Don't That Sound Like Heaven

(I realize that verse two isn't exactly accurate, but I love this song - it sounds familiar.)

I Need You More Today

Lately, on my early morning drive to work, I have been listening to the Christian radio station on Sirius Radio (67). I love the 7-8 am hour because the selection is more like old records & "christian country". This particular song is one of my favorites. I added a few pictures to create a movie since I was unable to find a music video. (You can turn the blog back ground music off by clicking the large pause button on the right hand side, halfway down the page.)

"She shall not be moved"

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,-- though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Selah.

There is a river,

the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,

the holy place

of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:

God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth. "

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 46

~You Are My Hiding Place~

You are my hiding place,

You always fill my heart,

With songs of deliverance,

Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You --

I will trust in You,

Let the weak say I am strong,

In the strength of the Lord,

I will trust in You.

You are My Hiding Place

The Little Man of the Eye

"The eyes are the gateway to the Soul." This quote is often attributed to Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick and other novels. Herman Melville is now well known in the literature world, however when he died in 1891 his works were largely unknown. Strange how fame has a way of showing up AFTER one dies... Herman Melville was friends with Nathaniel Hawthorne, who is predominately famous for The Scarlett Letter. Now, that's just a little blurb on who said it. :)

However, regardless of the quote being attributed to Melville, the concept is much older. Ancient peoples believed the eyes to be the gateway of the soul. If you have ever watched Mongol, (and be forewarned: there are more heads coming off in that movie than anything else) you may have caught a slight cultural reference to the same concept. In Mongol, Genghis Kan seeks to choose a wife. He is just a little boy, traveling with his father, when he sees the girl he wants. His father's words were to the audience and to little Genghis (whose real name is something else)--choose a bride with narrow eyes as wide eyes are too often invaded by spirits. (By referencing Mongol, I mean only to illustrate the presence of the concept in ancient cultures.)

Many missionary books mention various cultures of having the impression of the eyes as windows or openings to the soul. I keep thinking Peace Child mentioned something along those lines, although, I can't find the book to check. Anyhow, I could go on and on, but I won't.... see, as a kid, I was constantly wondering about things: this being one of them.

I wondered: Why did people say the eye was the gateway to the soul? and Was it true? and Where did they get the idea? Well, :) , I found a verse....

I was reading about apples --back awhile-- and I noticed that where our KJV reads "apples" there were two different Hebrew words used. So, I looked them up.

Whenever it was talking about the "apple of my eye" or along those lines , the Hebrew was really refering to the pupil of the eye --- ok. not exactly earth shattering --- BUT looking into what the Hebrew word was literally showed that it was saying "the little man of the eye"

(My Newberry reference Bible also made reference to this)

The little man of the eye.

I laughed aloud. What a great way to describe it. Not so much as a gateway or a window to the soul, as romantic as both those sound, it was the "little man of the eye." The "real" you looks out your eyes.

So I did a search on the Hebrew word (how I love e-sword!) and the word is used 5 times in the old testament. Three times as the "apple of the eye" .

Deu 32:10 He found him in a desert land,

and in the waste howling wilderness;

he led him about, he instructed him,

he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live;

and my law as the apple of thine eye.

The Hebrew word used is ee-shone אישׁון ( "eesh" אישׁ is Hebrew for "man")

So next time you look someone in the eye, think about how the Hebrew says it -

The Little Man of the Eye

God Keepeth Covenant

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God,

which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments

to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9

"To a thousand generations..." the lengeth of His covenant is unmeasurable.

God will keep His covenant....God will keep His Promise.