Focus.

I wonder if you are like me. . . I often find myself with good intentions that often go awry.  I am highly distractable (insert bright, shiny object here).   

Yet, the word that came to me tonight was "focus."  Like I often do, I looked up the meaning of the word and according to Professor Google, the noun means "the center of interest or activity" or "the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition."  Let's look at the verb, however.  To focus is to "(of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly" or "pay particular attention to."  Hmmm.  As you may have guessed, my interpretation has a slight slant to it. . .

I heard on the radio earlier today that Jesus had developed the habit of obedience.  While I won't explore that concept at this time, I would venture to say that Jesus was, indeed, focused.  In all things, Jesus always prayed for His Father's will (Matthew 6:9-13, John 17:1-26 to quote a sampling).  We might think it was easy for Jesus to pray for God's will on earth, but the Bible clearly tells us that He was tempted in every way that we are today:  "Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son;  because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." (Hebrews 4:14-15, CEB)

So, what is it that kept Jesus from distraction?  He knew His Father's will for Him was far greater than what He could purpose for Himself.  Even as He was fully God, He was fully human as well.  This is why we can have confidence that He knows our every emotion  - good, bad or indifferent. 

So, how do we find the focus that Jesus had?  Is it even possible?  Oh, yes, my dear friend, it is.

Let us turn to the Scripture, the very Word of Life that Jesus embodies:

Psalm 16:5 - LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. (HCSB)

Psalm 37:5 - Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:5-6  - 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. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:9  - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)

Isaiah 43:18-19  - “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:9  - But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (ESV)

Many of these Scriptures may be familiar to you, but let's go back to our word, "focus" so you understand why I am sharing these verses with you.

The definition that struck me was this:  "(of a person or their eyes) [to] adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly."  If you are a follower of my blog, you will recall I wrote about "The Eyes With Which We See."  I spoke about viewing our lives through our spiritual eyes versus our natural eyes.  I believe focus is not much different.  We must "adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly" but we must be certain of the source of that light.  If it is not God, what is it?  Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path."  His Word, God's Word, illuminates the path before us.  So many times we try to hold up the lamp of our own making, a manufactured ideal that we are in charge of where we are going and what we are doing.  Yes, we have been given free choice to choose God or reject Him, but once we have the Holy Spirit living in us, any attempt to deviate from the path of righteousness leaves us frustrated, disappointed and full of regret. 

Believe me, I am not immune to this process.  Again, I am highly distractable.  I often times find myself doing things that waste time and effort and then I kick myself later for doing so.  We are not alone in this.  Even Paul, the greatest apostle that ever lived, told us in Romans 7:15 that "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (NIV)  So, what did He do? He focused on the right Light.  The Light of Jesus, the Living Word of God.

I know it's hard to take it all in.  I struggle just as you do.  But, we do have a hope in Jesus.  Once we are born again of Him and of His Spirit, we can and will accomplish all that He has predestined us to do.  We may make choices that delay possession of that destined blessing, but in the end, when we hone in on what we have as sons and daughters of the Most High King, the possibilities are endless.

So, perhaps instead of getting all wrapped up in what I am not accomplishing and allowing myself to escape into my distraction of choice, I really should get focused.  But first, I think I'll ask God to give me a peek at His plan for my life. And even if the road ahead requires mud boots and waders, I am confident that the Light I see in the distance will take me to a future that can be nothing short of glorious.

"We are the dreamers of dreams. . ."

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, 

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." 

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

We all have a dream.  Sometimes that dream is birthed within us when we are young, before we even have the ability to speak it. Sometimes it comes as we become seasoned in life, fine-tuned and focused.  And then, sometimes the dream changes, morphs, if you will, as we reevaluate and re-purpose ourselves and how we live our lives. One thing is constant, however.  When our dreams are not realized, we tuck them away, or bury them even. And at some point, either a new dream rises in our hearts or the old one resurfaces.

I've been writing since I was a child.  It used to be my outlet for depression and teen angst.  My stories were dark, sometimes haunting and always written from a place of pain.  As I grew older, I stopped writing.  I'd pick it up now and again, journaling, documenting life's events and/or the road I traveled to get to them.  In December of 2015, I felt the call to really write - write from a place of strength, peace, growth and love.  You, my dear reader,  share in the fruit of that labor.  I thank you for reading and sharing in that journey.

Last week, I received a notification that a Christian book publisher was having a writing contest.  I mulled it over and tried to temper my excitement.  God has impressed upon me a book in the last several months and I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could share some of that vision. . ..   So, I wrote.  I wrote and rewrote and prayed and rewrote again. I think I questioned myself and my motives as much as I felt the leading to submit an entry.  God bless my dear friend who read and reread and encouraged and prayed.  Finally, believing God had gave me just the right words (and exactly 3999/4000 characters), I paid my entry fee and hit the "submit" button.

The 48 hours following were nerve-wracking.  Within hours of submitting my piece, I knew it needed to be changed, reworked and part of me wanted to retract it.  And, the waiting!  Oh, the waiting.  I tried to put it out of my head. . .but my flesh could not keep from checking my email a hundred times an hour (ok, that's an exaggeration, but goodness!  The agony of waiting!)

Well, yesterday afternoon, I received the announcement.  As my eyes skimmed the page, I begin to read a familiar title. . . really familiar.  And, then, I saw my name.  I. WON.   Yes.  not only had I won, but I. WON. THE. GRAND. PRIZE.  Tears immediately burst from my eyes and I couldn't breathe.  A mixture of unbelief and joy flooded my mind and heart and my body began to shake.  God had birthed a dream in my heart, given me a vision and the words, and then provided "infinitely more than [I] might ask or think."  My husband and daughter were caught off guard as I had submitted the piece unbeknownst to them.  I think I shed tears of joy, fear, shock and a host of other emotions for at least an hour.

 I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't excited.  I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you that I have been overcome with fear, dread, and worry.  What if I dishonor my Lord?  I already know that the content will change.  What if. . . what if. .. and then, the warfare begins.  Did I disappoint people?  Am I being humble enough?  What have I really gotten myself into?

While the swarm of emotions attempts to steal my joy (and has almost been successful), I am reminded that even if I am in error, God's favor stills rests upon me. No matter what happens in the future  - whether I actually write and publish a book or am lead down another path - God loves me. He REALLY loves me.  I know that He didn't allow this to happen so I'd feel good about me.  I'm to feel good about GOD in me, working through me, on a day to day basis and by the power of His grace and mercy, I can move according to His will and in His power alone.  Even if I made a mistake in my thinking and hence in my writing, I praise God that I know it and that I can have confidence that He will shield those who read it from being affected by what I now know to be different.

God is exceedingly able to bring our dreams back to life.  He is exceedingly able to give us the desires of our hearts. . if and when they align with His will. 

  Take delight in the Lord,  and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Psalm 37:4 

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

As I take it all in, a strange voice echoes in my mind. .. Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka who declared in the face of sarcastic criticism "We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams,. . ."  The line is actually the beginning of a poem entitled "Ode" by  English poet Arthur O'Shaughnessy.

We are the music makers,  

And we are the dreamers of dreams

Wandering by lone sea-breakers,

And sitting by desolate streams;—

World-losers and world-forsakers,

On whom the pale moon gleams:

Yet we are the movers and shakers

Of the world for ever, it seems.

Isn't that true?  We are not of this world!  God's Word tells us that we are to live in the world but not of it!

And, then, Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.   1 Peter 2:10-12 (NLT) 

I also hear the voice of my pastor speaking about "Dream Provokers" and how necessary the both the cheerleaders and the naysayers are to the success of our journey. 

"If God wants you to do something with your life, He will send a dream provoker." - Pastor Marcus Mecum,  7 Hills Church.

Pastor reminded us that without the dream provokers in our lives, we won't be stretched, challenged and determined to achieve much more than that for which we've settled.

So, here's my charge to you. . .DREAM BIG.  Allow God to so move in your mind, heart and soul that you can start to see the vision in clear focus and hear it calling to you.  Be strong and courageous!  If you take a minute to read my short piece, you'll see that we are given the command to be strong and courageous!  It's not an option, but a directive!  Allow the God of all creation to create in you dreams beyond your wildest imaginings and then believe Him to deliver. . . and be prepared for a blessing beyond measure. 

To read my contest entry along with those who have also won, please visit https://www.xulonpress.com/writing_contest/page/winners