Tag: focus

Stop the Spin

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Everything seems so out of control right now. It’s like we are all caught in an out-of-control spin. It is time to put your foot down and focus on the only way out.  

There were 128 runners in the field for the cross-country race at the 1993 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships. As they set out on the 6.2 mile run, they were following a course that had been marked for them by the race officials. Toward the end of the course, one of the runners in the middle of the group realized something was wrong. Mike Delcavo of Western State College in Colorado saw that the main pack had missed the turn. “I was waving for them to follow me and yelling ‘This is the right way,’” he told an interviewer after the race. 

Delcavo was right—but only four other runners followed him. The rest continued on the shortcut, which allowed them to run a shorter distance and finish the race sooner. In a widely-criticized decision, race officials allowed the abbreviated route to stand as the “official course” and Delcavo officially finished 123rd. 

The world does not always reward staying on track—literally or figuratively. But the path we follow is important to God. One day, those of us who have already trusted Christ for our salvation will appear before the Lord for an evaluation of our service. Our entrance to Heaven is sure—that was settled when we received Christ. But rewards—or the loss of them—for how we spent our lives are not so sure. When we stand before the Lord, no shortcuts will be recognized, and only those who have run the race by His guidebook will be honored.  Story from: Scorecard, Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1993

Right now we have so much “stuff”, you know all the junk, that is distracting us from looking at what is important. We need to stop drowning ourselves in the events of the day. It has taken us away from our family, friends and neighbors it makes us look suspiciously at those who do not deserve it. Because of all of the turmoil we tend to focus on ourselves. We don’t look to the One who has the answers, God. When we are focused on Jesus all of the other “stuff” will have a way of working its self out. 

Becoming familiar with our owner’s manual, the bible, we are told:  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 ESV Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 ESV Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25 ESV Look to God and quit being distracted by everything that is going on around you (I have to fight with this one myself distractions are everywhere). Not only pray but look to what we have been already instructed to do in these situations. We are told that He will walk through this “stuff” with us: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Stop looking to the world to fix your “stuff” remember: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV He tells us to look to Him but you need to take the first step. Do not believe what others tell you the Bible says, not even me. Read it yourself pray and ask God to reveal what it says.  

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good Romans 12:21 ESV Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV As you can see He will #help you walk through the #junk you are dealing with we all just need to turn to Him in everything we do. He has the directions to #follow we just need to read them. Remember: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 ESV No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 ESV  

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to see the direction that we need to walk. Give us the strength to walk the path that You want us to travel. Thank you, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to be here today. In Jesus Name Amen 

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citation:

Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Gateway

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/‎.

Faith Like its Never Been Told

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As I was praying about what God wanted me to share He reminded me of a story that I have never heard of being associated or taught as being a lesson in faith.

A Evil King

After Joseph had passed away and the current king of Egypt did not know who Joseph was (Exodus 1:8 ESV) the new king was alarmed by how much the Israelites had multiplied.

 “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”

Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.

So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field.

In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,

“When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” Exodus 1:10-16 ESV

A Move of Faith

This made a mother so desperate to save her baby boy she broke down and built a little basket that could float in water. Slowly weaving together reeds and smoothing the pitch to make sure there were no leaks.

On her knees with tears in her eyes “Please Lord save my baby I do not want him to die, Lord I plead with You he does not deserve to die.

I release him into your hands, protect him, guide him give him the life that I cannot.” As she clears the tears from her eyes she swaddles her baby boy in his favorite blanket and places him in the hand crafted basket and placed in the water and walked away.

She had her daughter, Miriam, watch him to make sure he was okay, she could not bear to watch what she had just done. As the baby’s sister was watching along came a group of girls and as they got closer she was able to make out who they were, it was the Pharaoh’s daughter! The same Pharaoh that demanded all the male children be executed.

Could you imagine? I am sure she was screaming in her head; “O lord no please do not let her find him she will have him thrown in the river and drown.

Lord please comfort him so that he does not cry”! As the tears, anxity and fear start to overwhelm his sister. He starts to cry and the Pharaohs daughter commands one of her servants to go fetch the baby out of the river:

She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Exodus 2:5-6 ESV 

His sister had to think fast seeing that the Pharaohs daughter had pity for her brother she nonchalantly walks out of the woods walked up and said: “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” Exodus 2:7-8 ESV 

So his sister went and got their mother Jochebed (We know his mother and daughters name from the passage: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. Numbers 26:59 ESV) When returning with their mother; Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” Exodus 2:9 ESV 

We can only imagine the thankfulness Jochebed: “Oh Lord, thank you! You saved my child and now I will get to know and be able to take care of my child.”

Because she trusted God would take care of everything she raised the man who would free the Hebrew people from the slavery and oppression that they had been living under. This is just one more example that when you give it to God nothing is too big for Him to accomplish.

Faith in action!

Dear Heavenly Father, as I walk through this world the way it is I have to admit it is so hard sometimes to sit back and let You take control. Lord thank you for this reminder that You are in control even when it seems like there is no way out. Lord I place my life in your hands guide me down the road You want me to go. Please forgive me when I see something that distracts me and I turn from the direction You have pointed me. Give me the cues I need to help me return to the path You intend me to travel. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citation:

Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Gateway

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/‎.

Why do we need Grace?

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As humans, we are not always nice, we do stupid things. We treat the ones we love worst than those that in our lives in the big picture really, don’t matter. If there was no such thing as Grace we would all be alone. No one would forgive the others around them. So what is Grace? The Definition of Grace: courteous goodwill; the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God, the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them, a virtue or excellence of divine origin.

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2 ESV Everyone has done some kind of wrong. We have looked at someone and thought wow that person looks good, those little white lies, taking something that is not yours because you feel justified that it is.

Talking down to a wife or husband, treating a child wrong, or making fun of someone. Breaking a law, speeding, cheating on taxes, this seems like a daunting list but we are all guilty of sin. The human race is driven by ego, one extreme can’t see past themselves while the other extreme does not think that they are good enough for anything.

Most people fit somewhere in-between, it’s all ego, in some way we all tend look to ourselves for some kind of affirmation for the way we act. Back when Moses was around God created the law, the first five books of the Old Testament, this was almost impossible to follow. When someone would sin they would sacrifice an animal to atone and repent for their sin.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Leviticus 17:11 ESV Then about 2000 years ago God sent His son to the earth to replace this system by showing each and every one of us what true worship is. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 ESV

Jesus then lived His life, and by dyeing on the cross became a sacrifice for all humanity, yes all of us. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14 ESV Because of this grace that we have been given from God we have a mediator, Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifice You suffered for me. Lord help show me to forgive the way You forgive, sacrifice like You sacrificed. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citation:

Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Gateway

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/‎.

When it Doesn’t Make Sense

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Even when they spit in your face, even when they spread lies, even when they hate you. Take care of them and never allow yourself to mirror their attacks. These attacks are led by the devil. Take the higher road.

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20‭-‬21 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, as I walk through this world the way it is, with all of it’s distractions and temptations give me the direction of the Holy Spirit. Just give me that slap in the back of the head that lets me know that I am going in the wrong direction. Give me your awesome comfort when I feel lost Lord. Thank you for all that You do. In Jesus Name Amen

We have lost our focus there are so many distractions, I am guilty of it. There are all kinds of “things” that if we let them will make us go this way, that way and even sometimes backwards. Always keep your focus and move forward set your goal, know your goal and live your goal. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citation:

Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Gateway

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/‎.

Focus

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Keep your focus

Dear Heavenly Father, as I walk through this world the way it is, with all of it’s distractions and temptations give me the direction of the Holy Spirit. Just give me that slap in the back of the head that lets me know that I am going in the wrong direction. Give me your awesome comfort when I feel lost Lord. Thank you for all that You do. In Jesus Name Amen

We have lost our focus there are so many distractions, I am guilty of it. There is all kinds of “things” that if we let them will make us go this way, that way and even sometimes backwards. Always keep your focus and move forward set your goal, know your goal and live your goal. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citation:

Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Gateway

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/‎.

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