Through my many experiences, God has shown me to take notice of the details during my day. I am grateful for these, because many times they appear to be small or incidental things that somehow bring me blessing because they are pleasing to experience or because they speak a message to me of comfort, hope, peace... For example, Monday was a particularly difficult day at work, coming on the heels of a very tough two-week period. While I was dreading the next two day, I was also anticipating 'getting through' them because I knew that my work activities later in the week would bring me great fulfillment and joy. But oh, to have the encouragement to get through the two days until that time!!! May I tell you that God supplied my need ... both days! My ride to work very early Tuesday morning was blessed with a brilliant red-orange sunrise that lit my path the entire route. God's handiwork... Glorious! And Tuesday as I drove past a wooded area I noticed a light apricot-colored falcon with a large wing span take flight across my path. This experience reminded me of God's Word: (Isaiah 40.3) "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Both days, I knew that God was reminding that He was with me; He would not permit anything to occur that I could not handle together with Him. So you might say that the sun and the bird were there for all to see. And this would be true. But I ask you, Did you see? Did you take notice? Did you appreciate the experience?
About 17 years ago I was going through a difficult time with a young family member. I was not in agreement with her choices, our lines of communication were closing down and I was heart-broken and worried for her. During this time period, I had the opportunity to be away for a few days. During my travels I embarked on a ferry ride from Hyannis to Nantucket. While there, I visited an old church that had a pipe organ up in the belfry. The pipe organ was made in my home town, so I thought it might be interesting to see it. The belfry also had a viewing area where one could view landmarks of the area. I have to confess that I was much more interested in checking out this than I was the old pipe organ. The belfry was a very large room with windows on each of the four walls. Above each window was a schematic drawing, detailing the landmarks of that particular perspective, including its distance. Looking out of the east window, I could see a lighthouse out on a point. The drawing above told me that the lighthouse was about 3 miles away. Looking to the south, about a mile away was a farm with sheep. And then looking west, was another lighthouse, this one about six miles away on Martha's Vineyard. I was pretty amazed with each of these views. I had not recalled ever seeing things three and six miles away with the naked eye. And I found each of these views: lighthouses, sheep, farms and vineyard mindful of scriptures and therefore encouraging to me at a time when I felt powerless. Now to see what was at the fourth window... facing north. -Nothing but grayish haze. Are you kidding me? What did the map above reveal to me? It detailed a sketching of the mainland about 30 miles away, with a notation that on a clear day, one could see the water towers of Hyannis. Water towers... those uber-huge grayish green silos. Not exactly pretty, but they held water that quenches our thirst. I noticed them to my right when I was on the ferry pulling out of port. I wanted desperately to see them now. My eyes sifted the horizon, moving slowly, straining to see these water towers. It felt like I was doing this for hours, even though it could not have been for more than 5 minutes. But I was not giving up. I knew those water towers were there. I had seen them earlier in the day. But I wanted to see them from afar. And I could not discern them. An elder man approached me and asked me what I was looking for. I told him that I wanted to see the water towers. He handed me a set of binoculars with the words, "Sometimes we need help seeing what is before us." Grateful, I brought the binoculars to my eyes, adjusted them and looked....and looked... and looked. I checked the drawing above me again, so I could be sure that I was searching the correct area. Ah, yes.... there they were. And then the sky broke a little, there was some sun and I took away the binoculars, searching the same spot... and having found the water towers with the help of tools: the map drawing, the binoculars and the elder's advice; I was successful in seeing the water towers with the naked eye. And it blessed me by reminding me that God's Word is like those tools.... guiding me, comforting me and showing me that He is in control; He will make a way, and the situation in question will work out.
"and you shall seek me, and you shall find me when you shall search for me with all of your heart." -Jeremiah 29.13
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