2016 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67



These devotional messages are personalized as messages to Ray's granddaughter, Samara.

15 December 2016

Good snowy morning, Samara.

Are you going to make a snowman? How about an angel? We have a good 4 inches on the ground here. How much do you have?

I have a major project pushing on me right now—the need to finish up a big dining table. I need to have it complete and delivered by Saturday. After sending this, I intend to get out to the shop to begin assembling the base frame. I now have almost all the parts ready for that. When I get it farther along, I’ll try to send a photo.

I look forward to getting some more feedback from you. Have a great day.

Love, Tua.


Proverbs 15
Focus: "The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Proverbs 15:3.

Open your eyes, Samara—don’t you see the “eyes of the LORD”? After all, they’re everywhere. Right? Well—no, but yes. Are you confused yet? Let’s get this nailed down with understanding. I think it’s critically important.

When a person does not have eyes, or they have eyes that don’t work, we say that person is blind. But consider this: When a person has the ability or potential to see and understand things important with their heart and mind but don’t exercise that ability, God says that person is blind—even though that person may have perfectly good physical eyes.

“The eyes of the LORD” in the FOCUS VERSE is clearly a metaphor. (If you’re unclear on the meaning of that word, I hope you’ll look it up in your dictionary—or “GOOGLE” it.) That’s important to see. And the main point to see is that the Sovereign God of the universe does not need physical eyes in order to SEE everything, everywhere, at all times, in all time. So it is absolutely impossible for anyone to do, say, or think anything that gets by Him—that He does not see, know, or record. Anyone not seeing and understanding this fundamental Biblical FACT is simply BLIND.

Here’s a little homework assignment: Try reading Jesus’ stern words to the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23:16-26. Wow! How many times did He pronounce them BLIND? At one point He even called them “blind fools” (Matthew 23:17). Ouch! Is this really the gentle loving Jesus speaking? Yup! While you’re at it, read 2 Peter 1:1-11 and see if you can spot the word “blind.”

If we can see and understand this basic Biblical concept, then we must also agree that it’s far better to be a seeing blind person that to be a blind seeing person.


“The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,but those of the pure are pleasing to him.”
~ Proverbs 15:26 ~

(Let me add this at no extra charge:Perhaps the best prayer ever prayed is the one by David in Psalm 19:14:“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartBe pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”)