OCTOBER 2, 2024
ON THE PORCH
I SEE YOU
“Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 NASB
Benny and I are from the country, from a town with less than a thousand people. So, when we go to a big city, I take lots of pictures, and I normally end up with stories to take home.
Yesterday, while visiting someone I love very much at a huge hospital in a big city, we saw this little guy, a real live version of WALLE. It has a police symbol on the side, so we figured it was watching that area for parking violations. I don’t know if it just wanders around all day or if there is someone behind his movements with a remote, watching through its camera lens.
When I picked up my phone to record a video, this robot stopped, stared back at me for an awkward moment, then turned 180 degrees and proceeded the other way.
It might have been at the end of the cycle already, but it sure seemed intentional.
This morning while looking through the pictures I took yesterday, I was reminded of this robot and how fascination turned to creepiness when it stopped to look directly at me. It went from a form of entertainment to feeling like I’d been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
I am ashamed to say, but if I’m honest, sometimes I think I tend to view God that way, like He is on patrol, trying to catch me doing something I shouldn’t, ready to say “I saw that!” and cite me for a violation. But that is certainly not the truth. God is not impersonal, and He doesn’t want to catch us messing up. .
When our two-year-old grandbaby, Wesley, comes to our house, if he isn’t in our arms or on our laps, we are more than likely in the floor with him. We don’t look down our nose in hopes to intimidate him into submission. NO!!! We squat down or sit in the floor, so we can love on him at his level.
We want him to see our faces and know that we are listening and care. We love to hear him speak and laugh and watch him dance and smile. It melts our hearts to know he is happy in our care and delights in us, and we do him. He brings us tremendous joy and makes our hearts glad.
**I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
Because He bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!
Psalm 117:1-2
The Bible says that God “bends down to listen” and “dances over us with singing.” God is not an unfriendly and aloof robot-like deity watching and waiting for me to mess up. He is my Father who craves a personal relationship with me. He longs for me to slow down, climb in His lap and tell him all about my day. He wants me to have joy in His presence and know that I am safe and protected in His arms. He desires my worship and loves spontaneous dance parties (for those who dance). God is personal, and He wants me to find joy in His presence.
Some of the sweetest words I’ve ever heard Wesley say are, “Crina, hold you.” God desires the same from me.
“For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty Savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, He will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
**O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Psalm 139:1-5
THE GOD WHO SEES
Nicole C. Mullen
ON THE PORCH 