FOCUS ON ETERNITY

Never before have my eyes and my thoughts been so focused on Eternity, on Heaven. You know that should be our focus. But if you are like me…we get so caught up in the ordinary, the common we forget we have a very uncommon destiny.

Phil 3:20 says But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not ordinary or common at all!

2 Corinthians 4:18 - 8 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

Uncommon Focus…the things that are not seen! Our wonderful God who loves us, gives us hope and purpose and provides everything we need through every trial. I pray you never lose your focus on God! You are greatly loved!

UNCOMMON FOCUS - FOCUS ON WHO GOD SAYS HE IS!

This is part 4 of the message I shared 2 months after my husband passed away, Uncommon Focus – How to keep your focus when your world is shattered. My notes are unedited and God has brought much healing in my life in the past 4 years.

This is what God spoke to my heart in response to my desire to do Grief God’s way…Make a demand on me. Make a demand on my promises. On who I am. I’m here for you. Ask me for help. God is near to the brokenhearted. God is near to us all the time! God is near to you! The Holy Spirit is here! With us right now, every moment of our lives. He said, Sherry, I’m your comforter. Make a demand on me. When the tears are uncontrollable and I was consumed with grief, I learned to say God, you are my comforter, I need you. And he came and calmed me down and filled my heart with the peace that passes understanding. When I felt like I couldn’t go on another minute or I just can’t do it…He is my strengthener. I’m learning I can do things I never thought I could do. When I need wisdom, He gives me wisdom. No matter what you are going through…Make a demand on God. He wants you to. He is waiting for you to ask! Whatever you are going through…go through it God’s way! You are greatly loved!

UNCOMMON FOCUS - FOCUS ON YOUR CALLING

Do you know that you have a call on your life? Not just a small, insignificant call but a HUGE, GOD sized call. It’s bigger than you can imagine and greater than you will probably ever know. You are destined for impact! To impact lives that is, to make a difference in this world…a great big God sized dent in the universe! No one knew this better than Lawrence Miller. He knew his calling. Without a moment’s hesitation he would tell you he was called to help our pastor, Pastor Jeff, build our church and that meant to do whatever Pastor Jeff needed. He worked fearlessly and tirelessly until the day he died doing that. When he got so sick, he couldn’t be at church to serve him anymore he prayed for him.

Often times when tragedy or difficulties come, we think our calling is to deal with them. No, that’s God’s job! Our job is to continue to do what God has called us to do! We can always share God’s love with others no matter what we are going through. Lawrence is my hero. He took every opportunity to share God’s love and wisdom to everyone in the hospital. Many times, once I was able to go home in the evenings the first thing he would say when I walked through the door in the morning was not how he was feeling that day or what the doctors said but it would be about how he had the opportunity to share God’s love with someone. You might be saying but

FOCUS ON HIS LOVE FOR YOU

Uncommon Focus continued…

When someone’s world is shaken very often one of the first things they do is question God. Where is He? Why is He letting this happen? How could a good God let this happen? Have I done something wrong? God, I don’t understand. During these times it is vital that that we focus on the fact that God loves us. You will never know the depth of God’s love for you more than in the midst of a season of deep pain, hurt and disappointment. His love will not fail you, but you must set your mind on that truth and hold on to it even when it’s hard to believe.

 Most of us live our lives feeling pretty ordinary, just maybe average, nothing really special, just pretty common if you will. When you wake up in the morning and take that first look in the mirror what is your reaction? Is it mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Or rather is it mirror mirror on the wall, I think I need an overhaul?

UNCOMMON FOCUS

What do you do when your world is shattered? You open your eyes and look around and life as you know it no longer exists It seems like nothing is normal. Sadly, we all face times like these. Some of them are more severe than others, some are for a season and some are for a lifetime. In the fall of 2016 just two months after my sweet hubby passed away, I taught a lesson titled Uncommon Focus. You see from the very beginning of the most difficult, heartbreaking journey of my life God spoke one word very clearly to me. That word was focus. At a time when it seemed everything around me was out of focus God was reminding me to focus on him. I don’t know about you but lately I feel like our world is out of focus. I recently revisited the lessons God taught me about keeping my focus and this week I would like to share them with you.  

For starters I want to encourage you to look up! It’s so tempting to focus on the chaos around us. God’s word says to set your mind on things above, not on the things of this world. Remember God is good, his plans are good, his ways are higher than our ways and he promises to perfect that which concerns you! We are all in unknown territory. We can try to find our own way in this fog or keep our eyes on the one who is above it. He will make a way when there is a roadblock at every turn. I pray you will start your week out with focus. You are greatly loved!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL - DOES YOUR SOUL NEED TO CATCH UP?

 

There is a story about an archaeologist that hired some Inca tribesmen to lead him to an archaeological site deep in the mountains. After they had been moving for some time the tribesmen stopped and insisted they would go no further. The archaeologist grew impatient and then angry. But no matter how much he cajoled the tribesmen would not go any further. Then all of a sudden the tribesmen changed their attitude. They picked up the gear and set off once more. When the bewildered archaeologist asked why they had stopped and refused to move for so long, the tribesmen answered, “We had been moving too fast and had to wait for our souls to catch up.”

I don't know about you but I feel a little like these tribesmen. I just want the madness to stop. My mind can hardly take it all in. What happened to common sense? What is going to happen next? Nothing is normal anymore. Could we just stop and put it in reverse?

 

Again, as always God has a promise. He says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Today is Friday, the beginning of the weekend. I don't know what that means for you but I do hope you will take a break from the craziness that surrounds us all. Go to God. Tell him you are tired. Let your soul catch up. You are greatly loved! ❤️

DON'T FORGET!

If you are a parent you probably can't count the number of times you said to your child, now don't forget. Or if you are like me I'm constantly reminding myself, Sherry don't forget. These days I have to write it down or set the alarm on my phone to help me remember. Did you know God is saying to you, don't forget? In Psalm 103 he tells us that he loads us daily with benefits and then he reminds us not to forget them. Benefits are important. We accept job offers based on the benefits the company provides. Yet God's benefits are far greater than any employer could ever offer. Sure you might be let off the hook this time if you mess up at a job but God offers forgiveness for every failure. Your job might offer health insurance but God offers healing. And those are just a couple of the benefits he provides daily. God's benefits are not subject to approval by some benefit coordinator. If you know Jesus they are pre-approved! You just have to claim them. We do that by knowing them and receiving them. So this is a reminder, not to forget! You can find the section on benefits in your Bible. Psalm 103. You are greatly loved!