WHITE EVERYWHERE!

Is white even on a color wheel? 

If you are interested in white, black, or variety of hues, it is!

Think Sherwin Williams! Paint mixtures can be softened with white.

Think Scripture. In the Bible white is often associated with purity and righteousness. White can also represent spiritual cleansing or God's glory.

Think Jesus! It's His righteousness that gives us righteousness  through His blood. Without that we have no purity!

All of these white pondering have kept me on a white search. Even my kids  share "white" with me this Easter Holy Week. From New York my son sent the Cherry tree pic with its white scattered petals. He recommended it to keep my mind's focus on a fun search, NOT worry!

Son from Texas, shared blooming of great, great grandfather's heritage snowball bush from His childhood home in Hampton Station, KY. A propagation to Clarksville, TN to Hopkinsville, KY, to Memphis, TN and on to Allen.Beautiful after years of waiting. 

Daughter from North Carolina saw the Dogwood on Main Street by the church where we joined her for the Easter Sun Rise Service. 

She even took it a step further teasing me at the bakery that on any of my selections, "add extra white icing" or just serve me icing.

They all know me well!

HAPPY EASTER, KIDDOS!

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.

A NEW DAY DAWNING!

🎶 "The sun comes up it's a new day dawning; 

It's time to sing your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes."🎶

 

In other words, Keep my focus on you Lord so that I may worship your holy Name....as I did the first time I heard this song, "10,000 Reasons"... in 2012 in Ukraine!

FRIDAY FOCUS: A REFOCUS !!!

Anyone having trouble with focus?

Is it a physical condition? Mind? Spiritual? All the above?!

Whatever the reason, I'm sill dealing with it! 

Living without focus is like living in a gray world! Think cataract surgery needed.

I know where to go....God's Word. Embarrassingly enough, while I'm there I can easily begin planning supper or lack there of said plan. ARGGG!

Focus? Surely focus + focus + focus = REFOCUS

 

Growing weary outwardly this past week with my "distracted" mind malady, I asked Him to renew me inwardly day by day....with a spiritual refocus. 

A focus of hope-filled trust (Romans 15:13) and firmness of stance. (1 Corinthians 15:58) 

It was not a "one and done" attempt.

However, this acceptance of the need to refocus calmed my heart and filled me with hope.

JUMBLED FOCUS!

Is "jumbled focus" an oxymoron? Or am I just the moron? 

Wordsmiths know all about such contradictory terms. 

For this moron, whose brain is in a state of "organized chaos" these days, some oxymorons seem to make sense.

But God, in His mercy and great love, (Ephesians 2:4) patiently reminds me to "keep on keeping on" in the focus realm.

Setting (and resetting as needed) my "mind on things above not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)

God has been cutting me some slack lately as I have been in such a "fluctuating" state of focus. 

Maybe I, as well, need to "cut myself some slack" in the midst of this  "jumbled focus" time---knowing "in quietness and trust is my strength!"

FRIDAY FOCUS!

Friday Focus, again!?

MORE OF THEE. LESS OF ME!

Pithy with a punch. A heart issue.

Easy to know in my head....harder to overflow from my heart & live out.

I must be a slow learner as refocusing is a daily, even hourly occurrence.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but i do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)

Be gone, self-centeredness! Self-pity stinks!

Today's New Morning Mercies (6/16) entry zeroes in on obstacles of our faith focus.

Self-focus sins that can permeate our actions:

• Nasty retort
• "Me-first pride"
• flash of lust at the mall
• addictions to little pleasures
• impatience with a loved one

.....to name a few. I could lengthen the list as I wait for doctor to return my call....as if I'm his only patient.

O Lord may I refocus....and allow you to rescue me from me!

FOCUS OR FALL!

Last Friday, I fell.

This Friday I'm focused on not falling. 

Everyone keeps reminding me; be aware of where you are going, hold on to the bannister, watch out so you won't bang your heel on the bedpost, watch where you are walking! You're not focusing!

Does "trying to focus" count?

Obviously not....I just stumbled.

My focus must be throwing me off-kilter. Hmmm.....

Refocus is needed.

If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow. (Henry Blackaby)

Hmmm....

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

As I focus on the Lord, I know He will be there to pick me up "for He upholds me with HIs hand," (Psalm 37:24) regardless of what day it is!

WORSHIPFUL WONDER!

God's creative wonder through my kitchen window can have me bowing in worship.

A new fledgling of bluebirds flitting back and forth for their mealworms.

A hairy woodpecker and goldfinch at the suet cakes.

A Carolina chickadee on the swing.

A new visitor--a house finch* with his red tuft caught in the sunlight.

Focusing on his creation by simply looking out my window, allows me "NOT to get tangled up in tomorrow's worry-webs," as Sarah Young reminds me. (Jesus Listens November 17)

Wonder of Wonders! Right outside my kitchen window! 

Worthy of Worship for their creator!

*Friend Anne B. said the little yellow bird might be a ruby crowned kinglet.Thx for the info! 

4 WORDS WITH BIG HOPE!!!!

I AM WITH YOU!

Pastor Jim's sermon in Haggai opened my eyes to the many times those words of the Lord were found in Scripture.

Four words of comfort. Words of hope. Words of encouragement.

 

Later scanning the "Sunday" paper, I had another "God with me" heads up. 

There was a fifth word giving "future" reference verb "will be." 

Often "I am with you" tell us where and when. Another adverb often used is the reassuring "always."

I AM WITH YOU! Four words to lessen fear, give needed strength, replace dismay with assurance and put a smile on my face....especially as I pray these words will comfort my Ukrainian friends! 

** I so appreciate the inclusion of scripture continuing in our Commercial Appeal. 

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)

ACRONYMS OF ADVICE

In times when one is overwhelmed---even trying to read a newspaper or text full of acronyms---of which one doesn't have a clue---KISS comes to mind.

K eep 

I t

S imple

S weetie

Just yesterday a friend sent a text explaining acronyms for "senior" (OLD) citizens. I needed a laugh so the timing was perfect.

Will continue this thought on more of a spiritual realm as I recall and reflect on two personal acronyms as I have focused meditating on words lately---SEEK & FOCUS!

I will share those two acronyms of advice soon. 

FOUR WORD TRUTHS

Simple.

Straight forward.
4 words of truth.

Four words for focus.

1. I live in you. (Galatians 2:20)
2. I give you strength. (Isaiah 40:29 & Psalm 59:16)
3. I am with you. (Joshua 1:9)
4. You are My Beloved. (Song of Solomon 2:16)

Beloved, we are God's. Therefore, we will benefit when we focus on these  4-word truths as we start our Monday with meditation!

HURRIED FORGETFULNESS: A Meditation

7/8/13 Recent post had me pondering some questions about worrying and hurrying. Pondering those resulted in some guided meditation. (Allen Bible Church, 7/5/10) Pondering brought focus!

Listen to His will: Focus. Pray. Rejoice. Give thanks.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Lord gives His will but also gives His warning so that hurry & worry won't result in low-grade joylessness---aka as a life more filled with "blahs" than "ahs."

In David's Psalms (his journal, of sorts) he reminds us to remember all that God has done for us. 

Remember His warning:

Bless the Lord, O my soul and FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS. (Psalm 103:2)

It might take a little time to recall God's benefits and to say thank you. But....as author Timothy Jones states, "As I take time to enjoy God, I find myself lifted out of life's littleness."

Hurried people become forgetful & ungrateful, which can lead to lives of irritation & "demandedness." One demands more from God & others in order to serve self.

Grateful people don't forget to say thank-you. 

Our forget-filled lives: Hurried.Worried. Ho-Hum.

His will: Be Thankful

His warning: BEWARE OF HURRIED FORGETFULNESS!

FOCUS on Meditation

5/14/12 RX for Meditation from classroom sign in Olson Elementary, Allen, TX, that spoke to me of meditation. F.O.C.U.S

Face the Speaker---Seek His face

Open your eyes---To the truth of His Word

Close your mouth---Don’t do all the talking

Use your manners---Submit to Him

Sit still and silent---Stillness and silence---key in waiting on the Lord

“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.

True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. (Malachi 2:5-6)

Ah-h-h to live such a worthwhile life as to reflect this truth.