Gazing: The Stareway to Heaven

Ever had someone gaze at you? Just glance? Or, think about when you glanced or gazed at someone or something. The difference between the two is significant and can be life changing. Psalm 27:4 Glancing creates many questions that not only lack answers but procrastinates the steps to them. It requires no risk or commitment. James 1:22-25

Gazing restores the lost deep sense of wonder answering the questions our hearts most deeply needed answered i.e. our position, purpose, and power to act as His son or daughter. Ephesians 1:5-19

To gaze upon is the "stareway" up and into the experience of meaning and significance that becomes more important than certainty.

Studies in psychology point out that human beings are not wired to take risk. People take risk or put themselves in risky situations because they don't think it is a risk.

What the eye of faith requires is risk and commitment rather than certainty and the world's conformity.

Psalm 119:18, Romans 12:2,3

Time and Repetition

We often can see the small picture or the bigger one, but it takes wisdom to see both. Wisdom not only reveals but draws you into the revelation and keeps you there.

It's seeing the bigger picture and you're in it. Seeing the background while on the playground.

Content and context come together from willingness to hang in there repeatedly over time.

Don't get the "led" out.

Matthew 11:19,25

Stormy Weather

Ever heard someone tell you "Just get over it"? Often this is said through someone trying to help and encourage. However it is a very misused and ill-timed phrase. Spoken without wisdom can steal the emotional experience of shattered expectations needed to process what has happened that may have not only deeply affected you, but brings out the unresolved pain and hurt from the past. Proverbs 25:11

The Scriptural version says to overcome rather than get over it(1 John 5:1-5). I may never get over it and especially as fast as others prefer. But I can overcome the obstacles and still succeed with all the emotions besides only anger. To grieve is to heal and there is rarely if ever any anger without underlying grief.

Wasn't the message of the cross that no matter how much pain might be inflicted that we by God's grace may still by obediemce learn to continue to make righteous decisions in which we're being led? Hebrews 5:7-14

It seems we spend a great deal of our lives looking for the right answers to the wrong questions. That is why so many have to be right and kill many relationships around them proving that fact.

All questions can be good if not bound to finding the answer to that specific question. It could be at times of confusion that is the only way we know how to communicate and we demand the answer. If it is the wrong question, you are free to let the question be a step on the path to the right one and that answer will make you rejoice even if the circumstances haven't changed.

The storms in our life often reveal the surface questions that we have in the 1st step of the conviction process.Consider that the "perfect storm" might be our Father's way of loving us out of our immaturity(Hebrews 12). Or, simply perfecting us so that we will walk the talk, just talk, not talk, walk, or not. It's however we're being led and it often changes. Yet, the leading remains true to the Word.

As Randy Draughon of www.midtownfellowship.org often paraphrases John 16:33 "Cheer up. We're worse than we think we are".

Mechanically Declined

You don't always have to gear up. Luke 10:40-42

Go Figure

It's interesting how often that we think we have to figure things out. The starting point is often confusion. Mysterious confusion. Deuteronomy 4:11,12 We are trained to believe we can know all the facts necessary and if all aren't known, we're weak. Didn't someone say knowledge is power? Did someone also say be strong?

However, figuring something out tends to abstractly decide how many facts must be known to declare we now know whatever "it" is.

To remove confusion and retain the mystery truth must matter. Not factual truth but truth as truly someone. This is simply acknowledging Him in all our ways or thoughts which replaces "figuring it out" with "listening to respond". Proverbs 3:5,6

Once heard, we know what to do next without having to understand or having it figured out. All of a sudden we're free to move forward.

Joy rises back to the surface and hope is restored by the Voice within. This is always about what He said rather than what we see or feel. Psalm 73:21-26

Simple living by faith rather than by sight.

Be sound if not strong. John 8:31-36

Passing the Baton

Tracks meet. John 4:30,42

Rest

Stilling the rising tide of expectations. Psalm 46:10

Acknowledgement

Peering inside as to what's going on intuitively. Proverbs 3:5,6

Perfectly Imperfect

The imperfections in us are proof that to err is not only human, but essential in the discovery in us as the church. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Hesitate

It's important to understand why something is said even when what is said is misunderstood. James 1:19

Standard of Discipline

Often we call our life of an "imprisoned self" discipline. However, discipline is a result of, not a cause of, death to self, not imprisonment. We are no longer enslaved slaves. It is not a dead self we have to fear but an imprisoned self which is infinitely more self-cantered than any other(Proverbs 19:2).

Imprisoned intensifies the focus on ourselves and demands even more from whom and what's around us.

A disciple or learner is taught death to self by knowledge of Him(Galatians 2:20, Isaiah 53:11) and the resulting discipline is an abundant life under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:21-26

Double Entendre

Man with a child in his eyes. Want to know the man? Look into his eyes. Boy, oh boy.

2 Kings 4:16, 34

Proverbs 20:5

Able to stir up a deep sense of recognition in others.

Many, but not much

Follow the cloud, not always the crowd. Exodus 13:21, 23:2, Hebrews 12:1