Tag: perspective

Soar Like the Eagle

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/46391/day/8

There is a big difference in the view of life that my sister and I have. I know that life is finite, that I am just passing through and I have the hope of eternity with the Lord. My sister, on the other hand, believes that this life is all there is and is in a state of constant despair because of her failing eyesight and health. She tells anyone who will listen that she is frail. She is correct; we are all weak and need a strong God on our side. She doesn’t like to hear about the freedom that comes with belief in God and the salvation of His Son Jesus. I am still praying that the Bible stories we heard as a child and the truths I have told her over the years will open her heart to hear and believe. It seems impossible, but God is the Creator of the impossible and will do what only He can do. Meanwhile, our differences in philosophy mean that I can get sick and not lose hope, knowing that this life is temporary and a better life awaits me. Do I enjoy the tests and multiple medical visits? No, of course not. But I see them as a part of this life that I am enduring with patience until I can once again be with the Lord who created me. I hope you will join me in prayer that my sister will have that hope one day soon. The love of God in my heart changes my entire perspective and I want that for her.

God’s Love and Joy

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/45776/day/7

We can look at the reality going on around us and get discouraged, or we can choose to see God moving in that reality and know that He is working His plan.

Today, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with pneumonia for the second time in less than six months. I could get discouraged, but instead I am encouraged by the doctor’s meticulous care and the patience he showed as he waited for me to quit coughing to tell him what all was happening. He prescribed my regular steroids and an antibiotic, but he also gave me nausea meds since I haven’t been able to keep anything down for the last two days, not even water. With a stern admonition to go to the ER if the meds don’t start working quickly, he said he hopes I feel better soon.

Well, I’m not all the way better yet, but I was able to sip some electrolyte water (which he said I needed) and that is a great improvement. I also laughed at a message my son sent me. He and his wife took their three year old son to the zoo today on a preschool field trip. When Nathan saw the alligators, he turned to his dad and said, “I saw a dragon. I saw two BIG dragons”! So, it’s all about perspective and how you see reality.

Falling Apart of Falling into Place

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44313/day/2

Perspective, perspective, perspective. How you look at things is how you approach them to try to solve them. A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to see a Christian movie in town and as we were leaving the theater complex, we had to stop at a red light. Looking across the way, my husband got very concerned because there was a caravan of emergency vehicles, lights flashing and totally stopped. I saw the same thing my husband did, but with a different perspective. I could see that the vehicles were stopped on the right shoulder of the road. To my husband, who has cataracts and really needs surgery that he refuses go get, the fire truck, which was the vehicle in front of all the others, was totally blocking our lane. I assured him that was not the case and he would see that when he actually turned and could get a better perspective. He argued with me a minute or so, but when he turned, he got quiet because I was right. I saw things the way they actually were, not the way I feared they would be.

Sometimes, I am like my husband when I am approach problems or challenges of any kind. I see them as totally blocking my path instead of actually not being in the path at all. I know that God can change circumstances, but I don’t really expect that to be the norm in my life. My perspective is one of independence and planning a solution myself instead of leaning into God, especially for the big things. I know that I really need to have a God’s-eye view of the situation and, using His perspective, I can see things more clearly and have a better idea of how He wants me to approach things. I can’t sit at the red light forever waiting for the big truck that isn’t even in my way to move. I have to move first and then I will see things more clearly and with the vision of how things really are. Trust means stepping out and having your perspective get clearer as you move closer to God.

Perspective

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Sometimes I have been known to walk around pridefully, especially if all is going well in my life. Like many, I like to take credit for things that go according to my plan. Then the bottom falls out and things start going wrong, in all directions and usually all at once. That’s when I cry out to God, pointing a finger at Him and asking, “How could you let this happen?” Just being honest here, brutally honest, because I have a feeling that others react the same way. One of my goals is to keep myself more on an even keel, accepting what happens as part of life and knowing that God will work things out in the end.

God is always watching us even though in His infinite wisdom and eternal view, we are here on earth so briefly. Everything depends on our perspective, how we CHOOSE to view things when they are happening and afterwards

Have a blessed day and I hope that, like me, you will be able to keep a Godly perspective on how quickly things can change and how thankful we should be for each moment.