Looking up at Daddy!
Psalm 34:5”Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
My heart skipped a beat and melted! The way the school kids look at me with so many myriads of emotions in those faces: How is madam’s mood? Is she happy today? Will she smile at me? Will she give me an extra pencil? Will she give me clothes and new books? Will she remember me? Some of them stretch out their hands to touch me, some try to shake hands with me, some playfully try to touch my garments. So much love, warmth and longing in those faces like shining rose buds! Recently when I saw them strain their necks and look up at me as they sit on the floor, I choked! I tell you, I ran into my room, so that I don’t cry right in front of them and make a fool of myself! I just wanted to do something then and there for the kids, I called them and gave them all, the stationery items that they needed. You must see their faces! Radiant is what I call! Beaming with happiness with all of them carrying pencils and rubbers! This ‘Radiance’ is out of gratitude! I have watched rich, fat-salaried executives of multinational banks with grumpy faces on the day of salary! They want more! Greed!
Have you ever watched the mother crow feed her babies? The little birds are just so adorable as they sit in their nest with their heads cocked up, beaks opened and waiting for their mother to feed. I tell you, it is such a gorgeous scene of love! The inner portion of the mouth is red for the baby birds and as they expectantly wait with beaks opened, the mother bird hunts for the food and puts it in their mouth and waits for the babies to swallow. So sweet! Whenever I see my school kids look at me, I feel like a mother crow feeding the babies! With those tender looks and ravishing smile they have got me hooked forever! There is war at home with my children, they feel I talk a lot more of the school kids than about them! Do I? Can’t help it, though!
When I go to my mom’s place during my holidays (if there is any) straight after I reach the house, I charge to the refrigerator which would be well stacked with all the delicacies and snacks that are my favorites! Mother crow! The next few days there, it would be all ‘bala favorite dishes!’ She would take me to the backyard and pointing at the plants she would tell me ’look they are smiling at you!’ The twinkle in her eyes and the naughty smile would say, ‘look I got it all set up for you!’
Friend, coming back to the key issue of ‘looking at HIM’; nevertheless, one day all THIS would cease! Take it from me, it would! I have wandered like a vagabond alone on the roads of the new city after relocating our ministry, not knowing a clue about our next step! No money. No ministry. Nothing. Thank you Jesus! He never left my side! Thank God right now for the ‘nothingness’ in your life. Pause and thank right now. When we look at the loveliness of the world, we would never get to have a glimpse of His loveliness. Are you listening? When you keep looking and lusting at the girl sitting next to your cubicle at work, where and when can you taste His colossal love? Tell me. No wonder you are confused!
Try giving those ravishing looks, passionate looks, ‘I will-never-take-my-eyes-off-You’ looks, I am waiting for you looks, I love you more than anything Lord looks, tell Him like David, I long for you like a deer that pants for water…..! Try doing that. God cannot resist such looks of love! Never, never can He! He would incline His ears to listen to you! He would stretch His Hands to bless you! You cannot compare the colossal, massive, immeasurable love of God with anyone! None gave their blood and life for you! None. Try looking at God and trusting Him like the baby birds that look at their mom! When you have your beaks open and look only at HIM, would He bypass you? Tell me.
When you faithfully attend church without missing a single service, when you faithfully give your tithe offering to God, when you sincerely gather as a family to pray, when you grind your teeth and say ‘no’ to worldly stuff, when you obey His commandments fully, when you forgive those who hurt you for the sake of your love for God, when you put in all efforts to wake up early to pray, when you read His Word even though you feel tremendously tired………..Try doing all this and watch Heaven unfold the treasures of peace, happiness and joy for you! Your life would never be the same and you would never be put to shame! Mark it.
HANNAH: When Hannah arose from her husband who promised to give to her comfort and be equivalent to ten children, and went into the presence of God and prayed like crazy, pouring her soul out at the feet of the Lord – our God did not ignore Hannah. Glory! The Lord had promised ‘their faces shall never be ashamed!’ He blessed with not only prophet Samuel but also 5 more children – “Hannah conceived and bore three sons and two daughters..” (1 Samuel 2:21) Glory to Jesus! Rewards for super-duper love! I’m not talking about ‘5 minutes’ prayer before you hit the pillow, I’m talking about praying throughout the night and praising Him even though your prayers may not be answered. Are you ready! Recently a single lady, staying alone away from her family said that she was taking a day off for her birthday, I asked her what were her plans, she replied, ‘I’m going to have fun alone, all day with my Dad Jesus!’ Boy! I was dazed! She can never do this without tasting God! Can she? When His light shines upon you, you become radiant! Let us say: Psalm 36:9”For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”
Friend, apart from reiterating that those who trust God would never ever be put to shame, I also want to share one more key point here: RADIANT! David said: ”Those who look to Him are radiant!”
Rev Billy Graham at the age of 95, with many infirmities and weaknesses, with hearing impairment and in the wheel chair now, is still able to release his 32nd book that talks about ‘being saved.’ He cannot waste his time doing nothing, knowing the glory of God. Are you listening? I read his book ‘Nearing Home’ and the last pages are tear-breakers! He never ever dreamt of living without his wife Ruth but now he lives each day with a hope of reaching His Home Heaven to see his beloved wife Ruth. I call this radiance in the midst of pain! This is called hope! Are you listening? There are many married after several years of dating and yet, after a few years they have lost the spark in the marriage; what remains is quarrel and misunderstanding. Reason? You have failed to put Jesus in front of you! Are you listening? Get back to your first love for God!
I’m not talking about how your eyes brighten when you see a beautiful girl or how your eyes pop out when you look at hot money; today I’m talking about ‘radiance’ in the midst of misery, pain and loss. This radiance comes from God and God alone! Hallelujah! Let me remind you about:
• the ‘radiance’ on the face of Stephen while he was stoned to death,
• let me remind you of the ‘radiance’ on the face of Moses as he spent quality time with God,
• let me remind you of the ‘radiance’ on the face of John as he gives us the book of Revelation after having an encounter with ‘Alpha and Omega!’
• I write this article after spending the whole day in His presence!
