Glasses

Saturday, May 4, 2019
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Listen while you read: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"1 (Lyrics)

John 14:12-14 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (ESV)

In the summer, I was out in the fields taking pictures of butterflies and nature. This was in between dropping the children off to school, doing chores, and getting back to pick them up again later.

My attention was focused on taking pictures of butterflies. The camera has a dioptre adjustment, so, when looking through the lens, I do not need my glasses on. Consequently, I hung them off the centre of my V-neck jumper by one side of the frame's ear pieces. Silly me.

Having snapped my latest butterfly, I followed it as it flew off into the deep grass, adjusting my camera shoulder bag as I went. When the butterfly had left the field, I went to put my glasses, only to find them gone. Oops!

I looked for what seemed a long time, retracing my steps as best as I could, looking left and right. After I returned to the car to find another pair, I continued on to no avail.

Time ran out, and I had to go and collect the children from school. Oh! the thought of explaining to my wife at dinner that muggins here had been running about with gay abandon and then lost an expensive pair of glasses that we could ill afford to replace. My heart sank as I drove.

As it happened, it was the longest day of the year, so after dinner, in desperation, I returned and had another look before the sun set, as a last effort.

On the way to the hillside in the car, I had a choice discussion with God. In this scenario, there was just my own stupidity to consider — no one else's free will — so how about a helping hand here? It ended with: "So it would be really nice if You could deliver on Your promises" — the ones in today's passage.

I stood at the top of the hillside and surveyed the three-foot-high grasses, bushes, and wild flowers with dismay. It seemed to me that there was little or no chance of ever finding the glasses, as I had earlier already retraced all the dirt paths.

So, in desperation, I walked straight down the field, looking as I went through the long grass, towards where I had been photographing, and stopped in the middle and looked down. Right at my feet lay my glasses: Amazing! It was one in a many-million chance. How could that be?

So now, I rejoiced with God over my find, and then, became a little sheepish because I had not been the most expectant that God would be gracious to me.

Apparently, God knew my heart and my situation, and so granted my request just to prove that He is able to do so. I cannot explain it by just serendipity, and I decided to share with the church what God had done for me.

Sometimes, we do not get the "Yes!" answer that we want, but God always hears our prayers, and it is always good to ask!

Praise God for His mercy and favour: amazing grace.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding us of Your amazing patience with us and how You love to be in discussion with us, even about the hard stuff of life. Please hear the prayers of Your loved ones today, and grant us an awareness of Your walking with us wherever we go today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    May it be so, Rod.


    Thank you for your great testimony.


    Good one!
    Blessings.


    Only God!! I read a story once where a gal found her contact lens on the back of a moving ant!! Only God.


    Love this message of hope and the images of you walking freely in the field of butterflies. A good picture to place in my heart today. Thank you.


    I have an almost identical story. Your relating is great. Nice conclusion.
    Thank you from Manitoba where rings show up at one’s feet in the loose gravel.


    Beautiful, Rod. He’s got us. No doubt about it. Loved your devotional today.
    Your friend from across the pond,
    (North Carolina, USA)


    WOW, I have been there a number of times over the years – glasses, keys, phone – the list goes on. Jut relaxing, and allowing Jesus as guide, works.
    Thanks for sharing.


    I can sure identify with your story. I usually start those prayers “Dear God, I am embarrassed to be asking but this is causing me great stress.” Then I go on to pray about something, that usually I have lost. Something important like plane tickets or prescriptions.


    Thank you for your devotional. God loves to return lost things! He delights in helping us every day. I am a hymn writer. This story gets me started on another new hymn!
    Praise God,
    (Manitoba, Canada)


    HI Rod,
    You should have taken a photo of yourself while searching! As I read this devotional, I thought… how many times have we all had experiences like yours, some not answered so perfectly, but yet, God’s hand is always with us, always.
    Thank you for writing.


    Hi Rod,
    So glad the Holy Spirit showed you exactly where your glasses were. God is so wonderful and cares so much!
    Thank you for sharing.


    Oh Rod, how the Lord must delight in your teachable heart! Not only did He answer your prayers, but He has blessed us through your devotional. What evil meant for your loss, God transformed into a blessing for you and many others… myself included. Thank you for sharing.


    Glasses, wedding rings, and lots of other things. Yes, God is so merciful! The older I get, the more I avail myself of God’s mercy in, as I call it, “bailing me out” of a jam. But then, it has been a lifelong practice in ministry: my humanity is inadequate for the need. Only God can supply the wherewithal to do what lies before us. Praise His Holy Name, His power, His love, His faithfulness!


    Dear Roderick Marshall,
    This is a wonderful story of persistence in faith and in not giving up. God responded with a miracle for you — and for us readers. We praise Him.
    Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Keep writing.


    Hello
    I got a chuckle out of this devotional. This has happened to me more than I care to think, and He is so faithful He always shows me where the thing is I am looking for and other times I still do not find it but He gives me this unexplainable peace that it is ok and I will find it. Amazing how faithful He is!!!
    God bless.


    Thank you for sharing that. I have had answered prayers a number of times about lost items.
    I recently lost an envelope with 12 cheques given me as rent for a parking space.
    I had prayed but apparently no answer.
    Until one day I had the urge to clear out some files on the floor under my keyboard table. I put my hand on an envelope. There were the cheques just where the cats had knocked them off my desk, in a place I had never thought to look.


    Dear Rod, Thanks for the honest sharing. I love butterflies and can truly understand the absorption and how easily to forget about being careful with your glasses. I had a similar experience with my wedding ring which I lost when I was gardening but didn’t find it for 6 months when I was trimming back some perennials. Sometimes it takes God longer to answer or I had more to learn about patience. I learned that it was only a ring and not important in the bigger scheme of things. We still had each other which definitely is more important in God’s eyes and in mine. Blessings.


    Rod – there is no “chance” just God’s grace. One time, we had just purchased an older car. The headlight clips (which were very expensive to replace) had gone missing. At the end of the day, we noted that one headlight was gone. My husband jumped in the truck and said, “I’m going to look for it.” Silly really since we lived 20 miles from town and had no idea where we had lost it. I said to him, “I’m coming with you.” He was rather brisk with me… thinking what can she do? Anyway, retracing the route to town, I saw a piece of foil from a cigarette pkg at the side of the road and yelled, “stop.” then I walked down into the 3-foot ditch and came back with the headlight. Thank you, God!!!
    Thank you for your devotional Rod. God Bless you.


    Hello Rod,
    I always enjoy your contributions. Last Sunday my fancy cane, given to me by my nephew fell from my scooter on my way to church. My nephew is mentally challenged and happened to phone to ask how I like my cane, and he added “When you die can I have it back?” I felt badly enough losing my cane but knowing I couldn’t return it made it all the worse. I am 96 years old and rather the worst for wear. A lady comes in the morning to help me and I told her about my dilemma. “I will pray that God will find it” she said. “I will too”, I added. Well the telephone rang a day later, and it was a lady saying she had found my cane (I had my name on a sticker on the cane). She found in her parking lot several blocks from my route. God can do anything!
    Cheers and Blessings.


    Hi Rod, I just love this devotional! Such a lovely message!


    Thanks for the message. Saying a prayer to the Almighty God in times of worry and stress is rewarding. I have had experienced it several times in my live.
    Our God is omnipresent. We just need to take it to the Lord in Prayer and stop worrying.
    (Kenya)

 



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