Thoughts for Life:

FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS

Jasmine GOH- June's eyes were fixed on the gray car beside her. She had to change lanes to exit the highway, but each time she tried to overtake the vehicle, the other driver seemed to speed up too.

Finally, she managed to cut in front. Smug in her moment of triumph, June looked in the rearview mirror and smirked. At the same time, she noticed her destination exit passing her by.

With a rueful smile, she recounted: 'I was so fixated on overtaking, that I missed my exit.' Such a slip can also happen in our desire to walk in God's ways.

When the religious leaders persecuted Jesus for not keeping the Jewish law (John 5:16), He warned that they'd become so fixated on studying and enforcing the law that they were missing the person the law pointed to: 'These are the very Scriptures that testify about me yet you refuse to come to me to have life' (vv. 39-40).

In trying to be right before God, the religious leaders focused on following the Jewish law and making sure everyone else did too. Likewise, in our zeal for God, we may keep up with good things—church attendance, Bible study, charity work—and even get others to join us. But we can become so focused on them that we miss the person we're doing them for—Jesus.

In all we do, let's ask God to help us fix our eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:2). He alone is "The way and the truth and the life."(John 14:6).

Let's pray-

"Father, it is so easy to live each day with tunnel vision. To dismiss people because they don’t look like we do or act like we do. Jesus never did that. He always made time for the lonely man, woman and child in need. I want to be more like Him. I want to have His eyes and His heart when it comes to meeting the needs of people He brings into my life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen."(Taken from a saying of Mary Southerland)

#83 Testimony- A Christian General

A Christian general came to me one day and confessed that the strain of presenting a perfect image before his men was about to kill him. I suggested that it would ease his tension if he would thank God for having created him exactly as he was.

"You mean, as I am today? filled with fear and tension?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Do you think the God who created this universe and placed the stars in the heavens was any less careful when He created you? Nor has He been careless with the circumstances He has allowed into your life in order to show you how much He loves you?"

The general came to several sessioins in my office, and studied his Bible and read Prison to Praise with interest. Gradually he came to accept that God had a perfect plan for his life and that the contintuous stress he'd felt was serving the purpose of bringing him to rely on God.

He began to praise God for his anxieties and a sense of peace slowly replaced the old habits of fear. For the first time in his life he was happy to be himself!

Ps. 141:8a "My eyes look to you, LORD my Lord. I seek refuge in you." (CSB) Christian Standard Bible

1441-1445 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1441- Job 16:20b "Mine eye poureth out tears unto God."

1442- Ecc. 7:19a "Wisdom strentheneth the wise."

1443- Ecc. 8:16a, 17a "When I applied mine heart to know wisdom . . . Then I

beheld all the work of God."

1444- Ez. 41:13a "So he measured the house."

1445- Is. 9:7a "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end."

#83 Hymn- Be Still My Soul

The composer of the music, Jean Sibelius was born in Finland in 1865. He later changed his name to reflect the French form of Johann, and was known thereafter as Jean Sibelius. He was also the composer for many orchestral works, including seven symphonies.

Some encouraging words-

"Life’s storms sometimes blow away all that we cling to or that clings to us. I’m reminded then that when I have nothing left but Jesus, Jesus is all I need. Perhaps that is what is necessary to see the glory of God. In my weakness and lack, He shows His strength and bountifulness. In thinking about being a partner with Christ and having the prospect of seeing His glory, I rejoice that my leafless branches reveal the beauty of who He is. Then, my sadness turns to gladness." Anita van der Elst

Church Notes:

In the Gospel of Mark, we are encouraged to emediately confront people about their need of salvation. We're to look for hungry people, prepared by the Holy Spirit, who feel the need of something greater than they've known. Our relationship with the Lord, needs to be intimate, obedient in response to His urgings, and with expectancy of faith that He will answer our prayers. The power to resist the evil one is available only in Christ Jesus!

6 Amazing Attributes of God's Love

Upcoming posts:

5/1st- DANGERS- Kevin Spencer [I leave on the 2nd to travel to New Jersey

to visit my son, John]

10th- SATISFY YOUR HEART- Diane Ohlson

17th- WHY WE NEED TO PRAY- John Calvin