God Got My Attention!

Time to "focus" in on this past week's activities...since I claimed my "One Word" for 2015..."Focus".

It seems like whenever we claim a new word, that particular word takes on a life of its own...and it gets our attention in so many ways.  "Focus" is definitely getting my attention. But, isn't that what the word "focus" means in the first place? http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focus says

"

¹fo·cus

 noun \ˈfō-kəs\: a subject that is being discussed or studied : the subject on which people's attention is focused

: a main purpose or interest

: a point at which rays of light, heat, or sound meet or from which they move apart or appear to move apart; especially : the point at which an image is formed by a mirror, a lens, etc. "

Well, this week the focus has been on things needing repair...or, I should say, "expensive things" needing repair.

• My car developed a rock and roll and rattle which necessitated some focused attention, i.e. REPAIRS.
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• Our home insurance cancelled our policy because they didn't have enough business in this area, necessitating our finding a new policy.
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• The NEW policy required a house inspection.
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• The house inspector refused to sign the certificate unless we replace our ROOF. Yikes!
  

There were a few other more minor things, but they all added up to getting our attention right where it hurts the most...our pocketbook!  Not a great way to start the New Year!

But, after focusing our attention on these issues we have evaluated the bigger picture, and have come to some new realizations (with the wise counsel and help of some good friends):

• The car repairs are not as serious as first feared, and we found a trustworthy and reliable Christian mechanic who also happens to be extremely fair.
• If the home insurance company had not cancelled our policy, necessitating our having an inspection of our roof, we would not have known that our roof was in such bad condition until possibly a leak developed and/or serious damage was done to our home.
• And, actually it isn't the whole roof, but one section of our roof due to the configuration of the way our house is built, so it will not be as expensive as if it were the whole roof. And God has shown us a way to pay for it reasonably...in time...but reasonably.
• And, the other more minor things are just that, minor things that can be fixed and are not the end of the world if they are not fixed right away.

I also have learned that spending time each day in God's Word helps me to focus my mind and heart on the things that are most important, and to prioritize the issues that come into my life so that I can tackle that which is most necessary first, and take care of the others as needed.

Here are a few verses that come to "light" right now:

• "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105
• "You (God) are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word." Psalm 119:114
• "Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe (focus my attention on) Your statutes continually." Psalm 119:117
• "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130
• "In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me." Psalm 120:1
• "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2.

What have I learned this week?  

• "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways." Psalm 128:1
• "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 136:1

That sums it up pretty well...but to put it in common language...I have learned to focus my attention on God instead of my circumstances...and to always look for the hidden blessing in the midst of the trials of life.  And I have learned to give thanks to the Lord, for He IS good! His mercy DOES endure forever! And I've also learned to give thanks for the people God brings into our lives to help us when we need it most. I pray that God will bless them for their kindness in ways that we cannot.

So, what kinds of things have you focused upon this week?

Psalm 128: 1, 8  "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways....."  "Yes, may you see your children's children..."

What a joy it is to be blessed with children...and even more blessed to have grandchildren!  We have just returned from a trip north to Maine to visit our children...and our one grandchild...How grateful we are to have had this time together.  Even more grateful because God granted us this special time together on the heels of a very difficult couple of months for our son and his family...and also for us.  As those of you who have been following this blog are aware, our son Matthew was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer about two months ago.  In the weeks that have followed this diagnosis, he has undergone extremely strong chemotherapy...which has resulted in many days of physical discomfort, exhaustion, and misery.  On the bright side...his prognosis is not as bad as originally feared in that the doctors believe they have discovered his cancer early enough to hopefully bring about a cure with the vigorous application of this chemotherapy for many weeks and months to come. 

So tonight I am giving thanks for the hope that we have...and for the fact that during our visit with our son he was feeling great...thanks to a three week respite from the chemo.  I don't love the fact that the day we left he had to go back for his next dose of chemo and has spent today very ill again from the effects.  I do love knowing that he has loving and helpful family and friends surrounding him and encouraging him day by day. I don't love that we are so many miles away and unable to participate in that time of care-giving. I do love that this treatment, even though uncomfortable and not very pleasant, will hopefully result in giving our son a long and healthy life.

I do love that so many of our friends, family, people near and far...have prayed and sent words of hope and encouragement to us and to our son and his family.  Many of these people have never met our son (or us!), but because of their compassion for others they have taken the time to reach out to us with that love that can only come from God above through His servants.

I am thankful...so very thankful...for the many ways God shows His love to us and sends us His mercy when we are feeling overwhelmed. I pray tonight for our family way up there in Maine...may God shower His grace and compassion upon them...and give them rest and strength for each new day's challenges.  And yes, "May you see your children's children..."  Amen.