Life Focus

 

Life Focus

Colossians 3: You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. ² Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

 

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Tired of broken down cars, raggedy clothing and cheap food, I sought a career that would afford me a “better” life. When I got into that career, I found myself working incredible hours and being sent wherever they wanted me to go. I could now afford plenty, but my time was dictated to me.

 

• I had no time for other people.
• I had no time to provide a cup of water to my relatives or neighbors.
• I had no time to speak about CHRIST or to show HIS generosity.

 

Paul provides a remedy to the problems of the world. He tells everyone to “set your hearts on the things that are in heaven.” He also says “Keep your minds fixed on the things there, not things here on earth.” Being raised with CHRIST means a “hidden life” that will be manifested later.

 

My Observations

• Focusing in on things here on earth can many times have me think there is no hope, BUT GOD wants me to focus on HIM.
• Seeing all the trouble that is around me can appear like crashing waves in an endless ocean, BUT GOD wants my eyes fixed on JESUS and HIS deliverance.
• Trying to address the current trial with my own power makes me want to give up, BUT GOD wants me to see HIS kingdom and me in it.

 

Seeing GOD is hard when life has trouble. I mean, when money is tight, jobs are scarce, and help is absent, it seems like the only question that is valid is “Where are YOU GOD?” “Don’t YOU see this mess?” BUT GOD remains calm in the middle of my cry.

 

HE knows humans are limited in their thinking and would easily fall into temptation to not follow HIM, so HE hid our lives from the enemy so we would not get stolen. This means our current view of life is fake. Our “real life is CHRIST”, who will one day appear and we will appear with HIM. I place my trust in GOD who raises my thinking above the current trial.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer talk about the heart and the mind?
• Where are your biggest worries?
• Have you examined your heart to see what your largest focus is?
• Will you give what is in your heart to GOD and keep your mind focused on HIS kingdom so you can be raised above your current and future trials today?

Roomy Inside

Roomy Inside

Ephesians 3: ¹⁶ I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, ¹⁷ and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, ¹⁸ so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. ¹⁹ Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.

 

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After being mugged at a certain train stop, I thought of ways to avoid going back. When I absolutely had to go there, I thought of ways to be safe, so I walked in the middle of the crowd. I narrowed my routes to safe routes, or maybe not even going out at all.

 

• Fear made me narrow my thinking.
• Worry made me focus on “what bad could happen.”
• Doubt made me insecure.

 

Difficulties and hardship were the norm for Paul. He had been jailed, beaten and almost put to death because of his belief in JESUS. This unglamorous life required more than surface actions. It required faith. This was the only place large enough to hold GOD.

 

My Observations

• My heart is too small for GOD to live in so HE adds faith to stretch it so HE can fit.
• Circumstances attempt to make my heart small BUT GOD lives inside me to give me inner peace.
• Situations may tempt me to use hatred as the answer, BUT GOD provides the true foundation of love from which HE builds a home in my heart.

 

Trying to use GOD for personal gain is small heart thinking. I mean, when I think of my own desires, other people cannot fit in my heart. GOD wants me to align to HIS desires. HE wants all HIS flock to be saved through belief in JESUS.

 

HE spreads this perfect message of love and forgiveness through imperfect people. HE and HE alone provides inner peace. I may never know just how broad and long, how high and deep CHRIST’s love is for me, but I am willing to learn a little so HE can live in me.

 

Challenge

• Where does the writer say true power comes from?
• Have you ever had situations and circumstances that caused you to have fear, worry or doubt?
• Will you place your faith in JESUS who will provide the HOLY SPIRIT, giving you access to the FATHER who forgives, loves and fills you from emptiness today?

Promise Kept

Promise Kept

Galatians 3: ¹³ But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, “Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse.” ¹⁴ Christ did this in order that the blessing which God promised to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles by means of Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the Spirit promised by God.

 

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Nervousness made me think of wild outcomes. “My life is ruined” I said out loud when I failed a test or when the dean told me my grades were not up to par or when I lost a loved one. I took past wounds and used them to guide my thinking. I wanted to “see evidence” that a mistake would not catch me off guard so that I could “live.”

 

• Life made me place faith in what I could see.
• I thought I needed large bank accounts, great insurance and various comforts or pleasures to be categorized as “blessed.”
• I was blinded by what people called “blessed” and felt GOD did not keep HIS promises.

 

CHRIST gave up everything to save humanity. Paul explains this from the perspective of the Law and from the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT. He explained that GOD made a promise to Abraham to “bless” him because of his faith. This blessing includes a “promise” that all who believe will receive the “SPIRIT.”

 

My Observations

• Humanity will scoff at the HOLY SPIRIT as my prize.
• GOD wants me to see beyond this life to understand being with HIM for eternity is the true goal.
• JESUS died for me and was raised to life, so my faith in HIM gives me purpose which stores up treasure in heaven.

 

Whatever is in the heart will come out in words and actions. I mean, if hatred, rage, jealousy, fear, lust, or pride is in my heart, it will come out of my mouth or I will act on it. While GOD may forgive me, it does not produce fruit for HIM.

 

GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom daily and to turn away from the usual thinking I fall prey to. HE wants me to praise JESUS daily for saving me! When HE gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to live in me, HE wants me to feed HIM with acts of faith daily. I am glad JESUS kept HIS promise so I can received the “promised blessing.”

 

Challenge

• What is the blessing promised to Abraham?
• Have you ever doubted GOD because of the definition of “blessing” humans have tried to present?
• Will you seek GOD’s true blessing and allow HIM to lead you to grow HIS kingdom today?

Voluntary Open Heart Surgery

Voluntary Open Heart Surgery

2 Corinthians 6: ¹¹ Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. ¹² It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. ¹³ I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!

 

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At one point, I would do anything it took for this particular organization. I would arrive early and leave late. All day long I focused on their needs, shunning precious time with family and most of all, GOD time. But one day the leaders of the organization changed for the worse as blame and insults became the norm. It was no longer the same place of merit and honor. My heart wasn’t into it as much.

 

• My hurt heart was closing.
• My eyes were opened to the blindness of “success.”
• My feelings toward giving my all had changed.

 

Paul warns the people to open their hearts wide. His emphatic appeal was probably prompted by the dull reactions to the message he and others had provided through the words GOD placed in their hearts. He could see the people as they turned their hearts away from valuing the message that JESUS is LORD.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me keep my heart open to HIM.
• GOD wants me to let the HOLY SPIRIT in my heart so HE can make room for others.
• GOD wants me to appeal to others to voluntarily open their heart to JESUS so HE will send the COMFORTER to live in their heart.

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” is what GOD said to one of the prophets to tell everyone. Since the heart is capable of hurting others or being hurt, it is easy for me to close it when I perceive the world around me is going to make things worse.

 

BUT GOD sends people to me that HE wants me to trust. Their message, while mixed with their sin, comes from HIM. GOD uses imperfect people like me to spread HIS perfect message of true love. I gladly open my heart to the HOLY SPIRIT and speak with flaws, but from the heart.

 

Challenge

• What is the warning that comes from the writer?
• Have you ever practiced closing your heart so often that you do not know what it looks like to have an open heart?
• Why does the writer look at the group as his children?
• Will you open your heart, knowing the HOLY SPIRIT will enter it and protect you from harm, especially from those who intentionally try to poison hearts today?

Living Space

Living Space

2 Corinthians 5: For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever. ² And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; ³ by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body. ⁴ While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life. ⁵ God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

 

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Part of me didn’t want to be me. Part of me, just wanted to be me. The part of me that didn’t want to be me was the part that looked at “everyone else” who seemed happy, when I felt less than or shamed or discouraged. The part of me that just wanted to be me was the part that felt love and compassion and surrender to the only being who loved me dearly.

 

• My life on earth wants peace but many times gets oppression.
• My life on earth desires something better, but sometimes receives pain.
• My life on earth has some good times and bad times, but I know heaven will not have ups and downs.

 

Paul gives us a glimpse of what to hope for. We want the heavenly body that will never decay or be diseased or be discouraged. He also says that it is not the desire to throw our current life away to get to the eternal one faster, rather hope is our focus of life and we are being transformed by GOD who is preparing us for eternity.

 

My Observations

• It is alright to groan over the oppression that life brings but not too long.
• Hope is where I should place my energy versus focusing in on something that doesn’t include GOD.
• Asking GOD into my heart increases the capacity for others.

 

Once we put ten people in a car meant for six. It felt cramped!. I can only imagine how the HOLY SPIRIT feels when moving into a heart made for only one, namely myself. HE wants to fit into my heart, but has to bring other people into it with HIM.

 

When HE moves in, HE changes the living space and arranges HIS home as HE desires. HE is the one who prepares me for the change HE has in store for me. I am grateful is it GOD who understands when I groan about life’s oppression and stretches my heart to fit others.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used the word “tent” as a reference to our body?
• Have you ever desired for things to be permanently better?
• Will you be open to being transformed by the HOLY SPIRIT, who will stretch your heart to bring others in today?

So Much to Say

So Much to Say

Acts 20: ⁷ On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

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After returning from the day at the amusement park, I was elated. This was my first time visiting the wonderful, fun-filled location. The next day I went over a friend’s house. I had so much to say. Somehow I spoke on the subject for hours because we shared our varied experiences.

• There have been times when I was so excited about something, that I could speak for hours.
• There have been times when I sat with a group of people who were just as excited about the thing I was excited about.
• There have been times when I talked for hours on a subject simply because I was amazed.

Paul was about to leave so a group of people ate with him while he spoke. By now, Paul had been rescued by GOD on many occasions, so he had a lot to say. Eutychus, may have been excited, but was extremely tired.

While tragedy happened when he fell out the window and died, Paul proved the power of GOD by raising him from the dead. The humorous part of the story is Paul now had even more to say.

• GOD wants me to have an abundant life.
• GOD wants me to speak about past experiences I’ve had with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek new experiences with HIM, telling people about JESUS along the way.

Believing in JESUS is a wonderful start to an abundant life. I mean, it is the belief that changed my life into a person who seeks GOD daily. The rotten situations that I go through turn into testimonies of GOD’s power. I have nothing to brag about, only praise for JESUS who gave me purpose.

• Do you have an abundant life with GOD?
• What experiences have you had that people need to hear about?
• Will you tell people about the situations GOD has brought you through so they can do the same with others?

Word Power

Word Power

John 11: ⁴⁹ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” ⁵¹ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, ⁵² and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

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“Ooo, You gonna get married” I said to the kissing couple in a teasing fashion. Not knowing what marriage was, I thought this statement would embarrass the smiling duo. Weeks, later, the couple did get married. I was bored to tears at the wedding, because I was only in my single digits of age.

• There were times when I spoke the truth but did not know what I was saying.
• There were times when I said something off the top of my head that came true without thinking about what I said.
• There were times when I voiced the right answer, not knowing how I knew it.

Caiaphas, the high priest, said something off the top of his head, not knowing what he was predicting. He told all of the church leaders to be calm, because we are going to kill JESUS so the nation would not perish. He was thinking one way but his words had profound meaning.

• GOD wants my words to have profound meaning.
• GOD wants my words to be guided by HIS SPIRIT.
• GOD wants my words to be HIS words as I seek to speak to those HE sends me to.

Words are more powerful than most people think. Some can enrage, while others can encourage. GOD wants me to purposefully use words to get people to remember their true purpose, namely to be a child of GOD. JESUS would in fact die for the world, as predicted. I am glad HE is alive and sends me with HIS SPIRIT to speak the right words.

• What words are you saying the most?
• Do you hurl insults and speak poisonous, negative words as your primary source of communication?
• Will you stop trying to be negatively shocking and focus encouraging words, to those who you are sent to, by GOD today?