Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 13 March 2018 "Look At Me! Look At Me!" by Rachelle Miller - Genesis 16:9-16

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 13 March 2018 "Look At Me! Look At Me!" by Rachelle Miller - Genesis 16:9-16
Genesis 16:9 The angel of Adonai said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 The angel of Adonai said to her, “I will greatly increase your descendants; there will be so many that it will be impossible to count them.” 11 The angel of Adonai said to her, “Look, you are pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You are to call him Yishma‘el [God pays attention] because Adonai has paid attention to your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man, with his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, living his life at odds with all his kinsmen.”

13 So she named Adonai who had spoken with her El Ro’i [God of seeing], because she said, “Have I really seen the One who sees me [and stayed alive]?” 14 This is why the well has been called Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i [well of the one who lives and sees]; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar bore Avram a son, and Avram called the son whom Hagar had borne Yishma‘el. 16 Avram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Yishma‘el to Avram. (Complete Jewish Bible)

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A small child eager to show-off her athletic prowess or newly learned skill will often repeat, “Mommy, watch! Mommy, watch!” Until Mommy answers, “I see you!” or “I’m watching,” that child will continue to call out.
Hagar knew the feeling of invisibility all too well. She was running away when the angel asked her, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” Does that question resonate? Where are you going anyway?
Perhaps Hagar flaunted her pregnancy before Sarai, but chances are, as a slave, most people did not take note of her. However, God saw Hagar and she felt seen by this God—he saw her needs and he knew her.
God is all-seeing. We learn this in Sunday School. But do we feel seen by God? Does he see the struggle with depression? With the Children? With anger? With the Spouse? With bone-crushing anxiety? Hagar was at, possibly, the lowest point in her life and only then could she say, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (emphasis added). Only after she stopped running away could she realize that she had been seen by God and he would fulfill his promise.
Hymn for Today: "And Can It Be" by Charles Wesley.

1. And can it be that I should gain

An int'rest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

2. 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!

Who can explore His strange design?

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine!

'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

3. He left His Father's throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace;

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam's helpless race;

'Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me.

Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

5. No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach th'eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amen.

Thought for Today: Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer.(Romans 12:12).

Please pray: That many people in Hong Kong will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh'
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