Give Me Your Eyes...and a New Heart While You're At It

You may have heard the powerful song by Brandon Heath, "Give Me Your Eyes" and felt the rush of conviction as Holy Spirit spoke to your heart. I have and did. Wow. Check out the lyrics below.

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Wasn't it far beyond my reach?
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
again
again
yeah
yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
Theres a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
Hes out of work
Hes buying time
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus

Ive Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone


I find myself fighting daily (heck...hourly) against the deep desire to serve self. I'm waring in prayer that I will be crucified with Christ and it is no longer me that lives, but Christ living in me.

But let me tell you one thing I've learned in the 22 years I've walked along The Way...
If you pray to see people the way our Heavenly Father does, He will answer that prayer. When he does, it touches more than your eyes. It will touch your heart.

Actually, if I'm being honest...it will destroy your heart.

So if you're asking for new eyes, might want to ask for a new heart while you're at it.

You're going to need it.

Trust me.

What a Wonderful World

Every morning I take a quick peek at foxnews.com. I scan the headlines. This morning I thought I would share with you some of the reasons why we can be really sure that there is still work for us Christ followers to do.

Take a look at these "normal" headlines:

* ELECTION HQ: Dems Try to Keep the Peace

* Florida Police Charge Man With Obama Death Threats

* Rep. Gives Plug to 'Paris Hilton Plan' in Energy Debate

* Cops Raid Md. Mayor's Home, Seize Drugs, Kill His Dogs

* Mexican Soldiers Enter Arizona, Detain Border Agent

* Doctor Warned for Secretly Sterilizing Disabled Patient

* 'World's Greatest Dad' Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse

* 32 Lab Monkeys Accidentally Heated to Death

* Pa. Court: Nurse Can Be Fired for Sex With Patient

* Arkansas Professor Gets 10 Years for Stalking 'Teen'

* Flight Attendant: Osteen 'Acted Like a Diva' | PHOTOS

* Montauk Monster Mystery Goes Hollywood

* Police: Two Arrested After Using Barbecue Pit as Weapon

* Lake Searches Planned in Missing Tot Case | PHOTOS

* Iraq: Deal for U.S. Troop Withdrawal in 2010 Near

* Al-Sadr Vows Cease-Fire for U.S. Withdrawal Timetable

* Grandma Arrested for Driving With 3-Year-Old on Roof

* 26 Texas Cheerleaders Squeeze Into Elevator, Get Stuck

These weren't the real headlines either. These were the sub headlines. The real headlines included Russia and Georgia going to war, Chinese terrorists' threats against the Olympics and a horrific bus crash in North Dallas that killed 13.

Lord come quickly.

Getting In The Way and Going and Doing Likewise

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the primary job of the disciple of Christ is to follow Christ. To do like wise if you will. Because I'm not wise like a rocket scientist, but I've figured out that my body does what my head tells it to. I'm no Einstein, but I've come to understand that if I claim the name of Christ, then I will walk the way of Christ. Perhaps that is why the first Christians were not known as Christians but simply as the Way?

This week, my Father continued to grow my desire to follow Jesus through two incredibly encouraging experiences. Saturday night Rick and Jamie Atchley invited Kim and I to church and dinner with them. Rick preached about "Getting in the Way" and I was strengthened in my spirit. Then this week in our Midweek Mix, Stephen Bailey helped us take a good long look at what Jesus (the head) did in hopes that we might better grasp what we (the body) must do. For a visual learner like me, the highlight of the message was when Stephen had us simply follow Jesus around in the gospels and share stories from his ministry. While we retraced his steps, Stephen made a list of the type of people Jesus loved and served.

Here are the people Jesus spent time with, served, and loved:

- Helpless
- Sick
- Hungry
- Blind
- Lost
- Unclean
- Grieving
- Unlovable
- Unfulfilled
- Lonely
- Hurting

I sat there and looked at that list and all I could hear God say was, "go and do likewise."

Are these the type of people you hang out with and pour your heart into?

Father have mercy on us to "Get in the Way" and "Go and do likewise."