Live By Faith Not By Sight
FOR WE LIVE BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT - 2 Corinthians 5:7
During the Pines’ August summer picnic John Lindblom sat across from 25 year old Lily Hjelle and the ensuing conversation had those at the table mesmerized. John commented to Lily that he had heard Jesus tell him to see with his ears and hear with his eyes. John believed that he could learn from Lily but he never had the chance to discuss it and asked if she was willing to talk about it.
With an enthusiastic, "YES," Lily explained that this is how she lives her life. Lily stated that her favorite verse in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith not by sight.” Lily explained that her eyes were developed when she was born, but that her optic nerves had not formed properly and that is why she is blind. She removed her glasses and exposed beautiful green eyes.
Lily explained what she loves about being blind is that she does not see people's skin color or characteristics, so she does not form judgments about them. She knows from hearing about the world around her that she is blessed by how she perceives things differently because she is free from much of the world’s nonsensical clutter.
John asked how she goes about doing the Lord’s work. Lily lit up and was excited to share her experience from last week. She stated that her grandma (our cool Norma Jean Peymann) had asked her if her blind girlfriend in Florida, who she talks with multiple times a day by phone, was a Christian due to the fact the young women spend a lot of time talking and pondering various subjects. Lily told her grandma she thought so, but did not think her friend knew Jesus. Lily prayed to God and He told her He would let her know when and how to discuss the topic with her close friend. Lily stated afterwards there were times when the two women spoke on the phone and God would tell her, “Now is not the time.” Suddenly last week when the two were talking, God told her, “Now is the time.”
Lily boldly asked her friend if she was a Christian and if she knew about Jesus or had a relationship with him. Her friend stated she knew about God but not about Jesus. Lily asked if she would like to have a relationship with Jesus and her friend said, "YES." With her reliance on the Lord, Lily led her friend to the cross and assisted her in opening her heart to Jesus for a personal relationship.
As Lily finished her story, the listeners around the table began clapping and congratulating Lily for her service to the Lord. Right before Jay called us to the baptisms, John commented how the Lord wired us all so differently and to embrace those differences because with those differences, we individually go about doing the work no one else can. Go God!
During the Pines’ August summer picnic John Lindblom sat across from 25 year old Lily Hjelle and the ensuing conversation had those at the table mesmerized. John commented to Lily that he had heard Jesus tell him to see with his ears and hear with his eyes. John believed that he could learn from Lily but he never had the chance to discuss it and asked if she was willing to talk about it.
With an enthusiastic, "YES," Lily explained that this is how she lives her life. Lily stated that her favorite verse in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith not by sight.” Lily explained that her eyes were developed when she was born, but that her optic nerves had not formed properly and that is why she is blind. She removed her glasses and exposed beautiful green eyes.
Lily explained what she loves about being blind is that she does not see people's skin color or characteristics, so she does not form judgments about them. She knows from hearing about the world around her that she is blessed by how she perceives things differently because she is free from much of the world’s nonsensical clutter.
John asked how she goes about doing the Lord’s work. Lily lit up and was excited to share her experience from last week. She stated that her grandma (our cool Norma Jean Peymann) had asked her if her blind girlfriend in Florida, who she talks with multiple times a day by phone, was a Christian due to the fact the young women spend a lot of time talking and pondering various subjects. Lily told her grandma she thought so, but did not think her friend knew Jesus. Lily prayed to God and He told her He would let her know when and how to discuss the topic with her close friend. Lily stated afterwards there were times when the two women spoke on the phone and God would tell her, “Now is not the time.” Suddenly last week when the two were talking, God told her, “Now is the time.”
Lily boldly asked her friend if she was a Christian and if she knew about Jesus or had a relationship with him. Her friend stated she knew about God but not about Jesus. Lily asked if she would like to have a relationship with Jesus and her friend said, "YES." With her reliance on the Lord, Lily led her friend to the cross and assisted her in opening her heart to Jesus for a personal relationship.
As Lily finished her story, the listeners around the table began clapping and congratulating Lily for her service to the Lord. Right before Jay called us to the baptisms, John commented how the Lord wired us all so differently and to embrace those differences because with those differences, we individually go about doing the work no one else can. Go God!
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