’t want us to have friends or do other things … but He says that He’s a jealous God … He’s says that there is none like Him … He’s calling us, reminding us, admonishing us … “Get to know Me, spend time with Me and get to know My heart.”

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

Perceptions

by Barbara Chadwick

Colossians 3:12-17

Friends came to stay all night with us. Little Nikky, five, asked me as I was putting things on the table if we had any ice cream. I told him we didn't. (Since we're retired and eat whatever we want we try not to keep too many fattening things around.) At supper he, whispering, asked his mom if she thought we had any cookies. She whispered back that we didn't. Later he told his mom, "They don't have any ice cream and they don't have any cookies. I think it's because they don't have enough money! Maybe we should go to the store." His perception was that regardless of how pretty our house was or how elegant the meal, served on china; we must be poor because we didn't have any ice cream or cookies!

Do you get perceptions of people when you meet them - like they're rich, poor, angry or gracious. When people meet you what kind of perceptions do they have? Do they perceive you to have the love of Jesus Christ in your heart?

The Message translates verses 12-14 this way: "So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic garment. Never be without it."