God Sees

That’s one of His names in Hebrew. Jehovah-Roi. It was articulated by Hagar after God miraculously provided water for her and her son Ishmael. The name celebrates a very comforting and encouraging aspect of the character of God. He Sees.

"But the Eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."
Psalm 33:18 NIV

God sees my adversity – It is a comfort to know that when I suffer, God sees. A loving, benevolent Father watching over His child will move in response to danger. So often we feel that no one sees or cares about our troubles. That’s not true; God sees, knows and understands our trouble. This is why His Word is so important. By it He guides, comforts, restores and strengthens.

God sees my iniquity – It is convicting to know that when I sin, God sees. You can walk in the darkest night, wearing all black clinging to the shadow, and still God sees. In the closet, in the basement with the lights off, God sees. He see even what is on our hearts. This is not meant to cause paranoia, but one who reverences God can’t help but feel a great, burning desire to do right in His sight.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV

God sees my destiny – It is compelling to know that when I cannot, God sees. As he exists outside of the sphere of time, His perspective is timeless. He sees then, now and after, all at once. He knows the end at the beginning. Such vision is invaluable to the plans for my life. I cannot make the right decisions, choose the right path or endure the right processes without God’s perspective. His higher vision lets me know through His Word that, humble is the way, the meek inherit the earth and love conquers all. His vision reveals that, sin destroys a nation, tribulation worketh patience and good overcomes evil. What I need is faith. Trust to do as He say, even when it doesn’t make sense to me. “We walk by faith and not by sight,” can only be understood in the light of God’s perspective.

"The Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."
Psalm 34:15-16 NKJV

Hallelujah for Hopewell

The Arlington Church of Christ in Hopewell, Virginia is a great group of Christians. It was our pleasure to visit and preach for their 62^nd Anniversary Revival. They love God’s Word, His people and good times. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Leruna Gilbert and his beautiful and charming wife, Leah, are doing an awesome job in serving that church and community.We have known this couple for years and are thrilled at their relationship and effectiveness with Hopewell. Leruna is an awesome singer as well. He sounds like Peabo.

Arlington Road has a great history. 62 years ago, a tent-meeting was held across the street from a Baptist church. The preacher, Wilton Cook, was convicted and told his congregation, “Anybody who wants to go to heaven, come with me across the street to the tent.”

150 came with him in obedience to the Gospel and thus began the Arlington Road Church of Christ. Awesome!

Some of the members of that original group were there for the Anniversary. Excellent!

Thanks again Hopewell and may God continue to bless you.

Cheerful or delirious? You decide.

I can't help but wonder how much was in the envelope.

Blessed

A favorite word among the faithful. Used for babies, promotions, unexpected gifts and sneezes. The Bible shows a different bend on blessings however. It shows that blessedness is not so much the material gain or successful situation but rather the conforming and perfecting of the character.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me (Matt. 5:11)."

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (Jam. 1:12)."

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened (I Pet. 3:14)."

"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man (Lk. 6:22)."

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (I pet. 4:14)."

This helps us to comprehend our struggles. We are not being forgotten or forsaken when trouble comes, we are being blessed. We are not being neglected when isolated, we are being blessed to experience the Christ-life. Trials and tribulation are not punishments, they are opportunities. When the world frowns at you God is smiling on you.

Say not "I'm to blessed to be stressed" but rather "I am being blessed through my stress."

As I close this blog, I say with deep meaning and solemn respect - May God bless you.