The Blue Bag
After the
appointment of determining the cataract needs, I sat in a room waiting for a
nurse, who handed me The Blue Bag. For all the six appointments I would bring
The Blue Bag. This rectangular-shaped
bag seemed to take on an importance that its appearance belied. I saw that it had a zipper opening. I tried to open it. The nurse assisted me, “You have the bag
upside down.”
appointment of determining the cataract needs, I sat in a room waiting for a
nurse, who handed me The Blue Bag. For all the six appointments I would bring
The Blue Bag. This rectangular-shaped
bag seemed to take on an importance that its appearance belied. I saw that it had a zipper opening. I tried to open it. The nurse assisted me, “You have the bag
upside down.”
Then I
investigated its contents: dark
wrap-around glasses, a card with the doctor’s phone number for an emergency, a
yellow sheet with a drawing of a human body with the left eye marked, plus an
acrylic eye shield with a roll of tape.
The instructions were to keep the eye drops, all three bottles, in The Blue Bag. I held the blue bag tightly. I didn’t yet realize its importance. I knew the cataract surgery would not happen
without The Blue Bag I clutched tightly. I kept my eye on The Blue Bag the week before surgery. I began using the three
bottles of eye drops four times a day, I kept them in The Blue Bag.
investigated its contents: dark
wrap-around glasses, a card with the doctor’s phone number for an emergency, a
yellow sheet with a drawing of a human body with the left eye marked, plus an
acrylic eye shield with a roll of tape.
The instructions were to keep the eye drops, all three bottles, in The Blue Bag. I held the blue bag tightly. I didn’t yet realize its importance. I knew the cataract surgery would not happen
without The Blue Bag I clutched tightly. I kept my eye on The Blue Bag the week before surgery. I began using the three
bottles of eye drops four times a day, I kept them in The Blue Bag.
By the day of the
surgery, the significance of The Blue Bag
took on new life. It now holds an ID card of the implanted lens model with
a number and description. The Blue Bag signifies much more than
convenience and efficiency for surgery.
Suddenly a flash of understanding came – and The
Blue Bag takes on a spiritual importance for me.
surgery, the significance of The Blue Bag
took on new life. It now holds an ID card of the implanted lens model with
a number and description. The Blue Bag signifies much more than
convenience and efficiency for surgery.
Suddenly a flash of understanding came – and The
Blue Bag takes on a spiritual importance for me.
Yet God
has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the
human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from
beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the
human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from
beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Just as living has caused the original lens of my eyes to become more
dim and I need an implant. God planted
eternity in our human hearts. We lose
sight of God’s work in our lives and what eternity can mean for us. It is a gift like no other and causes
yearning and longing for eternity with God.
Our ‘eye drops’, God’s Holy Bible, teaches us and fills that part of our
hearts with love, joy and peace. We see more clearly God’s will for our lives –
each ache, each joy, each sorrow, each moment of peace becomes the essence of
who and Whose we are on this earth.
dim and I need an implant. God planted
eternity in our human hearts. We lose
sight of God’s work in our lives and what eternity can mean for us. It is a gift like no other and causes
yearning and longing for eternity with God.
Our ‘eye drops’, God’s Holy Bible, teaches us and fills that part of our
hearts with love, joy and peace. We see more clearly God’s will for our lives –
each ache, each joy, each sorrow, each moment of peace becomes the essence of
who and Whose we are on this earth.
When our heart does not see clearly, we try to fill the eternity part of
our heart with things of this world. We
stuff in the ‘new’ things of this world that rust and decay. The things of the world can never take the
place in our hearts of the eternity God has planted there.
our heart with things of this world. We
stuff in the ‘new’ things of this world that rust and decay. The things of the world can never take the
place in our hearts of the eternity God has planted there.
As I ponder our time on earth and realize the care that God has taken to
implant eternity in my heart, I wonder why.
It is because of His Great Love He gives first – even to giving us His
Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ.
implant eternity in my heart, I wonder why.
It is because of His Great Love He gives first – even to giving us His
Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ.
We love each other because he loved us first. I John 4:19
Who is this God, our
Father, who gives?
Father, who gives?
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from
God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or
casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17
God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or
casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17
How can I trust him?
But
I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” Psalm 31:14
I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” Psalm 31:14
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you
trust me, you are trusting not
only me, but also God who
sent me. John 12:44
trust me, you are trusting not
only me, but also God who
sent me. John 12:44
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He
is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust
in his kindness. But if you stop trusting,
you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22
is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust
in his kindness. But if you stop trusting,
you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22
For if we are faithful to the
end, trusting God just as firmly as when we
first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:14
end, trusting God just as firmly as when we
first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:14
Help me to see Your
Presence all around me. Fill my heart
with your love and holy living.
Presence all around me. Fill my heart
with your love and holy living.
Help me to yearn for the
Joy of You in your Word. Help me to see
You clearly. Seal me with the blood
Jesus shed that I might belong wholly to you through baptism.
Joy of You in your Word. Help me to see
You clearly. Seal me with the blood
Jesus shed that I might belong wholly to you through baptism.
Even as I contemplate the
surgery on the right eye in a week, I see with new clarity the colors of the
creation God placed on this earth. The
new vividness clears my spiritual sight and seeing anew the wonder and mystery of
our Father in Heaven and the Eternity to come.
surgery on the right eye in a week, I see with new clarity the colors of the
creation God placed on this earth. The
new vividness clears my spiritual sight and seeing anew the wonder and mystery of
our Father in Heaven and the Eternity to come.
It is with thanksgiving,
I approach the second cataract surgery.
I rest in His Marvelous Grace. I belong to Him for He has placed
eternity in my heart. And one day the
things I see now, become this eternity, where there is no more death, weeping
or crying. I will live an eternity of
Love, Joy and Peace. A place where Time
has ceased. And I will see the glory of
God and see Him Face to Face.
I approach the second cataract surgery.
I rest in His Marvelous Grace. I belong to Him for He has placed
eternity in my heart. And one day the
things I see now, become this eternity, where there is no more death, weeping
or crying. I will live an eternity of
Love, Joy and Peace. A place where Time
has ceased. And I will see the glory of
God and see Him Face to Face.
Can there be any other
joy so great as realizing the eternity that God placed in our hearts when he
formed us in our mothers’ wombs?
joy so great as realizing the eternity that God placed in our hearts when he
formed us in our mothers’ wombs?
I saw no temple in the city, for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And
the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city,
and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the
kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its
gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night
there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the
city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices
shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 22:22-27
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And
the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city,
and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the
kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its
gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night
there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the
city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices
shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 22:22-27
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort
gave me renewed hope
and cheer. Psalm 94:19
gave me renewed hope
and cheer. Psalm 94:19
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my
heart. He helps me, and my
heart is filled with joy. I
burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7
heart. He helps me, and my
heart is filled with joy. I
burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. Psalm
119:64
119:64
But you, O Lord, are a God of
compassion and mercy, slow
to get angry and filled
with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
compassion and mercy, slow
to get angry and filled
with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
So we praise God for the glorious
grace he has poured out on us who belong to
his dear Son. Ephesians 1:6
grace he has poured out on us who belong to
his dear Son. Ephesians 1:6
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