RETRO-FOCUS!

Retrofocus has only been a photography "lens" term that I never quite understood.This past week I have used it as a lens through which I revisited my past times with Sarah Young. 

Looking back has soothed my soul. A much needed balm. 

A signature. A picture. Texts. E-mails. A cuppa together.

Notes in my Jesus Calling journal & other journals as well.

No WOE with her, no matter how many opportunities for woe in her life, her focus was rarely there. Maybe a simple prayer request that I saw as a "biggie." Then a turn  to Words of Encouragement for me. 

She also gave me encouraging words to share with others during tough times, when I had no words.

At the crux of my MAC cancer journey in 2009, an 8:37 pm email offered comfort so I could sleep.

Helping me to hang my guilt away in a locked area of my mind.(Isaiah 61:10)

Modeling God's grace to replace remorse.

Teaching me time with Him is the best R & R! (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Helping me focus. Refocus. And Refocus. (Repeat as often as it takes.)

Today I wished she were here with me, an SOS of sorts. 

I already know that she would remind me of the BEST SOS---when in distress, Seek Our Savior!  

I'll refocus with that sweet reminder from Sarah.

SEEKING

Are you seeking? Busy day ahead? What should one seek first? 

The answer for me was found in the prayer room at church when I was there all alone.

Big! Bold! In plain sight!!

Does that answer your question? It did mine!

THREE R's for a NEW YEAR!

REFOCUS! REFUEL!! REFRESH!!!

1. Refocus your mind.
2. Refuel your heart.
3. Refresh others.

Do all three. Use scripture to chart your course!

1. Set your mind. Reset as needed to clear your mind of earthly matters. (Colossians 3:2)
2. Open God's Word and chew on it 'til your heart can delightfully digest it. (Jeremiah 15:16)
3. Refresh others. You'll also be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

Refocusing. refueling and refreshing = Renewal of one's Spirit.
Renewal results in transformation. (Romans 12:2)

Being transformed by a renewal of the mind, refuels one's soul and enables one to refresh others.

What an honor for any gal to incorporate the 3 Rs in her new year and be recognized as a Philemon saint...."The hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you...." (Philemon 1:2)

CHOOSE: THE CORRECT FOCUS

Need a new outlook or a fresh focus?

Sometimes we just need to look up---

Whether in a chapel........

.....in a hallway at a storytelling festival...

......or on the road.

Other times we need to look down and absorb the words.

It's crucial to choose the correct focus because our "mind feasts on what it focuses on." (?)

Such thinking can make or break one's identity so a correct focus is key.(Proverbs 23:7)

CHOOSE: WORTHWHILE VISUALS

Choosing what we "see" is just that----a choice. From TV and movies, to books and FB or Twitter posts. Godly wisdom and discipline are paramount in these choices.

...Set no worthless thing before your eyes; (Psalm 101:3)

Hopefully the bride and groom will long remember this visual of the last "decorated" pew in their walk down the aisle and out the door to a life as Mr. and Mrs.

May such a memory keep their married life focused on the One who is "the Rose of Sharon."

ACCEPTANCE--a sereni-TEA sweetener

My Gratitude Journal's "word of the month" is "acceptance."

Key to waiting is acceptance. Acceptance of the present over the perfect.
What one "has" might be different from what one "wants." A statement that one needs to give credence to in order to move away from self-absorption and go forward.

There are NO perfect relationships, NO perfect physical health for the aging, NO perfect night's sleep every single night, NO emotional health without hormones, etc.---at least not ALWAYS.

Life can be full of head "noises" and random aches, and troubles galore. Expect that fact.
Perfection in life is an unrealistic expectation.

But God....know that God can be in the midst of all these struggles and provide the peace that calms one's heart as one's life questions, without answers, whir by and circumstances remain the same.
Answers one so desperately wants. Accepting that answers might not be ours to have at this time. Refocusing. Getting eyes off of self and on to the Lord and others.

Shakespeare said it well, " God's goodness hath been great to thee---Let never day or night unhallowed pass but still remember what the Lord hath done."

So...as I steep my cuppa acceptance each morning this month, I'm going to reach for the sweetness that can accompany it----sereni-TEA---not an artificial sweetener to gloss over or deny. A true sweetness with truth from His word. (Psalm 119:103)
Tasting and seeing His goodness as I approach each day knowing that inner peace is possible even if the outward conditions do NOT change.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests......mental, emotional and physical health....look to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

"securi-TEA": a Re-brew

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Having a cuppa T2 provided by our New York guest house "host" gave me a warm, secure start to what was to become a fun day with our Lucy. "All's right with the world".....at least our little corner of it.

But, both a phone call from our daughter and an early morning email from sister-in-law, Susan, questioned our security. It seems that yesterday while we were treating Lucy to strawberry pancakes at Tom's Restaurant in Brooklyn, there were 2 "explosions" in Harlem. Folks 1100 miles away heard of the shock waves before we did.

How fleeting security is. How fleeting life is. (Psalm 39:4)

Security in our culture often refers to at least a "semblance" of protection for us and our assets. I say, "semblance," because reality can be so different from the outward appearance.---it's still only perceived security. Our only real security doesn't come with wires, alarms or even fat bank accounts. Our security rests only in Him.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

That's the "focus" needed to walk the pathway of real securi-TEA!

Seeing Clearly

2/21/13 A recent optometrist visit had me relating my maladies of dry eye and difficulty driving at night. Tests showed cataracts but not enough growth to warrant surgery---yet. A different prescription was given for my bifocals and so some improvement has been noted. The cloudiness still makes me insecure when driving long distances at night, especially in unfamiliar territory. I want to see clearly---without the fog.

In my BSF small group, one of the gals, often talks of how she just needs to see what God's plan is for her. Kathy, like the rest of us, knows that scripture is truly the lens to seeing the Lord. But sometimes she would like God to make His way BIG & BOLD so that she clearly sees it.  

I understand her frustration. Similar to the wait for cataract surgery, to correct physical eyesight, maybe one also has to wait for a later time for the Lord to correct our spiritual cloudiness in certain areas so that we can clearly see. 

Maybe we won't clearly see until eternity. With Him we will see fully.

Yet, in the waiting room of life, one can continue to gain spiritual "insight" from:

• God's voice through His word,
•  Nudges from the Holy Spirit, 
• God winks in circumstances, or 
• Counsel from godly folks who understand. 

Trusting Him as we wait and loving and serving others will help us keep our focus.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)