Eyes on Jesus – Page 6

The Answer to Fear

September 3, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

I mostly steer clear of conspiracy theories.

It’s usually easy to spot them, with their little grains of truth blown up into widespread phobia.

But once in a while, I’ll read something with just a little too much possibility in it, and there I go, down the rabbit trail of fear.

That happened last week, and I got lost in it for a little while. Some of what I read was true. Some of it could be.

But looking back, most of it did nothing but inspire me to fear. Knowing that’s not of the Lord, I stepped away from a buffet of articles, and I prayed.

Lord, what do I need to know, and what am I better off walking away from?

Because the theories will always be there. Because sometimes it feels like the world is going to blow up soon. Because sometimes the best thing we can do is shift our focus.

Because always, the best thing we can do is trust in God.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters… (Psalm 24:1-2)

This beautiful psalm looks forward to a day in the future, after Jesus returns to earth and deals with his enemies. He’s marching into Jerusalem, beginning His reign there as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The announcement begins–

Everyone and everything belong to Him. Why? He’s the One who created it all!

“He’s the One who pushed back oceans to let the dry ground appear, planting firm foundations for the earth.” ~Psalms, Poetry on Fire (Passion Translation)

Friends, there will be a day like this. Jesus will come back to claim what belongs to Him.

All will be in awe of Him. This is one thing we can count on.

The next few verses explain what kind of people have the privilege of entering the kingdom of God. They have clean hands and pure hearts.

They are people who seek God’s face, who have received God’s grace.

Now the procession arrives at the gate of the city, and one of the leaders calls out to the watchmen at the city gates.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty–he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:9-10)

There are so many unknowns in this world, but let’s focus on what IS known. We know who is the King of glory, that He’s coming again, and that even now, He will enter the gates of our hearts.

Has the King of glory entered your heart? Have you lifted you head to see Him?

The King of glory has entered my heart, and knowing Him is my greatest pleasure. I want to seek the Lord day after day, because He’s proven Himself real to me. I know that I know that I know that I can trust Him, that He is good.

Does He reign in your heart also? One day, He will reign on the earth as King of kings. Today, let Him reign in you as Lord of lords. Let Him be your salvation, your rescue, your hope, your joy.

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1

Simply Tuesday {Book Giveaway}

August 17, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

The truth is, I’m a book girl.

Sometimes we call it my sickness around here.

But there are only a handful of books that end up front and center on my family room bookshelves–and these are all my favorites.

Today I get to tell you about one of my favorites, Emily P. Freeman’s new book, Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World. As part of the Launch Team, I had the opportunity to take in this new release over the summer, in exchange for my honest review.

Because she’s one of my favorite authors, it doesn’t surprise me that I highly recommend this book. {Seriously, you need it!}

But only if you’re one of those people who feels like they’re “being pulled under by the strong current of expectation, comparison, and hurry.”

Only if you suspect that “our obsession with bigger and faster is spinning us out of control.”

Only if you need to find a little space for your soul to breathe.

I don’t want to speak for all of us, but Isn’t that pretty much everyone these days?

As Emily says, “We move through the week breathless and bustling, just trying to keep up while longing to slow down.”

Throughout Simply Tuesday, Emily invites us to slow down and celebrate our smallness. She suggests we look to our Tuesdays, the most ordinary day of the week, to find evidence of presence of Christ and His kingdom.

This book is a great reminder that Christ is the deepest need of our souls, and He gives meaning to even our smallest moments.

Emily told a story that sticks with me, about a little white house she drove past on her way to the beach. Surrounded by a gorgeous field of yellow rapeseed blossoms, the house and its fields of gold fascinated her.

With a little research, she learned the rapeseed plant is a mustard crop–as in The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.

The mustard seed grows easily and without much human effort.

It’s unruly and untamed, and grows wherever it desires, whether one wants it to grow or not.

“When the kingdom of God takes root, it will grow without much human effort at all.”

“We equate growth and size with God and favor, never stopping to consider the invisible kingdom we walk around in, the kind that starts as a mustard seed and grows whatever way it wants to, the kind that often works in secret, small ways–without our effort–like a seed, like yeast, like salt.”

See what I mean? These are such worthwhile words, and I took pages of notes. Because this world shouts the opposite. This world suggests we need to think bigger and live bigger, and makes me think the outcome is mostly up to me.

Simply Tuesday inspires us to release outcomes to God and to notice His presence “one inch above the ground.” I sincerely hope you’ll read it.

~Angela

Giveaway Details:

To be entered in the drawing for the book giveaway, simply leave a comment below. I will choose one person on Saturday, August 22, 2015, and will mail you a copy of this book (U.S. residents only). Truth be told, one of my kids will choose the name out of a hat…we are high-tech up in here. 🙂

August 22nd Update: The winner of the book giveaway is KELLY! I’ve sent you an email Kelly, and I look forward to getting this book in your hands!

What small, simple things do you appreciate today? The kind of things you might find within your ordinary Tuesdays?

Chasing the Wind

July 28, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I’ve always loved the book of Ecclesiastes, since I first read it through as a teenager. Maybe it was the season I was in when I first met these words. Of course it was; I was a teenage girl. We all remember, right?

Solomon’s honesty appealed to me, and in my deepest melancholy, I guess I was drawn to his hopelessness. Everything is meaningless, he began, and he continued this theme until the end.

I nodded my head in agreement. I resonated with his search for more, for meaning and significance and God and all that matters.

I loved that it was okay to have questions. Deep and life-shattering questions. It was even okay if there was no good reason you should be the one searching for more. Because come on, this man was king with every possible indulgence at his fingertips!

Even in those shoes, he searched far and wide for true and lasting happiness.

Even in those shoes, life felt pointless. Boring. Wearisome. Monotonous.

Even in those shoes, the king declared there was nothing new under the sun.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, the proverb says (and Bon Jovi sings). But before this gets filed under Most Depressing Post in the history of my blog, let’s get to the real point.

The point of Ecclesiastes is that without God, life is futile.

Without an eternal perspective, life is meaningless. By the time you get to the end of the book, you’re nearly depressed and ready for the king’s conclusion—

The only way to live under the sun is to Fear God and keep His commands.

Because the truth?

Our lives do not only exist under the sun.

For those who believe in Jesus Christ, our lives are now hidden with Christ in God.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

Anyone who is in Christ, is also made into a new creation and given a new way to live.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

We were once without hope, but now we are seated with King Jesus in heavenly places.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6

We don’t need to chase after the wind.

Because our lives do not only exist under the sun.

Our God is making all things new.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

*Today I’m linking up with my dear friends at PurposefulFaith.com for the #RaRaLinkup, where we link arms to spread some love and encouragement each Tuesday morning. YOU are invited to drop by for a visit, or better yet, join us and come back each week! See you over there…

When People Look Like Trees {RaRaLinkup}

June 30, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

“God won’t stop until we can see everything clearly.”

~David Lomas, The Truest Thing About You

Just when you start to think you have Jesus figured out, He spits in a man’s eyes to heal him in an unconventional way.

It’s the only gradual healing we find in the gospels. Typically, Jesus touched someone, or they touched Him, and His touch healed them instantly. At other times, He simply said the word, and a person was healed.

In Mark chapter 8, Jesus healed a blind man in a two-stage process. First, Jesus led the man outside of town and spit in his eyes.

I’m not even joking. And the oddness only increases. Because this is Jesus–who holds the power to heal anyone in any way—and it almost seems as if He messes up the miracle, at least the first time around. Read it for yourself:

…When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said,

“I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.

Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:23-25)

Now we all know Jesus didn’t mess up the miracle. He is able to do anything He wants, in any way He chooses. I think He healed the man in this unusual way in order to teach us some things about our spiritual sight.

Just before this healing, Jesus fed thousands of people with a tiny amount of food. He also walked on water, calmed a storm, healed many others, and cast out demons by the handful.

His disciples were near Him, and they watched it all. Yet they still didn’t see.

They still didn’t understand.

Jesus reminded them what He had done, right before their eyes. You can almost see Him shaking His head and asking,

“Do you still not understand?” (verse 21)

We can be really slow learners. We can be near the Lord, and still not see Him for who He really is. Things are still blurred.

We see something, a glimpse, and think we understand. Because we comprehend more now than we did before.

But maybe what we see is the equivalent of people who look like trees walking around.

Most of the opening of the eyes of our hearts, occurs progressively, over time.

Most of our spiritual progress can’t be measured by leaps or bounds.

Every conversion is different. Every restoration is unique. But many of us only see dimly when we come to Christ. Then He continues to touch us and restore our sight until it becomes clear.

This miracle illustrates the way He opened my eyes, and continues to open them to new and deeper truths year after year.

As Jesus heals our spiritual sight, we will see Him more and more.

He’s not done yet. He will be faithful to complete this good work He’s begun in each of us.

Does that stir up hope in your heart the way it does for me?

Dear Jesus, Make us see…

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the fullness of day. Proverbs 4:18

See this post also at Kelly Balarie & Friends and linkup your own post to our #RaRaLinkup to spread the encouragement!

Like A Treasure

April 23, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

What do you desire?

It may be the most important question you’ll ever answer.

Before you respond with the answer you think you should say, give it some thought. Resist the temptation to use the fast-pass. Let these questions help you get to the heart of what you desire most.

What makes you happy?
What is it you crave, that you’re sure would make you happier?
What do you worry about?
What are you afraid of?
Where do you run for comfort?
What do you fear losing, or fear never attaining?
What would you never want to live without?

Think about these questions, and you’ll probably yield more than one honest answer. You’ll uncover the truth not only of what you desire, but also what you treasure.

Jesus spoke about treasure in the book of Matthew. He told a mini-parable, comparing the kingdom of heaven to a treasure.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NIV)

Many people think Jesus makes the point that we should treasure the kingdom of heaven so much, that we’d give up everything in order to gain it.

While most of us would agree, that finding the kingdom of heaven is like finding treasure, we struggle with the part about giving up everything.

Let’s be honest, don’t you want to believe Jesus wants you to have it all—and Him too? Yet this parable shows us something different.

In his Joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Clearly, the man saw something wonderful there. He found joy in the treasure.

We, too have found joy in God’s Presence. But like our mothers used to say, we “want to have our cake and eat it, too.”

We’ve turned our eyes upon Jesus–but for many of us, the things of this earth have not yet grown dim.

We know He’s the only One who satisfies–yet we look to other people and things and involvements and accomplishments and pleasures–to fill our souls.

We need to bring it all to Jesus–to offer Him our worries, dreams, fears, and desires–and then ask Him to BE our greatest desire.

Even so, there’s another interpretation of this parable. It changes the whole conversation.

What if the man in the story who found the treasure is Jesus?

He sold all He had to save the world. With joy, He gave up everything, to reconcile us to God.

But the story didn’t end there.

He endured the cross, with joy, so we could taste and see His goodness. He bought the field, to make us His family.

He gave up all, in order to open wide the door and let us enter. And then everything He owns becomes our own.

The man in the story is Jesus. Which also means WE are the treasure.

And the world grows dim. Does it not?

May the world remain behind us, and the cross before.

Click here to see this post over at PurposefulFaith.com .

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I mostly steer clear of conspiracy theories.

Because always, the best thing we can do is trust in God.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters… (Psalm 24:1-2)

All will be in awe of Him. This is one thing we can count on.

They are people who seek God’s face, who have received God’s grace.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty–he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:9-10)

Has the King of glory entered your heart? Have you lifted you head to see Him?

Share this:

Like this:

The truth is, I’m a book girl.

Because she’s one of my favorite authors, it doesn’t surprise me that I highly recommend this book. {Seriously, you need it!}

I don’t want to speak for all of us, but Isn’t that pretty much everyone these days?

This book is a great reminder that Christ is the deepest need of our souls, and He gives meaning to even our smallest moments.

“When the kingdom of God takes root, it will grow without much human effort at all.”

Giveaway Details:

What small, simple things do you appreciate today? The kind of things you might find within your ordinary Tuesdays?

Share this:

Like this:

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

The point of Ecclesiastes is that without God, life is futile.

The only way to live under the sun is to Fear God and keep His commands.

Our lives do not only exist under the sun.

We don’t need to chase after the wind.

Because our lives do not only exist under the sun.

Our God is making all things new.

Share this:

Like this:

“I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:23-25)

They still didn’t understand.

Most of the opening of the eyes of our hearts, occurs progressively, over time.

As Jesus heals our spiritual sight, we will see Him more and more.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the fullness of day. Proverbs 4:18

Share this:

Like this:

What do you desire?

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NIV)

We’ve turned our eyes upon Jesus–but for many of us, the things of this earth have not yet grown dim.

What if the man in the story who found the treasure is Jesus?

The man in the story is Jesus. Which also means WE are the treasure.

Share this:

Like this:

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