Stepping Stones: Grandma’s Vision Ain’t So Good

Transformation Thought

My oldest daughter just started college at the University of Pittsburgh, which is very close to where my parents and I were born. I haven’t lived there in almost 40 years, but I still have many relatives there. It has been great staying with my cousin Chuckie, and catching up with some other relatives that I rarely see.

When I go to Granny Guzy’s house, she pinches my cheeks, calls me junior(ever since I could remember, she has never called me Karl), makes me 2 huge sandwiches or perogies, and buys me sugar pops for breakfast….she sees me like I am 8 yrs old still. It is very hard to see myself accurately, as a 47 you adult professional husband and father, when I am getting feedback and lenses put over my eyes that see me as an 8 yo.

How do you see yourself? If you are looking through your own eyes, chances are you will not like what you see. Satan, the Great Deceiver, wants us to see ourselves as alone, unloved, unwanted, unable to tolerate pain, and needing his quick fix for our problems. Sometimes our fleshly lenses skew our self-evaluation to the other end of the spectrum and we see ourselves as King of our world, much better than we really are, entitled to way more than we really deserve, you know, “My kingdom come, My will be done” mentality.

Try seeing yourself through the clearest, most accurate lenses of all, the eyes of God…see yourself as someone who is deeply loved and protected. Healing, comfort, and peace our abundantly provided. Immerse yourself in God’s Holy Bible, a tremendous love story about God’s love for you, and see just how much He loves you. He offers us more love, peace, wisdom, and protection than we could ever get from Satan’s world system.

Today, look in the mirror and valuate your base, knee-jerk view of yourself. Then, while in the bathroom, read Luke 1:26 – 2:21(the Christmas Story) and John 18, 19 20(Easter story)… don’t say “I know these stories, I can skip the reading”…READ THEM, they are short. Use this to see yourself thru God’s lenses. Your decision, your lenses or God’s. Choose well!

Prayer
Dear Father, You are the peak of all my desires and all my hopes. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last: who is, and was, and is to come. You have brought so many pleasures and blessings into my life. Thank You, Jesus. I receive Your gifts with open arms, but help me, my God, to not cling to these gifts. At times I cling to the gifts and am fearful that I might lose them, but what a peaceful thought to know that the only thing I absolutely need, is the one thing I can never lose: Your presence in me. Thank You Jesus. Today, I try to see myself through Your eyes my God. Through Your eyes I see myself as someone who is deeply loved and protected by Your presence which safely shields me from all evil. I pray in Jesus’ never ending name; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 1:8

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8