“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face…”

 -Helen Howarth Lemmel

These days,  have a burning desire to return to the simple gospel. The simple beauty and profound presence of Jesus.

As this desire is stirring in my heart, I am seeing many others speaking this same message of Simple Purity. Holiness. 

I wanted to share some of the questions I am contemplating these days. I invite you to join me in contemplation and prayer about these things in the coming weeks. 

What if I returned to simply gazing into the fiery eyes of Jesus?

What if I simply followed Jesus instead of counting the number of followers or likes?

What if the moment turned away, even momentarily, to some lesser thing, I was grieved and immediately turned back to His smiling face? 

What if I began to look upon His beauty in holiness and desired to be like him?

What if I  just poured out everything at the feet of Jesus and kept no parts of myself or anything to myself in His presence? 

What if I was awakened by His kiss each day and I refused to ever look away? 

What if my only answer to His request was Yes – forever.

And what if Jesus responded to my surrender? …. 

What would my home and family look like? What would my relationships with friends look like? What would my work with clients be like? What would my life look like?

Like Him. My life would look like His life.

Friends, we become what we consistently behold. As we continue to behold Him, we become like Him in this world…

Oh, that we would keep our eyes turned on Him and then reflect the One we see to the world. We will not be effective otherwise. The world doesn’t need more of us, the world needs to encounter Jesus.

Jesus, give us a single focus on You, alone. Not for ministry. Not for influence. Not for callings or gifts. Not even for serving others…as much as a single focus on Your beautiful face. Help us to desire You more than any other thing or person…

Lyrics to Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
 Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!