Keep Your Vision

Enlarge Your Focus

Greetings on this first Sunday in June!  This month will be filled with weddings, graduations and many family gatherings.  May God bless you with good times as you create wonderful memories to cherish.  Look for the joy in each situation for it is always there though sometimes it may not be as evident as others.

An Early Morning Saga

The other morning I let my dog out into the back yard and he started barking which is unusual for him at 6:30 a.m.  In looking at what had his attention I found a small bird sitting in a ball on top of my air conditioning unit.  I walked over to look closer and he did not move.  We had had violent storms and as he appeared to be young he must have fallen from a nearby tree into the fenced area.  I could not tell if he was living or not.  The air conditioner came on after I went into the house.  When I returned the bird was on the ground pacing back and forth on the fence line while his bird friends loudly encouraged him (a little poetic license here) to fly out of the yard.  He tried to fly but was so disoriented he hit the house and then paced the fence again.  I opened the gate so he could walk out and get back to the woods but he was so conditioned by this time that he could not see past that one small area of fence that he chose to stay near. It started to rain and he sheltered himself among some rocks.  He nestled safely so close in the cleft of the rock that he could hardly be seen.  After the storm, he dried off in the sun.  Some time passed and he was able to mount up with his wings and fly out of the yard.

What Is Your Story?

As I watched and tried to figure a way to help him get free, I could not help but think how often in life we are conditioned by our condition.  This little bird could only see a very narrow part of the yard and the fence that kept him from freedom.  He missed the wide open gate just a few feet away because he was fixated on looking in the one direction that limited him.

Is there something that you have become so focused on that you could be missing open doors?  Do you feel stuck or trapped in a given situation?  You or a loved one could be dealing with a chronic issue that permeates every aspect of your life to the point you see only that issue.  I have been challenged with many very serious health problems throughout my life so I know how difficult it is at times to see the light in a seemingly dark season.  But this much I do know, God walks through every season with you and seasons do change with time.

Often we want our lives as we would script them.  However, God has His own very special design for each of us.  Trials do come.  Some last longer than others.  Some leave us to learn a “new normal.”  Looking at the lack in our situation leaves us like the little bird in my yard:  unable to see the expansiveness all around us.  There can be an open door right within your reach but if you stay focused on a very small part of your life experience you may never see to walk through that door to the other side of your issue.

Enlarge the Place of Your Perspective

Take some time to discern what issue or issues may be limiting your perspective.  Instead of looking at the issue(s) increase your vision to encompass the whole of your life.  See the blessings and concentrate on them.  As you do you may find that the issue(s) that overwhelmed your thoughts will diminish in proportion to the focus you place on the positive things in your life.

Watching that little bird I saw such a life analogy.  The more he paced and stayed locked in the more anxious and disoriented he became.  When he settled in the rocks and was still his perspective changed.  He emerged able to fly once more.  May we each stay grounded on The Rock and wait on the Lord who will renew us.  May we mount up with wings like eagles and soar above every condition in Jesus’s name!

Quotes to Ponder This Week

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 41:31

“Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.”  1 Chronicles 4:10

“Which one of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Jesus (Matthew 6:27)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

A Prayer Request

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray.  Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety.  They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit.  Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.  God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.  Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel.  Pray for those affected by tornadoes and severe flooding in our country this week.  Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism.   May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe.  May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.

Please Join Me In Prayer

Father we thank You that You are our refuge in every storm.  Give us Your grace to cease striving and rest under the shadow of Your wings as You renew each and every broken place.  Thank You for Your faithful shelter and mercy in every circumstance.  Release every condition not of You.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what You would have us learn in each situation.  Let all be for Your glory. We pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen and amen.