Monday, 11-Jan-2016 - Bringing Out The Beauty

My husband is a budding photographer.  We went out this past Sunday out to Four Peaks, which is a couple hours from where we live.  From church, my son saw the Four Peaks & Superstition Mountain areas and told my husband.  When we got home from church, he wanted for us to go out there.  The kids were not for the adventure, but I was.

With clouds ahead, we headed there.  We had to get off a highway and onto a dirt road and drive and drive.  As I looked at the snow covered mountains in the desert range, it simply amazed me that were I was standing, there was not even a hint of snow, but just another hour's drive ahead, we would be able to play in the snow.

Something that really amazes me is the patience my husband has in his photography.  He takes many pictures to get the one he finally wants to share with others.  He uses the tools he has to be able to bring out the beauty of God's creations.  Not only does he have a good camera, but he has good lens, filters, but he also has a good tripod and enough memory on hand.  When we get home, he then uses his photography software to help bring out the colors or mute some things, to accent what he wants to convey.

My husband wanted to get closer to Four Peaks, but some of the clouds looked dark & ominous, like it would soon rain.  I didn't want to get stuck on a dirt road in a sedan if it started to rain and be too muddy for us to drive or be caught in flash flooding.  So we eventually headed the opposite direction to head home.

What is the point of this post, other than talk about my husband's photography.  Well, the point is there is so much beauty in life.  Sometimes it takes looking in the right direction, like my son did, and noticing, pointing it out.  Sometimes you just have to stop and see what is beautiful in your life.

Maybe it's your ability to encourage others.  But how do you do it when you cannot really see the good in life, though God has given you a greater measure to encourage others, but you choose not to use it.  Instead you focus on the wrong thing instead of seeing the beauty of how your encouragement might mean to others.

Just as my husband uses many tools to finally get the photograph he wants, spiritually we as people each have a purpose.  We have tools available to us like perhaps our small group at church, or maybe our career, or whatever it is.  We all have beauty in our lives whether we'd like to acknowledge it or not.

Anyway, look to see what is beautiful in your life and let's see if you can bring it out to share with others.

Monday, 14-Dec-2015 - Who or What Is Our Focus?

As I reflect on what God has done in our lives over the past year, I am truly amazed at where He has brought us from.  The month of November was a month of refocusing.  Though getting my soul wounds healed has been a major priority, I found my personal time with God lacking, another thing to check off my list to do.  And some days I never got to it.

Health, marriage, family, school were some of the things that preoccupied my time.  And, social media was a big part.  As October winded down, God had me put aside some things that were greatly consuming my time - FACEBOOK, to focus on Him.  God impressed on me that I was giving Him my leftovers, instead of the first fruit of my time.

After more than a month of little time on Facebook, and many days not even being on Facebook, I've found my Quiet Times with the Lord richer, more meaningful.  As we approach Christmas, remembrance of the birth of Christ, what is your focus?  Is it on gifts?  All the parties you'll be attending?  Avoiding the commercialism of the time?

How about simplifying it and just appreciating what God has done for us in giving His Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Redeemer?  As we tune out the noise around us, let us focus on what is really important - Jesus.

Focus

What do you spend your days doing?  Thinking about?  Dreaming of?  Fantasizing about?

In Joshua 1:8-9 it says, "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day & night.  Be careful to obey what is written in it so that you may be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous.  Don't be afraid or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Though I have many favorite verses in the Bible, the first part of Joshua 1:8 is probably the part of the Bible that I most have meditated on this year.  When I set my head upon my pillow to slumber, I am reminded to chew on God's Word over and over in my mind, that it might infiltrate my heart and spirit.  And, it does. 

Why would you want to focus on God's Word?  Because it is LIFE!  It is alive and active, sharper than any 2-edged sword, it penetrates to our very core.  It judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  This is found in Hebrews 4:12. 

There are just some people in my world that I just do not like.  I don't like the choices they have made, nor how they impact me.  I don't like how they look and a host of other things.  However, if I take the Word of God and put it against these thoughts, I find that I am in the wrong.  Do I feel like a low life, then?  Absolutely not!

In Romans 8:1 it says that if I know Jesus Christ as my Savior, I am no longer condemned.  Does that mean it's okay for me to have those thoughts & feelings?  No, but it means that because Christ lives in me, my sins are forgiven and I can put Jesus on the throne of my life and let God take control of my thoughts, submit them to Him.

Philippians 4:8 talks about thinking upon things that are lovely, pure, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.  In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it talks about destroying those thoughts that God would not deem acceptable, that are not pleasing to Him.  These 2 verses really work hand-in-hand. 

Can I do these things in my own strength?  No.  Living in a society that values independence, in the Christian life we are called to be DEPENDENT at all times on the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is our Source for strength & life.  Does that mean we just kick back and do nothing?  No!! 

What does this look like in tangible, real life terms?  It's taken me a long time to understand this and maybe even my understanding of this at best is just the tip of the iceberg, but at least it's the tip rather than completely missing it. 

It means when I wake up in the morning that I realize that God allowed me to have another day on this earth, to thank Him.  Maybe it isn't hard to bounce out of bed and get started on your day, but sometimes some of us bumble out of bed only after hitting the snooze button multiple times.  Maybe those people need God more?  No.  We all need God completely.

It's really involving God in all parts of our lives from brushing our teeth, to walking across the parking the lot, to driving our kids to school, to making that cup of coffee, to smiling at a stranger, to working on that project whose deadline has been moved up 3 weeks, to presenting that presentation, to everything.

How often do we just go off and do things rather than consulting with God, "Do you want me to buy this?   Do you want me to eat this?  How do you want me to treat this person?  I'm really feeling sad about this situation and I just don't know how to get over it.  Will I ever be happy again?  Please help me through this workout.  I can do one more burpee without You."

It's mindfully practicing the Presence of God.  I'll have to admit that often, usually I'm not doing this.  Though, where I am now is way better than I have ever been in my walk with God, but realistically, as I evaluate my day-to-day stuff, it's like I give pockets of God to certain areas and other areas, well . . .

There was a time I would mindlessly watch TV and all sorts of shows, especially shows where there was injustices & crimes.  I'd spend hours a day watching these in between my very busy schedules, but I always find time.  It's been over 4 yrs now since I surrended this area of my life to the Lord and frankly, I don't miss it.  My kids don't desire to watch TV.  There is no desire within me either. 

What we watch and absorb our minds with is very important.  What do you want, read, see?  These things fill and clutter your mind, often.  I'm not saying everything is bad, but do a mental checklist of what you spend your time doing.  While working, playing, resting, you can still have your focus on God and do all for His glory.

Do you hear the Holy Spirit tell you, "I don't want you looking at that or doing that" but you just quell that voice, stuff it into the closet of your mind, way back where no one can find it?  We lose out so much of God's blessings when we do this because God's ways are not our ways.  They are higher and better than anything we can do or think (Isaiah 55:9).

I want to challenge you to take an inventory of your thoughts.  As you might keep a food journal for a week, think about keeping a thought journal for a week and see what God is telling you.  I'm sure it will be very eye-opening.