There is so much I want to write about this morning, I am not sure what to focus on! I apologize for not writing very regularly lately.
This weekend 2 of my kids are at their dad's house. My oldest daughter is sleeping. She has a friend over and will have to get up soon to get ready for work. It is always quiet in the house on the weekends when my kids are gone.
I am going to start with a book I am reading. The author is Jennifer Rothschild. I did a bible study of hers this summer and loved it. The book is called Lessons I Learned in the Dark. Also waiting on my nightstand are 2 more of her books called Lessons I Learned in the Light and Self Talk, Soul Talk. Jennifer is blind. She became blind when she was a teenager. She is a great writer and her insight amazes me.
I started to read the book soon after I wrote my blog entry called Open My Eyes. I have felt over the past month or so that God is working in me to refine my thoughts and actions. He has been showing me how to trust Him and understand how to see Him, hear Him, believe Him.
I also started reading this book during the sermon series that our pastor is doing on Eye on the Prize.
Jennifer writes about how to see...
I was writing in my blog the other day that I felt that God was not talking about the physical act of seeing...and then God placed this book in my hands. We can be physically blind...and we can be spiritually blind. We can physically see God by the sights around us and we can see God through our faith and through His Word.
She writes about learning how to walk with her cane. She was being trained by someone. He taught her to hold the cane in the center of her body. She then learned to just move her wrist from left to right. This helped her walk straight (page 33). If she lost her center...then she would not know if something was in her path or know which way she was going. She related this to remaining centered in our faith and our walk with the Lord. She could not physically see where she was going, but she could "see" through her faith and being centered by her focus on the Lord.
I think we all want to see with our own eyes. We want evidence. We want to be able to prove to others. We say "seeing is believing". Kids say "let me see", "show me". "I will believe it when I see it". We watch the news, we read magazines, we look at pictures. Our eyes guide us. Maps show us where to go.
God says, "Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29
It isn't easy to see the light in the darkness. It isn't easy to walk centered when we don't know which way to go. It isn't easy to "see" God some days. One of the things that Jennifer emphasizes is to memorize scripture and how to apply it in your life. I have written about that before. Jennifer doesn't have the advantage to grab her bible and find a scripture. Learning his word and hiding it in our hearts will help us "see" God when we are in the midst of darkness.
I am not sure if I really made one specific point today but I think God is sharing with us how important it is to see him all the time, to stay centered on him, and to believe with out physically seeing. I just know that there is a huge lesson in this for at least me. I know God is not going to relent on this issue with me until I really understand. He is giving it to me from all angles....His voice, His Word, our pastor, an author who happens to be blind...
Lord, I "see" that you want me to learn...Lord, help me to see you....teach me which way to walk. Keep me centered with your Word.
Thank you to Jennifer Rothschild for being obedient and sharing your story. Thank you to our pastor for being obedient and sharing God's truth. Thank you to God for caring so much that you will do what it takes for us to learn the lesson you desire for us so we can walk in the path you planned for us.
God is good.
In love, Teresa
Wow. God spoke to my heart through this!! I needed to hear this. Thank u for being faithful!!
ReplyDelete