What Do You See? It's All About Perspective...

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. - Mark 8:23-25 KJV

Look at the image..now, what do you see?  There is a lot going on, once you take the time to really look at the picture.  Examine each little image individually.  Look at the detail, the colors, the positioning.  Now try and focus on the larger image.  Pretty cool and very innovative, huhn?!

Its interesting how so many little images combine to create the larger one. Clearly, there was some serious attention to detail about every aspect of this picture. Just think about the time, effort or even the thought process that the artist went through to create this masterpiece?  If there were just one little image out of place or not there, we wouldn't be able to see the final result!   We would miss the point of the whole thing...remind of you something?  

How about life?  Take time to think about it, really. Pause and consider everything that took place and how it all happened...for a reason.  Maybe to shape and create the "Bigger Image" of who we are.  The people we loved and kept or those we loved and lost.  The jobs we were hired to work and the ones we were fired to never work again (at least at that place).  Joys, pains, ups, downs, gains and loses...each of these events (or images, keeping the picture in mind) help to create YOU.

Oh yes, it true!  Could it be that we don't have the right perspective about our lives?  Could it be that God knew exactly what He was doing when He made us? How He made us? After all, Jeremiah 29:11 says,  11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Yup..it sounds like God knows what He's doing, even if we don't agree at times.

Look up at the picture again..the individual images, the details and then the "larger complete image" created by combining the smaller.  Did you see greater detail this time?  Maybe some things you didn't see before?  Makes sense because sometimes you have to look up and take a second look at things to see clearly.  Just like the scripture says, 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Mark 8:24-25.

Its important when our perspective about life starts getting "muddy" that we ask God to help us clear it up.  And there's nothing wrong with asking until you can see, either.  He knows our way, He knows the bigger picture and He will show us if we TRUST Him.  It's really about trusting in God..not easy at times but it is WELL worth it.  He is our Master Artist and we are his beautiful masterpiece..each piece fitting perfectly in its place.   

There is a purpose...Trust Him.

Obedience is a Good Thing and not Just for You...

I saw the picture, it resonated with me.  Not so much because of the image, but because of the language.  "If you love me, obey me."  Funny isn't it?  Who would ever think that following orders had anything to do with, of all things...Love?  Often, when I consider the act of obedience, I associate it with following orders regardless of how I may feel about the outcome or circumstance...obey anyway.  

Did you hear that?  Regardless of the outcome or circumstance, do what you are told to do. But because of LOVE?  Look at this scripture, John 14:15 says, "If you love me, keep my commands."  This is Jesus talking not me. And in John 14:21, Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."  Let's make it plain, if Jesus would not have obeyed God by fulfilling His assignment to die on the cross for our sins then, guess what?  We would be forever lost and never reconciled to God.  BUT He DID do it...all because of LOVE.

Well, I won't act as if I have passed the "Obedience" test. HA!  Oh yes, I have failed quite a few times. However, when recently given a specific task to do, I obeyed.  Initially, my plan was made and I just knew how the day was going to go UNTIL God said..."Obey."  His plans supersede our own, when we get that we gain wisdom and freedom!  But in the end, when I obeyed, I say the manifestation of a WONDERFUL blessing.   

The point of it all is, God uses us in ways we don't even understand and when He does, there is a purpose for it.  When He instructs us to do something, there is a reason. Sometimes He'll fill you in on the details and most times, He won't.  Regardless of the circumstance, He wants us to TRUST Him enough to do what He asks.  Remember Abraham and Issac and the ram in the bush? - Genesis 22:3-14.

When I said, "Yes" to the task, God used my "Yes" to bless several people because of obedience.  He loved me enough to use me, and loved the others enough to bless them because of one, "Yes!"  Jesus said, "Yes" and God sent Him because of His Love for us and He knew that Jesus would say "Yes"...because of Love.  It all makes sense to me...Obedience = Love.  My hope is that it all makes sense to you too, if not now, one day.

I was glad to have seen it all unfold though, then I could write about it.  Not only that, but bear witness to the POWER of obedience.  When you decide, more and more to just say "Yes" to the Lord, it has a ripple affect.  Others will be blessed because of your passing the Love (obedience) test.  Try it, just try it..you never know who your act of Love will touch.