Do Not Love the World

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  1 John 2:15-16

God created the world to be holy.

But all have sinned tha fall short of His glory.

As ar result, everything in the world now comes from the viewpoint of sin.

Lust of the eyes, pride of life, lust of the flesh - all come from the sin of the world.

So God commands us not to love the things of the world.

Instead, to love God and His son, Jesus. 

The Eyes of Your Heart May Be Enlightened

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18 

Paul prayed that our hearts would be enlightened.

That we may know the hope to which Jesus calls us.

And the riches of His glorious inheritance.

The inheritance God gives us in His holy people.

We are in the process of calling a new pastor to lead our church.

That God would use that person to guide our congregation to know the hope of Jesus.

And to hear His calling for our lives.

My Eyes Are On the Lord

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. — Psalm 25:14-15 

God confides in those of us who esteem, revere, and fear Him.

He makes His covenant known to us.

By sending His Son Jesus to save us from sin.

Whenever I see a rainbow in the sky, it reminds me of His covenant.

His love and care for me.

And He always keeps His promises to me.

My eyes are always on the Lord.

Only He will release my feet from the devil's snare.

He will guide my feet along the path of freedom.

My Help Comes From the Lord

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 141:1-2

I lift my eyes up to the mountains.

I know my help comes from the Lord.

The Maker of heaven.

And the Creator of earth.

I Keep My Eyes on the Lord

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 16:8 

The Lord is with me.

I keep my eyes on Him each day.

No matter what comes my way, I can rely on Him to guide me.

With God at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

He has my back!

I Will Not Be Shaken

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 16:8 

Even when storms come our way, we won't be shaken.

Because God is at our side.

Whether storms are literal or figurative, we can keep our eyes on the Lord.

When He's at my right hand, I can keep going.

And I can get through the storms, knowing that he's at my side.

Even when the strong winds blow, I won't be shaken.

There Will Be No More Death

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:2-4 

What a beautiful picture of heaven.

No more death or mourning.

No more crying or pain.

The old order of things will have passed away.

And God's Holy city will be the new Jerusalem.

God's dwelling place will be among the people.

God will be with us and will be our God.

He will wipe every tear from our. eyes.

What a wonderful, loving Father!

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 

Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith.

When I fix my eyes on Him, He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

He went to the cross and endured the punishment I deserved.

He died and rose again from the grave.

Jesus now lives in heaven with His Father.

He sits at the right hand of God's throne.

And His kingdom will last forever.

God Will Wipe Every Tear From Their Eyes

The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ — Revelation 7:17

Jesus the Lamb will be our Shepherd.

He will lead us to springs of living water.

Jesus is our source of life.

God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

And there will be no more crying or pain.

Simeon's. Song

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. — Luke 2:31-32

Simeon praised God when he saw Jesus.

He held the tiny baby in his arms and thanked God that he had now seen the Lord's Salvation in person.

Which God prepared and promised long before — a gift for all nations.

Jesus was and is a light of revelation to non-Jews.

And the glory of Israel.

The long-awaited Messiah.

The Prince of Peace, our Savior.

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. — Psalm 119:18

Each day, God opens my eyes to see His creation.

When I read His Word, the Bible, He also opens my eyes to His statues.

The Holy Spirit helps me understand the words.

And shows me the wonderful things in His law.

Then He guides me to obey God's will each day.

Often I miss the mark.

Those times, He guides me back to get me on the right path.

Without Him, I am lost.

With Him, I am secure and grateful.

I am loved.

 

The Eyes of Your Heart May Be Enlightened

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18 

My coworkers decorated my cubicle on Friday for my birthday.

And Monday we'll go to lunch to celebrate.

I am blessed!

I pray that God will enlighten my heart.

So that I may know the hope to which he's called me.

The riches of his glorious inheritance.

So I may join the company of His holy people.

The Eyes of Your Heart

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18 

I pray that I may be enlightened.

That I may know the hope to which God has called me.

He has called us to the riches of His glorious inheritance.

This inheritance is available to his holy people.

Here are the new floors we put in our kitchen.

So nice to have floorboards that are not warped.

And the companies and people we worked with were great.

I Lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains

I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2

I look up to the mountains.

And I ask, Where does my help come from?

I see God's reply all around me.

My help comes from the Lord.

He is the Maker of heaven and all that is unseen.

And God is the Maker of earth and everything in it.

From as far as my eye can see, God's creation proclaims Him.

The earth is His handiwork!

I Will Not Be Shaken

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 16:8 

This week we discovered that our friend Marion's daughter was shaken with a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasized.

She is still recovering from spine surgery and now has to face this horrible news.

We are praying for her family and medical team that they will find the best treatment options for her.

Right now it appears that radiation and a chemo pill will be the protocol.

We are also praying for Lila's healing and comfort and wisdom during this time. 

The prognosis is about six years - she's just 40.

So we are also praying for a good quality of life and longer life than expected.

She moved to Ohio and bought a home near her mom last year.

God's timing is perfect.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken, even though I may be shaken by worldly cares.

Great and Mighty God

Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind. — Jeremiah 32:18-19 

Today we had an outdoor worship service at Waterfront Park down by the harbor.

The weather was beautiful and lots of people turned out.

Our great and mighty God is the Lord.

His purposes are great.

His deeds are mighty.

His eyes are open to the ways of all mankind.

Welcome, August!

My Eyes Will Watch Over Them

My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. — Jeremiah 24:6

God's eyes watch over us for our own good.

He brought His people back to their land.

God will build them up.

He will not tear them down.

The Lord will plant His people where He would like them to grow.

He will not uproot them.

I Lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2

The Lord created the mountains.

He created the summer solstice and the seasons.

When I lift up my eyes and look at the mountains, I see His majesty.

When I look at this budding Plumeria, I see His beauty.

I realize my help comes from the Lord.

He is the Maker or heaven and earth.

And the Creator of me.

That You May Know the Hope to Which He Has Called You

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18 

Lord, help my heart to enlightened.

So that I may know that hope to which You have called me,

The riches of your glorious inheritance.

That I might live with you in heaven someday.

Thanks to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me.

So that I, too, might be holy in God's sight.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All glory to God!

I Lift My Eye to the Mountains

I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes and look toward the mountains.

A reminder of God's creation and His love for me.

Here's one of the beautiful trees blooming at Whitworth a few weeks ago.

We visited the campus while we were in Spokane for James and Katie's wedding.

Very fun to be back at the university.

Kirk gave a tour to some of our friends.

The beautiful scenery reminds me that my help comes from God.

God alone is the Maker of heaven and earth.

And of me!