Fully In Focus

As the leaves start to turn golden and red and gentle breezes begin to cool the air, we are reminded that it is harvest season. There are many “seasons” in one’s life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NLT) tells us there is a time for everything. “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.” Sometimes we are so focused on the reaping the harvest, we forget the process required to produce the harvest. The ground must be prepared by plowing deep, turning over the earth. The seed must be buried. The heat and light from the sun and moisture from water must be provided in amounts that are adequate, but not excessive. The growing crop must be protected from weeds, insects and disease. In the proper length of time, a mature crop is ready for harvest. How well all these factors have worked together will determine the season’s yield. Now consider Ecclesiastes 11:4-5 (NLT) “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.” In order to prepare for the harvest, we must submit ourselves to God, just as the seed submits to the earth. There may be difficult times as we allow him to work in the seasons of our life but as we trust in him, a mature faith and a harvest of blessing will be the season’s yield.

School is about to start and now we read about the football season that will soon be in full swing. I am more of a basketball fan because I understand the game. Football, soccer and baseball have so many different positions and rules, I have never quite figured them out. This past championship season in basketball was somewhat of a disappointment to me. My favorite team did not make it to the finals. In fact, it was hard for me to decide who to cheer for. Neither team, The Miami Heat nor the Dallas Mavericks were on my list of favorites. The Miami Heat was supposed to be the team to beat, but those Mavericks just wouldn't give up. I heard a quote from the series that really interested me. Of course, the star of the series was supposed to be LeBrone James, King James, they call him. Such a strong, dynamic basketball player was sure to bring a championship to his team. However, as the series progressed, the King did not live up to all the expectations. Amazingly, King James, a tall, muscular player was guarded by a much smaller player, Jason Terry. Although he did not match up to the King physically, he did have a plan to stop Lebron from living up to the expectations. His weapon - trash talk. Jason Terry followed LeBron all over the court taunting him with his constant chatter. When asked, "Why do you trash talk?" Terry explained, "Why do I trash talk? I do it to keep him from getting focused, because I know if he gets focused, I can't beat him." Our spiritual lives are much the same. The enemy tries to attack with trash talk - tries to keep us from focusing on God and who He is. The enemy knows that he is no match for the Creator of the universe, but if he can keep us focused on our self and little things that annoy us, we will not be focused on God. But, if we are focused on God, the enemy cannot beat us! So, stay focused!

Once upon a time there were several very private people who dreamed of one day taking a trip in a beautiful yacht. They thought about how wonderful the journey would be and dreamed of the interesting destinations and exciting adventures they would experience. It just so happened that on the very same day each of these private people fulfilled their dream and boarded the beautiful yacht they had booked for their trip. Each thought that theirs was the most beautiful yacht they had ever seen and they were amazed at how it was constructed. When the private passengers boarded their yacht they were a bit apprehensive at first because the boat seemed so big and they felt a bit alone. Never having taken such a trip before, the first thing these private passengers did was to find their quarters on their yacht. As they moved to the deck below, the sight of the captain at the controls of their yacht comforted them and they felt confident and excited about their journey. When each of the private passengers entered their cabin on their yacht they were surprised to find that the space was somewhat different than they had imagined it would be. The surroundings were somewhat confining. But each of them made the necessary adjustments, decided to take a nap, and closed the door to their cabin. Their dream had come true and they were ready to enjoy a very pleasant journey. It just so happened that as they each went out to sea, a sudden storm blew into the area. The private passengers became quite confused being awakened from their peaceful nap by a sudden jolt. They found themselves thrown to the floor of their cabin and their yacht seemed to be swaying to and fro with the sound of splashing and strong winds outside. The private passengers did not know what to do, for the yacht seemed out of control. This was not what they had hoped for - this was not a part of their plan. Each of the private passengers feared that their journey would be ruined and that all their dreams and expectations would not be fulfilled. They knew that all the other private people were surely enjoying a beautiful journey on calm seas, and though they were somewhat disappointed and afraid, they hoped for the best. Just as their yacht rolled far on its side and the private passengers began to tremble, there came a soft knock on the door of the cabin. “This is the Captain,” spoke a calm gentle voice. “Are you all right?” The private passengers did not want to appear frightened and confidently said, “Oh, everything is just fine in here.” The voice of the Captain continued, “We have run into quite a storm, but do not worry, I have everything under control. We will come through the storm safely. If there is anything you need, just call me and I will be right here to help you.” The private passengers felt comforted by their Captain’s words and sat down to ride out the storm. There were periods of time when it seemed that the storm might be over, but rather than calming down, soon the storm became even stronger. Having never experienced such rough seas, the private passengers began to feel very sick. They remembered their dreams of how wonderful this journey would be and this was certainly not happening as they had hoped. At times they wished they had never taken this journey; but afraid, alone and confined, they decided the best thing to do was just to stay in their cabin with their door shut tight. The storm lasted for hours. There was no way that the private passengers could rest while experiencing such turmoil. Although they were extremely uncomfortable, they did not want to call on their Captain because surely he was too busy trying to keep the yacht on course. Soon they became weary and exhausted. The hours turned to days and the storm continued to rage. The private passengers were afraid to open the door of their cabin. They were very apprehensive about what they would find outside their door, so it seemed much safer just to keep the door shut and stay inside. It was a sudden shriek that pierced even through the storm that caused the sick and desperate private passengers to bolt to their door. “Man overboard!” came the urgent cry. The private passengers flung open the door of their cabin and as they looked out they gazed into the frightened faces of multitudes of others just like them. Almost in unison the private passengers exclaimed, “We’re all in the same boat!” Because each of the private passengers had boarded for the journey and immediately gone to their cabin and closed the door, none of them knew that there were many others experiencing the same storm. It was not until tragedy had struck that they had discovered that they were not alone. “If only we had opened our doors sooner we could have comforted each other and faced the storm together,” they thought. The desperate needs they faced erased all embarrassment of having been so afraid of the storm that they could not come out of their cabin. The private passengers immediately began to help each other. Some took care of the sick, some prepared food, some spoke encouraging words to those who were especially frightened, some bailed water from the deck and some tried to help rescue the one who had fallen overboard. The storm raged on but it seemed to be less frightening because they were all riding it out together. Yet time was running out and it appeared that the dreams of the private passengers would end in tragedy unless somehow they were saved from the storm. One of the private passengers remembered the words of the Captain and asked if any of the others had heard his message. One by one the private passengers remembered the Captain’s words. He had knocked on each of their doors. Once again as with one voice they called to him, “Captain! Captain! We need you! Save us from the storm! Please, save us!” It was as though he was only a step away, for the Captain was immediately by their side, guiding them to safe areas of the boat and calming their fears. The Captain assured them that there was no storm too strong for him to handle and that they could rest knowing that even though the storm seemed severe, the ship was still under his control. He promised that they would be safe. After a time, the rain and the winds stopped, the sun came out from behind the clouds, and the private passengers were amazed at how the Captain had brought them safely through the terrible storm. They thanked him again and again for saving them. They even spoke to each other about how they felt when they were alone, shut in their cabin and how much better they felt when they knew that they were not alone. Amazingly, they agreed that the journey had turned out even better than they had ever dreamed and as they departed the yacht they went straight to the booking office to sign up for another journey. This time, however, they all asked for cabins which had no doors and would accept no other Captain than the one who had delivered them from the storm. It seemed that the private passengers no longer wanted to be private. They wanted to share their journey with all the others. They had discovered that the best part of the journey was the relationship they had shared as they went through the storm. They all agreed that getting to know their very capable Captain was the highlight of the journey. Oh, and one more thing. They realized that had it not been for the storm, they might still be just a bunch of private passengers.

I will never forget going to my children's ballgames and the fun and excitement it was to cheer them on as they played. It was interesting to sit with the parents of the team members and listen to them as the ballgame progressed. Some just sat and visited, seemingly uninterested in the game. Some cheered when things went well and jeered when things were not so positive. Some were critical of everything, the players, the coaches, the referees - everything. I played sports as a child, though not a great athlete, and I remember hearing the cheers and jeers from the crowd. I even got the nickname "Sissy" (as in sister) because my mother would be heard above the din yelling, "Come on, Sissy!" As I watched my children play I vowed that I would only cheer in a positive manner - encouraging my child and the teammates. I don't know if they heard my cheers, but if they did, I hope it encouraged them. In this game of life, we, too, have an encourager. Through his amazing love for us, God looks down from the heavens and wants us to be encouraged and to be encouragers. He encourages us through his word as in Romans 15:4, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." He commands us to be encouragers in Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." I find that God encourages me as I encourage others. What ever difficulty you may be facing, remember that God wants good things for you and will help you accomplish those good things as you trust in Him. "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved you and by his grace gave you eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Today my little granddaughter is four years old. As I think back over the years, I remember seeing my picture on the wall of the little country church where we attended as a family. I remember posing for the "Cradle Roll" picture and was probably about four years old. My parents were farmers and we had a happy home. We were not poor, but we saw few luxuries. We all worked hard and tried to live in a manner that would honor God. As I look back on the journey of faith I have traveled I see how God used those early years to establish a foundation of faith. When my grandchildren were tiny, we as a family gathered to dedicate their lives to God and to dedicate our lives to encourage them in their faith. Today, I share with you a poem I wrote for their dedication service. If you have children or grandchildren, I hope that this prayer will bless you as you dedicate your life to encourage them in their journey of faith. Dedication Prayer Today your family gathers. Before the Lord we stand. Intent and with one purpose, To join with God’s strong hand. We know that He will guide you, (Proverbs 3: 5-6) His faithfulness is sure. (Lamentations 3: 22-23) And now we pledge our faithfulness to lead you in ways pure. (I John 3: 7) Together as we focus on God and who He is, We know that He is sovereign, (Jeremiah 32: 17) And we know that you are His. (Psalm 139: 13-16) Dear child, go to God in prayer and all your cares will cease. (I Peter 5: 7) Because the mind who dwells on Him remains in perfect peace. (Isaiah 26: 3) And know that we who love you will pray for you each day, (Colossians 1: 9-12) That you will grow in grace and faith (II Peter 3: 18) And honor God always. (John 12: 26) Soon you’ll learn the little song, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” We pray your understanding of His love will grow and grow. (Ephesians 3: 16-19) Now, on this day, we bless you, And we join with God above. We pledge to live our lives in ways that lead you to His love.

If you would, stay with me and try to see in your mind's eye what I saw this morning. I was sitting at the table looking out the window as I do each morning, meditating and praying. As I saw the trees, the squirrels and birds and the sky, dripping with rain, I began to zoom out. In my mind I pictured the vastness of space. I saw the Milky Way then zoomed out even further to the universe, dotted with stars and galaxies. Where does it end? How did it come about? Then I zoomed in - back to the Milky Way, itself filled with many billions of stars. Among those stars is a tiny (by comparison) solar system with a bright star we call the sun. Twenty-three million miles from that star is a tiny, beautiful speck called earth. Covered with blue waters and formations of land, the earth has a living dynamic that results in seasons and weather patterns that feed the earth and cause it to supply all that is needed for life. On that earth is a speck so tiny it could be missed easily, but it is not. It is me (or you) and that tiniest speck is the focus of God's love. Zoom out again to the vastness of the universe, then zoom in again to yourself - probably sitting at a computer at the moment. You are the focus of God's love! How fathomless. As I was trying to think of a word that could describe how I felt, that word - fathomless - came to mind. I had to look it up to make sure it was the word I wanted. A fathom is a measure of 6 miles used to measure the depth of the oceans. Fathomless means unmeasurable or incomprehensible. Yes, to me, it is incomprehensible that the God who created the universe, putting all things perfectly in motion, has focused His love on me - a tiny speck of dust in His vast creation. Psalm 8:3-5 says it well: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." In your busy day, take a moment, listen to the music playing as you read this and worship the One True Fathomless God.

With the Valentine Holiday approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to focus on love. There will be lots of chocolates, expensive flowers, cards and gifts exchanged - some eagerly anticipated, others ignored. There are so many kinds of love. We say that we "love" a certain food, a movie or book. We "love" a certain fashion or model of car. We "love" our pets, our house, our hobby. This "love" for inanimate objects is one sided. Then we have relationships where two people experience puppy love, romantic love, love for children, for parents or love for a friend. But what is "true love?" That is a question many have tried to answer for ages. I will share with you my definition of true love - it is putting the needs of others above your own. True love involves working through tough times and not giving up. It requires that you accept the one you love without expecting or wanting them to change. It requires time, patience, acceptance, and trust. True love can include romantic love, but romantic love is not necessarily true love. True love is sacrificial and when both parties put the needs of the other above their own, the relationship takes on the characteristics of the love that God has for us. God's love is true love. He put our needs above His own. He loved us sacrificially. His desire to have a love relationship with us led Him to come to the earth, willingly crawl upon the cross, suffer and die so that we might know Him eternally. God's love is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. God's love is patient, it is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. His love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God's love never fails. If you know someone looking for true love this Valentine's Day, introduce them to the One who is the definition of True Love.

I will never forget a news segment I saw several years ago. The story was about a man who was facing sentencing after being found guilty of murdering a 16 year old girl. Before the judge passed the sentence down, he asked family members if they wanted to address the man who had murdered their loved one. One after another, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles spewed their anger, hate and bitterness at the man who had altered their lives. The condemmed man maintained a stern stare as they spoke, seemingly unaffected by their harsh words. The last person who came to speak was the father of the young girl who was murdered. He was calm as he spoke, his round face covered with a white beard showing none of the malice expressed by the others. He stood silent for a few moments then spoke only three words. "I forgive you." The camera quickly focused on the accused and I will never forget the picture as the man's face slowly lost the stern stare and dissolved into a forlorn image of one touched deeply by the words that were spoken. The eyes, once hard and steely, now were filled with tears. As the tears rolled down his cheeks he quietly sobbed. That is the power of forgiveness. The accusations that were spoken were powerless to touch the heart of the guilty man. The message of forgiveness pierced his heart to the core bringing about signs of repentance. Have you experienced accusations by the enemy that harden your heart? Focus on the forgiveness of God that leads to repentence. It is the power of His forgiveness that will bring about freedom. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:18-19

So many times I have heard people say, "I don't understand why Jesus would die for me." I understand that this statement may reflect a feeling of unworthiness and I admit that I share that feeling, but to me the reason is not as complex as it might seem. In fact, it is very basic. Simply stated - the reason Jesus died for you is to restore God's plan as He originally intended. God created man to bring Him glory. Sinful man could not bring Him glory. God had to act in a way to restore a relationship with man and the way He did that was to come to earth and become flesh, to fulfill the requirements established in the law (given by God) and sacrifically pay the penalty for sin by shedding His blood on the cross. That is why Jesus died for me - to make things right again - like God intended them to be in the beginning. Psalm 33:11 states, "But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,the purposes of his heart through all generations." God would not give up on His plan to have a relationship with you. And His plan for you is stated in a wonderful promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, ________, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you, _______, hope and a future.” Put your name in those blanks. God has a plan for you! Focus on Him and rejoice as the Psalmist did in Psalm 40:5 "Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."

Imagine what life would be like if we had to leave our home and travel to a specific place in order to meet with God. Would your communication with Him be different than it is now? The fact that God is ever-present, no matter where we are gives us the opportunity to fellowship with him at any time and at all times. As I am learning to fully focus on God, I am finding that I am keenly aware of his presence throughout the day. It is as if I have a friend with me who I can talk with at any time about anything. Rather than communicating with him only at a specific time of the day or in a specific place,I talk with him throughout the day no matter where I am. I find that I am much more aware of my sins and much quicker to confess them and receive forgiveness. I am more aware of his protection, his blessings, his guidance and his love. There is nothing I experience that he is not with me. This gives me comfort. My day is more exciting, because I know that he is with me. I see his work in my life throughout the day and this gives me hope, peace and rest and my heart overflows with gratitude. How thankful I am that God is near and I don't have to travel somewhere to meet with him. He longs to be near to me! His love is unsurpassed. I pray that you experience the presence of God in new and unique ways as you go through this day and that you are encouraged as you focus on him. I agree with the Psalmist in Psalms 73:28 "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."