Do We See and Are We Looking?

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own little world that I tend to forget how great and grand God is. As a person I am limited to understanding God but through my senses. However living in a small village in rural Illinois I see vast flat plains without much character. It wasn't until recently when I saw a journey from the U.S. through outer space, then back into a human person and how deep we are on a molecular level did I begin to realize the vastness of God's creation.  This reading helps me to put into perspective how mighty God is, and yet at the end of the day he desires a deep personal relationship with little 'ol me. My attention isn't anywhere near as diversely drawn as God's and I have a hard time connecting with my 6 children. In verses like these I am so humbled and grateful that God took the time to make me and to worry about me. 

John 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Without a doubt God is watching you even now, not to be some tyrant who chooses to snoop in on you at every second, but as a father that watches over you with love and concern. He sends things in your path to help you overcome daily obstacles and to overcome the evil in this world. It's up to us by using the free-will God gave us to choose which path to follow. Nathanael could have chocked up Jesus' recognition to a cheap parlor trick, but instead he heart was open to the divine. How do we choose to view the world in which we experience God and evil each day? I'll be honest it's easy in this world to close and harden my heart and expect the worst of everything because of the immense evil in this world, but for me the love that comes from God shines and wipes out the shadow of darkness on my good days. I'll admit it, I am weak and sometimes easily fooled. In my attempt to follow the discipline of Jesus Christ though I awake each day and work quickly to get to my time of prayer so that I can start my day balanced and open to all of God's love.

God,

I love you so very much. Thank you for sending your son so that we could learn from him. Help us to see you and your loving actions each and every day. Help us to learn from you so that we can experience your majesty and rejoice for eternity in your heaven. Help us to look past our own little worlds we construct around ourselves and help up to move out and beyond into your world where so much love is needed.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
Amen