What does it mean to look through the Father’s eyes? To have a Heavenly perspective? To see people and yourself the way that God sees you? 

Questions that have caused a continual search for me throughout the race. Questions that I daily realize have more and more depth than I originally imagined them having. 

It is one thing to ask God to break your heart for what breaks his, to give you His eyes to see. It is something completely different when you become aware of those heavenly glasses that He gives freely as a gift. 

Whether it be the perspective of recognizing that true beauty comes solely from the heart, or recognizing the hurt in the world that most people pass by and dismiss without any acknowledgment.

God has continually given me his eyes to see over the past couple of months here in Guatemala. Whether it be me recognizing my worth steadfast in what God says about me or it be the discernment to seek truth above the approval of others, it is clear that His perspective is all we need, yet we often take it for granted.

If these last months have taught me anything, they haven taught me how important having your eyes fixed on the Lord is. It not only has allowed me to recognize who I am in Christ, but it has also allowed me to see others with a much more loving perspective.

For me when I picture what God sees, what beauty looks like to Him, I picture seeing color for the first time. Seeing the fullness in everything without any desire to change it. I picture Him getting giddy about each of His sweet creations on fire for the passions that He has instilled within them.

I think that in our world we are so quick to think of appearance when we think about beauty. What I have come to find is that external beauty simply has no weight in the kingdom of God.

Beauty is what I see in my ministry hosts as we do home visits and build friendships within the town of Sumpango. It is the way they serve this community so well through weekly lunches in the park, and in the way they provide the opportunity for children to know more about Jesus through lessons and displaying  His love through sweet interactions.

It is something God has graciously allowed me to be aware of as I have the opportunity to partner with this amazing ministry called Reindom. It is in the continual outpour of joy that I see within them, within my team, and within this country.

It doesn’t take some drastic story, some crazy experience to be overwhelmed by the beauty of God all around me. It is simply within the appreciation of the mundane moments that I fall deeper in love with our creator and all the amazing ways that he invites us in to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Dwelling in His presence has become my favorite place to be because it is the only place where I have the complete comfort that allows me to walk out in His confidence, using His eyes to guide my way.

As I finish up my time in Guatemala I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the many route changes that allowed the opportunity for my squad to come here. A season not free of challenges by any means from sickness to mental health issues, it has not been the easiest, but I wouldn’t want it without the hardships. This beautiful country has taught what it means to truly be intentional from trying hard to learn Spanish to continual interactions in an effort to build friendships. It has taught what it means to look through God’s eyes in every situation, to re-focus my mind on His truth rather than any lies that might be whispered in from the enemy. It has taught me the importance of resting in God’s presence and how it provides the opportunity to love out of overflow rather than overdrive. 

I am thankful for this country, the interactions that I have had the privilege of having, and the little pieces of God’s plan that I have been able to be a part of.

In two weeks I will be heading off to Eswatini, Africa to finish up the last couple of months of my trip! I am so expectant and excited to see how God grows me and uses me as a vessel in this next country!