Dove's Eyes

Just this last week, Travis and I celebrated seven beautiful years of marriage!  Seven years and two kids later,  I am more in love with Travis than I was on our wedding day.  We've settled in well.  We are now finding our groove. We now are discovering how our family should function and what we are to look like. Although marriage will never stop being hard work, at least I feel the foundation has been laid . That is a good feeling.


I remember the first time I looked into Travis's eyes.  We weren't even official yet, but we were in a room of people and I can recall the moment, frozen in time.  Our eyes locked for the first time and I felt butterflies.  Not quite sure what anyone said, just sure I mattered to this man and he mattered to me.  It was nothing less than magical.


Recently, on our faith walk we have had to trust God like never before.  We have learned to hear his voice, even if it is a whisper.  Several months ago we had the opportunity to be on a television show in Tulsa.  On our 3 day journey, the Lord began to speak into my spirit to keep my eyes on him...to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. As I meditated on Proverbs 3, I began to hear two songs in my head; "Turn your eyes on Jesus" and "Dove's Eyes." 


I recently shared my fears with a family member and she told me that she had a dream that she was on a bridge and if she even looked to the right or left, she would fall.  That is exactly where we've been the past few months.  When the faith is up, the focus is on, but if we even take our eyes off Jesus and look down at the waves, like Peter, we begin to sink in fear.


In Tulsa, I shared that God's desire is that we look intently into His eyes.  We have to get our eyes off man and off the way things have always been done and look straight at him. In the Song of Solomon the lover refers to his bride's eyes as dove's eyes.  I read up on doves and discovered that many times when two doves meet, their eyes lock and they are lovers for life.


I came home from that trip and as I prayed over our bills that we were behind on. As I looked through the mail, I opened a card from a friend I had not talked to in half a year.  It said, "Press on and press in. Do NOT give up; or be distracted by the hinderances to the left or right.  keep your eyes focused (like dove's eyes) onto God and God alone."


My spirit leaped!  I had heard His voice.  He had heard mine.  There are so many days, like today, that my eyes drift away. But I now know that when everything is crazy and the storm is raging, there is a place (in His presence) where time stands still and he is waiting to look intently into my eyes with fervant love. I am ready to respond.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who intiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.  Think of all the hostitilty he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.