I Can See Clearly Now...

"Without a vision the people perish"

Vision, where would we be without it?  I wear glasses to correct my eyesight, it makes life easier all around.  Everyone should be glad I wear glasses because I drive a car and without them I don't see clearly,  it could be dangerous to all involved. Glasses are great things and I am glad someone came up with the science needed to correct vision.   I want to make sure that I don't forget to wear my glasses.

Likewise, life in general and living for God in particular requires 'vision'.  The ability to look beyond the natural and see through eyes of faith and find the will of God.  When we become or seek to become builders in the Kingdom of God we need 'vision', clear vision, to see where God would have us go, what God would have us do.  In our natural life we might call this 'vision' goal setting - mapping out a plan for our life.  We've all heard of the 5-year plan, right?  Well, God has an eternal plan.  He has designed us with intent, we are not simply here to hang out until it is time to leave.  We are not perfect; we are flawed individuals whose very weaknesses become the building blocks in His master plan, flawed and imperfect people whose soul-vision is perfected in Him.  Lord, keep my soul-vision, my faith-vision clear and perfected so that I move ever higher, ever closer to You.  I want to see 'clearly' the plan you have for me, my place and my work for Your Kingdom.  Perfect my soul vision so that I may be perfected for Your Kingdom.

WHEN THE STONES CRY OUT...

The rocks are crying....

Luke 19:37-40

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
KJV

This summer we traveled back home visit to friends and family in Texas.  We covered North, East, Central and West Texas in less than 2 weeks and the scenery was beautiful.  We encountered the 'cityscape', the forest, the plains, and the hills. All of it was beautiful...towering pines, trailing vines, blue bonnets, sage, mesquite and tumbleweeds...and the piece d'resistance thunder and lightning storms.  All of it wonderfully and beautifully made by a great big wonderful God.  In its own way each piece of His creation offers up praise...the song of the wind in the leaves and branches, the scent of the wild flowers and grasses, the ballet of the tumbleweed set free from the bonds of earth, the music of the storm and the dance of the lightning...all offering up the wonder of the Creator.

Where is man, when it comes to rejoicing and praising God? Man alone seems unable or unwilling to acknowledge the wonder of it all with a voice of praise. Man, a creature superior to all of creation, with the ability to read, think and yet unable to take the leap of faith and accept the existence of God the Creator in spite of the visible evidence, all of creation.  Man has the audacity to believe that he is the master of his life, that his intellect and intestinal fortitude is all he needs.  America mirrors this same audacity though once founded on the Judeo-Christian principles of faith in God and the truth of His Word.

What is wrong with man?  What is wrong with America?  In short, the Rocks are ready to cry out.

I refuse to let a rock take my place.  I will praise Him for all that He has done in my life, in my world.  I will exalt His Name and call Him Holy.  I will try to live my life so that the world will see His Image reflected in me.  I will love as He loves, without regard for worthiness.  I will forgive others as He has forgiven me.  I will give thanks in all things and I will not hold my peace. 

I WANT TO LIVE WITH ABANDON (from the Lyrics – Live With Abandon by the Newsboys)

The word abandon has been in my thoughts since early yesterday, in particular the word as it appears in two different phrases.  ‘Abandon hope all who enter here,’ from Dante’s Inferno and the phrase ‘live with abandon’.  The Inferno is a literary classic by Dante Alighieri and is referred to as the words written above the gates of hell.  Depressing phrase, right!  In contrast is the phrase ‘live with abandon’ or without concern.  Live large and carefree, right?   I recently heard this phrase in the lyrics, also the title, of a song by the Newsboys and was struck by its meaning and how it applies to living in Christ.

The word abandon means ‘to give up or to surrender – to let go of’.  We humans tend to grab hold and not let go of things.   When we come to Christ we bring all of the stuff we have grabbed as we go through life and we lay it at His feet…our stuff becomes our sacrificial offering and we think that is enough.  We proceed with our living and ‘grabbing hold of’ as we give God our ‘best’ on Sundays and a few minutes scraped together other days of the week and God is always there for us when we need Him.  This is not living with abandon!  This is simply fooling ourselves and marking time.

This living with abandon has been brought home to me recently, though I only recognized it last night as I spoke with my daughter concerning a mutual friend.   I am therefore dedicating these thoughts Kelly, a young woman who has shown me throughout her illness what truly living with abandon is about.

Live with Abandon

To live with abandon,

To lay it all down,

To offer up all

To reach for the crown.

To realize life isn’t all about me,

To know that I’m here for a divine purpose

Though that purpose I may not see.

To live with abandon

To reach for the prize

To realize that it all comes with a price.

To live with abandon

And never count the cost

To live with abandon

A light for the lost.

To live with abandon

In the face of despair

To live with the knowledge

That in losing I win

To live with abandon

To Glorify Him.

Let me live this life He’s given

Whether sunshine or rain

Let me live with abandon

Let me Glorify Him.

Let me live with abandon

And so living, win.