The Day the Salsa Sprouted Eyes

Welcome to The Overflow!  I’m glad you’re here. If you’re new, I hope you’ll linger a while. Enjoy a few tales from the trenches and be buoyed by God’s Word. For more encouragement meet me on Facebook   or read my devotions at  Proverbs 31.  Better yet, we could meet face to face! I’d love to speak at your next ministry event. Check out my speaking page for details or contact me at overflow@aliciabruxvoort.net  But first, let me tell you about some plastic peepers and a powerful truth I don’t want to forget….

One summer, long ago, my salsa jar sprouted eyes.

The googly kind, of course. So did my milk jug, tissue boxes, egg carton and toothpaste tubes.

Don’t worry, those wobbly watchers didn’t leave me frightened or flabbergasted. After all, the strange surveillance gig was my idea.

I’m the one who dug through a box of craft supplies before sunrise and located a stash of googly eyes. I’m the one who snuck through the house with a glue gun and attached those plastic peepers to anything I could find.

I didn’t add a pair of eyes to the salsa jar because I wanted to play a prank on my family or because I had too much time on my hands at 6 a.m.

No, I raided that craft box because I needed to be reminded that I was seen. 

I had read Proverbs 15:3 in the dark before dawn, and I’d marveled at its tender truth: The eyes of the Lord are everywhere and he takes note of everything that happens. He watches over his lovers... (TPT)

In a season when I felt lost and lonely in the daily grind, the epic message of this simple verse ignited a fresh love for Jesus in my heart.

I was gripped with a fresh longing to be aware of the God Who Sees me (Genesis 16), not just when my hands were raised in worship, but when they were folding laundry or serving dinner or wiping tears.

I wanted to remember that Jesus isn’t staring at me with eyes of judgement. He is holding me with eyes of love.

I wasn’t overlooked when I cried right along with my colicky baby in the midnight hours; I was held in my Savior’s gaze (Job 36:7).

I wasn’t forgotten when I bent low and swept the crumbs off the sticky floor; I was noticed by the One who stoops to meet me in my mess (Phil 2:6-8).

I wasn’t forsaken when I wrestled in doubt and fell short on faith, I was the apple of my Father’s eye (Psalm 17:18).

We have a God who sees us when we’re falling down or falling short; when we’re coming unraveled or bound in fear.

We have a God who refuses to turn His head when we are sinful or selfish, undone or unknown.

And even if we don’t shift our eyes on Jesus, His eyes are fixed on us.

Think of it, friends–

If God sees us, we are not unknown.

If God sees us, we are not overlooked.

If God sees us, we are not ignored.

When we remember we are seen by the One who holds the galaxies and holds our hearts, it changes how we see ourselves.

We are watched and wanted; noticed and adored.

We are cherished treasures instead of invisible strugglers.

And best of all, when we remember we are seen by Love; we are set free to love Him back.

So, go ahead, friends, grab some plastic peepers and a little glue.

And add some googly eyes to your salsa jar, your milk carton, or your toothpaste tube today.

Because it never hurts to be reminded that we’re being watched.

Tell me, friends, when do you most need to be reminded that we have a God who sees? (Share with us in the comment section)

And, if you’re here for the free printable I promised in today’s Proverbs 31 devotion, just click on the following link and print out this simple scripture prayer.

Lord, Show me Your Love