dove's eyes

I love how the Song of Solomon shows us a glimpse of Jesus as the Ravished Bridegroom in love with His spotless bride, the believer. When the Beloved (Jesus) tells the maiden (the believer) in Song 1:15 "Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes,"
He speaks of her devotion and her singleness of heart towards Him. A dove has no peripheral vision--it can only focus on one thing at a time. So when the Lord tells us that we have dove's eyes, He is saying that He knows that our focus is on Him, only. He says we are not distracted by the things of the world--good or bad. Our vision is filled with Him. We have eyes only for Him In Song 4:9 He says, "You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace."

One glance of our eyes (heart) towards Jesus ravishes His heart! Just one look! He knows we aren't "there" yet--that we do often get distracted. But He looks at the desires of our hearts as being truth more that the outward actions. So when I desire to have eyes only for Him... when I purpose in my heart to choose to look at Him, rather than what is going on around me... I cause Him to be ravished with me! Wow.

This song by Misty Edwards is my prayer:
I don't want to talk about You Like You're not in the room

I want to look right at You

I want to sing right to You

I believe You are listening

I believe that You move

At the sound of my voice

Give me dove's eyes

Give me undistracted devotion

For only You

I don't want to talk about You

Like You're not in the room

I want to look right at You

I want to sing right to You

rainy day project

terrarium
ingredients:
a large glass container (tj max has a good selection!)
aquarium carbon (rinsed well)
aquarium pebble rock (small) (rinsed well)
potting soil (high quality)
2-3 small houseplants (make sure they are compatible)*
misc. decorative items

instructions:
pour enough carbon into bottom of planter to cover to a 1/4" depth. this keeps the soil sweet. add a layer of pebble rock to a 1/2 inch depth, for drainage. in a separate container, add water to potting soil to moisten but not soak. add to container, tamping down lightly. you can leave the surface level, or create slopes as desired. decide on the placement of your plants before acutally planting them--the less you move them the better. examine plants carefully and remove any broken, dead or unhealthy areas using clean, sharp scissors. carefully remove plants from their pots. remove excess soil while taking care to leave the roots completely covered with a good portion of the soil. set aside. next, gently dig a hole in the prepared soil just large enough to accomodate your plant’s root mass. gently place plant in hole and cover roots with soil, tamping down lightly arount base of plant. repeat with remaining plants. at this point you may add decorative items such as pretty rocks, "water" or miniature garden accessories. when you have completed your arrangement, carefully clean glass with a damp paper towel. place terrarium in a bright location out of direct sunlight and away from drafts. water with discretion, depending on your plants’ needs, taking care not to overwater. enjoy!

p.s. you’ll know you did a good job if the faeries come to visit ;-)

*some suggestions for plants to use:
african violets
varieties of pepperomia
ferns
mosses

poem

Family

what makes us family

lies in the truth

that our love for one another

surpasses our understanding

of who we are and where we are from

what makes us family

is that we choose to believe

the One who made us

knows that we belong to each other

and has placed our hearts together

forever

eileen 2005