Measuring Up

8/3/13 Measuring up. Isn't that what we all try to do? Too often, we continually try to "measure up" to a parental expectation, a culture/society benchmark, or self-induced standard. It's as if "measuring up" will bring esteem and love from others.

For some, it's a life long pursuit that is never quite attained. Adolescent girls want to be shorter or cuter, boys (in our family) tend to want to be stronger and more athletic. Everyone seems to want to be smarter or more successful by the world's measuring stick.

As I watched John Parker (5) stand on his tip-toes by the NASCAR measuring stick, all those thoughts came to mind. 

From his tip-toed positioned feet, he said, "See. I'm big (tall) enough!" 

I know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and with God "there is therefore now no condemnation" for believers, and that He "loves me with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3 & Romans 5:8) Yet, how easy it is to see myself trough the world's eyes instead.....causing me to stand on my tip-toes as once again I "try" to measure up.

I need to trust God's measuring stick. Thankfully, because of Christ, I'll always measure up.

3-D Vision

3-D Vision

4/9/11 “Seeing God’s Hand” portion of this blog started the awareness, during my ’09 cancer journey, of the fact that most of the happenings of my life are out of my hands. Bobbie McCarty, at Houston High, encouraged me to see God’s hand in my life and to trust Him for the outcome. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest entry recalled for me the importance of that pursuit. Ten times in the entry, Oswald Chambers wrote of Seeing Him/Jesus.

How does one go about “seeing Him Who is invisible?” Through creation. Through the kindness and compassion of others who become His hands and feet.

As I mulled this today, I realized that often we see with our heart, especially as we read God’s word. We need to “see” Him with the eyes of our understanding. We need to put on our 3-D spiritual glasses if we cant to see His depth, His doggedness and His duration.

Depth---His love for us is deep and nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Doggedness---God first loved us (while we were yet sinners) and continues to pursue a love relationship with us. He doesn't give up on us. What a comfort that is. (Romans 5:8)

Duration---Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared……saying, ”I have loved you with and everlasting love.

I can’t “see” Him for you, nor you for me. We all have our own spiritual 3-D glasses. Let’s wear them today and then share with others, what we have seen for ourselves.