The 273rd Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 272nd day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 273rd day of 2013, it may be time to get busted, found red handed, and caught in the very act of being a Great Parent again . . . ==> "And you, [parents], do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." [Ephesians 6:4] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy a great week.]

The 270th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 269th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 270th day of 2013, I just want to remind you that God didn't pick you up just so you could run back to the same thing that knocked you down . . . ==> "God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times— to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them." [Job 33:29-30] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy a great weekend.]

The 269th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 268th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path!  Just another reminder for this 269th day of 2013 . . . ==> "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." [1 John 4:10] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy another great day.]

The 267th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 266th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 267th day of 2013, I'm reminded that we are ALL sinners in constant need of receiving (and sharing) God's grace . . . ==> "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more . . ." [Romans 5:20] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy a great day.]

The 266th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 265th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 266th day of 2013, as hard as it may seem at times, I challenge you AGAIN to keep a SMILE on your FAITH . . . ==> "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." [Hebrews 11:1] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your new week.]

The 263rd Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 262nd day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 263rd day of 2013, it seems to me that we've forgotten how to love one another.  I challenge you to remember . . . ==> "I give you a new Law. You are to love each other... as I have loved you. If you love each other, all men will know you are My followers." [John 13:34-35] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your weekend.]

The 262nd Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 261st day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, and FB! On this 262nd day of 2013, if you're reading this, you're blessed enough to make a conscious decision. Choose Christ . . . ==> "The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more" [Romans 5:20] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your day.]

"My Father's Eyes"

"You have your father's eyes."  Every once in a while my mom would say that to me.  And I was always proud when she did, knowing that in my eyes she could see the man she fell in love with.  My dad.  A man I hardly remember, since he died when I was so young.  I can still hear those words today being spoken in a voice that's been silent for too long.  But as I write this, those words take on a new meaning.  Yes, I inherited my father's eyes.   But I also inherited "a complicated eye disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss", called Glaucoma.  It is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans.  And while it can be treated and slowed down, there is no cure.  So you'll understand when I say that the echo of those words today, "You have your father's eyes", leads me to consider the darkness . . .

No, I'm not afraid of the dark.  But to me, the eye is the bridge to knowing when to hear, and where to feel, and why to taste, and what to smell.  To me, the eye is not only the window, but the very door that leads to knowing.  Therefore, being given the choice, I would rather lose my sense of hearing, sense of touch, and sense of taste, along with my sense of smell, than to lose my sense of sight.  That is, had I been given the choice.  But I wasn't.  I was given something different . . .

"The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being too proud."  [2 Corinthians 12:7 (NLV)]

By no means have I led a boring life.  Since the day I gave my life to Christ, I've been to amazing places, met amazing people, and seen and done amazing things.  None of which I could have experienced outside of God's love for me.  As I served Him, He somehow saw to it that my wildest dreams were fulfilled.  And though at times I felt like I had earned it, I really had not.  Every good thing that came to me came by grace.  HIS grace.  But that"earned-it" thought still visited me from time to time.  Maybe that's why the Apostle Paul visits me today, mentoring me with those words found in 2 Corinthians 12:7.  Maybe Glaucoma is MY "thorn in the flesh".  And if so, I'll say "Amen".  I choose to yet praise Him.  Why?  Because God has been too good to me.  And when I say He's been good, understand that He's been "gooder" than that!  If for the rest of my life He does nothing else for me, I could not survive a single day without praising Him for what He has already done, and for what I know He is still able and willing to do!

"I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy." [Philippians 4:11-12 (NLV)]

"You have your father's eyes."  Yeah . . . So sometimes I find myself just sitting with those eyes closed and simply listening to the world around me.  And in doing so, I've come to realize one thing that blindness does- it removes all conscious and unconscious judgement that tends to attach itself to sight.  So as I find myself slowly moving into blindness, and thinking of all the things I will miss seeing, I do not spend that time worrying or being angry at God for the years I will have to live without seeing the world.  Instead, I thank Him and I praise Him for the years He's given me to enjoy the world.

"Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." [2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NKJV)]

So as I continue on this walk through life, I realize that every sunrise and sunset, every morning and evening, every tree and flower, every raindrop and snowflake, every bird and bee, every street and sidewalk, every sunny and cloudy day, every sheep and goat, every cow and horse, every male and female, and every one of you . . . everything seems to look so much better to me.  Everyone and everything seems to mean so much more . . .

And maybe that's the true revelation.  Maybe for me it's another gift of grace, if you will, from God.  Not that I'm gradually moving into blindness, but that I'm gradually moving into a position to truly see the world as HE sees it.  And that's a revelation that I will cherish as I complete this life's journey . . . with the gift of My Father's Eyes . . .  (vsm 01/2013)

"My Father's Eyes"

"My Father's Eyes"

~ . . . "My Father's Eyes" by V Steven Melz

https://www.facebook.com/notes/v-steven-melz/my-fathers-eyes/10151438574950030

The 261st Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 260th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, and FB! On this 261st day of 2013, no matter how far you've walked down the path, when you find that it's the wrong path, turn around . . . ==> "The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him." [Nahum 1:7] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your day.]

The 259th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 258th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 259th day of 2013, God has given you a new day and a new week. Welcome! It's your time of renewal. Your chance to start over . . . ==> "This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." [John 4:13-14] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and have a great week.]

The 255th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 254th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 255th day of 2013, like every day, my prayers begin with "and so", like an ongoing conversation I've been having for years with a close Friend. . . ==> "No longer do I call you servants . . .; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." [John 15:15] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your day.]

The 254th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 253rd day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 254th day of 2013, I remind you that one of the hardest things to do in life is to wait on the Lord. But I suggest to you that one of the wisest things to do in life, is to wait on the Lord . . . ==> "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" [Psalm 27:14] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your new day.]

The 253rd Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 252nd day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 253rd day of 2013, I'm praying: "Lord, fill my cup.  I can't hold very much, but I can overflow onto my neighbors a whole lot." . . . ==> "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [Galatians 5:14] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy a great day.]

The 252nd Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 251st day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 252nd day of 2013, I'm reminded of one of the most profound songs I ever heard: "Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so." . . . ==> "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." [John 15:9] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy a wonderful week.]

The 249th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 248th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 249th day of 2013, it's gonna be hard. But don't surrender to what you're going through. It's only temporary. God has an "After This" after that! . . . ==> "[You] are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—" [2 Cor. 4:8-9] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your weekend.]

The 248th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 247th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 248th day of 2013, I have discovered the most important thing to God! If you want to see it, then run and take a look in a mirror! . . . ==> “This is love: not that [you] loved God, but that He loved [you] and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for [your] sins." [1 John 4:10] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your Thursday.]

The 247th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 246th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 247th day of 2013, might I remind you that true faith involves walking in the footsteps of the One Who walked on water . . . ==> ". . . for there is no other Name given under heaven by which we must be saved." [Acts 4:12] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your Wednesday.]

The 246th Day . . .

~ . . . So the evening and the morning were the 245th day. Good Morning, Blogger, G+1, Twitter, FB and Path! On this 246th day of 2013, might I suggest that God can't order the steps of someone who is not moving . . . ==> "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." [Psalm 119:133] [As you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, please play nice, pray for one another, and enjoy your week.]