sight – My Embassy Church

“What if I told you to just write?” This was a question that popped into my head one night when I was feeling weary – which I often did during the night when I do most of my thinking. At first, my brain tried to rationalize the situation and I tried telling myself it was something I made up to make myself feel like I was hearing God. I’ll be the first to admit that I ask those “…but is that really you Lord?” questions too often, both in genuine curiosity and also in rebellion, because I don’t like what I’m hearing.

I took a moment to just marinate and think about the question in front of me. If you know me you know that I consider, or used to consider, writing as a passion of mine. I stopped doing it when times got confusing and hard because I told myself that other things mattered more – such as fitting the mold I thought would please everyone else; the mold that seemed like the “right” next step, the one that made sense, and the one that was physical that I could see and understand. But that is the problem. We are not supposed to understand everything that God has for us. We are supposed to TRUST and have FAITH in God our Father. We walk by faith not by sight.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

~2 Corinthians 5:7

There is a difference between being confused and not understanding. God is not a God of confusion. He is a BIG God. He is an INFINITE God. Which means that our brains aren’t able to understand or even comprehend ALL of who He is. But even in all his vastness and infiniteness He still pursues us – He still calls out to us – He still loves us. When I wrote the question that popped into my head on a piece of paper, I took time to just look at it. And then out of sheer curiosity (or nudging) I looked up what the word “write” meant in Hebrew. One of the translations for this word made that simple question turn into something more than I could’ve ever thought.

For the past month or so, I’ve really been struggling within myself about how or when I was supposed to spend time with God. I know that everyone has a different relationship with God, but if I’m being honest, there is a difference in knowing something and understanding it. For example, I know why grass grows but do I understand how it grows. I know that everyone has their own personal relationship with God but… do I understand why? Do I understand that God just wants me? He just wants you. He doesn’t want duplicates. He doesn’t want copies. He wants uniqueness. He doesn’t want religion, He wants relationship. Do I truly understand that? Do I truly understand that not everything is going to make sense? And that it’s okay – at that point is exactly where faith comes in, if you allow it.

Do you know what “write” translates into? It translates into connect, add, bind, link, piece, compose, tie, associate and join. When that question popped into my mind, I was asking God a bunch of how’s, what’s and why’s. He retorted it with a question so deep and full of love.

“What if I told you to just join?”
“What if I told you to just compose?
“…to just bind”
“…to just link”
“Just connect.”

The more I would look at these translations the more I realized it wasn’t really a question at all. It was a declaration of His infinite love. “Just be with Me.”

What if God just told us to be still? To forget about all of the hustle and bustle of the world. Would you listen? Would you have faith and trust? If you say yes right away, well that’s great, but be careful. You have to count the cost. Jesus said “So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it? Otherwise, he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish it. The neighbors will ridicule him saying, “Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!” Have you ever heard of a commander who goes out to war without first sitting down to do strategic planning to determine the strength of his army to win the war against a stronger opponent? If he knows he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the war, the wise commander will send out delegates to ask for the terms of peace. “Likewise, unless you surrender all to me, giving up all you possess, you cannot be one of my disciples.” (Luke 14:28-33 TPT)

God wants you. He wants you – but He doesn’t want half (1/2) of you, or three quarters (3/4), or ninety-nine point nine percent (99.9%) of you. He wants all of you, one-hundred percent (100%) of you, all the time. The real you. The you that is honest with Him. The you that doesn’t try to hide anything but the you that is transparent and real. It is definitely not always going to be easy but God doesn’t give you what you cannot handle; rather He lessons the severity of every single trial you face so that you can have a greater faith in Him and come out victoriously. (1 Corinthians 10:13) He loves you.

“What if I told you to just write?”

By Ainsley Wilson

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. So what do you see when you look in the mirror? Don’t like your hair color? Rather have long hair like Crystal Gayle or short hair like Halle Berry? Want straight hair like Fabio or Shirley Temple curls? Have blue eyes like Frank Sinatra or prefer brown eyes? What about green or hazel eyes? Is your nose like ‘Pinocchio’? Have ears like ‘Dumbo’? Are your lips too thin or have you had too much Botox? Do you have ‘Howdy Doody’ freckles? Or Mario Lopez dimples? Are your teeth crooked or straight? Are you counting the wrinkles? Are you overweight? Or underweight? Are you just a little flabby or more muscular like the ‘Hulk’? Do you have tiny dinosaur arms or long sloth-like arms? Are your hands big enough to palm a basketball or do you have baby hands? Are you as small as a ‘Smurf’ character or as tall as an oak tree? Is your nickname ‘Bigfoot’? Do you have claws for toes or cute little piggies?

Now let’s stop for a minute before you get dizzy from shaking your head in agreement or while you catch your breath from laughing. 🙂

Do you realize that while you may be wishing that you didn’t look a certain way or have certain features that there is also someone out there wishing they looked just like you?

Someone who is bald is wishing they had hair again. Someone without the sense of sight is daydreaming about seeing the sunrise or sunset just one more time. Someone without the sense of smell is longing for the aroma of a flower or perfume. Someone without the sense of hearing desires to be able to listen to a song or your voice. Someone without the sense of taste is craving that bite of food as to savor it a little longer. Someone who cannot speak is wanting to say something meaningful just one last time. Someone with no arms is yearning to give out hugs. Someone with no legs &/or feet is wishing they could stand, walk or run again.

Yet, there is also someone out there that is thankful they are bald because they have an opportunity to connect with a child cancer patient in a special way. There is someone that is indebted for having impeccable hearing as they used their ‘white cane’ to cross a very busy intersection today in which they were almost hit by a car. And there is another that is content with their loss of smell as it prompted a Dr. visit where they learned this was a side effect of a treatable disease & saved their life. There is someone that doesn’t take their wrinkles for granted as they remind them of all the laughter & goodness they have been given with family & friends. There is someone that is grateful for their loss of hearing or speech as it forced them to learn sign language & lead them down a path of becoming an interpreter to help others. And there is yet another someone out there without a limb(s) that is overwhelmed at the testimony their life brings as a courageous survivor who fought in a battle to keep us & our country safe.

So let me ask you a second time. WHAT do see when you look in the mirror?

You may ask, “Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who is the fairest of them all?” and see nothing but flaws or imperfections ~ even weaknesses (doubt, fear, anxiety, etc.) & brokenness (hurts, failures, etc.). But don’t you know that you are a reflection of your Father? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.”

And He [the Lord] responded, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7

You are being changed from the inside out so that in your reflection you will see His heart displayed in your thoughts/words, in your appearance & upon your face which in turn magnifies Him to others. “You are fearfully & wonderfully made.” (Psalm 31:30) “You are altogether beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you.” (Song of Solomon 4:7) “Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a peaceful and gentle spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.” (I Peter 3:3-4) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed [intimidated], for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Open your eyes to see what the Father sees. Where you may see pain & regret, He sees Love blooming yielding a sweet fragrance. Listen to what the Father has to say about you. Taste & see that the Lord is good. Where you have thoughts of complaint or frustration, take them captive by speaking life & truth. Reach out to others. Walk out the plan God has for your life; He will guide your steps. He sees His Light shining upon your face. He sees His heart in you.

Now…let’s try this again. WHO do you see when you look in the mirror?

See yourself as the Father sees you. See others the way that the Father sees them. Love and care for yourself the same way and with the same intensity that you love and care for others. Look upon yourself and others through the heart of God. Become so close to His heartbeat that your reflection in Him are as One – a mirror image.

“Mirror Mirror on the Wall, WHOSE is the fairest of them all?”

By Pam Elders