.....eyes

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge..." Psalm 141:8

My mother was lots of fun and often teased and played with my brothers and me. And there were times when we weren't quite sure whether she was just teasing or really serious.  When she would give us "the look" and say, "See my eyes?" then we would know she was serious!

Mother played the organ at church and the three of us kids sat on the front row. Since Daddy was preaching, he could not discipline us or really pay attention to us during the service. But like most women, my mother could do several things at one time, especially when it came to her children.

She would glance at us there on the front row, and if we were not behaving in church, we would get that "See my eyes?" look and know that this matter would be taken care of when we got home. I immediately straightened up!

No matter what was going on during the service - whether I was listening or singing, shaking hands or passing the offering plate - my eyes often wandered back to my mother to see if everything was okay.
And it so happens that this is exactly what God wants from us. To keep our eyes on him.   “But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.” Psalm 141:8

Over my lifetime, like most everyone, I've had hard times, frustrating times, times when I had no idea what to do next - what to say, how to act, where to turn. Sometimes I didn't even know what to pray.
My mother taught me that if I kept my eyes on her, I wouldn't get in trouble in church. And she also taught me that if I kept my eyes on Jesus, He would be my refuge so that I wouldn't "grow weary or lose heart."

No matter what else is going on around you ... whether you're in the middle of a terrible storm or everything is running smoothly ... whether you are sitting or standing, singing or listening, crying or laughing ... fix your eyes on Jesus so you will not grow weary or lose heart.
Always be where you can "see His eyes."
- lillian hinds