Seeing with Spiritual Eyes

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.~ Luke 2:9 KJV

The other night a friend alerted me that she could see the Northern Lights from her house. I missed them earlier this year so I grabbed my phone. I couldn't see anything with just my eyes but with the phone camera, OH MY! What a show! For the next hour or so I kept going back out and taking pictures as the skies filled with blue, purple, and pink. I could see the stars speckled in the rainbow of colors. And then it hit me. This is like another story I knew from long ago. 

"And the glory of the Lord shone round about them." Wow, what a show that must have been. The sky twinkled with stars and then suddenly it filled with light. I wonder if there was a rainbow of color. Then the angels appeared with the good news of the birth of the Savior. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 

It seems strange that no one else saw the light or heard the angels except those few shepherds. Why only these few? Could it be that they were looking and listening with spiritual eyes? They saw, they heard, they hurried to see the pronouncement. There they found the babe lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, just as the angel had said. 

Only those who knew to look saw the Aurora the other night. Only a few knew to use their phone camera and look to the north. Many seemed confused as to how to see the lights. The naked eye just wouldn't work. Others were praising and glorifying God for all they had seen. Don't you just love a little Christmas all year round? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty you continually show us. We were amazed to see the stars shining through the rainbow of light. It was so amazing to see the stars that you often equate to angels in your word. These stars shined through a rainbow. You say a rainbow surrounds your throne. Father, we give you praise for continually reminding us of your glory and power and truth. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Use your spiritual eyes to notice:

• the rainbow in the autumn colors
• the colors in a sunset and a sunrise
• an evening sky full of stars
• the verses God has put in his word to call attention to all he has done.

 

Sprouting Seeds

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ~I Corinthians 3:7

What will you do with the leaves you rake this fall? Last year our neighbors came across the street and asked to rake a pile of leaves in our lower yard so their children would have a pile to jump in. They only had a few small trees and not many leaves yet. For several hours the children enjoyed raking, running, and jumping. Then, the pile lay there partially flattened until spring. 

When spring came I carried the partially decomposed leaves to the garden for mulch. Funny thing about mulch. It's called by several names: mulch, compost, and rotten vegetation. Maybe you can name a few more. Invariably there are seeds of one type and another in any pile of compost. Even if it is completely decomposed there are likely thousands of tiny seeds that are transferred to the garden or flower beds along with the rotten vegetation you intend to keep down weeds and add to the fertility of your soil. 

In a few weeks seeds of all kinds will begin to rise up through the mulch. Why? Didn't they rot along with the vegetation? Surprisingly, NO. The only things that will decompose are dead matter: leaves, dead plants, dead animals, and yes dead people. 

Seeds will not decompose. Just think about it. Seeds contain all that is necessary to reproduce life. Inside the cover of the seed is the pollinated beginnings of life. It will lay there for a long time until it is given the water it needs. Give the seed water and it will sprout. It will then need water and soil. The seeds of the Judean date palm thought to be extinct were found in caves. Though they had lain in dry caves for about 2000 years when given water, they sprouted. With the care of gardeners who gave them soil and light we now have the ancient Judean date palm once again. 

That brings us back to the verse. As Christians, it is our job to plant the seeds of the gospel. We can't make people accept the gift of eternal life. It is simply our job to plant the seed and with kindness give it the water it needs to grow. It may lay dormant for many years. We may never see the fruits of our witness on this side of heaven. If we give the gospel to others and demonstrate a changed life then there will be a time when God will give the increase with the salvation of another soul.

Heavenly Father, thank you for using me to present the gospel to others. Thank you others come behind me adding encouraging words to those seeds already planted.Thank you we are not responsible for the increase but understand that in time you will give the increase. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be farmers in your field. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

• Now is the time to save a few seeds for a flower bed or garden next year. 
• Collect a few seeds, allow them to fully dry, then place them in a jar or bag in the fridge until spring. 
• Allow a few others to drop to the ground. Place a marker at the spot(s) you want to watch next spring for sprouts.
• Watch how God gives the increase.

 

A Tree Planted by the Water

 

 

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night

.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

We love hiking to waterfalls and walking along the tree-lined rivers. Though I didn't take this photo we saw something similar just a short distance up the trail from the nature center at Table Rock State Park in SC.  Walking along trails is a good place to contemplate the words of scripture. It's where we can better understand the word pictures the Lord is using to help us see our relationship with Him and others.

Take a look at Psalms 1. Verse 3 speaks of the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water. Now look back at the picture. What can we notice?

• There is a constant flow of water to sustain the trees
•  Some of the trees are along the edge and some are farther back.
• Those along the edge are constantly drinking from the flowing water.

Like trees, if we draw close to the Living Water, we can constantly be refreshed and grow. 

What does a growing tree do? Our verse says it bears fruit and its leaf doesn't wither. 

• Fruit from a well-watered tree is plump and juicy, delectable.
• Juicy fruit makes it desirable to be picked.
• There is no dry spell for the leaves to wither. It's always appealing.
• An appealing tree draws people to it for the shade and the fruit.

How are we as Christians providing a place of rest for the weary, sin-sick world? Are our actions showing the fruits of kindness, peace, and joy?

 

The tree by the water prospers.

• It grows, bears fruit. 
• It's noticed. 
• It's desirable.

 As the saying goes, Apples don't fall far from the tree. The fruit we bear will desire to be planted by the Water as well. Our testimony to the world can fill the whole earth with the knowledge of the Lord (Habbakuk 2:14)

Heavenly Father, Help us stay close to your word, to thrive on it, bearing spiritual fruit that makes the gospel desirable. Help us make a difference. Give us the vision of revival to fill the whole earth with the knowledge of the Lord. In Jesus's name. Amen

Hey Kids:

Have you thought about how to thrive on the Living Water of God's word?

Do you have a plan to memorize God's word?

Here's an idea to help you hide God's word in your heart.

• Ask mom or dad for post it notes or index cards
• Copy down your favorite verse or passage
• Place the note or card in a place you'll see it every day - on a mirror on the front of your notebook
• Read the verse at least 3 times each day. 

How much of the verse can you say without looking? In a few days or at the end of the week add another verse. Psalms 1 might be a good place to start.