Reflections - What God Sees

Title: What God Sees

Spoken on Mother's Day by my wife Carol Hardee

Have you ever looked in the mirror, saw a blemish and tried to cover it up? Foundation, concealer, powder – ok no one can see it. Or cooked a meal and maybe got the meat a little too tough, so you added gravy hoping no one would notice. Trying to cover up something that is there or adding to what is not there is something we all have done. Let’s look at what Hollywood does to cover up blemishes.

VIDEO of Dove Commercial - Woman Putting on Makup and then editing photo

Illustration: Using a stand up mirror to write on, write the negative words on one.

So what do you see when you look in the mirror? Not just mothers, but every man, teenager whoever you are this is for you.

Hurt Pain

Confused Abused

Bitter Depressed

Suicidal Addicted

Unforgiveness Fearful

Anger Rejected others

Clothes, busy schedule, other things to try to help feel better.

These are the things that you may see in the mirror, but GOD sees you in a different way.

Isaiah 62:4 NKJV

You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,

Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate;

But you shall be called Hephzibah,[a] and your land Beulah;[b]

For the LORD delights in you,

And your land shall be married.

Isaiah 61:10New King James Version (NKJV)

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

You can’t change your reflection on your own. You are not powerful enough and you have too many things fighting against you – flesh, thoughts, the fact that you were born in sin, the enemy.

Personal Relationship

Luke 4:18New King James Version (NKJV)

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,[a]

To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Illustration: Using another mirror writ what God sees.

So when God sees you. This is what He sees

Love Kind

Righteous Free

Creator Joy

Avenger Goodness

Forgiving Healer

Peace He is so much more

Jeremiah 29:11New King James Version (NKJV)

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

NIV Jer 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

MSG Jer 32:41

“‘Oh how I’ll rejoice in them! Oh how I’ll delight in doing good things for them! Heart and soul, I’ll plant them in this country and keep them here!’

Life is not going to be perfect But you can trust God.

The Holy Spirit is constantly at work in your heart, preparing you for love and service in Jesus’ name. Every time you fall into sin, Jesus’ forgiveness is there to make you new again

View God Differently so you can see yourself differently see yourself the way God Sees you

His grace refreshes your heart and prepares you to face another day, a day of beautifully living out his purpose in your life.

Because Jesus has truly changed us by rescuing us from our sin, God sees us as perfect. And we can do something similar. Put on your “Jesus glasses” and see people as he sees them. Look past your co-workers’ shortcomings.

Forgive your husband’s inattention to detail. Reach out with love to the people around you who need it the most.

Love and forgive, just as you are loved and forgiven in Christ.

You are redeemed, flawless, and forgiven in God’s eyes, because of Jesus.

Get them to see what God Sees when they look in the mirror.

Isaiah 61:1-3New King James Version

61 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

What do you want to hand down? What do you want your children to see?