Apr 9, 2026 – Seeing

Tea at The Orangery at Kensington Gardens

Utmost – Mark 16:12 – “After that He appeared in another form unto two of them.”  Chambers makes a helpful clarification: “Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing.” I imagine that is why some believers fall away in doubt at times. “Many are partakers of God’s grace who have never seen Jesus. When once you have seen Jesus, you can never be the same, other things do not appeal as they used to do…. If you only know what He has done for you, you have not a big enough God; but if you have had a vision of Jesus as He is, experiences can come and go, you will endure, ‘as seeing Him Who is invisible’…. Chambers’ next line is very helpful for me in thinking about helping others understand why seeking a relationship with Jesus is so vital. “You cannot bring your friend unless God brings him.” I can’t make them believe in, or even want, Jesus. Chambers explains why I feel compelled to share even when it’s uncomfortable, “Have you seen Jesus? Then you will want others to see Him too.”

Power – Romans 12:12 – “Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.” Joyce points out, “When someone is known to do the same thing all the time, we call that person a ‘creature of habit.’ Don’t be deceived, however, by thinking you can’t help what you do, because the truth is you can do or not do anything if you really want to…. Set your thoughts on what you want, and you will achieve your goal.” I want to be able to share Christ in ways that are meaningful to each person I interact with. That is the breath prayer I pray when I’m in situations (opportunities) that are clearly not of my making and sometimes ones that I want to run from because they seem bigger than my knowledge and abilities. And when they are, He is there to guide me.

JC – “You are Mine for all time; nothing can separate you From My Love.” That is comforting to me as well. Other peoples’ salvations do not rest on my shoulders. He loves all people; the ones who do not yet know Him and even the ones who have wandered. He will make a way where there is no way and sometimes that is through the things I say to, or do, for others. The devotion continues, “Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you. When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. Your focus becomes on problem solving. To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence…. Each moment you can choose to practice My Presences or to practice the presence of problems.” So, when I am faced with questions from someone about faith or just about life, I will look away from it being a problem to solve and instead invite God to our tea party.

Simpson – “I do always those things that please Him” (John viii. 29).  Simpson encourages, “It is a good thing to keep short accounts with God…. This is surely the true way to live. It is the secret of great peace, and it will be a delightful comfort when life is closing, or the Master coming, to that our account is settled, and our judgment over, and for us there is only waiting the glad ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’” Since I’m writing this more than a week after the blog date, I have the perspective of looking back and seeing that on my aunt would hear those words from her Father three days later. I do wonder, if I had slowed down my busy pace enough that day to read Simpson’s word, would they have prompted me to reach out to her to tell her about my trip and reassure her that I will keep working on putting her life’s writings into book form? Busy-ness kept me from one more “I love you”…………….

Prevail #99 – Interestingly, Larson entitled today’s devotion, “Remember Your Inheritance.” I know that is related to my faith but today (looking back from April 20) it makes me think of the memories and love I’ve inherited from my aunt (and other family members who have gone ahead of me).  Larson writes, “King Cyrus’ proclamation of freedom [Ezra 1:5] went to all the original 12 tribes, but only Judah and Benjamin responded and returned to rebuild God’s Temple…. only two tribes caught the significance of the invitation. And so it goes today…. many Christians have lost sight of their homeland…. You are not made for this world. You’re simply passing through. Recapture your kingdom identity. Remember your kingdom inheritance.”